VALLEY CITIES 2019 - MAPLE VALLEY's INDUSTRIES AND RAILS
This cache is part of the Valley Cities GeoTour 2019. If you are participating in the GeoTour, be sure to record each cache's code word or punch in your series passport to verify your visit. There are 40 caches placed throughout the four cities to take you to a variety of interesting or beautiful locations, and provide you with fun and informative geocaching experiences.
Maple Valley, a King County community nestled 10 miles southeast of Renton within the sheer-cliffed Cedar River valley, grew from its outskirts inward toward its center. Originally a hodgepodge of homesteader cabins, its growth can be attributed to the lumber industry, coal mining, railroads, watersheds, and highway development.
NAME DRAWN FROM A HAT
The first settlers in what is now Maple Valley were George Ames, Henry Sidebotham, and C.O. Russell, who took up claims in 1879. The three were improving a trail before they brought their families in. One of them suggested that they name the future community. Ames proposed Vine Maple Valley, but Russell thought Maple Ridge to be a better name. They placed their choices on slips of paper, and placed them in a hat.
Vine Maple Valley received two out of the three votes, so they made it unanimous. They also decided to name the voting precinct after the first child born in the new community. Later, Arthur Russell was born, providing the name Arthur to the precinct and the first post office, located originally in the Russell home.
WOOD, WATER, STEEL COAL
In the early 1880s, settlers' cabins sparsely dotted land surrounding the creeks that fed the Cedar River. Around 1882, Ames and Russell built a sawmill to process the lumber needed to build homes. Over time, the mill burned down twice, and though it was rebuilt, Ames eventually gave up and moved to Pacific City, near Auburn.
In 1887, Russell laid out the town, now called Maple Valley, but it wasn't platted until 1890. The communities of Hobart and Taylor sprang up nearby, but the railroad helped solidify Maple Valley as the centerpiece. In 1885, trains began to haul coal over a narrow gauge track from the nearby mining town of Black Diamond. The track was widened in 1904.
In 1907, the Milwaukee Road pushed through the Cascades to a point just east of the town. As the tracks were laid westward, workers moved into the area. The Northern Pacific Railroad, to the south, also had a need for rail workers. More residents meant more lumber milling, which provided more jobs. Along with all this, the City of Seattle had chosen the Cedar river as its watershed, and much work was needed there.
Black Diamond was the hub of local coal mining activity to the south, but Maple Valley also had a stake in coal. Cedar Mountain, located just north of town, was mined starting in 1884. The mine never produced as much coal as did other mines in the area, but it averaged 90,000 tons per year and employed hundreds of men. Cedar Mountain was mined as late as 1947.
THE CACHE
The cache is located just up the hill from one of the major rail lines of the day. The Green To Cedar Rivers Trail used to be the old Columbia to Puget Sound railroad that ran south to the coal enriched town of Black Diamond (the name of the town named for the coal found in the area). The Columbia to Puget Sound Railroad connected with the Milwaukee Road Rail Road (now the Cedar River Trail) about a mile and a half north of this location making Maple Valley a major railroad hub back in the day. The cache is a small lock n lock. Should not be tough to find. You will have to step off the trail a few steps down a bit of a hill, hence the trail rating.
This cache was placed by a WSGA member. If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please consider joining Washington State Geocaching Association. Follow this link to visit our website to learn more about becoming a WSGA member.
2019 is the first year of a formal GeoTour for the expanded geocaching adventure in the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton & Maple Valley, Washington. Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation, auburntourism.com, visitkent, the Port of Seattle and the WSGA are stakeholders in this GeoTour. There are 10 caches placed in each city. The geocaches highlight some scenic outdoor area, park, trail, or general area of interest in these cities. We hope you enjoy visiting the area, learning about its natural beauty and interesting outdoor areas. You can visit the website for information about lodging discounts, restaurant, brewery and other discounts that are available while you are visiting our area, Valley Cities GeoTour.