Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-13-2021, 09:08 AM   #1
s.e.charles
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 68
Default River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

years ago i read a book regarding WW II plant transformation and worker housing in Michigan. for the life of me i have not been able to find it in an internet search despite numerous attempts.

any help locating this book title for a re-read will be gratefully appreciated!

thanks
s.e.charles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 10:07 AM   #2
FortyNiner
Senior Member
 
FortyNiner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: u-rah-rah-Wisconsin
Posts: 1,129
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

You are close with your rememberer. The noted bomber factory was in Willow Run, not the Rouge. Was this what you are thinking of perhaps?

Not sure about the book question.
__________________
19 and 49 F1 - jes' like Henry II built
1946 Deluxe - as Henry built it
FortyNiner is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-13-2021, 10:16 AM   #3
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,369
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

I would be curious if you may remember the approximate date it was published or what type, if any, photos or illustrations it may have had. A 1970 book titled "State of War: Michigan in World War II" may have some info.

A recent book titled "Arsenal of Democracy" had mention about how difficult it was to get Willow Run up and running due to the housing shortage in Ypsilanti and what they had to do to get it working in such a short period of time. A look at stuff like this and a person can better understand why Edsel Ford dies so young. That job was beyond monumental. He gave a truly heroic attempt to complete that task and it succeeded but the price was high.

Last edited by rotorwrench; 12-14-2021 at 09:25 AM.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 11:32 AM   #4
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,069
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

Actually the Rouge River reference is somewhat relevant as the lower branch of the river does emanate near Willow Run.
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 12:45 PM   #5
ford38v8
Senior Member
 
ford38v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 6,616
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

Of all the hundreds of books written about Henry Ford, the best by far were the three volumes known as the Ford Trilogy by Alan Nevins. These three titles detail every aspect of Ford’s life and everything he touched. They are accurate and entertaining, and should be on every Fordophiles bookshelf.
__________________
Alan
ford38v8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 02:09 PM   #6
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
My dad worked over there as a plumber during the war. There were a number of plumbers form Oshkosh who worked over there.
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 02:30 PM   #7
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,926
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

This one? > https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pla...son/1112822564

And > https://www.amazon.com/Planning-Home...ct_top?ie=UTF8

__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

Last edited by petehoovie; 12-13-2021 at 03:38 PM.
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 04:40 PM   #8
s.e.charles
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 68
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

thanks for all the helps. i think this is the book i'm seeking:

The Story of Willow Run - by Marion F. Wilson - 1956

the copy i read must have been a more recent addition maybe from the '80s.

i got trapped by my own thinking and wasn't getting anywhere until you fellows got me off dead center.

thanks again
s.e.charles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 04:51 PM   #9
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,926
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

https://www.amazon.com/Story-Willow-.../dp/0472752014

__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 06:25 PM   #10
scicala
Senior Member
 
scicala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Detroit suburb, MI
Posts: 3,697
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

The Yankee Air Museum is also at Willow Run airport.

Sal

https://yankeeairmuseum.org/
scicala is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 08:06 PM   #11
DavidG
Senior Member
 
DavidG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 10,069
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

And for those that want to, at the Early Ford V8 Club's Grand National Meet in 2023 they will be able to take a flight in the Yankee Air Museum's restored Ford Tri-motor, which is always a great treat.
DavidG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 08:20 PM   #12
GB SISSON
Senior Member
 
GB SISSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 4,846
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

I rarely get off this 50 something square mile Island I live on, but the V8 meet coupled with a flight on a Ford Tri-motor would be #1 on my bucket list if I had one. Maybe I'll get a pen and make one. Like I could find a pen that worked.....
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)
GB SISSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 08:27 PM   #13
cas3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sw minnesota
Posts: 4,542
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

I thought carpenters had a pencil behind they're ear at all times?
cas3 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 08:51 PM   #14
GB SISSON
Senior Member
 
GB SISSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Orcas Island Washington
Posts: 4,846
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

Quote:
Originally Posted by cas3 View Post
I thought carpenters had a pencil behind they're ear at all times?
I always did in my younger years... sometimes when I was single I'd get onto the pillow that way. Ouch. But now with the ballcap and reading glasses it's hard to find it's way behind the ear. Now I just set it on the bench and lose it in the rubble.
__________________
Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)
GB SISSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2021, 08:58 PM   #15
cas3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sw minnesota
Posts: 4,542
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

Good answer GB ! I can relate to the "rubble" on the bench
cas3 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2021, 09:34 AM   #16
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,369
Default Re: River Rouge/ Ypsilanti - war plant worker housing

When I was in the military going through basic training. I was issued an M-16 that was manufactured by GM at the hydromatic plant that took over Willow Run after Kaiser-Frazer used it to build C-119 cargo planes. There was a lot of history made at that location. Most of the plant is gone now but there is enough left to house a fair amount of old birds.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 PM.