From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, March 10, 1915: Thirty-two new Ford sedan cars led a two-mile long automobile parade, that included a truck carrying a band, through streets crowded with spectators to yesterday’s gala opening of the Ford Motor Company’s new assembling plant, 1325 East Washington Street. More than 1,000 persons gathered in a large first floor stockroom of the factory building to hear Fred I. Willis, president of the Chamber of Commerce, discuss the importance of the automobile industry to Indianapolis, and pointed to Ford’s choice of the city as a new indication of its importance in commercial distribution. A. H. Smith manager of the new plant and others also addressed the guests. More than 5,000 persons took the opportunity to inspect the new Ford plant that will provide steady employment for 500 men.