Station: Freedom, MI

Freedom was a hamlet near Lake Huron, about four miles southeast of Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County. It was settled in 1875. The town was a station on the Michigan Central railroad.

After service on the MC line to Mackinaw was withdrawn, the line north of Sallings, MI (Gaylord) was purchased by the Detroit & Mackinac railway. The D&M operated both lines into north Michigan (the old MC and the D&M) and serviced the railroad car ferry in the Straits of Mackinac.

Photo info: Top, the Freedom depot in a 1918 railroad valuation photo. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, D&M 1077 heads southbound near Freedom with a special passenger train, October 7, 1980. [Neil Plagens]

Notes

Time Line 

1882. The night express on the Michigan Central railroad ran off the track at Freedom last night. The lock on the switch had been broken and the switch opened for the purpose of wrecking the down train. The engine and baggage car were ditched. The smoking car was off the track, but was pulled on. The train passed down this morning. A brakeman and the fireman were injured by jumping off. [DFP-1882-0917]

1882. James Ganeau was arrested near Carp Lake charged with robbing Dingman's store at Freedom, and is believed to be the person who wrecked the train at that place. Mr. Dingman's watch and revolver were found on the man. [DFP-1882-0930]

1917. The MC had a operator/clerk here during the day shift. [TRT]