| Back in the 1840's ships were the prefered method of transportation.
In Michigan, many rail lines were built to connect ports on the east and
west coasts of Michigan. The Michigan legislature promoted this concept in
chartering the Oakland and Ottawa Railroad in 1848. It was to run to a port
on Lake Michigan in Ottawa County. This line was finally completed by the
Detroit and Milwaukee RR in 1858, aided by a land grant for the section between
St. Johns and Grand Haven.
The first Grand Haven Station was built on the north shore
of the Grand River, across from the town of Grand Haven. A ferry boat transfered
passengers and freight to Grand Haven. In 1868, the city gave the railroad
$52,000 to relay its tracks and build a depot in Grand Haven. The depot,
shown here, was completed in 1870 and trains began running into Grand
Haven.
In 1928, the railroad was merged into the Grand Trunk.
A carferry operated between Grand Haven and Milwaukee until 1933. In that
year the Grand Trunk moved its carferry operation to Muskegon. Grand Haven
had passenger service in the form of a daily except Sunday mixed train, until
1955. Tracks have been removed as far east as Copersville.
The city bought the depot in 1967. It is now home to the
Tri Cities Historical Museum.
A few blocks away, is a nice
display of railroad
equipment, featuring Pere Marquette
1223. |
