| Tracks through Whitehall were built in the early 1870's
by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad as part of a line between Muskegon
and Pentwater. At the time, this area was in a huge lumber boom, so the
C&WM went there looking for traffic. The original, two story, depot was
across the river in Montague. In the early 1900's the C&WM became part
of the Pere Marquette System. By 1940 the line was freight only. CSX abandoned
the line north of Montague. It became a hiking/bike trail.
In 1982 the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce arranged
to lease the station and property from CSX for $100 per month. Rebuilding
the depot was a community volunteer effort. Results were outstanding. The
depot looks much better than it ever did when the railroad owned it. And
very little of the exterior was changed. As of 1999, it is still home to
the Chamber of Commerce. |
