This cache was hidden as part of the Abandoned Railroads of Newaygo County Geocache Rail Tour, presented by the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center and Silent Whistles. Record the milepost value contained on and/or in each cache container on the Ticket to Newaygo County form. See the additional information below for specific tour requirements.
This cache is very near the original site of West Troy Junction in the (then) Chicago and West Michigan Railroad's Petoskey Division. The cache is on land owned by the Federal Government, part of the Manistee National Forest.
Walkup, Walkup Junction, Woodland Park, Brookings area.
The map above shows the area served by the what became the West Troy Branch of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad. In 1881 or 1883, depending on the source, the White River Railroad was completed from White Cloud to Walkup City on Walkup (Blue) Lake, in section 32 of what is now Merrill Township. The White River Railroad was controlled by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad at its incorporation, and leased by the C&WM on April 1st, 1880. Shortly after, the line pushed north from a point a few miles east of West Troy and became known as West Troy Junction.
A sawmill was built on the north shore of (then) Crooked Lake in 1889 by the Brookings Lumber Company. A small railroad station was moved from Diamond Lake to West Troy Junction and named Brookings, and a siding was put in off the West Troy Branch to the sawmill.
In 1890, the C&WM realigned its trackage in the vacinity, effectively eliminating what had once been the original West Troy Junction, moving it south-east. The West Troy Branch was reported as abandoned in 1895. In 1899, the Pere Marquette Railroad was created from several Michigan lines including the C&WM the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad. In 1947, the PM became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, then CSX in 1987. Today, the north-south main line is owned by the State of Michigan and operated by Marquette Rail.
When the timber harvest was complete, West Troy Junction, now Brookings, began to disappear into the forest like many other former sawmill settlements. The property went back to the state. It was purchased by G.W. Bosman who tried farmint it, but was not successful. Eventually, the property was purchased by gentlmen from Chicago and Cleveland who platted the land into lots for a summer resort for African Americans. This endeavor was at least a partial success. The sawmill was converted into the Royal Breeze Hotel. The location was named Woodland Park and the lake renamed Woodland Lake.
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Today, there is a depression in the ground at the site of the former sawmill/hotel and some visible grades. Many of the lots have cottages on them and the lake is very picturesque.
To claim a prize:
- Download and print the Ticket to Newaygo County form (PDF). See alternate below.
- Find 28 of the 35 cache hides in the table below.
- Find at least five of the seven mystery and multi caches in any combination.
- Record the milepost number from the label or log of each cache you find on a printed copy of the form. Milepost numbers are on cache labels and log book covers.
- Each individual GC account holder making the find must sign and date the paper log book in the cache with their GC account name. No group logs please.
- Optionally, upload a photo of your log entry. Be careful to not include the milepost value in the photo.
- Send the completed form via US Mail to the address on the form. Each GC account holder must send in a form.
Once your answers have been verified, the prize will be sent back to you via US Mail to the address you provide on the form.
The first 95 cachers to complete the tour will be awarded a Silent Whistles pathtag commemorating the Big Rapids Branch of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad.
One prize per completed form. One prize per GC Account.
Download the Ticket to Ride form:
Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PDF) to download a printable version the form (PDF).
Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PNG) to download an alternate, less clear graphic version of the form.
If you don't have access to a printer, printed copies can be obtained at the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center, or by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to the address on the bottom of the form.
Sources:
- White River Railroad
- Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
- Pere Marquette Railroad
- Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
- Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1897, R.L. Polk & Co.
- The October Project, Newaygo County, Michigan
- Lumbering in Newaygo County, Harry L. Spooner, © 1946, Cooper Press, reprinted 1976 by the Newaygo County Historical Archive
- Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, © 1986 Wayne State University Press
- Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon M. Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
- Michigan Railroad Lines, Graydon M. Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press
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Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center at: 12 Quarterline Road, Newaygo, Michigan (at the downtown light).
Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center on Thursday, September 11th, 2014 at 7:00PM for the Heritage Speaker Series topic: Logging and Railroads in Newaygo County by Dr. Carl Bajema. Reservations are required