Saying Goodbye To The Old Jeep Plant

From the Toledo Blade:

Smokestacks at the old Jeep plant have a date with a wrecking ball next week, but historic preservationists who sought to save the Toledo landmark have won a partial victory.

Owner DaimlerChrysler AG plans to keep one of the three stacks carrying the name "Overland," which is one of the city's last visible links to the Willys-Overland automotive empire of the early 20th century.

They are visible to motorists on I-75, and are one of Toledo's most recognized landmarks. They are circa 1920 smokestacks.

Demolition of the other two stacks, which are attached to the factory's former power plant, will begin Monday morning. Company officials have invited reporters and elected officials to an event at 10 a.m. in a park at Willys Parkway and Hillcrest Avenue that occupies the site of the factory's former test track.

The firm has provided few details about what will take place, but advised news organizations that it will be their "final chance to capture the three smokestacks together against (the) Toledo skyline."

continued....

The plant had been America's oldest operating car factory, but is now mostly demolished. Production of Jeep Wranglers moved to a new $2.1 billion supplier park nearby.

Also Monday, the company will announce a plan to sell individual bricks from the demolished smokestacks as souvenirs. Proceeds will go to charity.

Katie Zuchowski, a company spokesman in Auburn Hills, Mich., declined to confirm details of the event.

But Steve Katich, staff director for U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D.,Toledo), said he has been told that the company will keep one of the smokestacks.

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