Alanson was settled in Emmett County around 1875 and called Hinnman. It was changed to Alanson in 1882. It became a village in 1905. [MPN]
The town was located on the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad at MP 434.9. The station was staffed during the day in 1898. It was the northern terminus of the Petoskey region resort commuter train service which operated out of the commuter station in Petoskey.
Image Info: Top, a GR&I logging train arrives in front of the Alanson Depot in an early view. The locomotive is number 5. The train has one boxcar followed by logs. [CMUL]. 2nd image, another view of the Alanson depot with a highway crossing sign from the period in front. 3rd image, another view of the depot and the downtown area. [AL]. 4th photo, MIGN 1604 and 1606 push a spreader through Pellston near the airport to clear the snow in 1982. 5th photo, a Michigan Northern train (with engines 1603, 1605 and 1606) through Alanson in January, 1982. [Last two photos from Neil Plagens, Mark Andersen collection]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
