The 2016 Brr Winter caching series is focused around historical locations in the Greater Holland area. In addition to giving you a chance to add another smiley to your stats and have a little Geowinterfun we've added a touch of learning. We hope you have fun caching and learning. Don't forget to grab the code for the bonus cache.
In 1889, with partners Frank W. Hadded and Frederick Metz, George Hummer acquired the Plugger mill property and there formed the West Michigan Furniture Company. The company was profitable from the beginning. At its first anniversary, it employed 100 people and announced the installation of Edison lights, which no doubt made the factory more efficient, especially during the winter months when a 10-hour work day would be challenging. During the national recession following the panic of 1893, the company employed 20 percent of the Holland Labor force. At its peak employment level in 1899 it employed 693 people. West Michigan Furniture Company manufactured traditional bedroom and dining room furniture for customers on the East Coast.
In 1893 300 of Hummer’s workers struck because he was forcing them to pay 1% of their pay for their own accident insurance, which the workers felt was “taxation without representation.” The strike was soon settled, and the primary labor agitator was fired. After the strike, West Michigan Furniture Company kept expanding, taking over the West Michigan Seating Company.
The posted coords will place you in front of a sign. to locate the cache you will need to collect some information.
The cache is located at N 42° 47.ABC W 086° 06.XYZ
THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE CACHE FINAL LOCATION IS FROM THE NORTH SIDE!!!!
A= Second digit of the number of people employed at peak employment
B= Last digit of the year the firm created Engel Lumber and Land plus 2
C= Last digit of the final year the business operated
X= Last digit of the year Haden and Hummer created the company
Y= Number of sales people minus 20
Z= Hours in the work day minus 6
Check sum ABCXYZ = 34
Thanks to George & Louise for their assistance with this one.