101 N. Main St.  

18- Nov 1867 - ??Blacksmith Shop ??

From Dr. B.D.W. Wisman's speech during celebration of methodist church's 50th Jubilee - Jun 2, 1918 ... When I came, in November 1867 with my father's family to Culver (then known as Marmont) there were, ... one blacksmith shop (built of tamarack poles and standing where the bank now stands...

Henry Koontz building

1885–1889 - Culver Post office - John Koontz came in with Cleveland's first administration and the office was then removed to Henry Koontz'a building on the site of the new bank building.

1890 - Feb 27 - Judd Wiseman has traded Bourbon property to Koontz Bros, for stock of merchandise at Marmont. - Argos Reflector

1895 ??Variety Store, 1895 - E. M. George??

Believe it or not, this is how the present State Exchange Bank corner appeared approximately 80 years ago when Culver was known as Marmont. The above photo of the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets, looking northwest shows the J. H. Koontz Hardware Store as it appeared in 1884. Note the hitching posts, the board walk, and the "old town pump" and beyond the frame building to the left, is the tower of the old school house which sat on the land now utilized by the first block of North Ohio Street.

18_ 1897 - Roberts Hardware Found in the Buisness in poetry 1897

On the next corner, north, R. W. Roberts can be found.
He keeps a stock of hardware – the bets there is in town;
In stoves, plows, and other lines he always takes the cake,
And when you go to trade with him you never have to wait.

1897 - March 19 - H. A. Cook & Co., formerly of South Bend, have rented the store in the Koontz building and will open a drug and grocery store about next week. Their goods have arrived and are being placed in position. The Herald extends to them a welcome.

Buildings burned

1898 - Mar 1 - Dr. Rea's office is now located over the old Exchange Bank, where he can be found during office hours. He has a telephone in the office, hence can be summoned to the academy or any part of the city
1900 - Oct 19 - D. H. Smith & Co. are laying the stone foundation for Dr. Rea's new office. The building will be 22x30 and veneered. When compleed it will be an ornament to the town.

blacksmith shop (built of tamarack poles and standing where the bank now stands), on - pre a speech by Dr. Wiseman.

1898 - Feb 24 - Koontz & Rea

APRIL 13 1900. - Dr. Wiseman has moved a building from his residence lot, upon the Koontz lot opposite Porter & Co's store, and will fit. the same up for an office. When finished it will compare favorably with any in the country.
Workmen are busy putting the finishing touches upon Dr. Wiseman's office, and when finished, it will be a credit to the street. - May 4, 1900

1906 - Sanborn Map In 1964 Mrs. Golda McLane stated that, "Where the original bank building stands, there was a small green building with two steps, which were on the side walk entering what was then Dr. Wiseman's office". In describing an old postcard of Main Street looking south from Washington Street. Rea Building - label Off. (Vending)



1907 - Apr. 11 - New Business Block to Be Erected 0n Main Street This Season by S. C. Shillhng
There is an excellent preospect of Culver adding to its business facilities this season a new building which will be a home for its Exchange Bank and post office.

S.C. Shilling, proprietor of the bank owns the vacant corner lot on Main and Jefferson Streest, and has concluded to occupy it with a two story brick building, 30x99, the front or Main street half to be used as a permanent home for his bank and the rear half for the post office provided the governemet will sanction its removal from its present location.

Saturday a petition was circulated and largely signed asking the post office department to make the change,

As the postmaster and every visiting inspector had for some time realized the inadequacy of the present quarters it is probable that the departement will approve the change. Mr. Shilling will wait for the action of the departement before drafting the plans for the proposed building.

The second story is likely to be devoted to flats and offices, for which there is a growing demand in Culver.

As the corner in question is one of the best it town it is fitting and desirable that it should be improved with a building of modern design and creditable to the important interests to which it will give shileter.


Rea Building
Dr's Off
Telepgraph Office

1914 Sanborn Map Bank Building Bank Post Office Dr's Office





Exchange Bank - built 1907-1917; and it was re-chartered in 1917 as the State Exchange Bank and existed till Jan 1985



During the years between 1907 and 1968 the bank building was home to a varied amount of businesses as follows:
Masonic Lodge - Upstairs 1907-1960's


Henry Culver Masonic Lodge - 23 Jan 1926 Rear portion 2^nd floor


Culver Post Office - abt.1907-1935
1907 - A new building was built to house the bank and post office. The 1914 and 1924 Sanborn maps show the post office in the first floor rear of the State Exchange Bank building.

1910 - Jul 21 - The Town Board has rented an office room in the bank building, vacating its old quarters in the Rea Building.

1925 - March 27 - Next Sunday morning the post office will be moved into its temporary home in the Warner Building on Main Street to allow the tearing down of the present structure.

1925 - May 1 - Friday was a busy day at the new post office when concrete was poured for the main floor. (it was behind the State Exchange bank or a part of that building)

1927 - December 28 – The government has taken a ten-year lease of the present quarters of the local post office with the State E xchange Bank and the officials of the bank have made plans to make the local office a model in every respect.

