Location: Crystal Falls Junction, MI

Crystal Falls Junction was a location on the north edge of Crystal Falls in Iron County. The Chicago & Northwestern railroad came north through downtown, past the depot at East Superior Avenue and connected with its (reversed) Mansfield (mine) branch at this junction. (Located at approximately 46^o06.417' N / 88^o20.234' W.). Through a double reverse across the Paint River, the C&NW also went north to service Alpha and the mines there.

After the Milwaukee Road built into town from the northeast, their Crystal Falls spur to their depot intersected with the end of the C&NW branch near this location and they also used the name Crystal Falls Junction. (Located about 1/3 of a mile north of the old location, near 46^o06.628l' N / 88^o20.614' W.)

Image info: Top, the Milwaukee Road bridge over the Paint River at Crystal Falls Junction in 1926. [Robert Platt photo, Greg Bunce collection].

Notes

Time Line

1894. While coming from the Youngstown mine location to her home on Superior Avenue, Mrs. E.D. Munhall dropped dead on the C&NW railway track between the highway and railroad bridges near the falls. Mrs. Munhall had spent the day with the family of John Larson and was returning home in company with three others. The weather had been intensely warm and she was greatly fatigued, being a suffer from obesity, but was otherwise in the best of health and spirits. When the party reached the falls, they were attracted by a fierce conflict between two dogs. Mrs. Munhall attempted to separate the angry canines and in doing so became greatly excited. Suddenly she sank to the ground and gasped "My God, I'm gone!" These were her last words and she died a moment later. She was 49 years of age and had a six year old son. [DD-1894-0728]