The Boyne City Railroad was a railway based at Boyne City, Michigan , U.S., during 1893–1978.
54-621: The original railroad was established by William Howard White of Boyne City, Michigan in 1893. William H. White was a northern Michigan industrialist who owned the W.H. White Company. The company operated saw mills in Boyne City, the White Transportation Steamship Company with service to Chicago, Buffalo, Georgian Bay, Ontario and Boyne City, a commercial dock on Lake Charlevoix and controlled extensive timberlands around Boyne Falls. The company needed an economical way to supply
108-620: A combined capacity of 200,000 board feet (470 m) of lumber. In addition, the Iron & Chemical Company and the Michigan Tanning & Extract Company required a constant source of hardwood timber that the BCG&;A could deliver. The extension of the BCG&A was an attempt to maximize the land holdings of the W.H. White Company. The railroad was necessary to harvest the timber that the W.H. White Company owned east of Gaylord. In addition, after
162-567: A federally-designated rural regional medical referral center, is the largest employer in the city of Alpena. Until it largely closed in 2022, Alpena's primary shopping center was the Alpena Mall , the only enclosed shopping mall in the northeastern Lower Peninsula . In full operation, the former mall featured approximately 20 stores, with JCPenney and Gordon Food Service as the anchor stores . Other retailers operate in this part of town and on M-32 west of town and south on US-23 . Alpena
216-507: A junior high, an alternative/adult high school, and six elementary schools. The elementary schools are Besser, Ella White, Hinks, Lincoln, Sanborn, and Wilson Elementary Schools. Geographically, it is the largest school district in the Lower Peninsula, encompassing more than 620 square miles (1,600 km ). There are two private schools in Alpena. All Saints Catholic School is affiliated with
270-593: A number of notable buildings, including the Art deco Alpena County Courthouse , the I.O.O.F. Centennial Building , and Temple Beth El , one of the oldest synagogues in the United States . There are seven recognized historical markers in the city: According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 9.23 square miles (23.91 km ), of which, 8.54 square miles (22.12 km ) of it
324-617: A result, the company forfeited their ownership to the State of Michigan. Much of the former White Company land was reorganized as key land parcels within the Mackinaw State Forest , a Michigan state forest that aimed at long-term rehabilitation of the damaged land. Boyne City Railroad was a short line operating on the railroad's original 7 miles (11 km) of roadbed in 1935-78. The Boyne City Railroad resumed its predecessor's primary function of providing freight service from Boyne City to
378-406: A small portion of the northwest corner of Otsego County . The lake occupies portions of Charlevoix Township , Marion Township , Hayes Township , Eveline Township , Bay Township , and Evangeline Township . Young State Park is located on the shore of the lake just northwest of Boyne City. The Ironton Ferry at Ironton , a designated Michigan Historical Site in operation since 1876, crosses
432-587: A total population of 28,907 at the 2020 census. Alpena is located at the head of Thunder Bay , a bay of Lake Huron . Offshore of Alpena is the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary , which protects an estimated 116 historically significant shipwrecks . Alpena is the third-largest American city on Lake Huron, behind Bay City and Port Huron . The Alpena area is home to the Ojibwe , Ottawa , and Potawatomi people. These people groups inhabit
486-616: A valuable role in preserving the numerous shipwrecks in Lake Huron, documenting a history of tragedy that spans over 300 years. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena is the interpretive and administrative center of the sanctuary, located on the banks of the Thunder Bay River. The local history of the Alpena area is documented by the Besser Museum , founded with an endowment from industrialist Jesse Besser . The Besser Museum
540-574: Is a public-use airport located in Wilson Township, Michigan six miles (10 km) west of the central business district of Alpena. The Michigan Air National Guard 's Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center co-utilizes the airfield. Alpena is situated along the Lake State Railway , formerly the Detroit and Mackinac Railway (D&M). Earlier railroads that served Alpena were built and owned by
