Dodge Chicago Plant
Encyclopedia
The main building of the Dodge Chicago plant covered eighty-two acres and occupied over 30 city blocks and at the time it was the largest building in the world. Although Mr. Kahn died prior to the completion of the project, he was influential in the innovative design that efficiently utilized precious war time materials used in its construction.
The Dodge Chicago Aircraft Engine Plant was a World War II
defense plant that built the majority of the B-29 bomber aircraft engines used in World War II
.
The plant design was initiated by noted automotive plant designer Albert Kahn and his company. The plant is seen as an influential design landmark of American industrial manufacturing facilities.
Albert Khan had extensive underground tunnels dug as to facilitate foot and supply traffic. These tunnels span the width and breathe of the plant in a tic- tac- toe pattern. As characteristic for industrial plants of the day, wooden block floors were place for ergonomic reasons. These floors were cemented over in Ford City, and only recently had to the removed from TRI as hosting a potential health hazard. The belt railroad shunted lines into the plant, which to this day evidence of the rails remain.
Construction of the plant was started in 1942, and it was in full operation by early 1944.
The B-29 Superfortress
Bomber was used in the strategic bombing campaign of Japan
. It was the largest aircraft to see service in World War II
. Each B-29 Superfortress utilized four of the massive Wright R-3350
- Cyclone 18 Cylinder 2200 hp engines built at the Dodge Chicago Plant. There were nearly 4000 of these aircraft produced when the B-29 was retired from service in the 1960s.which made it a most labor intensive operation. Many first in industry took place here. Chemist Lencke produced Z-max lubricant. 75% of the employees were woman, 1 to 2 percent of whom were African Americans.
The Dodge Chicago plant marked an all-time high water mark of cooperation and success between the efforts of the American government, industry, and labor. It also set an early standard for providing an environment of racial and ethnic cooperation and tolerance.
After the war, a lease for the plant was awarded to the Tucker Car Corporation
and later utilized by several automobile manufacturers including Ford Motor Company. Tootsie Roll industries moved into a vacated portion of the plant in 1967. To this day TRI uses these tunnels for archives and storage as well as locker rooms, as Ford City uses them for for a strip of boutiques. The plant was constructed near South Cicero Avenue and 72nd Street in Chicago
's West Lawn
community. To this day, portions of its buildings still house what is now the Ford City Mall
. and Tootsie roll factory.
The Dodge Chicago Aircraft Engine Plant was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
defense plant that built the majority of the B-29 bomber aircraft engines used in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The plant design was initiated by noted automotive plant designer Albert Kahn and his company. The plant is seen as an influential design landmark of American industrial manufacturing facilities.
Albert Khan had extensive underground tunnels dug as to facilitate foot and supply traffic. These tunnels span the width and breathe of the plant in a tic- tac- toe pattern. As characteristic for industrial plants of the day, wooden block floors were place for ergonomic reasons. These floors were cemented over in Ford City, and only recently had to the removed from TRI as hosting a potential health hazard. The belt railroad shunted lines into the plant, which to this day evidence of the rails remain.
Construction of the plant was started in 1942, and it was in full operation by early 1944.
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
Bomber was used in the strategic bombing campaign of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was the largest aircraft to see service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Each B-29 Superfortress utilized four of the massive Wright R-3350
Wright R-3350
The Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone was one of the most powerful radial aircraft engines produced in the United States. It was a twin row, supercharged, air-cooled, radial engine with 18 cylinders. Power ranged from 2,200 to over 3,700 hp , depending on the model...
- Cyclone 18 Cylinder 2200 hp engines built at the Dodge Chicago Plant. There were nearly 4000 of these aircraft produced when the B-29 was retired from service in the 1960s.which made it a most labor intensive operation. Many first in industry took place here. Chemist Lencke produced Z-max lubricant. 75% of the employees were woman, 1 to 2 percent of whom were African Americans.
The Dodge Chicago plant marked an all-time high water mark of cooperation and success between the efforts of the American government, industry, and labor. It also set an early standard for providing an environment of racial and ethnic cooperation and tolerance.
After the war, a lease for the plant was awarded to the Tucker Car Corporation
Preston Tucker
Preston Thomas Tucker was an American automobile designer and entrepreneur.He is most remembered for his 1948 Tucker Sedan , an automobile which introduced many features that have since become widely used in modern cars...
and later utilized by several automobile manufacturers including Ford Motor Company. Tootsie Roll industries moved into a vacated portion of the plant in 1967. To this day TRI uses these tunnels for archives and storage as well as locker rooms, as Ford City uses them for for a strip of boutiques. The plant was constructed near South Cicero Avenue and 72nd Street in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's West Lawn
West Lawn, Chicago
West Lawn, one of Chicago's 77 official community areas, is located on the southwest side of the city. It is considered to be a "melting pot" of sorts, due to its constant change of races moving in and out of the area, as well as the diversity that exists there. It has a small town atmosphere in...
community. To this day, portions of its buildings still house what is now the Ford City Mall
Ford City Mall
Ford City Mall is a shopping mall located on the southwest side of Chicago in the West Lawn neighborhood on 76th Street and Cicero Avenue. Opened in 1965, the mall includes Carson Pirie Scott, JCPenney, Marshalls, and Old Navy.-History:...
. and Tootsie roll factory.