Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked April 17, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan.
Availability status: SOLD
Built in 1910 and demolished in 1981, “Dodge Main” as it was commonly called, was the largest of the Chrysler plants, and located in Hamtramck, Michigan. The card’s caption in the “cloud” or maybe that’s factory steam 😉 shows, “Where Dodge Passenger Cars Are Built – The Home Of Dependability. Detroit, Michigan.”
The postcard’s condition is poor due to the big crease down the middle, but the message on the back is a wonderful example of when a person could drive to the factory to pick up their new car. A. E. Schweitzer, the author of the article in the link above, mentions that many would plan their summer vacations around the purchase of the new vehicle. Whether this was common with car companies at this time or was exclusive to Dodge is a good question to research, but in any case, our sender writes:
“Dear George. We are at the Factory. Will get our car in a short time now. Hope every thing is O.K. at home. Regards to all. Tony[?]”
Sent to: “Mr. George Hume. Truckee, Calif. Nevada co.”
Source: Schweitzer, A. E. “Inside the Dodge Main plant: 1910 – 1981.” Allpar. (Web accessed June 25, 2016).
My dad retired from Dodge Main around 1964. His name was Willie O. Rice Sr. and our family moved down south to Alabama. I remember living in Hamtramck on Wyandotte and I attended Pulaski elementary school before moving. Also I remember that Hamtramck High school was across the street.
Hi Nina, thanks so much for your comment. I meant to reply to this earlier. I grew up in Detroit on the West Side and remember Hamtramck as the cool place to hang out. Plus, I almost got an upper flat there but missed the phone call. It was before cell phones, lol. (The turns in life we miss. Not meant to be, I guess.) Hamtramck reminds me of my mom and I going to Clare’s restaurant – this was not in Hamtramck – but it was Polish and they had the best cabbage soup anywhere. I think it was on either Warren or Michigan Ave (if anyone else remembers this place).