Misplaced Pages

#392607

76-434: Designed at a time when Studebaker's truck line had not seen major upgrading in over 10 years, Studebaker engineers were forced to use a number of existing components to fit within the $ 900,000 budget given them by the company's Board of Directors, but the end result was astonishingly fresh and competitive in price, capability and performance with other American-built trucks of the era. The Champ, unlike most American pickups of

152-468: A feature that is nearly universal among today's pickup trucks: the sliding rear window, which was available from the start, proved to be quite popular among Champ buyers. It was truly one of Studebaker's better ideas, and caught on later among the major truck makers. With a cab based on a sedan body, the Champ was among the first pickups to offer true "car-like" comfort, with a wide, comfortable bench seat and

228-427: A handsomely-styled interior. Other manufacturers took until the late 1960s and early 1970s to follow the Champ's lead. Finally, the last Champs of 1963-64 were among the first American trucks — if not the first — to offer service bodies constructed of fiberglass. Today, such bodies made of fiberglass and composites are still gaining acceptance, with the steel service body remaining the norm. While it didn't prove to be

304-502: A light-duty pickup truck. The Transtar name reappeared on Studebaker's medium- and heavy-duty trucks (1- and 2-ton) for 1960, and continued to be used on these trucks up through its 1964 models. Studebaker suspended production of all of its truck models when it closed its United States factory in December 1963. This truck-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . South Bend, Indiana South Bend

380-466: A new line of 1/2-ton and 3/4-ton trucks under the name Studebaker Champ . The Champs used front-end and cab sheetmetal from the 1959-60 Lark passenger cars, mated to their existing light-duty truck chassis and drive trains. The Champs were created in response to the Ford Ranchero (introduced in 1957) and Chevrolet El Camino (introduced in 1959), which used passenger car styling and features in

456-667: A population of 324,501 in 2020, while its combined statistical area had 812,199. The area was settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bend's economy through the mid-20th century. River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation , the Oliver Chilled Plow Company , and other large corporations. The population of South Bend declined after 1960, when it peaked at 132,445. This

532-733: A pro- Whig newspaper, the St. Joseph Valley Register . He was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1850, at which he opposed the barring of African American migration to Indiana. He joined the Republican Party , like many Whigs of his day, and was elected to Congress in 1855, becoming Speaker of the House in 1863 during the administration of Abraham Lincoln . In 1868, he was elected vice president under Ulysses S. Grant . Colfax returned to South Bend after his stint in Washington and

608-550: A single truck, and the AM General truck and Hummer plant took over Studebaker's former Chippewa Avenue truck plant in South Bend for military production in late 1964. This plant is now used to store every stock Studebaker part that was left after the company's closing. A section of this plant is used as a store that sells parts to collectors and people taking on restorations. The Champ is seldom given credit for introducing

684-410: A three-speed column shifted manual (AKA: 3 on the tree), with four- and five-speeds optional, as well as overdrive (with the three-speed). Studebaker's Flight-O-Matic (built by Borg-Warner) was the automatic option. This same transmission was used by other manufacturers, including Ford. Given the cobbled-up nature of the truck, sales were fairly good for the 1960 model year "5E" series. Unfortunately, it

760-567: Is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana , United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. At the 2020 census , the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourth-largest city in Indiana . Located just south of the border with Michigan , South Bend anchors the Michiana region and is 72 miles (116 km) east of downtown Chicago . The metropolitan area had

836-556: Is buried in City Cemetery, west of downtown. During the late 1830s through the 1850s, much of South Bend's development centered on the industrial complex of factories located on the two races (man-made canals along the St. Joseph River in South Bend). Several dams were created and factories were built on each side of the river. On October 4, 1851, the first steam locomotive entered South Bend. This shifted commerce from

SECTION 10

#1732790830393

912-508: Is held annually in South Bend. It is hosted by Pulse FM, a local Christian music radio station. The event is an annual Contemporary Christian music festival, attracting more than 50,000 visitors each year. In 2013, a new annual festival began in South Bend called South by South Bend, named after the famous South By Southwest of Austin, Texas. The festival is a celebration of the local music scene, with local bands and artists performing on

