Geocacher Jack Pine Savage originally had a geocache here several years ago, a spot I found particularly interesting when I first found his cache. When I noticed it had been archived I really wanted to revive it with another cache in what I believe is a very cache worthy location. I think of this place often, a great historical remnant of the early settlers who first inhabited this area. From what I've been told land in eastern Eau Clare County and Western Clark County was given to Civil War veterans by the government looking for a place to homestead. What the settlers weren't told is that this land was available for a reason; Sandy and acidic the soil is notoriously difficult to cultivate and the area is dotted with failed homesteads. Many of them were returned to the County after foreclosure adding to the county forest we have today.
I will add here what JPS had written on his cache page: "This cache is situated next to the remains of an old dam on the North Fork of the Eau Claire river. My dad spoke of some Italians and some Afro-Americans who came to the area after the white pine logging had ceased. The red pine plantation is probably planted on an abandoned field cleared by a black family named Reesebe – I am guessing as to the correct spelling.
I am figuring the dam to be about 100 years old. The main dike has a bearing of 160 degrees and the sluice way has a bearing of 240 degrees. The cache is near where the main gate may have been. The river has washed out the dike on the south end. Numerous pilings, timber, and wrought iron spikes remain. BE VERY CAREFUL OF THESE REMAINING SPIKES WHEN EXPLORING THE DAM.
The sluice way is now visible in two segments: one near the cache and the second visible in the river itself. Numerous pilings can be seen on the upstream side of the dike. I have no idea where the quartzitic sandstone was quarried to build the dike. It does occur as bedrock locally."
As for the cache, if you can drive to the berm on the 2 track heading in it is about .25 mile to the cache, otherwise it could be up to .5 mile to get there. There is a tree down along the main trail but the deer have conveniently created a trail along the levee which will lead you down the river bank and to the old sluiceway where access to the cache should be straightforward. Can be brushy in the summer and would recommend Spring and Fall as the best seasons to search.