IONIA   STATION   1869
The  New  Depot
In October of 1873, the railroad purchased the property of W.C. Page at the corner of Second and Front Street. The
purchase included the adjoining lot on the east which Mr. Page had previously bought of Mr. Root. This land
measured 165 feet on Front Street and 70 feet on Second Street. It was running late into the year so construction on
the new depot didn't get started until the next spring. In May of 1874 the foundation walls were completed and by the
middle of July the slate was being put on the roof and the inside work was being done. On Friday September 25,
1874 the Ionia Sentinel gives us the whole story:
"Our city has a right to feel proud of the new depot completed by the D., L., & L. M. R.R. Co. There is but one
structure of the kind in the State that surpasses it and that is the new Central depot at Jackson. The building was
accepted by Mr. Scott, the architect, from the contractors, on Friday of last week, and the keys given to Mr. Foley,
agent of the company here. The officers took possession of their new quarters on Monday and seemed delighted with
the change. The building is 103 by 30 feet, two stories high, with basement kitchen for eating house. The first story is
15 feet high between floor and ceiling and is divided into baggage room, gentleman and ladies waiting rooms and
dining room, with telegraph and ticket offices. The waiting rooms are furnished with iron frame, slat seats. The second
floor is 12 feet between floor and ceiling and is divided into offices for Division Supt., Master Mechanic, and Road
Master. A parlor bedroom for telegraph operator, with night instruments is also on this floor. Over the dining room are
the living rooms for the help for this department. The material of the structure is Ionia brick, with field stone foundation
and Free-stone trimmings; slate roof; and finished with pine, grained in imitation of oak, throughout. Jeffery Corbett
was the contractor; C.H. Axtell did the mason work and W.P. White the painting. Wm. Scott, C.E. Detroit, architect.
The cost of the building is about $12,000 and of the grounds about $4,000."
 "On Monday, the national colors were flying from the flag staff on the tower and in the evening the whole building
was illuminated. The Ionia Cornett Band serenaded the officers in their new quarters and were invited in and most
hospitably entertained."
 "At the solicitation of a number of citizens, arrangements were made for a dedicating hop, on Wednesday evening,
which was attended by the elite of the city. Dancing did not commence until 10 o'clock and was kept up until 3 or 4
o'clock the next morning. The R.R. officials and committees spared no pains in providing for the entertainment of
guests and it was pronounced one of the most pleasant occasions ever enjoyed here. Supper was provided by Mr.
Taylor proprietor of the R.R. Dining Rooms and was partaken of by quite a number who did not abode, and the
praise of the culinary skill, neatness and good order of their department, was heard from all who had a seat at the
tables."
This photograph of the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad depot at Ionia was taken from a postcard. At
this date, in the early 1900's, the railroad is now the Pere Marquette. Gordon Lydeksen collection.
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Time table printed in the Ionia Sentinel
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In mid Dec., 1869 the Ionia and Lansing railroad track layers had progressed to about five and one half miles west
of Portland headed for Ionia. All the ties were distributed between Ionia and Lyons. The bridge two miles east of
Ionia over Grand River was completed with the trestle approaches. We have this report from the Ionia Sentinel on
the new depot in Ionia: "The building lately occupied as a wagon manufacture by Daniel Divine, having been
purchased by the company with the grounds, will be used for a station house for a time. It is of good size, and can be
fitted up so as to be quite convenient. The selection of depot grounds adjoining those of the D.&M. road will be a
great convenience for the transfer of freight and passengers and is better in all respects."
The location of this new depot is in the above drawing taken from an atlas of 1872.

       
                                                                 
                                                                       


                                                            
The construction train reached Ionia January 15, 1870 and crossed the diamond of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad.
Crowds watched the progress of the work all day and the employees of the road had supper at the Eagle Hotel.
On January 22, 1870 the depot in Ionia is still in the remodeling stage. The turntable and the building of a two stall
engine-house is still not completed. Trains will not be running until this is all completed. The depot grounds are getting
crowded with huge piles of shingles and lumber waiting for shipment.
Passenger trains started running on January 31st. The Ionia Sentinel had this to say:
"The distance to Lansing is 38 miles, and in view of the obstacles surmounted and the manner of its construction, the
road has been completed in a remarkably short space of time ---- thanks to the energy and perseverance of the
officers."
From the Lansing Republican:
"We trust that our friends at Ionia will pay us a visit before long, and we can assure them a cordial welcome. If the first
formal excursion on the road should be to Ionia, and by and by, when the Peninsular railway is open from Battle Creek
to Lansing, if the citizens at Battle Creek and Ionia and along the lines of both roads would run excursion train to
Lansing on the same day, which would be both pleasant and profitable."
"The people of Ionia will certainly accept the invitation to visit the Capitol City, and hope to greet a large number of
their Lansing friends here soon."