Location: Ishpeming, MI - LS&I Facilities

The Lake Superior & Ishpeming came west into Ishpeming south of town along Davis Street and Bluff Streets. The line built a depot on the southwest corner of West Johnson and Pine streets. For a time, this line terminated at the Lake Superior Mine, which was a 25% owner of the original LS&I. Later, the LS&I main line was extended northwest on an overhead crossing of the DSS&A (M&W) and C&NW main lines at Greenwood and W. Division streets and then continued northwest to the North Lake and Republic areas.

In addition to the LS&I depot, the railroad had engine facilities near East Divison street (due south of downtown), and a wye for turning engines about 2000' east of that location.

Notes

Time Line

1935. A draft horse owned by Toivo Pelto of Jasper Street, stepped gingerly along the ties of the 300-foot Greenwood street viaduct of the LS&I railroad and came within 30 feet of reaching his destination on the other side when his hoofs slipped and entangled him in the openings between the ties. A crowd attracted by the horse's plight shouted various words of encouragement, but the animal's efforts to extricate himself were fruitless. Blood dripped to the ground below as the horse struggled to get out of his misery. Marshall Eckloff was called to the scene and decided that it wasn't a revolver (that was needed), but "horse sense". Enlisting the services of a veterinarian, and others, planks were rigged up and after much work on the part of volunteers the 1,800 pound animal was extricated from the viaduct. The problem was solved by tying the horse's front feet and head together so he could not resist the efforts of his rescuers. Planks were then slid under the animal and a rope was attached to permit the men in the crowd to pull the animal to safety. After about an hour of work, the men succeeded in getting the horse over to a steep bank, where he slid back to earth. [IDG-1935-0828]

1948. Matthew Glenson was instantly killed at 11:32 a.m. when he was run over by a LS&I switch engine and box car on track 3 in the company's Ishpeming yards. He was engaged in switching operations and had been standing on the foot board of the back of the engine tender. He apparently slipped or fell off the board as the locomotive was backing up at a speed of 4-5 mph. There were no witnesses. Other members of the crew did not miss Gleason until the train had passed over his body twice. [IDG-1948-0108]