A new Daily Detroit podcast explores how Dearborn changed from quiet farmland into an industrial powerhouse. Mason Christenson from the Dearborn Historical Museum tells Daily Detroit how Ford’s building projects and land planning were important in Dearborn’s transformation into a major industrial city.
It all began in 1917 when Ford built their huge Rouge Plant. The car company’s arrival kicked off big changes across the Michigan city. New factories popped up, followed by neighborhoods, shops, and community improvements.
When Fordson joined with Dearborn in 1929, it marked a big turning point in the city’s expansion. The early-to-mid 1900s also saw major worker protests, including the Rouge Plant strikes that won better conditions for auto workers.
Ford bought up tons of land, changing the area completely. The Ford Airport is a good example – it ran from the 1920s to the 1940s, before making way for other projects.
The show connects these local changes to bigger shifts across Southeast Michigan. It looks at how manufacturing changed and suburbs expanded.
This episode fits right in with Daily Detroit’s goal to highlight local history. It shows how one company’s choices affected where people lived and worked, and how the city grew over 100 years.
Kristina Perez
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