Importance

Studebaker Company is important because they made wagons for the Civil War and they made gas powered automobiles for the first time (Harris). The California Gold Rush employed John Studebaker and made money to start the business (Erskine 9). Studebaker started off as a metal making factory, then joined the automobile industry (Harris). This was also one of the main working businesses in South Bend (Harris). The company had over thousands of workers working at the Studebaker Company (Harris). “As the United States entered World War II, many manufacturing companies shifted gears to help with the war effort, including Studebaker” (Harris). Studebaker started making engines and trucks for military use (Harris). In the year 1959, Studebaker was not making any new models (Harris). The factory closed and left hundreds of workers with few jobs to choose from in South Bend (Harris). ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​(Hemmings)