988-499: Is located 5 mi (8.0 km) from the Michigan border and approximately equidistant from Illinois and Ohio . The city is 93 mi (150 km) from Chicago. The shore of Lake Michigan is 20 mi (32 km) away. According to the 2010 census, South Bend has a total area of 41.877 square miles (108.46 km ), of which 41.46 square miles (107.38 km ) (or 99%) is land and 0.417 square miles (1.08 km ) (or 1%)

1064-410: Is part of a partnership between the city, General Electric, Great Lakes Capital, Indiana Michigan Power, University of Notre Dame, and the state of Indiana. Redevelopment is underway for some of the abandoned industrial facilities, with the abandoned Oliver Corporation buildings being the most recent example of reclaimed property. The city also faced programs with large swaths of vacant housing after

1140-510: Is the public name of the Northern Indiana Historical Society, the second-oldest historical society in Indiana, established in 1867 to collect and interpret the history of the northern Indiana region by St. Joseph County's leading citizens. The Oliver Mansion (also known by its original name, Copshaholm) is one of the central features of the museum. The 38-room mansion was built in 1895 and is currently listed in

1216-462: Is water. The St. Joseph River flows from the east end of the city turning north near the city center, giving South Bend its name at the bend in the river. South Bend is located on the north–south continental divide, and the river flows northwest into Lake Michigan. The downtown area is located in the north-central part of the city along the St. Joseph River. Notre Dame, Indiana , is directly adjacent to

1292-722: The American Civil War . Industrial growth was rapid after the Civil War, most notably with the Studebaker wagon factory, and the Oliver plow company . Good jobs and high wages attracted immigrants from Europe, especially Germans, Irish, and Poles. The majority were Catholic, and they achieved higher rates of social mobility than the same ethnic groups in the Northeast . Olivet African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church

1368-820: The National Register of Historic Places . The home was built by Joseph Doty Oliver, son of James Oliver, the founder of the Oliver Farm Equipment Company , once the largest plow manufacturer in the United States. In addition to the Oliver Mansion and the Workers Home (a 1920s Polish-American family home), the museum includes areas dedicated to the history of the St. Joseph River Valley, the University of Notre Dame,

1444-621: The Rust Belt designation for the northwestern and midwestern regions of the United States that experienced these effects of deindustrialization . In 1984, South Bend community leaders began seeking a minor-league baseball team for the city. A stadium was constructed in 1986 and a 10-year player-development contract was signed with the Chicago White Sox . The team would be known as the South Bend White Sox. In 1994,

1520-543: The University of Notre Dame just north of the town. It became a major factor in the area's economy and culture. South Bend was incorporated as a city on May 22, 1865, and its first elections were held on June 5, 1865, with William G. George elected as its first mayor The official city motto, "Peace", refers to the fact that incorporation came in the month following the Confederate surrender that effectively ended

1596-537: The census of 2010, there were 101,168 people, 39,760 households, and 23,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,440.1 inhabitants per square mile (942.1/km ). There were 46,324 housing units at an average density of 1,117.3 per square mile (431.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 60.5% White , 26.6% African American , 0.5% Native American , 1.3% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 6.9% from other races , and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 13.0% of

SECTION 20

#1732790830393

1672-509: The 170 remains a serviceable engine for many owners more than 60 years after it went out of production. From the start of production, those desiring V8 power could choose between Studebaker's 259- and 289 cuin engines with either a two- or four-barrel carburetor. Both engines remained largely unchanged during the truck's production run. A wide variety of transmissions, both manual and automatic, were available in Champs. Base models came with

