Skip to Main Content
Wisconsin Hometown Stories

Janesville: GM

GM came to Janesville to build tractors, and switched to making cars.

Aired 05/07/2006 | Rating TV-G

Wisconsin Hometown Stories

Janesville: GM

Clip: Special | 58m 1sVideo has Closed Captions

GM came to Janesville to build tractors, and switched to making cars.

Janesville’s fortunes changed in 1918-'19 when General Motors (GM) purchased the Janesville Machine Company, a farm implement maker. GM then moved the Samson Tractor factory to the city, and Janesville began making tractors. Eventually GM switched to building Chevrolet automobiles until 2008, when the plant closed.

Aired 05/07/2006 | Rating TV-G

Wisconsin Hometown Stories is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin

Janesville: A Perfect Society

Video has Closed Captions

Idealistic New Englanders chose Janesville as the location for building a perfect society. (9m 30s)

Janesville: Growth

Video has Closed Captions

Janesville grew by adding the making of farm implements to its expanding agriculture. (5m 27s)

Janesville: I Love You Truly

Video has Closed Captions

Carrie Jacobs Bond was the first woman to sell a million copies of a song. (5m 29s)

Janesville: Intro

Video has Closed Captions

Pioneer settler Henry Janes blazed a trail soon followed by hundreds, and then thousands, (9m 18s)

Janesville: Lincoln Slept Here

William Tallman built a grand home that housed famous guests including Abraham Lincoln. (5m 52s)

Janesville: Milestones

Video has Closed Captions

New parks, better schools and government, and good-paying jobs helped Janesville thrive. (6m 28s)

Janesville: Strong-minded Women

Video has Closed Captions

Janesville's Frances Willard and Lavinia Goodell led a movement for women’s rights. (5m 44s)

Janesville: Two Names

Video has Closed Captions

Through technical advances and marketing genius, Parker Pen put Janesville on the map. (8m 7s)

Providing Support for PBS.org

Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship

Wisconsin Hometown Stories is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin

Sign in with Email

or

Continue with GoogleContinue with FacebookContinue with Apple

By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are you sure you want to remove null from My List?