Henry Ford's Many Mansions
2024 ж. 25 Мам.
364 306 Рет қаралды
With manufacturing plants on 6 continents, odds are you’ve seen a Ford on the roads. In today's episode, we are exploring the homes of Henry Ford.
Location: United States of America
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Videos from: Public Domain
Photos from: Public Domain, RMherman, Library of Congress Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, Dave Parker, thehenryford.com, henryfordfairlane.org, Kelly Robson,
Music from Epidemic Sound
For the darker side of Henry Ford's history we suggest checking out this PBS article: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/henryford-antisemitism/
I never knew this about Ford! Thank you for sharing.
I was aware of that, he didn't like Jews, but you know at that time the majority of people were fundamentally anti-Semitic... The society of this time was anti Semitic , because you know it's true that jews have big amount of Money & that pissed off a lot of people out of pure jealousy, moreover the current anti-Semitic poeple of today, are based on the same kind of stupidity as in that time, like "they have the money they put us upside down" I am French, I have the extreme luck and especially the very rare chance, to have "Righteous among the Righteous", in my own family... These very rare Frenchmen, who under the nose and the beard of the Germans and at the risk of all their families and theirs, made transit, from North to South, in hiding them from hundreds of French after to be Jews like them, so that they reach our colonies in Africa and find themselves in safety... But as I told you, it was extremely rare, people did not necessarily collaborate, but they are complete, mostly in the occupation. P.S : unfortunately , I believe that the proverb " never two without three " and you will be come back for "Lafayette Here we are THIRD" , arrives with great step , because of the madness of the Russians in Ukraine ....And sorry for the little off topic .
He hired thugs to rule the workers. Not very compassionate at all.
@@annettetuck2477 Mafia Style behavior .
He had the best pay of anyone back then, workers flocked to him. They were pretty well compensated back then but maybe you didn't even watch the beginning of the video lol
When my dad was a child he would often walk by home with raspberries growing near the fence. He would stop and pick some to eat. One day a man came outside and asked him he liked the berries. He went into the house and returned with a small basket for my dad to fill with berries. It was only years later after seeing Henry Ford on tv did he realize whose house it had been.
That’s cool!!!!😎🇺🇸🇺🇸
What year was your daddy born Cindy?
@@wildestcowboy2668 Maybe she meant her grandpa or she older women
Thats a great story!
What a sweet story!
Here's an update!!. Fair Lane is on the University of Michigan's Dearborn campus. I went to both the Dearborn and Ann Arbor campuses.Fair Lane mansion HAD been used as a meeting and office space. (Sad, Really!!) Currently, they are METICULOUSLY restoring EVERYTHING! Even the light fixtures!!. That picture of the "sunroom", is being restored to look EXACTLY like that original PHOTO AND in the exact colors!. The shot of the room with the elaborate carved wood grate (on the left in the photo) , Clara got bored of the "dark", by the 30s so she painted ALL the woodwork white to brighten the room. Well, they're finally taking it back off!!!. Can't wait to see what they've done!!. Thanks for the video! ❤️ from Michigan!!.
The Fairlane mall complex, Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum, and a housing development behind the mansion were part of the estate too. The estate grounds were absolutely enormous to the point where it actually split the city of Dearborn in half during the early 20th century.
I once lived near the Fairlane Estate. As teenagers we would go there and explore the back part of the property which has a lovely waterfall. I was even at a few weddings in the mansion.
Where is it located at pop's?
My wife and I had our wedding and reception there.
@@wildestcowboy2668 it's a very searchable place
@@Arthurian. I don't trespass ESE
@@wildestcowboy2668 you also don't research
In 1924 Ford established the Early American Orchestra of violin, hammered dulcimer and cimbalom. The orchestra played for square dances held for his employees.
