Town of Alamo

ALAMO

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A black-and-white postcard. A windowless, two-story train depot resembles a big barn with a stone chimney. A railroad worker stands with a wooden cart by the tracks; five other people wait by the depot as a train billowing smoke approaches.

Image Credit: Dick Godfrey

Walking the Rails

"It took a bit of practice to go very far without a misstep or tumble. We set distance goals and would challenge our friends for a distance game. We got so good we probably could have walked to Kendall."
– Florence Snow Finkey

Community Life

Two churches, built in 1868, were already drawing new residents to Alamo when the railroad located its depot just south of town in 1870. Soon the town had a new school, charcoal kilns, stockyard and pickling station.

A black and white postcard shows a close-up of the Alamo Congregational Church. The white wood building has large windows, a square cupola and spire and two wings off a main center section.

Image Credit: Dick Godfrey

A black and white, early 20th century photo shows some 50 students and teachers of the Alamo Congregational Church Sunday School posed outdoors – children seated on the grass, women teachers stand behind them. A note written on the photo reads 'Mr. Ransom, Minister.'

Image Credit: Tom Maas

A black and white postcard titled 'Alamo Mich. School, Alamo, Mich.' The school is a white clapboard building with a stone foundation, a cupola with a bell, and steps leading to the front door.

Built in 1873, this white clapboard school was in use until 1960. Image Credit: Alamo Township Museum

A 1900 black and white photo shows a log cabin at right, a barn at left in the background. In the foreground, a man dressed in work clothes and a wool cap poses for the photo with his left hand on his hip.

Early settlers' log cabins, like this one located near D and 2nd Avenue in 1856, were quickly replaced with more permanent buildings.Image Credit: Alamo Township Museum

A black and white photo shows a two-story building with 'Alamo Valley Creamery' on the awning. The building, which sits along a dirt road, has dormers, a cupola, multiple entrances and stairs leading up to a covered loading dock.

A black and white postcard titled 'Creamery & Depot, Alamo, Mich.' From left to right are the creamery, a house and the depot. A train facing the viewer rests on the tracks.

In 1897, the Alamo Valley Creamery opened across from the depot. It shipped butter to markets as far away as New York City. For locals, the foul smell of its wastewater was balanced by free gallons of buttermilk. Image Credits: Dick Godfrey

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