Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot
National Register of Historic Places

Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot

Coopersville, Ottawa County, Michigan
Listed
February 6, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73002294

About this property

The Coopersville Station, originally built as the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot is a historic railway station once used by the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway in Coopersville, Michigan. The Coopersville Area Historical Society and Museum is now housed in the station. The Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway was incorporated in 1899, and began service in 1902 on 44 miles of interurban line. This station in Coopersville was constructed for the opening of the line. The trains were electric, and the station functioned as not only a passenger depot, but also an electric substation to supply DC power to the trains via an electrified third rail. In 1912, the United Light and Railway Company bought out the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway. They operated the railway until 1928. The company held only an easement on the property, so when United Light went out of business, the property reverted to the city of Coopersville. A local garden club used the property from the 1930s through at least the early 1970s. After this, it was used by the Coopersville Public School System as an alternative education site. In 1987, the Coopersville Area Historical Society acquired use of the building. They opened the building as a museum, and made renovations, completed in 1991. The Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon Railway depot in Coopersville is a single-story red brick building with an attached tower and a red clay tile roof. The building was used both as a passenger waiting room and as an electrical substation where AC power was converted to DC to power the train cars. The electrical machinery was located in the tower, and was connected by a cable to railway power lines. The openings originally for the cable are still visible on the tower. The remainder of the building was used as a passenger waiting room and to handle freight shipments. Early photos of the station from Michigan Railroads

Location

363 W. Main St.
Coopersville, Ottawa County, Michigan
42.04504, -85.93557

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Newton, George, House
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2.8 mi
Jones, G. W., House
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6.2 mi
Jones, Carroll and Bessie E. (Caul), House
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6.2 mi
Michigan Central Railroad Dowagiac Depot
Industrial
10 mi
Houppert Winery Complex
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10.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot listed on the National Register?

Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 6, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot?

Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot?

The period of significance for Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway Depot?

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