The October 24th meeting of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago, will feature a presentation by Mr. Norman Krentel, concerning the interurban railways of east central, Lower Michigan, and their connections to the Lake Michigan steamships to Chicago, Milwaukee and beyond. This talk is based on an article Mr. Krentel published last year in the Journal of the Shoreline Historical Society [First & Fastest] last year.
The following is an abstract.:
This will tell the story of the need, at an early date, for a street railway from Holland, Michigan to serve resorts at the shore of Lake Michigan, several miles to the west. The resorts also relied on the Lake Michigan Steam Boats from Chicago; many people from Chicago had summer homes at Macatawa Park and Ottawa Beach, both being located at the far west end of Lake Macatawa (west of Holland). The street railway provided the connection from these resorts to Holland.
By the early 1900s Graham & Morton Transportation Company was providing daily Steamer service between Chicago and Holland. The street railway was extended to Grand Rapids in 1901 and was now being operated as an electric interurban railway - they had also constructed a branch south from Lake Macatawa to Saugatuck. A through traffic agreement was executed between G. & M. Transp. Co. and the Grand Rapids, Holland & Chicago Railway, with both passengers and freight being handled. Freight brought to the Grand Rapids interurban freight house was carried through to the Chicago dock of G. & M.; passenger's baggage was checked through from Grand Rapids to Chicago, and points west.
By late 1912 new interests had acquired control of the G. R. H. & C. Ry., and they were now operated as part of the massive Michigan Railway Company, with interurban service through to Detroit - with this the relationship with G. & M. grew and new pier / warehouses were constructed at Macatawa Park and in Holland. In 1914 a new service was introduced between Chicago and Saugatuck operated under the name of Indiana Transportation Company. Ind. Transp. Co. approached the interurban demanding a similar arrangement as was provided G. & M. Failing to reach an agreement Ind. Transp. Co. went to the Interstate Commerce Commission requesting a hearing; an I. C. C. representative agreed and came from Washington D. C. for their 2-day hearing held at Chicago's Federal Bldg....this leads into theS.S. Eastland part of the story.
About the Speaker:
Originally from Lansing, Michigan, he moved with his parents to Chicago in 1960, attending high school on the southwest side. He joined the Illinois Railway Museum in 1963 and remains involved and active today as the Museum's President and project manager of the restoration to operating condition of Michigan Electric Ry interurban combine car #28 (v. 1914). He spent his working life in the "telephone company" as an engineer in Network Planning and Engineering, with Illinois Bell, Ameritech, SBC and A T & T.
We hope to see you all at 7:00 p.m. in the Chicago Maritime Museum, 3400 S. Racine, Chicago, Illinois.
SAMUEL D. POLONETZKY
Licensed Professional Engineer of Illinois