Detroit's Largest Early Companys
Detroit's population rose from about 21,000 in 1850 to over 116,000 by 1880. The total foreign population exceeded 44,000. The late 1800's saw an expansion of the iron and steel related industries, as well as the introduction of some new industries along the riverfront which provided employment for the ever increasing population. Some of the industries represented on the river were:
1860: Detroit Linseed Oil Company - located at Leib and Wight Streets; this was the largest seed-oil manufacturing company in the state.
1864: Mumford, Foster and Company Last Factory - located at 401 Atwater between Riopelle and Atwater, this company manufactured up to 100,000 pairs of shoes per year.
1867: Detroit Flax Company - located at 210 Chene Street, this became the Frontier Iron Works in 1872 and later Northern Engineering Works in 1885.
1870: Globe Tobacco Factory - located at 31/5 Atwater Street, this was the largest tobacco factory in the state.
1882: Lauhoff Corporation - located at 241 Chene, this was a family operated business manufacturing milling and food machinery products.
1884: Parke Davis and Company, Manufacturing Chemists - founded by Dr. Samuel P. Duffield(1833 - 1916) and Harvey C. Parke in 1862, this company moved to their riverfront location on Joseph Campau Street where they were second only to New York in total value of pharmaceutical products. There is also a historical monument site on Michigan Avenue marking Duffield's first laboratory in Dearborn, Michigan.
1887: Vail and Cranes Cracker Factory - located at 48 through 56 Woodbridge Street, employing over 1,000 employees.
1890: Globe Foundry Company - located at 2685 Atwater Street. The city's largest foundry.
1892: Ireland and Matthews Manufacturing Company - located on Iron Street this company made stove trimmings and plumbing supplies. It was the emplorer of a large number of Irish immigrant workers.
1899: Eaton and Son Chemical and Dyewood Storehouse - located at 1490 Franklin Street, this company was the manufacturer of chemicals and dyes.
Other industry respresented on the east riverfront included the Peninsular Car Works producing railroad cars, the Detroit Stove Company established in 1870 and the Michigan Stove Company established in 1872, both involved in world-wide distribution of stoves.
The railroad companies also grew and as time passed, more land was accumulated for railroad tracks, warehouses for freight, round houses, and expanded depot stations. Self-propelled steamers were used to transport the railroad cars from one side of the river to the other. The first boat was commissioned from London in 1867 and carried 14 freight cars from the docks at the foot of Beaubien to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. A complex system of lifts and tracks enabled the transport of materials without loading or unloading. Prior to the railroad ferry, all goods had to be transferred to ferries by hand and then reloaded again. The new boats handled over 15,000 passenger cars and about 400,000 freight cars annually in the late 1800's.
As early as 1871, there was talk of a tunnel to Canada, for railroad cars and a site was chosen at the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad station on St. Antoine. After digging about 135 feet, the work was abandoned. Michigan Central Railroad built a tunnel on the west riverfront, which was not completed until 1910. As industry increased on the riverfront, other transporation methods were utilized. A sidetrack for the factories and foundries provided daytime service by horse-drawn car and a freight tramway on the docks of Moffat Etherly Lumber Company was also in use in the late 1800's. Two ferry slips with dockage facilities at the foot of Beaubien and St. Antoine provided transportation service for passengers and carriages.
After the invention of the automobile, car ferry service was established. As passenger and freight traffic increased, the depot at the foot of Brush Street was expanded to contain two restaurants, a baggage room, and a larger waiting area. Eventually a custom house opened across the street from the depot at the end of the 1890's and three trolley lines went passed this same area.