Metz Township near Posen in Presque Isle County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Metz D&M Depot Before the Fire

Site No. 3

— Metz Fire Historical Site —

Metz D&M Depot Before the Fire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023

1. Metz D&M Depot Before the Fire Marker

Click on image to inspect the photograph.

Inscription. The growth of the settlement at Metz was directly attributable to the establishment of a Detroit & Mackinac (D&M) Railway depot there in 1895. While the depot was closed the following year, it reopened in 1901 and continued to serve the community until 1966. Two eastbound and two westbound trains called at Metz each day.

The Metz D&M depot is at the center of the above photo. To the right of the depot is a railroad boxcar on a siding. In the foreground of the photo are large piles of logs waiting to be loaded on open railroad gondola cars for shipment to sawmills, usually in Alpena. Logs stored along the tracks at Metz and nearby Nowicki's Siding provided fuel for the fire when it burned its way through Metz.

To the left of the depot is the largest of the three hotels in Metz, owned by “Big John” Nowicki. In the aftermath of the tragic fire, Big John was accused of having delayed the departure of the relief train that had been sent by D&M to evacuate people from Metz. It was said that he bribed the train crew with food and drinks to hold up the train until he could load all the whiskey from his saloon aboard.

Erected by Metz Township, the Metz Fire Centennial Committee, and the Presque Isle County Historical Museum. Made possible by Community First Fund of the

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Presque Isle Electric & Gas Cooperative, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, and First Federal Community Foundation. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 45° 17.066′ N, 83° 48.021′ W. Marker is near Posen, Michigan, in Presque Isle County. It is in Metz Township. Marker can be reached from the intersection of County Route 441 and Railroad Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2046 Railroad St, Posen MI 49776, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Metz Before the Fire of 1908 (here, next to this marker); Metz After the Fire (here, next to this marker); Earnest P. Bicknell (a few steps from this marker); Relief Shacks (a few steps from this marker); The Metz Fire of 1908 (a few steps from this marker); Distributing Relief Supplies (a few steps from this marker); The Metz Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Our Common Ancestors (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Posen.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 23, 2023

2. Metz D&M Depot Before the Fire Marker

On the right are Stops 6 and 7.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 64 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on May 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 25, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.