  Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 150.148.0.28 |
I am hoping someone can take and post a photo of what used to be the Ferguson tractor assembly building at the corner of Southfield Freeway and Interstate 96 (12601 Southfield Freeway, northwest quadrant). The site is now the Gateway Industrial Center, but in 1948 the place was known as Ferguson Park and the Ferguson tractor assembly building was built on this site. Ferguson purchased the site in 1948. The site later became the Massey Ferguson factory which closed in the 1980's. From maps and photos it appears that a drive-by photo might be possible. I have never been to Detroit. I am interested primarly in the east end of the assembly building. There are some other buidlings to the north but I am not interested in a photo of those. The east end of the buidling faces Southfield Freeway and should be recognizable by the 8 foot depression in the center part of the roofline of the building. The depression was originally part of the building's skylight system. In 1948 there were lots of windows and glass on the east end, but that could be entirely different now. I have read the design of the roof incorporated rainwater in the building's cooling system. What method would most likely have been used in 1948 in Detroit? Would that have been evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers? I have read that the site was purchased last year by a California firm and that renovations might be possible, so I am wondering if some of the buidlings will be torn down. | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1933 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 134.215.223.211 |
Here's a recent discussion of the Ferguson plant on the forum. Hopefully this will meet your needs: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/76017/78404.html The windows were painted over around the whole building. On the north side of the building they recently scraped the paint off all the windows. The east side which faces the Southfield Fwy. still has paint over the windows. Due to two very busy highways converging at this point, it's rather difficult to get a good picture of the east side of the plant. It would take two people to get the shot: a driver and a passenger to take the picture. It would also take a bit of luck to get a good pic while traveling at 55+ mph with traffic. | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 150.148.0.28 |
Thanks, that's good to know. I wasn't sure what the conditions might be for taking a shot from a car. The site you mention has been very helpful. | ||
Mike_m Moderator Username: Mike_m Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=4&S=8&Z=17&X=6347&Y=93887&W=3  | ||
Mike_m Moderator Username: Mike_m Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
     | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 27 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 63.91.26.158 |
Mike_m - You are one great person. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. Thanks a million | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2835 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
I can email you the originals if you want higher resolution version. kc8ttv at comcast dot net | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1600 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.19.18.212 |
I'm wondering what degree of banking the old Airbus was in to take that aerial. "click...We're going to do an aileron check here, so don't be alarmed....click" (in West Virginia drawl) | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2837 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
30° Intercepting the final approach course from the west side. | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 28 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 63.91.26.133 |
Mikem, I sent you an e-mail. Yes, I would like the originals sent by e-mail. Many thanks!!!! | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1601 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.19.18.212 |
Oh, I'm glad you weren't busy.  Nothing like the Navy mail haulers used to put one through. Didn't matter if it was on land or trapping on the carrier, they'd stand it up on edge, in a C-2 or C-9. Good times. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2838 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
| ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 29 Registered: 08-2006 |
 | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 30 Registered: 08-2006 |
I tried to add that the photo of the assembly building was from the Ferguson model TO-20 operators manual from 1949. The TO-20 was made at this factory from 1948 until it was replaced with the model TO-30 in 1951. The location was 12601 Southfield Road, now the Gateway Industrial Center | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 31 Registered: 08-2006 |
I am attempting to attach two pictures. one an aerial view of the the Ferguson Park assembly building as seen in a 1948 magazine ad. The other is of the east side as seen in the Ferguson tractor model TO-35 operator's manual. All US made Ferguson tractors were made at this facility. The Massey Harris 50 was also assembled here. The plant was built in 1948. After the merger with with Massey Harris, the name on the plant was changed to Massey Harris Ferguson which is shown here but a little hard to read. The plant was expanded in 1956/57 or thereabouts. Massey Ferguson operated the plant until 1983 (I think) when it closed.   | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2842 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Iowaboy. The setting looks so bucolic. If only you could see it now! | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1985 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks for returning Mikem's favor. You have to understand that Mikem has a distinct and unfair advantage when it comes to getting pics like the type he got you of the old Ferguson plant. I find it pretty hard to believe that Mikem was able to Photoshop a TerraServer to look like that! | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 32 Registered: 08-2006 |
Here is a proposed view as seen on a 1948 Ferguson brochure. The assembly building with its skylights is easy to recognize. The building in the foreground with the grand entrance was what I believe was the proposed general office building. The admin building was not built during the Ferguson days, but Massey Ferguson later built an Engineering and Research Center building on that site which still appears to be there on aerial views. The building behind the admin building is the Fergsuon engineering building and was built in the 1951/1952 era, although the actual building is a slightly different design than shown here.  | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 33 Registered: 08-2006 |
Group photo in front of center of east side of assembly building at Ferguson Park. This would have been taken sometime between 1948 and 1953.  | ||
Mike_m Moderator Username: Mike_m Post Number: 6 Registered: 09-2006 |
Massey Ferguson Research and Engineering Building,built sometime between 1958 and 1965, and Ferguson Park in the background:  | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 38 Registered: 08-2006 |
Here's a picture from the Massey Ferguson days. This would have been taken sometime between 1958 and 1965. This photo shows the Massey Ferguson Engineering and Recearch Center building that was built during that time period. I have marked the roof with an "X." Sorry, I was never very good with penmenship.  | ||
Iowaboy Member Username: Iowaboy Post Number: 39 Registered: 08-2006 |
I made an error on my last post. The Massey Ferguson Enginneering and Research Center building was built between 1958 and 1965, so obviously this picture could have been taken after 1965. Maybe some of you know when the walkway over the freeway was built which would be a good indication. |
