Archive for the ‘Auto Landmarks’ Category

Happy Centennial, Speedway Indiana

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

July 3, 2012, marks the centennial of the founding of the town of Speedway Indiana. This date commemorates the transfer of the deeds for the 240 acre site to Carl G. Fisher and James A. Allison, owners of the Globe Realty Company, and Lemon H. Trotter, their real estate partner.

The partners conceived Speedway to be a horseless manufacturing city adjacent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway served by two railroads and modern thoroughfares. The city was designed to be attractive to skilled workers to provide steady employment for the nearby factories.


Allison Engineering Plant 1

Allison Engineering Plant 1
Copyright ©2012 Dennis E. Horvath

The realty company laid out the residential section on a grid of streets between 16th and 10th streets and between Main and Winton. The east side of Main Street was platted for factories.

Fisher and Allison’s Prest-O-Lite Company was the first to build five buildings on the north plat near 16th Street. The charging building was located at the far end of the property to preclude damage to other properties from possible gas explosions. This facility opened in May 12, 1913. Swartz Electric Company, makers of automobile batteries and electric appliances, opened its plant about the same time. The Electric Steel Company completed facilities in 1915.

The lots on the west side of Main Street were specified for stores and offices. In late 1916, Allison became the sole owner of the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company and moved operations to a small shop on the corner of the Prest-O-Lite lot. The morning after America declared war on Germany in 1917, Allison instructed his chief engineer to find out how to get war orders going. Thus, the Allison Experimental Company was founded. Allison Experimental Company Plant 1 was built on the south side of 13th and Main Street in 1917 for the production of Liberty aircraft engines and other war material.

Other factories followed and the residential streets began to fill up. In 1926, the town was incorporated and experienced explosive growth during World War II, when the company now known as Allison Division of General Motors became a large manufacturer of military aircraft engines.

Speedway is experiencing renewal along Main Street in this new century. I wish a Happy Centennial to Speedway Indiana.

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Ligonier Indiana Automotive Landmarks

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Yesterday, I enjoyed a great day at the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association Retreat for board members and guests in Ligonier, IN. In the morning, we took a walking tour of downtown and discovered some Indiana automotive landmarks.


Reo Cars Ghost Sign

Reo Cars Ghost Sign
in Ligonier Indiana
Copyright © 2012 Dennis E. Horvath


As we walked north on Cavin St. (the former N. Lincolnway) someone noticed a ghost sign for the Ligonier Garage on the south façade at 106 South Cavin. A little while later, we visited the Ligonier Historical Museum on Main Street. The folks there were very helpful in providing reference materials to attempt to date the sign. A 1914 Sanborn map noted that the first floor of the building was a garage with a cement floor, but no proprietor was listed. A 1916 Chautauqua program had a Reo advertisement with the same address.

Mier Carriage & Buggy

Mier Carriage & Buggy
in Ligonier Indiana
Copyright © 2012 Dennis E. Horvath


Earlier while driving around town, I noticed a three story building with a crumbling west façade at 104 North Water St. While perusing the same 1914 Sanborn map, I discovered that this was the former site of the Mier Carriage & Buggy Company. The map provides a description of how materials and finished vehicles flowed through the building. Sales, body making, wood working, and wheel shop were on the first floor; with painting, varnishing, axles, and rubber tiring on the second floor; and body finishing and upholstering on the third floor.

The Mier Carriage & Buggy Company had the distinction of building the first three-story building in town. A.B. Mier joined his father Solomon Mier in the buggy business at the turn of the twentieth century. They ventured into the automotive field in 1908, when they added a two-cylinder engine with a friction transmission and double-chain drive to their buggy offerings. They sold about 100 of these high-wheeler runabouts with solid rubber tires and right-hand drive controls for less than $600. Longer wheelbase motorized runabouts, stanhopes, and surreys were offered for 1909. Thereafter, the Miers returned to exclusive manufacture of horse drawn carriages and wagons.

Unfortunately, with the deteriorating condition of this structure, it looks like we will soon lose another Indiana automotive landmark. I understand that currently, there are no plans to save this building.

