Station: Topinabee, MI

Topinabee was a resort community located on the west side of Mullet Lake, about 8 miles north of Indian River. The town was settled in 1881 by Michigan Central railroad officials who wanted a resort here to promote passenger train usage.

Photo info: Top photo, a 1920 era photo of the Topinabee depot. Note that there is a second semaphore on the pole next to the main block signal. This may have been for the passing track. [CMUL]. 2nd and 3rd, two photos of the depot in the early 1900's. [Alan Loftis Collection] 4th the restored depot in 2001 [Kevin Toombs]. 5th photo, Detroit & Mackinac 4610 heads a train at Topinabee in 1977. [Neil Plagens photo, Mark Andersen collection]. Bottom, a 2002 photo. [Mark Dobronski]

Notes

Time Line

1881. December. The station 14 miles south of Cheboygan on the MC on the place owned by Niles townsman H.H. Pike, has been named Topinabee, after the old chief of the Potawatomie's. [NWM-1881-1207]

1917. The MC had a agent/operator here during the day and afternoon shifts. [TRT]

1960. State Revenue Commission Chair Louis Nims retires and vows to spend more time at his Pullman car, which is parked on a New York Central siding at Topinabee. The car was once the private car for the president of the Munising Railway and has gas cooking, oil heating and electric lights. [PHTH-1960-0130]