Oakland Motor Company headquarters Pontiac MI (predecessor of Pontiac Motors)

The origin of Pontiac Motors & GM

[tetchuma]

I was looking at the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps of the area. The original “Oakland Motor Car Company” factory faced Branch Street, with the Clinton River behind it.
To the north was Wessen St, with railroad track running next to the whole factory, across the Clinton River.

According to the 1906 map, the Wessen Indoor Tennis Club is roughly sitting in the footprint of the Oakland Motor Car Company’s first factory.

121 Branch Street, Pontiac, MI is the exact spot.

The railroad track is gone, but the path still exists as the “Clinton River Trail”.

This started off as the Pontiac Buggy Company, then became Oakland.

[JoquanDaHooligan]

Wow I did not know that I remember that that building served as a school for a second but I didn't know the GM had that

[mehomeboymi]

I got a job as a clerk back in 1967, Each week I took the scrap reports from the foundry and stored them in these buildings. I used to spend at least an hour going through old photos and records stored there. Guess I was nosey but there was some cool stuff there.. John Deleon had his office there until he and the employees moved to the new Administration Building at the main Pontiac Motor complex. The building on your left as you go down Edison street was used in the 50s by the Pontiac Retail Store for a bump shop. They repaired my 1953 Pontiac in 1959.

[YeynasJourneys]

i grew up in Michigan and I NEVER went to Pontiac. Too bad- it looks awesome! Thanks for taking us along 😊👍🏻

[DazewithJordantheLion]

I like the small multicolor squares for the windows

[DazewithJordantheLion]

I love the old buildings!! what great history..

[JamesBond-pbqy]

Surprised they are Not burnd down . Worked for Pontiac back in the 90s there

[billfeld]

In America people would live close to the factory and walk too work, that is why the blue collar neighborhoods the east is full of them. Cars changed all of that after the Second World War !!! Oakland will always be Oakland to some of us older people!!! 2021

[wlc]

Is that big factory still there or torn down? I was born and raised in Pontiac, most of my family worked there.

[tetchuma]

Are we sure this was the original building?
It may have been for Pontiac, but that can’t be the original Oakland Building.
That building is 4 stories, but the original is 3 stories.
Was Cesar Chavez Blvd originally a railroad?
In all the photos, there are two rail lines that run along the length of the factory.

[polishtheturdmickelson]

The thing I remember about Pontiac is the horrible streets. So many potholes. They are bad.