line were hurriedly constructed and were small. On Jan.21, 1868, the Ionia Sentinel reported the building of a new depot
for Ionia. The paper commented that although it was not as substantial as we would have liked to have seen, it will be
superior to the old one. The paper goes on to describe the new depot as "200 feet long by 25 feet wide, exclusive of the
platform. The gentlemen's waiting room is to be 32 feet by 17 feet, the ladies room 14 by 10 feet, telegraph and ticket
offices each 12 feet square, with a storage room 150 by 25 feet. On the east end there will be a second story, extending
over 45 feet of the length of the building. This will be fitted up for the residence of the station agent. The estimated cost
will be $6,000."
This new depot was built on the same site as the old one, on the north side of the main line just east of Depot street. On
February 21, 1868, the Sentinel has a nice report on the D.&M. depot:
"The new depot at this place is rapidly approaching completion. The roof is now being put on and the outside adorned
with a coat of paint. It is quite a creditable structure in appearance and will be much more commodious and convenient
than the old one."
This depot served Ionia for many years. In the year 1860, the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway went into bankruptcy and it
remained thus until October 19, 1878 when it reorganized and became the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee
Railway. This line came under control of Grand Trunk Railway of Canada on November 1, 1878. On November 20,
1900 the D., G.H.&M. with several other railroads was incorporated as Grand Trunk Western Railway Corporation.
April 25, 1907, The Ionia Daily Standard says:
"Bidders on the new local Grand Trunk station house are still on the anxious seat, the decision not having yet been
announced."
Grand Trunk wanted to build a new depot at Ionia. It was to be at a new location approximately one block west of the
old depot. This would put the new depot straight south of the Pere Marquette depot located at Front and Second streets.
The problem with this was, the Grand Trunk had to acquire land from the Pere Marquette Railroad to gain access to the
new proposed depot from the north. October, 1907, The Ionia Daily Standard had this to say on the matter:
"The best information obtainable is to the effect that the new depot for Grand Trunk is assured, that the contract has been
let, according to plans adopted and that the work will probably be commenced not later than next spring. The cause of
the delay at this time has been the P.M. company being in the hands of a receiver, it could not give permanent title to a
strip of land needed for depot approach. The restoring of road to stock holders the last of this month will open the way to
close the deal for this land and remove what seems to be the only obstacle to commencement of this much needed
improvement. An interview between Mayor Bible and a prominent Grand Trunk officer confirms this view of the situation."
By June, 1908, the Grand Trunk had not yet started construction on the new depot for Ionia. Then July 3, 1908 disaster
struck the Grand Trunk depot which quickly turned into a more serious problem.
FURIOUSLY FANNED FIRE
_______________
DESTROYS GRAND TRUNK STATION
AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
_______________
Eighteen Cars, Mostly Laden with Mer-
chandise, are also Burned. Central
Residence Section Threatened.
_______________
Sunday was a busy and most exciting day in Ionia. The fire started in the platform of the Grand Trunk station. It was
noticed just before the regular passenger west left at 9:26 a.m. Water was poured down the hole from which smoke was
seen to issue and it was supposed to be extinguished. But twenty minutes later, soon after the excursion train pulled out,
the entire space beneath the platform was discovered to be a roaring furnace. So rapid was the progress of the flames
that not a single book or paper could be saved from the freight office, nor a single article of freight from the freight house.
Everything was also lost in the ticket office---not the slightest scrap left in the way of supplies or records. The baggage,
however, was all safely removed from baggage room---and this was all that was saved out of the entire
building---combined passenger and freight house.
Had the fire stopped here, the people would not have been inconsolable; but the four tracks in Pere Marquette yard were
filled with freight cars and the G.T. depot was lined with cars. The P.M. switching crew does not work Sunday and it was
sometime before an engine could be fired to run out the cars. Eighteen cars, mostly loaded, were burned before the
engine could be brought into use, but a large number were finally placed out of line of danger.
But this was not the worst. The brisk breeze was carrying fire embers to the north-east, endangering the most thickly
settled and valuable residential district. the P.M. freight house was in the direct line of danger and was only saved by the
most strenuous effort, men on the roof keeping it well soaked and closely watching every point. Houses half a mile away
were in great danger and scores of citizens were compelled to use their utmost endeavor to save their own homes, along
Main, Washington and Lafayette streets, reaching to Lovell Place and beyond. Several houses were on fire, but the
flames were put out before gaining headway.
The fire started as people were on their way to church, but the dimensions and danger were not realized until after the
services had commenced. Rev. Dr. Spencer, pastor of Presbyterian church, suffered from some uneasiness of mind and
while the choir was singing, he slipped out doors and found that the blaze had started in the roof of the church. He quietly
returned and saying that as the homes of some of the congregation were threatened, it would perhaps be best to close the
service. About this time a lady rushed into the church and exclaimed excitedly that the building was on fire. The
congregation was quieted by the pastor, however, who directed that the collection be taken and then calmly pronounced
the benediction, the congregation passing out in good order, while Miss Francis Gillbert played a selection on the organ,
without a hurried note. So it was all done, decently and quietly, as become good Presbyterians. The only things saved in
the church were part of the hymn books, a few cushions and other small articles, which people carried with them as they
passed, except the silver service in the basement, which some of the ladies were thoughtful enough to take out.
