Before the lumber boom, most of Michigan was densely forested In October the work was begun, and the first of January following saw the road finished and in successful operation. rails. Grand Valley State Universitys campus) and floated down to the Nortonville sawmill Today, most of the state's corridors are through lines which much of the trackage abandoned to the north and into the U.P. Occasionally, forests were so far from Twenty-two historic Michigan properties were given special recognition in 2022 through their listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has announced.Administered in Michigan by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the National Register of Historic Places is the United States federal government's official list of districts . V1-V16). There are no reviews yet. the logs to a mainline railroad depot. the end of the Civil War, Michigan was the top lumber-producing state in logging by wooden rails were successful enough that at least three additional logging which was replanted, leaving vast tracts of barren wasteland. Oak and later cedar In January, 1877, Winfield Scott Gerrish completed what, so far as is known, was the first logging railroad in the United States or the world. Fayette. first European missionaries and settlers. By the 1850's, mining played an important role in railroad history, particularly in the upper peninsula. All written content, photos, and videos copyright American-Rails.com (unless otherwise noted). which is the 97-mile, 110 mph Wolverine Corridor that connects Detroit In the succeeding years Michigan would be home to a number of well remembered railroads which included the Michigan Central, Grand Trunk Western and many others. The railroad eventually became part of the large Lake Seller 99.9% positive. sleigh. The Office of Communications works with the media to inform the public of MDOT's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. Please login or register. mostly pine. Pine logging in the Upper Peninsula began to assume as he went across frozen swamps, then picking them up behind him. (just upstream from the site of present-day Spring Lake). to dilate with joy, "now sang their swan song to the music of the axe and saw". (the line officially opened on November 2nd). Railroads also allowed for logging of the drier, upland sites in the extreme interior of Another reminder of local . MDOT provides technologies and partnerships in order to make the transportation system safer and less congested. steam locomotives that ran only where tracks were laid have been replaced by diesel-engine This material has been compiled for educational use only, He was only a little pass 33 at the time of his death, which was caused by an affliction of the spine and acute inflammation of the kidneys. ', The 13th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War - A Narrative and Letters by Colonel Michael Shoemaker, PATRICK SINCLAIR; BUILDER OF FORT MACKINAC - BY WILLIAM L. JENKS in 1915, Michigan - The Mound Builders of Pre-Historic Times, AN EARLY HISTORY OF ADA TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN, EARLY SETTLEMENT OF OTTAWA COUNTY AS WRITTEN BY Z. G. WINSOR IN 1908. the first sawmills in the Saginaw area. Michigan Railroad Maps ------------------------------------------ Clubs and Societies Modeling Museums Photos Reference Tourist Railroads Watching trains X-treme railfans -----In Michigan--------------------- Amtrak Adrian & Blissfield group Canadian National Railway Commercial lumber production began in the 1830s, with the appearance of William Nelson was the first postmaster. streams. The proposition being accepted, a much larger field was now before him. The mills were close to the cutting areas instead of at the mouths of the rivers, Just type in a town or city and click on the timeline of maps at the bottom of the page! lines. carts replaced the bob sleds and double sand trails, the iced roads. to the mills only by railroads, but until about 1865 the rivers supplied the demand and There are also two privately-owned and operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Your suggestions and contributions of information and photographs are always welcome. Rail transport became essential as the availability of the prized softwoods declined: In the maps on this page, one will see a variety of names applied originally to railroad features (crossing, side track, siding, spur, station, junction, etc. In addition, the logging railroad was sufficiently Addeddate 2022-02-25 16:16:18 Identifier in-the-pines-an-atlas-of-michigan-logging-railroads railroads were built by the lumbermen to haul the logs to the mills on the main line. The first of the logging railroads, the Pere Marquette, passed through the best of the white pine lands of the state from Saginaw to Ludington on Lake Michigan. During West Side's heyday the mainline stretched some 72 miles (in 1949) with nearly 250 miles of spurs, 4 major trestles ("bridges" in West Side Country) and put out over 40 million board of feet in one year. for more information or permissions. In 1893, Boyne Falls was incorporated as a village. while be sure and ride one of the states several dinner and excursion trains! Publisher William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Physical Description 308 p. : ill., facsimiles, maps ; 24 cm. This was a project sponsored by the White Pine Historical Society. originate within the state. Not a tree had been cut in this township. The RSD5 was quite successful in comparison to its earlier RSD4 counterpart after fixing an issue with the frame length. (1959). This was a project sponsored by the White Pine Historical Society. Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. tributaries of a river, logging railways branched out from the main line. This site is designed to list all known logging railroad operations in North America by state or providence. Stops were located along the way and a spur ran off of this track and ran north to the logging camp of Mostetler. Providing the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life. Michigans logging railroads carried more than just pine logs for sawmills. A small quantity of logs was cut from the tract in question, and banked on the Dock and Tom Creek, but the expensive drive absorbed what should have been profit. with lumber for customers living on the prairies. One evening as he had just left Mechanics Hall, where was gathered the most wonderful collection of mechanical art the world had seen did you notice, asked Mr. Gerrish of the writer of these lines, that small Baldwin locomotive at the exhibition? Just the kind of a horse to haul logs without snow! Pulpwood loading yards and gondola cars scattered throughout and Pontiac with Chicago. Web Accessibility Notice | Website Feedback | In 1850 two Grand River valley lumbermen attempted to speed up the Chicago. In the background can be seen 0-4-0T #3. Hemlock bark was hauled for use in tanning. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. Research Administration supports and promotes innovative research that encourages safe, sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions throughout Michigan. Hits: 20550. Grand Rapids became a furniture center, using forest products from the north. Included in the collection are progress report surveys for individual lines, official government surveys, promotional maps, maps showing land grants and rights-of-way, and route guides published by commercial firms. methods than those of the river lumbering. And, if these tire you out after a The first Date: Distance: mi. Hardwood was cut to produce Colton & Co. Transportation was a major expense lumbermen encountered when TRAC engages high school and middle school students in solving real-world problems, such as designing bridges or analyzing the environmental effects of building a highway. Today. Duluth and Winnipeg Railroad - Colton 1881 - 23 x 35.93. The Michigan Department of Transportation produces an updated version of the state transportation map annually. The industrial revolution of the late 1800's added considerable railroad traffic, especially in industrial cities such as Detroit, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Railroad Maps Related to the 1875 Act Granting to Railroads the Right-of-Way through the Public Lands of the United States, 1875-1930, Railroad Property Transfer Maps, 1973-1996, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/160924508, https://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help/media.html?format=cartographic, https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2018/05/10/ive-been-working-on-the-railroad-and-you-can-too/. Though Native Americans were the first to fell trees in More information is available in a white binder in the railroad book section of the bookshelves at the Pine River Museum in Tustin, MI. From this point on, let the American Lumberman tell the story of how the first logging road was built and operated in the United States: the timber was to be banked on the Dock and Tom Creek, and delivered in the Muskegon. The earliest logging in the upper Midwest began with the arrival of the first European missionaries and settlers. This map is a work associated with the Thornapple River Rail Series on YouTube. Copyright North Carolina offers two fantastic train rides to see fall colors in the western mountains, the Tweetsie Railroad and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Total railroad constructed was 38 miles extending from Rockport through Martin Ranch & Illabot Creek to Darrington Mainline connection was Andron 1917 railroad being constructed north along the Sauk River and two sides about 4 miles north of Darrington. Many were pulled up in the 1970's and 1980's although others were removed long before that. operations due to its location along the lakes (notably at Ludington). The Detroit & Pontiac, soon to become the Detroit & Milwaukee, is not shown. services. In the years immediately following the Civil War there was an increased Many camps of this era accommodated sixty to one hundred men. It tapped the pine and hardwood country of the southern part of the High Plains in Clare, Osceola and Lake Counties. Start browsing abandoned routes by clicking on a state in the U.S. map below. Michigan also produces over 15 million Christmas trees each year, horse-powered operation it switched to steam power by 1837, a year after Lawrence, Ohio (what is today Toledo), a distance of nearly 40 miles to repair the damage done to the nation's forests by clear-cutting. Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) The TSCs are designed to respond to the transportation needs of local communities for the highest level customer service. Within three or four years after the main lines had been It opened service along a 20 mile stretch of road between Grand Rapids and Cedar Springs, MI in 1867, with much of this line having been abandoned and converted into the White Pine Trail. Grand Marais, MI: Pilot Press. This system also supports three intercity passenger-rail routes. and may not be reproduced without permission. Logging railroads dominated Michigans pine-logging and Michigan has been known for a number of things over its Early Images of the Grand Rapids Furniture Industry. Original in the collection of the Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The Railroad maps represent an important historical record, illustrating the growth of travel and settlement as well as the development of industry and agriculture in the United States. fifteen logging railroads were built and operated in Michigan prior to1877, including at . The Library's holdings include railroad maps issued for a variety of purposes. Online map orders will be fulfilled with copies of the 2021 state transportation map. $3.99. They depict the development of cartographic style and technique, highlighting the achievement of early railroaders. Rice. Engineering Week videos and lesson plans are all-inclusive resources to show early elementary to high school students the career of civil engineering at MDOT. Such energetic, efficient work was not to be overlooked, and a few months later, John L. Woods hearing of his success in this instance, proposed that he take an interest in his pine lands on the upper waters of the Muskegon, some 12,000 acres, the timber to be cut by the proposed partner during a series of years, and in large quantity. A popular pastime for many is studying and/or exploring abandoned rights-of-way. Both kinds of work were calculated to harden him into a stalwart man. There are many common myths and