Another long time local landmark is winding down its final days on the landscape, the old Ford Casting Plant. The demolition work that had gone on previously on the site was simply the removal of the pollution equipment from the exterior that had been purchased at auction. The real demolition has yet to get underway. The entire project should be done, and the entire complex gone by August.
Built in 1934, it was designed by noted industrial architect Albert Kahn.
Only a section of the south facade retains any of the historic Kahn design.
It tough to advocate to preserve these hulking industrial buildings, that would have little potential for any other use.
Sometime we just photograph them and let them pass away gracefully. Hopefully Darren and Cpike will be able to supply us again with photos when demoliton resumes.
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Thanks for the explanations Bob!
Sorry for the extended rant, just to comment on future use: I'd say imposssible. It was built and used as a foundry from 1934(my grandfather worked there) and even in "modern times" we used lotsa nasty compounds, much less what they used to use...There's asbestos on lotsa piping(encapsulated so it's OK-- don't disturb),silica,sulphuric acid,isocyanates just to scratch the surface....my guess..."they paved paradise and put up a parking lot" for Ford use only, the plant's too close to Ford Windsor Engine plant to sever it....all the pics I've seen here are taken from the east and or southeast locations, there's only a roadway to separate the Foundry from Windsor Engine Plant on the west side....
Bob
Can someone explain something to me? Don't they need the foundry to make the Ford Engine plant profitable? I was reading in the paper that they are going to reopen the engine plant with government funding, but don't they need a foundry nearby to cast the heavier parts for the engine plant? Are they going to build a new foundry on that site? Where are the parts supposed to be coming from? Are they going to get those heavier parts from Zug Island in Detroit, assemble them at the Engine plant in Windsor and then send the completed engine back to an vehicle assembly plant in Detroit? I hope that`s not how it works as it seems costly and impracticle to ship it over such distances. Maybe someone can fill in the blanks here,
If Ford & Nemak sees things your way David it could be good news for Essex Aluminum.
If not, it will be good news for long haul drivers on the Mexico run.
David-It's Essex Engine(on Lauzon Parkway)that's reopening and at the start it's only gonna be to machine cranks and rodsand ship them ,neither being cast iron foundry made(cranks-steel,rods-forged)
Ford is done with the foundry business--all outsourced,blocks for Windsor Engine Plant(the current and only producer of the F150 pickup motor)for example,will come from South America(I think Brazil).
As far as impracticality shipping wise, that's ALWAYS been an issue..eg.#1 In the foundry for a number of years we made a 4.0 litre block,shipped it to Cologne Germany to be turned into an engine which was then shipped back across the Atlantic to Norfolk Virginia to be put in Ford Explorers...go figure..
eg.#2 The foundry being 20 feet away from Windsor Engine Plant produced only 1 small volume part for the F-150 plant..the blocks came from Cleveland(soon to be Brazil)cranks came from Woodhaven Forging etc.....makes you wonder about those who make those kinda decisions...
Bob
You say it's tough to advocate for such a large building that doesn't have much reusablility, but really, you just have to get creative. I suggested to the city in the Official Plan Review campaign the city had going in February that this space would be perfect (if restored) for a great museum of Windsor's history. I mean, what better place??? We have such a rich heritage, surely we could fill most of it with exhibits. But alas, that likely won't happen.
I think Pina has a great idea! Before I go further, I worked at Ford for seven years and two summers in the Foundry while going to university. The foundry is part of our Industrial Heritage and some of it should be preserved. Pic #4 would be great for an alternative indoor events menu in the better months around here. The available space alone could generate ideas for and by this community, from indoor soccer pitiches, to anything you can imagine. Toxic substances can be cleaned up for low level use and exposure. I don't think hat all of it should be demolished!
Is pic#5 taken from the shipping area?
Wow.... the place is empty now.
Will--Yup, that pic is from shipping, the back presses are gone,the George Fischer crank shotblast system's gone....removed through the wall it looks like..
Bob