1748-516: The 1957-58 3E series trucks, though a stripped-down Studebaker Scotsman model without the Transtar name was introduced in the 1958 model year. The 57-58 Transtars received an aggressive new fiberglass grille that attempted (largely successfully) to make Studebaker's outdated cab design look fresh and new. For unknown reasons, the Transtar name was dropped for the 1959 4E series Studebaker trucks and changed to Deluxe. For 1960, Studebaker introduced

1824-420: The 1960s, was never offered with power steering, although such a system was offered on Studebaker's heavier-duty Studebaker Transtar and Diesels. The final "8E" (1963–64) models had an improved steering system that reduced friction and, thus, steering effort, but not to the degree that power steering would have. Of course, power steering was not yet commonplace in light trucks during the early 1960s, so Studebaker

1900-469: The 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's top employers are: Efforts are under way to spur economic growth in South Bend. The St. Joe Valley Metronet is a 50-mile (80 km) dark fiber optic network that encircles South Bend and Mishawaka that allows for strong telecommunications connectivity. The South Bend Metronet, named Zing, is bringing more high-tech firms to the city and surrounding area. This telecommunications network has allowed for

1976-492: The Big Six. The new OHV six was a novel design, retaining as many existing components as possible while modernizing an engine that had been introduced in 1939. Unfortunately, the little engine's quality came into question early on, with a number of engines developing cracks in the cylinder head. The problem, which occurred most often in engines that had improperly-adjusted valves, was never completely solved, but with proper care,

2052-580: The Klan, vigorously protested this intrusion, and before noon all of the Klansmen traffic directors had been "unmasked and unrobed." Notre Dame students continued the fight, with several hundred gathering outside of the Klan headquarters, throwing rocks and smashing windows in protest. Local police as well as Notre Dame officials eventually managed to convince them to return to campus. It is said that even legendary football coach Knute Rockne became involved in

2128-656: The Riverlights Music Festival debuted as successor to Sounds by South Bend. The South Bend Museum of Art is located in Century Center in downtown South Bend. The museum was opened to the public in March 1996, and features a variety of artists from South Bend and the Michiana region. Currently, over 850 works are featured in the permanent collection. The museum also offers several classes and workshops for adults and children. The History Museum

2204-894: The adjacent unincorporated area of Notre Dame ). The city hosts several annual festivals. The South Bend International Festival began ten years ago as the South Bend Reggae Festival and now features local and international musical artists who perform in African, Latino, and American cultural styles. Proceeds from the festival are given to the Pangani Foundation of South Bend, which provides medical supplies to hospitals in Malawi . WBYT FM – B100 (Country Station) hosts an Annual All Day Country Concert, with over 37,000 free tickets in early September. The World Pulse Festival, broadcast by LeSEA Broadcasting network,

2280-555: The advent of various data centers in South Bend, which serves as a hub between Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, and Cincinnati. In 2015, the City of South Bend announced it would provide free wireless internet access via the Metronet in the city's downtown and East Bank areas. The Union Station Technology Center was purchased from the city in 1979 and is currently Northern Indiana's largest data center. There are currently plans to extend

2356-590: The area. In 1820, Pierre Frieschutz Navarre arrived, representing the American Fur Company (AFC) of John Jacob Astor . He settled near what is now downtown South Bend. Alexis Coquillard , another agent of the AFC, established a trading post known as the Big St. Joseph Station. In 1827, Lathrop Minor Taylor established a post for Samuel Hanna and Company, in whose records the name St. Joseph's, Indiana

Studebaker Champ - Misplaced Pages Continue

2432-428: The cab section was very different. While an entirely new cab was out of the question because of cost considerations, the new Lark compact car's body proved to be just the right size and shape to suit the purpose. The engineering staff took a Lark four-door sedan, cut it in half behind the front doors and modified the front half slightly to fit the mounting points on the truck chassis. The only new sheetmetal stamping that

2508-523: The cargo bed without leaving the cab of the truck. The chassis of the Champ was basically the same as what had been used for Studebaker's ½ and ¾-ton E-series trucks since 1949, a typical ladder frame with solid axles both front and rear. Despite its age, the Champ's chassis components were no more or less modern than those found in GM, Ford, Chrysler or International Harvester trucks, all of which also still used solid axle suspensions. Atop this carryover frame,

