Michigan Central Railroad Company

On March 20, 1837, legislation providing for work to proceed on three railroads and two canals in Michigan became law. One of the railroads -- the central -- was to connect Detroit and St. Joseph through the second tier of counties. Based upon preliminary work already done by the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company (whose rights and properties were purchased by the state), the railroad was able to begin operation (at least as far as Dearborn) by the end of 1837. In 1846, the central railroad was sold by the state to a group of investors that included John W. Brooks of Massachusetts and Detroit attorney James F. Joy who incorporated the railroad as the Michigan Central Railroad Company. By this time the central railroad extended as far as Kalamazoo. One of the terms of the sale was that the railroad would reach Lake Michigan within three years. In 1852 the line was extended to Chicago. Over the next half century, the Michigan Central would lease or otherwise gain control of smaller railroad lines serving other parts of the state. In 1930, the Company would be itself leased into the New York Central Railroad system. In 1976 and 1978, properties of MCR were conveyed to Consolidated Railroad and Penn Central Railroad respectively.

From the guide to the Michigan Central Railroad Company records, 1837-1921, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)