It’s time to get out and enjoy some Indiana automotive landmarks along the Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway, National Road, and the Michigan Road. In the future, I’ll share upcoming events along these highways. Visit the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association website for more information.

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Indiana Historic Map Resource

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Recently Indiana Landmarks shared a link to an Indiana Historic Map Resource. This link is to the Indiana Sanborn Historic Maps 1883-1966 repository at the Indiana University Herman B. Wells Library Map Collections.

The Sanborn Map and Publishing Company was a primary publisher of fire insurance maps between 1883 and 1966. The maps present a detailed account of urban development and change in communities during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The large-scale (1:600) Sanborn maps are useful to auto enthusiasts for street layouts, building footprints, building use, and house and block numbers.

The Sanborn maps in the Indiana University Herman B Wells Library Map Collections are a joint project between Indiana University and the Historical Information Gatherers, Inc., providing digital color versions to the Indiana Spatial Data Portal (ISDP).

Many Indiana urban areas, such as Indianapolis and South Bend, have multiple map volumes. Sanborn divided large city volumes into multiple maps covering smaller areas. The first map in each volume provides a key map to the other maps in the same volume.

Here’s the process to find the respective map of your choice. For this demonstration, I’ll show you how to locate a 1915 Indianapolis map for the Stutz Motor Car Company at 1002-1008 North Capital Avenue. First, click on this metadata link. Here, you double click on (IN_Sanborn_Historicmaps_in formation.xls) to access the Excel data file for the year, city, and file name of the city index file.

In the archive, the filename of each map image includes: (1) the five digit HIG code used to identify the location (2) the volume number (3) the year the map was created and (4) additional information regarding map location and volume. For us, this would be 02371, volume 4, 1915, index filename noted as 02371_04_1915-0000.

With this filename you dig deeper. Go to the public directory link. Here, you have a choice of mosaic, pdf, or tif files, click on the file type of your choice. Next, you scroll down and click on 1915. Then, scroll down to the Indianapolis index file 02371_04_1915-0000 and click to download the file. With the index file on your screen, scroll down to the bottom of the map and you’ll notice that 1002-1008 North Capital Avenue is on map number 356. Go back to the previous screen to the 1915 Indianapolis section, scroll down and click to download file 02371_04_1915-0356.


Stutz Motor Car Company on 1915 Sanborn Map

Stutz Motor Car Company
Copyright © 1915 Sanborn Map & Publishing

Peruse the information for the Stutz Motor Car Co. It talks about building construction and how the autos progressed through the plant from frame assembly on the first floor all the way up to the fourth floor final assembly.

I also checked out Federal Motor Works (former Marion Plant) 321-341 W. 15th St.; Ford Motor Co. Indianapolis Assembly Branch 1307-1323 E. Washington St.; Parry Manufacturing Co. 1002 W. Henry St.; The Pathfinder Co. 1140 Division St., Nordyke & Marmon Co. 1131 W. Morris St.; National Motor Vehicle Co. 1101-1147 E. 22nd St.; and the former site of the Empire Motor Car Co., W. 29th St. & the Canal.

Hey, I even checked to see if my grandparents’ last home in South Bend existed in 1917. Sure enough, there it was a couple of blocks just south of Lincoln Way.

I invite you to check out this great Indiana historic map resource.

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Indianapolis Auto Row

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

In the 1920′s, a 10-block area along North Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis became the home to several segments of the auto industry. If you wanted a new car or service in Indianapolis, this is where you would come. So, let’s take a stroll along N. Capitol to visit sites and structures of that bygone era.

The genesis for Indianapolis Auto Row began with Carl G. Fisher relocating his Fisher Automobile Co. showroom to 400 North Capitol Avenue in 1909. The Fisher Gibson Co. followed in 1910 at 416; with the following firms over the next decade, National Motor Vehicle Co. showroom (1911-1912) at 426-428; Fisher Automobile Co. (1918) at 434-442; and Colonial Automobile Co. (1917) at 444-450. Along the east side of the 400 block of N. Capitol were: Peterson Keyes Automobile Co. (1915) at 401-411; Central Motor Parts Co. (1913) at 419-425; Gates Masters Co. (1911) at 431; and the only currently existing building the Gibson Co. (1916-1917) at 433-447.


