Moving Depot

In researching the past, sometimes you come across information that you think can not possibly be correct. Memories can fade over time, so I am always somewhat skeptical and like to get contemporary references when I can. Once in awhile, I come across stories that seemingly just do not fit with what we know of the past.

One such story was of a train depot on the Southside. Over the years, while researching other things, I had come across brief references to a depot behind the Chair Co. off Perry Street. Frankly, I never believed them. First, we all knew where the depots were: one on Union Street and one on Washington Street. Second, the railroad didn’t even cross the river until 1887.

However, my conclusions were proven to be totally false when I purchased a copy of an amazing old photograph that actually shows the train depot being moved over the trestle. I was very excited but had many questions. Whenever I need advice on anything railroad related, I turn to my cousin Mark Hershoren for assistance. Mark, who makes trains his hobby, is very familiar with the trains that once served the Grand Ledge area. Together we have pieced together this history.

It is important to note that railroads changed names and ownership very frequently.

The Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan RR, The Ionia and Lansing RR, The Detroit, Lansing and Northern RR, and The Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit RR all served the area and eventually all became the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western RR. This railroad itself would be merged with several others in 1900 to form the Pere Marquette RR.

In 1887 the trestle or High Bridge was completed. Also that same year the new passenger depot, designed by Ionia architect Claire Allen, was built on the Southside. If we look at maps today, there is still a triangular parcel of land own by the railroad between Gulf Street and Perry Street that once housed the building. There were disadvantages to having the depot in this location. It was out of the way and far from downtown and the popular Resort. Also it could only service trains on the new line that crossed the river, but not the original 1869 line on the Northside.

Both of these issues were solved in 1890 when the building was moved. Using two DL & N flat cars and pulled by locomotive #3 over the trestle, the passenger depot was placed at its new home on Washington Street. In its new location it was only a few blocks from Bridge Street and could handle trains from all the tracks that came into the village.

The Berry Corner

The corner of East Jefferson and Taylor Streets has been one of the most prominent corners in the City for over 140 years.

In 1867 George N. Berry built his large home on the site. George Berry had come to Grand Ledge in 1865 at the age of 22 to visit relatives and friends from New York. The following year he returned with his new bride, Jennie, and they decided to make the town their home. George entered in the mercantile business and purchased several fashionable lots on East Jefferson. He chose the best lot on the corner for this own house.

In about 1871 Berry founded the Loan and Deposit Bank. At first this was run out of the back of his store, but eventually the bank grew until he became a full time banker. After the Great Fire of 1876, he built the Berry Block at 212-214 S. Bridge to house the bank

In 1888 Berry remodeled his own home, adding a front hall and dramatic four storey tower to the corner. About this time, he also began to sell some of his lots on Jefferson, giving way too many of the fine homes we see today. He was a great financier in the town, and in his later years became philanthropic. He donated land for both the Library and the Trinity Episcopal Church. Jennie Berry died in 1917 and George followed her in 1924. Their son Fred had his own grand home at 315 East Jefferson, so the Berry home was vacant for some time.

On February 20, 1930 St. Michael’s Catholic Church acquired the property. The building, with some remodeling was used for church services for the next ten years. In 1940 the fine house was demolished and a new church was built on the corner. To match the neighboring library and post office, the same brick was used from the local Grand Ledge Face Brick Co. After nearly 40 years on the corner, the Church moved to its current location on Edwards Street.

Looking for more space, the City purchased this visible corner in 1970. To make it look less like a church, the metal siding was added to cover up most of the church windows, including a large rose window that faced Jefferson Street. The front entrance was altered and the awning added.

In recent years the City Hall has expanded into 319 Taylor Street. This cottage was built in about 1880 and was home to the Brunger family for nearly 30 years. Russell Tinkham began his long tenure when he moved into the dwelling in 1936 after selling his much grander home on West Jefferson to Governor Fitzgerald.

Housing city government for nearly 40 years, City Hall makes this still one of the most important corners in Grand Ledge

Post Office and Naming Town

To any fledgling pioneering community, the establishment of a post office is a proud moment signifying your settlement is here to stay. That is how local pioneers felt when Grand Ledge was awarded its Post Office on July 20, 1850. It had only been a few short years since the first daring families came to the dense forest of the area. Now the handful of settlers, still living in log cabins, had their own official Post Office.

As part of petitioning the government for the Office, a name had to be decided on for the hamlet. Edmund Lampson, Henry Trench and John Russell met at the log cabin of George Jones west of the village, at the corner of Oneida Road and Grand Ledge Hwy. Several names had been suggested by the town folk – Lampsonville, Woodville, Russellville, Rockville, and Ledgeville among them. . It was George Jones who declared “let us have a local name” and Russell agreed with him. They convinced the men that “Grand Ledge” would make a fine name for the new settlement.

Henry Trench was appointed the first Post Master and the first Post Office was an Official Mail Bag hanging in his log shanty near where the Opera House now stands. Mail had to be picked up in Lansing. The journey to Lansing was a long trek through the dense, untamed forest and no one made a regular trip of it. The Mail Bag was given to whoever happened to be going to Lansing, and the Lansing Office knew that who ever showed up with the Bag was authorized to carry the mail.

After a few years, Trench gave up the job and it passed to a series of local shopkeepers. Thus there was no permanent Post Office Building, just a Post Office Counter in which ever store was run by the Post Master.

J.S. Holmes was appointed as Post Master in 1872. Originally he ran the Office out of his wooden grocery store on South Bridge Street until the Great Fire of 1876. He then partnered with Michael McMullen to build the Union Block at 208-210 S. Bridge. The newspaper noted “Postmaster Holmes removed the Office into his new brick block on Monday last.  The boxes are very conveniently arranged, both for the accommodation of the P.M. and clerks and the public.  We now have as good an Office as there is in the county, and as near fire and burglar proof as could be expected.”

Wanting to concentrate his efforts as Post Master and Express Agent, J.S. Holmes sold his stationary and bookstore business to B.S. Pratt in 1884. The Post Office no longer needed to share space with any store goods. In 1891 J.S. Homes built the Holmes Block directly across the street at 211-213 S. Bridge and moved the Office there. About 1905 The Post Office moved again to the newly built Alexander Block at 108 E. Jefferson, where the bank drive-thu is today. The Post Office remained there until our current Office was erected in 1938.