| The 1905 map of Ionia in the view above, shows the area of the fire of July, 1908. The Presbyterian church that burned is northeast of the Grand Trunk depot. The Methodist church is located on the southeast corner of Depot and east Main streets. The Grand Trunk depot built in 1868 is on the north side of the GT main line, east of Depot street. Pere Marquette depot, built in 1874, is at Front and Second streets. "Lovell's Place" mentioned in the article is clearly titled at Rich and Lafayette streets. It wasn't until August 6, that a special train bearing E.H. Fitzhugh, third vice president; W.G. Brownlee, general transportation manager; M.S. Blacklock, chief engineer of construction, all of whom were from Montreal, and F.W. Egan, superintendent, Detroit, arrived in Ionia to look over the depot sites. They decided to build the new freight house on the burned depot site and have it completed by that fall. An office 30 by 30 feet with a modern finish would occupy the west end of the structure fronting on Depot street. This is what they had to say about the new depot to be located south of the P.M. depot: "There is no doubt that the present intention is to locate the passenger house at the foot of Second street, which must be opened across the Pere Marquette tracks. The building is to be located close to the main track and it is supposed that the open space to the north will be improved as a park." A year later the Grand Trunk still has not made any effort to build a new depot at Ionia. In June, 1909, The Weekly Standard had this news item which made me think that the new depot that was to be built after the 1908 fire was cancelled or put on hold. This article is dated June 11, 1909. "The victory of the D., G.H.&M. road in the suit brought by the state against its charter, by verdict of State Supreme Court, whereby the road saves $500,000, may result in giving Ionia a better depot, and possibly sooner, than if the case had gone the other way. The original plans for a depot, it is said, were abandoned as too expensive. It is now hoped they may be restored to favor. Ionia is of enough importance to be given a fine depot building." |
| Construction of the Ionia depot. Photograph from Clarke Library. |
| On Saturday morning, August 4, 1909, the official rail car with General Transportation Manager Brownlee and Supt. Egan, was dropped off by the fast morning passenger train at Ionia. They stayed about an hour looking over the site for the new depot and making arrangements for clearance of the grounds. Work was to begin the following week. It is expected that the new structure will be ready for the public by November 1. The officers gave assurances that it would be a credit to the town and the road. It is to be of paving brick, with a generous platform extending 300 ft. on one side, made of paving brick. By October the Grand trunk is still filling and grading for the new depot. The target date of Nov.1 is not going to be met. The earth for filling was being brought from the gravel pits east of Muir where a steam shovel was loading the cars. Brick was being delivered from VanderHedyen's yard and the work crew was waiting for the Bedford stone to arrive. In November there are fifty men busy laying the stone and it is hoped the structure will be done before the weather turns too cold, but, the stone quarries where the Bedford stone was being quarried went on strike in December. The work crew was sent to Battle Creek to work there and the Ionia depot was put on hold until next spring. The Ionia Standard printed this news dated April 15, 1910: "The Grand Trunk depot walls now begin to take to themselves some resemblance of form, going up at the rate of about a foot per day. The force working there is divided into three sets, bricklayers, those who place the stone trimmings and the rough laborers. All the material is now on the ground. The Bedford stone trimmings come numbered and for each stone there is a corresponding number on the architect's blue prints. The tile for the roofing is a dark red, in color harmony with the rest of the material. New standpipes are also on the ground to be installed later and they will greatly facilitate the quick gathering of water for the engines." On Sunday evening the 19th of August, 1910, the new Grand Trunk depot was opened to the public. Train No.14 from Grand Rapids was the first to stop and unload and take on passengers. The Weekly Standard made this comment: "The depot is a model of cleanliness and if the employees can cope with the mischievous boys, intend to keep it so --- and they think they can." __________________ |
| Grand Trunk depot in Ionia shortly after completion. Photo from a post card. |
| Grand Trunk depot in Ionia 1995. Photograph Merritt B.Scharnweber |
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