1833: The Stage is Set for a Trailblazing Railroad in Michigan

April 22, 1833

The Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad (E&KRR) was chartered in the then-Territory of Michigan, which became a state in 1837. This railroad ultimately ran from what was at that time Port Lawrence, Michigan (now Toledo, Ohio) near Lake Erie to the village of Adrian, Michigan, on the River Raisin to the northwest. E&KRR was one of the earliest American railroads to go into service and the first to operate west of the Allegheny Mountains.

The residents of Adrian were notably enthused about their village being part of a railroad. This was underscored in a history of Adrian (incorporated as a city in 1853) that was published in 1874. This book recounted, “The year 1836 the Erie & Kalamazoo railroad, which had been in progress for two years, was completed in Adrian, amid great rejoicing of the people. This opened a market long needed, the value of which can hardly be estimated.” The book further noted, “the day of [the railroad’s] completion was a gala day for the citizens of Adrian.”

Addison J. Comstock, who was the founder of the community eventually named Adrian, served as the secretary and treasurer of E&KRR. Along with his father Darius Comstock, he was among the village’s staunchest advocates for the railroad. Other prominent Adrian residents who likewise championed E&KRR included George Crane, Joseph Gibbons, and C.N. Ormsby.

Horse-drawn cars were used for this railroad until they were replaced by the steam locomotive Adrian No. 1 in 1837. The accompanying image of Adrian No. 1 pulling a car was included in “Railroading Forty-Five Years Ago,” which was written by C.P. Leland and published in 1882.

By the early 1850s, E&KRR was operating under the aegis of the Southern Michigan Rail Road. The one-time route for E&KRR is now used as a major rail transportation corridor for services such a Amtrak passenger trains.

Image Credit: Public Domain

Additional information on the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad is available at https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-851226 and https://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?Search=Series&SeriesID=104