2805 East Shore Dr. - Maple Grove Hotel / Norris Park  

Section 27 History 1835-1922

This bears the addres of 2805 East Shore Dr. today, but is believed to have in the ' past also bore the address of 2770 & 2900 East Shore Dr.

It was also referred to as Maple Groves House, Maple Grove Boarding House and Maple Grove Farms




Harvey R. Norris, Prop. Harvey R. & Louisa (Adler) Norris built Maple Grove in 1886; after living in a log house for several years. (See the Norris famiily ) From 1890 to 1915 the Norris' operated it as a resort; room and board was $5 per week. It accommodated up to 25 guests. It had the longest pier on the lake.

Harvey, Louisa, and the four children lived in a log house on the southeast shore of Maxinkuckee Lake until they built "Maple Gorve House" in 1886.

William did the farming, and hauled the guest's luggage from the train at Culver to the resort while the guests came by steamboat to "the longest pier on the lake"! Louisa and several hired girls did the cooking, laundry, and maid's work without inside plumbing for 15-25 guests.

1897 - June 18 - Mr. Harvey Norris has painted his maple grove hotel in an artistic manner, and otherwise made marked improvements upon the premises

Here is a section refering to Maple Grove from the 1900 topographical map by J. T. Scovell

an early newspaper or booklet ad for the hotel.

An early advertising poscard for the hotel

1898 - H. R. Norris 67.44A - Maple Grove

1903 - May 21 - Harvy Norris, proprietor of the Maple Grove hotel, has been busy improving his property this spring having built new porches, painted his hotel and graded and sodded his lawn. He has one of the most pleasant places around the lake and we predict a successful season for this well known hostlery.

1908 - H. R. Norris 67.44A

1909 -Sep 9 - There is a report that private parties will buy, if possible, a portion or all of Harvey Norris' farm on the east side of Lake Maxinkuckee for the purpose of establishing an amusement park. -- Citizen

1920 - Aug. 27 One of the most important developments for some time on Lake Maxinkuckee has been started by Dr. A. A. Norris of Elkhart, who plans to dredge the low land on the Norris farm, converting it into lots for summer cottages . - August 27, 1930

1922 - H. R. Norris 76.40A

1930 - Norris, Harvey
1930 - Aug 27 - 50 MORE LOTS TO BE OPENED ON LAKE FRONT

AT SOUTHEAST END

Dr. A. A. Norris of Elkhart Starts Dredging Land on Lake Maxinkuckee.

One of the most important developments for some time on Lake Maxinkuckee has been started by Dr. A. A. Norris of Elkhart, who plans to dredge the low land on the Norris farm at the southeast corner of the lake, converting it into about 50 lots for summer cottagers.

This will mean an addition of about 250 people to the summer colony, on a basis of five to a cottage.

The Norris lake front extends over a quarter of a mile, but heretofore has been of no value as it was swamp land back some distance.

Dr. Norris plans to dig canals through this land, which will be 60 feet wide, six feet deep and about a 1,000 feet in length. These canals will serve a double purpose - that of drainage and a passage way. It is planned to have these canals carry off the drainage from this area and to be filled with water from the lake, offering additional frontage for more lots as they will have easy access to the lake, and form a "Venice" of Culver.

There will be about 20 lots fronting on the lake and about 30 on the canals. These lots will be almost the last available sites to be had on the lake and should find a ready market.

The dirt from the canals will be used to fill in the lowland, giving a good elevation above the lake level. Tests have shown that solid ground lies about one foot under the muck, which will give firm foundation for buildings.

Work started last week on this project when a large dredge was shipped in.

It is believed that the work of dredging will take about three months. Then Dr. Norris plans to sow the entire area with grass seed and plant a liberal amount of trees. - Citizen

1930 - Sep 25 - MINIATURE VENICE FOR LAKE MAXINKUCKEE

Dr. Allen A. Norris of Elkhart never has lost interest in Lake Maxinkuckee, upon whose shores he spent his youthful years, and the immediate scene of his childhood, the old Harvey Norris homestead on the south shore it of course dear to his heart.

There is a tract of several acres of flat land on this old homestead adjoining the lake and the ever enlarging demand for desirable building sites about beautiful Maxinkuckee has all but exhausted the supply.

The Norris tract cited had the frontage and the location but lacked the altitude to give it drainage facilities.

