Town Name: Pere
Cheney
Population: 0
Reason For Becoming a Lost Town: When the
timber ran out, the land was sold at a public auction and the
ground proved to be too sandy for farming.
Town History: In
1873 Michigan Central Railroad completed the railway system between
Gaylord and Jackson. About that time George Cheney got a land
grant form the railway company to establish a stop on the railroad
for gas, freight, water and passengers. It was prior know as
Center Plains Township. Cheney built a sawmill, and later
Cheney House, a Hotel to acomadate the number of fast rising
settlers, lumbermen and tourist in the area. On December 1st,
1874 Pere Cheney received a post office. By 1877 the town had
2 sawmills, a general store, a wagon maker, 2 carpenters, a doctor,
a hotel telegraph service, and daily mail. Lumber was the
only product ever shiped from Pere Cheney. The cemetary was
established on about 5 acres, in 1878, located south east from the
town. By 1896 the population had droped from around 1500
people to around 55, 25 people in 1901, and 18 people in
1917. The post office was closed in 1912, and the land was
sold off at a public auction on May 7th, 1917. The only
reamaing families were farmers of the outter lying area of the
town. Diptheria was spread through the town twice in its
short life, once in 1893, and again in 1897. It took several
lives, many from the same family at the saem time. The Barber
family lost 3 children in less than 3 weeks over Christmas of the
1893 sickness. Many families moved out of the town into
neighboring towns of Roscommon and Grayling, or further.
There were several fires in Pere Cheney due to the sparks from the
mills that were located behind and to the south the
cemetary. There was no water supply near Pere Cheney, so the
towns people had to use water wagons and shovel dirt to put out
these fires. Sometimes they were not successful and had to
let the fires burn out themselves. Most of what you will read
says that townspeople from neighboring towns tried to burn the town
down to stop the spread of disease, I have found nothing to credit
that. Although some of the buildings burnt down due to a mill
fire after the town had been
deserted.
Cache Description: The Cache
is a clear Lock & Lock. Please make sure it is hidden well
before you leave!
DO NOT DRIVE
THROUGH THE FIELD!!! OR THIS CACHE WILL BE
REMOVED!
Notes of Interest: If you notice big sunken holes
in the ground, those are where homes and business used to be. The
cemetary is a short walk at N 44° 34.426 W 084°
38.168. The cemetary is in bad shape, so
please respect the area! If you want to learn more please visit
this site at http://www.geocities.com/perecheney/
This cache is part of the Michigan's Lost
Towns cache series. Visit this link to see
the complete list and to submit your own!!
