Station: Freeport, MI

Freeport was platted in northern Barry County in 1874 [MPN]. It was located on the Lowell & Hastings railroad (later Pere Marquette). It became a village in 1907. It was in Irvine Township.

Photo info: The Pere Marquette Freeport depot. [Alan Loftis collection]

Notes

The railroad had stockyards here, just north of the Coldwater River north of town. [L&H]

The L&H had a turntable here for turning locomotives, but the location has not been determined. It was likely on railroad property across from the depot opposite Oak Street. [L&H] See next entry.

The turntable was located at the entrance of the cemetery. There is a depression filled with debris at the south side of the cemetery which when measured, matches the width & depth of the depression located at Malta (Lowell) where the L&H has their engine house and turntable. In Freeport, the depression would be situated precisely in line with a 15 degree curve off the mainline, placing the turnout location just south of the trestle across the Coldwater River. [From David Boerema]

Time Line 

1905. The PM builds a new depot at Freeport. [PMAR-1905]

Industry

• Cool & Curtis Saw Mill
• J. Cheesebrough Co. factory
• Freeport Farmers Elevator Co.
• Fox's Saw Mill