Pontiac in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Building Bodies

at Pontiac's O.J. Beaudette Company

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

1. Building Bodies Marker

Inscription. He went from strength to strength when the need for vehicle bodies grew to an industrial scale. Oliver Joseph Beaudette learned woodcraft as a young apprentice in Michigan's logging frontier of Bay City before starting his carriage business in 1893. He joined the swelling ranks of carriage-makers in Pontiac and was ready for the city's emerging industry in automobiles, then called "horseless carriages." In 1909 the company began building bodies for Ford Model Ts. Beaudette's astonishing success could be measured by the more than two million Model T bodies built before the company was sold to Fisher body Company in 1922.
You Auto Know
Fisher Body Company used the Beaudette plant briefly after buying the company in 1922, before moving into the new Fisher Body plant on Pontiac's north side.

Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 42° 38.185′ N, 83° 18.181′ W. Marker is in Pontiac, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and West Huron Street, on the right when traveling south on Franklin Boulevard.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 295 W Huron St, Pontiac MI 48341, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Franklin Boulevard Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Rapid Transformation (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Notable Neighbors (about 500 feet away); Wessen & Bagley (approx. 0.4 miles away); Great Migrations (approx. 0.4 miles away); Automobile Financing (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Presbyterian Church (approx. half a mile away); A Record Of Innovation (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pontiac.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

2. Building Bodies Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 456 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.