Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Leonard Thygesen Demolition Update

Looking north-east from Industrial Avenue at the heat treat area of factory #05. "Not much left now". That is the old Antioch Baptist Church at the corner of Selby Street and Stewart Avenue off to the left.

Looking north-east at the leveled ground where the Buick Personnel, Hospital, Fire Department and Security base was located.
 Links:

Closer Every Day.

Almost A Memory 2-21-2012

Factory #05 The End

Buick Powertrain North Site Demolition

Buick Personnel

Buick Personnel 2012

The End Of Buick Factory Personnel.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Building #55-A Waste Treatment Plant.

This is an aerial view showing the general layout of the building and area. Stewart Avenue is at the top. Division Street is at the left.

Building #55-A viewed from Stewart Avenue. This view is facing west. Leonard Thygesen said it smelled awful while they were pumping out those aeration tanks. Building #55 is still standing as of this posting. A Quote from Leonard on 2-28, 2012 says: "They are STILL sucking yuck out/from 55. it's been at least a month now.

Support Building #22.

Building #22 was originally a powerhouse for factory #10. In later years it became a compressed air generating station. It was just demolished in January of 2012. The 1942 photo is during building construction.

Leith Street Revisited Once Again.

The corner of Leith Street and Industrial Avenue during the winter of 1909 to 1910. Your looking north up Industrial with Leith Street off to the right, in front of factory #16 during construction. Industrial and Leith would be paved with brick in 1910. 

Leonard Thygesen took this photo on Saturday 2-25-2012. It has been rumored for a few years that Leith Street will once again be open for traffic. All that is left is the concrete barrier for the old guard shack. That concrete barrier would be located directly in the middle of the intersection of Industrial and Leith in the 1909 photo shown at the bottom.


The same view as below, only during demolition in July of 2011.


This is the same view as shown above & below looking east up Leith Street. Factory #29 (the second factory on the right) is still only a two story building, so this is before 1924. And factory #11 (the second factory) shown on the left, still has it's original south face, and single floor.


Facing east up Leith Street from Industrial Avenue in 2008.


Exact same view as shown below One hundred and one years later. That is the concrete barrier (in the foreground) shown in the photos at the top. Looks like I was only about 30 feet closer in my photo, than the one below.
This is a Thomas Wirt photo. Tom's Flickr site.
I drank many a 32oz. beer in the parking lot of the Tropicana. That is old factory #11 in the background.
1914.
Links:

Buick Powertrain North Site Demolition

Factory #29 Tool Factory.

Factory #16

Buick Personnel

Factory #12 Sheet Metal Plant

Industrial and Leith Over 100 Years

Factory #16 And Public Transportation

Leith Street Then And Now.

Leith st. 2008

Leith Street Revisited.

St. Johns Industrial Park Urban Renewal near Buick

Factory #12 2002 -2008

Friday, February 24, 2012

W.F. Stewart Factory 4 & Buick Garage #08.








This is a postcard showing the Buick Garage (at the left) and W.F. Stewart body plant (at the right). This view is facing east from the intersection of Industrial and Hamilton Avenue around 1910. I have not posted this one before. You can also see the D.U.R. depot at the extreme left.







A closeup of W.F Stewart factory 4.













A closeup of the postcard at top. This shows the Buick Garage #08 very well. It was built in 1908. W.F. Stewart body plant 4 is at the right.


Links:
Factory #08
Ruth Nash
Industrial & Hamilton Avenue 1913
Factory #08 1923
Buick 1920 Aerial View
Buick 1910
Hamilton Avenue #4-#08 And Weston-Mott
The W.F. Stewart Factories In Flint.
W.F. Stewart Factory #4.
W.F. Stewart Inside + Postcard
W.F Stewart Factory #4 1912
Inside factory #4
Factory #4 and #3 Body Shop
W.F. Stewart Inside + Postcard
Industrial and Hamilton 1913
1934 Buick Demolition
Buick Factories 1910
Hamilton Avenue #4-#08 And Weston-Mott
Hamilton Avenue about 1909

Buick Office and Factory #01 1908.

