Studebaker-Bendix Heritage Trail
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SOUTH BEND’S TITANS OF There are few better ways to learn TheINDUSTRY Bend’s history than traveling the Studebaker- Learning more is simple. You can navigate the trail by referencing the map in this Bendix Trail. It highlights two companies that shaped South Bend and the surrounding brochure or by utilizing the addresses under each destination. Driving the entire trail area through the factories and homes they built and the churches they funded. takes approximately 90 minutes. Allow additional time for visiting museums. STUDEBAKER BLACKSMITH SHOP HIGHWAY MARKER & CARRIAGE FACTORY SITE SW. CORNER OF W. WASHINGTON & MICHIGAN ST. CORNER OF S. MICHIGAN ST. JMS BUILDING & E. JEFFERSON BLVD. 108 N. MAIN ST. 2 Emigrating from Gettysburg, Transportation and the Pennsylvania, via Ashland, movement of goods played an Ohio, the Studebaker brothers important role in South Bend’s constructed their first blacksmith growth. As car traffic increased, shop and carriage, factory on this major highways intersected here. site in 1852. Located in the heart of These included Lincoln and Dixie South Bend’s growing business district Highways and the Michigan Road. near the St. Joseph River (look to the east), John M. Studebaker constructed the 1 the Studebakers’ business grew rapidly as JMS office building (pictured) in 1909. a supplier of wagons during the Civil War. It was South Bend’s tallest building at the They remained on this site until the late 1880s. time of its construction and was connected Production then moved to Studebaker’s newer to other nearby buildings by tunnels. plant south of downtown. STUDEBAKER ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 635 S. MAIN ST. | National Register of Historic Places BODY ASSEMBLY BUILDING 635 S. LAFAYETTE BLVD. Designed by noted Chicago architect Solon Beman, Studebaker constructed this Administration Building (corner of Bronson and Main) in 1906. The company was still manufacturing carriages and STUDEBAKER FACTORY SITE wagons but was moving into automobiles. Clad in oversize brick SAMPLE ST. resembling street pavers, the building housed engineering, sales, accounting and executive offices. It provided state You are now standing in the of the art employee perks such as a men’s and middle of what grew to become women’s gym, bowling alley and cafeteria. the 120-acre Studebaker factory The 1923 Body Assembly Building west of the site. The central power plant, shown Administration was designed by industrial above, provided power and heat via architect Albert Kahn. It is a simple industrial tunnels to the entire complex. It sat design with exposed concrete structure approximately where the South Bend and large windows to provide ample Police station is now. At its peak in 1950, light for workers. Studebaker the complex employed 24,000 workers automobile bodies were built and produced 343,000 automobiles. here before heading to the final assembly line. 4 3 5 OLIVER FACTORY SITE THE HISTORY MUSEUM 918 OLIVER CT. 808 W. WASHINGTON ST. | 574.235.9664 | historymuseumsb.org This is the former factory STUDEBAKER NATIONAL MUSEUM site for Oliver Chilled Plow 201 CHAPIN ST. | 574.235.9714 | studebakermuseum.org Works, credited with the cultivation of the western Explore the Studebaker National prairie. The power plant Museum and The History Museum. you see provided power Here you’ll experience a rich collection to the factory and J.D. of historic Studebaker carriages, Oliver’s home a few wagons and automobiles, tour the blocks north — the first home of J.D. Oliver and learn more home in South Bend to be electrically lit. about the early history of South Although not directly related to Studebaker and Bend and St. Joseph County. Bendix history, Oliver Chilled Plow is another example of a world-known industry in South Bend. See the interpretive plaques on site for more information. 6 TIPPECANOE PLACE FORMER FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 620 W. WASHINGTON ST. | 574.234.9077 | tippe.com 302 W. WASHINGTON ST. | National Register of Historic Places 7 National Historic Landmark SAINT JAMES The West Washington neighborhood EPISCOPAL CHURCH was home to many of South Bend’s 117 N. LAFAYETTE BLVD. | 574.232.4837 successful businessmen. Here stjamessouthbend.org Clem Studebaker constructed his family home, Tippecanoe Place, In addition to constructing designed by Chicago architect factories, family homes and Henry Cobbs. Completed buildings for other commercial in 1889 in the Richardson ventures, the Studebakers Romanesque style, it funded parks, hospitals and completely burned churches. John M. Studebaker and was rebuilt donated funds to help construct a year later. At the Romanesque style former one time it had First Presbyterian Church with its a matching carriage massive stone walls and tower. house. It was destroyed Saint James is a simplified gothic by fire in the 1960s. Today with red brick, partially funded by it is one of South Bend’s most Peter Studebaker. popular restaurants. 