Station: Ionia, MI - GTW Station

Ionia was a crossing of two railroads, the Pere Marquette line from Grand Ledge to Howard City and the east-west Grand Trunk Western from Owosso to Grand Rapids.

Photo Info: Top, An early postcard view of the GTW depot in Ionia. 2nd, A photo the the same depot with the larger Pere Marquette depot in the background. Note the PM train at their station. [Alan Loftis collection]. 3rd photo, a more recent photo of the GTW depot. [Alan Loftis] 4th photo, the same depot photographed in 1975. [Charlie Whipp]. 5th photo, the PM freight house in Ionia in 1976. [Charles Geletzke Jr.].

Notes

Time Line

1879. A new coal house and derrick was built here by the DL&N. [DL&N-1879]

1889. The DL&N installed a new 24-foot track scale at Ionia. [DL&N-1889]

1890. The DL&N laid a new floor in their machine shop; a brass foundry was built; the freight house was repaired and painted and the passenger house was repaired. [DL&N-1890]

1905. The PM builds a ice house at Ionia to replace one that was destroyed by fire. [PMAR-1905]

The Pere Marquette in Ionia had a 60' hand operated turntable, still in place as of 1942.

1917. The GTW had an agent here as well as operators around the clock. [TRT]