2584-743: The city and the Urban Enterprise Association. South Bend was influenced by a large influx of Polish Catholic immigrants in the late 19th century. Dyngus Day is widely celebrated on the Monday after Easter and it is the beginning of the city elections campaign season . Fat Tuesday is also celebrated in South Bend, with paczkis being a staple food product in the city for the day. The city and surrounding county have 23 Catholic churches, 11 Catholic schools and three Catholic universities (the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, and Saint Mary's College, all located in

2660-462: The city's jail and harm the rest of the city's African American population. Within a few days, over a thousand African Americans fled the city. In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan held a conference and planned a parade from its local headquarters at 230 S. Michigan St. In preparation, Klan members were posted around town to direct traffic. Notre Dame students, well aware of the anti-Catholic nature of

2736-594: The climate of South Bend, including lake effect snow in winter and a tendency to moderate temperatures year round. June, July and August are the warmest months, with average temperatures above 69 °F (21 °C). Normally, 42 days with thunderstorms occur each year. The snowiest month is usually January, with snowfall normally recorded from October through April. On average, South Bend receives 64.5 inches (164 cm) of snow per year. Spring and fall can be mild and overcast, but also severely stormy at times with 293 partly cloudy to cloudy days each year. As of

2812-461: The coming of the next 150 years of South Bend's heritage accompanied by five previous South Bend mayors: Steve Luecke, Joe Kernan, Roger Parent, Peter Nemeth and Jerry Miller. In 2015, the city's population increased by 286, the largest one-year growth in over twenty years. The former Studebaker plant has been developed as the Ignition Park center to attract new businesses, especially in

2888-587: The conversion of one-way streets to two-way streets, to bring more businesses to the area, create shorter travel routes, and to reduce speeding. The other part of the initiative is the West Side Main Streets Plan, a revitalization plan for the Lincoln Way West and Western Avenue corridor focusing on guiding business owners, residents, and developers to improve the street front by offering a reimbursement on exterior improvements from

2964-423: The county seat and as one of the four original townships of St. Joseph County with 128 residents. That same year, Horatio Chapin moved to the settlement, opened the first general store with imported (out of state) goods and helped established the first church and Sunday school. Around the same time, design began on what would become the town of South Bend. The town was formally established in 1835, with Chapin as

3040-519: The data center into a fully operating high-tech data hub in the old Studebaker "Ivy Tower" assembly plant next door, creating what will be called the Renaissance District. Innovation Park and Ignition Park, dual-certified technology parks, have attracted technology businesses to South Bend. Located across the street from the University of Notre Dame, Innovation Park was completed in 2009 and houses innovative researchers from companies and

3116-559: The decline of the manufacturing industry. In 2013, 1,347 homes were vacant or abandoned. The city created the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative in February 2013, which aimed to take care of 1,000 vacant or abandoned homes in 1,000 days, either through demolition, repairs, or some other satisfactory means. The Smart Street Initiative, a 20-year plan to make the city safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, began in 2013 with

Studebaker Champ - Misplaced Pages Continue

3192-503: The end of 2011. Bosch vacated the building entirely in October 2012. Curtis Products of South Bend moved into the building in May 2013. Since the 1960s, education, health care, and small business have come to the forefront of South Bend's economy, though the city has never regained the level of prosperity it enjoyed before that time. Nearby University of Notre Dame is a large contributor to

3268-427: The few 1964 models that were built. New features introduced for the 8E trucks were suspended pedals (the pedals no longer went through the floorboard), new "2 stage" leaf springs in the rear, and an improved steering box for easier steering. Also, for the first-time air conditioning was an available option. By December 1963, Studebaker's board of directors announced the closure of its South Bend, Indiana factory, and

