Historical Homes
The historic Studebaker Mansion, known as “Tippecanoe Place”, is located in South Bend, Indiana. The house was built (1886-1889) for Clement (Clem) Studebaker and reflects the strong influence of Chicago architect, Henry Ives Cobb. Clem served as president of the Studebaker Brothers Company for 33 years. It was at one time the largest horse-drawn vehicle firm in the world. Studebaker later became a forerunner in self-propelled vehicles. Tippecanoe Place, named after a famous battle site in the war of 1812, is a symbol of Studebaker’s lasting impact on the automobile industry. This 26,000 sqft, forty room stone structure is a rare example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style used in a residential structure. It features an irregular plan and roofline, several towers, turrets and steep gables along with its six chimneys. Clem and his wife Anna, made Tippecanoe Place their home in the late 19th century. Clement lived in the house from 1889 until his death in 1901. Members of the Studebaker family continued to live in the house until 1933, at which time, due to bankruptcy, the estate was sold. In 1947, after serving as the local Red Cross headquarters during World War II, E.M. Morris purchased the home and gave it to the city as a school for handicapped children. The house was given to Southold Restorations in 1970 and in 1979 it was sold to Continental Restaurant Systems. In 1980, Continental restored and converted the mansion into a restaurant. In 2008, the Matteoni Family acquired the restaurant operation, now named Tippecanoe Place – Studebaker Grill located inside the historic mansion. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