594-471: Is home to Lafarge-Holcim cement plant and to Besser Company (maker of a concrete block making machinery), as well as a drywall board manufacturing facility owned by Decorative Panels International. Rogers City is the location of the world's largest limestone quarry (see Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company ), which is used in steel making in the Great Lakes and Rust Belt regions. MidMichigan Health ,
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#1733086026310648-590: Is home to several radio stations . Alpena is the third smallest (208) Nielsen Designated Market Area (DMA) in the United States. Television stations located within the Alpena DMA : Cable only television: Northeast Michigan is also served by selected major network affiliates from the Northern Michigan DMA, as well as CBC Television programming from CBMT-DT in Montreal . Cable television service
702-482: Is land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km ) (7.48%) is water. The city is on the shore of Lake Huron 's Thunder Bay , with Alpena Township surrounding it on land. Alpena has a humid continental climate ( Dfb ) with warm summers along with cool nights, moderated by nearby Lake Huron and cold, snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 84 inches (210 cm). As of the census of 2010, there were 10,483 people, 4,734 households, and 2,565 families residing in
756-780: Is located on an 8 acres (3.2 ha) campus in northern Alpena, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums . Permanent attractions at the Besser Museum include a planetarium and the Katherine V. , a wooden fishing tug that spent its entire life on Lake Huron. The Besser Museum also features rotating collections of art, science, and local history. The museum is the publisher of The Town that Wouldn't Die: A Photographic History of Alpena, Michigan from Its Beginnings Through 1940 . The Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library serves Alpena County . Its special collections include
810-697: Is on the grounds of the Kalamazoo (MI) Model Railroad Historical Society. Locomotive #18 is operating on the Arcade & Attica Railroad in New York. Lake Charlevoix Lake Charlevoix ( / ˈ ʃ ɑːr l ə v ɔɪ / SHAR -lə-voy ) is a lake in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan . It is the third largest inland lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres (70 km ) and 56 miles (90 km) of shoreline. The maximum depth in
864-606: Is supported by the newly opened Sanctuary Cinema, located in a former JCPenney store in Downtown Alpena, and the Maltz Opera House , currently under renovation to its 1920s-era appearance. Alpena County Regional Airport (IATA: APN, ICAO: KAPN, FAA LID: APN) is the northeast lower peninsula of Michigan's main commercial airport and handles daily Delta Connection flights to Detroit , Minneapolis/St. Paul via Detroit , and to Pellston operated by SkyWest Airlines . It
918-504: Is the county seat of Alpena County , and is the only city within the county. The population was 10,197 at the 2020 census , making it the third most populated city in the Northern Michigan region, after Traverse City and Cadillac . The city is surrounded by Alpena Township , but the two are administered autonomously. It is the core city of the Alpena micropolitan statistical area , which encompasses all of Alpena County and had
972-550: Is visible at the junction of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad and Webster Road. 45°5′10″N 84°50′52″W / 45.08611°N 84.84778°W / 45.08611; -84.84778 • Hallock Road & Parmeter Road-Otsego County: From there it meanders cross-country towards Gaylord passing just east of the former town and station of Hallock, Michigan. 45°4′20″N 84°46′45″W / 45.07222°N 84.77917°W / 45.07222; -84.77917 Hallock
1026-560: The Alger Smith and Co. logging company: (1) the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad , which entered Alpena from the south around 1886, and (2) the Alpena and Northern Railroad . Alpena, along with the rest of Alpena County and portions of Presque Isle County , is served by Alpena Public Schools . Alpena Public Schools was established as the first county-wide school district in the state of Michigan in 1963. The district has one high school ,
1080-443: The Detroit and Mackinac Railway main line. The expanded BCG&A offered service to Charlevoix County, Antrim County , Otsego County , Montmorency County , and Alpena County . The BCG&A operated 90 miles (140 km) of main line track, 3 branch lines had over 300 Russel Log Cars, 13 locomotives, 12 passenger cars and 1 interurban gasoline passenger car. By this time, the W.H. White Company had 4 saw mills in Boyne City with
