FROM FURS TO LUMBER TO TANK TREADS
A book about MUSKEGON: Where we came from, and how we got here. Who pushed, who pulled, and what we did when we arrived. Over 100 full page photos of ancient Greater Muskegon.
In 1940, following the "Lend Lease Act" of Congress, the United States became known as the Arsenal of Defense.
Muskegon, however, was already known as the Grey-Iron center of the nation. And even before Campbell, Wyant and Cannon, and Lakey Foundry began operations, heavy industry had already been established.
In 1891, the Cornerstone for the current building that
houses Lift-Tech International, was put in place.
Alton J. Shaw brought his business over from Milwaukee, and Shaw Electric became one of the first factorys to locate in Muskegon Heights. Because of the far-sightedness of Charles Hackley and others, there would be more.
The sawmills that once encircled Muskegon Lake were soon replaced by foundrys and scrap-metal yards. Today the shoreline is mostly cleaned up, replaced by tourist attractions and water activities. Any industry to occupy the shoreline will be clean industrys.
Nevertheless, Muskegon is still considered by many to be a blue-colored work area. We are an industrial town. We are the back-bone of the former 'Rust-Belt'; there is much to be proud of.
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