Station: Johannesburg, MI

Johannesburg was settled about 1901 with a sawmill operated by the Johannesburg Manufacturing company. [MPN]

The town was on a Michigan Central branch line reached off the main line by a junction via Sallings south of Gaylord. Johannesburg is located about 12 miles east of Gaylord in western Otsego County.

Image Info: Top, a 1918 valuation photo of the depot at Johannesburg. [CMUL]. 2nd photo,a winter view of the MC Johannesburg depot with a passenger train and visitors posing on a sleigh. 3rd photo, a Michigan Central mixed train works in downtown Johannesburg in 1906. The photo appears to have been taken shortly after a fire which appears to have burned right up to town. The Johannesburg depot was rebuilt in front of where the box car is located on the train. After the rails were pulled up, this depot became a popular restaurant. It was hit by an automobile in the early 2000's and destroyed. [Mark Worrall collection]. 4th photo, the Michigan Central loads hardwood logs at Johannesburg. [UMB]

Notes

Time Line

1908. The entire northern section of the state is a mass of flames in the woods. In the vicinity of Johannesburg all the lumbering crews are out fighting the flames and the camp forces have been at this continuously for three days and nights. In many instances the men are miles from their camp or a settlement as as the telephone wires are all down there is no way of ascertaining how much property has been destroyed. The Buell interests on the McGraw branch of the MC had a strenuous time trying to save the camp and buildings and finally a shift of the wind helped them out but danger is by no means past. [GRP-1908-1017]

1911. Johannesburg was the end of the Bagley Branch and had a 900' passing track here. The town was served by one round trip first class passenger train, #91 and #92 daily except Sunday.

1914. Michelson & Sheridan of Johannesburg shipped a carload of cattle one day recently to Detroit.  [WAK-1914-1219]

Industry

• Johannesburg Manufacturing Co. - until at least 1947.