Today, a larger part of Milan is in Washtenaw County, but the original railroad crossing and depots were in Monroe County. The area was settled about 1830, with the railroads coming through in the 1870's. [MPN]
Milan was the crossing of the east-west Wabash railroad (now Norfolk Southern) and the north-south Ann Arbor railroad.
Image Info: Top, an early photo of the depot at Milan. At this time, the Wabash line was single track. [CMUL]. 2nd image, an early photo of the Milan depot and first interlocking tower. [Alan Loftis collection]. 3rd image, an interesting view of the depot at Milan, the interlocking tower, and an Ann Arbor locomotive crossing the diamond in 1909. [UML]. 4th image, a very cold Wabash water tower at Milan. [UML]. 5th image, the new tower and new depot about 1983. [Charlie Whipp]. 6th photo, the Ann Arbor/Wabash freight house in 1972. [Charles Geletzke Jr.]
Milan went through several changes over the years. The initial interlocking tower here was torn down when the Wabash was double tracked. The former interlocking tower at Britton was moved to here.
1900. A fire started in the saw and planing mill of C. H. Wilson and it burned to the ground. The cause was unknown. The loss was insured in the Michigan Manufacturers' Mutual of Saginaw. It is not known whether they will rebuild or not. [DFP-1900-1020]
1900. This is a telegraph station on the Ann Arbor railroad. [OG-1900]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
