Our auto heritage in Washtenaw county

citylover · January-28-11, 06:55 AM

It seems odd that this has not been on the history ch or something unless I missed it. Currently owned I believe by a UM faculty person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0jyOfSg0P8

**econ expat** · January-28-11, 07:16 AM

Not surprising, he apparently owned more than one estate.
SE corner 10 Mile and Inkster in Southfield,
the estate there was formerly owned by Bennett also.

lilpup · January-28-11, 09:59 AM

I think Bill Ford might own it now. He was interested in getting it a while ago and he lives in that area, certainly within the boundaries of acreage mentioned in the video.

I thought Ford Motor owned it when Bennett was there.

Probably wrong - should look it up in the tax rolls - but I do know Bill Ford Jr. expressed interest in it at one time and lives nearby.

**drjeff** · January-28-11, 10:25 AM

Anyone know the address of this place? I'm curious as to where it is exactly.

lilpup · January-28-11, 11:01 AM

don't know the number but it's between Geddes and the river, east of Gale Road

**rencense** · January-28-11, 11:29 AM

Going off the title of this thread,

There's a lot of automotive history in washtenaw county, especially in and around ypsilanti. I lived in ypsi for a long time and am a history buff so I learned quite a bit.

First is the willow run plant which of course was used by a few carmakers and during WWII caused the population to explode in the area. I heard that at its peak it rolled out a B28 bomber every 20 minutes! Rosie the riveter was based on a worker there. [[I was quite saddened when GM decided to close up the transmission plant there)

You may have heard of Preston Tucker and his revolutionary car [[there's a documentary out on him) He was based in ypsi and his house is still there in town.

In depot town is the automotive heritage museum that I believe was the last remaining hudson dealer in the country...lots of cool stuff in there.

Ford/Visteon/ACH had a plant right by I94 that only recently closed. I understand this was a very early plant and Henry Ford himself used to walk the floors. The rawsonville plant is still open near Ford lake [[care to guess who created that lake lol)

I'm probably forgetting some other things but I always like to point these things out for people interested in our regions history.

citylover · January-28-11, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by lilpup

I think Bill Ford might own it now. He was interested in getting it a while ago and he lives in that area, certainly within the boundaries of acreage mentioned in the video.

I thought Ford Motor owned it when Bennett was there.

Probably wrong - should look it up in the tax rolls - but I do know Bill Ford Jr. expressed interest in it at one time and lives nearby.

As far as I know it is owned by a UM business Prof and he lives there. For a very long time it was owned by the Starkes.Just west of the actual house/castle is Starkes strasse where the arc welding business of the starke family was located. I know they owned the house but I don't think they lived there. And I may have a few facts wrong but for the most part I am accurate.

So going past Starke strasse there are several gates leading to something....one of those must be to this place.

I doubt the Fords have much interest in the castle as it does conjure up an odious time in Ford history. I t is somewhere in the 5500 hundreds on Geddes east of us23. Anyhow it is a unique place and has not had much publicity.