Dynamite 1 Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The Cache is situated at Dam #1 in Modderfontein close to the Modderfontein Library. There is a children’s play area close by as well as restaurants. Bring some breadcrumbs along to feed the waterfowl.
This is a nice spot to view the Gautrain.
A brief history of Modderfontein:
The ‘Zuid Afrikaansche Fabrieken voor Ontplofbare Stoffen Beperk’, a company formed expressly to supply dynamite to the SA mines, was the brainchild of Paul Kruger, President of the South African Republic. Modderfontein Factory was laid out on 2400 hectares of virgin Highveld teeming with game and wildlife, and devoid of industry, raw materials and skilled workers. Construction started in April 1895 under the supervision of the first Factory Manager Franz Hoenig, an Austrian seconded from the Nobel explosives factory at Pressburg in Hungary.
Four explosives factories were built, complete with infrastructure and housing, with an estimated output of 240 000 × 50 lb cases of explosives per year.
Trained explosives workers were recruited mainly from Europe and at one stage representatives of no fewer than 17 European nationalities were on the payroll. Black employees were recruited from the four corners of the sub-continent to embark on a significant contribution to the Company's success story which continues 100 years later.
The layout of the factory was based on that of the Nobel plant at Ardeer in Scotland. A survey of the property carried out prior to the establishment of African Explosives and Industries in 1924 valued Franz Hoenig house at 4 000 pounds sterling. Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, lived in Franz Hoenig house during the Anglo Boer War. The first million tons of explosives were produced at the factory in 1953. The General Offices (now Modderfontein House) were built in 1937.
Modderfontein was proclaimed a Health Committee in 1952 and a Town Council in 1986.
Enjoy the hunt…
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ubzr bs gur Thzzl Ornef.