Station: Elmira, MI

Elmira was settled about 1877 when the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad came through on their way to Mackinaw City. The station was called Eaton, and then Windsor. It was renamed Elmira in 1877. [MPN]

Elmira was located in western Otsego County, about 10 miles west of Gaylord. In addition to the GR&I (later PRR) railroad, the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena crossed the GR&I about 1 mile north of town on an overhead crossing.

Photo Info: Top, the Grand Rapids & Indiana depot at Elmira. 2nd photo, another view of the depot from the opposite direction. Note the horse dray team waiting nearby. [CMUL]. 3rd photo, the "Polish Express", pulled by Great Lakes Central 319, proceeds southbound through Elmira in 2007. [Mark Andersen]

Notes

Time Line

1905. Two men were killed and six fatally injured in an accident on the new Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena railroad near Elmira today. A piece of track caved in under a heavy engine and eight of the Polish laborers working nearby were crushed under it as it rolled down the embankment. The engineer and fireman escaped unhurt. The railroad camp is a long distance away from any telegraph connection, so it is impossible to obtain the names of the victims. [DFP-1905-1022]

1932. Fire, believed to be incendiary, destroyed five potato warehouses and the Pennsylvania railroad depot in Elmira early this morning. The blaze broke out simultaneously in three of the warehouses, and destroyed about a third of the buildings in the village, which has a population of 150. State police are investigating. [GHT-1932-0711]