The Gibson Co. in 2007

The Gibson Co. Building in 2007
Copyright © 2007 Dennis E. Horvath

The Cadillac Co. of Indiana/Automobile College at 500-514 N. Capitol was built from 1910-1911. The first floor housed a Cadillac dealership and on the second floor was the college that was reputed to be one of the first “technical” schools related to autos. Just north on the west side of the block was Cooper Tire Service built in 1910.

Continuing up the west side of the street to the 600 block of N. Capitol, we come to the William Small Co. (1915) at 602. At this site in 1920, Louis J. Chevrolet built four Monroe and three Frontenac race cars. His brother Gaston Chevrolet drove a Monroe to victory in the 1920 Indianapolis 500.

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. built its regional service center at 640 N. Capitol in 1913. Across the street on the east side was the Williams Building, known as a “cafeteria of auto parts companies,” built in 1916-1917 at 611-617. Just north was the Hatfield Ford Co. showroom and service center at 627 N. Capitol built in 1920. This building served as a Ford dealer into the 1970’s.


The Stutz Motor Car Company

The Stutz Motor Car Company
Copyright © 2007 Dennis E. Horvath

Walking a few blocks north we come to the Stutz Motor Car Co. (1914-1920) at 1002-1008 N. Capitol and the Ideal Motor Car Co. (1911) at 221 W. 10th Street. The first Stutz automobile was built at Ideal for the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1911. A Stutz Model A torpedo roadster served as the pace car at the 1912 Indianapolis 500. In June 1913, the Ideal Motor Car Company was reorganized as the Stutz Motor Car Company. Following the initial success of the Stutz Bearcat roadster, construction of new facilities commenced at the 1002 N. Capitol. Stutz production continued here until 1934.

Further along the street we have the Harry V. Hyatt Graham-Paige Co. at 1327 N. Capitol built in 1929. This building is a good example of a single-story showroom. In the next block was the Stutz Fire Engine company at 1411 N. Capitol built in 1919. Across the street was the HCS Motor Car Co. at 1402 N. Capitol built in 1920-1921. This was Harry Clayton Stutz’s last auto venture.

I believe this area deserves a more formal designation as “Indianapolis Auto Row” for its large concentration of automotive related sites from the first three decades of the twentieth century. Most people are unaware that they are passing by some Indiana automotive landmarks as they motor down North Capitol Avenue in a hurry to work or to an entertainment venue.

So, take a look during your next visit to downtown Indianapolis.

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Ford Indianapolis assembly branch

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Every day travelers along the National Road pass the former Ford Indianapolis assembly branch at 1315 East Washington Street. To meet America’s insatiable demand and to reduce shipping costs for finished Model T’s, the company built more than 24 assembly plants at key locations around the country.


Ford Indianapolis Assembly Branch

Ford Indianapolis Assembly Branch
Copyright © Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company opened its four-story assembly branch (known as Plant 215) in the fall of 1914. Production of Ford cars and trucks continued unabated for nearly two decades, except for a period during World War I and model changeovers.

In May 1924, the new Car Delivery Unit was erected at the rear of the site fronting on Southeastern Avenue. The plant layout was expanded twice in the mid-1920′s to allow more space for assembly operations. These expansions increased the plant’s capacity to 300 assembled cars per day. With this capacity, the Indianapolis assembly branch had the highest output of any Indiana auto manufacturing site in its era.


Ford Indianapolis Body Drop

Ford Indianapolis Body Drop
Copyright © 1926 Ford Motor Company

Ford body assembly and finishing operations commenced at this plant in 1929. The Great Depression, however, also took its toll on Ford. As a result, Ford discontinued production operations in December 1932. Limited operations resumed at the site as a Ford parts service and automotive sales branch in July 1934. The plant operated on this basis into the 1940′s.