3344-475: The first president of the board of town trustees. In 1856, attorney Andrew Anderson, Chapin's son-in-law, founded May Oberfell Lorber, the oldest continuous business in St. Joseph County. He compiled a complete index of South Bend's real estate records. In 1841, Schuyler Colfax was appointed St. Joseph County deputy auditor. Colfax purchased the South Bend Free Press and then turned it into

3420-630: The first sit-in strike in American history in 1936. Fast development led to the creation of electric rail transportation throughout the area, and in 1925, the South Shore interurban streetcar service was established from downtown South Bend to downtown Chicago. The South Shore line still runs daily to and from Chicago and also is a major freight carrier in the area. On June 30, 1934, the Merchants National Bank in South Bend

3496-460: The following ancestries were reported: African-American - 26%, German - 14.8%, Irish - 10.4%, Polish - 8.2%, English - 5.0%, American - 3.3%, Italian - 2.6%, Hungarian - 2.4%, French - 2.0%, Dutch - 1.4%, Swedish - 1.1%, Belgian - 0.9%. South Bend's location on the St. Joseph River led to an industrial-based economy in the late 19th century and early-to-mid-20th century. In 1923, industrialist and entrepreneur Vincent H. Bendix selected South Bend as

3572-475: The last of the company's flathead sixes, either the Lark's 170 cuin (90 hp (67 kW)) or the time-honored 245 cuin " Big Six " (110 hp (82 kW)) which dated to the early 1930s. The 170 engine was upgraded to overhead valves (OHV) for 1961, gaining 22 hp (16 kW) in the process (up to 112 hp (84 kW)), enough of an improvement that Studebaker saw fit to finally discontinue

3648-601: The last vehicles were sold as 1964 models). The name was used on most trucks in the Studebaker E-series , but not all. The Transtar name was first introduced for the 1956 (2E series) model year in 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, 1-ton, 2-ton, and 2-ton heavy duty capacities. The three smaller models were available with factory-built pick-up bodies. The basic styling of these trucks dated back to the 1949 models, though they had received some styling and engineering changes in 1954 and 55. The Transtar name continued to be used on most of

3724-689: The local economy. The university is the second largest employer in the city and in St. Joseph County, employing 6,086 people. Health care is another major contributor to the South Bend economy. In 2012, Memorial Health System announced that it was merging with Elkhart General Hospital, located in Elkhart County, to form Beacon Health System. Beacon is the largest employer in the city and in St. Joseph County, employing 7,088 people. Other notable businesses include Honeywell , Bosch, and PEI Genesis. AM General , Crowe Horwath , and Tire Rack all have corporate headquarters in South Bend. According to

3800-693: The making, and had been the subject of the Indiana Supreme Court case Vandalia Railroad v. South Bend, which was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States . In 1949, legendary percussionist Lionel Hampton was informed that his concert at South Bend's Palais du Royale would be a blacks-only event; he threatened to call for a boycott of the venue, and the affair proceeded as an integrated evening, which newspapers said led to all attendees breaking out in "paroxysms of ecstasy." By 1950, more than half of all employment

3876-488: The north. The city extends further north on the west side, mainly with manufacturing and distribution facilities near the South Bend International Airport . Mishawaka , Indiana, is adjacent to South Bend's east side. Notable neighborhoods in the city include: South Bend has a humid continental climate , with a Köppen climate classification of Dfa. Lake Michigan exerts a great influence on

SECTION 50

#1732790830393

3952-442: The only major failing of the Champ is shared with many Studebaker models: rust. Champs tend to rust most severely in the cab floor and front fenders. If left unchecked, it can be extensive and very costly to repair, if it is repairable at all. Studebaker Transtar Transtar was the model name given to the line of trucks produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana , from 1956-1958 and 1960-1963 (although

4028-619: The opposite end. By the end of World War II , manufacturing began to diminish. The Studebaker plant, which had at one time employed 45,000 persons, closed in 1963; its engine block plant shuttered the following year. Parts of the Bendix factory complex were later acquired and divided between Honeywell Corporation and Bosch Corporation, respectively. Honeywell Aerospace continues to manufacture aviation products at its former Bendix facility. In 2010, Bosch announced that it would cease all operations at its Bendix plant location in South Bend by