MISSING: ELECTRICITY ... "At the home" in Dearborn, MI on the Rogue River, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison collaborated to produce America's 1st privately owned hydro-electric generating facility. It was intentionally designed to dramatically over-produce the volume of electricity needed for the estate. The facility was actually an experiment. Henry donated enough electricity to power the entire City of Dearborn, which he provided free of charge. CHAIR ... As everybody knows, Henry (through his enamor and loyalty to Edison) purchased the laboratory building used by Edison, then had it disassembled and taken to the HF Museum. It was dismantled board by board and reassembled at the Museum property (where it is today). Prior to its disassembly, Henry asked Thomas to place and sit in his favorite wooden work chair. While Edison was seated, Henry had it nailed to the floor. When the chair was placed back at the Museum site, it was put back in the original position and fixed to the floor (where it is today). BREATH ... During Edison's last hours of life and on his death bed, Henry sat next to him. Morbid (yes, but true). Henry anxiously awaited as Edison slipped from life. At that time, Henry held a glass test tube to Edison's face and captured "his last breath". That test tube continues to exist in the estate of the Ford Family. EDISON ... Most people didn't know until this posting, Edison learned early in life to be aware of and to exploit the energy and intellectual capital of talented people. As noted in this video, he did this with Henry Ford however HF (while maintaining their relationship) went in a different direction disassociated with Edison (car manufacturing). As some people know, Edison also did the same thing with N. Tesla, but for a longer period of time and for considerably more financial exploitation of Tesla by Edison. Their relationship became estranged. HENRY: Henry Ford had many eccentricities. Among them (good and bad), he was a control freak (routine among the wealthy). One of them was, he didn't drink alcohol. That not being enough, if "you" worked for Henry, then "you" weren't allowed to drink either. Your hiring agreement at Ford contained a provision stating (which was enforced) that agents reporting to Henry could, without notice, could enter your home and search for liquor. If liquor was found, you were immediately terminated. Obviously, any reports of public drinking met with the same fate.
Apparently Ford was also anti-smoking way before the general public was aware of its dangers. His apparent anti-semitism is a very disturbing thing.
Mostly our world is far better off that he lived and made his contribution. A good man.
@@rzella8022 OMG I agree.
Henry Ford and Thomas Edison designed and built some electric cars with Edison supplying the batteries. For some reason it never went into production
Yes you are speaking of the Ford Sociological Department.
Martha Stewarts superb country state in Maine also belonged to henry ford! Very well preserved on its original shape.
Edsel & Elenor's home
The Martha Stewart home in Maine was the summer home of Edsel & Eleanor ford. Edsel was the son of Henry Ford.
My wife and I had our wedding and reception at Henry Ford's mansion in Dearborn. 22 years ago this month. Beautiful home.
I grew up giving tours and taking care of the Estate in Dearborn Mi. My grandma was a very active volunteer. I would go with her nearly every weekend to help take care of the house. I love that house and the River Rouge water fall near it.
Never formally educated? Didn’t realize that. The Mangos is a beautiful large cottage. 🥭
The Ford Mansion in Grosse Pointe, MI was off Lakeshore Drive…we used to drive down Lakeshore Dr from my hometown of St Clair Shores, MI, all the way thru GP to Detroit. We couldn’t see the mansion but we could see the kids playhouse that looked like a house in itself, was told it had working fixtures in it! They gave tours sometimes, something I never did 🤔
The gorgeous Ford Mansion in Grosse Pointe Michigan was the home of Henry Ford's son, Edsel and his wife and children.
@@victoriacaddy1287 thanks for pointing that out! Knew it was the Ford mansion but not what Ford owned it! 😉
@@victoriacaddy1287…took the tour a few years ago….lovely house, beautiful grounds…tour guide was full of interesting facts, he really knew his history….it is truly worth a few hours of your time!
It’s not the Rogue river with a hard “g”, it’s the Rouge River with more of a “j” sound. Ruje is closer for pronunciation. Great videos.
Thank you for the tip, cheers!
@@ThisHouse Rouge is French for red
As a Metro Detroiter, that got me too. "Rogue" River. Michigan was once a part of Colonial New France and has a lot of French place names
I loved visiting when teenager, and took my children at the mansion for Christmas breakfast. Beautiful .
My favorite is Richmond Plantation but all of the homes are exquisite!!! I'm glad that all 3 are still standing today!!! Thanks for sharing another interesting video!!! 🙂👍👍
The Mangoes wasn't the most auspicious, but I would love to live in a house like that. Richmond Hill is immaculate. It looks like a very significant statesman would have lived there.
I grew up in Dearborn Michigan though my family originally lived in Detroit. My first school outing was to Greenfield Village and I remember that visit as though it were yesterday. My love of history, architecture, and art was sparked by Greenfield Village. The primary and junior high school I attended was supported by the Fords, Harvey H. Lowrey Elementary school in Dearborn. A BEAUTIFUL school that also included something very unusual at that time. We had an area in our school designed to accommodate physically and otherwise challenged children. Living my school days with children dealing with these challenges helped me to see them to be much the same as myself. I did not know about the last two homes featured but most people from Michigan know about Fairlane. My father’s family owned and operated a business from the docks at the foot of Woodward and on the river to an island called BobLo. Originally named Bois Blanc by the French due to the many white birch trees that covered the island. A place much beloved.
