Chase was settled about 1862 as Greendale or Green Dell. It was the location of a sawmill, broom handle factory and shingle mill. Chase was the county seat until 1874. [MPN] The townsite was located on the Pere Marquette main line about eleven miles east of Baldwin.
Image info: The PM depot at Chase, with an approaching passenger train. [CMUL]
The Haak family of Battle Creek had logging operations near Chase in the mid-to late 1870's. [LCS]
1882. An 11-year old son of S. Smith of Chase, fell under the engine on Haak's tramroad, and had one of his legs badly crushed. The same day, the 12 year-old son of Wm. Van Buskirk fell from a building and was shook up severely; having a narrow escape from death. [LCS-1882-0727]
1884. November. I.A. Haak, the big lumberman of Chase is shipping maple logs in the rough to Glasgow, Scotland via New York. They are to be used for rollers in the extensive paper mills of that place. He is also doing a heavy car trade in white pine. It is almost impossible to get cars fast enough to fill his orders. [GRE-1884-1126]
1886. January. The new saw mill of J.A. Haak, which he is building a few miles north of town, is rapidly nearing completion. [GRE-1886-0121]
1886. March 8. J.A. Haak's lumber camp in the township of Pinora, five miles north from Chase, was entirely consumed by fire recently. Loss $500. No insurance. [LSJ-1886-0308]
1910. June 2. DUE TO HEAT. Rails Spread, Letting Car Down; Another Train Comes; No Danger Signal Posted.
A rear-end collision on the Pere Marquette one-half mile west of Chase, Lake county, at 4 o'clock this afternoon, resulted in the death of Brakeman Verne Hewitt, of Reed City, and fatal injuries to Conductor Egert, of Evart. Both men were on a local freight westbound.
Excessive heat caused the rails to spread and let the local [train go] down. No damage was done then, as the train was not going fast enough to pile the cars. Neglect to post a danger signal accounts for the wreck that followed. A through [eastbound] freight dashed around a curve while efforts were being made to get a car on the track. In the crash the local train was badly demolished. Hewitt was instantly killed and Egert was badly scalded. His recovery seems doubtful. [DFP=7/3/1910]
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