Au Train (French for “at the shortcut”) was first settled by Euro-Americans in 1856 (William Cameron). It grew modestly through the 1860s with logging (a sawmill began in 1861) and was formally platted in 1881 when the Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad arrived. This marked significant progress in Au Train Michigan history.
Au Train was even Alger County’s first seat (1885–1901) before Munising took over. By 1890, the village had its own post office (est. 1883) and first county jail, and hosted multiple shops and a newspaper. Logging boomed in the late 19th century (two sawmills, a shingle mill, etc.), but by 1919, the last log drives were over. In short, Au Train’s early economy was lumber-based; after World War I, as trees vanished, fishing and tourism gradually became dominant. This evolution is a key part of Au Train Michigan history.
Video – Au Train
Understanding these developments offers insight into Au Train Michigan history.
Markle’s Grocery & Town Commerce
By the 1920s–40s, Au Train’s remaining businesses had shifted to serve motorists and fishermen. For example, Markle’s Grocery & Motel (on today’s M‑28/Arbutus St.) traces to the 1940s, when the Markle family combined a general store, gas station, and small lodging. (It still operates today as Au Train Grocery & Motel.)
In Au Train’s heyday (c.1900), there was “a good number of various shops and stores” – general stores, blacksmiths, cafes, and taverns – to serve loggers and travelers. By mid-century, these evolved into auto-oriented businesses (gas stations and roadside diners). The post office, opened in 1883, remained a community anchor. (Indeed, the village has retained its ZIP code 49806.)
Railroad Depot & Water Tower
The railroad depot (and adjacent steam-water tank) was a landmark of the early 20th century. With the 1881 rail arrival, Au Train’s depot and water tower were built to service steam engines. Vintage photos (1930s–40s) show trains at this small station. However, passenger service declined in the 1920s–30s. By 1931, Au Train was no longer a staffed station (the railroad canceled its agency). Freight trains (and later diesels) kept passing, but the old depot eventually closed and disappeared after WWII. The water tower, once necessary for steam locomotives, was taken down as railroading modernized.
Restwood Resort & Whippoorwill Cottages
Au Train’s lakeshore saw many summer camps. Notably, Restwood Resort on Au Train Lake offered lakeside lodging by the 1930s. A 1940 postcard (below) is captioned “Restwood Resort Landing, Au Train Lake”, confirming the resort’s existence and boathouse that year. Resorts like Restwood featured rustic cabins – including a set of masonry “Whippoorwill” stone cottages – and rowboats or outboards for guests.
These catered to fishing and hunting vacationers arriving by train (and later by car). Restwood and neighboring camps (some later renamed Northwoods Resort) thrived on summer visitors. By the late 20th century, many original camps closed or were absorbed into larger resorts, but a few stone cabin buildings survive as private rentals or park lodges.
Upper Au Train Falls & Powerhouse
Just southwest of the village, the Au Train River plunges over the Upper and Lower Falls. In the 1920s, a dam and powerhouse were built at the upper falls to generate electricity for the area. (The Forest Service photo above shows the Upper Falls in 1929.) The concrete spillway and earthen dam – “built over 100 years ago” – still stand today.
Federal safety regulators have noted since 2000 that the dam’s narrow spillway needs to be upgraded. In fact, FERC required upgrades as a condition when UPPCo sold the project in 2010. In practice, the dam controls flow: in low-water seasons, the falls often trickle (just a thin cascade) except when the hydro plant releases water for power. The prospect of decommissioning or rebuilding this century-old dam became a modern issue, reflecting the persistence of early 20th-century infrastructure.
Dick Perry’s Au Train Lake Resort & Hiawatha Lodge
Au Train’s tourism economy included mid-century lodges. Dick Perry’s Au Train Lake Resort operated a large lakeside lodge and cabins on the river near Au Train Lake. Postcards from the 1940s (see item record) confirm “The Lodge at Dick Perry’s Au Train Lake Resort”. Perry actively marketed to visitors from Chicago and Detroit, who arrived by Soo Line trains or by car. (His rustic log-wood lodge interiors were apparently elaborate – the Tinder Collection preserves interior shots.) Today, parts of Perry’s complex have been repurposed as private lake rentals.
Similarly, the Hiawatha Lodge – another Au Train Lake resort opened by the 1920s – hosted vacationers. Its name alludes to the popular Hiawatha legend of the era. (The Hiawatha building still stands as part of the Northwoods Resort on Au Train Lake.) Both lodges exemplify how leisure replaced logging after 1920.
General Stores & Taverns
Beyond Markle’s, Au Train once had several mercantile and tavern businesses. In the 1890s–1930s, the village had blacksmith shops, a shoe store, a pharmacy, and multiple saloons or taverns catering to woodsmen and travelers. For example, an early photo shows the Au Train Hotel/tavern and grocery. These gathering spots were community hubs. By the 1940s, most had closed or modernized (some replaced by bars and pubs along the highway). Notably, even small settlements like Au Train generated their own newspaper (the Au Train Alpha) in the late 1800s – evidence of a fairly lively early town.
Roads and Highways
As automobiles rose, Au Train’s road link (M‑94, later US-2/M-28) became vital. The 1919 truss bridge shown above once carried M‑94 over the Au Train River. By the 1920s, a new highway connected Munising–Au Train–Shingleton, and by WWII, this became part of US‑2 (now M-28). The shift to highways altered the town: new motels and gas stations (like Markle’s) opened, and rail freight declined. Infrastructure improvements – paving the highway, building bridges (like the 1919 span ) – made Au Train a roadside stop. (Ironically, the old bridge is now preserved as a historic span, even as the modern 1940s concrete bridge carries today’s traffic.)
Electricity & Infrastructure
Besides the hydro dam, other utilities came gradually. Au Train got telephone and electric service early: the Wilson’s main store had a switchboard in the 1920s, and the Powerhouse’s electricity reached homes by the 1930s. The Falls dam (owned by Consumers/UPPCo) remained the principal power source until mid-century; today local energy is from regional grids. Roads (M‑28) and bridges replaced many lumber-era roads; the 1920s M-94 bridge (above) highlights this evolution. In short, Au Train’s 20th-century infrastructure shifted from river logging roads and rail to modern highways and stabilized power lines – a change driven by tourism’s needs.
Preservation & Local Archives
Local museums and archives preserve Au Train’s history. The Alger County Historical Society’s Heritage Center (Munising) features exhibits on lumbering, tourism, and rural life. The Paulson House (N6925 Forest Lake Rd, Au Train Lake) is open in summer as a pioneer farmhouse museum. Many historic photos (like those above) are digitized in collections (e.g., the University of Michigan’s Tinder Collection). These resources document Au Train’s past – from early sawmills to 1930s resorts. Altogether, Au Train’s story is one of a sawmill village turned lakeside getaway; the surviving buildings (Markle’s store, resort lodges, the old post office) and archives help tell that unfolding tale.
Cited Sources for Au Train Michigan History
Timeline and facts drawn from local histories and archives
- Au Train Township Master Plan
- FMK historical retrospective
- Michigan railroad records
- U.S. Forest Service photos
- Recent journalism on the Au Train dam
- Museum and society sites (Alger County HS)
- Paulson House
All cited details come from these sources.