The foot of Woodward is Jefferson avenue and Hart Plaza.... Which has no docks. That's also the Detroit river that you're talking about, not the Rouge River that Henry lived on. When did your family owns these docks?
My favorite is Fairlane Manor. It is such a beautiful and majestic home. I had my daughter’s senior pictures taken on the grounds there. And, Mrs. Ford’s rose garden is still in tact and beautiful.
Regarding Henry. He wasn't a big fan of you know who. 🤣
@@vitocorleone8323Who is " you know who"?
You forgot his house in the Boston/Edison neighborhood in Detroit.. still a fantastic neighborhood
Or his honeymoon house in garden city
Henry Ford had his childhood home moved to the Henry Ford/Greenfield Village museum which is just a few miles from Fairlane. The contrast between the two houses is certainly interesting!
Greenfield Village is a little closer than a few miles from Fairlane. The estate and Greenfield Village sit across the street from each other. I believe Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum used to be part of the estate grounds.
Loved the simplicity of the Florida home best. Love the channel Ken. Your voice is great. 👍🏻
Fairlane Estate is on the Rouge (pronounced as the French word for Red) River, not said like rogue (bad guy). It’s a fascinating place to visit.
That’s interesting-my dad (1923-2008) always called it the Rogue. Funny. I’ve always thought I was the only dyslexic one in my family. Now I’m rethinking that. Lol. Of course it’s gotta be Rouge/Red.
Thanks for the tip, cheers!
For those without French, Rouge rhymes with stooge (as in the Three Stooges).
There is also a Rogue River in Michigan.
@@cjpenning nowhere near the rouge River.
Ford should be regarded as one of the best businessmen in history. Much like Gates, Ford amassed a fortune while paying his employees very well from a business that has had an integral part in improving the quality of lives for mankind. Great video!
Bill Gates does he pay his workers well?
@@michelles2299 According to PayScale, the average MS employee earns $123K. The company created thousands of millionaires over the years throufh compensation that had included stock options.
@@michelles2299Yes . He pays them VERY WELL!!!
Could you do one on Henry's son Edsel Ford? We went there today and toured the home. There's even a miniature house for his daughter on the property.
Thank you for the suggestion, cheers!
i went to a wedding reception at the Georgia plantation in 2010. Someone took us down and showed us the straight, lit, clean tunnels that supposedly connected most of the building on the property. Still have the picture is was pretty crazy, the place was beautiful.
Please post positive proof pronto Pics preferred
If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with Richmond Hill. I love the look of the house and the grounds by the river
I remember smoking a spliff in his backyard. Beautiful view 👌🏽
Ford was a lot like Milton Hershey in regards of taking care of his employees. He realized that the underdog got him to where he wanted to obtain. These men worked hard so Ford believed that he should reward them.
Ford also built housing for black workers who moved to Detroit for work. Since most white workers didn’t want to live in the same areas as blacks, Ford built the apts and homes and sold to the workers. It’s a little known fact that the mass media SELDOM mentions
He was also being pragmatic: when wages were $2.50/day, the mind-numbing assembly line work led to high turnover
Maybe this was just a more cynical viewpoint, but I often read that he thought that by paying his workers more they would then be able to afford to buy his cars. Thus he turned employees into potential customers.
Gulf Oil was originally like that, That company took care of their employees back in the day also.
Employees went on strike and Ford sent a mob after them, essentially. Some strikers were killed.
The last home was my favorite but had they reassembled the Savannah plantation home that would have been my favorite. This was a fun video- well done
I honestly thought moving a house, brick by brick was something that only happened in old horror movies starring Vincent Price.
I’ve toured the first two houses… they are beautifully preserved and displayed. Highly recommended.
Conspicuous by it's absence is the extant Henry and Clara Ford house in Detroit's Boston-Edison district. The couple resided there from 1908-1916. It's a beautiful home in a lovely urban neighborhood. BTW, it's Rouge river, as in makeup, not Rogue, as in Nissan.
I wondered why this was missed...
Have you thought of continuing with the houses of Edsel Ford next? From Gawker Pointe, to the island off the coast of Maine, that Martha Stewart purchased, along with the ford estate on Jupiter island Florida… all thoughtfully built estates
I liked THE PLANTATION HOUSE IN Savannah, GA!!! From what I saw of the interior. Much brighter than the 1st home. Like the second but it was a vacation home!!!
I grew up in Dearborn so my favorite has to be Fairlane. It has underground tunnels and stuff the tour they used to do there was really cool.
Do you walk around as a furry around Dearborn?
