Station: St. Johns, MI

St. Johns was founded in 1853 in north central Clinton County. It was incorporated as a village and was designated as the county seat in 1857. It became a city in 1904. [MPN]

St. Johns was located on the Grand Trunk Western (former Detroit & Milwaukee line) about 10 miles west of Ovid. This line was later sold to the Central Michigan railroad. An interurban line also reached St. Johns from the south (Lansing).

Photo info: Top, an early 1910 photo of the depot with train. 2nd photo a view of the DGH&M through St. Johns in the late 1800's. 3rd image, the GTW depot at St. Johns. [Alan Loftis collection]. 4th image, a photo of the same depot taken in May, 1988. [Jim Slater] 5th photo, the GTW 5832 switches the grain elevator in St. Johns, on January 6, 1985. [Dennis Schmidt]. 6th photo, a Central Michigan train passes the former depot in October, 1988. [Gary Worrall]. 7th and 8th photos, the inside of the St. Johns depot in 2004. [Alan Loftis photos]

Notes

Time Line

1858. August. A telegraph is now being constructed along the D&M railroad. The poles are already up from Detroit to St. John's and the line is intended to be in working order through to Grand Rapids sometime in August. [LSJ-1858-0803]

1869. March 9. The breaking of an axle caused 11 freight and baggage cars and the sleeping car to be thrown from the track on the D&M road near St. Johns. [GRE-1869-0311]

1869. October 4. At about 3 o'clock in the morning, the engine house belonging to the D&M railroad at St. Johns was discovered to be on fire. The flames had made such progress when discovered that it was impossible to save the building or check the fire till the whole was consumed, together with the repair shop connected with it. A stationary engine, large quantity of coal, tools, water tank, etc. were also destroyed. A number of men were thrown out of employment for the present. No locomotives were in the house at the time. The fire was no doubt accidental. [JCP-1869-1006]

1871. The people of St. Johns have subscribed $20,000 toward the Lansing & St. Johns railroad, and the prospect is fair to raise the required amount. [KLSJ-1871-0601]

1917. The GTW had an agent here as well as operators around the clock. [TRT]