Station: Cadillac, MI

Cadillac was settled in Wexford County about 1871. In 1872 it was called the village of Clark Lake but renamed Cadillac in 1877. The town became a village in 1875 and a city in 1877. [MPN]

Cadillac was home to at least three railroads. The Ann Arbor railroad ran between Toledo and Frankfort. The Grand Rapids & Indiana which ran between Fort Wayne and Mackinaw City, and the Cadillac & Northeastern, a 3' narrow gauge logging railroad which ran 12 miles east to Lake City.

Photo info: Top, the Ann Arbor railroad depot at Cadillac about 1915. 2nd photo, a view of the same depot in 1971. [Charles Geletzke, Jr.]. 3rd photo, The Cadillac & Northeastern railroad depot at Cadillac about 1891 with a 3' gauge logging train in front. 4th and 5th photos, the Grand Rapids & Indiana depot at Cadillac. [Both, Alan Loftis collection].

Notes

The town was also known as Clam Lake.

Time Line

1871. There was nothing in this community prior to this time. By 1873 the village had "sprung up like magic" with 150 houses, 1,000 inhabitants, mills, stores, churches and a steamer on the lake. [FL-p47]

1900. This is a telegraph station on the Ann Arbor railroad. [OG-1900]

1919. February 26. A head on collision on the Grand Rapids & Indiana railway two miles south of Cadillac kills two and injures 23. The accident was caused by a failure of one train's engineer to see the flagman of the other train protecting it.  ICC Report [PDF]

Industry

Cobbs & Mitchell, Inc. Manufacturers of kiln dried maple flooring and other products. Headquartered in Cadillac.