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Dow Chemical Co. vinyl toluene plant. 1958
Dow's hypersorber tower stands at 208 feet in the center of Dow's Midland Division. The tower quickly became a Dow landmark. 1951
Dow plant in 1902. In the foreground is the "Old Mill," where many a Dow process was to be developed. In the background, between the brinewell derrick and the powerhouse chimneys, stands the apparatus by which Dow was trying to reduce the Saginaw Valley coal to tar, gas and ammonia. 1902
The Ellsworth building of the Dow Chemical Co., constructed at Ellsworth and Haley streets. It was built of pre-stressed, precast concrete without the use of structural steel or rivets. October 1958
Dow Main Street office. Date unknown
New Methocel Plant at The Dow Chemical Co. 1958
Dow Chemical Co. plant. Date unknown
Preparation for the installation of hypersorber. It is unknown when the hypersober was erected but a 1951 shows it among the Dow landscape.
The hypersorber as it is being erected. It is unknown when the hypersober was installed but a 1951 shows it among the Dow landscape.
The styrene monomer towers, Dow landmarks, are toppled. Dow stopped production of styrene monomers in 1985. November 1987
Dow Administrative Center. Date unknown
The styrene monomer towers, Dow landmarks, are toppled. Dow stopped production of styrene monomers in 1985. November 1987
Chemists Zonia Cutie and Dr. Larry Jackson in Dow's new product and development laboratory. April 1976
David E. Grandsen in Dow's environmental sciences laboratory. April 1976
Dow Chemical Co. President Paul F. Oreffice, left, shares a laugh with William G. Wood of ASM International, formerly the American Society for Metals. Oreffice accepted a plaque that designates one of Dow's brine wells as an ASM historical landmark. April 1987
The hypersorber. It is unknown when the hypersober was erected but a 1951 shows it among the Dow landscape.
Dow Administrative Building in Midland. 1958
Pipes, pipes and more pipes -- the impression of many upon first seeing the Dow Chemical Co. complex. August 1975
The Dow Chemical Company bleaching house and Inclined bleach elevator.
The Dow Chemical Co., circa 1890-1900
The Dow Chemical Company in 1898, including the bleaching powder station.
The Dow Chemical Co., looking north across Bay City Road from the old Elm Works and Shingle Mill.
The first office building of The Dow Chemical Co., with E.W. Bennett and Flora Thompson standing outside.
Early Dow Chemical Co. personnel, circa 1900-1910. Third man from left is Earl Bennett.
Early employees of the Dow Chemical Co. taken in front of the first office. 1900-1910 From left, H.H. Dow, E.O. Cross, F.N. Lowry, A.E. Converse, J.E. LeFevre, J.C. Graves, D. Richardson, E.W. Bennett, T. Griswold, M.B. Johnson.
Postcard photo of early Dow Chemical Co. plant. On the right (upstream) is the No. 1 building, the powerhouse is in center, and the bromine plant is on the far left.
Early Dow Chemical Company office staff, March 9, 1916 Standing, from left, William Nash, William Bay, J.P. Holmes, Perley Wayne, A.C. Beckert, Joseph E. LeFevre, Thomas Griswold, Herbert H. Dow, C.R. Hunsacker, Arthur N. Patriache, Fred N. Lowry, Norman Best, E.M. Littlefield. Middle row: Clyde Bordner, Vera (Hadsall) Griswold, Flora Currie, Roena Graves, Ethel McKay, Clara Turner, F.J. Nelson, Carl E. Barnes. Front row: Mrs. Mae (Barclay) DeFoe, Gertrude Callahan, Carrie Smith, Winnifred Thayer, Mary Burow, Kathryn Goodwin.
Power House area inside Dow Chemical plant. Note elevated railroad tracks with railroad cars and large piles of empty containers by tracks.
From left, Paul Oreffice, Carl Gerstacker, Herbert "Ted" Doan and C. Ben Branch in a television interview, circa 1960-70.
From left, Paul Oreffice, Carl Gerstacker, Herbert "Ted" Doan and C. Ben Branch in a television interview, circa 1960-70.
Upon researching the book, "Growth Company: Dow Chemical's First Century," author Ellis Norman "Ned" Brant told the Daily News in 1995 that company founder Herbert H. Dow would prove leaves serve as plant nutrients by raking them away from one pear tree to another similar one. The tree with the leaves at its base did grow more fruit, Dow concluded.
Brandt, a retired Dow Chemical employee, described Dow, who conducted experiments in fruit-growing, as the most fascinating person he had run across in the five years of interviewing 100 people for the book.
In addition to running a company, which this month celebrates its 125th anniversary, Dow conducted experiments in fruit-growing and also developed beautiful gardens. Today, the Dow estate is now open as Dow Gardens.
"He certainly was a little bit crazy, certainly very peculiar," Brandt said. "He measured everything."
Brandt said Dow used to time himself putting together a jigsaw puzzle so he could measure his efficiency. When he found out one day he put a puzzle together more quickly after a cup of tea, he made tea a drinking habit.
Throwback is compiled by former Daily News managing editor, Lori Qualls. She can be contacted at loriquallsmdn@gmail.com
Lori Qualls retired as Daily News managing editor in early 2021, after 36 years of employment. She graduated with a journalism major and Earth science minor from Central Michigan University. She has received numerous writing awards over the years, the latest being a 2020 second place award for feature writing and a 2019 best column award from the Michigan Press Association. She enjoys listening to classic rock on vinyl records and watching the sky, both night and day.