Steam locomotivehauled trains were still eight months in the future. Train station station building with waiting room detroit has a rich and multilayered history that makes it one of the midwests most storied cities. Detroit area railroad history public group facebook. Michigan central station detroit 2020 all you need to. Old detroit train station sold to ford for redevelopment cbc. Last year detroit became the largest city in us history to go bankrupt. Michigan central station is iconic and often in the news. The 18th street station on the old lexington line in new york shut down in 1948, after the board of transportation decided to close it, rather than enlargen it. The year is 1926, and the city of detroit is a need of a book depository.
Before the firemen had uncoupled the hose at the old place, trains were running into and out of the new station. Amtrak train station detroit, mi has an enclosed waiting area, without wifi, with parking, with accessible platform and wheelchair available. The station started as a depot for a combination of railways, including the old wabash, the flint and pere marquette, and the detroit, lansing and northern. Abandoned train stations and their history insider. The task of designing this new structure was granted to albert kahn. Its surrounded by barbed and razor wire, so dont think youre getting in to check it out. The 18story train station, michigan central station, was designed in part by the architects who designed new yorks grand central station. Please note that many of the tickets we have left are to chicago, so you might receive duplicates. A great collection of historic photographs accompanied by informational text. These lines carried,553,415 passengers including transfers in 1914. A brief history of michigan central station as historic. Detroit detroits former main train station, designed in the beauxarts style by the same architects who created grand central terminal in new york, has tall columns and vaulted ceilings.
This map comes from the 1915 report on detroit street railway traffic and proposed subway. When the old michigan central depot burned on december 26, 19 the still unfinished structure off of michigan ave. The first phase of construction is underway at the old train station, as ford has started work protecting the building from the elements. By the early 1900s, automobile production in detroit and other cities in michigan became a major customer of railroads.
A brief history of michigan central station as historic detroit train depot prepares for new chapter. Photo from the burton historical collection, detroit public library. Michigan central station renovations start with winterization. See more ideas about detroit, train station and central station. The stairs that led from the train sheds into michigan central station. As a lover of urban decay, this was an awesome stop along michigan ave. The main entrance in may 1988, a few months after the station closed. While plans have been proposed over the years to save the building and put it to use, no plans have come to fruition. The 4th annual detroit homecoming, hosted by crains detroit business, will use the towering 104year old train station as its backdrop. Detroit public schools book depository and its anatomy. Detroits michigan central station mi images of america. The amtrak station is located in new center, northwest of downtown and the cultural district.
Michigan has a rich railroad history, which began in november 1836, when the erie and kalamazoo railroad initiated service between toledo, ohio, and adrian, michigan. These are stamped on the back from 19151923 and were found inside the train station back in the 1990s. Collectible railroad books the car might be king today but thousands of devoted writers have ensured the railroads will never be forgotten. Detroits old train station sold to ford for redevelopment. Michigans railroad history january 2015 7 18401849 1840 railroad mileage in michigan totaled 104 miles. After fire destroyed the old detroit depot, the new station opened early in 19. History of michigan central station detroit train depot. Matthew moroun, son of building owner manuel matty moroun, said dearbornbased fords blue oval logo will adorn the building. Moundbuilders lived in the area and mounds were noted at several locations in presentday detroit, including at fort wayne and springwells in the 17th century, the region was inhabited by the. A crowd favorite for years, the glancy trains are from the collection of alfred r. Hearths and geological features from the holcombe beach site near lake saint clair show that paleoindian people settled in the area of detroit as early as 11,000 years ago. Youll likely only stay for less than 30 minutes, but its amazing to see the infrastucture around the station, and imagining it during detroits boom. Michigan central station old photos historic detroit.
