| The Deerfield depot was built by the Chicago &
Canada Southern Railway. The date of construction is probably 1874. The Canada
Southern Railroad had built a line across southern Ontario, linking Buffalo
and Detroit. The railroad desperately wanted to get to Chicago, thus creating
a bridge line between New York state and western U.S. railroads. The Chicago
& Canada Southern was to be its tool in reaching Chicago. By 1873 the
railroad had crossed the Detroit River, by a ferry boat from Gordon, Ontario
to Stoney Island, a 900 ft. trestle to Gross Ile, and a 1400 ft. bridge with
double draw section to the Michigan mainland. They had also completed a line
across the SE corner of Michigan to Fayette, Ohio.
That was as far as it ever got. All this new construction
had been a heavy financial drain on the railroad. In September 1873 the railroad
suspended payments on its bonds. The Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt stepped
in, and paid off the creditors. In doing so, he gained control of the Canada
Southern and its subsidiary, the Chicago & Canada Southern. He took control
of the Michigan Central through stock purchases. By combining the Canada
Southern with the Michigan Central's line to Chicago, he had a railroad linking
New York and Chicago. The Detroit & Canada Southern became a small and
unimportant branch line. In 1887 the line was sold to the Michigan Southern,
also under control of the Commodore. Over the next ten years, most of the
Detroit & Canada Southern, including the tracks through Deerfield, was
torn up or sold off to other railroads.
The Deerfield depot was not torn down when the tracks were
removed. In the 1980's it was moved to Adrian. In 1991 the depot was moved
again, to its present location in Blissfield. It was restored and used for
a time as an antique store. As of November, 1998 it is home to the Blissfield
Area Historical Society. |
