Station: Haakwood, MI

Haakwood was a hamlet in Cheboygan which was formed around the Haakwood Lumber Company in 1901. [MPN] The location also was a junction for MC's Haakwood branch and related spurs which went northeast into the forest to the Afton area.

Image info: Top, a 1909 view of the Haakwood Lumber Mill. [DFP]. 2nd view, these were structures at Haakwood, likely offices and boarding houses for the lumber company. [CMUL]. 3rd image, a view of a MC wreck train backing up to a derailed locomotive, around 1910. The wreck train includes a locomotive (shoving back), several express-type cars, what appears to be an office car with canopy over the platform, two flat cars with rail and other items, and an industrial crane to lift the locomotive. The locomotive appears to be a 2-6-0 which has tipped over on a washed out branch line. This wreck was identified as being at Wolverine, but it appears to be on a logging branch line. [UML]

Notes

Haakwood - 45.298967, -84.614820.

Also known as Haak.

The Haak saw-mill had two band saws and could handle 100,000 feet of lumber in a day. The place was called Haakwood and was the latest thing in lumbering. The logs came in a steady flow from the woods to the saw mills over a narrow gauge railroad (?). The dormitory was steam heated and even had electric lights. The mess house served good meals. The 200 men got along well together, with some exceptions, of course.

The Haak mill eventually burned. Haak continued to run his lumber business in Battle Creek and at one time served as councilman. [BCE-11950-0115]

Time Line

1902. Cook wanted. Good woman cook for boarding house at mill; also man cook for woods. Address Haak Lumber Co., Haakwood, MI. [DFP-1902-0823]

1903. March. It is reported that Salling, Hanson & Co. of Grayling are negotiating for the purpose of the timber holdings and mill plant of Haak Brothers, of Haakwood, on the Mackinaw division of the MC. [SCH-1903-0319]

1904. February 4. The Michigan Lumberman's excursion, which left Detroit at 2 a.m., breakfasted at Bay City and then transferred from the Pere Marquette to the Michigan Central. At Grayling, the local band met the party at the depot and escorted them to Salling, Hanson & Co.'s clubrooms, where refreshments were served. The MC provided an extra engine and in spite of the snow landed the visitors at Haakwood on schedule time. The Haak Lumber Co. served dinner and afterward entertainment and addressees were given. Tomorrow, the lumbermen return to Grayling, where Salling, Hanson & Co will entertain. The temperature is 10 above, the weather clear and the occasions generally enjoyable. They arrive in Detroit on the return Saturday morning. [DFP-1904-0205]

1904. March 11. Haakwood, Mich. Fire destroyed the big mill of the Haakwood Lunber Co. at this place, causing a loss of about $160,000. Many people from Wolverine responded to the alarm, but in spite of their efforts the mill was completely destroyed. The company carried about $50,000 insurance. [PHTH-3/11/1904] The Haak's were formerly Luther men. [GP-1904-0310]

1904. August 9. A.S. Wright, a brakeman, was killed near Haakwood last night while coupling cars. He was 21 years of age and lived at West Bay City. [DFP-1904-0810]

1911. July. Near Haakwood, an overhead bridge on the MC was burned in a forest fire. [DFP-1911-0712]

1936. June 8. The MC and NYC railroads applied to the ICC for permission to abandon the Haakwood branch of the former road in Cheboygan county. The carriers said the branch, 12.75 miles near Afton, MI was constructed to take out timber and that this had been completed. [LSJ-1936-0608]