Michigan Alkali Company
Side A
On October 17, 1890, Captain John Baptiste Ford (1811-1903) purchased this property along the Detroit River. He established the Michigan Alkali Company here in 1893. Ford had financial interests in several glass companies, and he chose the site for its proximity to resources needed to produce soda ash, a primary ingredient in the manufacture of glass. The deep strata of pure salt beneath the site was most important. Water from the Detroit River was used to extract the salt in solution form. The salt was used with limestone to produce a variety of sodium-based industrial and consumer products. The limestone was shipped from company owned quarries near Alpena. In the early years, Michigan Alkali's products included soda ash, baking soda and lye.
Side B
Since incorporating as the Michigan Alkali Company in 1893, these chemical works have played an integral role in the development of Wyandotte. The founder of the company, John Baptiste Ford (1811 - 1903), believed in corporate benevolance and generous donations were made to the city. The corporation continued this practice after Ford's death. One contribution was the first Wyandotte General Hospital, erected in 1926. In 1943, Michigan Alkali consolidated with the J.B. Ford Company Glassworks to become the Wyandotte Chemical Corporation. In 1969 it became part of the BASF Group of companies, headquartered in Germany. BASF continues to use this Georgian Revival administration building, designed by the Detroit firm of Chittenden and Kotting and completed in 1907.
Erected 1992
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 42° 13.082′ N, 83° 9.011′ W. Marker is in Wyandotte, Michigan, in Wayne County. It is on Biddle Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1609 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte MI 48192, 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 Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oakwood Cemetery Unknown Soldiers Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spanish American War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); VFW Post 1136 Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,564 times since then and 257 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 25, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