This is a nice full view including the office and factory #01 that I have never posted before. These were built in 1906. Your facing north-east.
November 1905

Here is a closeup of the office from the photo above.
 Links:

Walter Marr,Buick's First Engineer

Main Office Building First & Second

Buick's Second Main Office.

Buick Factory #01.

Buick Main Office

Factory #01 closed body receiving 1924.

Factory #01 Roof Trusses

Body Receiving in factory #01

Buick Factory #1 Machine Floor

Factory #1 Buick 1920

Division Street 1934

Getting The Picture

Buick factory #1 & #6

Buick Factory #01 interior

Factory #01


Buick Factory #1 Hamilton st. Flint Michigan (view south west)

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Closer Every Day.

"Today's update from Leonard Thygesen". It sure doesn't take long once those machines get moving. Looking east at factory #05's north wall from Stewart Avenue.

Roof Views 2003.

Here is almost the identical photo shown in the previous post, looking towards downtown Flint, only this is taken from the roof of factory #31/#11 in 2003. Buick City used to fill this scene.

The red arrow in this (north) view, taken from the roof of factory #31, which before World War II was the roof of the remodeled office of factory #11, shows where the photographer would be standing on the roof of factory #05, facing this direction, shown in the previous post. These photos are from Don Bents book "The History Of Factory 31. You really need to enlarge these photos for the full impact. 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.
Links:

Factory #31 Originally Factory #11

Buick 1920


Leftovers From The 2011 Demolition.

Looking directly south towards downtown Flint, Michigan. This view is from the roof of factory #05 in August of 2011. Looks awfully bare now.

Same view as below, only panned farther right.

Factory #10 (shown below) taken from Division Street. Factory #05 is on the left.

Here were looking in the exact opposite direction of the photo below. This demolition photo of factory #10, the famous world War II aluminum plant, is viewed from the roof of factory #05 during the summer of 2011. Viewed north-east.

This south-west view at factory #10 shows the turn off road mentioned in the bottom two photos. The gas pumps we filled up at are located at the roofed over structure shown at the right. This road went all the way to #38 warehouse located at the extreme north-end of the Buick property. Building #38 was originally built for engine emissions testing.

Looking north at factory #03, you are on the turn off from Division Street described below.

Factory #31 on the left with #81 on the right. The skeleton of factory #03 is seen off right center. Some of factory #05 and #10 can be seen in the extreme distance, plus the cultural & Diversity Center . The turn off from Division Street is shown at the right where factory #81 has that familiar bend on it's north-west corner. This is the route you took to get to factory #10 east and #36 engine plant and also #38 Warehouse.

Traveling north up Division Street with factory #31 on the left and factory #81 on the right. I drove this route many times.

Looking west at factory #81 south truck dock on the right. This was the grey Iron foundry until 1981 and was known as factory #70. The north-end of factory #31 is seen in the distance beyond Division Street. This area of factory #31 was a later addition to the original factory #11 engine factory which is considered the first factory built after the creation of General Motors in 1908.

Looking east at factory #81.

Peeking through factory #31 with factory #81 south dock in the distance.

Looking north east through the gutted remains of factory #31. Industrial Avenue is on the left.
Links:

Building #38 Warehouse

Factory Designations

Factory #70 Engine Block Pouring

Factory #31 During Construction

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

AN OLD POST, WITH A NEW TWIST.

Leonard's before photo.

Original post was Tuesday, January 6, 2009


Leonard Thygesen

Leonard got the old Personnel building sign. Demolished February of 2012. "Way to go Leonard"!!

Leonard just sent this photo from Christmas 2011.

