Charlotte station (Michigan Central Railroad) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlotte
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| Location | 430 North Cochran Avenue, Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan 48813 | ||||||||||
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Michigan Central Railroad Charlotte Depot
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 430 N Cochran Ave., Charlotte, Michigan | ||||||||||
| Area | less than one acre | ||||||||||
| Built | 1901 | ||||||||||
| Built by | N.J. Rogers | ||||||||||
| Architect | Spier & Rohns | ||||||||||
| Architectural style | Late Victorian | ||||||||||
| Part of | Charlotte Central Historic District (ID100002684) | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 00000218 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 2000 | ||||||||||
The Charlotte station was once a busy train station located at 430 North Cochran Avenue in Charlotte, Michigan. It is a historic building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Today, this old train station has been updated and is now home to Don Tequilla's Mexican Grill, a popular restaurant.
Contents
History of the Charlotte Train Station
How Charlotte Grew with Railroads
Charlotte officially became a village in 1863. Just five years later, in 1868, the Grand River Valley Railroad (GRVRR) built the very first train line through the village. They also built the first train station in Charlotte that same year.
In 1870, the GRVRR became part of a much larger company called the Michigan Central Railroad. Also in 1870, another company, the Peninsular Railway, built a second train line and its own station in Charlotte. By 1880, the Peninsular Railway was part of the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway.
Building a New Station in Charlotte
As the early 1900s began, the Michigan Central Railroad decided it was time to replace the old 1868 station. We don't know the exact reason, but it's likely the old station was too small. It probably couldn't handle all the people and goods passing through Charlotte anymore.
In 1901, the Michigan Central Railroad hired a famous architectural firm from Detroit, Spier & Rohns. This firm designed almost all of the company's train stations between 1884 and 1913. N.J. Rogers, also from Detroit, was the builder for the new station. The new Charlotte station opened its doors to passengers in July 1902. For a while, the older 1868 station was still used for carrying goods, while the new station was just for passengers. The station served travelers until it closed around 1948.
From Station to Restaurant
After the train station closed, the Miller family from Eaton Rapids bought the building. They fixed it up and turned it into a restaurant and ice cream shop. The building has continued to be a restaurant under different owners ever since. Today, it is known as Don Tequilla's Mexican Grill.
What the Charlotte Station Looks Like
The former Michigan Central Railroad Charlotte Depot is a long, single-story building. It is made of light reddish-brown bricks with stone decorations. The building has several sloped roofs covered with clay tiles, and the roof edges stick out quite far.
The station is mostly rectangular, measuring about 108 feet long and 26 feet wide. It also has a large rectangular section that sticks out towards the street. At one end, there's a rounded part, like a half-circle.
Inside the Historic Building
When it was a train station, the building had three main areas:
- A main waiting room for all passengers.
- A special waiting room just for ladies.
- A baggage room for luggage and goods.
When the building was turned into a restaurant, they kept the original layout. The main waiting room and the ladies' waiting room became the dining area for the restaurant. The baggage area, along with part of the main waiting room, was turned into the kitchen. The old ticket counter where people bought their train tickets now serves as the cash register area for the restaurant.
