SWS - Charlevoix on the C&NM (C&O) Multi-Cache

This DAYTIME ONLY cache is not at the posted coordinates. To locate the cache, solve the simple field puzzle described below starting at the beautiful 125 year old depot, now owned and operated by the Charlevoix Historical Society. Please respect the facilities and grounds. If an event is in progress, please come back later. Historical and railroad related swag is preferred.

^{"Photo by AGHudley © 2017"}
Charlevoix Depot Today.

The Charlevoix Depot

The Depot is owned by the Charlevoix Historical Society and is used for its own events as well as other events such as weddings. Visit the Charlevoix Historical Society Train Depot page (link in the Sources) for more information. Also, please visit the Charlevoix Historical Society Museum at Harsha House, at 103 State Street.

Charlevoix

Charlevoix was originally settled and founded as a port for Lake Michigan maritime traffic. It quickly developed into a resort community, attacting many people from Chicago. It was also a source for lumber shiplemnts The problem with relying on the lake traffic was, it was unavailable during the winter. Completion of rail lines into Traverse City and then Petoskey in 1872 by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad left Charlevoix miles away from a rail connection for nearly twenty more years. Arrival by boat or stage coach were the only options. In the late 1880s it looked like the Charlevoix might finally attract a railroad but the planned and partially graded Detroit, Charlevoix and Escanaba Railroad failed financially. After worrying that Charlevoix might be bypassed by yet another railroad, things began to look up in 1890.

^{Photo used with permission of the Charlevoix Historical Society.}

Turn of the century train at Charlevoix.

Railroad Finally Arrives

The rail line that finally reached Charlevoix was was incorporated on February 28^th, 1891 as the Chicago and North Michigan Railroad, a wholly owned (paper) subsidiary of, leased and operated by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad. The line reached Charlevoix in June of 1892 and the first commercial train reached town at 2:30PM on Sunday, June 26^th, 1892. Regularly scheduled rail service began with five trains a day. Four additional local trains, known as Dummies" ran between Petoskey and Charlevoix. These locals became so popular that within a decade, ten trains ran daily with service as far south as Bellaire.

^{Photo used with permission of the Charlevoix Historical Society.}
Bridge operators pose on the swing bridge. The depot is in the background on the left side of the tracks.

Charlevoix actually had two depots. A freight house was built just north of the main passenger depot. The main depot, still standing, was on the north side of the channel between Lake Michigan and Pine Lake (later Lake Charlevoix). To keep the Chicago crowd appeased, a second, passenger station known as Belvidere, was constructed a half mile south so patrons of the Charlevoix Summer Home Association would not have to cross the railroad swing bridge or find other transportation to the massive club. The stop at Belvedere was only used in the summer, mostly for weekend patrons from Chicago.

^{Photo used with permission of the Charlevoix Historical Society.}
Belvedere summer depot south of the channel and swing bridge.

In 1899, the C&WM, the Flint & Pere Marquette and the Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western were merged into the Pere Marquette Railroad, which began operations on January 1st, 1900. The PM became part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in 1947. After a brief post World War II increase in rail traffic, the automobile and airlines began to erode passenger numbers. Passenger service through Charlevoix ended on September 1^st, 1962.

The C&O became part of the Chessie System in 1973, but retained its identity. The C&O stopped regular operations on the line in 1981. The last train C&O freight trail left Charlevoix on February 18^th, 1982. Much of the Petoskey Subdivision was officially abandoned on February 20^th, ending just short of one hundred years service. This reduction in size was due to the creation of CSX Transportation which absorbed the C&O and at the same time reduced its footprint. The State of Michigan bought parts of the line and used contract operators starting with the Michigan Northern Railroad to serve customers on short hauls around Petoskey and Traverse City until the late 1980s. The portion from Grawn to Williamsburg is still in service as the part of the Great Lakes Central Railroad, although the Grawn portion hasn't been used in some time.

On the 100th anniversary of the first train to reach Charlevoix, Robert Pew, the then owner of the depot, signed the deed over to the Charlevoix Historical Society. The depot is now used for programs, exhibits, business meetings and social functions of the society. The grounds are maintained by the Charlevoix Garden Club.

Cache:

This cache has been placed in partnership with the Charlevoix Historical Society. Publication of this cache coincides with the 125th anniversary of the first passenger train to reach Charlevoix. Railroad and historical swag is preferred.

To locate the cache, find the following information at stages 1 and 2 coordinates.

To locate stage 2, solve this simple field puzzle based on information available at stage 1, the posted coordinates:

• Stage 2 is located at: N 45° 19.ABC W 085° 14.DEF
  
  
• A = The fourth digit of the year the property was donated to the Historical Society, minus 2.
• B = The third digit of the year the depot was built.
• C = The number of letter Ys on the plaque with the doner's names.
• D = The number of words on the second line of the lower plaque right of the door.
• E = The second digit of the Registered Local Site number.
• F = The fourth digit of the 125^th anniversary year of the depot.
  
  
• Checksum for stage 2: A+B+C+D+E+F=33

• Stage 3 is located at: N 45° 19.ABC W 085° 14.DEF
  
  
• A = The first digit of the number of the Scout Troop in Charlevoix.
• B = The second digit of the number of years the gentleman was Scout Master.
• C = The number of stars on the hat.
• D = The number of letters in the first name of the past president of the Charlevoix Historical Society commerated here.
• E = The number of letters in the last name of the past president of the Charlevoix Historical Society.
• F = The sum of the digits of the number of years the gentleman was Scout Master, plus 1.
  
  
• Checksum for stage 3: A+B+C+D+E+F=23

FTF Prize was a coupon for a couple of these at a downtown cafe and bakery.

Sources:

• Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
• Pere Marquette Railroad
• Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
• Charlevoix Historical Society
• Charlevoix Historical Society Historic Train Depot
• Charlevoix Historical Society Museum at Harsha House
• The Railroad in Charlevoix, Steve Goslee, Karen Lewis, David L. Miles and Betsy Reynolds, © 2009 Charlevoix Historical Society, (available for sale at the museum)
• Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon M. Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
• Michigan Railroad Liness, Graydon M. Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press