Staff reports| South Bend Tribune
From the grand architecture of Tippecanoe Place to the technology park near downtown, it’s nearly impossible to live in the South Bend area and not be regularly reminded of Studebaker Corp. and the automaker’s impact.
In December 1963, the Studebaker plant closed in South Bend, and the city faced a dramatically altered future. In time, new jobs were created, new buildings went up and new generations moved on.
But the company left permanent marks on the region.
Local landmarks
Most area residents are familiar with Tippecanoe Place, the grand Romanesque mansion Clement Studebaker built in the 1880s on West Washington Street. The mansion has served as a landmark restaurant since 1980. But there are plenty of other places that were associated with Studebaker Corp. or the Studebaker family.
The Studebaker Administration Building (vacant) still stands on the former factory grounds. There’s also Studebaker School, Studebaker Golf Course, Studebaker Plaza (on the site of the original Studebaker blacksmith shop), the JMS Building (John M. Studebaker) that recently was renovated into apartments, Trinity School at Greenlawn (originally the estate of Clement Studebaker Jr.), Stanley Clark School (the former estate of Studebaker President Paul Hoffman) and Erskine Park Golf Course (named for the donor, Studebaker President Albert Erskine). On the city’s south side stand Erskine Village and Erskine Plaza, two shopping centers that draw on the former president’s name.
Memorial Hospital — originally Epworth Hospital, the first building in South Bend designed specifically as a hospital — was built largely with a $50,000 gift in 1902 from the estate of Clement Studebaker.
The former Studebaker test track and proving grounds, on Indiana 2 new New Carlisle, is now owned and used by Navistar, a manufacturer of commercial trucks and other vehicles. The property is closed to the public except for special occasions.
And the Studebaker living tree sign — created from more than 8,000 pine seedlings in 1938 — still stands in Bendix Woods County Park, originally part of the Studebaker proving grounds. Viewed by airplane from overhead, the trees spell out the name “Studebaker.” In 2015, volunteers planted about 2,400 small pine trees to “renew” the sign, because some of the original trees had died from old age.
Religious institutions
Studebaker family members were major benefactors to religious institutions. Four of the five Studebaker brothers donated significantly to local churches:
• Clement Studebaker contributed to Methodist institutions. In the late 1800s, he provided money to build Milburn Memorial Chapel, which stood at the corner of Thomas and McPherson streets, and was named in honor of his father-in-law, George Milburn. Later, Clement and his wife, Anna, provided funds to build and furnish St. Paul’s United Memorial Methodist Church, 1001 W. Colfax Ave.
Three of the church pews in which the family sat for services still have the Studebaker name on brass plates. The church’s stained-glass windows, made in Germany, were selected by Clement and Anna Studebaker. One window includes a depiction of Clement.
• John Studebaker and his wife, Mary, were benefactors of First Presbyterian Church, at Lafayette Boulevard and Washington Street. The building, still standing, in more recent years has served as a home for other religious congregations. The Presbyterian congregation moved to what is now Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 115 S. Frances St., on former Studebaker family land.
• Peter Studebaker provided substantial support to build the South Bend Episcopalian Church, which is now the Cathedral of St. James, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd. Four windows in the church are from Tiffany Studios, including the rose window over the rear door, which was a gift from Peter Studebaker and family.
• Jacob Studebaker supported the First Baptist Church (no longer standing), which was at Main and Wayne streets.
Learn the history
Studebaker National Museum, at 201 S. Chapin St., is a 55,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2005 and draws about 40,000 visitors each year.
The museum’s history goes back to the late 19th century, when Clement Studebaker started collecting historical carriages and adding Studebaker vehicles to the collection. By the 1960s, the collection numbered 37 vehicles. Studebaker was the only major wagon and carriage company that made a successful transition to auto production. The company produced both wagons and autos between 1902 and 1920, with the first Studebaker electric car introduced in 1902, and the first gasoline-powered car in 1904.
