Site of Fordson Tractor Plant (Dearborn, Michigan)

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Born on a farm, Henry Ford had always toyed with the idea of helping farmers modernize farming practices. In 1905, he began experimenting to develop a tractor. Although his time was consumed with the development of the Model T and the implementation of mass production, he continued his interest in tractors.

In 1913, he purchased the former Wagner Brick lands located near Michigan Avenue and Elm Street and had built a small 60' by 180' experimental machine shop. The removal of clay for the making of bricks had resulted in three spring fed ponds, two of which still exist today. To produce the tractor, Ford formed the Henry Ford & Son Company in 1917 and enlarged the plant. Full production started in that year and by 1918 the plant produced over 10,000 tractors each month. In 1921 tractor production was moved to Building B at the Rouge complex.

The Albert Kahn designed Engineering Building was erected on the site in 1925