The following news story and photo was taken from Kathleen Firestone’s book, “Meet Me at the Dock: in Greilickville, Grand Traverse Bay.”
South of the developing recreation area, Sears Dock & Dredging Company was still owner of the coal dock, with Burke Coal Dock being the lessee. Sinclair Oil (Refining) Company and Rennie Oil Company still operated their own docks south of the coal dock.
The coal dock became property of Traverse City Light & Power Company in 1969. Coal unloaded at the dock was used to feed the power company’s plant, situated at the foot of Grand Traverse Bay, in Traverse City. Coal was also supplied to the diminishing market of homes and businesses still using coal. In the 1970s and 80s some of the coal was moved by truck to a storage lost across M-22, in Greilickville.
