Brooklyn in Jackson County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Henry Ford in Brooklyn

Building a Village Industry

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, November 15, 2022

1. Henry Ford in Brooklyn Marker

Inscription. This building endures as one of the small "Village Industry" factories built by Henry Ford throughout southeast Michigan in the early 20th century. Most of these factories occupied the sites of earlier water-powered mills and harnessed small town values and work ethics to produce Ford vehicle parts. Here, from 1939 to 1967, as many as 150 local workers produced starter switches, lamp lenses, and assembled distributors. Henry Ford's fascination with renewable energy is showcased by his trademark glass enclosure of the building's hydroelectric system.

You Auto Know
This site was previously occupied by a grist (grain-grinding) mill that was destroyed by a tornado in 1937.

Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.

Location. 42° 6.751′ N, 84° 14.813′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, Michigan, in Jackson County. It is on River Street near Brooklyn Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the walking bridge to Swain Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10409 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn MI 49230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ford Motor Company Brooklyn Plant: (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brooklyn Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Brooklyn's Founder (approx. 0.4 miles away); Corporal Glenn Kleile (approx. 3 miles away); Nottawa Sepee Trail (approx. 3.3 miles away); Napoleon Township World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.

Also see . . . Ford Motor Company Brooklyn Plant. Excerpt:

The Ford Motor Company Brooklyn Plant is a former industrial plant located at 221 Mill Street in Brooklyn, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

(Submitted on November 19, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, November 15, 2022

2. Henry Ford in Brooklyn Marker

Ford Motor Company Brooklyn Plant today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, November 15, 2022

3. Ford Motor Company Brooklyn Plant today

Swain Memorial Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 11, 2023

4. Swain Memorial Park Sign

This sign is aross the bridge and next to the pavilion at the same park as the marker.

Photographed by Hartsook, 1919

5. Henry Ford

From the Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 434 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 19, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 4. submitted on June 20, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on November 19, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.