Here’s an older postcard view of the Ford Factory I recently added to my collection, it has a very strange green tint to it for some reason….
The postcard dates to the late 30’s early 40’s, and I have no idea what that huge expanse of land is in the lower right hand corner.
It’s not the test track, as this photo shows the area north of Seminole. The Fire Insurance Map from the same era, doesn’t make any notation of the land. In fact, there is a large building south of the factory (in the lower left corner), that doesn’t show up on the map. So that would help date the card to after 1937… Cards prior to 1935 also noted the area as Ford City (until 1929) or East Windsor (1930-1935), this one denotes the plant as being in Windsor.
That vacant parcel of land has always been just that – vacant. Even today as you drive along Seminole you can see it. I had always thought something must have been there, but this postcard says otherwise.
To the left of the vacant parcel is Plant 1, where the last big 351 V-8 rolled off the assembly line in 1996, and where I started my Ford career. Directly north is Plant 2, which was gutted and renovated in 1994 to become the Windsor Engine plant making the 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8 litre V10, and where I ended my Ford career. Directly to the east of Plant 2 is the beloved Ford Casting plant, which everyone knows is awaiting the wrecking ball. According to plant-floor rumour (and they are numerous to say the least), this large tract of land is the only parcel that Ford operates on that is owned by the Ford family itself.
Chris, thanks for the clarification!
Just a shot in the dark about the date of the photograph but I work at Windsor Assembly Plant (Chrysler) and we have several old photos on display of the plant itself from it’s inception (1928) till the present. There is one photo in particular that is very similar to the one taken here. Perhaps they were taken on the same day while in the air (and the general area??) and printed similarily? The one of Chrysler was taken in July, 1937. Great site you have here by the way!
Thanks Colin! Those dates could be close, if it wasn’t the same day, I’m willing to bet it was at least the same photographer.
There are quite a few old pics of the Chrysler plant I’m gonna try and dig up while I’m at work- just have to find the right people who might have access to the archives. While in the plant, I’ve already figured out the original structure before the many, many renovations (additions) as well as found numerous old/original points of interest that date back 60-80 yrs. Love the site- keep the pics comin’!
I would like to see those old pics of chrysler colin if you dont mind could you send them to my email ffrulessurpreme@hotmail.com thanks
I’ll see what I can do, Paul. I have to figure out who has pictures and if I can get access to them first. I want to see them too so I’ll work on it as best I can and hopefully post them on here as well. Hopefully I’ll have some help because I have a couple of co-workers who are also enthusiests of this site.
Thanks Colin, Iif you can get a copy I will gladly post them. The Automotive heritage in this city is outsanding, and Plant 3 is one of the best.
BTW – Did you see these shots from 1933? http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=289
What are they building next to the Ford Power Plant? I drove along Riverside Dr. today and noticed a bunch of steel I beams sticking out of the ground? Anyone know if it’ll fit in with the architecture of the powerplant or wll it just be another ugly looking aluminum clad warehouse that wll burn my eyes every time I drive down Riverside?
That’s the East Windsor Co-Generation Plant.
Architecturally it is designed to blend in with the exisiting structure.
Here’s a link with a rendering: http://www.eastwindsorcogen.ca/
[faints]
Thank God for that. I was whole heartedly expecting that the planning department was going to let them build a giant turd next to it seeing all the post-modern garbage and spartan structures Toronto now allows next to heritage buildings like that giant turd next to the ROM. Glad I don’t work in Toronto anymore.
Yeah, it’s a postmodern and spartan wasteland up here. Wait…how can it be both?
They are both a subset of the great turd, while the ideals can be mutually exclusive. Should I draw you a Venn diagram?? The AGW is an example of one of Windsor’s pm instead of keeping the historical brewery building as the AGW, which would have made the AGW a world class gallery. Does anyone have any pictures of what the press gallery looked looked like in the brewery building?
The historical brewery building?
The new AGO is one of the finest art gallery buildings around. I could do without the p-lots around it, but that’s Windsor, not the building.
Here’s the old Art Gallery:
http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=248
Indeed, I have fond memories of that old art gallery (first dates, early primary school field trips) but those memories don’t make the building “historic” — it served its purpose alright, but now there is a purpose-built gallery, with magnificent river views, that is a fine (and rare) recent addition to Windsor.
By the time the casino moved out your historical brewery was literally history. After working 10 years with the people who loved and cherished the 3 years they had there (at the interm casino) I’ve heard countless horror stories about how bad that building was by the time it was left behind. There was nothing left to salvage.
My favourite example is where so much pop and beverages were spilt in the same area that the floor was literally held together by the carpet, known to every porter as “soft spots.”
Really? I never heard those stories. If that were the case, all you need to do is screw on new spruce floorboards. Easy. A lot easier and cheaper than maintaining the roof. I don’t think it justified seeing that beautiful historical building being torn down.
Beautiful, Historic?
Did you see this? http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=248
It was a brick box.