This geocache is quite close to the Russellville geocache.
During the late 1860's and the early 1870's, before the coming of the railroad, A. Jacobs & Company ran a tri-weekly stage via Russellville, superintended by Dug Ayers. They provided fierce competition for the Santa Fe Stage Line. As the Iron Horse lapped up the miles from the Missouri River, the stagecoach era passed into history, an endearing and exciting chapter in pioneer annals.
By the late 1890's, William Green Russell's original camp, also had passed into history. Nothing was left but some old foundations of cabins rotting away, and the remnants of a house that had been built and kept as a hotel and stage station. Today, near this old hotel site, where in the mind's eye you can visualize the waiting stagecoach, stands a spring house. Its waters cool the milk, meats, produce, and numerous "beverages" just as it did so many years ago. A beautiful apple tree spreads its protective branches over the spring house proclaiming the untiring efforts of those first pioneers who came to Russellville and made it their home.
The Spring house was built in 1862 and the apple tree is possibly the oldest in Douglas county.
There are two attached pictures. One of an unknown date and one quite recent. Use the above coordinates to get you within 100 feet of the cache location and then use the recent photo to position yourself at the location from which the photo was taken. The cache is within five feet of that location. This is along a road so there is no need to go on private property. Parking could be tricky.
Thanks Geocaching Colorado for the Geocache of the Month Award, as the second series to win!