1935 - March 27 - Next Sunday morning the post office will be moved into its temporary home in the Warner Building on Main Street to allow the tearing down of the present structure



James I. Barnes Construction Company 1920-1953

Russell L. Easterday Const. & Supply Co. - 1953-c1958


State Exchange Finance Co. - 1923-1983

State Exchange Insurance Company1923-1985
At the 1923 Annual Stockholders Meeting of State Exchange Bank, a new corporation was organized, to be known as State Exchange Finance Company (SEFCO). At this time, six hundred shares of SEFCO stock, $10 par value, were issued to bank stockholders in the same proportion as their stock in the State Exchange Bank. The assets of the SEFCO were at all times pledged to State Exchange Bank. The purpose of the new company was to afford development of specialized areas of insurance, real estate and financing.


1930 - Robinson - J. R., Dentist
Dr. J. R. Robinson Opens Dental Office in Town Dr. J. R. Robinson, dentist at the Culver Military academy for the past seven years, has opened an office in the State Exchange Bank building in Culver and will continue his practice there. His rooms have been redecorated and new modern dental equipment has been installed. Before coming to Culver Dr. Robinson practiced in St Louis for sixteen years. - Jul. 2 1930


1937 - Dr. Reed
Dr. Reed Moves Offive to New Location

Dr. Donald Reed moved his offce from the bank building to 121 College Avenue, the former Blancahrd property, the first of the week, where he will have more room for his pratcie. The telephone number remains the same.




1919



Western union Office - 19_ -May 1952

? Dr. C. G. Mackey, MD.

Tailor Shop ?- 1924 - M. Stuprich

November 3, 1924 M. Stuprich has moved his tailor shop to his home since the bank plans to start remodeling its building at once.



Calumet Gas and Electric

November 25,1925 - Calumet Gas and Electric moves into new quarters in the new bank building. The new room faces south and is just completed



Cleta's Beauty shop ?-1927-1938 - Cleta Easterday
1940 - Se 11 - Bess Easterday Buys Cleta's Beauty Shop - Miss Bess Esterday is now the owner of Cleta's Beatuy Shop, which she bought or Rosalie Lower, effective last Monday. Louise Stout will continue as manafer, with Cleta Berger as assistant


Dr. J. R. Robinson DDS - 1930 - ?

1930, jul. 2 - Dr. J. R. Robinson, dentist at the Academy for the past several years, has opened an office in the State Exchanged Bank Building and will continue his practice there.


The Bernice beauty shop - 1930-?

1930 - Aug. 27 - Mrs. Hazel B. Allman and Mrs. Bernice Allman Umbaiugh as proprietors, opened Aug. 22, on the second floor of the State Exhange Bank Building.

1935 - March 13 - Mr. and Mrs. Earl Blanchard have purchased the Bernice Beauty Shop of Hazel Alleman and took over the business last week.


Alice Beauty Shop - ? - 1944
1944 - Apr 26 - Mr. and Mrs Edwin Umbaugh, of Argos have bought the Alice in the State Exchange building of Miss Alice Ridgeway

1944 - Jul 26 - Changes Beatuy Shops - Mrs. Mary Alice Hill will become manager of Helen's Beauty PPArlor next Monday after serving in a similar capacity for the past nine months' at Cleta's and being previously associated with the Silhouette

Cleta's Beatury SHop will now be known as Bernice Beauty SHop and will be operated by Mrs. Bernice Umbaugh and Miss Dorothy ALice Stachowski.


Dr. Donald Reed 1932-

1932 sep 14 - Dr. Donald Reed has announced the opening of his office for the practice of medicine in The State Exchange Bank Building.



Dr. Norman S. Norris [Norris family] 19__-19__
1908 - Jan 16 0 Dr. Norris oved his office into the bank building yeasterday.


Methodist Church Office - 1952

Betty's Beauty Shop - 1952






The State Exchange Bank - The bank as it appeared from 1925-1958. In 1924, the bank purchased the lot to the north of the bank to enlarge the bank building. Plans have been made that the bank will occupy the entire front across the two lots with the telegraph office in a room on the south side. Albert F. Stahl got the contract for the building. In early February of 1925, dismantling of the old building began. The bank continued operations in the Menser Building, across the street from the bank, until the grand opening of the renovated building one year later. 1925 - Feb. 25 - Dismanteling Operstions Begun on Bank Building > 1925 - Oct 21 - Exterior of New Bank Is Nearing Completion



Sowly the above business (Beauty shop) either moved out or disovled and by 1968 only the Masonic Lodge remained To provide for needed expansion at Culver, remodeling called for using the entire second floor of the building. The Masonic Lodge, which had occupied quarters on the second floor of the bank building since 1907, moved across Main Street to the K of P. Building. Expansion included bookkeeping space on the second floor, new quarters for SEFCO and Insurance offices on the second floor and remodeling of first floor offices.



