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| Leonard Thygesen update on April 23, 2012. Looking south-west from the Stewart Avenue overpass. You can super enlarge just about any photo on this blog for viewing small details. The way this is done is a little different depending on which browser is used. |
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| Leonard Thygesen update on April 23, 2012. Looking directly west from the Stewart Avenue overpass. |
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Building #15 and #85 with Leith street at the left. A piece of the powerhouse #14 next to my thumb. Factory #31 is at the top. This view is from the (then new) powerhouse smoke stack. |
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| A Leonard Thygesen print just before demolition. |
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This view reminds me of the time my relief man was dragged from the rail dock of #04 to the south-east corner of #12 by the train. He later died. Follow bridge #43 link for this story:
Buick City Bridge #43
This south-west view overlooking Buick assembly shows a lot of good details from the 1971 era. When you enlarge you can even see the old frame yard between factory #04 and #40. You can also see the old Oak Park entrance that went right through the north-end of factory #04. Follow the factory #09 link for a story on this old entrance to the Buick property.
Factory #09 Northeast Corner 1923Chassis Receiving Before Buick City
I was not going to post these photos because of the bad reflections from the Mylar, but they are still alright for research purposes. These were all taken at The Buick Research Gallery in Flint, Michigan.
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Here were overlooking the old powerhouse building #14. Factory #12-a is beyond it. That is factory #15 at the bottom foreground on Leith Street.
Factory #15 Die And Pattern ShopBuick Power House. |
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Here we are at the top of one of the smoke stacks of the powerhouse #07 during construction. This would be the vantage point for the photos on this posting. Were facing west. That is factory #29 visible at the bottom left corner.
Factory #29 Tool Factory.Buick Powerhouse #07 |
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Looking south from the “then new” powerhouse built between 1971-1973. It was known as building #07. You can see almost the whole of final assembly at Buick. In the far distance is downtown Flint, with Hurley hospital seen at the right in the distance. The well known twin water towers erected in 1920 were removed during this period. The old train shed is in the foreground. Links:
Buick Water TowersPowerhouse #07Train Shed At Buick Rail Entrance |
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| This old Buick City work coat just happened to be hanging over a chair in my dinning room today. I love coincidence. |
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| The Buick City hawks new location on the east wall of the local #599 union hall. Photos supplied by Leonard Thygesen. |
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| The original location of the Buick City Hawk at the Oak Park entrance of final assembly factory #86, before and during demolition. The Buick Hawk is named Happy. |
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| "What is". On this morning of Friday the 13th, looking south down Division Street. A Leonard Thygesen Photo. |
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| "What once was". looking south down Division Street from Stewart Avenue. |
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| Here is the same view as below only in July 1984. |
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| These photos from Leonard Thygesen were taken on April 12, 2012. No one gave him a heads up on the demolition of the last remaining small building, so he missed filming it. The Cultural and Diversity Center was all that remained of the old Brass and aluminum foundry #30 built in 1918. This plant "besides doing forgings", also started making the springs for all of Buick in 1936. The factory designation was changed in 1963 to factory #03 after the original foundry #03 was demolished. This last remaining addition to building #30/factory #03 was built in 1966. |
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| A very barren view now. |
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| This west view was the site of factory #10 and #05 beyond it. The still working view (just above) is from July 1984, and shows the switch engine 792. |
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| Looking directly west from the Stewart Avenue overpass. Just still cleaning up the remains. |
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| Telephoto view of the site of the Cultural And Diversity Center. |
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The top two photos are after the numerous additions made to the original west Kearsley Street Buick plant. The bottom two show the original single floor factory. This was the first location of Buick in Flint after their move from Detroit. The Jackson Michigan plant was used for assembly during most of the year 1905 and all of 1906, and was concluded as far as the automobile production was concerned during 1907. All parts were made in Flint and shipped by rail to Jackson. Truck production went on at Jackson until 1912. Flint to Detroit round trip on July 13, 1904. Link: for first Buick built in Flint announced
Flint Michigan Before The Automobile.1904 BuickOriginal Buick Factory In Flint MichiganBuick Assembly Jackson Michigan 1905-1912 |
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This is Buick in late 1904 when it was still a single floor factory in it’s original form (at the left). It now has it’s engine test building (the white structure ) located to the south. The larger complex is “The Flint Wagon Works” where the first Pilot Buick body was assembled. The W.F. Stewart factory only blocks away to the east built all the following body’s for many years. This view is facing north-west with west Kearsley Street running parallel between the two buildings and ran all the way to Wilcox Street at that time. The bridge crossing the river in the distance is the Wilcox Street crossing. This would become Chevrolet Avenue in the future. This is before the move to the site on the north side of Flint at the old Hamilton farm, or “The Oak Park Industries” site. In 1904, all Buick cars were assembled here. It is hard to believe that it started with this small building. The ground breaking of this first Buick factory in Flint was the morning of September 11, 1903. Just left click for large view of any photos. This is a recreation that I myself made (40 hours work) starting with a postcard of the Chevrolet factory from the 1920's. This would be a very accurate representation of how it looked at that time. I used some real elements such as poles and lumber stacks from actual photos of the original site.
Original factory on west Kearsley st.Original Buick Factory In Flint MichiganThe Early Years.The First Buick WorkersThe 1904 Model B & Flint Wagon Works. |
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This is 1908 and is facing west. This is the old Hamilton farm, or “The Oak Park Industries” location.
