The Decision That Changed Two Cities: Why Ford Chose Detroit Over Toledo

Of course, you’re thinking, “Henry Ford picked Detroit over Toledo?” Nope — not that Ford. The title is a playful tease. This post is about Edward Ford, not Henry.

In 1907, glass magnate Edward Ford was ready to make his mark by constructing a grand headquarters. Considering his busy plate glass plant was less than a mile upriver, Toledo seemed like a natural fit — until skyrocketing land prices scared him off. According to Ford, as soon as Toledo’s developers discovered he was looking for a prime downtown site, the prices became absurd. The uncontrolled greed essentially priced him out of town.

That experience pushed Ford to look north. After carefully considering Detroit’s booming industries, rapid growth, and strong banking and office infrastructure, he decided Detroit was the smarter investment. The Detroit Free Press put it simply: “Detroit—its population, industries, business climate, natural advantages, past progress, future prospects, and the strength of its banks and offices—had been thoroughly sized up by Mr. Ford.”

And the final push toward Detroit? That came from a chance meeting on a train. Famed Detroit real estate developer William W. Hannon recalled that while traveling to Boston to visit his brother, he struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger — none other than J.B. Ford, Edward Ford’s oldest son. The talk soon turned to real estate, and Hannon assured Ford that he knew exactly where the family should build their headquarters. The Fords took his advice, and the rest is history.

The Ford Building, designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham, still stands proud today at the northwest corner of Griswold and Congress Streets — a lasting reminder of one businessman’s decision, one insightful developer’s advice, and a train ride that changed the skylines of Toledo and Detroit forever.