South Deering 
Ford Motor Company

Armored Personnel Carrier Rolling Off 
Assembly Line at Ford During WWII

      In 1903 twelve men put together $28,000 to create the Ford Motor Company . A year later the Ford Detroit factory was opened. Henry Ford and James Couzenes ( a shareholder) went to Chicago and were able to convince Glenn E. Holmes to sell his bicycle shop and newspaper distributorship to open the first Ford dealership in Chicago on 1502 S. Michigan Ave . Roughly  two years later the company  was able to open a branch on 1444 S . Michigan Ave . This branch was a sales and service  facility. The Ford Company quickly outgrew this facility and moved to 24th and  Lake Park Ave.
      With all this excitement happening it was not until the 1920's that South Chicago felt the Ford rush . They purchased land on 130th and Torrence Avenue ,which was located next to the Calumet River . Ford now began construction of its second largest assembly plant in the United States .  Even local residents think that the Ford plant is located in Hegewisch but in reality it is in South Deering. 
      Locating the Ford Motor Company on the southeast side  was a really good and successful idea . Ford 's company on the southeast side had a good work force consisting of many immigrants, who had come to the south side in search of work at Wisconsin Steel and other industries .  But when the Ford Motor Company opened the new plant many found  work there . The Ford Motor Company gave and brought new job opportunities and  the Calumet River allowed for easy accessibility for shipping and receiving items. 
     The Ford Motor is still today one of the leading industries in South Deering and continues to grow strong .  There are plans to build a supplier park near the current plant location.
 
 

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Chicago's Deering Community.