Pere Marquette Society Archive Finds New Home

The Pere Marquette Historical Society has signed an agreement with the Plymouth Historical Museum to house the society’s archives.

The archive was established in 2001 when several collections were donated to the society.

Another major donation came in 2003 when the society received the Henry J. Walhout negative collection.

In 2006 it received Art Million’s personal collection and the archive was named the “Arthur B. Million Memorial Archive of the Pere Marquette Historical Society.”

Those wishing to use the archive should call 734-455-8940 x3 before coming in.

The archive has been in storage since 2011. The new home of the archive is located at 155 S. Main Street in Plymouth and is open by appointment only on Saturday and Sunday.

Michigan Rail History Conference Set for 2021

Although it was canceled this year the annual Michigan Railroad History Conference has announced plans to meet on Sept. 18, 2021, in Ludington, Michigan.

An announcement said all plans are tentative, but organizers are optimistic the 16^th conference will be able to be held as scheduled.

The conference is set to be held at the Ludington Methodist Church.

A call for presenters will go out in early January and be accepted through Feb. 10.

Registration information will be available in March.

Lunch will be provided to conference attendees but may be limited by health and safety protocols.

Other events being planned are an early evening reception and a tour of the Great Lakes boat the Badger.

On Friday, Sept, 17, a bus fieldtrip is being planned focusing on Ludington railroad sites including those of the Pere Marquette, Epworth League Railway and the Ludington & Northern Railway. 

A notebook with information about the railroads and sites will be provided to those making the tour.

PM 1910 Lake Michigan Shipwreck Found

A railroad car ferry that sank in Lake Michigan in 1910 has been discovered by divers.

The disaster of Sept. 9, 1910, resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people when the Pere Marquette 18 sank during a trip from Ludington, Michigan, to Milwaukee.

The ship, which was owned by Pere Marquette Railway, was carrying 60 passengers and 30 rail cars.

It began taking on water and the crew began dumping rail cars into the lake in an unsuccessful effort to lighten the load.

However, the ship foundered after several hours and some passengers and all of the crew members went down with it. Rescuers were able to save 32 people.

The remains of the ship were found in about 500 feet of water near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, by a pair of shipwreck hunters.

Grand Rapids Crossing Tower Being Preserved

A tower that once guarded a grade crossing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be restored.

The more than 100-year-old Bridge Street Tower once protected the Pennsylvania and Pere Marquette railroads.

Built around 1910, the tower stood 50 feet high and operators worked in it on 12-hour shifts.

The tower is a throwback to an era when flagmen or tower operators protected railroad crossings before the advent of grade crossing gates and flashing signals.

The tower sits on property that was purchased by Charlie Secchia, of SIBSCO LLC.

Secchia was quoted by Trains magazine as saying that he is not a rail fan, but loves history and restoration.

“If we don’t preserve things for kids, they don’t know history,” Secchia said.

Currently, the top of the structure is being restored. Warped and deteriorated pine paneling and window frames are being replaced by treated lumber.

Secchia said he will have the structure painted gray with light green trim, which is how it appeared under Penn Central ownership.

Once rebuilt, the structure will be placed back on its original steel supports at Bridge Street and Seward Avenue.