| The depot/substation in Coopersville was built by the Grand
Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway. This electrically operated line
was in service from 1902 to 1928. The line ran from downtown Grand Rapids
to Fruitport, where it split into branches to Grand Haven and Muskegon.
Coopersville was not only a station stop, but also an electrical substation.
The large tower on the west end housed transformers and other equipment needed
to supply high voltage DC to a "hot" third rail, at ground level.
In Grand Haven, tracks led to the Goodrich Steamship line,
serving Chicago. The Muskegon tracks connected with the Crosby Steamship
line, serving Milwaukee. Besides passengers, the railway carried a lot of
locally grown blueberries, peaches, and apples bound for Chicago and Milwaukee.
During the 1920's the interurban's traffic was lost to cars, busses and trucks.
In 1928 the line was abandoned. Passenger steamship service across Lake Michigan
collapsed in the same era.
The building is now home to the Coopersville Area Historical
Society. Next to the station is the interurban car Merlin, which is in the
process of being restored. |
