Station: Hillsdale, MI

Hillsdale was settled around 1834. It was called Hillsdale Center in the early days. The town, in the center of Hillsdale County, was incorporated as a village in 1847 and it officially became a city in 1869. [MPN]

The first railroad to arrive in town was the State of Michigan owned Southern line in 1843. The line continued west to Jonesville in 1849. The line was sold to the Michigan Southern railroad which continued construction westward. Hillsdale was retained as an important division point and the railroad built a 6-stall engine house along Railroad Street (now Carleton Road East).

In 1871 the Detroit Hillsdale and Southwestern built their line west from Ypsilanti through Hillsdale, continuing southwest a few more miles to Bankers. At the time of construction, the line was a competitor of the Michigan Southern and the DH&SW built a thirteen foot high trestle along what is now E. South Street, across the mill pond and the railroad. The trestle extended as far as Budlong Street (at E. Sharp St.), where the DH&SW depot was located. The line then continued west through the south side of town to Bankers. According to the Hillsdale County Historical Society, this trestle was used for about 10 years until the DH&SW came under Michigan Southern control and the lines were consolidated.

Photo Info: Top, a "birdseye" view of Hillsdale from the late 1800's. 2nd photo, Hillsdale County Railroad switcher 1976 in Hillsdale in July 1978. This is an EMD NW-2. [Doug Leffler photo].

Notes

The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw line bypassed Hillsdale in favor of Jonesville in 1869, but the line soon diverted through Hillsdale once firmly under Lake Shore ownership.

Time Line

1843 The Southern railroad (later Lake Shore & Michigan Southern "Old Road") arrives at Hillsdale from Monroe and Toledo. It builds west to Jonesville and later Chicago in 1950.

1869. The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw is built south from Jackson through Jonesville to Reading. It is extended to Fort Wayne in 1870.

1872. The Detroit, Hillsdale & Indiana builds into Hillsdale and Bankers from Ypsilanti. It is leased to the LSMS in 1881 and line direct connection with Bankers is removed in favor of using the Fort Wayne line.

1874. A sixty-five year old deaf man was walking on the Lake Shore track and passing under the Detroit & Hillsdale railroad bridge this afternoon and was struck by the engine of the two o'clock mail westbound and instantly killed. The whistle was sounded several times but he was quite deaf. [DFP-1874-1028]

1882. November. At the time the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern took possession of the Fort Wayne & Jackson road, the General Manager of the LS&MS visited Hillsdale and proposed to the citizens that if they would provide the right of way and grade the track, the company would bring the Fort Wayne road into Hillsdale, bring the Lansing Division, which now terminates at Jonesville, to Hillsdale, and make the headquarters of the Ypsilanti, Fort Wayne & Jackson divisions and Lansing Division at Hillsdale. The citizens at once took hold of the matter and now have the required amount - $20,000 - to nearly subscribe that at the meeting held Monday evening a general committee was appointed to secure the right of way and close the contract with the company. In making this new connection a part of the track of the Ypsilanti division between Hillsdale and Bankers will be used and only about a mile of new track will have to be built. Between Hillsdale and Jonesville, the track of the Lake Shore Road will be used for the present. When this connection is completed trains will run from Ypsilanti to Fort Wayne, and from Lansing and Jackson to Fort Wayne, all passing through Hillsdale, and it will become quite a railroad center. Hillsdale people are enthusiastic over the matter and see in it the dawning of a new era for Hillsdale. [DFP-1882-1122]

1883. Work on the new line of road which is to bring the Fort Wayne and Jackson branch of the LS&MS railroad into Hillsdale is being rapidly brought to completion. The graders have finished their part of the labor and the LS&MS, in whose hands the remainder of the work is left, are pushing it through with their usual promptness. The Fort Wayne trains are expected at Hillsdale depot within the next week. [LCS-1883-1018]

Click here for other Hillsdale information:

• Lake Shore / New York Central station
• Other Lake Shore / New York Central facilities

Industry

• Essex Wire