SWS - Rockford on the GR&I (PRR) Multi-cache

This two stage multi cache is on the former grade of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad through Rockford, starting at the site where the former GR&Idepot still stands. To locate the second stage, solve the field puzzle below using information found at the posted coordinates. The grade is now part of the White Pine Trail State Park. The site of the depot is the parking and access point for the trail. The second stage is on the White Pine Trail and should be accessed from the trail. It is a short ride on a bike or a good walk down the trail. For those who prefer four wheels, there is a parking coordinate near the trail crossing on Childsdale Road.

GR&I Depot, Rockford, MI, from across the river

Rockford:

Prior to 1842, the only trace of humanity in the immediate area of Rockford was a nearby Indian trail known as the Plainfield-Sheridan trail. The first white settlers to the banks of the Rogue River at what would become Rockford were the Hunter Brothers (Merlin in 1842 followed by William in 1843), believed to be timber speculators from New York, and Smith Lapham, also a former New Yorker who had been residing in Washtenaw County for eighteen years. History is not clear on how the Hunter's and Lapham came to know each other, but there are records showing that Lapham agreed to help William Hunter construct a dam and a saw mill on the west bank of the river in exchange for eighty acres of land on the east side. By the time the dam was completed, the deal had been reduced to forty acres so Lapham constructed his own mill on the east bank. From simple beginnings as a collection of shacks for mill workers, a settlement started began to grow. Some time in 1844, a Stage and Mail Route were established on the Indian trail.

The year 1848 was a remarkable for the new settlement. On May 3^rd Lapham was appointed the first postmaster of the Laphamville post office. On May 16^th, a meeting was held in the Lapham home and a school the Plainfield School District No. 3 was organized and a school board elected. A schoolhouse was constructed later that year. Also, two gentlemen with last names of White and Rathburn opened the first store.

In 1856, the haphazardly growing settlement was platted as the Village of Laphamville. By 1858, news of a soon to come railroad line excited the small community. Although delayed for several years by the Civil War, among other things, the railroad had a large influence on the community. In 1865, as grading for the railroad approached Laphamville, the railroad used its influence to request that the local citizens come up with a shorter, more flowery name for the village, post office and future railroad station. A meeting was held in the schoolhouse with much inclusive discussion. Older citizens wanted just shorten the name to Lapham. A recently arrived pastor, one Rev. Volney Powell, suggested the name Rockford be adopted, for the shallow but rocky ford near the gristmill at the end of Bridge Street (named for the future site of a bridge). Eventually a vote was taken and the name Rockford was adopted. In June, 1866, the Village of Rockford was replatted and incorporated.

GR&I Depot, Rockford, MI

Railroads:

One railroad, Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was constructed through and served Rockford for 108 years. A second line which started life as the Grand Rapids, Rockford and Greenville Railroad never operated.

Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad

The GR&I was first incorporated on January 18^th, 1854. It spent thirteen years as a paper company before construction actually started. Service began between Grand Rapids and Cedar Springs on Christmas Day, 1867. By the middle of 1869, the rails were down as far as Morley and on to Paris in the fall of 1870. Trackage was also completed between Grand Rapids and Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1871, the GR&I acquired the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad Company, extending the GR&I to Cincinnati. Trackage was extending northward as well. By late 1872, a branch was completed between Walton to Traverse City. By the end of 1873, the line reached Petoskey and in 1882, Mackinaw City, becoming the longest north-south line in the country, at that time. As such, it had a large role in the settlement of northern Michigan. In 1886, the railroad also built a line connecting Grand Rapids and Muskegon.

The primary business in the early years was timber and lumber. This shifted to tourism and the GR&I advertised itself as "The Fishing Line". In partnership with the Michigan Central Railroad, the company built and opened the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in 1887. In 1918, the GR&I was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad, which operated it until 1975. The Michigan DOT purchased it and leased it to the Michigan Northern Railroad until 1984.

Today, most of the line is gone. The portion of the line between Grand Rapids and Cadillac has become the White Pine Trail. The line between Marne and Muskegon has become the Musketawa Trail.

Grand Rapids, Rockford and Greenville

On November 10^th, 1870, articles of incorporation were filed to create a new rail line from the north side of Rockford to Greenville. On June 26^th, 1872, new articles of incorporation were filed for the Grand Rapids, Greenville & Alpena Railroad Company and the GRR&G was consolidated into it on July 24^th, 1872. This corporation lapsed. In 1880, another attempt was made to connect Rockford with Greenville. On June 1st of that year, the Grand Rapids, Greenville and Bay City Railroad was incorporated to that end. This corporation also lapsed. At some point, grading was actually started on the line between Rockford and Greenville. There are spots where this grade is visible, but building and farming has all but obliterated it. The grade was once visible near the Greenville High School but building projects there have removed all signs of the railroad that almost was.

Proposed path of Grand Rapids, Rockford & Greenville Railroad through Kent County from 1876 plat.

Cache:

The cache is a two stage field puzzle at and near the posted coordinates which are at the former depot building. The Depot has had additions on both the north and south end over the years since the railroad was abandoned. To locate stage 2, use information found at the former depot building, to answer the questions below.

• N 43 06.ABC W 085 34.DEF
  
  
• A = From the west (track) side of the former depot, add the number of square roof vents on the north section of the building to the number of square roof vents on the center section of the building.
• B = How many doorways are on the south-east corner of the building that includes the former depot
• C = Add one to the number of window panes on the south end of the building (not counting the door)
• D = The sum of the digits of the street address of the former depot building.
• E = The first digit of the street address of the former depot building
• F = From the listed coordinates, count the number of gable ends visible on south section of the building.
  
  
• PLEASE DO NOT POST PHOTOS OF THE FORMER DEPOT BUILDING WITH YOUR LOG THAT WILL INCLUDE ANY OF THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
  
  
• Check your solution

Sources:

• Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad depot photos
• Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad
• Rockford (Wikipedia)
• Rockford Chamber of Commerce - History
• Rockford History - MiGenWeb
• Michigan County Histories and Atlases - UofM Digital Library
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Charles Conn Collection
• Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, L.H.D., © Wayne State University Press, 1986
• Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
• Michigan RailroadLines, Graydon Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press
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