Located along the Camden Waterfront Promenade, this micro cache is hidden on the old RCA Pier. Jutting out into the Delaware River, this pier was built after 1915 as a coal yard for the Victor Talking Machine Company (VTMC) following the construction of the new power plant (Buildings 9 & 12). It replaced the old coal yard built in 1909 nearby. Barges would pull up to the pier at high tide (the water is very shallow) and unload coal into the pier. The pier was a large bin until it was filled in when the power plant was razed in the early 1990's. A large conveyor would move the coal from the coal bins on the pier up into the upper portion of the power plant (Building 12). The coal was burned to create heating steam and electric power for the rapidly growing VTMC (and later RCA Victor) industrial facilities.
During its heyday, tens of thousands of employees worked in the many buildings that formed the RCA Victor complex. Today, the only buildings that remain include Building 2 and a fraction of Building 3 (now housing the Camden Board of Education at Front & Cooper Streets), Building 17 (now the Victor Loft apartments), and Building 8 across from Johnson Park on Cooper Street (now abandoned, soon to be apartments also). The last remnant of the mighty RCA Victor Camden is the L-3 Corporation, housed in a two-building complex between Market & Federal Streets (the site of the original Campbell Soup factory and the Van Sciver furniture factory/showroom). The Power Plant (Buildings 12 & 9) and Buildings 10/13 were demolished, and the pier filled in, in 1997.
You can drive right up to this cache by entering the parking lot at the foot of Cooper Street (to the left of the Rutgers student lot), or by parking at the nearby Aquarium and walking along the waterfront promenade. It is handicap accessible.
This cache is very well camouflaged, and is located in a highly visible location, which gives it a difficulty rating of 3. During waterfront events (especially major concerts at the Tweeter Center), this lot is filled (and they will charge to park), making it impossible to go after this cache. You will likely find someone parked directly in front of this cache, eating their lunch, goofing off, or gazing at the Philadelphia skyline (a favorite at night). You can do the same to hide your activity. You may have to wait around for muggles to leave (enjoy the stroll along the Promenade). The area is lit at night, with Rutgers students coming and going (when classes are in session), so night caching is possible, but keep in mind this is Camden!
Please make sure you are not being watched, and replace the cache container exactly as you found it. It's a micro, so you must bring your own pen. To remove log sheet from cache container, insert finger into container, rotating your finger while sliding sheet out. To replace, roll up tightly on your pen/pencil, place in container, replace plug. Please, no spoilers.