The fire being on Sunday was unfortunate in some respect, but it was lucky that it was a day-light fire and that the wind
was from a westerly direction rather than from the east in which case, the flames most certainly would have lapped up the
warehouse of the Ionia Produce Company and then reached over and took possession of the Standard Oil Company's
plant. Once lodge here, it would hardly have been possible to have kept the flames from running riot in the business
district. As it was the Produce Company building was on fire several times, but was saved by careful watch and quick
work and by moving some freight cars by hand, which might have otherwise formed a fire line connecting with Standard
Co's yard.
The house of F.O. Sibley, the tenant house on Front street belonging to Mrs. G.W. Webber and several others were on
fire at times. The tenants in the Webber house moved out their goods.
All the books and records in the Pere Marquette freight office were removed and were being put back this morning. The
Koppitz-Melcher's warehouse at the east end of the Grand Trunk station, went up in smoke and flame with its stock. The
loss here is estimated at $4,000, insured for $3,000.
The services at the Methodist church and Church of Christ were cut short by the fire, but were conducted in full at the
Baptist and Episcopal churches, which were a little more out of line of flying embers.
It is impossible to give a close estimate of the loses, especially on freight. The railroad officials will not give figures and
declared that they could not even make approximate estimates in case of freight until later. The losses will aggregate
probably somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000, being estimated in round numbers, as follows:
Grand Trunk, $15,000; Pere Marquette, $18,000; Presbyterian church, $14,000; Koppitz-Melcher Co., $4,000;
J.C.Preston, Detroit, cold storage building, $4,000; telephone and telegraph companies, $500; Ypsilanti Reed Furniture
Company, $5,000. The losses by railroad companies are covered by blanket insurance.
The Grand Trunk lost only four cars --- 3 box and one refrigerator. The Pere Marquette lost 14 cars --- 9 box, 1
furniture, 1 gondola, and 3 flat. This company also had one passenger coach burned above the sills and two coaches quite
badly damaged.
General officers were much in evidence this morning. Representing Grand Trunk were: W.G. Dobed, of Battle Creek,
lost freight agent; F.W. Egan, Detroit, supt.; J. Ehrke, Durand, train master; J. Sheedy, Durand, master of bridges and
buildings; Mr. Hamilton, Grand Rapids, road master. Officers of Pere Marquette: Supt. Pycatt, Detroit; Mr. Cain, train
master, and Mr. Enos, traveling engineer.
Two passenger coaches, now standing on the track east of Depot street, but to be moved to site of burned depot as soon
as the debris is cleared, are being used for passenger station. The east end compartment is freight office; the west end,
ticket office. The passenger compartments between are, the one for ladies' waiting-room, the other for gentlemen. They
are really more luxurious than the depot rooms. Three freight cars on the track are to be utilized for freight storage.
Supplies for the freight office were received Sunday afternoon and for the ticket office today. Passengers going out on this
morning's trains could not be supplied with tickets or checks for baggage.
The new Grand Trunk depot, which was already tolerably well assured, may now be considered absolutely sure.
All day yesterday, until late in the evening, large crowds thronged the scene, many coming in from the surrounding
country. This morning the grounds were a busy place, a large number of workmen being engaged in removing the debris,
gangs setting poles for wires, officials giving directions and taking note, a few curious spectators and gamins scattered
over the ruins poking in the ashes in hopes of valuable finds. Grand Rapids was telegraphed for help, at the time the
danger seemed imminent that the fire might sweep through the entire central part of town and a special train was made up
there, leaving at 11:05, with a fire company and engine, accompanied by Mayor Ellis.The special was made up of two
passenger coaches and three flat cars, on which were loaded two hose wagons with 2,700 ft. of hose. The run was made
in less than an hour but the fire was under control when the train reached here and the fire apparatus was not unloaded.
There was great danger from the electric wires. Several were burned off or torn from their position as burning poles fell,
but the electric company employees were on hand and cut them.
FOUR FIRES FOLLOW
In the afternoon, an alarm was turned in, calling the department to the railroad shop grounds, where a lumber pile was
ablaze. The flames were extinguished with a small loss.
The third alarm was at 11:45 p.m., when a shed back of Patk. Welch's saloon was discovered on fire. This was
somewhat threatening to the block, but was confined to the shed, the loss being small, perhaps $100.
The fourth was caused by the burning of the Pere Marquette coal sheds, at 1 o'clock this morning. The fire was prevented
from spreading and the loss was not large.
Ticket Agent Rauch of the Grand Trunk, having a cool head and an eye to the essential thing, got out with the cash box
contents, $125, all right and deems himself luck in consequence.
______________________
This news article was taken from the Ionia Daily Standard. On this same Sunday, the Grand Trunk depot at South Lyons
burns to the ground.