In 1966, the company donated its vehicle collection and archives to the city of South Bend. That original collection formed the basis for the development of the museum, and the museum’s collection has grown to about 120 vehicles.
Visitors to the museum can see a wide range of Studebaker vehicles, from some of the company’s early wagons and carriages to the Studebaker and Avanti models of the early 1960s. The museum also is home to four historical presidential carriages, including the one President Abraham Lincoln rode to Ford’s Theatre on the night he was assassinated. For museum details, see studebakermuseum.org.
For more history, follow the Studebaker-Bendix Heritage Trail, which highlights spots in the community that were important in the history of the Studebaker Corp. and the Bendix Corp. Directional signs throughout the city help navigate the trail, which takes about 90 minutes. For details, see goo.gl/9l25AQ.
Studebaker enthusiasts
Studebaker Drivers Club, founded in 1962, exists to honor Studebaker automobiles and Studebaker-related products. There’s a Michiana Chapter of the club for Studebaker enthusiasts who live in this area. For information, see www.michiana-chapter-sdc.net.
Food establishments
Studebagels, a bagel shop that has operated for years at 1801 South Bend Ave. and has a partnership with South Bend Chocolate Co., is a spin on the former company’s name. Baker’s Bar & Grille, a restaurant with a Studebaker car theme, operates in the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown South Bend. The Rolling Stonebaker is a mobile wood-fired pizza oven created in 2010 by a northwest Indiana couple out of a 1949 Studebaker firetruck.
Local businesses
Some area businesses and manufacturing firms grew out of Studebaker or resulted from its demise.
• The largest is AM General, which makes vehicles for commercial and military customers. AM General was the original designer and maker of Humvee military vehicles and Hummer H1 commercial vehicles.
Studebaker’s former plant at 701 W. Chippewa Ave. was acquired by Kaiser-Jeep in 1964 and continued to serve as a vehicle production facility until the early 1990s, mainly fulfilling government contracts. Kaiser-Jeep was purchased by American Motors in the late 1960s, which later created AM General to handle government and military contracts.
Other local businesses with roots to Studebaker include:
• Studebaker International Inc., located in the Studebaker Business Center, at 701 W. Chippewa Ave. It is the world’s largest supplier of new, old and reproduction parts for Studebaker vehicles. Most of the firm’s massive collection of items is left from what remained when the automaker ceased production in South Bend.
• NCP Coatings, a custom paints and other coatings firm based in Niles. C.M. “Marvin” Hannewyk II started the company, formerly known as Niles Chemical Paint, in 1948 after working as a salesman for a paint company in Louisville, Ky. He developed accounts in Indiana while working as a paint salesman, and one of those was with Studebaker. NCP eventually made interior and body colors for Studebaker vehicles, and continued working with the auto manufacturer until it ended production in South Bend.
• Freeman-Spicer Financial Services Inc., a business financing firm. It grew from an auto financing service started decades ago by Freeman-Spicer, a South Bend dealership of Studebaker and other car brands.
New ventures
• Ignition Park, the city’s 80-acre technology park, is developing on downtown land along Sample Street formerly occupied by Studebaker. The park contains the Notre Dame Turbormachinery Laboratory; Data Realty, a data storage and analytics firm; and the Transpo bus headquarters. Great Lakes Capital has two buildings in the park — Catalyst One and Catalyst Two — that are home to a handful of growing technology companies.
• Just north of Ignition Park, also on land formerly occupied by the automaker, businessman Kevin Smith is expanding his Union Station Technology center in a former Studebaker assembly plant building at 635 S. Lafayette Blvd. That area collectively is known as the Renaissance District.
Renovation work is well along in the two-story south building, with a couple of technology firms already tenants there. The building is expected to be fully occupied this summer. The renovation focus then will shift to the massive, six-story north section of the complex. That section is expected to house data suites for computer servers, business offices and perhaps condominiums.
