Chrysler corporation

On Jan. 4, 1980, the Chrysler Corp. permanently closed its Hamtramck Assembly Plant, commonly called "Dodge Main", marking the end of nearly 70 years of continuous manufacturing operations at the facility. John Frances and Horace Elgin Dodge were pioneers in the automobile industry, beginning with a machine shop to supply auto plants with parts, working with both Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford, and eventually building a new plant on a 30 acre site in Hamtramck in 1910. Wanting to build their own car, they restructured their plant for construction of a complete automobile. Albert Kahn designed the initial buildings of the plant, and in 1912-1913, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls designed virtually all of the buildings in the expanding complex. The first Dodge, named "Old Betsy", came off the assembly line on Nov. 14, 1914. Total production for 1914 was 249 touring cars. John Dodge died on Jan. 14, 1920. Horace died Dec. 10, 1920. The family sold the business on May 1, 1925 to Dillon, Read & Co. They, in turn, sold the property to the Chrysler Corp. on May 29, 1928.

From the description of Chrysler Corporation collection. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 41986156