Mine: Calcite, MI - Michigan Limestone & Chemical Company

Calcite is a large limestone quarry which is located east of Rogers City in Presque Isle County. Operations continue today (2023) however rail service is no longer present on the site. The mine was formally served by the Detroit & Mackinac railroad.

Image Info: Top, an early view of a steam tank engine pulling rock at Michigan Limestone. 2nd image, a view of the "target house" at the Calcite limestone quarry. Two switch engines are at the tower, with a third behind. The locomotives are connected to special hopper cars loaded with limestone. About 1960. 3rd photo, an early view of the Michigan Limestone and Chemical plant at Calcite, east of Rogers City. [CMUL]. 4th image, a view of company executives posing in front of a steam shovel at the port loading facilities. 5th image, an overhead postcard view of Port Calcite, east of Rogers City. 6th image, a photo of the Calcite switcher and ore cars near a brick tower. [Bob Wilhelm photo, Mark Andersen Collection]. 7th image, a drawing of the two interlockers inside the limestone plant at Calcite. Both apparently had towers with working interlocking machines. Drawn from blueprints in the State of Michigan Archives. [Dale Berry]

Notes

The D&M built a branch from Rogers City Junction (near South Rogers) on its northern division due north to Calcite. After reaching the plant, their branch went west about two miles to the village of Rogers City. The D&M branch crossed two industrial leads which were built by the plant railroad to bring rock from the quarry to the port.

It has not been determined how the interlocking towers and "target" house were related.

The target house coordinated railroad operations in the plant. Trains usually pulled about 10 cars at a time.

Time Line

1926. The plant began a major construction here, with the erection of a new rail system over the road into the plant, part of an extension of the rail system. The tracks were extended and new trestles were built.

1926. September 25. The Michigan Limestone & Chemical orders interlockers for the crossings of the D&M near Rogers City. [RR]

1926. Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co. has placed orders with the Union Switch & Signal Co. for materials necessary to install a mechanical interlocking at its crossing of the Detroit & Mackinac at Rogers City, MI. The plant involves an interlocking machine with 5 working levers operating 6 functions. The field installation will be carried out by the construction forces of the Limestone Chemical CO. [RSG-1926-09]

1980s. The rails were removed from the plant.