Hamtramck History in the making! - September 3, 2007
Hamtramck Historical Commission events inclucing the dedication of the Dodge Historical Marker on Monday September 3, 2007

A host of events will be held by the Hamtramck Historical Commission over the Labor Day weekend.

The highlight of the weekend, which coincides with the city festival, will be the dedication of the Dodge Main state historical marker. The dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 3 - Labor Day - at Veterans Memorial Park on Jos. Campau, south of Holbrook in Hamtramck.

Members of the Dodge Brothers Club, Inc., will bring in their classic cars for the ceremony. The cars will also take part in the annual Polish Day Parade at 1:30 p.m. that day on Jos. Campau.

The historical marker was acquired by the Dodge Brothers Club, Inc., a national association of Dodge enthusiasts, working in cooperation with the Hamtramck Historical Commission. Keynote address at the dedication will be delivered by Charles Hyde, author of the book “The Dodge Brothers.” Mr. Hyde is a Wayne State University professor, historian and the recognized authority on the Dodge Brothers and the history of the Chrysler Corp.

Dodge Main was one of the largest factories in the world and was credited with building modern Hamtramck. At its peak nearly 45,000 people were employed at the plant that covered 5 million square feet of floor space. Construction of the plant began in 1910 and the first Dodge rolled off the assembly line in 1914. Dodge Main was demolished in 1981.

Virtually no trace of the plant remains, and the site is now occupied by the GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. The site of the historical marker is about one-quarter mile north of where Dodge Main stood.

In conjunction with the dedication, Mr. Hyde will present a lecture and do a book signing at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, at the Hamtramck Public Library, 2360 Caniff.

In addition, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1 - the anniversary of the start of World War II - Greg Kowalski will do a slide presentation and signing of his new book, “Hamtramck: The World War II Years” at the library. The book includes more than 200 photos of Hamtramck taken during the war years. Most have not been seen in 60 years, and include such memorable scenes as the big bond rally hosted by Abbott and Costello.

All events are free and open to the public.