Station: Atlanta, MI

BCGA Atlanta MI Depot BCGA Snow Plow Train at Atlanta, MI BCGA Snow Plow Train at Atlanta, MI USGS Atlanta MI railroad mapAtlanta was settled about 1881 in central Montmorency County by Alfred West of Capac, Mich. while he was building a road from Torch Lake near Traverse City to Alpena, a State project. He became aware of the lumbering potential in the county. He established a mill on the banks of the Thunder Bay River. He names the new town Atlanta, because the terrain reminded him of Atlanta, Georgia where he fought in the Civil War.. It is the county seat. [LITF]

The town was served by the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena railroad for a short period between 1920 and 1932. This was likely during the period of harvest of hardwood forests in the area. The Michigan Central and Detroit & Mackinac railroads came within about five miles of Atlanta from the southwest and north with forest branch lines but never reached the town site itself.

Photo Info/Credit: Top, the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena railroad depot in Atlanta, MI. 2nd and 3rd photos, a BCG&A train with a snow plow opens the line through Atlanta. [All, Dale Berry collection] 4th photo, a USGS map of the old BCB&A right-of-way. The railroad crossed M-33 in the vicinity of Freddies IGA market. [USGS/Dale Berry]