Welcome to the CacheMore 2023 series! This cache was hidden as part of a friendly geocaching competition to encourage exploring the areas surrounding North Central WV, Southwest PA, and Western MD. To learn more and participate for yourself, please click HERE.
Season 1
Rices Landing is a small rural town located along the western bank of the Monongahela River, Approximately sixty miles South of Pittsburgh. One of the first visitors to the area was George Washington. Tale has it that in 1775, while he was traveling to Fort Duquesne, he and his men camped in this area.
In 1786, John Rice purchased land on the East side of Enoch's Run, and at about the same time, Abijah McClain purchased land on the West side. John Rice built the community he named Rices Landing, while Abijah McClain called his settlement Newport. In 1801, Benjamin Franklin mapped out the area and combined the two communities under the name RicesLanding. Enoch's run was renamed Swan Run before it eventually took the name it holds today, Pumpkin Run.
Rices Landing officially incorporated in April 1903. The availability of valuable resources such as trees, clay, sand coal and transportation allowed the community to thrive. Shops, trading posts, taverns, and other businesses once lined its busy streets. It was soprosperous, that it was regarded as the Gateway to Western Pennsylvania by frontier settlers.
Although things have quieted today, the residents still see their community as a charming and respectable community that was once the talk of the frontier world. It's not just the Monongahela that flows in these parts, but also a deep appreciation of history, a pride in the lovely countryside, and a wonderful sense of peace.
The center of industry in Rices Landing during the first and second world wars was the W. A Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, which is still in existence today. The foundry was used to make many different items for the war effort and will undergo construction in the coming year. Many of these mines and industry are no longer around, however other interesting things still exist in the town. Rices Landing is home to Pumpin Run Park which is a park owned and maintained by the borough. The park opens on Memorial Day and closes on Labor Day. Also located in the downtown area is the Greene River Bike and Walking Trail, which is a continuing project that has reached from Fredericktown to Crucible.
Rices Landing is also the former home of US Olympic Wrestler and 4 Time State Champion Cary Kolat. Kolat is known as being one of the best wrestlers in history going 137-0 in High school, and 111-7 in College. Kolat won many international medals, and competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.