All homes of Henry Ford were beautiful and with great taste! 🤓🙏💙
I forgot to mention this earlier: There is a fun "same, but different" comparison to be made with Fair Lane and another Detroit home. Ford had a small channel dug from the River Rouge so he could sail his motorboat right into its "garage." Across town, Lawrence Fisher (house is open to the public, but not with original furnishings) had a "room" right in his house where he could sail his boat into its "garage." Fisher's boat was a 106 foot yacht!
I'm just glad they are all still standing!
Very cool. Love this channel!
Interesting. Thank you for this video. Henry Ford did not forget his roots. Even he was rich his homes were modest. He paid also quite well for workers.
Ford also had a very large log cabin designed by Albert Kahn at the Huron Mountain Club in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
He did?
All the houses are great in their own way, but the one I like best is the dis-asssembled plantation house. Though not rebuilt I'm glad to see that materials used so well.
A nice array of choices. Fair Lane seems a bit of a Frankenstein house, though many of the interior features were beautiful (that carved wood screen is to die for!) The more modest beach house suits me better (if someone was to offer it to me, lol). So nice not to hear the word "demolished" with regard to any of them. Your videos are fun, and we never know what experience other commenters may have regarding these fascinating homes.
I don't think anything Ford related will be demolished anytime soon. At least not in the Dearborn/Detroit area, he's much to important, still employing thousands. Not even his old, now defunct and long since abandoned factories have been demolished.
I've been to Fairlane twice. My father worked at Ford's Rouge Plant. You can take a boat all the way up the river right to the dam. There was a diving board at one time.
The southern classical house is soooo Georgian! I grew up in Ga and I love the red brick white pillars and black shutters!
Absolutely amazing three houses! I am enchanted v with all of them! Very different and each one has its own beauty! Congratulations!
I could sit all day on the Fairlane sun-porch with all the beautiful windows, but I adore the Mangoes residence as I've always loved dormers, and it also has a porch, albeit an outdoor one.
I totally agree!
Last house looked sweet!!
Love me a plantation home with pillars❣️❣️💖
Pretty cool, a good 30 years ago when I lived in Dearborn, me and my buds would go to the Fairlane mansion at night and party under the gazebo in the garden to the left of the building, had some really good times, it was left unguarded at night and open to the public for tours during the day
Ford's first company (that he left after disputes with partners) became Cadillac. Two things: You didn't mention the power plant on the Fair Lane property; it's a sight to see on its own. There is also the 1908 Henry Ford home in the Boston Edison section of Detroit that is still standing (upper middle class as opposed to baronial). I've been to both the Ft Myers cottage (a trip that also included Henry Flagler's Whitehall and John Ringlings Ca' d'Zan!) and to Fair Lane when it was open to the public. To be honest, Henry didn't have the taste that his son Edsel and daughter-in-law Eleanor had; their mansion in Grosse Pointe Shores is more magnificent than Fair Lane. Just a note, Wright dropped the project because that was when he ran away with his client's wife - Mamah Cheney (at least according to the docent). Good video. I enjoy your series. There are several houses that fit this category but do not seem to have any good interior photos (like the NYC Leonard Jerome and the Chicago William Kimball mansions); maybe a compilation video on these houses?
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is just a couple of miles down the road from me, they are always putting on great events. We held a garden party silent auction fundraiser there and they made it very easy. Beautiful home, love watching the fireworks there when the DSO plays, much as they do at Greenfield Village but always nicer on the water, don't you think? 😊
Also the grave of Henry Ford which is the most humble grave you could see surrounded by churches he gave the land to.
I got hammered at the Fairlane house. True story
👏 Good job. I’m sure your family is proud.
Fairlane has the best interior in the photos.
Edsel Ford has a home here in Highland, MI. There's also a carburetor factory on the land. It 's a bit run down but being slowly restored. It's all contained in a State park now. The really fancy house he had on this property was burnt down by vandals. The smaller home left i think was just a home for guards he had on the property ( Maybe, not sure). Lindberg had his child stole and there was fear by Edsel that it could happen to him so he built this place with guards on duty. I visited the old burned down mansion house and saw the basement structure and area surrounding. The sidewalks are there and built very grand. It was exciting to explore all that land. It's just a short walk up a closed road. You can almost relive how it was back then.
In the early 2000's would stop by the hood (joy rd. And Southfield ) and get a dime bag or some shrooms and meet up at the henry ford estate and wonder around the grounds and woods truly a magical place and times ❤❤❤❤
When in high school we used to go the Fairlane Mansion to see singer/guitarist play in the basement in what was then called a “coffee house”. Oh, and the river is not pronounced “rogue” it is pronounced “rooZH” as in the powder applied to the face.
