Milwaukee: 2 Studebaker Garages about to come down

[Bills R2]

2 old Studebaker dealerships are about to come down in the next couple of week, abatement is progressing and most of the block has already been cleared for redevelopment on the 2700 block of Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee.
The first was known as Coeper Bros Studebaker & Peerless at 2715 W Wisconsin Ave. and was built in 1912.
The second was known as John G. Wollaeger and was built in 1921 at 2727 (or 2733) W. Wisconsin Ave. This likely replaced the 1st agency?
This building was pretty impressive at 38,000 Sf. The first floor was the show room with large plate glass windows on the Wisconsin and 28th street sides
Second floor was the used car show room, 3rd floor was service & the 4th floor was parts. My guess is that this was one of the largest agencys that lined Wisconsin in those days.
Kitty corner on the N.E.corner of Wisconsin Ave was a large Wadhams Gas station comprising a good 1/3 of the block. This corner has been empty for a good 5 years.
Photos to follow.

PS, photos are proving problematic, wish me luck!

[StudeRich]

I have saved 113 Pictures of Old Studebaker Dealerships, and I only have one from Milwaukee, WI, and it is Not either of yours.



I have one from 1948 and Recent in Waukasha, WI Below

[Bills R2]

These photos are of the 1912 building. From at least from the '80s on, it was a popular pool haul.

[Bills R2]

These photos are of the 1921 building, note the large windows facing 28th street that were just uncovered. It must have been quite a place.

[Bills R2]

One more: Wisconsin Ave @ 28th street view.

[Milaca]

The building looks far too nice to demolish.

[GrumpyOne]

I agree with Milaca... I've seen far too many notable structures lost to bureaucratic heresy!

[Studebaker Wheel]

Dahl Motors was Milwaukee's largest started in 1935. Story attached written by the late Fred Bartz at my request when I edited "The Antique Studebaker Review" back in 1985. Have 8 X 10" glossies of the images shown.

[Bills R2]

2 more photos, the first is the earliest building, show room view. This one may be gone by Christmas.
The second photo is the 28th street side of the successor. This might be around for another good couple of weeks.

PS: The larger building had been under utilized for decades but might have made a great Meth lab. Very rough neighborhood. The bricks will likely be reclaimed as when Allis Chalmers came down last year.

[GrumpyOne]

2 more photos, the first is the earliest building, show room view. This one may be gone by Christmas.
The second photo is the 28th street side of the successor. This might be around for another good couple of weeks.

I hate it when perfectly useful historical buildings are torn down and for what??? A stop & grab convenience store or something similar?? Or worse yet... a Parking Lot!
The second building should be repurposed but that is only my opinion..

[BobPalma]

I hate it when perfectly useful historical buildings are torn down and for what??? A stop & grab convenience store or something similar?? Or worse yet... a Parking Lot!
The second building should be repurposed but that is only my opinion..

Agreed! BP

[StudeSailor]

In a more modest way in a small little town :

Local Studebaker-Jeep-International dealer in La Malbaie, Quebec in the old days.



The family operating this dealership are still in business for International just few kilometers away.

Same building today and since many years as a Subway restaurant. I would have never guess it was a garage in the past.



As it is in front of a river, the road was leveled up when they replaced the old bridge.

Older people around here remember Studebaker. When they ask me what is the brand of my car, I answer Studebaker. They don't ask what it is or where it came from. Stude were well know. But forget it at the local part stores : once I had to explain this is the brand and not the model!

LL

[enjenjo]

When I moved here about 55 years ago the local dealer was Hap Stine Studebaker GMC. The building still stands and is currently a feed store.

[Bills R2]

Well, this is about the end of the Wollaeger agency, 11/17/23
I saw mention that a sister of John W. married a Brumder, a member of an old Milwaukee family. The Brumders had arrived here early, building the nations largest German-American newspaper, and it's home, the Germania Building.
One had married into the Schlitz Brewing family. The Brumders also were in manufacturing as early as 1910, establishing Blackhawk tool, Blackhawk Jack and the Applied Power Corp. Maybe there were some of those tools used in this building? Quite a legacy.
The attached photo looks to the NW.

[StudeRich]

That is just SO sad, it looks like that Beautiful Building in Post # 5, what a loss, I don't see anything that would stop it's further use other than the Neighborhood.

Just look at those massive reinforced Concrete Pillars that curve up into the Floor above, that would last over 500 Years!

[BobPalma]

UGH! BP