The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Ford changed Milan forever
Martha Churchill
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
In 1937, Henry Ford did more than revolutionize the car industry. He changed the landscape of Milan forever with the touch of his bulldozers and land-moving equipment.
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Today's photo shows his men and equipment in 1937 digging out the riverbank and surrounding land to create a lake along Wabash Street. Milan's lake is called, not surprisingly, Ford Lake. That's the same name given the lakes he created in other towns, where he set up his industries, including Saline and Ypsilanti.
Ford dredged the lake so he could rev up his industrial engines in Milan, which were water powered. The hydroelectric plant is still there, being used as part of Milan City Hall. His managers made sure steam power was available, in addition to water power, and as it turned out the steam worked better.
Water power played a huge role in the early development of Milan and other communities around the state. Pioneers to Michigan brought with them the knowledge to grind flour or cut lumber in water-powered mills. Sometimes the water wheel dropped into the actual river. More often, a separate raceway was sculpted near the river for a controlled water supply.
By the 1930s, water power was at the height of popularity in Michigan. For example, in 1934, Michigan had 40 rivers supplying the power for 217 mills and industries of various kinds.
Milan already had experience with water power, with the Saline River turning the wheels for both a flour mill and a sawmill in what is today the Wilson Park area. Ford was bit by the water power craze and wanted to use the river for his factories. Today's picture shows he was not shy about changing the landscape in Milan completely.
Look closely behind that earth-compacting machine in the middle of the picture. You can see where the old bridge spanned the river. Apparently, Ford had not filled in the old river yet when this photo was snapped. The photographer stood in what is today Ford Lake, facing north toward the center of downtown.
A man is visible in the picture, doing something with a shovel or a hoe. Just above his head is where the old bridge was located. A new bridge was placed near the mill race, alongside present-day City Hall.
Using the miracle of modern computers, I put a few labels on this picture to show you the back side of some downtown buildings. They are marked "A." If you want to see it today, walk into the driveway next to Fender's bar and notice where the alley comes to a dead end. This picture shows the back of those buildings very clearly. Don't drive into that alley, you can't turn around.
The letter "B" points to a couple of buildings, and you can see them from the side. These must be the old Lamkin buildings. Wila P. Lamkin had his electric generating plant back there, and a flour mill. He later used the flour mill building to cell "artificial stone," or concrete. The buildings under the letter "B" are right where his industries were located.
The Lamkin home has the letter "C" above it, along with an arrow. That's a large house and it's still right there, on Wabash Street, holding quite a few apartments. In 1937, according to local historian Millard Phillips, that home was called the "Toppings House" because someone by that name owned the house.
The City Service gas station is marked with the letter "D." It's in the picture, in front of the Lamkin home. It sat on Wabash Street across from the present-day Milan Area Fire Department building.
Actually, this gas station was in the front yard of what is today the American Legion. There were a zillion gas stations along Dexter and Wabash at that time because US-23 routed cars right through the center of Milan.
Ford made a big difference in the appearance of Milan, sculpting a lake behind West Main Street as he did. He also put his mark on the world scene, spreading around stories about how Jews supposedly were causing all the problems of the world. Adolph Hitler admired Ford. Hitler placed a portrait of Ford in his office, remarking that Ford was his "inspiration."
In 1938, just one year after dredging Milan's lake, Hitler awarded a high medal of honor to Ford because of the American's support for Nazi ideals. Ford proudly accepted the medal, called the "Grand Cross of the German Eagle."
Because of the positive influence Ford had on American car production, and because of his huge impact on Milan, of course we celebrate Ford's many accomplishments. Milan civic leaders, and the Milan Area Historical Society, promote the Ford Heritage Trail, including the many small towns developed by the auto manufacturer. However, he was a mixed bag. Let's celebrate Henry Ford, and just leave off the sugar coating.
Martha Churchill is a member of the Milan Area Historical Society. She can be reached at 649-6342 or MilanHistory@yahoo.com.
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