Station: Witbeck, MI

Witbeck was a station on the Milwaukee Road line between Iron Mountain and Republic. This station was located about seven miles south of Republic near what is now Witbeck Road. [OGR-1910]

Image info: Top, Witbeck station looking north with a MILW passenger train nearby in 1927. 2nd image, another view of Witbeck looking south in 1927. 3rd image, a 1918 track diagram of Witback. [GB] Collection.

Notes

Witbeck was named after John H. Witbeck of the H. Witbeck Company of Marinette, WI, which owned thousands of acres of timberland in the area. The station was established sometime after 1892 when the Fencer River Logging Company moved their operation north from the Witch Lake area. The town at most had four houses. The station was used to supply nearby logging company as well as transportation to the area by loggers. Most of the pine was cut by 1915 and companies turned to hardwood. 

The Goodman Lumber Company of Sagola moved their logging railroad to Witbeck in 1909 and shopped logs to their mill in Sagola to be cut into lumber. This lasted through the 1920's. [GB]

Time Line

1928. MILW data shows a station at Witbeck but no agent. Republic handled what business was left here. By 1950, the depot was gone. [GB]