Ford did not produce the ford ranger in north american from 20122017. Hear stories about henry fords personal interest in this site, how the plant shaped the future of highland park, and what it meant to the thousands of workers who built everything from the model t to the ranger. When it opened in 1925, the twin cities assembly plant. Every urban interloper urblops for short who has taken ford s selfguided tour has a story to tell. For its entire production run until 2011, the ranger was produced at twin cities assembly plant in st paul, minnesota. The longabandoned ford tunnels are by far the most extensive mining tunnel system in the twin cities area. And it was an immense source of pride for the thousands of men and women who built continue reading about the project. The twin cities assembly plant would go on to manufacture millions of cars, trucks, tractors and military vehicles until its closure in 2011. The ford site master plan, adopted by the saint paul city council in 2017, is the culmination of a decade of planning for the site. The following is a list of current and former facilities of ford motor company for manufacturing automobiles and other components. The richmond plant opened on august 1, 1931, and the seattle plant commenced operations in early 1932. Situated on the mississippi river, the factory generated its own power through an adjacent hydroelectric dam. Ford records are unclear whether 10,877 mototubs were outsourced or built inhouse by ford. Dec 14, 2011 this friday will mark a sad day in minnesota when the twin cities ford assembly plant shuts its doors for the final time.
Far away, you can see the red lights on the steam plant smokestack. The 200406 ford ranger pickup assembled at ford s twin cities assembly plant in. Relive 86 years of ford motor company history along saint pauls riverfront in this new documentary for twin cities pbs. Retired twin cities ford autoworker oral history interviews. The twin cities assembly plant was opened in 1925 producing modelts, and closed in 2011 producing ford rangers. When the autos and the plant won awards, employees were. The wixom assembly plant was one of ford motor companys largest and oldest manufacturing sites. It simplified assembly of the ford model ts 3,000 parts by breaking it into 84 distinct steps performed by groups of workers as a rope pulled the vehicle chassis.
This particular one was used to pull aircraft off the end of the assembly line at the ford b24 plant. As a ford motor company plant the twin cities site was linked to a global industry which not only changed transportation but also manufacturing methodsparticularly the development of the assembly line. Max action wrote about his encounter with a sleeping security guard in 2000 and alarms in 2007. A legacy tribute can take a physical form as a monument, plaque or commemorative garden on the grounds at highland park, or elsewhere. Twin cities assembly plant located next to the mississippi river in the highland park, minnesota.
Paul ford plant heritage group on final drive to save. Ford memphis assembly plant located on 1429 riverside blvd, memphis tn. However, ford announced on april that the twin cities plant would close in 2008, along. Book looks back on ford motors glory days in minnesota. Attracted by cheap hydropower, henry ford starts building the twin cities assembly plant in st. Workers steal the show in tpts new ford plant film. End of historic line, as last ford ranger rolls from plant. Assembly workers at ford plant get shutdown notice the. Historians, ford collectors and former plant employees who started the save our ford heritage committee are on one last drive to preserve the assembly plant s northwest corner. Twin cities assembly plant home of the ford ranger.
Making a great thing even better, they connect with both the guts of the active ford assembly plant high above on the bluff, as well as with the ford hydro plant on the dam. People who have worked there recall the impact the plant has had not only on the surrounding community but on their community, inside, where bonds formed that never ended when you walked out the door. The plant is scheduled to close at the end of the month. Short history of the ford plant, a minnesota historical. It is located just above the mississippi river near lock and dam no. When we talk about ford in minnesota, we are now talking about redeveloping its twin cities assembly plant site. Nov 29, 2016 henry ford has a long history in minnesota. Many at the plant say if theres a saving grace, its that the factory didnt shut down all at once. At the bottom of the page is a bibliography of source material on fords assembly plants available, and open for research, in the benson ford. The ford motor company closed the twin cities assembly plant in 2011, ending a century of. List of ford factories, ford motor company of argentina, ford dagenham, ford trafford park factory, ford river rouge complex, lincoln motor company plant, old ford motor factory, ford kansas city assembly plant, wixom assembly plant. Paul opened in 1926 with the model t, made for another 19 years.
Demolition of the former ford twin cities assembly plant featured project continued from page 1. This is the story of the twin cities assembly plant, which operated from 1925 to 2011 in the highland park neighborhood of st. In 1914, the ford centre opened in minneapolis, the largest car manufacturing plant in the world at the time. Paul ford plant at 117 university ave ford legacy mn. Paul, the assembly plant featured its own hydroelectric plant similar to the one on green island, produced military vehicles during world war ii and over the last few years has been tasked with. A white ford ranger that rolled off the assembly line on dec.