The Doctor had pondered over the problem for a long time and finally a real vision began to evolve.

He dreamed dreams of a miniature Venice in that flat land and now he has set his hand to the task of making his dream come true.

A great dredge has been put to work digging a canal, wide and deep from the lake out into the flat track, where is desribes a loop of several hundred yards around an artificial island, thus created.

The dredge dirt provides ample filling for the island as well as for the outside shoreline of the canal.

This phase of the work is now nearing completion.

The new earth will then be graded to suitable level and in due time our friend Norris will have a fine series of building sites all about the canal and the adjacent lake shore.

The island will not be built upon but will be developed into a beauty spot that will add greatly to the general attractiveness and disirability of the building sites thereabout.

The sites will be sold under proper regulations as to the character of the improvements to be made.

Civic authorities of Culver and Union township are being conferred with as to the laying out of a highway thru this district, and it is likely definite layout will soon take shape.

If carried out as planned this road will form the final close-round-the lake connection that the public will appreciate, as it will save a way around drive of two or three extra miles that must be driven now to get round the lake at that end.

The enterprise is an ambitious one that would do credit to a group of forward looking men but the Doctor proves the faith' that is in him by going it alone.

He is to be congratulated upon the cool audacity with which he developing his improvement scheme and here is hoping his most ambitious dreams will be realized. -- Argos Reflector

1936-1955 - Allen A. Norris

Following the death of Mrs. Harvey Norris, the farm was owned and maintained by Doctor Norris until 1955, at which time it passed to his son, Dr. Ernest B. Norris , who still resides there [1965], now named Norris Park.

1951 - Mar 7 - Legislature Passes Measure Directed At Maxinkuckee Lagoon
Senate Bill 194, empowering the state conservation department use dams or nets to prevent the escape of game fish from natural lakes into privately owned bodies of water, successfully passed the house of representative last Thursday afternoon and officially became a law on Monday of this week when Governor Henry Schricker signed the bill.

Clearing both houses of the general assembly the legislation covers all Indiana lakes, but is aimed primarily at a private lagoon here at Lake Maxinkuckee.

The bill passed the house of representatives after Marshall County Representative Harry E. Danielson, declared it was supported "by all the people of Culver, by owners of property on Lake Maxinkuckee and by conservation clubs in all counties of the area."

The bill passed the house of representatives, 73-3. It passed in the senate on Feb. 14. It was introduced by Senator Louis Baldoni, joint senator for Marshall and St. Joseph counties. Of wide local interest, the legislation concerns the lagoon owned by Dr. A. A. Norris of Elkhart and located along the east shore of the lake.

Dr. Norris has exercised his prerogative of making it a private project.

In the discussion of, the bill it was said a "closed mentbersnip" pay $30 a year to fish in the lagoon and others are "not even allowed to use the channel between the lake and the lagoon".

The measure applies to any private body of water where fish come from natural lakes, but where public anglers are not permittted

1952 - 1974 - Ernest B. & Mary Lois (Given) Norris, MD; 46.7A; 1970 PLat Map 1958 Lake Directory - Dr. E. B. Norris - , 2805 East Shore Lane, Culver.

1970 - Oglesby Perkins Mrs 2805 East Shore Dr telephone directory
1972 - Alfrey John W 2805 E Shore Dr - telephone directory
1972 - Couse Gerald C 2805 East Shore Ln - telephone directory
1972 - Myers Clem L 2805 East Shore Dr telephone directory

1981 - David Campbell - Telephone directory

This property 1968 came under the ownership of Jack E. and his wife Lelia they bought 80 acres of land over on the east shore with 1,000 feet of lake frontage in 1970. After five years of improvements to the site, including dredging a harbor, they moved the business now the Culver Marina Inc. to the site - 3000 East Shore Drive. On the 1996 plat map it is listed as the Jack E. Campbell Trust containing 64A

Jack R Campbell Trust

?-1999, Nov. - Susan Campbell Thews & Jack R Campbell, Trustees

1999, Nov.-2005,Nov. David B. & Judy Marie Campbell

2005, Dec. Susan Campbell Thews & Jack R Campbell, Trustees

2005,Dec-2024 - Campbell Family Holdlings LLC

Acres 1.600 - A PRT OF LOT 4 IN 8E FRL 1/4;COM AT LEGAL DESC: