CROSWELL, MI
Croswell, Michigan depot; August 2002
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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.
The first segment of this line, Port Huron to Croswell, opened in May of
1879. In December 1882, the line was completed to Port Austin, on the tip
of Michigan's thumb. Another line of this same railroad was built from Port
Huron, through Melvin, and eventually to Saginaw. 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 into Croswell serve a grain elevator, and possibly a large
beet-sugar plant just south of the depot.
The Crosswell depot was built as a combination depot, with
a waiting room and agent's office on the north end and a freight room on
the south end. What is shown above appears to be just the freight room portion
with new doors and windows cut into the north end. Note that the new doors
are at the level of the freight room floor. Also, the north end of the building
has horizontal siding which does not match the rest of the building.
Signs on the street side door say that the depot is now
the "Croswell Old Depot Museum" and that it open Saturday and Sunday from
1-5. |
Street Side, August 2002.
Large, graceful brackets, typical of PH&NW depots, August
2002.
Full length depot, complete with Bay Window.
Old postcard view of Carsonville, next station to the
north.
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