Henry ford s largescale experiments with every aspect of the industrial economy sent ripples and shockwaves through the lives of minnesotansmanagement and assembly line workers, dealers and. New book explores minnesotas unique role in the ford motor. It does not include the 22acre river parcel area c. Ford plans to build ranger at michigan assembly detroit news. Hear stories about henry ford s personal interest in this site, how the plant shaped the future of highland park, and what it meant to the thousands of workers who built everything from the model t to the ranger. Opened in 1912 in a former warehouse in minneapolis and later moved to st. After building a mix of vehicles, the plant converted to alltruck production in 1978. Demolition of the former ford twin cities assembly plant. The ford century in minnesota research minnesota historical. Were all in this together to create a welcoming environment.
After 1969, heavyduty trucks above f350 and some light duty trucks were transferred to kentucky truck assembly in louisville, kentucky. The job is anticipated to be completed in early 2014 and will make way for future developments for the city of st. Ford twin cities assembly plant the ranger station. Do you have a timeline of ford motor company assembly plants. A shortform ebook original providing a brief history of the famed automobile assembly plant in st. Published on sep 10, 2012 when it closed in 2011, the twin cities assembly plant was the oldest ford plant still operating. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Completed in 1925, fords twin cities assembly plant high on the banks of the mississippi river in saint paul was a sterling achievement. Jun 26, 2018 fords twin cities assembly plant in st.
Celebrating the moving assembly line in pictures ford media. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Firstperson accounts of more than forty retired auto workers detail experiences of working at ford motor companyfrom the early years in minneapolis to the final hours of the twin cities assembly plant in st. Historic ford plant site likely a tough sell the automaker recently closed its twin cities assembly plant on a scenic river bluff in st. When ford s twin cities assembly plant finally closes its doors this month an important neighbor will disappear. When the twin cities assembly plant opened in 1925, it was the largest of ford s branch plants outside of detroit. Short history of the ford plant, a minnesota historical society. When it opened in 1925, the twin cities assembly plant was one of the most innovative auto assembly plants in the country. Henry ford, known far and wide for his success with mass production, for providing affordable cars to workers, and for paying workers enough to buy the cars they made, was planning to build a new plant. The facility was producing ranger pickup trucks when it closed in 2011.
Ford plant twin cities assembly alumni and current employees. The final vehicles from the plant were assembled in 2011, and it thereafter became one of the 267 autorelated factories closed in the united states between 1979 and 2011. These are only a few of fords assembly plants and factories. Paul, minnesota opened in 1925 to build model ts in a stateoftheart facility powered by a hydroelectric dam on the mississippi river. The union said only a few dozen twin cities workers are eligible. Ford twin cities assembly plant in 1912, the first assembly and sales activities were started in a former warehouse in minneapolis 1 by ford motor company. Greg brick shared a notably similar story in his fantastic 2009 book, subterranean twin cities.
End of historic line, as last ford ranger rolls from plant in. The ford century in minnesota tells the story of how henry fords pioneering company arrived in the state and built its giant plant in st. In 1912, the first assembly and sales activities were started in a former warehouse in. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Summary ford motor company opened its twin cities assembly plant at st. Paul and intends to sell the property to a developer by. Do you have a timeline of ford motor company assembly. A newly finished 2012 ford ranger rolls off the assembly line at the ford twin cities assembly plant in st.
I too remember seeing assembly line workers using the 2x4 method of alignment at the twin cities ford assembly plant during plant tours in the late 60s. But it wasnt the first ford facility built in the twin towns. At the bottom of the page is a bibliography of source material on ford s assembly plants available, and open for research, in the benson ford. Paul, minnesota opened in 1925 to build model ts in a stateoftheart facility powered by a hydroelectric dam on. For more cool photos check out twin cities assembly plant ford ranger. New book explores minnesotas unique role in the ford.
Ford motor company assembly plant quartermaster depot charlotte army missile plant. Completed model ts roll off the line at highland parks ford twin cities assembly plant in 1925. Per regulations, the factory is encoded into each vehicles vin as character 11 for north american models, and character 8 for european models for a listing of ford s proving grounds and test facilities see ford proving grounds. It was the very first assembly plant ford built in the twin cities, constructed just 10 years after henry ford got things rolling in detroit. In 1903, before the ford motor company was even incorporated, stephen.
After building a mix of vehicles, the plant converted to alltruck production in. Ford s three new assembly plants on the pacific coast opened in the early 1930s. That assembly plant, located in the highland park neighborhood, rolled out everything from the model t to ford ranger pickup trucks by the time it. Ford motor company opened its twin cities assembly plant at st. In anticipation of the project, the company did lease temporary digs a few blocks away, waiting out construction from 191214 on the first four floors of minneapoliss great northern implement. Power and associates gave wixom assembly plant a bronze award in the initial quality study, north and south america awards, in 2004. It will also serve as way to provide updates on the status of the site of the former twin cities assembly plant, including news about possible redevelopment options. One hundred years ago today, henry ford and his team at highland park assembly plant launched the worlds greatest contribution to manufacturing the first moving assembly line.
