South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Studebaker Guard House

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 1, 2025

1. Studebaker Guard House Marker

Inscription.

Studebaker Guard House. . , Gateway to Industry , The Studebaker Corporation was a vehicle manufacturer founded and based in South Bend. The plant at this site dates to the 1880s, but was rebuilt and expanded in the 1910s and early '20s for automobile production. It ultimately covered over 200 acres, with dedicated facilities for all aspects of automobile manufacturing. , Security was handled by Studebaker's Plant Protection department, which staffed 15 guard houses around the clock. This guard house was built in 1928, and located on the south side of Sample Street between the Engineering Building and Machine Shop (later the site of South Bend Lathe) across from the current police station. Wrought iron gates helped secure the grounds as guards verified employee ID badges, vehicle and truck passes and plant tours and visitors. Plant Protection also included Studebaker's Fire Department, which was housed 100 feet south of this site. , Saving a Piece of History , This 122-square-foot guard house (Building #100) was dismantled and saved amid the demolition of the former Studebaker plants in the late 2000s. The original wrought iron gates were also saved, along with the brick columns and limestone finial spheres. In 2022, a dedicated group of volunteers began efforts to rebuild Building #100 at the entrance to the Renaissance District on a former Studebaker guard house site. , Did You Know? , This guard house also controlled a traffic light at its original location on Sample Street to accommodate intra-plant truck crossings. In 1954, an enclosed conveyor was erected (see below) to reduce on-street traffic. The conveyor transported stampings to the body plant and returned finished car bodies to final assembly. , Photo Captions (counterclockwise from bottom left) , . Gate 1 looking southwest, c. late 1920s. , . Gate 1 looking south. Last day of regular production, December 20, 1963. , . The guard house before it was moved, c. 2006. , . Map of Studebaker plant complex, 1954. , . A guard greets visitors at Gate 1, c. 1950s.

Gateway to Industry
The Studebaker Corporation was a vehicle manufacturer founded and based in South Bend. The plant at this site dates to the 1880s, but was rebuilt and expanded in the 1910s and early '20s for automobile production. It ultimately covered over 200 acres, with dedicated facilities for all aspects of automobile manufacturing.

Security was handled by Studebaker's Plant Protection department, which staffed 15 guard houses around the clock. This guard house was built in 1928, and located on the south side of Sample Street between the Engineering Building and Machine Shop (later the site of South Bend Lathe) across from the current police station. Wrought iron gates helped secure the grounds as guards verified employee ID badges, vehicle and truck passes and plant tours and visitors. Plant Protection also included Studebaker's Fire Department, which was housed 100 feet south of this site.

Saving a Piece of History
This 122-square-foot guard house (Building #100) was dismantled and saved amid the demolition of the former Studebaker plants in the late 2000s. The original wrought iron gates were also saved, along with the brick columns and limestone finial spheres. In 2022, a dedicated group of volunteers began efforts to rebuild Building #100 at the entrance to the Renaissance

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District on a former Studebaker guard house site.

Did You Know?
This guard house also controlled a traffic light at its original location on Sample Street to accommodate intra-plant truck crossings. In 1954, an enclosed conveyor was erected (see below) to reduce on-street traffic. The conveyor transported stampings to the body plant and returned finished car bodies to final assembly.

Photo Captions (counterclockwise from bottom left)
• Gate 1 looking southwest, c. late 1920s.
• Gate 1 looking south. Last day of regular production, December 20, 1963.
• The guard house before it was moved, c. 2006.
• Map of Studebaker plant complex, 1954.
• A guard greets visitors at Gate 1, c. 1950s.

Erected by Studebaker National Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 41° 40.055′ N, 86° 15.221′ W. Marker is in South Bend, Indiana, in St. Joseph County. It can be reached from South Lafayette Boulevard south of West Bronson Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 635 S Lafayette Blvd, South Bend IN 46601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Studebaker Corporation (a few steps from

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 1, 2025

2. Studebaker Guard House Marker

this marker); The Sons of Israel Synagogue (approx. ¼ mile away); Take Me Out to the Ball Game (approx. 0.3 miles away); Robertson's Department Store (approx. half a mile away); Studebaker Plaza (approx. half a mile away); Studebaker Blacksmith Shop and Carriage Factory Site (approx. half a mile away); We Shall Overcome (approx. 0.6 miles away); J. Chester and Elizabeth Allen (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Bend.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 17, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.