Story and photos by Stewart A. McFerran

The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is working to preserve a Benzie County diamond, located in Thompsonville. This jewel lies on the ground for all to see but is much too large for a thief to steal. The diamond of railroad tracks marks a place known as the Thompsonville Diamond Crossing, where the Pere Marquette and Ann Arbor steel rails crossed.

In the late 19th century, when the two railroad companies crossed tracks, the growth and development of northern lower Michigan took off. People and products moved in a way that facilitated growth. Weldon and Colfax townships became hubs, where freight moved in four directions. All that product crossed on the diamond of track which remains below the Red Thompsonville Junction Caboose, 124 feet south of Thompson Road.

Advertisement for WNMC 90.7 F.M. radio. Listen to a live recap of Freshwater Reporter stories. Join the discussion on WNMC radio with station manager Eric Hines and Stewart McFerran, Freshwater Reporter contributing writer. Watch Freshwater Reporter's Facebook and Instagram for dates and times. Livestream on wnmc.org. Click on the spinning disk on the home page. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.Advertisement for Saint Ambrose Cellars has their logo at the top of a bee with a golden halo and outstretched wings. Inside the logo it says mead, beer, music. The logo is superimposed on a photo of the grounds of the meadery and winery, with a red barn on one side and the meadery on the other. A message beneath the photo says: Mead, beer, wine, food, live music, disc golf, indoor/patio seating. open 7 days a week. Beneath those words is a Q.R. code that people with smartphones or devices can use to be taken to the event schedule and daily specials of the meadery located at 841 South Pioneer Road in Beulah. Phone number is 231-Advertisement for Marie Marfia Fine Art written in white lettering on a black background. Beneath this is an image of a grassy dune beside Lake Michigan with waves coming into shore and clouds on the horizon. This is a pastel painting by the artist. Beneath it in black lettering on white are the words, Working artist's studio and gallery featuring local landscapes, portraits and skeleton art. Ludington, Michigan. Hours by appointment. Call 904-566-4473. Website address is mariemarfia.com or click on this ad to be taken to her website.
Thompsonville Red Caboose. Photo by Stewart A. McFerran
Thompsonville Red Caboose.

The Benzie Area Historical Society is hosting a dedication of a state historical marker near the site, beginning at 2 p.m., June 19. The spirit in which communities in Northern Michigan came together and crossed at the diamond tracks will be celebrated. A vision for the future of the historic site will emerge as people once again meet at the diamond. This time, they will share their ideas. Public input will help the Thompsonville Junction Revitalization Committee as it works to rejuvenate the historic site.

In case of inclement weather, the event will move to the pavilion at the Thompsonville Village Hall, 14714 Lincoln St.  For event updates, visit  www.benziemuseum.org or call the Benzie Area Historical Museum at (231) 882-5539.

Read more about Thompsonville and what the former railroads became and could become: https://freshwater-reporter.com/the-thompsonville-trail-connection-2/

Write A Comment