Brush Street Station was the primary Grand Trunk Western station in the City of Detroit. It was located along the Detroit River at the foot of Brush Street. The station was also used by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad until about 1908 when the NYC switched their terminal to the new Michigan Central station. The GTW also has a freight house, team tracks and a small yard at this location, along with car ferry docks to reach Windsor, Ontario. [MCTC-
1950]
Image info: Top, Brush Street station about 1860 in Detroit. [Detroit Public Library collection]. 2nd image, another view of the Brush Street station. [CMUL]. 3rd image, GTW 5634 is on the head end of a passenger train at the depot. 4th Image, the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority, also known as SEMTA, operated commuter passenger trains between Brush Street Station in Detroit and the City of Pontiac during the early 1980's. The photo shows a typical train and consist which has just left Brush Street station and is now heading north towards Milwaukee Junction on an evening run. The Central Iron Foundry Company is in the background and appears to be closed. 1982 [Charlie Whipp photo]; 5th Image, the Brush Street station platform in Detroit in the 1970's [Tim Tryon collection] 6th image, a track diagram of the depot area around 1975, just before it was torn down. [Charles Geletzke Jr. collection]
1861. April 21. The employees of the D&M railroad company have made preparations to raise a flag over the entrance to the passenger grounds on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. There will be music and speeches. At the same time another flag will be run up over the freight depot of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana railroad, at the foot of Brush Street. [DFP-1861-0421]
1862. November 7. The work on the new passenger depot on the D&M railroad is progressing rapidly. The roof is near completed. The front wall of brick along Atwater street is nearly to the tops of the windows. The entrance at the foot of Brush street is now being completed. The design is one of architectural beauty and will add much to the external appearance of the depot. [DFP-1862-1107]
1865. May 8. The morning freight on the D&M was thrown from the track, just before emerging from the yard at Atwater Street, owing to the misplacement of a switch. The engine headed for a lager beer saloon on the opposite corner, the occupants of which, not liking the looks of the approaching visitor, made sudden tracks out of the back door. The locomotive stopped short before reaching the entrance. It, together with the cars which were off the track, were replaced in the course of an hour and one half and the train departed with only a short delay. [DFP-1865-0508]
1866. April 26: A fire at the foot of Brush Street burns the office, freight and passenger depots, as well as the ferry "Windsor". Eighteen lives were lost. [MRC-6/1973][DFP-1866-0501]
1866. The destruction by fire of the original Brush Street depot and adjoining property, a ferry boat and passenger train, with heavy loss of life, was one of the principal holocausts of Detroit's history. In the evening of April 26, 1866, barrels of naphtha were being loaded upon a freight car, and alongside the car stood a passenger train, well filled with passengers, as the departure was scheduled for 10:00 p.m. The ferry boat Windsor was unloading merchandise at the dock. One of the naphtha barrels was observed to be leaking, and when someone approached with a lighted lantern to examine the barrel, an explosion immediately occurred. The blazing fluid was scattered in every direction; other naphtha barrels exploded and quickly the buildings, the passenger train and the ferryboat were afire. Some of the people jumped into the river, but most of them stood refuge on the ferryboat, which soon drifted into the river aflame, the mooring line having been burned through. The Windsor drifted down the river, and to her assistance went the ferryboat Detroit, while the revenue cutter John Sherman secured those who had jumped into the water. Despite all efforts of the rescuers, seventeen persons were burned to death in the hold of the Windsor. In the passenger train, which was prevented from leaving by a freight train ahead, the occupants were hustled from their cars and berths, but one man was suffocated to death. Every building on the water front between Brush and Hastings streets was destroyed. The loss of property in this fire was estimated at $1,000,000. [HWC]
1870. January. A jolly little lad named Fred Light, only ten years old, walked up to Officer Considine at the D&M depot and wanted to know the way to "the place where they let boys stay overnight". He was brought to the Central (police) station. A conversation revealed the fact that he had dead-headed his way to Detroit from Michigan City, the conductor letting him ride "because he was so small". His parents were both dead and he wouldn't stand it top "be pounded by his uncle Henry,", so he made a start out into the wide world. [DFP-1870-0116] Also, a young girl names Mary Lemon entered the waiting room at the D&M depot and made preparations to pass the night in a warm corner. Acknowledging herself to be a vagrant and a bad character, Officer Considine had her locked up at the Central (police) Station and yesterday she was arraigned at the Police Court and sent to the House of Correction for three years, under the new law. [DDFP-1870-0118]
1871. February. Charles Enger, who stole a watch from Christopher Mann about two weeks ago, and who was captured at the D&M depot with the stolen property in his possession, yesterday confessed his crime and was billeted at Jackson (prison) for 18 months. [DFP-1871-0208] Editor's note: Fast justice back then.
1871. February. One of the watchmen at the D&M depot, while engaged in turning off the gas (lights) after the departure of the evening trains, discovered a colored man named Russell in one corner of the baggage room kissing a wench. He approach and demanded to know what was going on. Russell intimated that it was none of his business and emphasized the intimation by hitting him in the face. This accomplished, he sprang into a sleigh-box, seized a board and put himself into a position to serve either a defensive or offensive purpose. The watchman called in a policeman, who arrested the darkey (sic) and took him to the Central Station. His trial occurred in Police Court yesterday, resulting in a conviction and a fine of $3 which was paid. [DFP-1871-0216]
1871. June. Officer Webb locked up a boy 11 years old, who gives his name as William Koester and his home as Buffalo (NY). The boy had been sleeping at the D&M depot two or three nights and was without money. He states that he is making a tour of the country for pleasure, but is now debarred from completing his journey by confinement in the county fail until his parents can be heard from. [DFP-1871-0613]
1871. October. A little bit of a girl, neat as a pin and sharp as a needle, arrived at the D&M depot from Big Rapids, and informed Officer Thompson that she was an orphan and looking for a home. She had a big doll under one arm, and talked with so much dignity that everybody had a good laugh. She was taken to the Central (police) Station, furnished with a supper by Sergeant Bachmann, and he procured her a good home with a family on Michigan avenue. [DFP-1871-1004]
1892. An infant which was found in the cars at the Brush street depot about a month ago, died yesterday at the Foundlings' Home. It was buried by the Poor Commissioner. The parentage of the child was not learned. [DF-1892-0221]
1917. The GTW had a station operator here during the day. [TRT]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
