GCWZ46 Ashmun Park and Bay Cache (Traditional Cache) in Michigan, United States created by Comrades of Four

This cache has been archived.

-allenite-: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email) within 30 days, and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

GCWZ46 ▼

A cache by Comrades of Four Message this owner

Hidden : 7/5/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Located in a park near the Soo Locks, in a quart size plastic candy container.

The Locks at Sault Sainte Marie were of great strategic interest to the United States and Canada during the early part of World War II. Huge loads of iron ore from Ontario and Northern Michigan were funneled through the area by ship. It was thought that if the locks were damaged or destroyed by an enemy attack their loss would be devastating to the steel industry at a time it was most needed.

Shortly after America’s entry into the war the Canadian and American government’s defensive presence in the area grew from a battalion of American soldiers temporarily assigned to Fort Brady and a detachment of the RCMP into a full Infantry Regiment and another Battalion of Infantry, a Battalion of Military Police, and soldiers manning several pieces of anti-aircraft artillery, heavy and light machine guns, barrage balloons, search lights and others staffing supporting functions all of which filled the nearby facilities at Fort Brady, Camp Lucas and temporary Canadian barracks to the brim. Often elements of the Coast Guard were seen nearby. Army Air Fields were constructed about 20 miles away and civilian watchmen looked after the equipment needed to support the locks. Everyone was focused on doing what could be done to defend this vital waterway. As the war continued the perceived threat to the locks diminished. While much of the Sault Sainte Marie garrison was reassigned, a military presence remained around the locks well into the Cold War era.

From this point look around and try to imagine what it might have taken for the Canadians and Americans to defend this area from any possible threat. We have been informed there was anti-aircraft artillery platform within a few hundred yards of this site occupied into the 1950s. Where would the huge barrage balloon be anchored? Would there have been a military defense position right here?

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Erzrzore ab ghovat... abg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)