Traverse City, MI: Kerry Tower: PM vs. GR&I and PM Depot

Tower: (Satellite, the trail that goes north of here along Railroad Ave was the GR&I)

Depot: ()

History Center of Traverse City posted
Our "Throwback Thursday" photo reminds us that for nearly 100 years, trains were the main method of transportation throughout the country. This ca 1900 image is of a railroad crossing tower near the corner of Woodmere and 8th.
The photographer is looking south, with Boardman Lake to the right of the picture, with the site of the current TADL being just out of the image. [An incorrect sentence was omitted.]
This photo comes from our Jack Bensley Collection.
T.J. Doyle: This was called Kerry tower. Pere Marquette ran east and west at this crossing and the GR&I was north and south at this point. This is a great photo as I have not seen this particular photo before. Excellent!
Tim Shanahan shared a David Gustner post

Greg Bunce posted
Kerry-- Grand Rapids and Indiana/Pere Marquette Interlocking at Traverse City. The view is looking north. John Hart Collection.
Pete Walsh Did not know that, so the PM depot would be built to the left?
Greg Bunce Yes, it is to the left of the tower.

1957 Traverse City Quad @ 62,500

PM Depot

Street View, Sep 2019

Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum posted two photos with the comment:

Today's featured depot is the Pere Marquette station in Traverse City 🚂

Traverse City was served by three railroads: the Grand Rapids & Indiana (later PRR), the Chicago & West Michigan (later PM), and the Manistee & Northeastern (this operated under many different owners/names over the years). 

The Pere Marquette built this depot on Boardman Lake and it opened on January 6, 1927. It served as both a passenger and freight depot. Note: this is the second PM depot for this area; the first was on Union Street.  

Passenger service to this depot ended in 1966. Since then, the depot has been home to a variety of businesses. From 1996 to 2004 the Grand Traverse Dinner Train operated year-round service from the Traverse City PM Depot to Williamsburg and to Walton Junction. The depot is now home to The Filling Station Microbrewery. 

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Citations:

"About the Depot". Ales by the Rails. https://thefillingstationmicrobrewery.com/about-the-depot/. Accessed 23 May 2025.

 "Station: Traverse City, MI". Michigan Railroad History. https://www.michiganrailroads.com/.../829-traverse-city-mi. Accessed 23 May 2025.

Photo credits are in the caption of each image.

Nathan Nietering: Highly recommend the Filling Station as a great TC dining destination!

[The Filling Station is one of the current tenants of the depot.]

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