Dearborn in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Shipbuilding Traditions
Along the Rouge River
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
1. Shipbuilding Traditions Along the Rouge River Marker
Long before cars were built along the lower Rouge River
in Dearborn, the site was home to shipbuilding. Early 1700s French settlers established a small shipyard on the Rouge River at Baby Creek. The British later used the same site to build armed vessels to patrol the Great Lakes. Henry Ford continued the tradition when he built his Eagle-class anti-submarine patrol boats here at the new Rouge Plant during World War I. Ford dedicated land for a U.S. Navy Mechanics Training Center here before World War II.
You Auto Know
The lower Rouge River is still used for water transport of raw materials to the Ford Rouge Plant.
Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the MotorCities National Heritage Area series list.
Location. 42° 18.298′ N, 83° 8.573′ W. Marker is in Dearborn, Michigan
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
2. Upper left image
1810 Aaron Greely map, showing the shipbuilding site along the Rouge River. Map courtesy of the Dearborn Historical Museum.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. UAW Local 600 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ford Rouge Plant (approx. 0.7 miles away); 19th U. S. Infantry (approx. 0.8 miles away); Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Ford Hunger March (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Ford Rouge Plant (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Ford Rotunda (approx. 1.8 miles away); Reves-Wilhelm Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dearborn.
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
3. Lower left image
The steamboat Michigan traveled on Lake Erie, bringing settlers to Michigan in the early 1800s after the opening of the Erie Canal. Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Historical Museum.
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
4. Upper middle image
The Eagle boat, built by Ford during World War I at the Rouge Plant complex. It was 204 feet long and indended to be a "submarine killer." Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Historical Museum.
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
5. Lower middle image
The United States Naval Service School on the Rouge River offered training in naval skills t 22,203 personnel from 1941-44.
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
6. Right image
Eagle boat construction in the B Building at the Rouge complex, 1919. Photo from the collections of The Henry Ford.
By Joel Seewald, October 27, 2016
7. Shipbuilding Traditions Along the Rouge River Marker
View looking north. Across the street is Patton Park in Detroit.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 28, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
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