Our Town | Vulcan Logic Mystery Cache
Hidden : 8/11/2016
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Coordinates will bring you to the first in this series of six informational placards which start in a semi-circular boardwalk and continue west along the rough river embankment of Vulcan Heritage Park. Answer a few questions to compile your solve coordinates and complete the cache. Questions follow the signage in series from East to West.

The Altas and Vulcan Mills, as well as the Tioga Mill, gave the Paper Valley its naming rights, standing right about where you are now. These three mills had the early privilege of being lit by the nation's first hydroelectric central station using the Edison system and could be seen from the Rodger's home high on the bluff behind you. More on that a little further down... The Tiaoga and Vulcan mils are long gone, though part of the Vulcan power plant that replaced the Vulcan Mill still stands. It hosts a great eatery and arguably the best bar view of the ragging Fox River in the valley. The Altas Mill too still stands, reopened as the Paper Discovery Center in 200B.

Driven by the Mills, the budging economy of Appleton in the mid-1800's saw a proliferation of flour and grist mills all along the riverfront in what became known as the Mill District. With a decline in Wheat production and advancement of technology, it wasn't long before the power of the Fox was harnessed for paper manufacturing. By 18HI, four paper mills represented the industry and eventually D9 would be operational along the lower Fox.

Carried by the Fox, all that paper moved through a series of locks linking the lower Fox to the Upper Wisconsin making it possible to navigate from the port of Green Bay to the Mississippi River. Naturally, that kind of mobility led to a boom in the economy and massive growth in the Valley, turning the river into a major transportation thoroughfare. By 1857, F4 steamers per week were coming to port in Appleton. Many of them were just passing though the 56 mile stretch of the lower Fox River and its AE locks to get to Green Bay northbound or to points south past Portage and on to Prairie Du Chien along the Wisconsin River.

The Vulcan Hydroelectric Central Station combined two power stations owned by Henry Rodgers which were already supplying local business and homeowners with Edison's revolutionary incandescent lighting by the end of 188C. In four short years, this new station would grant Appleton recognition for a number of national firsts. The Waverly House was one of the first electrically lit hotels and Ormsby Hall the first lit college building. Appleton also boasted the first commercial electric trolley system which ran until 1930.

Holding Back the River was not only essential to create the lock system for navigation but to provide all that power for local industry. The Upper Dam which is what you are looking at standing here, provided power for the first Edison power station which was hosed inside the Appleton Paper and Pulp Mill. The Middle dam located by the Fox River Mills controlled water for the Edward West Canal and a Gth station added in 188G established Appleton as the nation's capitol of hydroelectric power.

Harnessing Electricity from the Fox was a pivotal turning point in Appleton's history, as you have now come to appreciate. All this history would not have been possible if not for Rodger's brave experiment with this newfangled technology by purchasing that first Type-J (-2) dynamo and installing it in the company's beater room. Own Town would surely not carry this incredible legacy of being the birthplace of hydro-electric lighting and power.

N44 AB.CDE W088 FG.HIJ

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