Bide-A-Wee Hotel - 2673 East Shore Lane

Section 27 History

Another spelling found is Bida Wea. Also known as Bide-a-Wee Lodge and Bide-a-Wee Inn

c.1906 - 1919, Sep - Scott & Rebecca (Stover) Foss It sat actually on Edwards Lane. The cropped section from the 1908 Plat map shows the area. There is a lot marked "S. Foss.: 1912 - Oct 24 - Scott Foss is addiing a dining room and porch to his poplar "Bide-A-Wee" on the East Side 1919 - Sep 34 - Scott Foss has sold the Bide-A-Wee summer resort to Thomas Monesmith of Rochester Consideration not stated 24 Sep 1919 Veda Foss Fitterling wrote in the biography of "Fitterlings of Culver " in the 1986 Marshall County history pg. 169: "...I only remember my great Uncle Scott who with his wife Rebecca Stoever, owned and operated the Bide-a-Wee Hotel. He taught school for a short period of time..."

1919, Sep 24 - 1922- ? - Thos. Monesmith

Scott Foss has sold the Bide-a-Wee summer resort to Thomas Monesmith of Rochester. Consideration not stated. -Sep 24, 1919 - Citizen

1920 - May 30 - Maxinkuckee Lake, east side. Bide-a-Wee cottage, board and rooms; rates made of application. Tom Monesmith, Proprietor, Culver Indiana - Indianapolis Star

1921 - Jun 19 - The Bide-a-Wee Hotel is situated on the east side of Lake Maxinkuckee, amidst most delightful and restful surroundings, accommendations first-class. Rates reasonable. All inquiries answered. T. M. Monesmith, Prop., Culver, Ind. -- Indianapolis

By 1922 the plat map indicates that the property was owned by Thos. Monesmith.

1920 - Apr 28 Ad

1923 - May 13 - THE Bid-A-Wee hotel. under new management, on beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee. Ideal place to spend your vacation. Home cooking. For rates address Dr. Frank Lanigan, Box 34. R. 1, Culver, Ind.-- Indianapolis Star

1923 - Conrad & Margaret Hansen 1924 - Jul 2 - Three years ago a part of the East shore of the lake towards the south to the "Bide-a-Wee" cottage was a low marshy shore and back from the lake a tangled undergrowth of wilderness known as Jungle land few enterprising men saw possibilities there and set to work. Aided by Mr. Frank Lanigan, who helped supervise the work of filling in and clearing up this and, the following people built lovely homes, sodded beautiful terraces to the lake shore, and this summer are seeing to the beautifying of the rear of their lots:

Mr. Paul, 2358

Mr. Shea, 2348

Mr. Condor, 2370

Mr. Cornelius, 2420

Mr. Ewing, 2410

Mrs. Maynard, 2388

Mr. Springer,

Mr. Trone, - 2324

Mr. Turpy Smith, 2314 and

Mr. Paul Krauss. 2434

1925 May 24 - Enjoy your vacation at Bide-a-wee cottage (Lake Maxinkuckee) Conrad Hansen, Prop. Phone 162-F8 Culver, Ind. - Indianapolis Star.

1948 - Became the East Shore Inn

29 AUDITOR DESC: PRT LOT 3 COM INTER N LN S1/2 CEN LN

Jason Sturman writes of this property -

My family owns the homes that are between what was the Bide-a-Wee and the lake. My great grandfather, Karl Sturman, purchased 5 buildings and two lots at the end of East Shore Lane in 1952. One of the lots (now with a house) and two of the smaller cabins are still owned by our family.

The last occupant of the Bide-a-Wee was "Sarge" Hudson. He ran CMA's riding facilities for many years. Until his death he lived in the Bide-a-Wee. When he did died, the building had reached a condition of significant disrepair and was purchased by a group of East Shore Lane residents (led by Richard Ford) and torn down.

Here is an interesting story: Sometime in the 1960s or 1970s (I can get the date if you're really interested), Hudson cut down a tree across Edwards Lane to make his home more private. Until the late 1980s, Edwards Lane was closed and totally overgrown. At some point (for reasons that escape) in the late 1980s, the county decided to re-open Edwards Lane and cut through the woods that had overtaken.

2673 East Shore Lane Index