1925 - 1930 Horace E. Dodge Boat Works Inc - 522 Lycaste Avenue Detroit
All But The First Photo Was Taken by Mark Mason / New England Boat and Motor of Historic Dodge Boat Works Inc Lycaste Avenue Detroit Shop (10-2016) along with some irreplaceable classics from his 1974-1976 visits.
History of the Building:
RCH Corp 1911-1915 The RCH Corporation was incorporated to manufacture automobiles by Hupmobile founder, Robert Craig Hupp (RCH) in 1911 shortly after he sold his interest in Hupp Motor Car Company. Hupp instead developed a lower priced car for about $1,000. By 1912, the company was selling 7,000 cars a year. However, shortcuts were taken to maintain such a level of production and quality issues appeared. By the following year the company was in receivership. Following a reorganization, Hupp left in 1914. Unfortunately RCH's reputation was so badly damaged that sales vanished and the company ceased production in 1915.
Liberty Motor Car 1916-1921: The Liberty Motor Car Company was incorporated in 1916 and acquired the former RCH pant to produce its automobile. By 1919, production had reached 6,200 vehicles a year and the Lycaste Avenue plant had reached its capacity. At that time, 12 acres of land were acquired at the north west corner of Charlevoix Avenue and Connors Avenue and a new 91,000 sq. ft. factory was constructed. Production at the new factory peaked at 11,000 cars in 1921 and by 1923 the company was out of business.
Kess-Line Motors 1921: Kess-Line Motors was the successor corporation to Kessler Motor which was founded in 1920 by Martin Kessler to produce a mid-priced four cylinder car. In 1921, the company leased the old RCH Corporation building to manufacture cars. The Kess-Line was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 1922, but no vehicles were ever produced.
Horace E Dodge Boat Works 1925-1930: After his father's death in 1920, Horace E. Dodge Jr., started to look for his own venture. In 1923, at the age of 23 he incorporated the Horace E Dodge Boat Works to manufacture boats using automobile assembly techniques. Originally operating from a building at 2670 Atwater Street, the factory was moved to Lycaste Avenue in 1925. At that time the company was constructing five boats (Watercars) a day. Horace's management was erratic as he became obsessed with powerboat racing. After much effort and money, he won the Gold Cup in 1932 and 1936. In 1930, the company changed its name to Horace E Dodge Boat & Plane and moved to a new plant in Newport News, Virginia.
Kennelly & Sisman 1941 - 1988: Established in 1941, Kennelly & Sisman was a shipping company founded by Florence Sisman and her partner Jack Kennelly. Florence Sisman was the former sister-in-law of Horace Dodge Jr. and the longtime secretary and confidant of his mother Anna Dodge. The company mainly shipped auto parts and did work for Chrysler. In the 1970s a warehouse was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Florence Sisman, who was also well known in speed boat racing circles, died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1982. The company moved to 20501 Pennsylvania Road in Brownstown Township in 1989.
Read MoreHistory of the Building:
RCH Corp 1911-1915 The RCH Corporation was incorporated to manufacture automobiles by Hupmobile founder, Robert Craig Hupp (RCH) in 1911 shortly after he sold his interest in Hupp Motor Car Company. Hupp instead developed a lower priced car for about $1,000. By 1912, the company was selling 7,000 cars a year. However, shortcuts were taken to maintain such a level of production and quality issues appeared. By the following year the company was in receivership. Following a reorganization, Hupp left in 1914. Unfortunately RCH's reputation was so badly damaged that sales vanished and the company ceased production in 1915.
Liberty Motor Car 1916-1921: The Liberty Motor Car Company was incorporated in 1916 and acquired the former RCH pant to produce its automobile. By 1919, production had reached 6,200 vehicles a year and the Lycaste Avenue plant had reached its capacity. At that time, 12 acres of land were acquired at the north west corner of Charlevoix Avenue and Connors Avenue and a new 91,000 sq. ft. factory was constructed. Production at the new factory peaked at 11,000 cars in 1921 and by 1923 the company was out of business.
Kess-Line Motors 1921: Kess-Line Motors was the successor corporation to Kessler Motor which was founded in 1920 by Martin Kessler to produce a mid-priced four cylinder car. In 1921, the company leased the old RCH Corporation building to manufacture cars. The Kess-Line was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 1922, but no vehicles were ever produced.
Horace E Dodge Boat Works 1925-1930: After his father's death in 1920, Horace E. Dodge Jr., started to look for his own venture. In 1923, at the age of 23 he incorporated the Horace E Dodge Boat Works to manufacture boats using automobile assembly techniques. Originally operating from a building at 2670 Atwater Street, the factory was moved to Lycaste Avenue in 1925. At that time the company was constructing five boats (Watercars) a day. Horace's management was erratic as he became obsessed with powerboat racing. After much effort and money, he won the Gold Cup in 1932 and 1936. In 1930, the company changed its name to Horace E Dodge Boat & Plane and moved to a new plant in Newport News, Virginia.
Kennelly & Sisman 1941 - 1988: Established in 1941, Kennelly & Sisman was a shipping company founded by Florence Sisman and her partner Jack Kennelly. Florence Sisman was the former sister-in-law of Horace Dodge Jr. and the longtime secretary and confidant of his mother Anna Dodge. The company mainly shipped auto parts and did work for Chrysler. In the 1970s a warehouse was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Florence Sisman, who was also well known in speed boat racing circles, died at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1982. The company moved to 20501 Pennsylvania Road in Brownstown Township in 1989.
