Station: Ionia, MI - GTW Station

Ionia was a crossing of two railroads, the Pere Marquette line from Grand Ledge to Howard City and the east-west Grand Trunk Western from Owosso to Grand Rapids.

Photo Info: Top, An early postcard view of the GTW depot in Ionia. 2nd, A photo the the same depot with the larger Pere Marquette depot in the background. Note the PM train at their station. [Alan Loftis collection]. 3rd photo, a more recent photo of the GTW depot. [Alan Loftis] 4th photo, the same depot photographed in 1975. [Charlie Whipp]. 5th photo, the PM freight house in Ionia in 1976. [Charles Geletzke Jr.].

Notes

Time Line

1865. May 17. A brakeman on the D&M railroad, names James Kelly, was killed at Ionia while coupling cars. His foot caught in the "frog" and the cars struck him before he could extricate himself. He resided at Dearborn. His body passed through the city this morning to be interred near his old house. [DFP-1865-0517]

1867. About three o'clock this morning, the depot of the D&M railroad at Ionia was discovered to be on fire and in spite of all that could be done to save it, was entirely destroyed, with almost all its contents. The station agent, John Pickford, and family occupied apartments in the second story of the depot and very narrowly escaped with their lives. [GRE-1867-1108]

1868. January. The contract for rebuilding the depot of the D&M at Ionia has been awarded to Mr. E. Garrett of Detroit at $6,000 and he has already commenced work upon it. The building is to be much larger and of better appearance than the one destroyed, and will be used as a passenger and freight depot combined. It will be 200' long and 25' wide, exclusive of the platform which will be protected by the roof projecting from the building. 'GRE-1868-012]

1874. January. Work is completing on a new water tank at the junction, east of the D&M Ionia depot, which holds 36,400 gallons and will be supplied by a hydraulic rain with water from a nearby creek. [GRE-1874-0112]

1879. A new coal house and derrick was built here by the DL&N. [DL&N-1879]

1889. The DL&N installed a new 24-foot track scale at Ionia. [DL&N-1889]

1890. The DL&N laid a new floor in their machine shop; a brass foundry was built; the freight house was repaired and painted and the passenger house was repaired. [DL&N-1890]

1905. The PM builds a ice house at Ionia to replace one that was destroyed by fire. [PMAR-1905]

The Pere Marquette in Ionia had a 60' hand operated turntable, still in place as of 1942.

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