Gabriel Corro is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 2027 and majoring in History. Gabe has worked at the Rock County Historical Society as a docent and recently as the Operations Intern. Gabe wanted to share a part of the story of The Heartbeat of Janesville’s GM exhibit, which is located at the Rock County Historical Society. Gabe has always loved history, especially the history of his community and is honored to publish his work in Wisconsin 101.
By This Author:
OBJECT HISTORY: Chevy Caprice
General Motors was the largest car manufacturing corporation in the world in the 1960s, and the assembly of the 100 millionth General Motors vehicle, a marina blue 1967 Chevrolet Caprice with a soft black top and complementary blue interior, was a significant milestone which demonstrated the company’s power and prestige during its golden age of production.
Janesville General Motors Assembly Plant
Formed in 1919, the Janesville Assembly Plant transitioned from a farm machine manufacturer into an automobile assembly line in 1923, and the ingenuity, skill, and industriousness of Janesville’s work force that both brought GM to the city and contributed to General Motors’ national success.
Janesville GM 1937 Strike
In 1937, nationwide strikes helped establish the power of the United Auto Workers; these strikes were called sit-down strikes because workers stopped work and sat-down at the plant, remaining in place for many hours or even days.