JONESVILLE, MI
Jonesville, MI Depot; April 2005
| Jonesville was 4 miles off the projected route of the
Michigan Southern, which by 1843 had been completed from Monroe, as
far west as Hillsdale. A group of Jonesville men really wanted a railroad
through their town. They built a north-south line between Hillsdale and
Jonesville at their own expense and convinced the Southern to continue building
westward from Jonesville. Thus the Michigan Southern had a permanent jog
in its main line. Construction west of Jonesville started in 1850, and proceeded
very rapidly. In February 1852 a connection was made with the Rock Island
Railroad, allowing Michigan Southern trains to run into Chicago. This connection
was Chicago's first rail link to the east! Jonesville was on a very important
route connecting Chicago to the east.
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In 1870 another railroad was built through Jonesville,
connecting Jackson and Ft. Wayne. In 1873 yet another line was built from
Jonesville to the state capitol, Lansing. Both lines became part of the Michigan
Southern by 1882. Thus Jonesville was quite a busy junction. The LS&MS
1911 timetable shows about 20 trains a day through
Jonesville. |
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South End/Street side; April 2005, Alan Loftis
| In 1869, the Michigan Southern merged with the Lake
Shore, to create a railroad running from Chicago to Buffalo, NY. In 1876
the New York Central Railroad took control of the LS&MS, through stock
purchases. After a direct route from Toledo to Elkhart was completed, the
original Michigan Southern across Michigan became known as the "Old Road".
The "Old Road" did host a few trains running through from Chicago to Buffalo,
but most most of the passenger trains were locals, serving small towns all
across southern Michigan .
Jonesville's only remaining depot was built around 1898.
It had two waiting rooms, an agents office, and a freight room in the north
end. The basic design and style was used not only by the LS&MS, but also
by other NYC controlled railroads. Very similar depots were built in
Sturgis and White Pigeon, MI and in
Lafayette and
Mishawaka, IN. Other examples were built in Ohio. |
| Passenger service on the Old Road ended in 1956. The
Jonesville depot probably remained open for a few years as a freight only
station. But by the late 1960's the depot sat vacant, with holes in the roof
and the windows broken out. In 1970 the depot was sold to private owners.
In only three months, the new owners had fixed enough that they were able
to move into the depot. It has been a home ever since. Some interior walls
were added, but all the original woodwork was retained. |
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| In 1974, a large wooden building was put up next to
the freight room end. It was built as a four car garage with a large room
upstairs. The board and batten siding and roof brackets make it look much
like an old railroad building. The style was based on the other Jonesville
depot, built on the Fort Wayne to Jackson route. This depot burned down sometime
around 2003. |
Jonesville Depot, on Jackson- Ft. Wayne Branch, June 2000
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Around 2005, the "Freighthouse" was converted to a very
upscale Bed and Breakfast, where breakfasts are prepared by a certified French
chef. The grounds feature several acres of plantings, beautiful gardens,
a waterfall and a pond. For more information, see
"Rooms at Grayfield" or phone
(517) 849-9580. |
| The first part on the Old Road was abandoned in 1962.
Over the years, other portions were sold to short lines or abandoned. But
the tracks through Jonesville remain in near-daily use. For more information,
see the Michigan Railroads.com page on the
Indiana
Northeastern. |
Postcard view of Jonesville Depot
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