Old Rail Road tag existed for olnly a few years in the 1880s Need your thoughts

[A2coins]

I just returned two class rings within the last 2 months I enjoy that. I pray that if I find a Diamond ring that there is no name in it!!!LOL I'm just that way I contacted this person for info this railroad only existed for a few years. In the late 1880s Toledo Ann Arbor Northern Michigan. I know it all depends on the person and how they feel about things like this. I want to keep it but would donate it to their Museum I just don't want it to sit in a box somewhere I don't think its Museum worthy I need to think about it!!!!!! I would enjoy it in my display case but lots of people could enjoy it if donated!! I have enough drama with my two Daughters. Am I selfish to keep it!!! A ring is one thing I will return!! Any thoughts Thanks Tommy Here is my email Trail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My name is Tommy I do lots of Metal detecting in Ann Arbor for old coins and relics. I recently found a metal tag The very top says W.W.Wilcox Chicago and you can see the rest of the tag. I was hoping you might be able to help me with any information about it. I am so sorry to bother you I have tried every thing I know to find out more about it . I believe it is railroad related.Thank you so much for any help you might be able to give me.. I would be very appreciative of it Thanks Tommy Reply Tommy, I think you are right. I am president of the Ann Arbor Railroad Technical & Historical Association, a group that explores Ann Arbor Railroad history and also does some modeling of Ann Arbor Railroad equipmentl The initials on this match one of the names that the AARR had in its earlier times.... late 1880's. It was then named the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railway, and that ios consistent with the initials on the tag. I don't know specifically what that tag was used for, but probably it was part of a seal that was used to lock boxcar doors one they were full, to assure that there wasn't pilfering or theft en route to their destination.

I have a number of friends in our organization that may know more than me on this subjecct, so I will forward your photo to them and ask for help in identifying itl. I will get back to you with whatever I learn.

Our organization has a room for display of artifacts at the Michigan State Railroad Museum in the Durand Union Station. I'd love to add this tag to our display there if you are willing to donate it.

One last thing for now, where did you find it?

Thank you for contacting me.

 

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[A2coins]

At the end of 1890, the Commissioner of Railroads reports the total mileage of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan as 285.56 miles in the state of Michigan.
Source:
http://www.trainweb.org/annarbor/AARRHistory/Building%20Ann%20Arbor%20RR/Bldg_AnnArbor-RR.html .

Also: "To reorganize the property the bondholders conveyed the assets of the North Michigan to the reorganization committee on September 13, 1895.[119] Several of the companies that were transferred to the North Michigan still had bonds outstanding at the beginning of the receivership. The TAA&GT, the North Michigan (of 1882), the Mt. Pleasant, the Cadillac, and the Lake Michigan, as well as the current North Michigan, had to go through a foreclosure sale on July 2, 1895.[120] These companies' corporate lives finally came to an end. The reorganization committe conveyed the assets to a new company on October 14, 1895"
Source: http://www.trainweb.org/annarbor/AARRHistory/Building%20Ann%20Arbor%20RR/Bldg_AnnArbor-RR.html

The 'lifespan' of the company on your tag might them be 1888 and 1895.
Don....

Thanks Don I appreciate it I never would have found all this info this quickly... I see you help lots of people you are a great asset to this site. Thanks again HH Tommy

 

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Congrats on the tag and well done on the research.

 

[ShovelinDave]

WTG Tommy. Rescuing a piece of history from the past is just another reason why we do this. Especially a piece that someone wants to put in their museum. The choice is yours and it looks like your making the right one. Hats off to you for returning class rings when you can. Congrats to you Mister.

 

[NHBandit]

If they have a museum it's likely they already have one. I would keep it as well.