Union City in Branch County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Narrow Gauge Railway to the Cement Factory
Union City Heritage Water Trail
Photographed By Val Rossman, June 12, 2016
1. Narrow Gauge Railway to the Cement Factory Marker
Union City Heritage Water Trail website entry #6
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
There was a trestle here for a narrow gauge railway from Turtle Lake, 2 miles to the north, to the cement factory in the SE corner of town for transporting marl. The railway crossed both the St. Joe and Coldwater Rivers. Peerless Portland Cement was the oldest company of its type in Michigan and was started in 1896 with a capital of $250,000 and reconstructed again in 1902 with $350,000. It had a capacity of 7,200 bags of cement a day. In 1909, Woodward Avenue in Detroit boasted the first mile of concrete paving in the U.S., and the Union City factory was the producer of that material.
Erected 2016 by Union City Heritage Water Trail. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Michigan - Union City Heritage Water Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 42° 4′ N, 85° 7.711′ W. Marker is in Union City, Michigan, in Branch County. Marker is on Coldwater St., on the left when traveling east. This marker is north of the bridge on Coldwater Rd in the east edge of the village. It is on private property. Please do not trespass by accessing
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Union City Creamery (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Union" of the Rivers (about 400 feet away); Coldwater River & Bridge (about 600 feet away); Union City Iron Furnace (approx. 0.2 miles away); The St. Joe Tavern & The Bucket (approx. ¼ mile away); First Fire Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Randall Dam & Start of Millrace (approx. ¼ mile away); Riverside Hotel, Duo Coach & UCI (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Union City.
More about this marker. There are 28 of these markers comprising the Union City Heritage Water Trail on the Coldwater River and the St. Joseph River launched in 2016 for the village's Sesquicentennial. These markers can be viewed by paddling the 5 mile stretch of river from the JP Palmer Launch in the Village of Union City to the Riley Dam on the SW Corner of Union Lake. Most of these markers CANNOT by accessed by foot as they are on private property along the river. Please do not trespass. More details can be found at www.uchwt.com
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2016, by Val Rossman of Union City, Michigan. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 32 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on June 12, 2016, by Val Rossman of Union City, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. View of the marker in context • Can you help?
