450 - 454 SCHOOL ST.

450 N SCHOOL ST DILLON & MEDBOURN ADD LOT 27 Bll & Margaret Washburn "The Barn" restaurant from 1945 to 1958 1959 - residence

? - Stephen Micheal br>
1996, Apr- 2002, Feb. - Kevin R. Gardner

2002, Feb-2019, Nov - MICHAEL L & Sacie M. Reed

2019,Nov-2026 - Max's Playhouse LLC

An undated photo of The Barn on School Street, provided by Mimi Miller, in a typically jubilant scene of local youth enjoying the locale. See "The Barn" by John Wm. Houghton.

Writes of the Barn

Russell Leonard, in his column "Ramblings At Random: in the Galvaston (Ind.) Leader, has writtien the following, which will be of interest to local readers:

Fifty -four miles from Galveston at Culver, Indiana, is none of the most unusual restaurants in this state. It is comparatively new, having opened in August 1945. It is an old barn remodeled, and is called simply, :"the Barn:.

The Barn is owned and operated by fenial Bill Washburn, a gent who is not old nor is he young, but as ge would put it, in the prime of my life", Culver being a small town of 1700, Bill early recongnized the need for a "teenage hang out" For years he had been formulating the idea and laying plans and finally his dream came true. To say it was been a success would be a great understatement.

Part of the success lays in the fact that Bill likes kids and the kids like Bill. Mrs. Washburn, called Margaret by anyone who has been in the Barn more than once, is as genial as Bill and the two of them have made a haven for the youngsters, as well as grown-ups on those dull, small4 town evening.

Bill and Margaret never get to the Barn until about 6 p.m. on winter afternoons and especially on Sundays, things are in full swing by that time. Bill trusts everyone. The Barn is never locked; anyone can come in and help themselves and whether they pay or not, is left solely up to them. Bill figures that the kids appreciate the Barn enough that they won't "lift" anything. Surprisingly enough, not many do.

The Barn used to have a ping-pong game in it, vut after so much use, it finally wore out. A jute-box is at the rear of the restaurant and the Washburn's pretty well match nickle-for-nickle that the kids put into it.

The Barn has sponsored a softball team from its founding in the league at Culver. Last winter the CUlver High School basketball team was strong and ranked in all of the A.P. and U.P. sports-writers' polls.Nautrally, the interest of the fans was at high pitch all year, esoecially at sectional time. Tickets were scarce and many of the local people woulf not be able to see the tourney. Bull secured a private tlephone hook-up from the Barn to the gym and broadcast each and every game of the thirteen game tournamnet, paying for the service himself. I, for one, was glad to have had a part in those broadcasts.

This summer Bill has closed the Barn and is managing the Beach Lodge on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckeeat Culver.

Each table in the Barn is equiped more of less with a deck of cards, regular or pinochle. Many times youngsters will group at tables playing cards or chackers, or some other game, and spend maybe only a nickle all evening. It doesn't matter to Bill at all; he is happy to have them there. ANd it is my guess that the kids will bethere, as long as there is "a Barn". - Citizen - - Jul 21, 1948

454 SCHOOL ST DILLON & MEDBOURN ADD LOT 28 &1/2 VAC

1985, Aug- 1998, Apr. - William Washbburn

1998-, Apr. - 1998, Jun- Tina L Barnes

1998, Jrln - 1998, Jul- Jonathan Barnes

1998, Jul -2017. Jul - Daniel T & Janis C. Barker

2017, Jul - 2019, Nov - Sarah & Jonathan Herbert

2019,Nov-2026 - Max's Playhouse LLC
Movd from 18571 st_rd 10 bldg 2

Max’s Playhouse Montessori officially closed on December 22, 2025. This chapter has ended, but the seeds planted will continue to grow. Max’s Playhouse Montessori officially closed on December 22, 2025.







SE COR NW1/4 N90D E2.17' N E1123.1' N
TR 105' E&W 20' N&S 1123.1'N SE