Station: Owosso, MI

Owosso was settled about 1835 on the Shiawassee River which gave the town a river outlet to the Saginaw Bay and Great Lakes. This was an important outlet for farming and logging prior to the arrival of railroads.

In 1856, the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad built from Detroit into Owosso, and then built west to Grand Haven on Lake Michigan. This improved transportation to and from the town which had depended on river or state transportation.

Two years later in 1858, he Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay railroad built a line south from Owosso and arrived at North Lansing in 1861. This was the first railroad to arrive in the Lansing area and Detroit residents could now take a D&M train to Owosso, and use the Amboy route to reach the state capital. In 1867 the line became part of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad and later the Michigan Central.

In 1884, the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan arrived at Owosso from Ithaca. In 1886, the same railroad arrived from Toledo completing the connection. The road established a division point here along with railroad yards and locomotive facilities. Owosso now had three railroads. [MRL] 

The town became a city in 1859. [MPN]

Photo Info: Top, a postcard view of the Ann Arbor railroad depot in Owosso. 2nd photo, the GTW station at Owosso in a postcard view. 3rd photo, the Michigan Central depot in the same town. [All, Alan Loftis collection]. 4th photo, the NYC freight house at Owosso in 1964. [Craig Gardner]; 5th photo is NYC 5643 and 5671 leading a freight train through Owosso in 1965. [Charles Geletzke]

Notes

The GTW had a water tower and standpipe at Owosso for filling locomotives. [GTWHS-Cal/89]

The D&M (GT) and Ann Arbor railroad paralleled each other from Durand to Owosso, sometimes within 30 feet of each other. In 1976, the GT purchased the parallel AA main line and abandoned most of the trackage. [MRL] A connection between the GT and AA lines was established on the east side of Owosso.

Time Line

1872. August 29. A broken rail causes a derailment on the JL&S killing 4 people. [MCR-1872]

1884. The D&M depot and freight house was located along their line at S. Michigan Avenue. They later built a brick depot at S. Washington Street (which exists today as of 2025). The railroad also had a stop at Owosso Junction to interchange passengers. According to [SBM] The TAA&NM left the D&M main line just west of Owosso Junction. This was before the built their own route through Owosso. The Michigan Central's depot was at Owosso Junction. Population 4,500 per [SBM]

1890. The TAA&NM built their own line through Owosso, along with freight depot, car and paint shops east of S. Washington Street. They built a 14-track roundhouse with turntable. They crossed the MC on their own line now at Owosso Junction.[SBM-1890] The MC had a depot and freight house north of Owosso Junction, on the north side of Main Street.

1984. The GT depot was located on their main line just east of S. Washington Street. 

1900. This is a telegraph station on the Ann Arbor railroad. [OG-1900] The MC had a "branch" freight house north of Shiawassee Avenue. The TAA&NM had a passenger station just east of E. Shiawassee Ave. [SBM]

1912. George Brady & Son of Jackson have the contract to build the new MC depot in Owosso. The interior finish will be made by the Rikerd Lumber Co. of Lansing. [OT-1912-0105]

1915. By 1915, the GTW built a new brick station at S. Washington Street. [SBM] The AA depot at S. Washington no longer exists according to [SBM]. By 1924, a new station is built across the street.

1917. The AARR had a day station agent here. They also had an operator here on the day shift ("DI"). [TRT]

1917. The MC had an operator-clerk here around-the-clock. [TRT]

1917. The GTW had an agent here, as well as operators around the clock. [TRT]

1924. The MC station is now in the northeast quadrant of the MC/AA crossing at Owosso Junction. [SBM-1924]

1976. The Penn Central abandons the Jackson to Owosso line. [MRL] The line continues north and was operated by the Ann Arbor railroad.

Early Industry

• American Farm Products - on AA - 1904-1908
• American Malleable Company - on GT - 1915-1924
• Brooks Elevator - on MC - 1884-1894
• Estey Furniture Manufacturing (windows) - on D&M - 1890-1915
• Field Body Corp. (truck bodies) - on GT - 1924
• Owosso Brick & Tile Works - on D&M - 1884
• Owosso Carriage and Sleigh Company - on D&M - 1894-1915
• Owosso Casket Company - on MC - 1900
• Owosso Handle Factory - on MC - 1884
• Owosso Manufacturing Co. - on MC - 1894
• Owosso Sugar Company - on MC in 1908
• Owosso Tool Co. - on MC - 1890
• Parmalee & Geer Sawmill and spoke factory - on MC - 1884
• Robbins Table Company - on AA - 1890-1915
• Standard Machinery Co. - on GT - 1924
• White Brothers Planing Mill - on D&M - 1884