Below from Spraque's history of Grand Traverse & Leelanau Counties Published 1903
Until the Manistee & Northeast Railroad was
extended from Manistee to Traverse City Leelanau county was entirely
without railroad facilities. That road only reached two towns in the
county, Solon and Elmwood, giving them two stations, Pouch and Solon.
In the spring of 1903 a branch of this road was completed from Solon
through Centerville and into Leland township to Provemont, upon which
passenger trams are now run regularly. Another extension of the
Manistee & Northeastern road in Benzie county to Platte gives
railroad connection with Empire by way of the Empire Lumber Company's
road.
The Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad was
completed from Traverse City to Northport the present season, and
regular passenger service was inaugurated on it the latter part of
June, 1903. This road runs through a fine farming and fruit country.
After leaving Traverse City stops are made at the following stations:
Hatch's Crossing, Bingham, Fountain Point, Sutton's Bay, The Clovers,
Omena and Northport. The railroad company has had built a fine car
ferry, having a capacity for carrying thirty-two cars, and elaborate
cabin accommodations for a large number of passengers. A slip is
being constructed at Northport for this boat, which it is expected
will be completed by the first of September, when the ferry will
commence making regular trips across the lake between Northport and
Manistique, where it will connect with railroads for all parts of the
Upper Peninsula.
The establishment of this line to the Upper
Peninsula will be of great interest and benefit, not only to Leelanau
county, but to the entire Grand Traverse region, providing a short
line and quick transportation for the fruit products of the region to
the Upper peninsula towns, where a good market for them is always to
be found.
Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad obtained trackage rights rights over Manistee & Northeastern between Hatch's siding and Traverse City on Oct. 2, 1902.
TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU & MANISTIQUE
RAILROAD
|
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TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU & MANISTIQUE RAILWAY
COMPANY DIRECTORS
OFFICERS.
Michigan Railroad Commission Report 1915 |
TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU & MANISTIQUE RAILWAY This property was inspected on June 6th between Traverse City and Northport. This company operates over the Manistee & North-Eastern Railroad from Hatch’s Crossing to Traverse City, a distance of about 5 miles. There are no stations of importance on this line; however, the stations that are provided seem to meet the demands of the traffic presented. The company intends putting in about 6,500 ties, 5,000 of which will be of soft wood. The ballast on this road is of a good quality and surface and alignment of track if fairly good and will be improved within ninety days. The track is generally fenced and the same is generally in satisfactory condition. The equipment is in fair condition and as required by law. Passenger service between Traverse City and Northport is very satisfactory to the traveling public. The general conditions of this property are satisfactory. Michigan Railroad Commission Report 1916 |
On August 16, 1918, the Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railway Company, became of an increasing operating deficit, suspended operation of its road from Northport to Hatch's Crossing and Traverse City. On August 29, the Commission took action ordering a restoration of service and a hearing and consideration of the subject 10. At this hearing the parties in interest commenced negotiations to organize a company among the principal shippers on the line and acquire the road, thus to release the former owners from the financial burden they had borne for several years in carrying on the property. At the close of the year matter had not been disposed of and was awaiting the outcome of the plans under negotiation between the parties. Michigan Railroad Commission Report 1918 |
May 23, 1919 |
Leelanau Transit Company incorporated to reorganize Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique (RRMich) |
From MichiganRailroads.com
The M&NE arrived first, completing its main from Lake Ann to Traverse City by July1st, 1892.
The TCL&M (Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique) built the line from the M&NE to Northport by June 28th, 1903. It was operated by the GR&I.
The LTC (Leelanau Transit Company) bought the TCL&M on May 23rd, 1915. The M&NE leased the LTC on June 6th, 1919
PM gained control of the M&NE including the LTC lease in 1931.
C&O merged PM including the lease in 1955.
The LTC lease was canceled in 1982.
The junction of the TCL&M with the M&NE was known as Hatch's or Hatch's Crossing by both the M&NE and TCL&M
Greilickville was formerly known as Rennies?
Poor's Railroad Investments Manual 12-31-1902 - Traverse City,
Leelanau and Manistique RR Co
From the Grand Rapid &
Indiana Railway statement
The Traverse City, Leelanau and
Manistique RR Co. has been formed to construct a line from Traverse
City to Northport, Mich., a distance of about 30 miles. The Grand
Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co. has taken $75,000 of bonds of the new
company, and received 25 per cent. ($125,000) of its capital stock.
The road was expected to be completed about July 1, 1903. It Will be
operated by by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co.
From Michigan Railroad Commission Report 1903 - Traverse
City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad
This road was
projected from Traverse City through Grand Traverse and Leelanau
counties to Northport. Afterwards a long-time contract was made with
the Manistee & North Eastern Railroad Company for use of that
company's track's tracks from Traverse City to Hatche's crossing, a
distance of 5 6-10 miles.
The Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad was completed and put into operation June 28, 1903. The road connects at Northport with the car ferry line of the Manistique, Marquette & Northern Railroad, which operates between North Northport and Manistique, in the Northern Peninsula.
The car ferry line at Manistique connects with the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway and with the Manistique, Marquette & Northern Railroad, which extends to Shingleton, where it connects with the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway. This line of road has been constructed with first-class bridge structures, ties and rail. Drainage is good. Station buildings are being erected wherever necessary. Road is generally fenced. Highway crossing in good condition. Surface and alignment of track good. The general condition of this road is satisfactory and equal to the requirements in point of safety.
The Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique RR Co. has constructed a line from Traverse City to Northport, Mich.., a distance of about 30 miles. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co. has taken $75,000 of bonds of the new company, and has received 25 per cent. ($125,000) of its capital stock. The road was partially opened for business July 1, 1903. Since that date it has been operated by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co. on account, and not under contract of April 4, 1902, because it has not been completed as per terms of said agreement and because other uncompleted obligations of the contract owing largely to financial difficulties, which it is hoped will be eventually adjusted. [from GR&I Poors statement 1904]
The Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique RR Co. has constructed a line from Traverse City to Northport, Mich.., a distance of about 30 miles. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co. has taken $75,000 of bonds of the new company, and has received 25 per cent. ($125,000) of its capital stock. The road was partially opened for business July 1, 1903. Since that date it has been operated by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry. Co. on account, and not under contract of April 4, 1902, because it has not been completed as per terms of said agreement and because other uncompleted obligations of the contract owing largely to financial difficulties of the Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique RR. Co. [from GR&I Poors statement 1905]
Traverse
City, Leelanau & Manistique Railroad |
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Stations |
Mile Post 1906 |
M.P. GR&I 1906 |
Year |
Siding |
Notes |
Traverse City |
0 .0 S |
26.0 |
1906 |
- |
GR&I Depot |
Hatch's Crossing |
5.6 S |
31.9 |
D |
- |
M&NE trackage to Traverse City |
Heinforth |
7.7 F |
|
|
|
|
Bingham |
9.6 S |
35,7 |
|
|
|
Keswick |
11.5 F |
|
|
|
Cut located north of town - SNOW problems |
Leelanau |
13.3 F |
|
|
|
|
Sutton Bay |
16.5 S |
42.9 |
D |
Behind depot |
|
Peshawbestown |
|
|
|
|
Village on line |
Manseau's Mill |
|
|
|
Siding to |
At Belanger Creek |
Omena |
23.7 S |
49.9 |
|
|
|
“OA” Siding |
24.2 |
|
|
|
|
Northport |
29.2 S |
55.1 |
D |
|
Car ferry connection to Manistique |
D = Day Telegraph station. F = Flag Stop S = Normal stop |
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One first class passenger train each way, daily except Sunday in 1906. No. 90 leaves southbound from Northport at 8:00 a.m., arriving at Traverse City at 10:05 a.m. No. 91 leaves Traverse City northbound at 3:40 p.m., arriving at Northport at 5:30 p.m. |
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Standard clock and bulletin books were located at the Traverse
City Telegraph office Registering stations were at the Traverse
City telegraph office, at the M&NE telegraph office in
Traverse City, at the Hatch's Crossing telegraph office, and at
the Northport Telegraph office. |
Michigan Railroad Commission Inspection Report 1914 |
March 1, 1914 Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ends operations of the Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique Railway
Record-Eagle Monday, June 19, 2006
LARRY WAKEFIELD
Manseau’s old grist mill was a modern
marvel
Manseau never got big enough to become a real ghost
town. It, however, had a siding on the old Traverse City Leelanau and
Manistique Railroad and was a gathering place for Leelanau County
farmers, who brought their grain to the grist mill for sale or to be
ground for their own use. The water-powered mill was built in 1859 by
Antoine Manseau Jr. In 1856, he had bought an acre of land for $100.
It was on what he named Kenosha Creek after an Indian named
Keywatosa. Three years later he dammed the creek, built a 26-by-30
foot mill and started grinding grain with a pair of imported
millstones. They came from France and were made of buhrstone, a
composite of limestone and silica widely used for grindstones in
those days. The old mill still stands on what is now Belanger Creek,
3 1⁄2 miles north of Suttons Bay. It probably was the oldest
grist mill in the Grand Traverse area, antedating the Norris mill in
Greilickville by at least two to three years. Like his father,
Antoine Sr., Antoine Manseau was a millwright and carpenter. He was
born in Canada, as was his father, and came to this country in 1838.
After spending some time in Green Bay, Milwaukee and North Manitou
Island, the Manseaus settled at the mouth of the Carp River in
Leelanau County. There, Manseau helped his father build a dam and
sawmill on the river, thus founding the town of Leland in 1853. In
1882, Antoine Jr. built a 16-by-16-foot addition to his Kenosha mill
and installed a roller system necessary for milling flour. The mill
was a wonder of elaborate machinery of rollers, bolters and screens.
The grain moved six times from basement to top floor, through three
stands of silk bolters and screens that separated the coarse bran and
other byproducts from the final fie-ground flour. The mill was
automatic. Only one man as needed to operate it — just to see
that the grain kept moving in the right direction and to replace
broken belts. In 1906, the mill was bought by Eugene Belanger and was
operated by him and sons Ignatius, Alexis, Luke and Edwin until 1934.
At that time very little grain was being raised in the Grand Traverse
region, and the mill was closed because business was slow. Ed
Belanger remembers the mill’s last day. He remembers it
especially well because it came close to being his last day, too. For
much of that time, he and the farmer had stood on some planking over
the 17-foot deep water box that provided power for the mill wheel. Ed
went to a dance in Suttons Bay. When he returned that night, he found
that part of the concrete wall of the water box had given away, and
the planking on which they had stood was 100 yards out on the bay
ice. “If it had happened during that day,” he said, “We’d
both have been goners for sure.” The mill stands empty now, but
the dam on Belanger Pond is still intact. The mill is registered on
the list of Michigan Historic Places.
Leelanau Enterprise 12-27-2013 County's
former U. P. link far from forgotten (items from)
The distance
between the two ports was 75 miles.
Fares to Northport were $2.50
one way and $4.50 round trip, plus a berth at $.75 and meals at $.50.
per George Hilton
The year 1908 saw the end of the Manistique -
Northport service, only five years after is was instituted. The slip
at Northport was sold to the Ann Arbor RR, dismantled and re-erected
as the west slip at Frank (harbor).
Web page by Henry F. Burger 1/14/2017