A Celebration at New Departure

In November 1954 the General Motors Corporation celebrated the production of its 50 millionth automobile, with commemorations at 114 General Motors plants throughout the United States. The New Departure plant in Sandusky, which made precision ball bearings for GM vehicles, participated in the event with a factory open house on November 23.  

The doors of the plant, on the corner of Hayes and Perkins Avenues, opened to the public at one o'clock. 

Visitors followed a directed route through the factory to view production operations, along with historic displays; the tour ended with an exhibit of the new 1955 model automobiles from Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Cadillac, as well as the new line of Frigidaire appliances. It was noted that all of these products used bearings manufactured at New Departure.

More than 4000 people attended the open house, according to New Departure officials.

The New Departure Company began in 1889, and was acquired by General Motors in 1916. The Sandusky plant opened in 1946. The Sandusky Library Archives Research Center holds a scrapbook compiled to commemorate the New Departure open house and the celebration of GM's 50 millionth automobile.