Culver's Black History
From Summer of 1964 to early 1968 I lived on South Plymouth street with neighbors of the Hamptons, Hodges,
Dickerson, Wilhites and Weavers
Also for a year of two about 1966-1967 my brother had the South Bend paper route for the majority of the town -
I took the south half and he took north half which involved more the Academy area. Amongst my customers
were many of the listed below.
Thelma Hodges Moorehead in a letter to the editor of the Culver Citizens names the backbone people of the African
American community - she states that if it were not for them "faculty row" would of ceased functioning in all reality
if it were not for their services - the same was said of the East side summer residents of that era - now a thing of
the past.
The African American community came into play when the Culver Military Academy came into existence in 1894; and
especially when Henry Harrison Culver the initiation to the Missouri Military Academy:
On 26 September 1896 the Missouri Military Academy boys was ravaged by fire that month - Sensing the opportunity
to save Culver Military Academy H. H. Culver sent a telegram - "You have the boys, I have the buildings. Let's get
together." - giving Fleet the opportunity to bring his students, and faculty to Indiana. H. H. Culver had proposed an
acceptable deal resulting in Fleet's acceptance and H. H. Culver telegrammed back: "Veni, Vidi, Vici. The Academy is
at your disposal. When will your party start? Answer quick." Culver hired a private train for Fleet, his staff and the
cadets to bring them from Mexico, Missouri to Culver. On the evening of October 5th Head master Col. Alexander F.
Fleet arrived along with the 72 cadets and five faculty members among were Hugh Greiner and Hugh Glasswork; from
there they went to the lake pier boarded the steamboats Peerless I and Aubeenaubee for the short trip to the Academy.
They came with them as waiters, janitors, cooks and domestic help.
By coming North with the school they had hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families.
My only sad, bitter recollection of their lives were the one room shacks that lined the south side of the woods, I can
remember my mother driving down that road from St. Rd. 17 to __ and seeing the people living in such conditions.
The most memorable memories is the friendliness of neighbors Bob Hodges [he loved to fish and cook them!], William
Hampton and the Wilhites down on Plymouth Street.
Of William Hampton the Palm Sunday Tornado of 1965 is the vivid memory of him - he offered me and my brother
sanctuary his basement if the winds got worse. He caught me chasing mother's brand new trash can and lid down
South Plymouth street and told me to let it go - to get in the house and stay there - it was not worth a human life;
but I chased it down anyway and then returned home! I was only 13 what did I know then?
The People
A. M. E. Rollins Chapel
The Culver Comics - Robert Kyle
Indiana's
1st Intregated Basketball Team
Culver Comics Team Photo
1903 - Jul 9 The following cases have been filed with the clerk
since our last report...
Mattie Millie vs Louis Miller, for divorce. The parties are colored and are
residents of Lake Maxikuckee, and probably the first case for divorce in the
balck race ever filied in Marshall county. - Argos Reflector (Indiana)
Culver Alumnus Fall 1968 - Culver & the Academy
Pg. 1
pg. 2
pg. 3
Charle A. 'Ace' Byrd, since 1906 "in about every capacity". Pg 2
Charlie Dickerson, 1904-1953; Head waiter for 44 years and Alumni House stweard since 1967. pg 1
Roy 'Sheep' Scott, 1902-1946; Diinning Hall waiter and custodial spervisor and still on duty at the
Farm House. pg 1
George Simmons; Dinning Hall waiter since 1926 pg 3
Roy Watts, 1911-1964; Dinnig Hall and Beason Hall pg 2
Henry Wilhite; Dining Hall waiter since 1951 Pg 3
George Rollins
"Bob" - Morsell Emmett Hodges
Thelma S. Hodges
"Bob" - Morsell Emmett Hodges Family
Roy Scott
Charles Otis Dickerson
Barney McCellan
Hampton, William and Edna
David Whitted Famiily
Whitted - Scott Photos
Charles Wesley Wade Family