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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, July 23, 2023, pg. 8 In the late 1890s, interested investors in southern Michigan made plans for the construction of a "northwest railroad," running from Albion, northwards to past Duck Lake, then to Charlotte in Eaton County. The right-of-way was acquired and the bed was prepared, ready for the rails to be laid. There are still faint traces of the right-of-way today at various points. Announcements were made in 1898 and subsequent years that funding had been obtained, and that the railroad would "soon be built" as a regular steam locomotive line. The rails were never laid, however, but with the bed already having been prepared, the dream of an Albion-Charlotte railroad did not die. In February 1907, a man named George Mindeman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin went to both Albion and Charlotte with the purpose of raising funds to build an electric (interurban) railroad on the right-of-way. July, 1907 was the proposed completion date. He was accompanied by another capitalist, Charles White. The duo established his headquarters at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gilson E. Murdock in downtown Albion in the Murdock's elegant upstairs apartment located at 106 1/2 E. Erie St. The Murdocks invested several thousand dollars into the railroad project. Long-time Albion residents, Gilson Murdock (1835-1910) ran a farm implement dealership, while his wife Sarah (1837-1919) was the daughter of wealthy Albion pioneer real estate agent and financier Samuel Huxford. The Murdock’s also owned a 130-acre dairy farm east of town on Newburg Road, now owned by Albion College. The Murdock Drain which runs through there is named for the family. How would you like to have a drain named after yourself? Mindeman succeeded in obtaining a railroad franchise from the city of Charlotte, in March, 1907. Charlotte Mayor Merrell stated at that time, "We gave a franchise to George Mindeman at our last council meeting. Personally, I haven't much faith in the ability of Mr. Mindeman to carry out to completion the proposed road, but the demand that our Council grant a franchise was so great that we granted it," it was reported in the Albion Leader. Albion's City Council, on the other hand, refused to grant a franchise until all legal obstacles were settled. In June 1907 however, Mindeman was arrested on the charge of stealing diamonds and jewelry valued at $2,050 from Mrs. Murdock. The June 5, 1907 Albion Recorder reported, "Another chapter in the Charlotte-Albion railroad story was commenced Tuesday when Deputy Sheriff Mallory arrested George Mindeman in Chicago on a charge of stealing diamonds and jewelry of Mrs. Gilson Murdock of this city. Sheriff Graham and the Deputy Sheriff Mallory have been working on the case for some time. Prosecuting Attorney Stewart prepared extradition papers which will be hurried to Chicago after the Governor signs them and it is expected that Mr. Mindeman will be brought to Albion for examination." "Mrs. Murdock missed her jewelry in March soon after she had shown them to Messrs. Mindeman and White who were using the Murdock home as headquarters while promoting the Charlotte-Albion railroad. Mr. Mindeman was permitted to be in the room in which the safe containing the diamonds was kept, for several hours alone, and this fact coupled with several other facts, caused Mrs. Murdock to swear out a warrant for his arrest." From our Historical Notebook this week we present a portion of a 1909 map of Michigan, the only one that shows the proposed Albion to Charlotte route. Next week: The court trials, and the token.  The Albion to Charlotte route
All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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