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.
The idea for a memorial sculpture of W.N. Ferris was first suggested by John Schauble, a commercial art professor at Ferris, at a brainstorming session with Stanley Dean, chair of the ad hoc committee for the centennial planning. Steve Savickas, Associated Student Government senator, became very interested in the ideas as a student project for the upcoming Centennial. He took a watercolor rendering off the statue by Schauble to the student government meeting, where the project was adopted.
Numerous discussions were held, but no formal action transpired during the 1981-82 academic year. However, during this time students Jim Glovan, Gary Moore, Christopher Smith and others, kept the idea alive and continued to work on generating interest and support.
The project finally took off with a bound following the May '82 graduation ceremonies when Dacho Dachoff and Ed Maj were informally chatting with Board of Control Chair Earl Gabriel and Stanford Stoddard, president of the Michigan national Corporation, who had just received an honorary doctorate degree from Ferris. Dachoff explained the statue project to Stoddard. Stoddard, a patron of the arts, became excited about the idea of a Centennial sculpture and enthusiastically pledged his support. Soon thereafter, he and Robert Gerholz, long-time Board of Control member and alumnus, raised nearly $13,000 to kick-off the fundraising! In addition, Stoddard suggested that Avard Fairbanks, an internationally renowned sculptor from Salt Lake City, be contacted with the possibility of creating the sculpture.
President Robert L. Ewigleben gave the go-ahead for negotiations with Fairbanks and a steering committee of students, faculty, and alumni was formed.
Fairbanks was sent a number of reference materials on W.N. Ferris, including many photographs. After reviewing the specifics and studying the subject, Fairbanks began to work on a proposal and "Sketch" for the steering committee.
In August, 1982, Dachoff traveled to Utah to meet the sculptor and discuss the job. He returned with photographs and materials for the Committee, which was impressed with both Fairbanks' proposal and previous work. A formal agreement was subsequently drawn-up and submitted, and Fairbanks began to work immediately.
During the 1982-83 academic year, a campus-wide fundraising campaign was launched. By July 12, 1983, nearly $38,000 was raised from donations by students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the Institution.
The location of the statue site was finalized and approved in July, and work commenced to prepare the grounds for installation and the dedication ceremony.
[Puzzle]
This geocache is not located at the listed coordinates! It is instead placed near the site of the original location the statue was placed.
The cache is a two stage multi with a field puzzle.
Use words on the building and answer the following questions to find the coordinates for the final.
The final can be found at:
N 43° 41.3AB' W085° 28.9XY'
- A = Number of Os on the east face minus two.
- B = Fourth digit of the year under the artist's name.
- X = Number of As on the granite.
- Y = Number of letters in the direction the statue is facing minus one.
Check Sum: A + B + X + Y = 12
[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.