Station: Rudyard, MI

Rudyard, in Chippewa County, was settled as Pine River in 1883 but the name was changed to Rudyard in 1890. [MPN] Rudyard was a station stop on the Soo Line's main line 23 miles southwest of Sault Ste. Marie. It was assigned a telegraph call of "R" by the Soo Line.

Photo info: Top, an early depot at the yard in the 1880's, with a train and water tower in the background. Bottom, the Soo Line depot here in 1976. This depot was built in 1890 and has since been razed. [Charlie Whiipp]. 3rd photo, Soo Line 726 and 2553 cross the Pine River at Rudyard in 1980. [Neil Plagens photo, Mark Andersen collection]

Notes

The town was named after Rudyard Kipling, one of England's most famous poets, by Fred Underwood, general manager of the railroad at that time. [EDP-1970-0807]

Rudyard also had a stage line which provided sled transportation in the winter and horse drawn rigs in the summer between Rudyard and Newberry and Deer Park. Matt Surrell of Newberry had a livery stable and provided the stage. It took 2 days to make the 30 mile trip and there were  overnight accommodations at Halfway Lake (named after the midpoint of the trip). [SEN-1972-0726]

Time Line

~1890. The Soo Line depot at Rudyard was built on West Street about 1890. [UPM]

1917. The MStP&SSM had an agent here on the day shift. [TRT]

1963. May. In a hearing before the MPSC, the Soo Line requests to serve freight patrols at Dafter and Rudyard from a service center at Sault Ste. Marie, instead of through local station agents. The railroad's station system was created 75 years ago to meet 19th century needs, with only primitive transportation and communication. Lock City transportation company facilities (in Sault Ste. Marie) will be used to provide pickup and delivery. A traveling agent system will be provided to substitute for the offices now operated. The proposal is similar to that of the New York Central in lower Michigan, now in use. [EDP-1963-0524]