The Railroad and the Depot
The Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Railroad came to Howell in 1885 and the depot built in the summer of 1886. A rectangular, side gable brick structure, it features raised corner posts and bracketed pendants at the eave line. The two over two sliding sash windows have arched hood moldings and each gable features a wheel window. A curved bay on the track side permitted sight clearance of the rails for the train master from his desk. The tracks crossed the Barnard Street cemetery and cut the fairgrounds in half, requiring relocation of both. The line ran under three streets to the east, which were covered with wood to allow passage by horse and buggy. The noise of the trains passing beneath terrified the animals and the system was later replaced with arched bridges.
In 1895, the line was renamed the Ann Arbor Railroad. It carried freight and provided passenger services from Toledo, Ohio north to Frankfort on Lake Michigan. The depot area contained a freight house, water tower, engine house, loading platform and a large, covered trestle for coal cars. The railroad was vital to the success of the Borden Milk Plant on West Street and to many other enterprises in Howell during the boom years. The line even brought equipment from Ann Arbor to assist in fighting the Grand River fire in 1887.
By 1915, sidings, some of which are still in existence today in the yard west of the depot building, ran south almost to Grand River Avenue to accommodate a flour mill, feed mill, grain elevator and lumber yard along that route. In 1951, passenger service ceased. Most of the accessory buildings had been removed and the depot was in limited use although the railroad still occupied a part of the building as office space.
The depot was listed on both the State Register of Historical Sites and the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and 1971, the first structure in Howell to be so recognized. In 1988, the depot was recognized as a significant structure by the then City of Howell Historic Commission.
In 1895, the line was renamed the Ann Arbor Railroad. It carried freight and provided passenger services from Toledo, Ohio north to Frankfort on Lake Michigan. The depot area contained a freight house, water tower, engine house, loading platform and a large, covered trestle for coal cars. The railroad was vital to the success of the Borden Milk Plant on West Street and to many other enterprises in Howell during the boom years. The line even brought equipment from Ann Arbor to assist in fighting the Grand River fire in 1887.
By 1915, sidings, some of which are still in existence today in the yard west of the depot building, ran south almost to Grand River Avenue to accommodate a flour mill, feed mill, grain elevator and lumber yard along that route. In 1951, passenger service ceased. Most of the accessory buildings had been removed and the depot was in limited use although the railroad still occupied a part of the building as office space.
The depot was listed on both the State Register of Historical Sites and the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and 1971, the first structure in Howell to be so recognized. In 1988, the depot was recognized as a significant structure by the then City of Howell Historic Commission.