Buick Factory #01.Division Street |
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| This is 1910 facing west and showing two stacks at the powerhouse #26 now. |
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The color postcard is from my private collection and can be super enlarged. The width of the Flint river is greatly exaggerated. The bridge was just a fantasy at the time this rendering was done and was still only a shaky foot bridge. A steel truss bridge would never be built at this river crossing.
Suspension bridge at Hamilton Avenue
Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.
The Weston-Mott Factories At Buick |
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A 1910 postcard view facing north-west. That is the Flint Varnish Works in the foreground. Notice the first Buick test track in the distance.
Buick Test Track / Factory #35 |
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This is the oldest from my collection, (excluding postcards) and is from a 1911 Saturday Evening Post dated October 14, 1911. The view is facing west. The one above it is very similar. Follow the 1912 link below for a better view of this.
Buick 1914Buick For 1912
Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more. Many photos on here will allow enlargement for viewing or reading.
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This 1915 (west facing) view is from a Bridgeport, Connecticut paper put out for World War I, or the “War To End All Wars” as it was known then. That is a panoramic view of downtown Flint at the bottom.
Hamilton & Industrial Avenue 1915.Factory #03 Buildings |
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| This is using the same well known rendering of Buick as shown below. Most offices at Buick in the 20′s had a framed copy on their walls. These photo re-prints are almost always available on E-Bay. THE FACTORY BEHIND THE CAR |
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This after 1920 view is facing east at the Buick complex is from a tour book given out in the 1920′s to people on the plant tour.
The Trip I MadeBuick 1920
Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.
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| This is the complete photo show below after 1920. Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more. |
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A closeup of Buick after 1920 facing east. This is the north-end up to, and just beyond Leith Street.
St. Johns Industrial Park Urban Renewal near Buick
Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.
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A closeup of Buick after 1920 facing east. This is the south-end including the A.C. factory at the extreme right. That is the intersection of Hamilton and Industrial Avenue.
A.C. On Industrial Avenue and the Buick Bug.Inside A.C.Charles Lindbergh over Flint 1927
Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.
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| This 1920 north-east view is a Crooks studio print. The (Wallace family) donated all of the Crooks photos to the Kettering archives in Flint, Michigan. The family is in possession of J.D. Dort’s old roll-top desk, just as Lawrence Gustin has Billy Durant’s. |
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| 1928. Original |
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| This 1930 view is from Life magazine and is facing directly north. |
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| Facing north in 1930 at the whole Buick complex. Original |
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This south view from factory #30 is from 1936.
Buick 1931 And Just For Fun.
This is from the Buick Gallery and Research Center in Flint, Michigan.
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| This north-east view is from 1932. |
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| This west north-west view is from 1936. Original |
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This is 1938 facing directly north at Buick.
Division Street 1936 thru 1938 Production increase in 1938. |
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Buick in 1940 looking north-west.
 Buick 1940Buick 1941Buick 1949 |
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Here is the same view from 1952 as shown below. I have more of these but this will do.
Last Remnant Of Factory #36 |
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| This view is the same as shown below and above, only this one is from the Buick Research Gallery in Flint, Michigan. This one has some alterations done for some reason. |
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| An original framed copy from Leonard Thygesen. This particular copy once hung in the main office located at Industrial and Hamilton avenue. |
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| Here is the February 2013 updated print from Leonard Thygesen. |
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| This is a well used photo of Buick from the 1953 book put out by Buick for it’s 50th anniversary. |
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| This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. Facing south over the whole Buick complex at that time. |
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This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal.
Buick Golden Anniversary |
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| This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more. Many photos on here will allow enlargement for viewing or reading. |
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| An overview of Buick’s north-end in 1952 facing south-west from factory #36. |
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| An overview of Buick’s north-end in 1952 facing south-west from factory #36. This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. |
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| Factory #36 in 1952 facing north-east. This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. |
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Buick in 1954 facing north-east.
Ralph DePalma1954 Buick Fisher Body #1 |
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| Buick assembly 1964. |
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A composite of Buick in 1964 facing north-east.
Buick North 1966 OverviewBuilding #38 Warehouse |
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| Buick in 1973 facing north-east. |
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Buick in 1973 facing north-east.
1973 Buick |
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Buick in 1977 facing north-east.
Final Line through The years.
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| This before Buick City in 1985. |
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These two photos (above) of Buick are before Buick City in 1985. The view at top is facing east north-east. The view directly above is facing straight down on the site. Paul Williams supplied this photo. Visit his Buick Facebook site at: Buick Flint North
Factory #40 1980.Gerry Godin 1980 Accident |
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Buick 1985 facing north-east.
Buick City Building DesignationsBuick City “The Beginning”The City That Never Was. |
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June 7, 2000. A Leonard Thygesen view facing north. Just moments after the photo below.
Factory #28 #17 & #94 Demolition 2000Factory #28 2000Factory #04 2000 |
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| Here is another Leonard Thygesen photo overlooking the whole Buick City site and then some. This is facing north. |
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| June 7, 2000 Leonard Thygesen print. Go here for Leonard Thygesen merchandise. |
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June 7, 2000. A Leonard Thygesen view facing north.
Buick Demolition DVD. |
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Buick site after the demolition of Buick City. This is 2005 and is facing south-west.
Factory #04 CollageBuick City DemolitionBuick City Demolition |
