This new virtual cache takes you on a short tour of some of the many metal sculptures created by Murray Watson that can be found dotted around this area. There are four stops and each has a question to answer. To claim a find, message or e-mail me the four answers.
The route followed corresponds to part of the Oil Springs Heritage District Driving Tour. If you want to do the full tour you can pick up a lot more information at the Oil Museum of Canada across the road from the posted coordinates. Well worth a visit to learn about the history of this area as well as picking up more information about the stops along this tour.
So on to this tour which starts at the posted coordinates.
Stop 1 The Imperial Receiving Station N 42° 46.277' W 82° 7.182'
The receiving station sits at the end of what once was a rail line that allowed crude oil produced in the area to be shipped out to the refinery. The rail line closed in 1960 although crude continued to shipped from here by road until 1974 when the receiving station closed. Take a look through the window of the office and you'll see a man dressed in blue.
Question 1: What was the name of the man in blue.
Stop 2 Three Pole Derrick N 42° 46.291' W 82° 6.549'
Note added June 2019: The Three Pole Derrick didn't survive the winter so the display here is no longer in place. Hopefully it will be back soon. The question can still be answered though!
Servicing oil wells is a regular business and, before the days of combustion engines and pulling machines, horses were used to pull the rods and pump from the well which in this area are typically 400-500 feet deep. The tin men here are local people including two sons of Charlie Fairbank - the owner/operator of these historic wells.
Question 2: How many tin dogs can you see?
Stop 3 Elwood Ayrheart N 42° 46.565' W 82° 6.276'
At this stop, which has convenient parking for the nature trail, you might want to take a break and check out a couple of caches and an earthcache that can be found along the trail. Here you'll find Elwood Ayrheart who worked here in the 1930's tending to what was then a modern pumpjack - all metal rather than the wooden pumpjacks used earlier and which are still to be found operating in the area.
Question 3: On the green sign with white lettering what are the two numbers after the M?
Stop 4 Fairbank Oil N 42° 46.890' W 82° 6.570'
The last stop on this tour brings you to the entrance to Fairbank Oil where you'll get a good view of the barn - with a mural created in 1981 at a "paint by number" party. You'll also find a military tinman on a horse - Charles Oliver Fairbank.
Question 4: Behind the rear leg of the horse whose name do you see?
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.