On Seminole across the street from the former Motor Lamp factory is the massive Dominion Forge Complex. Once home to giant stamping presses that fabricated parts for the automotive industry, the complex today is used as a warehouse. Stories have it that the presses were so huge and powerful that they shook the ground and caused so much noise to the surrounding neighborhood, that they had to be shut down at 5:00 pm.
An old map of the complex
The “Machine Shop” building
The “Cold Trim” building
The other side of the “Cold Trim” building. The small bump out led to the offices, that have long since been demolished.
Art Deco Influences are visible on the trim on the main facades of the building fronting Seminole.
The rail spurs visible in the map are still active and still in use.
I’d love to get in and explore this complex. It is however still very much in use.
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does anyone have pics of what the place looks like inside?the pere marquette railway is gone from what i have seen.if you go on st luke across the street fro dominon forge where they just build homes for the needy you can still see where the vistors parking lot used to be
I am surpraised the hearns brothers havent torn the building down yet and rebuild everything
I was inside a few years ago w/ a family friend that had some business w/ the Hearns. Anyway, they have done quite a bit of restoration work on the 2nd floor. I especially remember the smoking room. This was next to Hearn Sr. office. Paneled ceiling, fireplace, big leather chairs - just incredible.
I worked in the steam shop for some time, never had to shut down because of noise, each time that hammer fell, it was like putting money in your pocket. Piece work was great when you had a good team, up to 12 guys on some big jobs. Bull gears and cranks, I-beams for the F150 pick-up. You had trust in the other guy, red hot steel being passed so close to you, one wrong move and, well you can guess.
Vince did a grinding wheel come apart on you ?
D.F. lives forever I miss that place,
Hello Raven...yeah it is me. Not sure who you are but I am sure we have met. Did a little time in the steamshop, not much though
I work at TKH and verify comments on condition of premises. I remember those hammers pounding in what is now whse 6. A buddies dad used to sit in the window at St. Luke inspecting conn rods.
My brother, uncle (and great grandfather) worked there. I served a millwright apprenticeship there many years ago....have fond memories. Wish I had taken pictures when I had the chance. Mike Abromovich was one of my foremnn. I remember him very well...
My Father was the Plant Manager for many years, beginning his career as a Die Sinker I think. His name is Gunnar Hansen, and still lives in Windsor. I remember as a small boy, waiting for him in the lounge just inside the front doors, hearing the hammers pounding away. It was like the heartbeat of a great company.
I worked there as a security guard as well. This was in 2003/early 2004. I was a patrol supervisor, so when somebody didn't show up for a shift, I had to cover it with another person, or do it myself. I did a midnight shift here, and it is spooky as hell. I would believe it was haunted. I didn't have a specific strange experience, but I just always had this feeling like the buildings to the East were occupied, but nobody was in there. There was all sorts of strange ways buildings would connect to one another, or doors and docks inside the main west building that just seemed strange because the floor plan changed over the years. When I was there it was just storage for Ford. There was thousands of Ford Engines just waiting to go out to the assembly plants.
My grandfather and uncle were both machinists there. I got my grandfather's crib tags, a little bit of history to hang on to!