4104-460: The park grounds and other public venues around the city. The goals of the festival include strengthening the bond between the communities of South Bend and Notre Dame, supporting local artistic expression, and promoting local business. In 2015, the festival was renamed Sounds by South Bend, to avoid confusion with the Austin festival and to more accurately represent the purpose of the event. In 2016,

4180-443: The population. There were 39,760 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.8% were non-families. 33.3% Of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

4256-421: The river to the railroad . In 1852, Henry Studebaker set up Studebaker wagon shop, later becoming the world's largest wagon builder and the only one to later succeed as an automobile manufacturer. The Singer Sewing Company and the Oliver Chilled Plow Company were among other companies that made manufacturing the driving force in the South Bend economy until the mid-20th century. Another important economic act

4332-526: The savior of the Studebaker truck line, the Champ also pointed the way to a smaller yet still rugged pickup, something Dodge later claimed as a "first" with their mid-sized Dakota , which was introduced as a 1987 model, nearly 27 years after the Champ. Today, the Champs that still exist are highly prized for their interesting combination of passenger-car comfort and style and their rugged mechanical durability (the sixes' head problems notwithstanding). About

4408-476: The site of his new manufacturing plant for automotive parts. He chose South Bend primarily because it was on a rail line midway between Chicago and Detroit, the two automotive manufacturing centers of the United States at the time. Eventually, the Bendix corporation built a vast manufacturing complex on its South Bend acreage served by the major railroads, including a huge shipping and receiving building where railroad cars could enter at one end, unload, and depart at

4484-599: The struggle to calm down the students. Other industries developed in South Bend in the early 20th century, including Birdsell Manufacturing Company, the Bendix Corporation , Honeywell , AlliedSignal , South Bend Lathe Works , the O'Brien Paint Corp., the South Bend Toy Company, South Bend Range, South Bend Bait Company, and South Bend Watch Company . Workers at the Bendix Corporation staged

4560-670: The team's name was changed to the South Bend Silver Hawks, and then to the South Bend Cubs in 2015. They are a Class A minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Midwest League. In 2015, the City of South Bend celebrated its 150th birthday. The yearlong festival culminated with the ceremonial illumination of the first River Lights along the St. Joseph River. Mayor Pete Buttigieg welcomed

4636-401: The tech industry. South Bend has also seen new development, particularly in the tech field, a decline in unemployment, and a renewal of the downtown area under Buttigieg's tenure, which has been described as a revival and South Bend as a 'turnaround city'. South Bend also was in the national spotlight during the 2019-20 Democratic presidential campaign of former mayor Buttigieg. South Bend

SECTION 60

#1732790830393

4712-490: The trucks were among the casualties of the company's consolidation around an abbreviated family-car lineup in its Hamilton, Ontario , Canada assembly plant. When they purchased the rights and tooling to the Studebaker Avanti in 1964, Nate Altman and Leo Newman also acquired the rights and tooling to Studebaker's trucks. However, Altman and Newman, for reasons which are lost to history, never built as much as

4788-503: The university. Ignition Park, located just south of the downtown area, is planned to become home to 3 million square feet (280,000 m ) of high-tech space on 140 acres (570,000 m ) of land previously owned by the Studebaker Corporation. The first tenant, Data Realty, moved into the location in the fall of 2012. The second building in the new park, a research and testing facility for massive turbo machinery,

4864-402: Was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.19. The median age in the city was 33.3 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female. Per the 2013 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau ,

4940-483: Was all downhill from there. 1961's 6E series saw the addition of a full-width cargo box, the Spaceside, for which Studebaker had purchased the tooling from Dodge. It didn't help sales, however, nor did the problems which developed early on with the redesigned six-cylinder engine. Very little was changed on the Champ in 1962 (7E series) Although a few changes were made on the 1963 8E series, the 8E series would include

