Station: Marshall, MI

Marshall was settled in 1830 and became the county seat of Calhoun County. It became a village in 1836 and a city in 1859. [MPN] Marshall became a major division point on the MC's main line from Detroit to Chicago, including car shops and locomotive facilities. These operations were later moved to Jackson in the 1860's and Marshall was downgraded to lesser responsibilities at that point. When the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee railroad came through here in the 1870's, they established locomotive service facilities on the south side of town. The DT&M roundhouse was moved to Greenfield Village in the 1990's and fully restored.

Photo info: Top, the MC depot and passenger train at Marshall around the turn-of-the-century in a postcard view. 2nd image, another photo of the depot looking west. The eastbound Wolverine passenger train is arriving on the eastbound track. The way car shows on a westbound freight. The train order board across from the depot shows "proceed" and a second semaphore next to the depot possibly is a flag signal for passengers or mail. 3rd image, an early photo of the interurban station in Marshall. [Both, Alan Loftis Collection]

Notes

Historian Don Meints notes that the second floor of the MC depot may have housed hotel rooms but this has not been verified.

Time Line

1875. In a boiler explosion of the American Wood Saw Company's engines this afternoon in the MC yard, J. Drewer, the head sawyer, was seriously hurt and John Murray, the engineer, seriously scalded. Ten others were injured or scalded including a 13 year old boy. The engine was blown a distance of 150 feet. [DFP-1875-0716]

1880. November. The Pacific Express ran into a freight train at Marshall. The engineer and fireman on the Express jumped from their engine and escaped serious injury. Several cars were smashed and the passenger engine was badly used up. [NREP-1880-1118]

1882. At an enthusiastic meeting tonight the remainder of the $70,000 bonus was subscribed to the syndicate toward the construction of the Toledo & Milwaukee railroad. [DFP-1882-0905]

1917. The MC had an operator her around the clock. They also had a dedicated freight agent here during the day. [TRT]

1920. On the Michigan Central, this is a passenger and freight agency. Interline tickets are issued. M. F. Ryan is the passenger agent. E. C. Sawdy is the freight agent. The telegraph call sign is "MH". [MCOAS]

Industry

• Page Brothers Buggy Company along the DT&IM line in the south side of town. This was a 240' x 40' 3-story building with sidings from the CN.
• The Folding Bath Tub Company, a 4-building complex, served by the DT&M.