Manchester Mi Village Hall & Library

This village hall and library occupy Manchester Henry Ford Hydro-Electric plant. This plant employed about 300 people. It produced, ammeters, charge indicators, instrument clusters, and oil, temperature, and fuel gauges throughout the years it was active. Although Ford got glowing reviews of his “Village industries” (low turnover, first-rate workmanship) after his retirement in 1945 his highly practical successors steadily phased out his rural plants. Only five continued into the mid-50’s (Manchester was one of them), three were left in the early 60’s and after that only the original Northville plant carried on. Today, EVERY hydropower plant restored or built by Henry Ford is still standing, and nearly all of them are being used for manufacturing, offices, antique shops, community/youth centers, or parks.So, in a sense, Henry Ford’s plants have not died or faded away. Today they are perhaps an idea whose time has finally come. Many companies have moved plants and offices to towns and villages where workers can be nearer to home. There is much interest in reactivating the hydropower plants. It has just taken us a while to catch up with Ford’s vision. Information taken from https://vil-manchester.org/history-of... ENJOY!!!!!!!