Salem Area Historical Society

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The 1907 Pere Marquette Wreck

Salem has many claims to fame but none is greater than its connection with the July 20,1907 Wreck  on the Pere Marquette Railroad. However it took place not in Salem Twp but just across the Washtenaw/Wayne County line in Northville Township. Salem was the last station passed by a special excursion train carrying more than 600 persons before a horrendous head on  collision with a local freight train. With  33 persons  killed and over 100 injured it was and still is Michigans worst passenger train accident.

July 20 1907 Ionia Michigan. A train loaded with about 600 Pere Marquette shop employees and family/freinds left Ionia Station on a free pass excursion to Detroit  for the day.