Vernon Center in 1875.
Renamed..... Durand, Michigan
Vernon Center in 1875.
Located in Vernon Twp. on land owned by May Miller, William Young and Dr. L.D. Jones in 1836. William H. Putnam acquired some of it and had James C. Brand plat and record the village as Vernon Center, named for its location in Vernon Twp.
A Post Office opened here on May 8, 1876 with Mr. Putnam serving as it's first postmaster. It was given the name of Durand, after a congressman from the 6th District named George H. Durand.
Incorporated as a village in 1887 and a city in 1932.
The population was 4,283 in 1990; housing units was 1,564 in 1990; location is 4255'N 8359'W; land area is 1.71 square miles (1,096 acres) elevation is 796 feet. Zip Code is 48429.
Today, Durand is located in southeast Shiawassee County at the junction of M-71 and Interstate 69.
This community developed its diverse economy around the railroad, being situated at the cross sections of two very busy lines, complete with a Victorian style depot built by the Grand Trunk at the turn of the century.
The depot still operates a ticket window for Amtrack passenger service and houses the State of Michigan railroad museum.
The city park also displays a "vintage" loco and tender, complete with an old fashioned banjo signal announcing its presence.
Durand in it's heyday, boasted over 100 trains aday.
Below....Durand Depot as it looks today.
Here we see a southbound Ann Arbor Motor Car
Bronze monument downtown Durand
Michigan Historic Site Marker
The decline of rail traffic started at the end of WWI and culminated in 1974 when Grand Trunk determined it could no longer justify the cost of maintaining the Union Station and it was abandoned.
The old depot's destruction appeared imminent, but the community rallied to save it and in 1979 the City purchased it for $1.00. Since then, it has become the State Railroad History Museum.
200 Railroad Street
Durand, MI
989 288-3561
Trace the history of railroads in this official state museum dedicated to the development of railroads in Michigan. Special exhibits include a former baggage car, a working HO-scale train and trolley display and a former Grand Trunk Western steam locomotive.
Here is another view of the Depot, First Congregational Church
and the South Side
School......postmarked 1908.
Durand had one of the
few completely round brick Roundhouses in the nation.
The Shop and
Roundhouse at Durand, Michigan dated 1909
Flower Garden at the Depot circa 1910
Railroad YMCA at Durand Michigan
Theatorium and First Commercial and Savings Bank circa 1918.
1914 Thomas House
Sign at the end of the porch reads "Junction House".
First Methodist Episcopal Church circa 1910
First Congregational Church circa 1910
Durand Catholic Church circa 1921
Simplicity Engineering Co. ....the clock has been moved to downtown Durand