Formally dedicated on january 4, 1914, the station remained open for business until the cessation. Map of detroit interurban lines 1915 detroitography. Excellent i took the train back and forth from detroit to kalamazoo in my college days in the 70s and even thought the train station had begun to deteriorate then, i still remember the grandeur of the old days when my greatuncle worked on the train as a porter and we would pick him up at the train station when he would spend the night with us. Worth a quick visit to take in its amazing architecture. Michigan central station to host opening night for detroit. Readers interested in michigan railroad history as well as historic preservation will not want to miss this handsome volume. Detroit files for largest municipal bankruptcy in us history video. In the winter of 19, grand central station was officially opened and immediately became one of the most beautiful and recognizable manhattan landmarks. The rrhx history section of has over 6,000 pages and thousands of photographs about early railroads, mining and industrial history. Michigans historic railroad stations will reacquaint readers with the building type that once served as the nations principal crossroads, and the range of architectural styles it employed both to tame and exalt rail transportation. Michigan central station in april 1982, six years before it closed. Built for the michigan central railroad, it replaced the original depot in downtown detroit, which was shuttered after a major fire on december 26, 19, forcing the still unfinished station into early service. Michigans historic railroad stations painted turtle.
Detroit area railroad history is a public facebook group, dedicated to the history of railroading in southeastern michigan and southwestern ontario. The location chosen for this new undertaking was 2231 dalzelle street, which itself is located in the neighborhood of corktown. Last train left detroit depot 27 years ago today dan austin, detroit free press published 2. The underground railroad was an 1800s network of assisting escaped slaves on their path from plantations in the american south to freedom in canada. Free public tours of michigan central depot run from 16 p. Here again it must be noted that all of this traffic was not carried across the center of the city, but the figures give the relative importance of. We have plucked from obscurity 30 fascinating books most of them outofprint about railways from cairo to new south wales to yosemite encompassing engineering, history, industry, photography, policing. Readers interested in michigan railroad history as well as historic preservation will not want to miss this. Detroits revival is anchored in its train station the. The old detroit public schools book depository, which is right next to the train station, was also transferred. Glancy enjoyed hosting train parties for friends, neighbors, schoolchildren and scout groups each holiday season at his home in grosse pointe. Own a piece of detroit history with five authentic train tickets from michigan central station. However, hundreds of trains pass by the station, which was originally opened in 1904, every day.
History of michigan central station detroit train depot train station abandond closed burned fire police dangerous private property crime trespassing elite security detroit executive protection. These days, it sits abandoned two miles southwest of downtown. Abebooks 100 million books from independent booksellers, including thousands of railroad titles. Detroit was one of the last stops on the railroad, before escaped slaves could find their freedom in canada. Residents in corktown said they know the mystery company is ford. A rich, illustrated and entertaining history of the iconic grand central terminal, from one of new york citys favorite writers, just in time to celebrate the train stations 100th fabulous anniversary. During the late 1890s and the first decade of the twentieth century, the. Historic michigan central station in detroit now owned by ford. The 105yearold building that once handled all of detroits passenger rail traffic closed in 1988 due to a decline in ridership and took on a new life in the subsequent years as a mustsee. This page provides a directory of websites offering railroad books including new, used, rare, and outofprint books covering railroad history, train operations, railroad photography, and model railroading. Explore detroit train station due for revival, thanks to. Hodges covers art and architecture for the detroit news, where hes worked since the early 1990s.
The announcement came in front of the 500,000square. We welcome historians amateur or otherwise, modelers, railfans, railroaders, train people, transit advocates, preservationists, and others. The fugitive slave act of 1850 ensured that even if slaves arrived in free states in the north, they could be captured. It was 122 years ago today that the first train steamed into the old union depot in downtown detroit. That first erie and kalamazoo train consisted of stagecoachlike vehicles linked together and pulled by horses. Michigan central station, old dps book depository in. Owners of detroits vacant, hulking 105yearold michigan central station say theyve sold the iconic symbol of detroits fall from greatness to ford motor co. The 19 beaux arts structure has captured the imagination of the country to the point that some think that its americas version of. The depot was part of an area that was a major transportation hub, bounded by fort street to the north and the detroit river to the south, and cass avenue to the east and what is now the. Go inside the michigan central station of old in an. Artists paint a house near detroits iconic old train station. I hope you enjoy this website which has been a hobby of mine for many. The depot was part of an area that was a major transportation hub, bounded by fort street to the north and the detroit river to the south, and cass avenue to the east and what is now the lodge service drive to the west. How ford plans to resurrect the train station detroit news.
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