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| 2014, MAIN STREET LOOKING WEST |
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| 2014, MAIN STREET LOOKING EAST |
I am still lacking a great deal of information about Davison. Research online and information provided by Gerry Stephens has lead me to the conclusion that there was a great deal more there than I had originally thought. In addition to the Wolohan Elevator, there were two lumber companies served by rail. Wicks Lumber Co. was located on the south side of the main on a spur track that ran behind the elevator. On the north side of the mainline, the GTW track chart shows Post Lumber Co. This was later sold and became Neebes Lumber and Coal which was located at 224 East Mill Street. Also served along the same spur track was a loading ramp directly across the tracks from the elevator This served as a team track for various shippers to include a Shell Oil building which received oil products by rail. To the west of Genesee Street was a switch back spur curving south down to Genova Inc. Genova shipped several products by rail including pipe, fittings, gutters, vinyl, and plastic tube.
The Davison Elevator, built in 1894, provided a lot of grain traffic for the railroad. In 1954 it was purchased by Charles Wolohan Inc. They shipped approximately 100,000 bushels of grain and beans per year. This consisted of wheat, corn, oats, soy beans, and navy beans, bought from local farmers in the region. These commodities were cleaned and graded on site and then shipped off via rail to larger terminals. The building was torn down in 1985. Much of this information was provided in an article written by Gary Gould. (see below)
By Gary Gould
810-452-2650 • ggould@mihomepaper.com
Although the elevator was no longer is service by 1980, I am going to use some modelers license and incorporate it in as if it were still rail served.
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| WOLOHAN ELEVATOR: Photo by Jack Smith. |
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| WOLOHAN ELEVATOR: Photo provided by Gerry Stephens. Photographer unknown. |
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| WOLOHAN ELEVATOR: Photo posted to Pinterest by Michelle Clute. Photographer unknown. |
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| WOLOHAN ELEVATOR: Photo posted to Pinterest by Michelle Clute. Photographer unknown. |
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| 1983, LOOKING WEST. Photo by Charlie Whipp |
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| 1983, LOOKING EAST. Photo by Charlie Whipp |
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| 1983, ANOTHER EAST LOOKING PHOTO WITH WICKS LUMBER VISIBLE ON RIGHT. Photo by Charlie Whipp |
MODULE CONSTRUCTION:
The Davison module will be 24 feet long, and 24 inches deep across the ends. In the middle it will flare out to 28 inches to allow room for the lumber companies (Wicks and Neebes) on opposite sides of the mainline. The mainline will be raised 1 inch in order to gain the elevation relief on both sides of the track.
In the photo captioned "1983, looking west" you will note to the right of the engines a small brown building with a yellow truck beside it and many barrels. That building was at one time a bathtub factory, but in this photo it is a storage barn for Shell Oil. The building has since been removed, but was a staple item until it was removed. The far side of that building was up against State Rd. (M-15) and had a large Shell sign on it.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Very useful information. Was the Shell sign printed on the building face? Or was it mounted on a sign situated perpendicular to the road for visibility?
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