Time Line - 1890's - Decade Overview

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• F&PM and Chicago & West Michigan use break-bulk boat service from Holland, Manistee, and Ludington - all going to Milwaukee during this decade. Before 1900, the C&WM operated the Shenango No. 2, a car ferry,  between Muskegon and Milwaukee. It was moved to Ludington after the merger in 1900. [COHS-8/1997]

• Commercial lumber manufacturing reaches its peak in the 1890's and is over by 1910.  From 1870 to 1900 Michigan led the nation in lumber production. [BOM]

• Resort life in northern Michigan reaches its heydey between 1990 and 1910 when the summer cottage, hotel and clubhouses became very popular. Passenger traffic boomed during the summer months to bring people from urban cities to these resorts. [BOM]

• Excursion trains were big business on railroads in this era. The DL&N had as many as 11 excursion trains parked in Grand Ledge yard on a single Sunday afternoon. Grand Ledge was frequently the destination for trains from Toledo, Detroit, and Traverse City. The last excursion train sponsored by the Pere Marquette to Grand Ledge ran in 1908. [I&L]

Time line Key:

• Railroad event in Michigan
• Event relating to mining
• Event related to car ferries
• Event outside of Michigan
• Improvement in Technology
• Railroad built or extended
• Railroad abandoned and/or removed
• Economic panic or depression