Fife Lake Township in Grand Traverse County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Depot

— Fife Lake Historical Walk —

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 13, 2024

1. Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Depot Marker

Inscription. Before the automobile, people traveled by train to destinations near and far. To catch a train out of Fide Lake, you had to go to the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Depot, which was located at this site. As you can see from the photograph above, travelers wore their best clothes when they rode the rails. After automobiles arrived in Fife Lake, train travel became less popular and the station was eventually torn down 1959.

Erected by Fife Lake Historical Society. (Marker Number 8.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 44° 34.581′ N, 85° 20.943′ W. Marker is in Fife Lake, Michigan, in Grand Traverse County. It is in Fife Lake Township. It is at the intersection of East State Street and the railroad tracks, on the right when traveling east on East State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 E State St, Fife Lake MI 49633, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula

and in the Grand Traverse Bay Region.

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It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 walking distance of this marker: Early Village Merchant (a few steps from this marker); The Sugar Bowl (within shouting distance of this marker); City Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Logging and Saw Mills (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Voice Bros. Auto Sales (about 400 feet away); Bandstands (about 400 feet away); Ice Plant (about 600 feet away); Hodges House (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fife Lake.

Regarding Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Depot. Fife City was on the railroad’s main line that ran from Richmond, Indiana, through Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, through Fife City and on to Petoskey and Mackinaw City. A 1925 summer schedule shows six passenger trains a day in each direction passing this station including the famed Northern Arrow train from Chicago and St. Louis. But as a flag stop,

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 13, 2024

2. Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Depot Marker

Today these tracks are owned by the State of Michigan and operated by the Great Lakes Central railroad, a freight railroad.

trains stopped here only when there were passengers to board or detrain.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

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