buckshot.jones
billy's fading dreams
In 1904 on a country road in Flint, Michigan, William "Billy" Durant took a ride in David Dunbar Buick's horseless carriage. A successful horse drawn carriage maker, Billy had seen the light. The path to the future was laid out in front him like that dusty road. After a buying binge, Billy had assembled the core brands of his newly named General Motors by 1908. In all the fury of the early auto industry, Billy Durant and his promoter heart, became known as the Dream Maker.
The World Headquarters of GM moved to Detroit in the early part of the 20th century and found its way to the Detroit riverfront, in a complex largely developed by the grandson of Henry Ford. Along the way the company built many factories in the city turning out cars and trucks and their various parts and pieces. After the Second World War, GM became a mighty colossus, driving the economy of the city and the entire nation until- as some say suddenly, others say slowly- things changed.
Gas shocks and gas lines were the first shift in the 1970's. Competitors building small cars, derisively referred to as little "shitboxes" by Detroit executives, became all the rage. The new era was upon us and GM, Ford and Chrysler started a long relentless process of shuttering factories and re- tooling their businesses.
How this will end is anybody's guess. What I do know, to paraphrase Bruce Springsteen, "those jobs are leavin' boy and they ain't commin' back to your hometown."
billy's fading dreams
In 1904 on a country road in Flint, Michigan, William "Billy" Durant took a ride in David Dunbar Buick's horseless carriage. A successful horse drawn carriage maker, Billy had seen the light. The path to the future was laid out in front him like that dusty road. After a buying binge, Billy had assembled the core brands of his newly named General Motors by 1908. In all the fury of the early auto industry, Billy Durant and his promoter heart, became known as the Dream Maker.
The World Headquarters of GM moved to Detroit in the early part of the 20th century and found its way to the Detroit riverfront, in a complex largely developed by the grandson of Henry Ford. Along the way the company built many factories in the city turning out cars and trucks and their various parts and pieces. After the Second World War, GM became a mighty colossus, driving the economy of the city and the entire nation until- as some say suddenly, others say slowly- things changed.
Gas shocks and gas lines were the first shift in the 1970's. Competitors building small cars, derisively referred to as little "shitboxes" by Detroit executives, became all the rage. The new era was upon us and GM, Ford and Chrysler started a long relentless process of shuttering factories and re- tooling their businesses.
How this will end is anybody's guess. What I do know, to paraphrase Bruce Springsteen, "those jobs are leavin' boy and they ain't commin' back to your hometown."