L'Anse was settled in 1660. It was incorporated as a village in 1873. It was a station stop on the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic railroad on their line between Marquette and Houghton. The location was also an industrial center for shipping, logging and forest related products. The Ford Motor Company had lumber operations in the Village and adjacent areas in the early 1900's.
Image info: Top, a South Shore passenger train arrives at the L'Anse depot. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, the DSS&A depot at L'Anse in an early view. [BHS]. 3rd photo, another photo in the early 1970's. [Charlie Whipp]. 4th image, a 1923 era map transposed from a 1923 blueprint on file at the State of Michigan Archives. [Dale Berry]. 5th map, a 1936 depiction of L'Anse. 5th photo, a "bird's eye" view of L'Anse harbor showing the ore (right) and commercial/coal dock (left) in 1881.
"L'Anse" is another name of French origin, meaning "the bay", referring to Keweenaw Bay. This was a well known fur trading post and Indian trails converged on it from the east, south and west. Fur shipments by canoes and batteaux were sent to Montreal and Quebec from here. [EDP-1937-0808]
The depot pictured to the left was torn down due to deterioration. This was the third and final depot for L'Anse.
1873. The MH&O's L'Anse ore dock comes on line.
1873. The MH&O has a depot, merchandise dock and warehouse, as well as a 7-stall roundhouse and machine shops used to service engines on the then-west end of the line. [DSS]
1883. March. The DSS&A depot at L'Anse burns causing a loss of $15,000. [AAN-1884-0109]
1890. The DSS&A L'Anse station was a rectangular wood-framed building which was built in 1890. It was 15' by 85' with a hipped room and wide overhanding eaves supported by wooden brackets. It includes a two-story segment 60' long and a single-story segment 25' long. [UPM]
1893. The DSS&A railroad will run an excursion train to Houghton tomorrow from Marquette and intermediate stations. The train will leave L'Anse at 9:53 and Baraga at 10:07. The fare is 50 cents round trip. The Returning train will leave Houghton at 6:45 in the evening. To permit excursionists to visit Calumet and Red Jacket, the Mineral Range railroad will run a special from Houghton and returning in time to take the South Shore special home. Fare is an additional 50 cents. [LAS-1893-0923]
1900. The DSS&A depot, situated about one half mile from the village, is a thing of the past, having been totally wrecked by a runaway freight train of heavily loaded cars coming down the notorious L'Anse hill, crashing through it. The wreckage then took fire and was burned to the ground. The accident happened Thursday about 11 o'clock. The high trestle over the Fall River was also damaged to a considerable etrent by the heavy cars crashing over it and landing in the river below.
On the morning in question, engine No. 408, used as a "pusher' went up to the Summit to bring back a number of cars. Shortly after starting down the heavy grade, the engineer noticed that the brakes were not working properly. The rails were wet and it was impossible to regain control. The whistle was sounded sending forth the terrible warning which was heard by the section crew working about one mile up the hill from the depot. The engineer and fireman jumped. At the time of derailment the train was going about 70 mph. The depot and several cars caught fire and burned. [LAS-1900-0929]
1907. L'Anse had a water tower on the DSS&A as of 1907. [SSP1907]
1914. Operations at the L'Anse sawmill may resume. The Marshall Butters company went into the hands of receivers several months ago during a period of idleness. Several lumber concerns have made overtures for the mill and timber lands. [CN-1914-0826]
1918. The DSS&A had an operator/agent here during the day and afternoon shifts. [TRT]
1966. Celotex business to increase. Last year they built a large warehouse for storage of rock wool, with a capacity of 25 carloads. We expect rock wool to be shipped by rail instead of trucks.
Connor Lumber and Land Co. bought 50,000 acres of land from the Ford Motor Company which re rich in veneer logs. Chip loading has increased which we expect to continue. Chip loading has increase and with other business at this station, our trackage is inadequate. We are being penalized in extra expense on the L'Anse switcher and, also, occasional delays to #36 because of the inefficient switching we are forced to perform at this point. [Soo comments to Superintendent]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
