Arcadia Railroad Timeline

1881

Construction begins on the road east to Pleasanton and a narrow gauge railway, the beginning of the Arcadia & Betsey River Railway.

1893

The conversion from narrow gauge to standard gauge begins for the Arcadia & Betsey River Railway. The goal is to connect the railroad to the Chicago and West Michigan Railway at Henry.

1895

By September, the A&BRR extends 17.3 miles to Henry, where it connects with the Chicago and West Michigan Railway. The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway (A&BRR) standard gauge railroad is in operation.

The combination of lumbering, farming, other local industry, and good transportation by both rail and ship makes Arcadia a major hub in northwest Michigan.

1896

By December, the A&BRR reaches Copemish, where it connects with the Ann Arbor Railroad. Passenger service is added.

The A&BRR might interchange with the Manistee & North Eastern Railroad in Copemish and the narrow gauge logging railroad, the Bear Lake & Eastern Railroad, at Springdale between Henry and Copemish.

1897

A telephone line is installed along the railway running 21 miles from Arcadia to Copemish.

1899

The A&BRR provides passenger service twice a day and carries 3,000 passengers and the mail.

1900

The Chicago & West Michigan Railway, which connects to the Arcadia & Betsey River Railway at Henry, merges into the Pere Marquette Railroad

1906

Starke Land & Lumber Company sawmill is destroyed by fire. It is replaced by the Arcadia Furniture Company's furniture factory.

The Arcadia community grows. Stores and other businesses are built along Lake Street, its cross streets, and along the Lake Arcadia shore.

The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway carries passengers, furniture, produce, and other local goods between Arcadia and the rest of the world.

1936

The Arcadia & Betsey River Railway closes. Passenger revenue for the entire year: $3.00.