Farmington in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Detroit United Railway
Photographed By Joel Seewald, March 20, 2021
1. Detroit United Railway Marker
Inscription.
Detroit United Railway. . With the introduction of electricity in Farmington, so too came the interurban railway. In August of 1899, the Detroit Northwestern Railway bought over forty-on acres at this intersection for a power house. Completed in February of 1900, the Farmington Junction Power House was declared one of the finest in the nation. While advertising travel rates of two cents per mile, the waiting room next door handled passengers, crops, and milk. The car barn, erected on 2.75 acres across the street, completed the local interurban complex. Several rail companies, after merging into the Detroit United Railway in 1901, continued to expand throughout the state. After the automobile brought the demise of the DUR in 1930, the complex became vacant. The LaSalle Wines and Champagne Co. began production in this building in 1933, made additions in 1941 and 1956, and remained at this site until 1970.
With the introduction of electricity in Farmington, so too came the interurban railway. In August of 1899, the Detroit Northwestern Railway bought over forty-on acres at this intersection for a power house. Completed in February of 1900, the Farmington Junction Power House was declared one of the finest in the nation. While advertising travel rates of two cents per mile, the waiting room next door handled passengers, crops, and milk. The car barn, erected on 2.75 acres across the street, completed the local interurban complex. Several rail companies, after merging into the Detroit United Railway in 1901, continued to expand throughout the state. After the automobile brought the demise of the DUR in 1930, the complex became vacant. The LaSalle Wines & Champagne Co. began production in this building in 1933, made additions in 1941 and 1956, and remained at this site until 1970.
Erected 1984 by Farmington Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1900.
Location. 42° 27.41′ N, 83° 21.47′ W. Marker is in Farmington, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and Mooney Street, on the
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right when traveling south on Grand River Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31505 Grand River Avenue, Farmington MI 48336, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Old smokestack popular stopover for thousands of birds. Detroit Free Press article from September 26, 2016 that mentions that the chimney of the building is possibly the largest roosting site of chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) in North America. (Submitted on March 23, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Photographed By Joel Seewald, March 20, 2021
2. Detroit United Railway Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 481 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 23, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
