When Polish Women Shut Down a Detroit Factory

The Mazer-Cressman Cigar Factory in Detroit, Michigan, was designed by Albert Kahn. In 1937, Polish immigrant women staged a sit-down strike to demand better pay and working conditions. The women were successful after Governor Frank Murphy forced negotiations, but the plant was sold and abandoned shortly after. For decades, it was the City of Detroit Department of Social Services. In September 2025, the City of Detroit listed it for sale. Read a detailed history of the Mazer-Cressman Cigar Company Plant: https://www.eherg.com/locations/5031-... SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: T-Shirts: https://thisbuildingmatters-shop.four... Print Shop: https://www.eherg.com/shop 00:00 - Who Was Jacob Mazer? 00:48 - The Mazer Cigar Manufacturing Company 01:21 - Detroit’s Cigar Industry 01:46 - The Original Cigar Plant 02:11 - The Mazer-Cressman Cigar Company 02:28 - The Modern Plant 03:03 - Setting The Scene 03:19 - The Sit-Down Strike 04:58 - Strike Aftermath 05:41 - WPA, Prince & Co., Detroit Welfare Department 06:21 - Sherman Laboratories 06:47 - City Ownership 07:11 - Government Cheese 07:48 - A Modern Office Building 08:08 - City Controversy 09:05 - Abandonment 09:38 - Historic Designation 10:13 - Up For Sale 11:15 - The Future 11:37 - Final Thoughts 12:06 - Ginger Use my Historically Significant Interactive Map: https://www.eherg.com/map Check out recently added locations: https://www.eherg.com/locations