Location: Rockport Quarry, MI

Began → Rockport Quarry → Became

Operated for 

From: 

Location: 

Owned by: Alpena Portland Cerment Co.

Produced: Limestone

Method: Open pit.

Railroad connection: APC railroad, then D&M

Ship To: APC company works in Alpena, HPC works in Alpena.

Until: 

Lifetime Production: 

Source: 

Rockport limestone quarry was located on Lake Huron, just south of the Presque Isle/Alpena county boundary line, about 12 miles north of Alpena. It was served by a two sided deep lake port dock, which still exists today.  The port is now a Michigan state park.

Notes

Rockport had rail service originally from a propierity railroad branch of the Alpena Portland Cement company from Alpena. At some point, this was operated or transferred to a Detroit & Mackinac Ry. branch line, which was a continuation of the cement company branch off the east end of the yard at Alpena Junction. The branch went through the cement plant, and then on to Rockport.  The branch may also have continued north to Stoneport in Presque Isle.

There were apparently two branches from the cement plant to Rockport  The first apparently went due north, and may have been replaced by a curving line which more closely followed the shape of Lake Huron north. The second branch may have been built to allow the quarry itself to expand east.

There is also a blueprint in the State of Michigan Archives indicating that the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena wished to build its own branch from Alpena to Rockport but it is likely it was never built.

This quarry was apparently originally owned by the Alpena Portland Cement Company and reached by a railroad grade from their plant in Alpena. According to [MRL], this line was built about 1900 and abandoned about 1930.

Time Line

1900. Branch line built by the Alpena Portland Cement company.

1930. The line was abandoned.