Centreville was settled with a tavern about 1830. In 1831 the county seat of St. Joseph County was established here. The town was incorporated as a village in 1837.
Centreville, which was near the center of the county, later received rail service from the Michigan Air Line railroad (later MC/NYC/PC) on their line between Jackson and Niles via Three Rivers.
Image Info: Top, the Centreville depot and elevator. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, the Michigan Central depot at Centreville. 3rd and 4th images, additional view of the depot [St. Joseph County Historical Society collection], 5th image, the freight depot and elevator at Centerville. [Alan Loftis collection]
1870. June. The people of Centerville celebrated the completion of the Michigan Air Line railroad to their town with a sumptuous dinner in the track-layers and invited guests. After dinner, [the railroad] gave a free ride over the road, running to Three Rivers and back. Everything passed off pleasantly. [DFP-1870-0604]
1892. March 12. A railroad man names Charles Brown, living at Union City, fell beneath a train while at work on the Michigan Central road here today and had his head cut off. [GRD-1892-0312]
1908. April 30. A wreck occurred here at 10:00 pm. A MC engine uncoupled from its train on the grade north of town, leaving the train there and went to the ice house to get two cars loaded with ice and in going out from the houses on the ice house side-track the rails spread under the weight of the heavy four-wheeler, delaying the crew for some time. The air gave out that was holding their train. Consequently it started up and by the time it got under headway the engine with the two loaded cars got out on the main line track and began to back up at a lively rate and crashed. The cars were destroyed to kindling. The conductor and brakeman jumped just in time to save their lives. [COB-1908-0430]
1917. The MC had an operator-agent here around-the-clock. [TRT]
1920. On the Michigan Central Air Line, this is a passenger, freight and express agency joint with the American Railway Express Company. Interline tickets are issued. T. A. Pendleton is the agent. The telegraph call sign is "CE". [MCOAS]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
