Columbiaville was settled about 1847 with a sawmill and was called Niverville. It was renamed in 1857 and became a village in 1879. [MPN]
Columbiaville was on the Michigan Central's Bay City branch, about ten miles north of Lapeer.
Image Info: Top, an early photo of the Michigan Central depot at Columbiaville. [Alan Loftis]. 2nd image, the back view of the same depot in 1905. [UML] 3rd & 4th images, the same depot captured in 1976. [Charlie Whipp]
The NYC/PC branch was mostly 105 lb. rail but the section over Columbiaville Hill north of milepost 69 was relaid with 132 lb. rail. [CW]
The Detroit and Bay City Railroad reported to the Michigan Commissioner of Railroads in 1873 that they built a Howe Truss wooden bridge at Columbiaville, 100 feet long. The railroad also reported a 120 foot long wooden pile bridge at the same location. These are presumed to be the bridge (and approach) to the Flint River (later Holloway Reservoir). [MCR/1873]
1889. A two-week old baby was dropped from the platform of a coach by her mother. [MCR-1889]
1917, The MC had an agent-operator here on the day shift. [TRT]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
