Station: Rapid River, MI

Rapid River, in Delta County, was platted in 1887 after the railroad came through here. It was originally called Rapid Siding and then Rapid River.

This was a junction of a Soo Line branch north into the forests to Alger County. For a time, the branch was also used for through ore movements between the LS&I connection and St. Ignace via this branch and the main line connection at Trout Lake.

Photo info: Top photo, Soo Line 1003 with a passenger extra, heads westbound at the Whitefish River, east of Rapid River in 1999. This was a trip sponsored by the DSS&A Division of the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society. [Mark Andersen]. 2nd photo, a combination baggage/coach and a caboose are displayed at a business in Rapid River. 2003. [Dale Berry]

Notes

The rivers that flow into the head of Little Bay de Noc brought down a great volume of timber to the town over the years. When logs came down the Rapid River and jammed near the railroad bridge the water would overflow and carry logs and ties up onto the highway and Main Street. [EDP-1960-0323]

Time Line

1890. The Soo Line built a small passenger-freight station here in 1890. It was a simple rectangular frame building with a bay window, a hipped roof with overhanging eaves supported by wooden brackets, and measuring 25' wide and 60' long. [UPM]

1889. After the railroad arrived, Hibbard laid out the first plat of Rapid River. It was originally known as Rapid Siding, taking its name from the Rapid River. A new railroad station was built just off of Main Street. Later it was replaced by a new building at the junction of the main line and the Rapid River branch. [EDP-1960-0323]

1890s. There was a saw mill built by a man named Peter Collette. He sold it to Hibbard & Wright and they went bankrupt and the mill was sold to the Fred W. Grey Company. Grey sold to Adam Schaible and Jerry Madden and the operation became the Jerry Madden Shingle Co. For a time it was the largest wood shingle operation in the upper peninsula. There were 10 or 12 double block machines sawing shingles and several single block machines. They also dealt in posts and poles and sawed railroad ties, taking the whole cedar production of the jobbers.

The Madden operations were sold to the Collins Land & Lumber Co., two brothers from Madison, WI. The Garth Lumber Company took over from the Peacocks and there was also a single company. 

Collins ended operations idling the mill for several years until purchased by Stone Anderson of Ensign and his brothers. Birds Eye Veneer Co. bought the Anderson mill and operated it as a flitch mill for veneer production. The mill was raised altogether. An old metal mill waste burner lasted until the 1960's. [EDP-1960-0323]

1913. April. The Soo Line bridge over the Rapid River, one mile north of the town, was reported to be in danger of being carried out. The ice broke up on the river late yesterday and great quantities of ice and logs were piled up against the bridge supports. The water has been backed up and it is feared that the bridge will not be able to stand the strain. The Soo Line bridge crew has been ordered from Trout Lake to the scene. [EDP-1913-0417]

1963. In a public notice, the Soo Line railroad advises that it intends to discontinue agency service at Rapid River on January 31, 1964. Patrons were advised to contact the agent at Gladstone by collect telephone service. [EDP-1963-1231]

1964. October. A request of the Soo Line to discontinue local service at Rapid River has been denied by the MPSC. The MPSC chairman revealed that Soo Line revenues at Rapid River the last three years totaled $227,700 while direct expenses were $22,300. The station closing was protested by 18 timber and pulpwood jobbers, business leaders and the railroad unions. [HES-1964-1003]

1975. The Soo Line closed its Rapid River depot, which was built in 1889. The newspaper noted that the halting of passenger service in 1969 was the only disruption of service in all those years. [EDP-1975-1213]

1975. Rapid River Ends 86 Years of Service (Article).

Industry

• Anderson mill.
• Birds Eye Veneer Co.
• Collins Land & Lumber Co.
• Garth Lumber Company
• Hibbard and Wright mill.
• Jerry Madden Shingle Co.
• Upper Peninsula Refinery (1959-1960) and Delta Terminal (1964-1967). [MW]