In the fall of 1923, GM was evaluating the business case for four wheel brakes on vehicles and performing tests on public roads in Flint, MI. During the evaluation process, roads being used for evaluation were repaired by maintenance crews and data gathered was not consistant over the evaluation period. During this time the General Technical Committee was formed and discussion began about roads built on private property for the purpose of testing automobiles. A decision was made to locate a suitable piece of property near Detroit to build a level mile strip of concrete, a modest garage and a hill of at least 10% gradient.
November 1923
At the General Technical Committee meeting on January 17, 1924, both the principle and location of the GM Proving Ground were approved, which meant that purchase of the land could proceed. The 1924 land owners of the 1148 acres near the border of Livingston and Oakland counties which became the Proving Ground were Anna Palmer, Joseph & Mary Clark, Richard & Maggie Darlington, David Jackson, William & Ester Percy, Jesse & Estelle Eno, Roy & Mina Regan, John Muir, Charles Todd, Cora Bird, Darwin Bird, Lebert Bird, Mary Bidwell, Will Duckering, George Duckering, Fannie Richman, Laura McClements and Jennie Hughes. In 1926 an additional 120 acres of land were purchased from G. L. Dimmick. In 1927 the land and school building of the Bird School (which formed an indentation of about an acre on the west side of the property) was purchased for $500. The total cost for the 1268 acres including commissions was $110,274.27.
Director 1924-1925
May 1924 Original Road Construction – Handyside Construction Company
May 1924
May 1924
May 14, 1924 Completed November 30, 1924
There were seven houses on the purchased property: Regan, Clark, Darlington, Percy (brick), Duckering, Jackson and Bird. By 1950, all the original houses had been moved or demolished except for the Percy House.
July 24, 1924 Completed December 31, 1924
First Test Equipment – Fifth Wheel Speedometer, accelerometer, decelerometer, fuel economy measuring apparatus
October 1924 Completed June 30, 1925
Started 1924
Completed 1924
Started 1924
Director 1924-1929
Speed Loop Traveled First Time in July 1925
Started August 1925 - Completed October 1925
Completed August 29, 1925
Completed September 1925
Completed October 1925
Bath Tub Completed October 1925
North-South Straightaway opened in 1926
East-West Straightaway opened in 1926
Gate House Construction Started April 1926 - Completed July 31, 1926
Started January 15, 1926 - Completed July 31, 1926
General Motors Road completed 1926
Crew's Quarters Completed October 31, 1926
Director's (Kreusser) House Completed December 31, 1926
Building 30 Addition completed
Two More Rooms Added to Crew's Quarters February 28, 1927
Building 9 completed 1927
Building 3 completed 1927
East Half of Building 2 Completed (Auditorium and Cafeteria) June 30, 1927
Addition to Club House Completed July 21, 1927
Paving Between Buildings 1 and 2 Completed
Power House Completed October 31, 1927
Building 3 Completed
Weather House Completed February 1928
Building 4 Arcade Completed August 31, 1928
11.6% Test Hill opened in 1929
24% Downhill Track opened in 1929
Barnes Circle Access Road opened in 1929
Belgian Block Loop opened in 1929
Construction of Two Residences on Labadie Road Completed
Hill Route opened in 1929
DuPont Circle opened in 1929
Director 1929 - 1941
Assistant Director's Residence Completed December 31, 1929
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