5016-423: Was chiefly due to migration to suburban areas as well as the demise of Studebaker and other heavy industry . Today, the largest industries in South Bend are health care, education, small business, and tourism . Remaining large corporations based in the area include Crowe , Honeywell , and AM General . The city's economy and culture are influenced by the nearby University of Notre Dame . The St. Joseph Valley

5092-570: Was founded in South Bend in March 1870, making it the first African American church in the city. Olivet AME is still an active African Methodist Episcopal Church, and celebrated its 145th anniversary in 2015. A sergeant from South Bend fired the first American shells against Germany in World War I. In 1923, the African American owner of a soda fountain received a letter signed "KKK", threatening to kill an African American man held in

5168-461: Was in the manufacturing sector. Due to economic difficulties, Studebaker closed its automotive manufacturing plants in South Bend in December 1963. A general decline in manufacturing soon followed as industry was restructured nationwide. By 2000, manufacturing was only 16 percent of the local economy. Due to the severe loss of jobs, the city's population decreased by nearly 30,000 during that period. This decline of industry and population loss led to

5244-524: Was long occupied by Native Americans. One of the earliest known groups to occupy what would later become northern Indiana was the Miami tribe . Later, the Potawatomi moved into the region, utilizing the rich food and natural resources found along the river. The Potawatomi occupied this region of Indiana until most of them were forcibly removed in the 1840s. The South Bend area was popular because its portage

5320-443: Was made available after a deal between Studebaker and Dodge . Both cargo boxes were available in short (112" wheelbase) and long (122" wheelbase) versions. The original, narrow box, codenamed "P1" by Studebaker, went out of production in late 1961. The wide "P2" box was the only option available thereafter. Studebaker equipped the Champ with engines that had served well in the company's lineup for years. Buyers in 1960 could choose

5396-402: Was not necessarily at a competitive disadvantage by not offering the option. From 1960 through 1964, Studebaker offered a sliding back window in the Champ pickup. This utilized the same opening as the single pane rear window, but used a double sliding channel and two panes of glass. One window could be opened until it was flush with the other. This helped with ventilation and access to the front of

5472-462: Was required was the back wall of the new cab. Funds were allocated to give the Champ a new horizontal-bar grille that delivered a "tougher" look than the Lark's mesh. For the first two model years (1960-61), Champs would also carry over the 1949-vintage cargo box, which had been widened slightly for 1956. The wide cargo box, introduced in early calendar 1961, was from the Dodge C-Series , and

5548-636: Was the dredging of the Kankakee River in 1884 to create farmland. During this time period there was a great immigration of Europeans, such as Polish, Hungarian, Irish, German, Italian, and Swedish people to South Bend because of available employment in area factories. South Bend benefited from its location on the Michigan Road , the main north–south artery of northern Indiana in the 19th century. Another significant development occurred near South Bend in 1842, when Father Edward Sorin founded

5624-505: Was the last bank to be robbed by the Dillinger gang. On September 29, 1929, South Bend completed its "track elevation program". This was a railroad infrastructure project which saw the removal of Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks from Division Street, the removal of level crossings from Chapin to Miami streets, the creation of a modern freight layout, and the construction of Union Station . This project had been seventeen years in

5700-648: Was the shortest overland route from the St. Joseph River to the Kankakee River . This route was used for centuries, first by the Native Americans, then by French explorers, missionaries and traders. The French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the first white European to set foot in what is now South Bend, used this portage between the St. Joseph River and the Kankakee River in December 1679. The first permanent white settlers of South Bend were fur traders who established trading posts in

5776-412: Was used. By 1829, the town was growing, with Coquillard and Taylor emerging as leaders. They applied for a post office. Taylor was appointed postmaster , and the post office was designated as Southold, Allen County, Indiana. The following year, the name was changed to South Bend, probably to ease confusion, as several other communities were named Southold at the time. In 1831, South Bend was laid out as

#392607