This cache has been placed adjacent to the Grafton Museum. The Museum is open 7 days a week between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The cache is available at any time.
James Mason who migrated from Grafton, Mass purchased the area land in the early 1800s.
In 1833 Mason was issued a license to operate a ferry across the Mississippi River at Grafton. Within the same year he and several partners founded the “Grafton Manufacturing Company” to establish grist, woolen, and cotton mills and to do general manufacturing, trading and shipping envisioning a town where Grafton is now located. Mason died in 1834 before his plans could become reality. James Masons wife, Sarah, assumed the responsibility of laying out and incorporating the town and named the settlement Grafton in honor of her husband’s birthplace.
In 1892 the Rippley Boat Company located at the foot of Oak Street was established. They and the Fleak Ship Company became renowned nationwide for the barges, steam towboats, ferries, lifeboats and other vessels they built. The company evolved into the Grafton Boat Works. The buildings that are now the Loading Dock were built in 1928 to accommodate their expanding boat construction and repair business.
In December 1907 the Illinois Powder Manufacturing Company was built and for the next 50 years explosives were produced at the plant consisting of ammonia nitrate, nitroglycerine and dynamite. Once when dynamite was being moved to the magazine on the top of the hill, the cart broke loose and rolled downhill into the boxcar. The boxcar loaded with dynamite blew up with such force that the boxcar wheels were found on the Missouri side of the river.
The container is a Magnetic Flat One Inch Round Container that holds only a log sheet.
Bring a writing instrument to sign the log – this cache has a small log sheet so sign with date and name only.
Bugs, Insects, Critters, Snakes or Poisonous Plants could be present. Search accordingly.
Access to this cache is by a gravel parking area.