Welcome to Ferris State University’s Official Historical Geotrail of 2020! Brought to you by the Geocaching Subcommittee of the Ferris History Task Force. This trail will take you around the Ferris campus and properties as well as various locations within Big Rapids. All geocaches are created to honor the Ferris legacy and help to educate the general public in a new and exciting way.
In 1894 The Ferris Industrial School changed location from the corner of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street (in the Big Rapids Northern National Bank Building) to the corner of Oak Street and Ives Avenue (where the Prakken Building is now). The first building, known informally as "Old Main," stood on a slight rise of ground facing north. It was constructed of red brick and roofed with Vermont purple slate laid in fancy patterns. Mr. Ferris said that no special effort had been made to construct a showy building, and the style of architecture was in good taste.
On the evening of February 21, 1950 Old Main burned down. The fire was said to have been caused by students being careless with their smoking in the smoking room. A small fire caught and was carried up the air vent like a chimney.
[Puzzle]
This geocache is not located at the listed coordinates! The cache is a two stage multi with a field puzzle.
There is 1 brick structure here with information to answer the following questions to find the coordinates for the final.
The final can be found at:
N 43° 36.8AB' W 85° 29.5XY'
- A = Third digit of the second year in the paragraph.
- B = Numerical value of the second month in the paragraph.
- X = Number of letters in the first large word minus one.
- Y = Number of letters in the two large words together plus one.
Check Sum: A + B + X + Y = 17
[Parking]
Visitors/Guest Permits
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Parents, relatives and visitors who visit campus must obtain a visitor’s permit from the online guest permit portal or visit the Department of Public Safety. Permits will be issued for designated areas and times. Permits are free of charge.
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Faculty, staff and students are not considered visitors or guests of the University.
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The state motor vehicle registration certificate must be presented upon registering for a parking permit.
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Visitor parking will be allowed in residence hall lots on Friday, starting at 5 p.m., through Monday, until 2 a.m.
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Guests/visitors of campus during the summertime do not need a guest permit. Summer start up and end varies per year.
Meters are also on campus for use. They take various coins.
[Regarding Destruction of Property]
It is expected that visitors to our geocaches will conduct themselves with respect to the property they visit and will not destroy, harm, remove property or litter while geocaching. Such acts will result in monetary fines and potential for further prosecution. Players discovered in this way will also face disqualification from receiving the pathtag prize.
Download GeoTrail Tour Ticket Here.