Some say it wasn’t Ford that built Ford City...it was the people
of Ford City that built Ford
Gordon McGregor took over operation of his father’s Walkerville Wagon Works facility and, with the help of
Henry Ford, started Ford Motor Company Canada. That decision forever changed the little settlement
sandwiched between Windsor and Walkerville that became Ford City.
Ford Motor Company’s success led to many positives and negatives in the area. By 1913, workers brought
home $4 an hour building vehicles for Ford and the village became incorporated. The wagon works had been
absorbed by Ford and expanded. In 1915, the little incorporated village was recognized by the province and
became Ford City.
The 1920s brought the boom and thousands of workers came to the city to find work. Many of them were
from central Europe and the town grew without many rules through to 1928-29. With few rules came debts; the
town was in trouble and when the province amalgamated the border cities of Ford, Walkerville, Sandwich and
Windsor in the 1930s it is said the town was happy to oblige.
The Kimmerly family owns Standard Printing, a business that has been established in the area since 1968.
Lori and daughter Jenny have taken the time to get to know the area over the years. They will tell you that it
wasn’t Ford that built Ford City but the people of Ford City that built Ford.
World War Two brought unseen bonuses to the area, but also became the beginning of its downfall. Ford of
Canada made 335,000 military vehicles for the Canadian government, many right in Ford City. Workers in the
town provided vital pieces of equipment to troops overseas. As the war came to a close many of the workers grew
concerned about their jobs, and for many reasons they went on strike in 1945. Current resident Jenny Kimmerly
believes that Henry Ford decided then that he would do everything he could to destroy Ford City.
“It is no secret that after the strike in ’45 Henry Ford made it a mission to destroy the area because these are
the people that tried to affect him,” said Jenny. “He was no longer able to run the business he wanted to run, he
has to pay his employees better, he has to give them better working conditions. From the end of the strike on he
dismantled the area, other than leaving the engine plant… he left a major gap in this area.”
While walking the length of Drouillard Rd. it’s plain to see that there are signs of hope. A man came up to me
while I was taking pictures, just to ask me what I was doing; he was concerned because I was “hanging around”.
After I explained, he asked me how he could help. Fifteen years ago, a friendly neighbour might have been rare;
my experience on the street almost puts Councillor Ed Sleiman in tears.
“When you see the people that live there start working together, believe me the image is being changed, and
continuously changed for the better,” said Sleiman. “A lot of buildings have been demolished… and the area is
being cleaned up.”
Left: The Ford City Market is located at Drouillard Road and Whelpton Street every Sunday from 10-3 pm. They carry a
variety of arts and crafts and assorted foods for purchase Right: Concerned citizens from Ford City are pictured here at
Whelpton Park. From left to right: Jenny Kimmerly, Lori Kimmerly, T.J. Aurn, Karlene Nielsen and Gillian Benoit Gonzalez