For any auto industry history fans, Flint is honoring the 'Birthplace of General Motors'

[Siwsan]

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(May 2, 2017) FLINT, Mich. — General Motors on Monday opened the restored Durant-Dort Factory One, considered to be the company’s birthplace and epicenter of the global auto industry. Once home to the Flint Road Cart Co., established in 1886 by William Crapo “Billy” Durant and business partner Josiah Dallas Dort, it includes event space and a modern archive where future generations can learn about the innovators and risk takers who reinvented personal transportation.

Located on the Flint River near downtown Flint — in the aptly named Carriage Town neighborhood — parts of the factory date to 1880, when it was built by the Flint Woolen Mills company as a short-lived venture into cotton textiles. In 1886, Durant and Dort leased the then-empty facility to build horse-drawn carriages.

The company would become known as the Durant-Dort Carriage Company and one of the world’s largest carriage makers. Eventually, Durant would take control of another company — Buick Motor Co. — and leverage his Durant-Dort resources to grow the young automaker into one of the most successful car companies in the country. Durant used Buick’s success to build General Motors in 1908 and turned to his friends from Flint’s carriage industry to form Chevrolet in 1911.

http://www.motorwayamerica.com/news/gm-opens-historic-durant-dort-factory-one-%E2%80%94-companys-birthplace

[Leith]

1. I've Been Away for About 25 Years

except for trips back to visit family. I didn't even know that they renamed 3rd to University!

I remember historical school trips in elementary (not one of the schools I went to is still around). Except for the Sloan Museum, I didn't really appreciate them. Still, I grew up on stories of the Sitdown Strike (my mom was 8 and went over to Longfellow jr. high to see the national guard there) and the Beecher Tornado (my dad was an ambulance driver at the time).

Once a strong, vibrant city now being poisoned by criminals. Damn.

[Siwsan]

2. Flint is definitely fighting back

Down town is coming back to life. There seems to be something going on every single weekend. The old stores (Maas, AM Davison, The Vogue, Smith Bridgeman, etc) are now transformed into restaurants, loft apartments, small businesses and coffee shops. Even the old Durant Hotel is now an entertainment venue with loft apartments and offices, up stairs.

Lots of students, everywhere from all of the surrounding colleges and universities. And the Farmer's Market is absolutely amazing. Now they are re-habing the Capitol Theater Building back into a great entertainment venue location.

I remain optimistic that if trump* doesn't get us all killed, Flint is going to do just fine.

[Leith]

3. Wow - That's Wonderful

When I was a kid, we went to the Farmer's Market almost every weekend. When I was 13, I saw 2001 A Space Odyssey at the Capital. I graduated from UMF. I remember going to Sears, Monkey Ward, & Smith Bridgeman downtown (before Genesee Valley was built). We took the Civic Park bus.

Lots of memories. Flint deserves to live.