1134-459: The B.C.G&A. was: gross earnings $ 263,753, net earnings $ 185,038, interest expense ($ 32,559) and net income $ 46,595. 86% of the revenue was from freight traffic. In 1915, the officers of the company were W.H. White, President & General Manager; Thomas White, V-P & Assistant General Manager; W.L. Martin, Secretary; J.M. Tompkins, Auditor & Purchasing Agent; all of Boyne City; James A. White, Treasurer, Buffalo, NY. The 1915 directors of
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#17330860263101188-639: The B.C.G.&A. right-of-way. In addition, the Southend Branch Line was built between 1908 and 1912 from the railroad junction named Project (the current parking lot of Boyne Mountain Resort) to the Upper Jordan River Valley (south of M-32) to harvest the W.H. White Company’s timberland in the valley. In November 1913, the Michigan Trust Co. of Grand Rapids, MI was appointed receiver of
1242-476: The Boyne City & Southeastern Railroad. It was proposed that the railroad would eventually reach Alpena on Lake Huron, 62 miles (100 km) to the east. On November 25, 1905, the railroad reached the town of Gaylord where it intersected the Michigan Central Main Line, 26 miles (42 km) east of Boyne City. After reaching Gaylord, the W.H. White Company continued to harvest the timber along
1296-708: The Boyne Falls north-south trunk line, operated successively by the Pennsylvania Railroad , the Penn Central , and the Michigan Northern . During the final two years of its operating life (1976–78), the short line was known as the Boyne Valley Railroad , and offered excursion passenger service only. Passenger service ended after the summer of 1978, and the railroad was formally abandoned in 1982. All of
1350-639: The Michigan Trust Company required principal and interest guarantees from William H., Thomas White and James White. This was accomplished by the brothers by pledging all their capital stock in the B.C.G & A Railroad Company. In August 1917, the Michigan Bankruptcy Court and the Michigan Railroad Commission approved the plan. On December 20, 1918, the BCG&A reached Alpena, Michigan on Lake Huron where it intersected
1404-700: The Northeast Michigan Oral History Archive, the comprehensive Great Lakes Maritime Collection, and a full collection of Alpena newspapers dating back to 1871. Arts organizations in the Alpena area include the Alpena Symphony Orchestra; the Alpena Civic Theatre; and the Thunder Bay Theatre, Northeast Michigan's year-round professional theatre located in the historic 1904 Spens Block on North Second Ave. Cinema in Alpena
1458-649: The Spratt Club. • Kerston: The BCG&A crossed a spur of the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad at Kerston. That spur of the D&;M railroad ran west from Alpena to Hillman, Michigan. • Boyne Falls to Elmira: A utility right-of-way that follows the old roadbed is still visibly on Google Earth—starting from the south end of the Boyne Mountain ski resort and running south and east to just north of Elmira. A concrete bridge foundation
1512-518: The W.H. White Company and the B.C.G. & A Railroad since the companies had missed all mortgage payments in the previous quarter. Liabilities of the combined companies were stated at roughly $ 2 million with no mention of asset value. By 1915, the railroad operated 35 miles (56 km) of main line track, 57.8 miles (93.0 km) of branch lines, 7.2 miles (11.6 km) of siding, 12 locomotives, 305 cars (mostly Russel Log Cars ) and car repair shops in Boyne City. The 1915-1916 fiscal year revenue for
1566-625: The W.H. White Company was the solution. In 1893, the W.H. White Lumber Company established the Boyne City Southeastern Railroad to access the company timber holding around Boyne Falls. Mile 0 started at the White Lumber Dock in Boyne City and proceeded 7.2 miles (11.6 km) east to Boyne Falls where it intersected the mainline of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. From Boyne Falls, the Thumb Lake Branch Line
1620-603: The area surrounding the Great Lakes , including Michigan. The Thunder Bay Band of Chippewa and Ottawa merged with the Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians in the mid-1800s under Chief Way-ge-maw-waw-be. Alpena County was originally set off from Michilimackinac County as Anamickee County founded in 1840, which in 1843 was changed to Alpena, a pseudo-Native American word — a neologism coined by Henry Schoolcraft , meaning something like "a good partridge country." This
1674-403: The average family size was 2.93. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males. The median income for a household in the city
