Thread: Any Info Dealership in Anoka, Mn

This is a real long shot but does anybody know of the "Burke" Dealership in Anoka, Minnesota. Especially any relatives....looking for old info.
Can't blame a guy for trying..

Thanks, Don.

I knew Lawrence Burke. My 1947 Commander was almost certainly the last car he worked on. He was 90 years old and I can still see him draped over the fender working on something in the engine compartment one day when I came to see how things were going.

I believe his stock of parts was bought by Steven Allen's Studebaker in Florida. He had a son or two, but I know at least one son died in an accident before Lawrence passed away (in 2004 or 2005, I think).

My 1966 Cruiser (just sold in the last couple days) was bought brand new from Burke's dealership in Anoka. The original owners are still in their 60s and remember him well. If you'd like to talk to them I could get you contact information off-line.

When I first met him he was in his late 80s or about 90. He really enjoyed dancing and told me about how when he went to the place where the old-timers went to dance he could always find lots of female partners because most of the men their age were either deceased already or were physically unable to dance anymore.

That's probably WAY more than you wanted to know!

I knew Lawrence Burke. My 1947 Commander was almost certainly the last car he worked on. He was 90 years old and I can still see him draped over the fender working on something in the engine compartment one day when I came to see how things were going.

I believe his stock of parts was bought by Steven Allen's Studebaker in Florida. He had a son or two, but I know at least one son died in an accident before Lawrence passed away (in 2004 or 2005, I think).

My 1966 Cruiser (just sold in the last couple days) was bought brand new from Burke's dealership in Anoka. The original owners are still in their 60s and remember him well. If you'd like to talk to them I could get you contact information off-line.

When I first met him he was in his late 80s or about 90. He really enjoyed dancing and told me about how when he went to the place where the old-timers went to dance he could always find lots of female partners because most of the men their age were either deceased already or were physically unable to dance anymore.

That's probably WAY more than you wanted to know!

TO SCOTT:

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE........I AM RESTORING 58 GOLDEN HAWK MY DAD BOUGHT FROM BURKE......I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE ANY OLD PAPER WORK LEFT AND NOT DESTROYED....
MY E MAIL DONSAMBORSKI@BRAINERD.NET

PLEASE CONTACT ME.... THANKS, DON

TO SCOTT:

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE........I AM RESTORING 58 GOLDEN HAWK MY DAD BOUGHT FROM BURKE......I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE ANY OLD PAPER WORK LEFT AND NOT DESTROYED....
MY E MAIL DONSAMBORSKI@BRAINERD.NET

PLEASE CONTACT ME.... THANKS, DON

Lawrence Burke is my great grandfather. He actually had two sons, both of which passed before him, and both were sudden and tragic. I bought a 1958 Studebaker President from him around 2002. I was around 16, I used money out of my college fund to buy it. Money well spent. Only now have a started working on it with my cousin to be driven as a Sunday car, who is also a great grandson of Lawrence's. Every thing Scott said above is true. He worked on Studebakers well into his 90s. After his eyesight failed, he was nearly blind and everything was a blur to him, he would replace parts just by feel. I remember the basement of his home on the river in Elk River was a library of Studebaker parts. He also was chick magnet on the dance floor during his 90s. He would pretty much dance from the first dance to the last dance of the night. I've looked through this forum for references to him and I'm so excited to see all the chatter about him, not only about his Studebaker background, but about his character.

Some here might remember that on the cover of the International Meet guide in 1994 Lawrence Burke's hands were used in the cover photo handling some part. I still have the guide somewhere.

Hi,

I knew Lawrence for many years. He worked on my '55 Commander often. He said that the '55s were mechanically very good. There are many current members of the North Star Chapter who would have a lot of info about Mr. Burke. Here is a link so you can see a picture of him as a young man;

https://www.studebaker-info.org/Dealers/page4.html#MN

You can PM me for more contacts so you can get the info you want.

Jim Ringquist

Originally Posted by Scott

Some here might remember that on the cover of the International Meet guide in 1994 Lawrence Burke's hands were used in the cover photo handling some part. I still have the guide somewhere.

I had a chance to meet him in 1994 at the international, still have the hand out guide here myself.

I don't recall ever having had the pleasure of meeting him but perhaps I saw one of his Studebaker's at a show. Did he ever show a car at the Northtown Mall in Blaine back in the late 1980's or at the big meet in 1994? I seem to recall being told that Lawrence bought out what few Studebaker parts remained at the Chrysler North Star garage in Milaca as they were also a Studebaker dealer from 1959 to 1962.