Station: Thompsonville, MI

Thompsonville, in its present location in Benzie County, was founded about 1890. [MPN] It was the location of both the Chicago & West Michigan's railroad line to Traverse City (later PM) and the Ann Arbor railroad's line to Frankfort. Both roads had depots here as well as a 1-story interlocking "tower" which controlled the crossing.

The east side of the town is on the estate of the late Henry Wad Beecher. The west side on that of S. S. Thompson, who built the Frankfort & Southeastern railroad. [DFP-1893-0813] In 1893, it has about 800 inhabitants.

Photo info: Top, an old photo of both depots and tower. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, a better view of the interlocking "tower", which actually appears to be a ground interlocking which was enclosed with a small shelter. The boards extending from the shelter cover pipes from the interlocking machine to the signals (such as the semaphore in the background which is set to the "proceed" indication). [Both, Mark Worrall collection]. 3rd photo, a view of the depot at Thompsonville. [David McNeill collection]. 4th image, another view of the depot with section crews posing in front. 5th image, the joint C&O/AA freight house in 1968. [Charles Geletzke Jr.] 6th image, TSBY 385, 392 and 389 pull the Annie Rambler, an excursion passenger train of the Bluewater Chapter, National Ry. Historical society at Thompsonville, on September 28, 1985. [Neil Plagens]. 7th image, the historical sign now at Thompsonville. [Joe Heagany]. 8th image, the diamond crossing at Thompsonville, along with a caboose. [Joe Heagany]

Notes

Time Line

1890. This crossing was interlocked. This was Gavett-pattern machine. [MCR-1890]

1893. The village has a general store, meat market, village opera and lodge hall.

1900. This is a telegraph station on the Ann Arbor railroad. [OG-1900]

1918. The AARR had a station agent at Thompsonville during the day, as well as a tower operator during the day shift. The tower was not manned overnight. [TRT]

Industry

• Thompson Lumber Company sawmill.