Station: Grass Lake, MI

Grass Lake, in eastern Jackson County, was founded about 1829 and settled about 1842 with the coming of the State's "central" railroad. It became a village in 1871. [MPN]

Grass Lake area farmers were the subject of the Great Railroad Conspiracy in the 1850's who were arguing with the railroad about cattle that were allowed on to the railroad right-of-way.

Photo Info: Top, the MC stone depot at Grass Lake in 1975. [Charlie Whipp]. 2nd photo, the same depot about 2000 which has been restored. [Alan Loftis]

Notes

The Detroit, Jackson & Chicago interurban railway had a wye here. The railroad also was double tracked through Grass Lake for about 3/10's of a mile. [CERA-103]

Time Line

1908. Some of the changes on the MC under the (new) nine-hour law. The night offices at Grass Lake and Francisco will be closed. The operator at Grass Lake will go to Chelsea and the Francisco night man goes to Dexter. A third man will be assigned to Ann Arbor. The Ypsilanti office will be closed after midnight. The day man at Wiard's will be transferred to some other office. A third operator will be assigned to Wayne Station. The Dearborn office will be closed and another operator will be assigned to the junction yards office. [PHTH-1908-0307]

1917. The MC depot was staffed around the clock by an agent/operator. They also had a dedicated freight agent. [TRT]

1920. On the Michigan Central, this is a passenger, freight and express agency joint with the American Railway Express Company. Interline tickets are issued. W. B. Hughes is the agent. The telegraph call sign is "G". [MCOAS]