Leonard sent this photo of his yard, showing the old SEASONS GREETINGS sign that used to be displayed on the Buick powerhouse. He stated it now contains 2000 lights. You can see him recovering this piece of history in his fine film showing the demolition at Buick. Thanks a million Leonard. "MERRY CHRISTMAS" Follow the link for more on this

Powerhouse #07

Buick Personnel 2012

The End Of Buick Factory Personnel.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Almost A Memory 2-21-2012

Looking south-west from Selby and Stewart.

Looking south-east at the north-east corner of factory #05 being demolished. Leonard said this was 5:00 PM

It's on the news "quite often" now about homes and businesses being stripped (illegally) for salvage. You can see that these homes have already been stripped. This view of homes on Grant Street is going on all over Flint. And as we see theLinkdemolition going on in the background, it is not only confined to the factories. My youngest daughter lives only a few miles from here. Leonard says: FLINT AFTER NAFTA...

View Larger Map

Looking east up Stewart Avenue.

Leonard Thygesen stated this was 12:45 PM. This is the north-west corner of #05. Facing east. "This is a real nice closeup Leonard".

Monday, February 20, 2012

Factory #05 The End



Found for sale on EBAY.
Almost ready to fall. You are looking south-east from Stewart Avenue.

Leonard Thygesen sent this update as: February 20, 2012 1:52 PM. The north-west corner of factory #05 is  coming down.
 Links:

Stewart and Selby Gate 2012.

Buick Powertrain North Site Demolition Factory #05 Machine Work

J-65 Jet Engine

Buick Northend

Leonard Thygesen Historic Documentary.

Factory #05

Factory #05

Factory #05 Machine Work

Factory #05 2008

Factory #05 Construction

Buick Northend

Northend Buick Site 2008

Buick North 1966 Overview

Buick North-End 2008 - 2010

A complete view of factory #03 spring plant (old #30 aluminum & brass foundry) Factory #05 is seen at the right with a small portion of #81 (the old Grey Iron foundry, #70 at the left. I don’t know who took these photos. The only name this person went by is “Nailhead”, great name though!


Here were looking north from inside the steel skeleton of what was once a working factory. I know, I mentioned this a year ago, but I still wonder why they left this building this way, for so long? Leonard Thygesen has answered this question. He states: “The skeleton that was left (Drop Forge) carried the power (electrical) tray to 70, 71, 86, 15 & 85″. That is factory #10 in the distance (at the right) along Division Street.


Here were looking south from in front of the stairwell shown below. That is the north-end of factory #81 in the distance.


Here is the stairwell and elevator entrance that is shown below. This sure reminds me of old factory #40 at the south-end of Buick.


Were looking west, at the south-end skeleton of factory #03 spring plant, which stood like this until the summer of 2011. That is the south-end of factory #05 in the distance (at right).


This was described as: factory #36 head department. This demolition took place between 2010-2011.


Looking east at the engine factory demolition in 2010.


Looking south down Division Street towards the bridge (bridge number unknown) connecting #10 transmission plant (on the left), with factory #05 transmission, gears and such (on the right).
Same as above.

Lunch room in plant #05.


Factory #10 viewed from the north. Probably under the Stewart Avenue overpass.


Looking west at factory #10 with building #22 in the center foreground..
A 1200 volt compressor in #22.


Looking at west wall of #22.


Inside #22 cooling tower.


Here were looking north at the Stewart Avenue overpass. Factory #10 on the left, with #36 beyond the overpass. The gas pumps visible at left (when you enlarge photo) was where I fueled up the truck I drove while I worked in factory #02. I know it seems like a long way from the south-end complex, but that was what we did.


Looking south towards downtown Flint. This is on the Stewart Avenue overpass. That is the great aluminum factory (on the right) from World War II, or as it was later known, factory #10 transmission plant. 
 Links:

Factory #03 Forge

Factory #10

Factory #03/bldg #30

Negro Camp At Factory #30

Factory #30 Interior

Factory #30/#03 2004

Factory #30 East Wall

Brass and Aluminum Foundry

Factory #30 Northwest Corner

Factory #10 Assembly Line

Buick 1966

Northend Buick Site 2008