8 sh Rd Adams Rd A h Rd c Bir Anderson Rd CITY CEMETERY BENDIX CORPORATION 214 ELM ST. | 574.235.9458 | sbva.org HEADQUARTERS St Joseph River National Register of Historic Places 401 N. BENDIX DR. INDIANA TROLL OAD Established in 1832, City Cemetery Vincent Bendix in 1923 started Bendix 10 is the oldest formal cemetery in Corporation, growing the company South Bend. Here you can see the into a worldwide producer of final resting place for many notable automotive and airplane brakes, South Bend families including carburetors and starting drives. several of the Studebaker family Bendix Aviation launched in and U.S. Vice President Schuyler 1929. Here Bendix created Colfax. Look for the original the first office and 9 mausoleum for Peter Studebaker factory (pictured right). ST. PAUL’S (pictured) and the obelisk where Bendix introduced he is buried. Stop by the the first anti-lock tCoun y Rd 6 MEMORIAL Sexton’s Office for a map METHODIST CHURCH braking system with the cemetery’s history for automobiles 1001 W. COLFAX AVE. | 574.234.6940 and burial sites. Be sure to in 1971. Bendix stpaulsmemorial.com INDIANA TROLL OcheckAD out the location of Corp. eventually the failed Kankakee Mill was purchased and Clem Studebaker funded the Race and its remaining construction of St. Paul’s in a merged with Allied 11 stone bridge. h Rd Gothic style of cut limestone. Signal and later with c Today it’s part of the W. Washington Honeywell and Bosch. ee National Historic District. B BENDIX FIELD/SOUTH BEND BENDIX WOODS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COUNTY PARK 4477 PROGRESS DR. | 574.282.4590 | flysbn.com TIMOTHY RD. OFF SR 2 | 574.654.3155 | sjcparks.org National Register of Historic Places Park in the short-term lot and visit the displays upstairs in the terminal at the South Bend The current site of Bendix Woods County Park was International Airport, where you’ll learn more first developed by the Studebaker Corporation 12 about South Bend’s link to early as its automotive proving ground. It featured a aviation history. Vincent Bendix clubhouse built in 1926 (today park offices at started constructing the airport, the east end of the park), a test track and Dunn Rd with its dirt runway, in 1929. a road course. Studebaker planted 8,000 Several notable early aviators pine trees to spell the company’s name visited, including Amelia Earhart. as a salute to the aviation industry. The Bendix started the Bendix Trophy half-mile sign is still visible from the — a transcontinental U.S. race air today. When Studebaker closed, from Los Angeles to Cleveland Bendix acquired the property and — to encourage the development donated a portion in 1966 to of efficient aircraft for commercial the newly formed county park Edison Rd aviation. The race continued annually board. Part of the original from 1931 to 1962. The first race was proving ground is used won at a speed of 223 miles per hour. by Navistar. 13 sh Rd A PLEASE NOTE: SOME LOCATIONS HAVE LIMITED HOURS & ADMISSION FEES. Adams Rd h Rd CHECK ONLINE OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION. c Bir Old US 20 Anderson Rd LAFAYETTE BLVD LAFAYETTE St Joseph River PORTAGE AVE INDIANA TOLL ROAD THE STUDEBAKER BENDIX MICHIGAN ST BENDIX DR HERITAGEUS 20 BUSINESS TRAIL RNO TH BIRDSELL ST LAPORTE AVE County Rd 6 OLI STUDEBAKER ST NILES AVE INDIANA TOLL ROAD V E ST BERTRAND ST ST WALNUT h Rd c MEADE ST Bir Rd ee LINCOLN WAY W B 10 ELM ST 11 ORANGE ST 9 DR MLKJRBLVD COLFAX AVE COLFAX AVE COLFAX AVE WASHINGTON ST Dunn Rd WASHINGTON ST 8 2 SCOTT ST 7 ST TAYLOR JEFFERSON BLVD 12 6 JEFFERSON BLVD JEFFERSON BLVD Edison Rd ANGELA BLVD THOMAS ST 1 sh Rd MICHIGAN ST MAYFLOWER RD MAYFLOWER PORTAGE AVE WAYNE ST A BENDIX DR US 20 BUSINESS NAPIER ST Old US 20 EDISON RD LYNN ST ST. JOSEPHPKWY ST. SR 2 LINCOLN WAY W WESTERN AVE WALNUT ST WALNUT MONROE ST Bir Rd FILMORE RD ORANGE ST LAFAYETTE BLVD LAFAYETTE OLIVER SOUTH ST SOUTH ST FELLOWS ST OLIVE ST CHAPIN ST PLOW CT sh Rd 3 A SR 2 WESTERN AVE CHAPIN ST 13 5 BRONSON ST MAIN ST SAMPLE ST MICHIGAN ST 4 SAMPLE ST SAMPLE ST SAMPLE ST Apple Rd BENDIX THE nI wood Rd Ireland Rd Jac kson Rd l i a r T n o i STUDEBAKER t p m u S HERITAGE TRAIL h Rd c ee Cedar Rd B Roosevelt Rd Apple Rd Madison Rd New Rd nI wood Rd Ireland Rd Jac kson Rd l i a r T n o i t p m u S h Rd c ee Cedar Rd B Roosevelt Rd Layton Rd Madison Rd New Rd.