Harrisville in Alcona County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Harrisville Depot
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
1. Harrisville Depot Marker
In 1883, Russell Alger formed the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad. In 1895 it was combined with the Alpena and Northern to form the Detroit and Mackinaw Rail Company. In 1900 depot sites were selected at Greenbush and Harrisville. Scheduled passenger service began on December 15, 1901. The following month the new cut stone depot was completed in Harrisville. Passenger service between Bay City and Alpena continued until March 31, 1951.
Erected by Alcona County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 44° 39.746′ N, 83° 17.441′ W. Marker is in Harrisville, Michigan, in Alcona County. It is on East Dock Street 0.1 miles east of North Lake Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located near the east end of Dock Street, on the Harrisville Railroad Depot grounds, near the southeast corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 East Dock Street, Harrisville MI 48740, United States of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alcona County Review (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harrisville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harrisville Consolidated School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harrisville Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Bailey School (approx. 3½ miles away); Alcona County Schools (approx. 3½ miles away); Get Into Your Sanctuary / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (approx. 3½ miles away); The "Bernice D" (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisville.
More about this marker. Marker is a large, painted metal plaque, mounted above eye-level, on the tall, wooden Harrisville Railroad Depot sign.
Regarding Harrisville Depot. The
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
2. Harrisville Depot Marker (tall view; marker mounted on left side of railroad depot sign)
Also see . . .
1. Historic Train Depot in Harrisville. Built in 1901 for the Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company, this cut stone depot was a busy place any day of the week with the bustling lumber business in and around Harrisville. Daily trains arrived or departed to destinations such as Detroit or Cheboygan. As the lumber business diminished and automobile use increased, rail travel became less and less common. The last passenger train left the station on March 31, 1951. Mail and freight service continued through the early 1960's, after which the building was used for occasional storage by the railroad. This depot is one of the few remaining in northern Michigan. (Submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Detroit & Mackinac Stone Depot in Harrisville. (This link presents several excellent depot photos from 2014.) The depot sat virtually unused since the 1960's until renovations were started sometime in the early 2000's. From the outside, you can tell the roof and windows have
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
3. Harrisville Depot Before Restoration and Marker (wide view; railroad depot in background)
Additional commentary.
1. Harrisville Train Depot
Lake State Railway Company gifted the depot to the community in January of 2023 for the purpose of restoration. Harrisville Depot Committee volunteers organized in 2024 to incorporate as the FRIENDS OF THE HARRISVILLE TRAIN DEPOT in order to continue the restoration efforts when the local historical society withdrew support. The FRIENDS OF THE HARRISVILLE TRAIN DEPOT received their tax exempt non profit standing in the late Summer of 2024, and were deeded the depot and surrounding property on October 30th of this year.
Locally funded restoration has begun. To date broken windows have been repaired, exterior limestone walls were professionally cleaned to remove graffiti, new shingles went up in August, and new fencing has been installed along the working railroad right-of-way.
Photographed by Becky Schroeder, 2024
4. Harrisville Train Depot
Shes looking lovely after an exterior bath, new roofing, and a new fence!
Visit our website at www.harrisvilledepot.org for updated information and links to donate! Or follow us on Facebook. Our group plans to open the building as a local community center, educational classroom and event venue, with a possibility of a future artist in residence program. We hope to expand outside to include necessary amenities like a gazebo, nature walks, freight barn for events, and a railcar or two for conversion into a chuckwagon/food staging area, restrooms, storage, etc. Our big dreams will only be possible with your support! #DoItForTheDepot!
— Submitted November 23, 2024.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
5. Harrisville Depot Before restoration (southwest corner view)
Railroad tracks still in use; this view north to Alpena
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
6. Harrisville Depot Before Restoration (southwest corner view)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
7. Harrisville Depot Before Restoration (northeast corner view)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
8. Harrisville Depot Before Restoration
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
9. Harrisville Depot Before Restoration (rear view & tracks)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018
10. Harrisville Depot (water tank ruins & foundation)
Undated photograph in Becky Schroeder Collection
11. Harrisville Train Depot
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,682 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on November 23, 2024. 5. submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on September 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8. submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 9, 10. submitted on September 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 11. submitted on November 23, 2024. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
