Milestones 1965-1969
Announcing Ford
Rumours begin to spread about the building of a Ford plant in St. Thomas in July 1965.
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The rumoured Ford site is advertised in a photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published July 16, 1965 with the caption: "Rumoured Ford Site- These are the two sections of farmland optioned recently near Talbotville and rumoured as the site of Ford Motor Company's planned $75,000,000 Canadian expansion program. The site is considered ideal for a major manufacturing industry because of its close proximity to Highway 401, Highway 3 running between Windsor and Niagara Falls, the north-south Highway 4 and its position midway between the Oakville-Oshawa and Windsor automotive centres. Well-served by major railways, the area is also close to the St. Thomas-London labour market."
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published January 19, 1966 with caption: "Here For Conference- Karl E. Scott, president of the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., arrived at the St. Thomas Municipal Airport shortly before 10 a.m. today prior to a press conference at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. Left to right: Mr. Scott; Jack Harcourt, plane's pilot, of Moffat, Ont.; and Jim McLeod, co-pilot, of Toronto."
Groundbreaking Ceremony
June 29, 1966, Premier John Robarts, Premier of Ontario broke ground at the site of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant with President of Ford Canada, Karl E. Scott and Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Plant.
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published June 29, 1966 with caption: "Breaks The Ground- Premier John Robarts, premier of Ontario, broke ground at the $65,000,000 St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant site on Tuesday afternoon. Looking on while Mr. Robarts operated the Ford backhoe are Karl E. Scott, Oakville, president of Ford of Canada (left), and Marvin T. Runyon, manager for the St. Thomas plant."
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published June 29, 1966 with caption: "Tries His Luck- The new plant manager of the Ford St. Thomas Assembly Plant, Marvin T. Runyon, also took a try at the controls of the backhoe after Premier John Robarts officially broke ground. Mr. Runyon is seen receiving a few tips on the operations from Norman Bloom (right) of the Ford Motor Company, Oakville, tractor division."
First Vehicle Off the Assembly Line
On December 18, 1967 the first vehicle rolled off the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant assembly line.
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published December 18, 1967 with caption: “Employees Watch- Everything stopped today at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, while the 1,200 employees gathered to watch ceremonies commemorating the completion of Job 1, the first vehicle off the assembly line. This picture shows a segment of the crowd listening to an address by Karl E. Scott, president of the Ford Motor Company of Canada."
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From a series of unused photographs, Santa Claus is shown driving the first vehicle off the assembly line.
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published December 18, 1967 with caption: "Historic Occasion- A gleaming white Ford Falcon station wagon rolled off the assembly line at the St. Thomas assembly plant of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, at 10 o'clock this morning. The vehicle, Job 1, at the $65,000,000 plant, has been purchased by The St. Thomas Times-Journal. George M. Dingman, president and publisher of The Times-Journal, who was present for the handover of the keys to the first vehicle, is pictured on the right with Marvin T. Runyon, plant manager, centre, and Karl E. Scott (left), president of the Ford Motor Company of Canada."
Falcon Job 1
"Job 1" ceremony introduced the first production unit of the Ford Falcon on December 18, 1967. The vehicle was produced for and purchased by the St. Thomas Times-Journal.
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Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant, speaks at the ceremony.
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Karl E. Scott, president of Ford of Canada, speaking at the ceremony. Published in the "Ford Tower" newsletter, p. 1, January 1968.
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Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant, introducing visitors and executives at the ceremony.
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Workers, executives and visitors assembled at the ceremony.
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From left: Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant; Karl E. Scott, president of Ford of Canada; George M. Dingman, publisher of the St. Thomas Times-Journal.
Last Falcon off the Assembly Line
February 22, 1969: The 108,832nd and last Ford Falcon was driven off the assembly line and a re-tooling operation to prepare for assembly of the Ford Maverick commences shortly after.
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published February 22, 1969 with caption: "Falcon 108,832- The last Falcon to be built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant of the Ford Motor Company, the 108,832nd, was driven off the assembly line by Marvin T. Runyon, plant manager (right), yesterday. Seated is Jack Hennessy, assistant plant manager. The 3-week $3,000,000 retooling operation in preparation for Ford's new Maverick got under way almost immediately."
Maverick Job 1
March 17, 1969: “Job 1" ceremony introduced the first production unit of the Ford Maverick. The vehicle was produced for and purchased by the St. Thomas Times-Journal.
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From left: George G. Dingman, general manager of The St. Thomas Times-Journal; Karl E. Scott, president of Ford of Canada; George M. Dingman, publisher of the St. Thomas Times-Journal; Robert F. McNulty, vice-president of marketing and planning, Ford of Canada; Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant.
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Marvin T. Runyon, manager of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant.
100,000th Maverick
On September 12, 1969, production of the Ford Maverick reached 100,000 Mavericks. Plant manager Dale Miller and employees were photographed alongside Mavericks in the shape of 100,000 to commemorate the milestone.
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Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published September 12, 1969 with caption: "100,000 Mavericks- Mavericks assembled at Ford of Canada's St. Thomas Assembly Plant formed this numerical display to signal production today of the 100,000th Canadian-built Maverick. Plant manager Dale W. Miller and employees form the exclamation point. Since Maverick production began March 17, employment and monthly payroll have reached record levels of 2,900 and $2,556,500, compared with pre-Maverick totals of 1,500 and $1,276,800."
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