Station: Reading, MI

Reading was settled as Basswood Corners in the late 1830's and renamed Reading in 1840. [MPN] The Fort Wayne and Jackson railroad came through in the 1860's and a station stop was established. Reading became a village in Hillsdale County in 1873 and a city in 1934.

Photo Info: Top, the Lake Shore depot at Reading in 1906. 2nd photo, a 1957 photo of a NYC switch engine and caboose on the Fort Wayne branch at Reading. [Roger Card]. 3rd photo, Little River Railroad 110 proceeding through Reading in the early 1980's. [Doug Leffler]

Notes

Time Line

1904. November. About 3 o'clock this morning villagers were aroused by a fire alarm, and on an investigation found that instead of a fire, the alarm was to arouse the village to the fact that the vaults at the State bank had been robbed and blown up. Five masked men were seen making their escape from the city. The interior of the bank was badly demolished. Neighbors in the vicinity of the bank were aroused by the explosion but as they made an appearance they were covered with revolvers and ordered back into their homes. Several shots were fired by the gang to make their orders more emphatic but no one was hurt. Damage to the vault and safes will amount to over $1,000. About $1,000 is silver was taken but losses are yet unknown. [DFP-1904-1106]

Industry

• Acme Chair Company