PALMS, MI
Palms, Michigan depot; April 2003
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In 1878 the Port Huron & North Western started
a 3-foot gauge railroad into Michigan's thumb area, to serve the lumber industry.
By 1880 the tracks reached Palms, where the tracks split. The branch to Harbor
Beach was done in September 1880. And by December 1882, the line was completed
to Port Austin, on the tip of Michigan's thumb. In 1889 the Port Huron &
North Western was sold to the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad and the
tracks were converted to standard gauge. |
| The Pere Marquette was taken over by the C&O, which
in turn became part of CSX. The C &O abandoned the line between Port
Huron and Croswell in 1971. In 1986 the remainder of the line was sold to
the Huron & Eastern Railway, which became part of the
RailAmerica shortline
empire. Tracks through Palms are still in use, leading to the end of track
in Croswell .
In the late 60's the railroad sold the building to private
owners who moved it about 10 miles southwest, to M-19 (Ubly Rd). The roof
was cut off for the move so that utility wires would not have to be moved.
The depot from Palms is now used as a storage building. There have been some
changes to the building, a shed addition to the depot's street side and large
doors cut into the freight room end, but the building is well maintained
and still has the charm and character of the Port Huron & Northwestern
depots.
When the railroad sold the depot, it did not have a bay
window. However, when the depot in Ruth, which was on the Harbor Beach branch,
was torn down the owners of the Palms depot salvaged the bay and put it on
their depot. So a part of the Ruth depot continues to exist. |
Street Side, April 2003.
Large, gracefull brackets, typical of PH&NW depots, August
2002.
Waiting Room End, April 2003.
Old postcard view of Carsonville, two stations to the
south.
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