Sometimes I think that I was born in the wrong century. I often wonder what it was like riding the train from town to town in Michigan in the early 1900’s. I have to admit when it comes to trains I am a buff like Sheldon Cooper and have visited train museums. I like to visit the old train depots left over from that bygone era, like the beautiful old depot in Muskegon. The Historical marker next to it reads:
The Union Depot was opened in 1895 to serve the Chicago & West Michigan Railway; The Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad; and the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad. A.W. Rush and Son of Grand Rapids designed the Richardsonian Romanesque station. Several national political figures paused at the depot during whistle-stop campaigns. In 1896, William Jennings Bryan stopped during the first of three unsuccessful presidential bids. The 1952 campaign brought Republican vice presidential candidate, and future president Richard M. Nixon to Muskegon as well as President Harry S Truman who stopped on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. The Union Depot closed in 1971. It was donated to Muskegon County in 1992 and restored as a visitors’ center and museum.
Reminder. I will be at the Walker Memorial Library giving a presentation on March 16th, at 6 pm.
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