MARNE, MI
Marne, MI Station, November 1998
Bay window(right)is hidden in early morning shadows.
| The station in Marne 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. Marne was "third
rail territory, where the cars were powered by 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. |
 |
Some time after abandonment, the Marne depot was purchased
by Dr. Miller of Marne. He donated the building to the local Lions Club,
which still owns the building. It is rented by, the LaFleur family and operated
as the Interurban Depot Cafe. |
Street side/west end
| Marne was known as Berlin until 1919. It was renamed during
WWI. The photo below shows an earlier depot, from the era when the town was
still known as Berlin. |
GRGH&M Car at Berlin Depot (Alan Loftis Collection)
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