Niles in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Niles - A Transportation Center

Opening Southwestern Michigan to the World

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

1. Niles - A Transportation Center Marker

Inscription. The St. Joseph River and the Sauk Trail (now U.S. 12) were major transportation routes for Indians, French voyagers, missionaries, military and early settlers through Niles. Nile's first railroad, the Michigan Central Railroad arrived October 1, 1848. Community leaders recognized immediately that Niles was fortunate to have one railroad but to prosper it was imperative to have a second competing railroad to lower passenger and freight fares. Niles representatives promoted the project for the second railroad. In 1871 after pledging bonds in the amount of $100,000 Niles had a second railroad, the Airline Railroad which ran from South Bend, through Niles's depot at Barron lake and on to Jackson, Michigan. Competition was not to be! The Airline was immediately leased to the Michigan Central Railroad. Individuals continued to promote a competing railroad. MANY HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS JOYOUS DAY - FINALLY JUNE 29, 1882 THE ARRIVAL OF WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE BIG 4 RAILROAD ENDED A THIRTY-FOUR YEAR EFFORT FOR A COMPETING RAILROAD; THE FINAL PIECE OF THE "RAIL HUB". The flag draped train, whose route was northwest from Elkhart,

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Indiana into Niles, was greeted with a tremendous celebration. Citizens of Elkhart were aboard, coming to Niles where the train "parked" at the foot of Main Street Bridge. Festivities included a band, cannon firing, speeches, and dinner for several hundred.

THE "BIG 4" NORTH-SOUTH RAIL SERVICE AND THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL EAST-WEST RAIL SERVICE EXPLODED THE AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NILES. One such business was Hunter Ice that harvested ice from Barron Lake. Hunter Ice was stated to be pristine and was used exclusively on the MCRR and the Big 4. Before refrigerated rail cars farmers drove wagons over mud or plank roads to bring their fruits and produce to Niles's Michigan Central Railroad where Hunter Ice cooled the cars. Hunter Ice was replaced by the Federal Ice Company who manufactured synthetic ice whose plant was part of the MCRR Classification Yard. The Big 4 was extended to Benton Harbor in November, 1882, its northern most point enabling both manufacturers and farmers to load rail cars almost on site of their plants and farms. Cars could be pre-iced to further protect delicate seasonal crops. In 1905

Niles - A Transportation Center Marker in Riverfront Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

2. Niles - A Transportation Center Marker in Riverfront Park

Berrien County shipped a million bushels of peaches which included 266,400 bushels shipped by the Big 4! The quarter of a million bushels of peaches were brought to Niles's Big 4 yard to be shipped to markets south, east and west. The Big 4 hauled over 100 cars of seasonal fruit daily through Niles into the 1920s. As a result of Niles's transportation facilities, industry flourished with the arrival of companies like Kawneer, National Print & Engraving, Simplicity, Garden City Fan, Tyler Refrigeration, National Standard and others whose products brought Niles into national and international prominence.

(Photo Caption)
EVERY STEP TAKEN IN NILES RIVERFRONT PARK WAS ONCE THE PATH OF A "STEAMING LOCOMOTIVE"
2005 "birds-eye" view of Riverfront Park, where Niles's railroad hub was once centered. Niles's railroad complex where there was only 2,800 feet between the three train depots. The red dashed line shows the original route of the Big 4 and the Skate park is now where the Big 4 Depot was located. The blue dashed line shows the original route of the Interurban. Riverfront Park converted over two miles of what was the "old" Big 4 railroad

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

3. Niles - A Transportation Center Marker

Close-up of Photos on Marker

tracks along the river.

Erected by Fort St. Joseph Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 29, 1806.

Location. 41° 50.098′ N, 86° 15.542′ W. Marker is in Niles, Michigan, in Berrien County. It can be reached from Front Street (State Highway 139) south of Wayne Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at the northern end of Riverfront Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Niles MI 49120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John B. Reddick Building

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

4. Niles - A Transportation Center Marker

Close-up of Left Inset on Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Niles Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Parrott Civil War Cannon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Michigan Central Railroad Depot / Michigan Central Railroad Company (approx. 0.4 miles away); Michigan Central Railroad Niles Depot (approx. 0.4 miles away); Second Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Four Flags Hotel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wesley United Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Niles.

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

5. Niles - A Transportation Center Marker

Close-up of Right Inset on Marker

Railroad Bridge over St. Joseph River near Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 6, 2013

6. Railroad Bridge over St. Joseph River near Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,426 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 9, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.