Station: Elmira, MI

GRI Elmira MI DepotElmira Depot Elmira was settled about 1877 when the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad came through on their way to Mackinaw City. The station was called Eaton, and then Windsor. It was renamed Elmira in 1877. [MPN]

Elmira was located in western Otsego County, about 10 miles west of Gaylord. In addition to the GR&I (later PRR) railroad, the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena crossed the GR&I about 1 mile north of town on an overhead crossing.

Polish Express at Elmira MI

Photo Info: Top, the Grand Rapids & Indiana depot at Elmira. 2nd photo, another view of the depot from the opposite direction. Note the horse dray team waiting nearby. [CMUL]. 3rd photo, the "Polish Express", pulled by Great Lakes Central 319, proceeds southbound through Elmira in 2007. [Mark Andersen]


Notes


Time Line

1905. Two men were killed and six fatally injured in an accident on the new Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena railroad near Elmira today. A piece of track caved in under a heavy engine and eight of the Polish laborers working nearby were crushed under it as it rolled down the embankment. The engineer and fireman escaped unhurt. The railroad camp is a long distance away from any telegraph connection, so it is impossible to obtain the names of the victims. [DFP-1905-1022]

 

Bibliography

The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:

  • [AAB| = All Aboard!, by Willis Dunbar, Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids ©1969.
  • [AAN] = Alpena Argus newspaper.
  • [AARQJ] = American Association of Railroads Quiz Jr. pamphlet. © 1956
  • [AATHA] = Ann Arbor Railroad Technical and Historical Association newsletter "The Double A"
  • [AB] = Information provided at Michigan History Conference from Andrew Bailey, Port Huron, MI

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