In a ceremony last week, Fifth Third Bank in Rossford, Ohio officially turned over the Ford Plate Glass Factory Whistle to Industrial Power Systems (IPS). The whistle is remembered by many throughout Rossford, as it was blown at the Ford Plate Glass Company factory to signal shift change and the occasional accident or fire.
IPS recently renovated and moved into the historical Ford Club building that was built in 1917. The building is recognized as an anchor building in downtown Rossford. The building, which will be open to the public for an open house in June, is designed in a way that supports the forward looking vision of IPS, while giving nods to tradition and history throughout. The whistle will be permanently enshrined in the lobby of the building, along with other artifacts and historical photos of the space.
IPS recently renovated and moved into the historical Ford Club building that was built in 1917. The building is recognized as an anchor building in downtown Rossford. The building, which will be open to the public for an open house in June, is designed in a way that supports the forward looking vision of IPS, while giving nods to tradition and history throughout. The whistle will be permanently enshrined in the lobby of the building, along with other artifacts and historical photos of the space.
The whistle has been stored by Fifth Third bank for 30 years, since the dedication of Ford Park which is the last time the whistle was blown. It was discovered by a gentleman that purchased it off of a scrap pile at Libbey Owens Ford (LOF), now Pilkington. The whistle was covered by 40 layers of spray paint, so he didn’t initially know what he had purchased. A decade after he purchased it, he removed the paint and realized that he had the original whistle, complete with the Ford Plate Glass Co. est. 1898 emblem.
During the Rossford Centennial celebration he offered to sell it to the planning committee before turning it over to a museum. Through a generous donation from Fee Leboutillier, a direct descendant of Edward Ford, the committee was able to purchase the whistle for the celebration.
“Industrial Power Systems (IPS) is honored to house and display the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company whistle than has been a part of Rossford history for the last 120 years," says Stephen Vasquez, Business Development Manager for IPS. "We are equally proud to have restored a historic Rossford anchor property, the Ford Club for our new Corporate Office.”
For more information contact:
Stephen Vasquez
Industrial Power Systems
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
During the Rossford Centennial celebration he offered to sell it to the planning committee before turning it over to a museum. Through a generous donation from Fee Leboutillier, a direct descendant of Edward Ford, the committee was able to purchase the whistle for the celebration.
“Industrial Power Systems (IPS) is honored to house and display the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company whistle than has been a part of Rossford history for the last 120 years," says Stephen Vasquez, Business Development Manager for IPS. "We are equally proud to have restored a historic Rossford anchor property, the Ford Club for our new Corporate Office.”
For more information contact:
Stephen Vasquez
Industrial Power Systems
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
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