Station: Berrien Springs, MI

Berrien Springs was located near the center of Berrien County, about 8 miles north of Buchanan. The town was settled in 1829. It had at least one other name, known as Berrien. It became the county seat in 1837 and incorporated as a village in 1863. The town was located on a Pere Marquette railroad branch line which ran between Benton Harbor and Buchanan. The town also had interurban service for a time.

Photo info: Top, a postcard view of the long interurban bridge of the Southern Michigan railway at Berrien Springs in 1906. 2nd photo, a postcard view of the same location. The postcard claims the bridge to be the longest interurban railroad bridge in the world. 3rd photo, the interurban station in town, date unknown. [Alan Loftis Collection]. 4th image, a postcard view of car 369 in front of the interurban depot at Berrien Springs. The car advertises travel to South Bend, Niles, Berrien Springs and St. Joseph on the front.

Notes

Time Line

1870. Warner's Hotel at Berrien Springs, sometimes called the County Jail, is about as liberally patronized now-a-days as any of the first-class institutions. It has twelve inmates - eleven prisoners and one gentleman who is insane and temporarily confined there until safe and comfortable quarters can be secured elsewhere by his friends. [SJH-1870-0723]

1881. The St. Joseph Valley railroad builds south from Berrien Springs to a connection with the Michigan Central in Buchanan. [MRL]

1897. The Milwaukee, Benton Harbor & Columbus builds north from the SJV railroad to Benton Harbor. Both lines become a Pere Marquette branch line in 1903. [MRL]

1905. April. The South Bend & Southern Michigan (predecessor to the Southern Michigan Ry. begins construction of a 1,600 foot bridge at Berrien Springs. [RG-1905-0428]