Ford’s Village Industries

NORTHVILLIANS,

Last week, we touched on activities around our Bennett Arboretum (oldest in Michigan) and mentioned we would talk more about Henry Ford’s Hydro-electric plants on this waterway, which he called “Village Industry Plants”. Most of these started as gristmills in the late1800’s and were purchased by Ford in the 1920’s. Northville’s Valve Plant was the first in operation in 1920 and the last to finish production in the 1980’s.

Let’s look at some of Henry Ford’s Village Industry activities along the Rouge River, including architect Albert Kahn’s Northville Plant…

According to a 1991 Northville Record article:

• Two sets of historically significant paths that wind their way through Michigan intersect in Northville (branches of the Rouge River and the routes of the Ford heritage trails). 
• The Ford heritage trails consist of the two tour routes between various remaining mills from Henry Ford’s network of village industries. Ford started 20 village industries between 1919-1944. The mills were part of his vision of community-oriented workplaces to strengthen rural villages rather than draw workers away from them.  Ford’s plan, thought to have been encouraged by Thomas Edison (who he worked for at one time), was to have hydro-electric driven factories along many of the area’s rivers. 
• The Rouge River route ends at Greenfield Village & The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Henry Ford’s estate (Fairlane) is also nearby on UM’s Dearborn campus.

The Centennial Edition of the Northville Record (1969) reported:

• In 1919 Henry Ford purchased the Northville Valve Plant and added it to his list of village industries.  Each plant could be identified by its water wheel. 
• Dotting the countryside throughout southeastern Michigan, these plants were known for their high standards of craftsmanship and for their friendly hometown atmosphere.
   
• The Northville Plant – a historical summary:
  • The original building that Henry Ford bought on this Northville site was a mill built around 1825 by the Yerkes Family (reportedly the first building in Northville).
  • In 1896, a wood-working shop operated by the Dubuar Manufacturing Company was built in the area & produced wheelbarrows, beet cutters, wood pulley blocks and other wood products.
  • In 1919, tractor valve-making machinery from the Fordson Tractor plant and Model T valve production equipment from Highland park were installed. Full production started in 1920. 
  • During the next 16 years, 181 million valves were produced in the original buildings.
  • By 1936, a more modern plant was needed and an Albert Kahn-designed plant was built.
• Phoenix Mill – Henry Ford purchased this property in 1920. It had been the site of the Phoenix gristmill built around 1840 and the Matthews Distillery.  Both had burned down.  Ford constructed the new building in 1922 (also designed by architect Albert Kahn). The plant was unique in that it employed mostly women because Ford felt that women were more adept at assembling delicate electrical parts built there.  
• Wilcox Mill – After purchasing the original Wilcox gristmill, Henry razed the dilapidated structure and constructed a new building in 1923. The facility initially produced generators and later it produced taps, a tool used for forming internal screw threads. For a time, 95% of Ford Motor Company’s taps worldwide were produced in Northville.

Henry Ford’s Village Industries timeline of Northville area plants:

• Northville – Opened 1920, new Albert Kahn facility built in 1936, closed 1981.
  • Output: Originally, Model T and Fordson tractor valves, then ALL valves for all Ford engines. Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine parts were produced there in WWII. It was the 1st to open and last to close.
• Nankin Mills – Opened 1921, closed 1947.
  • Output: Machined screws and later engraving operations (during WWII dies, fixtures & badges). First village factory to use hydropower.
• Phoenix opened in 1922, closed 1947.
  • Output: Generator parts & during WWII gun parts. First new village plant to employ only women (precursor to “Rosie the Riveters”).
• Plymouth – Opened 1923, closed 1947.
  • Output: Generator parts until 1924, then taps during WWII for government vehicles and parts for Pratt-Whitney engines
• Northville’s Waterford (Meads Mill) plant opened in 1925 and closed in 1954.
  • Output: Johansson precision inspection gauges & drills. Each employee was a skilled craftsman and there were no inspectors.

As you can see, Henry Ford & his Village Industry operations were a big part of the economy at one time and why Northville was one of the top economic areas in Michigan!

Slow down and take a trip starting at Ford Field and the Mill Race Village, viewing the Albert Kahn Ford plant just across the street. Drive down Northville Road just south of 6 Mile where gauges were built and past the Phoenix Mill (which is being renovated), then on to the Plymouth location & Nankin Mills. Keep on going and your final destination is Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. A ton of history in one short ride.

Keep that Northville Historic Faith!    

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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