The Plant
Construction
Preparation of the site upon which the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant was built began in May 1966.
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 9 - Prepare Ford Site
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published May 18, 1966 with caption: "Prepare Ford Site- Employees of the Universal Wrecking Co. Ltd. this morning began the destruction of farm buildings on the future site of Ford of Canada's St. Thomas passenger car assembly plant at Talbotville. Barns on the farm, previously owned by Robert Brokenshire, were removed with the aid of bulldozers. The property is expected to be cleared by tonight. An adjoining farm will be cleared by tomorrow."
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 10b - Land Clearing And Levelling Operations Started
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published May 21, 1966 with caption: "Industry Takes Over- Acres of land and long-standing farms gave way to industrial progress yesterday as heavy machinery and scores of construction workers swarmed over the site of Ford of Canada's St. Thomas passenger car assembly plant, preparing the area for the building of the mammoth $65,000,000 complex. First steps in the clearing program call for tree and building removal and construction of an office building. Here a bulldozer easily removes one of many trees lining an access route."
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 17 - Project Progresses
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published August 12, 1966 with caption: "Project Progresses At Steady Pace- Construction of the $65,000,000 Ford of St. Thomas assembly plant is advancing at a steady pace. Workers are still placing steel beams in place for the main building and more railway sidings to the plant are also under construction. This wide-angle photograph taken this morning shows some of the overall progress to date."
C9 Sh5 B3 F1 6 - Aerial Photograph of Plant Exterior Under Construction
November 1966. Ron Nelson Photography, London, Ontario.
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 22 - Look Back At 1966
Composite photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published December 31, 1966 with caption: "St. Thomas and Elgin look back at 1966 and forward to a happy birthday celebration in 1967." Image features Ontario Premier John Robarts operating a backhoe at the Ford Plant groundbreaking ceremony, June 28, 1966.
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 23b - Construction Work Continues
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published January 21, 1967 with caption: "Controversial Heating Units- The heating units that will heat the plant and which were the subject of a walkout of workers recently at Ford are being lifted into place. The prefab units come in three sections."
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 23c - Construction Work Continues
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published January 21, 1967 with caption: "Selectivity Tower- A Canadian flag has been placed on top of the structure that will become the selectivity tower and the highest point of the Ford Motor plant near Talbotville. When completed the 120-foot-high tower will house some 40 partly finished automobiles."
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 24d - Construction On Schedule
Photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published February 21, 1967 (no caption available).
C9 Sh5 B3 F1 8 - Design Sketch Showing Aerial View of Plant Exterior
Ford St. Thomas Assembly Plant. Dated June 1, 1967.
C8 Sh4 B2 F1 49a - Selectivity Tower Erected and Equipment Installed
Black and white photograph used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published June 5, 1968 (p. 14-F) with caption: "Selectivity Tower- This 121 1/2 foot tower atop the St. Thomas assembly plant performs an important function in the automobile manufacturing process. It also provides an ideal place for Ford to hang its shingle, in this case a large blue and white 'oval.' By day and when illuminated at night, the tower and sign can be seen for miles. This photograph shows the sign being hoisted into position."