289 - Depot

In the late 1800s, the existence of small towns on the prairie largely depended on the railroad. A railroad through town would, in many cases, make or break a tiny prairie town and Michigan City, in Nelson County, was one of the lucky ones. The Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway constructed nearly forty miles of track across the plains between Larimore and Bartlett, right through Michigan. The depot was built in 1883. It included a building, a platform for passengers to board and exit the train, and a stockyard to house the livestock waiting to be shipped to the stockyards.

In the spring of 1883, Mr. Griften, the depot agent, welcomed the first passenger train to Michigan. This was undoubtedly an exciting, spring day for the community as the first billows of smoke were visible from the train! In 1889, the Great Northern took over the railroad and service greatly expanded in the years that followed. On June 18, 1893, a true milestone was reached when the first thru passenger train to Seattle was available, a sign not only of progress, but also connection and potential.

Railroad service was bustling in the 1920s and 1930s, as it was the only sure mode of winter transportation. Well, as sure as can be in a North Dakota winter! Michigan was connected to both major cities and smaller towns. Sadly, this would not last. A ride on a passenger train became nothing more than a fond memory in the hearts of the folks of Michigan.