My City August 2022

MYHISTORY

The Mayors of Flint PART 8: A COMPANY TOWN

BY PETER HINTERMAN

In the late 1920s, Flint was hoppin’. e automobile industry was driving population, production, innovation and expansion. e city as we know it today was mainly shaped during this time period. In 1928, Hurley Hospital was built, the Kearsley Dam was installed forming the Kearsley Reservoir, the Flint Institute of Arts was founded by George Crapo Wilson, Northern High School was opened on McClellan Avenue (the ‰rst Central-Northern football game was held as a result), the Capitol eatre opened its doors and the C.S. Mott Foundation bestowed its ‰rst grants. General Motors was in the middle of record-breaking success and, in 1928, built its 5 millionth car. ey were the law of the land and employed nearly 80% of all working men in the area. Flint was a GM town and, with a change in public charter, ruled it from the top down … that is until a little event that happened in 1936 changed the public support to that of the working man. is series has tracked each of Flint’s mayor’s throughout history, providing short accounts of their professions, lives and deci sions made during their terms (if known). Some mayors were men/women of great deeds or of great controversy; some simply acted as placeholders in time. Each of them, however, chaired a city important to the country and its citizens on its path through triumph and heartbreak, and toward its revitalization. For Part 1 of this series, see the 2022 January issue of MCM!

Argus / stock.adobe.com Tana Svoboda / stock.adobe.com

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