A 1956 Culver Citizen article detailing the planned remodeling of the bank and remodeling was completed by 1958 when an open house was held. along with the addition of the parking lot in the back of the building streching the full length of the block until the 2001 when renovation of the old bulding and building of the addition to the library occured it was then that the north half of the parking was converted to the library




State Exchange Insurance Company 1923-1985
They moved out of the upstairs portion of the bank to allow for bookkeeping expansion there; sometime about 1983 they moved into the NIPSCO building

State Exchange Ins. Co. remained in business in business under that name until some time after January 24, 1985, when the merger of State Exchange Bank and Farmers State Bank was consummated and NorCen Bank was born and the insurance company's name was changed to NorCen Insurance and was sold in 1999 being purchased by Richard S. Miller & Sons, Inc of Bremen and about 2001 moved moeved to 116 N. Main Street.

1989 - Feb. 19 - Valley Insurance Agency of Mishawaka owns the Norcen Insurance Agency with offices in Plymouth, Lapaz and Culver. As a result of the acquisition,

1995 - Nov 5 - Plymouth - NorCen insurance Agency has established an offie at 120 E washington St. The new office is the result of a merger between NorCen and InterPal a financial advisory firm formerly owned by Brian Liehty. The office will be staffed by Liechty, Don Kline and Dean Byers; Vicki Youst adminsitrative assistant and office manager.

1999 - 2004 - Miller/NorCen Insurance Agency
On the last day of 1999 Miller Insurance acquired Norcen Insurance out of Culver, Indiana. With the acquisition, Miller/Norcen Insurance was born.

Norcen Insurance had offices in Culver, Indiana and Lapaz, Indiana The Lapaz office was consolidated into the Bremen office, but the Culver office remains today.

Miller/Norcen Insurance continued its growth since then.


2015 - 2024 - Miller Insurance Group


State Exchange Finance Co. / SEFCO 1923-1983

On December 30, 1982, SEFCO filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and began to virtually be non existent; just exact date it ceased to exist has not been asertained as yet.






January 24, 1985 -1995, Aug. - NorCen Bank



Indiana Federal Bank for Savings . 1997-2001, Jun  

INDIANA FEDERAL CORPORATION, Valparaiso, IN; acquired NCB Corp., Culver, IN and its subsidiary NORCEN BANK, Culver, IN.



1998 - Pinnacle Bank Bank ???

5/3 Bank 2001, Jun - 2006, Oct

CONVERSE, Ind., May 31 2006-- First Farmers Bank & Trust announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire three banking offices from Fifth Third Bank. The offices are located in Culver, Knox and North Judson, Indiana and have combined deposits and loans of approximately $78 million and $12 million, respectively. The transaction is expected to be completed late in the third quarter and requires regulatory approval.




First Farmers Bank & Trust 2006, Oct - to present



2024 Aug 26 - Possible "Exchange Building"
Culver Town Council Approves READI 2.0 Project Support Letters August 26, 2024 Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members took action during their meeting Thursday, August 22 to approve letters of support for proposed READI 2.0 projects.

The Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority was awarded $45 million in READI 2.0 dollars which includes Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties. Certain projects will be considered for approval if the applications are approved.

Leigh Marshall brought forth a request for a letter of support for what she’s calling the exchange building which is where the First Farmers Bank and Trust company is located on Main Street.

She said she met with a developer and a builder where the concept of the building renovation was discussed. She pointed to the 2014 comprehensive plan and the most recent comprehensive plan in that there is interest in finding a new location for a town hall.

This renovation project, if awarded READI 2.0 funding, would include space in that building on the first floor for bank operations as well as new town hall space. The second floor would be used for condo space, a common space on the roof, and golf cart parking and storage for those utilizing the building in the basement.

In all, the proposed project would cost an preliminary estimate of $5 million with $1 million in READI funds, $1 million town match, and $3 million from the developer.

While there needs to be more information vetted about the potential project such as feasibility, more focus on the numbers, and logistics of such a project, the council members unanimously approved a letter of support for the project. Councilwoman Ginny Munroe noted that if the town could miss out on a chance for funding support if a letter is not at least provided with the project.

The applications are due at the end of the month...

There was also a motion made and unanimously approved for a letter of support that shows the town’s backing of all projects submitted for funding consideration with all municipalities in Marshall County.



OP LOT #7 S 60' & 1/2 VAC ALLEY ADJ

COM 16.5' WEST OF NW COR LOT 9 OP CULVER TH S0-04-49W ALG W LN VACATED ALLEY 75' TO POB TH CONT S0-04-49W 123.21' TO N LN JEFFERSON ST TH S89-05-14W 99.64' TH N0-05-17E 123.37' TH N89-10-51E 99.62' TO POB & 1/2 VAC ALLEY ORD 2002-005