East Jordan & Southern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The East Jordan and Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad that operated from 1901 to 1962 between East Jordan
and Bellaire, Michigan
.
was a prime spot for lumbering. The East Jordan & Southern's main purpose of creation was to haul the harvested lumber from the Hitchcock lumber camp to Bellaire where the logs would be transported by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad to various sawmill
s. Along with the lumber industry, the East Jordan Iron Works
also provided a large sum of the railroad's profits. After the lumber ran out during the 1920s, the railroad became more and more reliant on the industry in East Jordan and Bellaire for business. This was so until the East Jordan Iron Works decided to stop using the railroad in 1962, and the line was abandoned.
East Jordan, Michigan
East Jordan is a city in Charlevoix County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,507 at the 2000 census.The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles to the northwest and with US...
and Bellaire, Michigan
Bellaire, Michigan
Bellaire is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,164. It is the county seat of Antrim County. The town has a very scenic main street, and is a popular location for tourists. Bellaire is also home to the Antrim County Courthouse, a historic...
.
History
During the lumbering era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area around the Jordan RiverJordan River (Michigan)
The Jordan River is a stream in the northwestern part of the lower peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the largest tributary of Lake Charlevoix. The Jordan's headwaters rise from springs in the upper Jordan River Valley northwest of Mancelona in Antrim County...
was a prime spot for lumbering. The East Jordan & Southern's main purpose of creation was to haul the harvested lumber from the Hitchcock lumber camp to Bellaire where the logs would be transported by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad to various sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s. Along with the lumber industry, the East Jordan Iron Works
East Jordan Iron Works
East Jordan Iron Works is a company based in East Jordan Michigan. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of iron construction castings and infrastructure access products. In 2007 the company was awarded the National Utility Contractors Association Associate of the year award.-History:East...
also provided a large sum of the railroad's profits. After the lumber ran out during the 1920s, the railroad became more and more reliant on the industry in East Jordan and Bellaire for business. This was so until the East Jordan Iron Works decided to stop using the railroad in 1962, and the line was abandoned.