Liberty Motor Car (Detroit, Michigan)

 historical layer / disappeared object  Add category

 Upload a photo

RCH Corp 1911-1915

The RCH Corporation was incorporated to manufacture automobiles by Hupmobile founder, Robert Craig Hupp (RCH) in 1911 shortly after he sold his interest in Hupp Motor Car Company. Hupp disagreed with his partners at Hupp Motor Car who wanted to produce a more expensive car. Hupp instead developed a lower priced car for about $1,000. By 1912, the company was selling 7,000 cars a year. However, shortcuts were taken to maintain such a level of production and quality issues appeared. By the following year the company was in receivership. Following a reorganization, Hupp left in 1914. Unfortunately RCH's reputation was so badly damaged that sales vanished and the company ceased production in 1915.

Liberty Motor Car 1916-1921

The Liberty Motor Car Company was incorporated in 1916 and acquired the former RCH pant to produce its automobile. By 1919, production had reached 6,200 vehicles a year and the Lycaste Avenue plant had reached its capacity. At that time, 12 acres of land were acquired at the north west corner of Charlevoix Avenue and Connors Avenue and a new 91,000 sq. ft. factory was constructed. Production at the new factory peaked at 11,000 cars in 1921 and by 1923 the company was out of business.

Kess-Line Motors 1921

Kess-Line Motors was the successor corporation to Kessler Motor which was founded in 1920 by Martin Kessler to produce a mid-priced four cylinder car. In 1921, the company leased the old RCH Corporation building to manufacture cars. The Kess-Line was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 1922, but no vehicles were ever produced.

Horace E Dodge Boatworks 1925-1930

Horace E Dodge Jr. was the son of Dodge Motor Car founder Horace Dodge. After his father's death in 1920, Horace Dodge Jr., who was shut out of the automotive world, looked to start his own venture. In 1923, at the age of 23 he incorporated the Horace E Dodge Boatworks to manufacture boats using automobile assembly techniques. Called the Dodge Watercar the company produced several models of pleasure craft and speedboats ranging from 22 feet long to 25 feet long.

Originally operating from a building at 2670 Atwater Street, the factory was moved to Lycaste Avenue in 1925. At that time the company was constructing five boats a day. Unfortunately, Horace's management was erratic as he became obsessed with powerboat racing. After much effort and money, he won the Gold Cup in 1932 and 1936. In 1930, the company changed its name to Horace E Dodge Boat & Plane and moved to a new $2 million plant in Newport News, Virginia. Production continued at the new factory until 1936 when the company stopped operations, only to be revived briefly to make boats for the military during WWII.

Kennelly & Sisman 1941 - 1988

Established in 1941, Kennelly & Sisman was a shipping company founded by Florence Sisman and her partner Jack Kennelly. Florence Sisman was the former sister-in-law of Horace Dodge Jr. and the longtime secretary and confidant of his mother Anna Dodge. The company mainly shipped auto parts and did work for Chrysler. In the 1970s a warehouse was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Florence Sisman, who was also well known in speed boat racing circles, died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1982. The company moved to 20501 Pennsylvania Road in Brownstown Township in 1989.

The building was demolished in 2022.