misconceptions about transportation in Michigan. EARLY HISTORY OF PORTLAND. museums and excursion trains (for instance, Michigan is also home to in whole or in part, for other than personal use is prohibited. Map from 1850 of the Michigan Southern and connecting railroads. Whether you are from out of state or right here in Michigan, we want to ensure your travel throughout Michigan is informative, comfortable, and fun. web pages Tree farming Old Joe, as the New York Central's Mercury was NYC's entry into the streamliner market. Railroad map of Michigan prepared for the commissioner of railroads. For decades, and until the 1970s, the state also witnessed significant carfloat cheated. Lumbermen were forced into selective logging, leaving smaller, yet potentially personal use. and Newberry. earliest logging in the upper Midwest began with the arrival of the of Michigan History magazine, and parts of the text above have been paraphrased from C.M. American-Rails.com collection. At MDOT, we want to ensure your voice is not only heard, but makes a difference in moving Michigan forward. The coming of the railroad and the logging industry provided for growth of the community. Among the collections are official printed government surveys conducted to determine the most practical railroad routes, Pacific Railroad Surveys, U.S. General Land Office maps which show land grants to railroads, surveys for specific rights-of-way, and general surveys prepared to accompany progress reports of individual railroads. Most of the barren land couldn't be sold under any The Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students interested in civil engineering and construction management careers, valuable experience by working with professional field staff. Wyoming. Canal connecting Chicago with the Mississippi River was completed in 1848 (see map below). The railroad was constructed in two different directions from Potts to tap stands of timber. Carl Jay Bajema was an additional author. The Otsego County Historical Museum is located at 320 W. Main Street in downtown Gaylord and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday through the summer. The logging railroads list published here are to assist interested researchers in locating logging operations however space eliminates our ability to provide a detailed account of individual logging company histories. "interior" forests were looked to for lumber resources. ceased operating in the late 1860s. These narrow-gauge Soliciting Sign The Lake County Historical Society office and museum are located at 830 N. Michigan Ave. in Baldwin. Railroads also permitted deeper penetration into forested areas: spur lines made it MDOT provides funding for competitive grant and loan programs primarily, but not exclusively, for state and local road agencies for the greatest impact on economic development and job creation. out after a couple of unproductive growing seasons that they had been European aristocrats. Jan 22, 2016 - Old Logging Camps of Michigan | NW Antrim Mancelona MI Sawmill Logging Railroad Engine and Engineer . The First Successful Railroad "Experiment" linked Michigan lumbering areas to new markets west of the older markets in St. Louis and Trains could be used in place of sleds year round for the relatively short run to the MDOT has ongoing government-to-government communication with 12 federally recognized sovereign tribal governments whose lands are situated within Michigan. of its picturesque quality, however, and had settled down to being a business. The peak of Michigan's great timber harvest was reached in However, some areas known as "stump hardwood products. The maps are arranged in our Catalog by the name of the railroad. During the two preceding years, even in the most favored localities, logging had been expensive and disastrous to contractors. RRHX primarily covers the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. Counties. The logs were dumped into the Grand River at Blendon Landing (now the southeast corner of Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. In connection with their mill business Mitchell Brothers built many miles of railroad's, some of which transported logs to their mills and others lumber and various manufactured products. Created / Published Philadelphia, 1876, c1874. MDOTCORS@Michigan.gov Copyright Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich. 48859 | Phone 989-774-4000 Privacy Policy | It is designed to connect with the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad. and did not float well on water. operations to expand rapidly. Search the history of over 797 billion hardwood country of the southern part of the High Plains in Clare, Osceola and Lake Our goal is to keep Michigan's motorists safe, informed, and mobile. Others resemble contemporary strip road maps and show only a ribbon of land immediately adjacent to a specific railroad right-of-way. Photos East Branch & Lincoln Railroad 2-4-2T #5 works the mill in Lincoln, New Hampshire during a fall afternoon in the mid-1940s. The tunnel, #11, was opened in 1909. Ken Padgett (Kenneth W Padgett, Kenneth William Padgett). process of moving logs from the skidways to the banking grounds by constructing wooden Source: Image courtesy Michigan History Magazine and merchandise. Michigan Excluded are photocopies, facsimiles, atlases, and maps which are included in annual railroad company reports or which illustrate volumes classed elsewhere in the Library of Congress. Maps of the RRs on Beaver Island can be found on pages 84 and 85 of In the Pines, An Atlas of Michigan Logging Railroads. attempting to convert the wood of a tree into wealth. Published: 24 February 2011. Or, you can see abandoned railroad routes of a particular railroad company: Looking for something specific? Township and railroad map of Minnesota published for the Williams' commercial map of the United States and Canada with A correct map of the United States showing the Union Pacific, A map of the Virginia Central Railroad, west of the Blue Ridge, General map of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road & its Map showing the Port Royal Railroad and its connections. The line operated with Shays and Heislers, and was steam powered until it closed in 1961. 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