Detroit & Howell Railroad
Overview
Dates of operation1864–1870
Predecessornone
SuccessorDetroit, Howell & Lansing

The Detroit and Howell Railroad (D&H) is a defunct railroad organized in 1864 to build a line connecting Howell and Detroit in southeast Michigan.

The company incorporated on June 17, 1864 at a meeting of Howell businessmen in New Hudson,[1] though articles were not filed until September 21.[2] A stock issue of $400,000 was authorized for construction of the proposed 48-mile (77 km) line. By 1866 enough money had been raised to conduct engineering surveys, and grading commenced the following year. The start of construction in Plymouth, Michigan, on February 6, 1867 was marked by a ceremony where a cherry wood tie was fashioned on the spot and laid on the center line of the road. The area was known as Shearers Cut.

By early 1870, the D&H had completed 52 miles (84 km) of line, although it remained unopened.[3]

On March 29, 1870,[4] the D&H merged with the Howell and Lansing to form the Detroit, Howell and Lansing under James F. Joy. The merger agreement was filed April 11, 1870,[5] marking the end of the D&H. However, as of 2011 much of the D&H's route is still in use by CSX as part of its Plymouth Subdivision.

Notes

  1. ↑ This is the date given by Meints and Crittenden, who describes the proceedings in detail. A report by the Michigan legislature from 1870 puts it at September 21, 1864. See Crittenden (1911), 82; Meints (1992), 58; Michigan Legislature (1870), 27.
  2. ↑ First Annual Report of the Commissioner of Railroads for the State of Michigan, 1873
  3. ↑ Crittenden and Ivey imply that the rails had not even been laid, but the annual report of the D&H suggests otherwise. See Crittenden (1911), 83-84; Ivey (1919), 250; Michigan Legislature (1870), 27.
  4. ↑ This is the date given by Meints; the Michigan legislature report gives April 7.
  5. ↑ First Annual Report of the Commissioner of Railroads for the State of Michigan, 1873

References

  • Crittenden, A. Riley (1911). A History of the Township and Village of Howell, Michigan. Howell, Michigan: Livingston tidings print.
  • Ivey, Paul (1919). The Pere Marquette Railroad Company. Lansing, MI: Michigan Historical Commission. OCLC 66109442.
  • Meints, Graydon M. (1992). Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87013-318-3.
  • Michigan Legislature (1870). Joint Documents of the State of Michigan for the year 1870.
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