Adventure 051, Site 105 – Studebaker Memorial

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 105 – Studebaker Memorial

California Landmark Number: 142

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 27, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 38° 43.765′ N

Longitude: 47.85′ W

Address: 543 Main St, Placerville, CA

Description:

As somebody has said, the rigors of the overland trail has greatly lessened. The site where the Studebaker brothers shop was, now stands a Quizino's and a Starbucks. But just thinking that an automotive pioneer started in such a tiny town talks about the great ingenuity these men had. But not being interested in either one of the current eating establishments, we move on after taking pictures.

From CHL:
NO. 142 STUDEBAKER'S SHOP (SITE OF) - This shop was built in the early 1850s. The front part housed a blacksmith shop operated by Ollis and Hinds, and John Mohler Studebaker rented a part of the rear. Here he had a bench and sort of woodworking shop where he repaired and worked on wagon wheels and the like. A little later he began to make wheelbarrows for the miners' use. He became engaged in the making of ammunition wagons for the Union Army - from that grew his extensive wagon and carriage business and, eventually, the automobile business.
Location: 543 Main St, Placerville



From HMDB:
The Studebaker brothers were the only corporation that was successful in making the transition from horse drawn to gasoline powered vehicles. Studebaker eased their way into the automobile market after the turn of the century, introducing an electric car in 1902. Gasoline powered Studebakers came in 1904, produced by the Garford Company in Ohio, marketed under the name Studebaker-Garford. At age 84, John Mohler Studebaker was the only brother that lived to see the production of the automobile (born 1833 and died 1917).



References:

• Noehill
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
  
• Waymarking
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)