Station: Bay City East Side Station (MC)

Bay City's Michigan Central station was on the east side of the Saginaw River. This was MC's primary station in Bay City and also housed division offices. The dispatcher for the Mackinaw Branch was also located here until the 1960's.

The train dispatcher's office was upstairs in the depot, as was "DI" the telegraph relay office. [Rahn Stokes]

Image Info: Top, a view of the Michigan Central Bay City east side station and freight house. The MC division offices and dispatcher were located on the 2nd floor. 2nd image, the Michigan East Bay City depot in an early postcard view. 3rd photo, an overhead view of the station in 1912. [Sanborn Maps]. 4th and 5th photos, a fire at the station in 1947. The station was rebuilt.

Notes

Time Line

1874. July 17. The Detroit & Bay City railroad passenger depot was destroyed by fire this afternoon. The fire was first discovered bursting through the floor of the ladies' waiting room, and in a remarkable short space of time the whole building was in flames. The structure was of wood and burned rapidly. The ticket agent barely had time to escape after locking up the safe and grasping the money drawer. All the baggage, including 12 trucks, books, papers, tickets, were burned. Several employees who slept in the second story lost all their effects. The origin of the fire is unknown. Loss on the building $3,500; baggage, etc. $3,000 more. [DFP-1874-0718]

1874. December 10. The passenger depot of the Detroit & Bay City railroad has been completed. The building is of brick, 30 x 90 feet and cost $7,000. It is conveniently arranged and handsomely finished. [DFP-1874-1210]

1917. The MC had dispatchers at this station controlling the Mackinaw Division. They also had operators day and night, including a chief operator. [TRT]

1927. The D&M timetable indicated that this MC station was staffed with an operator during the day shift. [DM-ETT-1927]

1947. The station is again burned by fire. It is rebuilt.