Station: Deward, MI

Deward, in northwest Crawford County, was settled in 1901 around a saw mill, owned by the David Ward estate near the Manistee River. Ward was a lumberman and industrialist from Detroit. The mill operated until 1912. The town was a station stop on the Detroit & Charlevoix railroad, which later became a MC branch line. The town was abandoned about 1932. [MPN]

Image info: Top, a D&C train stopped at the Deward Depot in the early 1900's. [UML]. 2nd photo, another view of the Deward store and depot on the D&C. [UML]

Notes

The lumber operation used the D&C to transfer forest products to East Jordan and onto ships to Chicago and Milwaukee, or on rail cars that were interchanged with the MC at Frederic.

Time Line

1901. August 14. Deward will be the new headquarters of the D&C. It is stated sawmills will be built at Deward and the road, which has heretofore been a lumber road, be operated for general traffic. [DFP-1901-0815]

1905. September 8. Fred Bissette, a D&C brakeman was seriously injured by falling between cars near Deward. One leg was crushed above the knee, besides internal injuries which may prove fatal. He was taken to St. Mary's hospital, Saginaw, on the midnight train from Frederick. [PHDH-1905-0908]