The Ford Indianapolis assembly branch operated during Indianapolis’ heyday of automotive manufacturing in the first part of the Twentieth Century. The next time you drive by this location, you’ll know the rest of the story.

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Studebaker Aboreal Sign Receives Grant

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

The St. Joseph County Parks Foundation received a $2,500 endangered places grant from Indiana Landmarks for the Studebaker Aboreal Sign in Bendix Woods County Park in New Carlislie, Indiana. The living tree landmark sign, especially visible from the air, spells out “Studebaker” in red and white pine trees standing over 60 feet tall.

The landmark, created with over 8,000 6-inch red and white pine seedlings in 1938, spells out the word “Studebaker” from the air. The sign is about a half-mile long. In those days, the land was the Studebaker automobile company’s vehicle proving grounds. The sign was created as a salute to the growing aviation industry.

The grant will help pay for a long-range management and preservation plan for the trees first planted in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The plan will assess the condition of the trees, outline maintenance and treatment, and address re-planting. “The sign is not in immediate peril, but because trees require time to grow, a plan is essential to ensure that we can keep it in healthy, readable condition,” says Evelyn Kirkwood, Director of St. Joseph County Parks.

“The grant from Indiana Landmarks must be matched, and we welcome contributions from people who value the Studebaker arboreal sign as a unique living landmark,” Kirkwood notes.

After the Studebaker Corporation ceased operation in South Bend in the 1960s, the proving grounds were sold to the Bendix Corp. In 1966, Bendix donated 175 acres and the former Studebaker Clubhouse on the property to create Bendix Woods County Park.

The former clubhouse still stands and is used as a nature center. The aboreal sign and clubhouse are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Studebaker tree sign earned a place in the 1987 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest living advertising sign. In addition to the Great Wall of China, the Studebaker living tree sign can be seen from space.

“Indiana Landmarks mostly works to preserve significant buildings, but historic landscapes also are part of the group’s mission,” said Todd Zeiger, director of the organization’s northern office.

The grant must be matched with donations to cover the $4,650 total cost of the study. Contributions may be mailed to: St. Joseph County Parks Foundation, St. Patrick’s County Park, 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN 46637. Or contact Evelyn Kirkwood, St. Joseph County Parks, 574-277-4828 x214, ekirkwood@sjcparks.org

I encourage those interested in preserving the Studebaker arboreal sign endangered living landmark to contribute to the matching donations fund at the St. Joseph County Parks Foundation noted above. So, the next time you are flying over northern Indiana, check out the Studebaker arboreal sign just west of South Bend.

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What’s happening with the Plainfield Diner?

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

The Plainfield Diner, which closed in 2009, still sits vacant at its site on the north side of the National Road (U.S. 40) on the town’s east side. I am concerned about the building and sign disappearing from the landscape forever.


Plainfield Diner

The Plainfield Diner
Copyright © 2007 Dennis E. Horvath

The 1954 diner, built in the Streamline Modern style, was manufactured in New Jersey and transported to Indiana by rail. The front portion is the original 35-foot chrome structure, accented by red, white, and blue stripes. Inside, it still has the original 1954 peach and gray tile interior, with a peach-colored counter. The coffee cup sign and pink tile interior created a setting inspired by speed and the motor age.

Diners were especially popular in the 1940s and 1950s, enticing patrons looking for convenient, made-to-order food, hot breakfasts, tenderloin sandwiches, chili platters, and steaming coffee. The Plainfield Diner is believed to be one of the last structures of its kind on the National Road.

The diner was placed on Indiana Landmarks 10 Most Endangered List in May 2010, after The Plainfield Health Department closed the restaurant in 2009 citing structural deterioration. In September 2010, the Town of Plainfield enlisted Ratio Architects to perform a relocation study for the 1950s-style Plainfield Diner.

However, some companies have expressed interest in moving the diner to the town’s westside, said Joe James, Plainfield Director of Planning and Zoning. “We’re in the process of looking at proposals and getting bids for moving it. We do want to keep it on U.S. 40.”

For more information on this Indiana automotive landmark, visit the Save the Plainfield Diner Facebook page.

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