Manchester hosting Ford Village Industries “Farm to Factory” Tour

Manchester still holds a special piece of Henry Ford history–in fact, it holds two. The Manchester area is home to two of the about 20 “Village Industries” Ford built in rural communities in south-east Michigan during the 1920s and 30s. On Sunday, July 28th, from 1 to 4 pm, the Manchester Area Historical Society and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation are co-hosting a tour of four Manchester area sites, including the two Village Industry locations, to tell the story. 

In 1918 Ford began the establishment of small rural manufacturing plants knows as “village industries.” This decentralization was in an effort to keep young people from abandoning rural areas to move to the city. He hoped that by providing factory jobs in agricultural areas, his factories could help strengthen rural communities instead of draining them.

All of the village industries were powered by hydro-electric and most of the were converted from existing mills. The two sites he chose in Manchester he chose were both grist mills located on the River Raisin: one in the Village of Manchester, currently serving as the Village Hall and housing the Manchester District Library, and the other, the centerpiece of Sharon Mills County Park. 

Ford purchased the Sharon Mills property in 1926. The factory opened in 1939, employing up to 19 people. It produced cigarette lighters, ammeters, and switches. Ford purchased the Manchester site in 1936. The plant opened in 1941, employing up to 279. It produced ammeters, gauges, and instrument clusters. 

The village industries did not prove to be a financially successful model and most were closed in the 1940s. The Sharon Mills site closed in 1947 and the site in the Village closed in 1957. 

Ray Berg of the Manchester Area Historical Society states, “The tour is titled ‘Farm to Factory – Ford Village Industries Tour,’ and covers four sites which will explain the role of Henry Ford in redeveloping local mills into manufacturing plants prior to World War II. The tour is free, and will operate on an open house, “come and go as you please” format, along a four-stop route between the Manchester Village Offices and the Sharon Mills complex. Each site will have docents explaining the role of Henry Ford in creating local industries to redevelop old water-powered mills into automotive manufacturing plants.”

The tour stops include:

1. Manchester Village Offices, 912 City Road, where visitors will see the water-powered turbine equipment and electric generator which used the River Raisin to produce power for production equipment when this building was rebuilt as a Ford manufacturing plant. Visitors will also see photographs and view the former production and assembly floor (now the Library) through photographs and docent presentations.
2. The MAHS John Schneider Blacksmith Shop, 324 E. Main, will be open for blacksmithing demonstrations. The shop implemented various Ford manufacturing techniques to improve efficiency of operations.
3. The MAHS Kingsley-Jenter House, 302 E. Main, will be open for a museum visit and to view photographs and artifacts from the Manchester Ford Plant days.
4. The Sharon Mills County Park, 5701 Sharon Hollow Road, will be open for demonstrations of the River Raisin-powered historic equipment used in a Ford manufacturing plant, tours of the facility, nature walks, and a historic Ford car gathering.

Berg continues, “Refreshments will be available at the Kingsley-Jenter House and the Sharon Mills site, as well as kids’ activities at Sharon Mills. We look forward to having you visit us on Sunday, July 28!”

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.