Station: Manistique, MI

Soo Line Manistique MI Depot Soo Line Manistique MI Depot Soo Line Manistique MI Depot MLS Line Manistique MI DepotManistique was founded about 1871 in south central Schoolcraft County. It was also known for a time as Monistique and also Epsport, but changed to Manistique in 1879. The town is the county seat of Schoolcraft County and was incorporated as a village in 1885 and a city in 1901. [MPN]

Manistique was a significant station on the Soo Line railroad between Gladstone and Sault Ste. Marie. The Manistique & Lake Superior railroad crossed the Soo Line here and interchanged cars, including ferry traffic to the MLS dock from the Traverse City area.

Photo Info: Top, a 1909 photo postcard of a three-car Soo Line passenger train heading eastbound towards Sault Ste. Marie. 2nd photo, a newer Soo Line depot photographed in 1980. [Dave Fulkerth collection], 3rd photo, the depot in 2003. [Dale Berry]. 4th photo, the former Manistique & Lake Superior station in Manistique, now used as a business office. [Dave Fulkerth]

The M&LS had a turntable in Manistique, which was removed when the railroad was abandoned and pulled up.

The Soo Line depot was built at Wolf and Mackinac Streets about 1920. [UPM]

Manistique River Bridge. The Soo Line crossed the Manistique Rover on a seven-span steel girder bridge, 10' wide and 280' long, resting on finished ashlar piers and abutments. It was designed by C. F. Lowete and constructed in 1899 at a cost of $50,000 by the Gillette-Herzog Manufacturing Company. The chief engineer of the railroad at the time was Thomas Greene. The nameplate proudly proclaims "2-160 Ton Loco's" which is presumably the weight capacity of the bridge at the time. [UPM]

Time Line

1897. The Manistique & Northwestern railroad is built from the wharf at Manistique to Shingleton via Steuben, 34 miles. It becomes the M&LS in 1909. [MRL]

1917. The CMStP&SSM had operators here around the clock.. [TRT]

1920 - The Michigan Public Utilities Commission orders the MStP&SSM railway to immediately construct or or remodel the freight depot here. They were also ordered to submit plans for approval. [MPUC-1920]

1968. The M&LS is abandoned. [MRL]