Station: Luther, MI

Luther was settled in 1880 as Wilson and renamed Luther in 1881. A sawmill from the Luther & Wilson company was located here. This was a station stop on the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad. It became a village in 1893.

Photo info: Top, the M&GR depot at Luther.  2nd, the Manistee & Grand Rapids depot and passenger train at Luther. 3rd photo, the depot after being damaged by a storm. [Both, Alan Loftis collection]

Notes

Comments from Carl Bajema:  The turntable pit (depression in 2003) at Luther is on the south side of the former GR&I right of way, just south of the Little Manistee River at coordinates:  44 degrees 02.077N and 085 degrees 41.073W.  The first GR&I turntable was at Carey and the GR&I moved this turntable east approximately 3 miles to Luther.  Thee is evidence to support the hypothesis that the GR&I east from the Marthinson & White (also known as the Copley & Manistee) narrow gauge -- GR&I standard gauge diamond (located just east of Carey) to the Wilson, Luther & Wilson chemical works on the southwest side of Luther was "dual gauge".  Also, the Manistee & Grand Rapids standard gauge railroad crossed State Road on the north side of Luther, just north of the elementary school.

Time Line

1883. June. Luther's saw mill burns, a loss of $50,000. [AAN-1884-0109]

1910. In 1910, the M&GR ran one passenger train each way between Manistee and Marion via Luther. This was likely a mixed train. [OGR]