Woodward Body Works was the largest manufacturing facility in Austin at one time. Much history about Woodward Body Works seemed accurately preserved but forgotten. This news article will explore what happened to Woodward Body Works.
Woodward Manufacturing Corporation also was Woodward Body Works and Woodward Manufacturing Company. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation and Woodward Body Works evolved out of each other. Woodward Body Works was organized to manufacture truck bodies for Chevrolet and Ford. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was organized to manufacture wooden furniture using native Texas hardwoods such as gum and magnolia.
Woodward Carriage Company was the precursor of Winerich Motor Company and the Woodward Body Works in both San Antonio & Austin. Woodward Carriage Company would eventually become the Woodward Body Works. (Ref: https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/NR/pdfs/96000069/96000069.pdf)
Woodward Carriage Company was located at 213 North St. Mary Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205. The address was 213 N St. Mary St, San Antonio, TX. (Ref: San Antonio Gazette, Page 12, April 24, 1909)
When World War I was over in 1919, Penn Field was on the market. In July 1919, Penn Field was sold in sealed bids to Sam Sparks and D. J. Woodward of Austin, who paid for the property $107,555. The company was incorporated for $250,000. It was proposed to make this a model factory with ideal facilities for cars. (Ref: Austin American, Page 5, Sunday, September 12, 1920)
Sam Sparks and D. J. Woodward of San Antonio purchased 75 acres of land in Penn Field in South Austin with 1¾ mile of the railroad tracks. One of Penn Field’s original buildings would be used to manufacture Ford and Chevrolet commercial truck bodies. A business called Woodward Manufacturing Corporation would established and constructed on this land. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation moved part of their manufacturing division from San Antonio up to Austin. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=239617)
The founders were Judges Hill neighbors Sam Sparks, “Commodore” Edgar H. Perry, David Cleveland Reed, and William Caswell. William Caswell served as president of Woodward Body Works from the late 1920s to its sale circa 1960. (Ref: Woodward Body Works: Commercial Bodies for Chevrolets)
Woodward Body Works was located in the Woodward Industrial District at Penn Field at the address of 3601 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, US 78704. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/Real_Estate_Data/Easement%20Releases/10232-1912%203601%20S%20Congress%20(WL%20V5817%20P703)/10232-1912%20ER%20App%20Review%20Packet.pdf)
The first truck was manufactured in 1921. In 1921, D. J. Woodward made Sam Sparks president of Woodward Body Works. Dave Woodward Jr. of San Antonio was in charge of the plant and had been at work all summer getting things ready. His father was the senior member of the firm, and had an experience of many years in the carriage building and painting business. (Ref: Galveston News, Page 1, May 6, 1922)
Raw material was brought to the main entrance on the west side. Raw material entered the front door making the circuit of the building by leaving at the opposite side as the finished product Each portion of the work was done by a separate machine that does that kind of work. Each machine was run by an individual motor. Hardwood from East Texas was used for the automobile bodies and coffins to be manufactured. Wood was removed on dollies to the various points in the building where it was converted into material for a specific design. Cars were stored and dried in the building next to the main factory. These cars would be shipped from there. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation also built box cars as there was great demand for freight cars during that time. (Ref: Austin American, Page 5, Sunday, September 12, 1920)
As a manufacturing unit, Woodward Manufacturing Corporation and Woodward Body Works increased their output to keep up with their orders as demand increased. (Ref: Austin American, Austin Manufacturing Unit Increases Output to Keep Up with Orders)
The Woodward Manufacturing Corporation plant was destroyed by a tornado leaving at least one employee dying from injuries and about 25 employees injured. About 150 people were living at the plant. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was Austin’s largest factory at the time. They lost everything. The plant was later demolished. (Ref; Austin American, Cyclones Kill 10, 1922)
There was no insurance for tornado. They received the most damage in town. Sparks was quoted as “heartbroken over his injured men” and unable to discuss his financial losses. This was the greatest property loss in all of Austin. The mass of wreckage was unbelievable. The largest financial loss was sustained by the Woodward Manufacturing Corporation in the destruction of its Penn Field plant. It is estimated that approximately $100,000 worth of the $100,000 plant may be salvaged. (Ref: Austin American, Heartbroken Over His Injured Men, Sparks Cannot Talk Losses, 1922)
It is estimated that approximately $100,000 worth of the $100,000 plant may be salvaged. Woodward Manufacturing Company had figured that out as an estimate. (Ref: The Accounting Plan of the Woodward Manufacturing Company of Austin, Texas, Thomas J. Moffitt, 1922)
Property damage to the company was nearly $250,000. The total properly loss from the two twisters was $600,000 to $700,000. The tornadoes followed two parallel courses, one on the north side and the other on the south side of the Colorado River four to five miles apart. (Ref: The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada, Page 14, Saturday, May 6, 1922)
The Woodward Body Works business remained after 1922. Woodward Body Works was incorporated with capital stock of $125,000 in 1923. It was stated Woodward Body Works reorganized and will operate a plant to manufacture truck bodies for Ford cars, comprising a main on-story building, 105 x 300 feet, and four one-story buildings, 60 x 200 feet. Equipment was provided for metal and wood. Woodward Body Works manufactured car bodies. (Ref: Iron Age, Volume 111, Page 463)
Power was connected to the plant in 1924 with a line in power from the city plant. This made news in the Austin American. (Ref: Austin American, CITY PAYS FOR WOODWARD LINE, Page 10, Sunday, August 31, 1924)
Purchase of the pipe line, running from the city limits in South Austin to the Woodward Body Works in Penn Field, with pumps and equipment, was completed by the city yesterday with the receipt of a bill of sale from Sam Sparks, president of the company. The city paid $5,500 for the line and equipment to Penn Field, the purchase price being made about two years ago, the manufacturing company agreeing to receive payment for the line in power from the city plant. Yesterday the city and the manufacturing company exchanged checks for the amount of the purchase price, the city paying for the pipe line and the Woodward company for its power. As a result of the purchase, the city has secured many new water customers in addition to trade of the Woodward company. Since the purchase of the line almost two years ago, according to Commissioner C. N. Avery, the entire route has become lined with consumers from the city, a number of dairies and gins being among the largest customers of the city.
Now Woodward Body Works was reposted be located on South Congress Avenue in 1952. The company shared the fame address and facilities as Woodward Manufacturing Company did at one time. (Ref: Central Texas Business & Professional Directory, Wm. Skaggs, editor, Centex Publications, Austin, 1952)
The San Antonio division of Woodward Body Works shut down in 1960 and their operations were moved to Austin as that is where Woodward Body Works located.
Around 1960 is when Woodward Body Works and Woodward Manufacturing Corporation were sold to Arthur Temple Jr. of Temple Industries. Arthur Temple Jr. later sold Woodward Body Works to Joe A Hampton in 1978. (Ref: Woodward Body Works: Commercial Bodies for Chevrolets) 
Woodward Body Works continued to manufacture cars until 1981 when the company decided to dissolve due to business decisions made by Joe A Hampton. Joe A Hampton was responsible for dissolving Woodward Body Works altogether.
Woodward Body Works was located at 3601 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, US 78704.
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