SWS - Kalkaska on the GRK&SE (PM) Traditional Cache

The location of this cache is on the former grade of the Pere Marquette Railroad Kalkaska Branch, west of Kalkaska. The cache is hidden on land owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

^{Courtesy of Ed Chaput, possibly from the collection at the Manistee Museum}
Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern (later Pere Marquette) depot, Kalkaska Michigan

Kalkaska:

Kalkaska was first settled in 1872 when lumberman Albert Abbot built a sawmill on the South Branch of the Boardman River. He apparently submitted a plat for a village on May 12^th, 1873 and established a post office with himself as post master. The first recorded plat found for the village was dated September 15^th, 1884. The village was incorporated in 1887.

Railroads:

The first railroad to pass through Kalkaska was the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, on its way to Mackinaw City. This line is still active. The second railroad to reach Kalkaska was the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad, primarily a lumber railroad. As such, there was probably very little interchange with the GR&I. The GRK&SE passed through from northwest to southeast, as shown on the map. The depot was on the east side of the main street. There was a boardwalk from the GRK&SE depot to the GR&I depot, downtown.

The sign from the GRK&SE depot can be seen inside the Kalkaska Museum, which is the former GR&I/PRR depot, in downtown Kalkaska. Look for the big trout in front of the former depot.

^{Map sketched by A.G. Hudley, 2014. using Google Earth and Google Maps Engine}
Railroads through Kalkaska

Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad:

The GRK&SE was built from Stratford, through Kalkaska to Rapid City in 1897 to haul the timber harverst from southern Kalkaska County and northern Missaukee County. It was leased and operated by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad and later by its successor, the Pere Marquette in 1899. The GRK&SE was purchased by the PM in 1903. In 1916, the line was cut back to Spencer and two years later, to Kalkaska. The remainder of the line was abandoned in 1921.

Cache:

At GZ, keep a sharp eye out for cyclists. This is popular ground for mountain biking and is on or near the route taken by the Iceman Cometh Challenge mountain bike race between Kalkaska and Traverse City each November.

Sources:

• Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
• Pere Marquette Railroad
• Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, © 1986 Wayne State University Press