Unlike the many articles and books about the history of the ford. The twin cities assembly plant would go on to manufacture millions of cars. Paul in the 1920s, how its workers became involved in the international organized labor movement, and how a variety of forces led to the plants closure. The assembly plant has produced cars, trucks and even armored cars for the military. Dec 16, 2011 ken grady assembles tires on the ford ranger production line at the twin cities assembly plant in st. The final 2012 ranger produced on december 16, 2011, ended 86 years of production at twin cities assembly as well as the production of all compact pickups in the united states.
It was a catalyst for the development of the highland park neighborhood and the ford bridge. The ford century in minnesota university of minnesota press. The twin cities ford plant has played an important role in the history of the twin cities and the ford motor company for almost a century. It closed in 2011, after years of threats, labor unrest and shrinkage, when dallas theis, a. In early 2006, when ford first put the twin cities assembly plant on its closure list, the facility was slated to close within two years. Workers steal the show in tpts new ford plant film january 10, 2019 by union advocate the twin cities assembly plant in highland park is gone, but the stories of people who worked there live on in a new, hourlong documentary airing on twin cities pbs stations next week. Sep 12, 20 celebrating the moving assembly line in pictures on oct. Apr, 2017 the ford thunderbird was the next car produced at the plant to receive motor trends car of the year prestigious designation, in 2002. In may 2015, ford recalled the 200514 mustang and 200506 gt exotic car for driverside airbag inflators. As today marks the 100th anniversary of the moving assembly line invented by ford motor company under the leadership of henry ford, the company is building on its legacy of innovation by expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities and introducing groundbreaking technologies that could revolutionize mass production for decades to come. It opened april 15, 1957, and was ultimately expanded to encompass 4. Combining political, economic, social, and architectural history, this richly detailed, handsomely illustrated book.
May 15, 20 henry ford, known far and wide for his success with mass production, for providing affordable cars to workers, and for paying workers enough to buy the cars they made, was planning to build a new plant. The popular factory tour the ford motor company offered. That assembly plant, located in the highland park neighborhood, rolled out everything from the model t to ford. For the brantford, ontario rock venue and art gallery, see the ford plant. Nov 29, 2016 when we talk about ford in minnesota, we are now talking about redeveloping its twin cities assembly plant site. About the project the twin cities assembly plant was one of the principal economic engines of the east metro for 86 years. Per regulations, the factory is encoded into each vehicles vin as character 11 for north american models, and character 8 for european models. Dec 16, 2011 the twin cities assembly plant has built more than 3 million trucks. To the extreme right is the beginning of the minneapolis skyline.
Brian mcmahon documents the companys transformationthrough the depression, world war ii, women joining the workforce, globalization, outsourcing, the closing of the plant. Twin cities assembly plant hydroelectric dam saint paul. The twin cities assembly plant was, in fact, unique for the state in function and impressive in size. Paul auto plant will become a green neighborhood citylab. The assembly facility survived a rocky time in fords history by meeting demand for the light trucks that became the companys mainstay when tariffs made imported light trucks too expensive. This ford mototug can be seen at the yankee air museum. In may 1957, ford discontinued building trucks at the highland park ford plant in highland park, michigan. I believe in this case it was to get the door to move out, instead of move in. Over the plants 50 years of operation it produced 6,648,806 automobiles. The twin cities assembly plant in minnesota produced the last ford ranger on december 16, 2011.
Feb 21, 2012 for more cool photos check out twin cities assembly plant ford ranger. The ford plant was built in 1925 in the highland park neighborhood in st. Ken grady assembles tires on the ford ranger production line at the twin cities assembly plant in st. The long beach plant was the first to open in 1930.
Ford richmond assembly plant ford motor company history. Nov 22, 2016 the final vehicles from the plant were assembled in 2011, and it thereafter became one of the 267 autorelated factories closed in the united states between 1979 and 2011. The former home of iconic vehicles, the model t and the ford ranger, started automobile manufacturing in 1925 and was officially shuttered in 2011. The ford wixom plant was an assembly plant that was in operation for fifty years from 19572007 that produced numerous ford products, but mainly lincoln models. Paint where this was taken and assembly where the blue light is were connected with a long skyway that carried completed trucks to be painted. They would just stick the 2x4 in the door opening near the hinge and slam the door. Ford plant twin cities assembly alumni and current. How the ford motor company transformed minnesota over the past 100 years. Sep 10, 2012 when it closed in 2011, the twin cities assembly plant was the oldest ford plant still operating. Army corps of engineers finished the dam in 1917, which was built in anticipation of environmentally sustainable hydropower. By 1925, the twin cities assembly plant had relocated next to the mississippi river in the highland park neighborhood of st. In addition, the twin cities assembly plant is linked to the history of hydropower and the creation of lock and dam no. All light and medium trucks were transferred to 10 other plants in the usa. Third generation trucks were built in brazil as the f100, f.
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