Olds Motor Works (Detroit, Michigan)

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In 1899, the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. and the Olds Gas Engine Works, both of Lansing, Michigan, merged to form the Olds Motor Works. That same year a five acre parcel of land was acquired by the new company on the south side of East Jefferson Avenue stretching to the Detroit River. Construction was commenced on a new factory to produce engines and automobiles.

It was the first factory specifically designed for the manufacture of automobiles, although most of the facilities were devoted to the production of the company's principal product, stationary and marine gasoline engines. The factory was completed in 1899 and was comprised of four structures with a combined area of approximately 100,000 sq. ft., including, a 300 ft. by 52 ft. machine shop, a 300 ft. by 52 ft. finishing department, a 50 ft. by 170 ft. showroom and office and a foundry and blacksmith shop.

Olds produced a number of prototype automobiles including an electric vehicle and a small inexpensive runabout known as the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, which sold for $600. In March of 1901, the plant was destroyed by fire, but fortunately an alert watchman saved one of the runabouts. Various plans and blueprints also survived the blaze as did the foundry and blacksmith shop allowing limited production to resume.

Shortly after the fire Olds was persuaded to relocate the company to Lansing. A new factory was constructed in Lansing while, at the same time the Detroit plant was rebuilt. In 1903, the Detroit plant was expanded with the acquisition of the former United Street Railway car barns located immediately to the west of the Olds property. By 1905, Olds decided to concentrate all production in Lansing and closed the Detroit factory. The former car barn property was sold to the Michigan Steel Boat Co. in 1905 and the remaining lands were acquired by tire maker, Morgan Wright in 1906.