Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

1322 East Shore Drive - - Yellow House  



Section 22 History 1835-1922

1899 - apr 28 - Four carloads of lumber, one carload of brick, and a half carload of other material has been hauled by Wm Swigart for the Shirk residence on the east side - Culver Herald

1899 - May 12 - Mr Milton Shirk and Mr. Bonnell have divided their interests in the Peru club grounds. The old club house has been moved to the north end of the lot to make room for a new cottage which Mr. Bonnell will build in time for the coming Season... The finest cottage, more like a palace is now being built by Mr. Milton Shirk, on his extensive grounds, near the Maxenkuckee piers. This cottage will be new in every detail, having all the modern improvements. - Culver Herald

    1899 - Mar 24 - Milton Shirk will build a handsome cottage on his lot a Maxinkuckee this summer Logansport Pharos Tribune

    J. K. Mawhorter, Culver ’s famous tinner has taken the contract to put a complete troughing arouud the roof of the Peru House, and will also do tbe tin work on the Brownell cottage, Shirk cottage, and the Dr. Benepe cottage. 23 Jun 1899 - Culver Herald

    When finished, Milton Shirk of Peru, Ind., will have one of the handsomest and most modern cottages upon the east side of the lake. It will contaim 12 large airy rooms, exquisitely finished in hard wood. The fire place which is built with the very finest brick obtainable, is the best on the shores of the lake and was constructed bv D H. Smith & Co. 23 Jun 1899 - Culver Herald

    Friday evening a select number of the bon ton cottagers assembled at the Shirk cottage near the Maxinkuckee landing and enjoyed a dance Tbe grounds were beautifully decorated, which lent additional enchantment to the beautiful grounds and cottage - 4 AUg 1899 - Culver Herald



1900


Built in or about 1900 by Milton Shirk One of the largest houses on the lake. it was designed in the Swiss Chalet style, a subtype of the popular Craftsman style of the early twentieth century. This is a two-and-a-half story, wood-frame house with a low-pitched gable roof. The original clapboards have been covered with vinyl siding, but distinctive scroll-sawn detailing remains exposed. Windows are grouped, double-hung wood, with m ulti-light upper sash. French doors open onto a wide porch which overlooks the lake.

1900 - Jul 27 - The sailboat, “White Lady,” owned by I . Shirk, and anchored near his cottage, was struck by the storm Tuesday and capsized - Culver Herald

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1904 - Jul 14 - J. B. Goodall, of Peru, has just completed a concrete sea wall along Mrs. Shirk's entire grounds, which is suppose to stand the frost and protect the banks from the ice.

At the top of the article Lake Maxinkuckee - the Beautiful By Joe S. Miller Indianapolis Star, Jul 2 1905 there were scenes of Lake Maxinkuckee and photos of cittages - tho nothing of mention of them - it was an article of ramblings of reminecences of past history/lengends of Lake Maxinkuckee. This was one and identified as the " Cottage"


1916 - Jul 11 - Unsure is this is the cottage - but only one know they owned
    For Sale - Large 2 1/2 story 14 ROOM summer cottage 1 2/3 acres with 210 foot lake frontage on L ake Maxinkuckee, Culver, Ind. home of Culver Military Academy and Indiana's most beautiful lake. Six bedrooms, double floors, living room 25X50 with large fireplace, screened dining porch, large porches, gas lighting plant, flowing well, large one story boathouse, 40 ft. sailboat, launch; a1 in excellent condition. Sand bathing beach, hard motor road at rear. Very desirable. Price $20,000; or will divide property. J. H. Shirk, Peru, Ind. - Chicago Tribune
1920- Mar 3 - The Shirk cottage will be extensively improved by five bath rooms, a sun parlor etc.

1908 1908 - Milton Shirk


1908 - Milton Shirk
1922 - Subdivided and no lot Nos.


Dixie Crozier began acting as a personal maid to Mrs. Shirk in 1932. Mr. Shirk was seldom at the cottage being away on Safari bring home stuffed heads and whole animals; they hung on the stairway, over the fireplace and on the living room walls. The Shirks rarely entertained and seldom went to parties. The house was full staffed with maid, cook, chauffer, head maid and houskeepr.

1952-1954 - J. H. Shirk [Joseph Henry Shirk]



1954-61 - Robert "Robby" D. Robertson
    1958 Lake Directory - Robert D. Robinson - 8205 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, Ind.

    Dixie Crozier remained with the cottage after it was sold to the Robertson and worked for them.


1973-1994 -

1994-1997,Feb - Agnes A. Bramfeld/John H. Bramfeld Trust



1997,Feb-2024- Bramfeld Family Trust, John F. Bramfeld Trustee

    TR LOT 2 W RD
    INT S LN L2 W R/W LN HWY 117 N 19D 27