Harry Bennett

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Harry Bennett (1892-1979) a former boxer and ex-Navy sailor who was an executive at Ford Motor Company during the 1930’s and 1940’s. His reputation of doing Henry Ford's "dirty work" is what most people remember. He is best known as the head of Ford’s Service Department, or Internal Security. While working for Ford, his union busting tactics made him a foe of the United Auto Workers. The Battle of the Overpass was lead by Bennett. In 1945, Henry Ford II fired Bennett.

[edit] Bennett Lodge

Bennett had a secret lodge (43.9160° N 85.0320° W) near Farwell, Michigan, where he hunted and hid from his enemies. This lodge eventually became part of the BSA Lost Lake Scout Reservation, still used as a summer camp to this day. Scouts learn many things about Bennett's life while camping at the reservation. The reservation is a property of the Clinton Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Bennett Lodge, as it is known to campers, is a product of the paranoia of Harry Bennett. Bennett dug an actual moat around his house which is at the top of a hill. Then he threw logs into the moat with 6 inch spikes protruding from it. To this day, scouts are warned of falling into the moat, not only is it overgrown with weeds, the Lost Lake Staff is also not confident they have removed all the logs and spikes from it. Afterwards Bennett built only one bridge across and is said to have rigged it with dynamite. Then Harry Bennett built his lodge to his exact specification. 3 inch thick glass and one foot thick concrete, thus making the building entirely bullet and mortar proof. The concrete was painted and shaped to give the appearance of a log cabin.

The lodge also has multiple secret passages and means of escape, either leading to the surrounding property or eventually to a private airfield also owned by Bennett. In the lodge there is one false fireplace and a false ventilation shaft, both of which are secret passages out. The fireplace leads to the roof where a machine gun turret is rumored to have been stationed. Today the staff of Lost Lake maintains a barbecue in the suspected place. The ventilation shaft leads to the grounds around the lodge. Many closet and room doors within the house swing outward (contrary to normal building practices) to block corridors completely, in an effort to impede potential pursuers. The concrete stairwell leading to the basement is composed of stairs of random dimensions, the sequence of which Bennett is said to have practiced and memorized. Upon extinguishing the stairwell lights, Bennett could dash down the stairs quickly, whereas a pursuer would have to step cautiously or risk tripping.

The basement is where Harry did all, if any, of his killing. It is suspected that Harry had killed labor leaders but this is unverified. However, his basement was designed for silent murders. It had a solid concrete floor which was painted red, presumably to avoid stains. Also the floor slopes into the center where a drain is located, presumably to make cleaning the remains easier.

Many rumors surround Bennett Lodge and the lake that Bennett owned, the most well known is that there are cars at the bottom of the lake. This is actually not a rumor because there are pictures of the cars in the main camp office, the cars include but are not limited to 3 Model T's and an Edsel. Two Model T's have their doors welded shut; some believe this is evidence of murders having been committed on the property.

In spite of his reputation as paranoid and antisocial, Bennett is remembered for hosting friends at the lodge. According to one tale, Bennett's outdoor, in-ground pool was popular with both male and female partygoers. The sexes customarily bathed separately, and swim attire was provided by the host. Occasionally, Bennett would invite his guests to swim, ladies first, but would "regret" having to inform them that the swim attire was unavailable (supposedly missing or dirty). Some women would choose to swim anyway, in the nude, and the men would politely return to the house where they would follow Bennett into his basement. There, a one-way mirror between a basement lounge and the pool water allowed them to spy on the women. Today, the glass does not remain, and the pool has fallen into disrepair.