Station: Springwells, MI

Springwells was settled about 1873 as a village in Springwells Township in Wayne County. The "Central" railroad line of the State of Michigan came west through here from downtown Detroit about 1837. This line later became the Michigan Central and later the New York Central, Penn Central, and Conrail. Springwells was incorporated as a village in 1921 and became a city in 1923. It was renamed Fordson in 1925 and then annexed to the City of Dearborn (and known informally as East Dearborn) in 1928. [MPN]

Notes

As a result, the towns of both Springwells and Fordson were short lived, only seven years in total. The remainder of Springwells township was soon annexed to the City of Detroit.

The town was later served by the north-south Pere Marquette railroad (which crossed over the MC line near Wyoming Avenue), the Detroit Terminal railroad (coming down from Highland Park to the Rouge Plant), the Pennsylvania railroad (coming from the south into the Rouge complex, the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (which built a line north to the Rouge complex from Flat Rock), and numerous interurban and trolley lines.

Time Line

1882. July. It was noted that the township had a toll-gate on Michigan Avenue somewhere near the Spring Works and Clark Street. This may have been part of the Detroit & Saline Plank Road Company. [DFP-1882-0726]

1921. Incorporated as a village.

1923. Became a city.

1923. April. The school district in Springwells village reports that they have 6 schools and are prepared for significant growth. Miller school (on Michigan Avenue, later moved), Salina school (at Salina and Church streets), Roulo school (on Roulo avenue), McDonald school, and a "splendid" parochial school (on West Warren avenue). William Ford school (at Ford and Chase) will be completed soon and is centrally located in the village of Springwells. [DFP-1923-0415]

1925. Renamed Fordson.

1928. Annexed into the City of Dearborn. Remainder annexed into Detroit.