Important
This is a virtual cache and doesn't have a container or log book. To claim a find there is an additional logging requirement explained below.
The Story of Silk City
Before you stands Richardson Mill, the first mill built by the Belding Brothers & Co., finished in 1886. The mill, a testament to the city’s rich manufacturing history, was once part of a silk production empire that sold thread woven in Belding around the world. Far off places such as Japan were said to know of Belding by name.
The story began in 1857 when the two Belding brothers (Hiram and Alvah) moved from the family farm in Ashfield, Mass., to Patterson Mill, as Belding originally was known. Having no interest in farming, their door-to-door silk peddling eventually grew into an international business after brother Milo came on board.
In addition to the two thread and fabric mills in Belding, the company operated mills in Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Canada. By 1925, they boasted annual sales of $15 million and claimed that 95 percent of all the silk thread produced in the United States was spun in Belding, by a workforce of young, single women housed in local dormitories.
The mill buildings boasted the latest central heating, ventilation and humidity control systems as well as electric lighting and a sprinkler system housed in the building towers. At the time, all their mills ranked with the very best in terms of modern factory construction, mechanical equipment and liberal management.
The factories were social and friendly under paternalistic bosses and the women earned a modest but livable wage, and were well regarded around town. Because of the large female population, the town gained a certain reputation among West Michigan men looking for dating prospects.
In 1925, the company was sold for about $10 million and the last mill closed in 1932. The Richardson Mill housed various clothing and garment makers in subsequent decades before being converted to apartments in 1986.
Logging a Find
To claim a find for this virtual cache please post a picture to your found it log of yourself at the posted coords above with the building in the background.
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Another Near By Virtual Cache
Close friends of ours have hidden a virtual cache nearby within walking distance that you should really check out: Belding Veterans Memorial Park - Virtual Reward
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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.