|
This
cache was hidden as part of the tRails Along the Au Sable Geocache Rail Tour, presented by Silent Whistles, the Oscoda - Au Sable Historical Museum, and the Steiner Museum. Record the milepost value contained on and/or in each cache container on the Ticket to Au Sable form.
See the additional information below for specific tour requirements.
Lumber camp at Lott.
Lott:
Lott was a logging camp, settlement and station on the Au Sable and Northwestern Railroad in section 27 of the east half of Curtis Township, Alcona County. Lott had the first school in Curtis Township, built in 1881. A post office was established here on June 22nd, 1899, with E.M. Barker as postmaster. The post office remained open until 1911. Lott may have originally been named Batton, but clear evidence has not been found to verify that. Lott continued to be a stop on what became the D&M Au Sable River branch until it was abandoned. The small community of Lott survives today as a small collection of homes and a Baptist Church. The grade of the railroad crosses M-65 from southeast to northwest about two hundred yards west of that church.
AS&NW, Alcona County, Bryant to Flat Rock.
Railroad:
In 1886, the J.E. Potts Lumber and Salt Company built a narrow gauge (3' between the rails) logging railroad from it's company headquarters at Potts (later McKinley) in eastern Oscoda County. On July 27th, 1887. Potts organized the railroad as the Potts Logging Railway. The railroad was constructed in two different directions from Potts to tap stands of timber. One line was built northwest to what would become Fairview, then on to lumber camps at a place called Tong in north-west Oscoda County. A second line was built south-west into northern Ogemaw County, then west, then north back in to Oscoda County, along Big Creek to Lewiston.
Potts made a bold attempt to connect his isolated lumber railroad to the outside world and become a common carrier (passengers and other freight). By early 1891, he extended the line south-east to connect with the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad and Great Lakes Shipping docks in Au Sable. In doing so, Potts overextended the company and it failed financially.
The troubled Potts Logging Railway and its parent, J.E. Potts Lumber and Salt Company was purchased by the H.M. Loud Lumber Company on July 17th, 1891. Henry M. Loud reorganized the railroad as the Au Sable and Northwestern Railroad. New lumber camps and loading decks popped up along the line, including at Lott.
The 1911 fire in Oscoda and Au Sable all but wiped out the lumber company. On June 1st, 1912, the Detroit and Mackinac Railway leased the AS&NW with the option to purchase. The option was exercised on June 1D&M had an interest in havesting remaining lumber, but also used the railroad to haul construction equipment and materials to several hydro-electric dam sites along the river. In late 1915 and early 1916, the D&M converted the main line to Commins and a branch to Curran from narrow to standard gauge (4' 8 1/2" between the rails). An anticipating influx of farmers and settlers following the timber harvest did not materialize, largley due to World War I. The railroad suffered over time and in 1927, the D&M finally abandoned what had become their Au Sable River Branch which ran through here.
Cache:
The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Finding the location of the cache is a two step process. Step one involves projecting a waypoint from the posted coordinates (do not stand in the road). Step two involves solving a field puzzle at the projected waypoint to find the coordinates of the final.
- Step 1: Using the posted coordinates: N44° 32.157' W83° 42.164', solve the following.
- A = thousandths digit of North coordinate minutes (Nxx xx.xxA)
- B = thousandths digit of West coordinate minutes (Wxx xx.xxB)
- C = hundredths digit of North coordinate minutes (Nxx xx.xCx)
- D = tenths digit of North coordinate minutes (Nxx xx.Dxx)
- E = ones digit of West coordinate minutes (Wxx xE.xxx)
- F = tens digit of North coordinate minutes (Nxx Fx.xxx)
- Project a waypoint ABC feet away on a bearing of DEF degrees.
- Step 2: Proceed to the new waypoint. You should be near the SE corner of an important community building. There is no need to get out of your car.:
- A = the number of windows seen from the waypoint on the SE side of the building (not counting the basement) plus the number of windows on the SW end of the building .
- B = the number of windows seen from the waypoint on the SW end of the building plus the number of windows on the SE side of the building (not counting the basement).
- C = the number of letters in the second word on the yellow sign, closest to the church.
- D = the number of letters in the second word on the yellow sign, closest to the church (repeat intended).
- E = the number of windows seen from the waypoint on the SE side of the building (not counting the basement)
- F = the number of taller windows seen from the waypoint on the SW end of the building.
- Create a new waypoint at N44° 31.ABC' W83° 41.DEF'. Use the checker below to verify your result.
- Check your solution
- Step 3: Proceed to the new waypoint to find the cache. There is no need to cross any fences or gates to access this cache.
To claim a prize:
- Download and print the Ticket to Au Sable (PDF).
- As an aide, download and print the RAAS Recommended Route Map (PDF).
- Find at least 46 of the 57 (80%) cache hides in the table below.
- Find at least seven of the ten mystery and multi caches, in any combination.
- Record the milepost value from each cache you find on this form. Milepost numbers are on cache labels and log book covers. Do not record the milepost value in your log at geocaching.com or it will be deleted.
- 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.
- Send the completed form via US Mail to the address on the form. Each GC account holder must send in a form. One prize per completed form. One prize per GC Account. Multiple forms per mailing is encouraged.
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, while supplies last. One hundred prizes have been minted.
Resources:
Sources:
Many thanks to the hard work and research performed by Mr. Graydon Meints, which would have taken years to do on my own.
Also, thanks to Charles Conn for allowing the use of his collection of photographs at the Clarke Historical Library, and thanks to the Library staff for their help.
Also, thanks to James S. Hannum, Michigan and Washington railroad author, for sharing research, opinions and guidance along the right of way.
[agh]
Proud Lake Superior Member since March 31st, 2020
|