Grateful for Tecumseh Products

News of the Tecumseh Products move from its longtime headquarters on Patterson Street to Pittsfield Township, only 30 miles up the road, came as a shock to some people when it was announced last week by CEO Ed Buker in a press release.

Buker, a relative stranger to Tecumseh, stated that the new location would benefit the company because of its proximity to Detroit Metro Airport and “advantages in attracting talented people with international experience.” There’s likely additional reasons for the move as well. We doubt the distance to the airport was a factor and find it difficult to believe that “talented” people aren’t easily attracted to our community. We already have many “talented” people, young and old, to prove it.

The fact is: the Tecumseh Products will be leaving its home after a 74-year span. The fact is sad, some are angry, and many saw it coming.

We encourage the community to be grateful for what the Products, and specifically the Herrick family, have done for our community. It’s tough to say what the face of Tecumseh would look like today had it not been for the generosity of the company that put our city on the map as “the refrigeration capital of the world” with a workforce that at one time reached 5,000.

Ray Herrick and his philosophy of giving back to the community has contributed enormously to the city’s growth. Schools, churches, our hospital, city hall, auditorium, community center, fire department, parks, and more were made possible by gifts from the Herrick family. Tecumseh Products and the Herricks have made a huge impact on the city, one that will last for many years to come. We wish the “new” Tecumseh Products good luck in its new location, and we say a sincere thank you for leaving us with the city we’re proud to call home.