Letters to the Editor: The “City of Dearborn, MI” Should Change It’s Name to “Henry Ford, MI”
Your gentle town “Dearborn” is misnamed. I propose that the city be re-named “Henry Ford, MI” as recognition of the contributions of Henry Ford to the nation and in particular to our city. Instead, we have our city named after someone who never heard of it let alone ever stepped foot in it, General Henry Dearborn. Now he was a righteous dude, I will grant you and served our country well in the Revolutionary War and with a lot less distinction in the War of 1812, when he was basically fired from his position.
Now comes a true giant in American history, a man born within the city limits of our town, who built a mammoth enterprise here, kept it here and built his own family home at Fairlane. Henry Ford changed America from this very spot. He was one of us. He lived among us and his company provided a tax base that any city would die for. Henry Ford’s company provided excess funds for Camp Dearborn and a multitude of city services. Henry Ford built that enterprise right here, a car company that needed no government bail out and a company that provided good jobs at the famous Rouge plant and today still headquarters itself at its Central Staff Building on The American Road and other buildings that house engineering, styling, test track and divisional HQ’s. He provided funds for one of the greatest museums in the world – the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village and these bring thousands of tourists every year to see these attractions and to begin a trip to see an automotive assembly plant.
The name Henry Ford means something. Henry Ford means something to us, the people who live in his town, the people who work in and visit his town and yes, even to people like me who grew up here, owned property, worked here and moved away. It is no exaggeration to suggest that Henry Ford made this town. This, the town of his birth and death, the town of people he loved. This most important person, a person who brought the automobile within range of everyone and a living wage to all who worked for him. The man who showed the world what modern manufacturing could attain lifting the living standards of millions. This town is Henry Ford, Michigan. Leverage that name and let everyone know where he came from, what he did and what they can still see of the America he helped build in the Twentieth Century.
Let the people debate this idea. Let them vote on it.
Let them live in Henry Ford, Michigan. And while we are at it, let’s re-build the Ford Rotunda as a meeting place for these new tourists.
I will put up the first $1,000 if Ford puts up the next $7 million. Capital of the World. You can make it happen…you can rejuvenate this beautiful town and give it meaning and an economic re-birth. Do not think of the reasons “why not.” Think of the reasons “why” and what Henry Ford, Michigan could become.
~ George Knutson, 272 Sapphire Lake Dr., # 201, Bradenton, FL 34209
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Editors note: Mr. Knutson has been single-handedly waging a campaign suggesting a name change for several years. He’s very persistent and now offers $1000 to get a project started to rebuild “The Rotunda”. The Ford Rotunda, was was the 5th most popular tourist destination in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. This futuristic structure received more visits in the 1950s than did the Statue of Liberty. If Mr. Knutson begins a Kickstarter campaign and raises the first million dollars toward rebuilding the Rotunda his idea might really take off.
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Gotta give him props for being persistent! Too expensive and Desrborn already spends on way too many silly things like leaf collection. Lol
No, Keep the name Dearborn! I like what Henry Ford has done for the area, Detroit and Michigan, in providing needed jobs, creating a car company and industry which bloomed off other industries. Because of his cars as well as the other car manufacturers, we have roads crossing the US, and small businesses that lined these roads,which also provided income to its citizens. BUT Henry Ford was anti-immigrant, anti-labor unions, anti-liquor and anti-Semitic and rampaged that there was a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle in 1938, the highest Nazi award ever given to a foreigner, by the Nazi Party. I don’t think I want a city that is now so progressive, and constantly changing to be straddled down with a name that doesn’t represent where Dearborn will be evolving in the future. We don’t need to look back into the past, but forward to the future. Sorry No, don’t change the name.
I can see it now, someone from Florida planning out a vacation to Michigan “Hey lets go to Henry Ford to see The Henry Ford” yeah that’s totally not confusing in the least amount. To me it makes about as much sense as renaming the city of Lansing to Ransom Olds.
My point is Dearborn should not be renamed, especially not with Henry Ford. He did a lot to the local area and Dearborn itself, but if wanted a town named after him don’t you think he would of done that?
TO THE EDITOR:
September 21, 2014
First of all in regard to the re-building of the Ford Rotunda. It is not really a matter of “if,” it is a matter of only “when.” Surely, my paltry offer of $1,000 to help in the rebuilding of this magnificent structure is likely not to motivate the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company [yet] but in time they will see the wisdom of rebuilding this iconic structure for themselves and for the residents of Henry Ford, Michigan, “THE Automotive Tourist Capital of the World.” This city can leverage its history, its people, and its assets. Please do not let them lay fallow and unused with a name that is meaningless to its past and surely not its future.
THE FORD ROTUNDA was the jumping off place for visits to THE HENRY FORD, GREENFIELD VILLAGE and tours of the FORD ROUGE PLANT. As mentioned by your editor, this structure before it burnt to the ground, was the Fifth most popular tourist attraction in the United States. That is no small achievement. It can and should be again if the fair peoples of this city want it so.
As for a “Kickstarter” campaign, it is my guess that this quest would not likely have a national stage and finding contributions from outside Southeast Michigan might be asking a lot; but I will think on it and thanks for the kind suggestion. There are a lot of loyal fans of Ford around the world and who knows? Hopefully, there are loyal fans of Ford right here in Michigan.
LET’S START WITH WHY “DEARBORN” HAS TO GO [regardless of the replacement] General Henry Dearborn is not a fit person to represent this city.
General Dearborn was a fine patriot in the Revolutionary War and distinguished himself in every way. IT WAS ALL DOWNHILL AFTER THAT.
He was appointed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of War [1801-1809]. Dearborn devised and executed the brutal plan to remove Native Americans to beyond the Mississippi in the most aggressive manner possible. Thomas Jefferson wrote to Dearborn during this time: “…if we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down until that tribe is exterminated.” Later in the letter to Dearborn, Jefferson adds that “In war, they will kill some of us; we will destroy all of them.” To Native Americans, General Henry Dearborn is known as the “Adolph Eichman” of that forced removal.
IT GETS WORSE
General Dearborn’s ineptitude in marshalling support in the New England states or in gaining troops from the local militias gave support to the British General, Isaac Brock, to attack Detroit since he feared no invasion of Lower Canada. Additionally, Dearborn signed an armistice with the British without informing either the President or General Hull, who became so frightened at a few artillery shells that he gave up Detroit without a fight caused principally by the incompetence of General Henry Dearborn. In effect, Dearborn was the reason Detroit fell in the War of 1812.
So here we have ample rationale to consider dropping the name. My next missive will deal with why the name should be Henry Ford, Michigan