I don't know why this showed up in my feed, but glad it did. Seeing Fairlane, I realized I have never considered what a monumental, labor intensive & expensive task it must have been to heat such large places in cold climates, before the advent of fuel oil, propane, natural gas fired ducted heating systems and boiler fired hot water radiating systems. Did they have full time staff chunking coal & wood into the fireplaces? Did they have storage buildings for the heating materials? hmmm.... Not just mansions, but the monstrous state capital buildings in cold weather states.
The Richmond plantation was absolutely beautiful that’s my favorite
Your videos and clean, simple, and respectful of their subjects. You do a great job!
Another wonderful video Sir
Ford was a savant, but that’s not a complement. He was a social philosophy nut job in many ways. Really enjoying this series.
I very much enjoy how you go into detail about the people and the architecture. Keep them coming!
"He made sure his workers were taken care of". True! If they tried to unionize they were TAKEN CARE OF. 🤣
The bungalow. It looks to be a cozy house. I love thd front porch. Thank you for another nice video of an interesting historical subject.
All 3 houses are my favorite i used to work in Llewellin Park in WestOrange N.J.I would park outside Glenmont ,Thomas Edisons house and eat my lunch and just stare in amazement at the history. The house is breathtaking if you ever have the opportunity visit the Edison museum and Glenmont.
The one in ft Myers was amazing
My senior prom was at the Fairlane house. 😊
They are all gorgeous homes
Fair lane lovely and well worth the tour they give of the house or the tea parties they give too! Would love to see a video on the Dodge house Meadowbrook which still gives tours and is known for its rebuilt gardens and the playhouse on-site.
Loved the Mangoes House, thank you
Fairlane is currently going through a major renovation. Using original designs, and manufactures when possible.
I saw this in an episode of This Old House. I learned that the house is no long owned by the University of Michigan but is now in the hands of a non-profit that is doing the renovation and restoration. The change in ownership happened after I left Michigan and I wasn't aware of it.
The Florida home is my favorite! Thanks!!!
The third was stunning.
Ken,always enjoy your videos. Thank you again for sharing
I am glad that these houses have happy endings in this video. Ford could’ve built an opulent mansion of magnificent size like the others featured. They weren’t too huge so they weren’t nearly as expensive and difficult to maintain as the bigger palace sized homes. I think his home in Florida had a swimming pool as well.
My favorite is the Richmond Hill Plantation.
A great man.
Been to the Ford Estate here in Florida many times. It is very well maintained, but I have to admit the one in Georgia looks pretty nice.
Awesome video Ken. I liked all three of the mansions.
I’ve always loved all 3’homes of Henry Ford. I live in Tampa and never have made it down south of me to look/your his house and T. Edison’s house.
I grew up close to Ford's house on Jefferson in GP. He donated land next to his house to the city for a park my brothers would get into the backyard of their home !! Fun times!
That one was owned by his son, Edsel Ford.
I love these type of this house video. The historical ones with the story presented this way
I toured Henry Ford’s home in Dearborn Michigan. It was quite beautiful and had many luxuries. It was a nice location on the river.
In stuttgart in Germany, there are actually quite a view beautiful old mansions from around the 19th century. you can check them out if you want. For example the villa Weißenburg, Villa reitzenstein, Villa Gemmingen, Villa Berg or Villa siegle.
My favorite is the fort Myers vacation home for Henry Ford I would love to see what the inside looks like!
I like the Florida house. Thanks Ken.
I am partial to plantations but I like all of the houses.
Richmond is my favorite. Cheers from Australia
5he mansion in Savannah , Georgia was the best looking of Ford's homes.
Fair Lane is currently under restoration to bring it back to the exact look it had when the Fords moved in in 1915
Thanks that was very informative Fairlane house for me
I liked the Fairlane best, your presentation gave it the most detail, I know you probably have time constraints, and overall I enjoyed it, in it's entirty. Thanks Ken!
I liked the second on. The others were too big for my liking. TFS
I like the Mangoes. Small and intimate, not flashy. Homey.
Gotta go with Fairlane. Definitely the best of the three.
Very interesting. Thanks!
My first book that I understood was Henry fords
There's an old Ford estate, less than 2 miles from me, here in Michigan. Massive 8 bedroom house
Excellent presentation but one tiny correction - the river is named the Rouge (pronounced Roozh), not Rogue.
I like Fairlane, it feels like a home.
Neat video and nice amount of detail.
My brother was involved in the restoration of the now’ Ford Plantation’ during the late 1980s when the property was repurchased.