Stewart Jones - Studebaker Dealer - St Petersburg, FL

 

2018 Information provided by Ken Jones (grandson)

I talked at to my Dad today. He was able to fill in missing pieces for me. Correction, only ONE Studebaker Building survives today in St. Peterburg. The irony is they sold Studebaker's for the shortest period of time.

1) Peninsular Motor Company of southwest Florida - 600 4th Street South St. Petersburg FL Today it is a part of the University of South Florida (USF) Bayboro Campus.
Building was built in 1925. When the building opened, the company was the fourth largest Studebaker dealer in the world. The company employed 300 people, with 56 working in St. Petersburg's showroom. However, by 1926 the Peninsular Motor Company went bankrupt as a result of the collapse of the boom, and the Studebaker Building was closed.[ (source Wikipedia). So they only lasted ONE YEAR.

2) Jones & Haeseker Motor Co. AND Stewart Jones Motors history:
The odd thing is in 1925, just as the land bust began, my Grandpa, Grandma & Uncle Sonny arrived in St. Petersburg FL. Traveling from Colorado Springs CO. Grandpa had brought his mechanics tools & opened a little repair shop on 5th St. No and 10th St. It was later named 10th Street Garage.

Harvey Haeseker partnered with my grandfather to form Jones & Haeseker Motor Co. In 1939 (after being a Mack Truck dealer) they took on Studebaker. Harvey specialized in FLEET sales. In my only Jones & Haeseker picture, you can see 3 Studebaker Trucks sold to Atlantic Ale and Beer. Petersburg. All thanks to Harvey's fleet skills.
Jones & Haeseker Dealership's address was 5th Ave and 10th Street North. This was before the building expansion in 1950. You can see in the J&H photo the expanded "showroom" does not yet exist.

In 1950, Stewart Jones buys out Harvey Haeseker and changes the name to Stewart Jones Motors.
The address changes to: 925 - 5th Ave. No. St. Petersburg FL As mentioned before, SJM took over the remaining inventory of Sun Motors, Inc.

3) Sun Motors, Inc. here is where my father, Gilbert R. Jones, helped me with Sun Motors history.
It seems the address listed as 1000 Central Ave. St. Petersburg FL was their USED CAR LOT. Not the actual dealership location. I do not have that address. It was on the south side of Central Ave. My Father said that the Sun Motors building was torn down for business redevelopment in the 1980's.
Sun Motors history. They became a Studebaker Dealer around the same time as my Grandfather. 1939. It was very unique situation for Studebaker because St. Petersburg was one of the few cities with TWO Studebaker Dealerships. The thought was Sun Motors would handle the Southside and Jones & Haeseker would handle the Northside of St. Petersburg.
By 1950, Sun Motors, Inc. was out of business and the "new" Stewart Jones Motors (SJM) took their remaining inventory.

Note: The way St. Petersburg is arranged. CENTRAL AVE. (it is neither considered North or South) is the dividing line between North & South addresses.
1st Ave S. and a 101 - 1st Ave. N address. In reality, (are) two different locations.

The 10th Street Garage ( established 1925)

Here is a "fun" photo. What do you do during WWII, when you have no Studebaker's to sell in your showroom? You try to live on Service, Parts and Accessories. The mission was to keep your pre-war Studebaker able to drive.

My Dad told the story about having a guy who would "cut tread" into worn out tires. Because no one could buy new tires. Rubber shortage.

Here is a photo where an 1963 R2 Avanti and a Mercedes-Benz 190SL can be seen at Stewart Jones Motors. They were very successful with Mercedes-Benz. As Studebaker was ramping down production in '64 - '66, Mercedes is what kept Stewart Jones Motors growing.

Notice the "ESTABLISHED 1925" sign I spoke about in my earlier message. That pays homage to Grandpa opening a Mechanic's shop in this area in 1925 ( 10th St. Garage ).

( from The Old Motor )
"The photo of the 190 SL shows my Father, Gilbert R. Jones and Grandfather, Stewart I. Jones. They were a successful Studebaker Dealership and in 1957 became associated with Mercedes Benz, through Studebaker. The dealership location was 125-5th Ave. North St. Petersburg Florida. It was not the building, that still stands with the 1920’s Studebaker logo, in St. Petersburg. Even today, when I mention my Grandfathers dealership, they ask if it is the building located at 600 4th Street South.

My Grandfather sold the dealership in 1973 & retired. My dad & uncle did not want to carry on the legacy. They were still a Mercedes dealer, at the time of the sale. Later, the purchaser fell on hard times and during the 70’s closed their doors. The vacant building burned down, in the late 70’s. A medical arts building resides in the location today.

A little background to the ’57 photo. My Dad said they had him sit on phone books, so his face would show unobstructed, in the picture. That explains why he is taller than the windshield.

I wish I had those banners on the wall. In 1973, I was working at the dealership part time over the summer. I did save some memorabilia, but there were no banners present.

In 1976 as a Senior in HS, I purchased a 1960 Studebaker Lark as my 1st car. That car was sold new by my father, at Stewart Jones Motors. I still own that car today. However now it is supercharged, like a 1957-58 Golden Hawk.

Ken Jones

I'm jumping around in time, but here is a Jones & Haeseker photo showing their "Used Car" lot.

That lot remained the same, until the Dealership was sold in 1973.

Here is a sad picture for me. It ended my dreams of being a part of Stewart Jones Motors. This is a picture taken from 9th St N. looking back at SJM. Notice the Studebaker sign has long replaced with FIAT letters. Picture was taken 06-25-1973

Here is a timely picture. Christmas 1951. Yes, those are 1952 Studebaker Models.