Clio's beginning was almost by accident. Until the building and completion of the Flint and Pere-Marquette Railway in 1861, Clio's history was comparatively uneventful. Pine forests occupied a portion of its site, and hundreds of acres of the same valuable timber were standing in its immediate vicinity, but the stupid cupidity which actuated one or two men in or near the old village of Pine Run during the building of the railways was Clio's opportunity, and this new avenue of commerce, which would have more fully developed and built up a neat little village, already an important trading and manufacturing point, was divided from its proposed route. Pine Run was given the go-by and the station of Clio established in its place.

Thus Clio, then known as Varney's or Varney, began to develop, as many other cities across the nation did in the late nineteenth century along the railroad tracks.  The prosperity of Clio was then assured. A village was plotted, stores and manufacturing establishments sprung into existence, lumbering became an important interest, and the new village rapidly increased in numbers.  By the early 1900s the Village of Clio, with its population of 800 industrious citizens, a new school, mill pond, wide streets, small industries, and various merchandise establishments had become a very picturesque little hamlet snuggled on high ground between the creek and the railroad.

 About 1864 a certain Colonel Hill named the town "Clio."

This name comes from a Greek goddess, the daughter of Jupiter.

FLINT & PERE-MARQUETTE RAILROAD

The first engine used on the railroad in Clio was called the "Pollywog".  It was a small second-hand machine purchased for two thousand dollars.

The Flint & Pere-Marquette railroad was probably the most important single factor in the development of Clio's identity as a town.  If it had not been for the tracks bypassing Pine Run to a mile west of it, Clio most likely would not even exist today. The company which was first called the Flint & Pere-Marquette Railway Company was reorganized in 1881 under the name of the Flint & Pere-Marquette Railroad Company.

The first train consisted of the engine, one baggage car and one coach for passengers. The time occupied in making the run of 26 miles from Saginaw to Mt. Morris was four hours.  The receipts collected for the first week was $102.52.  The company which was first called the Flint & Pere-Marquette Railway Company was reorganized in 1881 under the name of the Flint & Pere-Marquette Railroad Company.

To read the details of the Clio Depot and the Pere-Marquette Railroad, you can review the booklet titled, CLIO AREA CENTENNIAL published in 1973, located in the museum.