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1728-421: The city. The population density was 1,227.5 inhabitants per square mile (473.9/km ). There were 5,278 housing units at an average density of 618.0 per square mile (238.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White , 0.5% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.7% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.1% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of
1782-427: The city. The population density was 1,348.9 inhabitants per square mile (520.8/km ). There were 5,200 housing units at an average density of 620.5 per square mile (239.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White , 0.42% African American , 0.43% Native American , 0.48% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.09% from other races , and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of
1836-464: The company were: William H. White, Thomas White, L.H. White, W.L. Marin, J.M. Harris, J.T. Wylie. In late 1916, the B.C.G & A was stalled 9 miles (14 km) from Alpena, MI at the Thunder Bay River since the company had run out of money. In February 1917, the Michigan Trust Company, Grand Rapids, MI announced a tentative reorganization plan in which the B.C.G&A would issue $ 800,000 in 20 year bonds paying 5%. The bonds would have first lien on
1890-668: The four Roman Catholic parishes in the city (St. Anne's, St. Bernard's, St. John the Baptist and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception) and provides preschool to 8th grade education. Immanuel Lutheran School is supported by the Immanuel Lutheran Church and has preschool to 8th grade classes. Alpena is also home to Alpena Community College . ACC is a two-year associates program that has partnerships with Spring Arbor University and several other Michigan institutions. Alpena
1944-462: The line as projected from Boyne City to Alpena. The $ 800,000 would be issued as follows: $ 195,000 to the previous bond holders and other debt holders, $ 330,000 to the Michigan Trust Company (receiver) in payment of receivers claims and $ 275,000 sold for cash to provide funds to complete the line to Alpena, MI. As a caveat, Michigan Trust Company required that all earnings in excess of expenses including interest be deposit annual by March 1. In addition,
1998-511: The lumber camps and haul the cut timber to the saw mills located in Boyne City. In addition, the White Transportation Steamship Company wanted to compete with the steamship lines that docked at the Port of Petoskey. A railroad intersecting the Grand Rapids & Indiana Main Line at Boyne Falls with service to the Boyne City would make the commercial docks at Boyne City more competitive. A railroad controlled by
2052-734: The main basin is 122 feet (37 m) and in the south arm, 58 feet (18 m). The lake's largest tributaries are the Jordan River , feeding into the south arm at East Jordan , and the Boyne River , flowing into the main basin from the east at Boyne City . Other significant tributaries include Horton, Stover, Porter, and Loeb Creeks. The outflow of Lake Charlevoix is the short Round Lake/Pine River complex which discharges into Lake Michigan at Charlevoix . The lake's watershed covers 335 square miles (870 km ) in Charlevoix and Antrim Counties , and
2106-429: The majority of the cut over land was of poor farming quality. The BCG&A attempted to operate rail service between Boyne City and Alpena, but passenger and the diminished freight revenues after the timber was gone were not sufficient to profitably operate the railroad. In 1935, the BCG&A went bankrupt and the line was sold for scrap. In addition, the W.H. White Company could not pay taxes on their cut over land. As
2160-412: The necessary goods to them. The BCG&A provided the W.H. White Company a way to sell the near worthless cut over land to European immigrants looking to farm. In addition, the new immigrants would become the passengers and the freight customers of the BCG&A, which the W.H. White Company planned to continue to operate. Unfortunately for the immigrants, Northern Michigan has a short growing season and
2214-442: The population. There were 4,734 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.8% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
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2268-409: The population. There were 4,874 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and
2322-613: The road there is excavation evidence as well as bridge pilings crossing the Jordan River. O’Brien Pond is formed by the old road bed of the Boyne City & Southeastern Railroad. At least three pieces of Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena equipment are known to survive. A Russell snowplow owned by the BCG&A is located at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom WI. Caboose #802 (later Boyne City Railroad #2)
