Station: Vanderbilt, MI

Vanderbilt was settled about 1875. The Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad built through here about 1880 and established a station. The town incorporated as a village in Otsego County in 1901. [MPN]

Vanderbilt was located on the Michigan Central's Mackinaw Branch about eight miles north of Gaylord. The MC had a branch which left the main line here.

Photo Info: Top, a winter view of the MC depot at Vanderbilt with a group photograph. Note the man who has climbed the ladder to the train order signal. The ladder was used to refill the kerosene in the oil lamp. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, another depot at Vanderbilt with a steam locomotive waiting on the main track. This was likely a newer dept than the first photo. The station semaphore to the right of the passing track and yard indicates stop for passage of north and southbound trains. [Alan Loftis collection]. 3rd image, D&M engine 469 leads a freight train on the former MC Mackinaw Branch near Vanderbilt, in 1977. [Neil Plagens photo, Mark Andersen collection]

Notes

Time Line

1890. October. The Yuill boys of Vanderbilt are harvesting their potato crop and indications are that it will reach fully 5,000 bushels. We haven't learned yet what they will do with the proceeds, whether they will start a bank or found an orphan asylum. [CCA-1890-1023]

1906. February. Yuill Brothers of Vanderbilt, are putting in 7,000,000 feet of logs this winter, 2,000,000 feet of which will be sawed at their mill at Logan and the remainder will be taken to Bay City. The firm has 25 jobbers putting in logs. [DFP-1906-0228]

1908. January 25. A special train is sent from Vanderbilt to Logan, two miles away to assist with a large fire in the Yuill Brothers mill. [SAG-1908-0125]

1917. The MC had a agent/operator here during the day shift. [TRT]

1928. After many years of activity in the lumber industry of Michigan as the largest operators in the vicinity of Vanderbilt, Yuill Brothers are now offering some very desirable acreage suitable for club ventures and comprising lakes and trout streams. This firm has holdings along the famous Pigeon river, one of the best trout streams in Michigan. Address inquiries to Yuill Brothers, Vanderbilt. [LSJ-1928-0519]

Industry

• Higgins Industries. In 1933, Higgins Industries establishes a manufacturing plant on the north side of town. It becomes H&H Tube, with rail service from the Michigan Central railroad.
• Yuill Brothers Lumber Company. Saw mill.