Station: Pellston, MI

Pellston was settled around 1872. When the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad came through, a station was established. The town was a junction with the GRF&I's Bogardus Branch which ran 4 miles to the northwest. The town became a village in 1907. [MPN]

Pellston is known today for Pellston Regional Airport. Pellston Regional Airport link.

Photo info: Top, the GR&I depot at Pellston. 2nd photo, another view of the Pellston depot with the downtown building in the background. [CMUL]. 3rd photo, the Pellston depot with an arriving train. The water tower is also in view. [Both, Alan Loftis collection]  4th photo, the former GR&I depot at Pellston in a 2004 view. [Alan Loftis]; 5th photo, Michigan Northern 1601 and 1602 switch freight cars in Pellston in 1984. [Neil Plagens photo, Mark Andersen collection]

Notes

Time Line

1911. The little village of Pellston is at war with the GR&I railroad. The fact that the officials of the company have issued an order that trains shall not stop at that point while the smallpox epidemic continues to terrorize the passengers who are compelled to travel through that city, has caused the trouble. At present there are about 30 cases of smallpox in Pellston although a majority of the patients are on the road to recovery. [LSJ-1911-0203]

1912. The government has begun suit in federal district court against the GR&I railway. There are 120 counts against them each carrying a penalty of $500. It is alleged four operators at Pellston and Traverse City were kept on duty longer than the prescribed nine hours per day. [LSJ-1912-0208]