Holly was settled about 1830 in northwest Oakland County. A sawmill was built here in 1843 and a grist mill shortly thereafter. It was called Algerville and then Holly Mills in 1851. The Detroit & Milwaukee railroad came through here in 1855. The town was renamed Holly in 1861 and it became a village in 1865. [MPN]
Holly was a crossing and interchange point on the Detroit & Milwaukee (later GTW/CN) and the Flint & Pere Marquette (later C&O/CSX). In addition to a union station, an interlocking tower was also located here to protect train movements over the crossing.
Image Info: Top, the union station at Holly, serving the Grand Trunk Western and Pere Marquette railroads. This view looks west. The water standpipe is between the GT main tracks. The PM track curves around to the right. [David McKeill collection]. 2nd image, another view of the station. [UML]. 3rd image another view of the depot with a GTW passenger train present. [Alan Loftis collection]. 4th image, GTW wrecker 95052 rerails a locomotive at Hollly, reported to be near the interlocking, in 1909. [UML]. 5th image, another view of a wreck at Holly. It is not known if this is the same wreck, though the year is reported as the same. [UML]. 6th image, a postcard view of the H.J. Heinz company vinegar works at Holly. 7th image, a Chesapeake & Ohio freight heads south past the union station in a 1963 winter view. [Charles Geletzke Jr]. 8th image, a 2003 view of the depot which has been updated. [Alan Loftis]. 9th image, GTW 4556 pulls a freight train across Fish Lake Road west of Holly in 1969. [Charlie Whipp]
1865. A D&M wood train ran off the track while proceeding towards Holly, resulting in a general smash of several cars and slight injury to a couple of workmen. The accident was caused by broken rail. [DFP-1865-1206]
1866. September 6. Mr. John Brevort, brakeman on the D&M railroad was instantly killed 1½ miles west of Holly. He was standing on the top of a passenger car and not noticing the bridge which the train was approaching, was struck upon the back of his head and killed instantly. The body was returned to Detroit on the next train. He was a single man and leaves a sister in Detroit who has been dependent on him for support. This is said to be the third accident resulting in death at the same place. [DFP-1866-0908]
1867. June. The D&M is preparing to remove the turn-table and engine house from Fentonville to Holly. [JCP-1867-0610]
1868. An addition of 20x48' was made to the building previously erected as a woodshed (which was 138x40') and the whole was turned into a car repair shop, it being considered an economy to make this change as 3/4 of all the platform cars do not run north of Pine Run, except for repairs. By placing the repair shop here, the cars are inspected both going and returning, and repairs can be made for want of which we would be liable to delays and accidents. [F&PM-1868]
1870. June. An old farmer who lives near Holly had never seen railroad cars in his lifetime. He and his son were headed to Detroit and waiting for the F&PM train on the platform. When it came around the curve, snorting and puffing, he thought it was a "terrible monster". Trembling in every limb, he clutched his son's arm, wanting to go home. "I ain't going to ride in that darned thing". It was all his son could do to get him on board and safely on their journey. [HREG-1870-0602]
1870. The D&M's new frost-proof water tank was erected at Holly. [DFP-1871-0301]
1875. June 30. Two trains, one a passenger and one a mail train, collided head on at a curve one mile west of Holly. Thirty people died and fifteen were injured. The mail train consisted of two passenger coaches, smoking car, emigrant car, baggaage and express car. The engine crews jumped before the collision after putting on their air brakes. [DFP-1875-0701]
1884. The freight depots at Holly are used as passenger depots since the fire. [GCC-1887-0830]
1890. August 25. About 1,000 people, employees of the Flint & Pere Marquette railroad company and their friends picnicked at Holly to-day. [DFP-11890-0825]
1917. The GTW had an operator around the clock as well as a station agent. [TRT]
1921. The GTW had a 100,000 gallon water than on a steel tower (100' tall) along their main line opposite the freight house. [SBM-1921] Both railroads also had individual water towers near the union station.
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