2376-430: The south arm where it branches off from the main basin, saving about 20 minutes of driving time around the south arm by the shoreline route. The lake was also known previously as Pine Lake and Long Lake. It was renamed from "Pine Lake" to its current name ("Lake Charlevoix") in 1926. Alpena, Michigan Alpena ( / æ l ˈ p iː n ə / al- PEE -nə ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan . It
2430-561: The timber was harvested, the land was near worthless without settlers. So, the W.H. White Company marketed the cut over land to farmers in Ohio, southern Michigan and Indiana. In addition, W.H. White Company marketed to Europeans looking to immigrate and farm in Northern Michigan. The rationale was that the BCG&A provided a modern transportation system to new immigrants not only for getting there, but also for shipping their farm products and
2484-584: The tracks associated with the Boyne City Railroad have been removed. However, there are many locations where the old roadbed is clearly visible. • Thunder Bay River East to M-65 : In 1931, the river was dammed by the Alpena Power Company. The impounded water eventually eroded the roadbed, however the roadbed is still visible on Google Earth. • M-65 west: the road is used to access private homes and hunting properties in an area formerly known as
2538-472: Was $ 30,353, and the median income for a family was $ 40,056. Males had a median income of $ 34,534 versus $ 21,951 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,476. About 10.4% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over. While tourism is an important component of the area's economy, both Alpena and Rogers City have an industrial base. In particular, Alpena
2592-439: Was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 11,304 people, 4,874 households, and 2,865 families residing in
2646-484: Was again hit by a disastrous fire on July 11, 1888. In the early 1910s a failed attempt was led by the Alpena Motor Car Company to turn the city into "Automobile City" and compete with Detroit . In 1920 the population of the city was 11,101, and in 1927 the trade through the city's port was valued over 8 million dollars, and the output of the 24 factories at a little under another 8 million. The city has
2700-475: Was also home to the Alpena Thunder hockey team, which was disbanded in 2011. Alpena is served by a number of institutions that enhance the artistic and cultural character of the city, reflecting its rich heritage in Great Lakes shipping and industry. Alpena is the gateway to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary , one of Michigan's 13 underwater preserves . The cold, fresh waters of the Great Lakes serve
2754-455: Was built to access the company timber around Thumb Lake. The railroad was built 1-mile (1.6 km) north along the GR&;I to Easton (Thumb Lake Road & US Hwy 131) and then east (7 miles) to Thumb Lake. The W.H. White Company established logging camps 1 through 3 in the area. On March 28, 1905, the Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad Company was incorporated and became the successor to
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#17330860263102808-464: Was located at the corner of Parmeter Road and Hallock Road about a mile north of W-M32 in Otsego County. The remnants of the BCG&A still visible are a built up right of way and a cut through sand hills. Power lines follow the old right of way. Just outside Gaylord, the old railroad grade intersects Murner Road just north of M-32. • Jordan River Valley Road follows the old railroad grade. Alongside
2862-588: Was officially incorporated by Michigan State Legislature on March 29, 1871. Most of the city was lost in the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. Less than one year later, on July 12, 1872, Alpena was hit by another fire, the largest in its history, which destroyed 15 acres (6.1 ha) of homes and businesses for a total amount of 65 buildings. The blaze started in a barn and lasted for two hours, killing at least four people and causing at least $ 180,000 (equivalent to $ 4,580,000 in 2023) in damages. Alpena
2916-486: Was part of a much larger effort to rename a great many of the Michigan counties at the time. The first European settler at modern-day Alpena was W.F. Cullings, a fisherman in 1835. In 1856, George W. Fletcher and three others from Detroit platted a village by the name of Fremont , after John C. Frémont . The community was briefly renamed Thunder Bay in 1857 before being renamed again to Alpena in 1871. The city of Alpena
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