Culver Union Town Community - Gym Building

1928

1929

1929 - Aug 7 - State Approves Bond For New Gymnasium

Plan to Begin Work This Week; Contract to Russell Easterday

rush Work in Effort to FInish Before December 1

Impairs Efficiency for School Opening

Red tape will require Manual Training Department to make temporary make-shift

An order has been received by Trustee John E. Dennie from the State Board of Tax Commissioners authorizing bonds for the building of the new gymnasium that will also house the manual training shops. The advertisment of the bonds appears in this issue.

This cuts te last of the red tape that has been keeping this project tied up for several months and which will delay the completion of the building until it is too late for the opening of school and for the first of the basketball season.

Of course these hearing have all cost the taxpayers money and have accomplished nithing but delay that will impair the efficiency of the school for several months.

The contractors plan to use every means to complete the building as soon as possible, but it is probable that it will bot be done before the first of December. If bad weather is encountered the gym will not be done before the first of the year. This means that the first of the basketball practicing will have to be done at the academy, as it is believed the academy's officials will show their usual co-operation by accommodating the high school teams. Part of the games will either have to be played at the school or the schedule changed so as to have all the games away from home until the first of the yeat.

The contract for the construction work goes to RUssell Easterday of Culver, the plumbing and heating to Comfort COmpant of Knox, and the electric wiring to CHarles M. Henry of Fort Wayne.

The order from the tax boar is as follows:
The county auditor having certified a petition of ten or more taxpayers asking a review of the matter by this Board, this case was set for hearing at 1:00 P.M. on May 13, 1929, at the COunty Auditor's office in Plymouth, Indiana and C. M. LOnsberry as special representatinve attended at said time and placed and filed written report of facts presented at the hearing.

After the hearing, to-wit: on the 8th day of June, 1929, and pending the decision of the issue, the state Board of Tax commissioners, directed the proper legal officers to advertise for and receive bids for the construction of said proposed improvement and report the result thereof withing not more than five days after receiving such bids; and thereafter the result of said bids was reported to this board, and on this the 30th day of July, 1929m the Board, a quorum beinf present and having reviewed all the facts, now finds that a mecessity exists for the issuance of bonds but only in the sum of Twenty-none Thousand Dollars ($29,000) and that bonds in that amoungt should be approved.

Therefore, the Board now approves the ussiance of bonds or evidence of indebtedness by Union Civil and School ownships, Marshall county, Indiana and exceeding Twenty-nine Thosand DOllars, ($29,000), with interest not exceeding four and one-half per sent, in the denominations desired and maturing in the manner provided by law, for the purpose of erecting a Gymnasium in the town of Culver in Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana.

Notice of the Sale of School Bonds

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned School Township will offer for sale for the best obtainable price, at the office of the Township Trustee, in the State Exchange Bank Building, Culver, Indiana on

THursday, August 29, 1929

between the hours of 2 and 4 o'clock P.M., Fifty-eight (58), 4 1/2 % Union Township bonds of Five hundred dollar ($500.00) eaach making a total of Twenty-nine thousand dollars ($29,000.00) maturing One thousnad five hundred dollars ($1500.00) on JUly 1, 1930 and Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) on July 1st of ach year for eleven (11) years thereafter.

Said bonds will be sold by and under authority given by the Advisory board of Union Township, Marshall county Indiana, and by and under authority given by the State Tax Board of Indiana

Each bidder is rquired to file certified check or Bank draft for FIve Hundred dollars ($500.00) as a Guarantee that they will take all of said bonds withing fifteen (15) days after the bid has been made.
The UNder signed reserves the right to reject any and all bids and the right to continue said sale from day to day until said bonds are sold

By Order of Advisory Board of Union School Township, Marshall county, Indiana John E. Dennie, Township Trustee

W. O. Osborn, Attorney, Culver, Indiana

Structure designed on latest ideas of stlye, efficiency and utility



Seating arrangement gives unobstructed view of Floor Playing floor area measures 45 X 70 Ft

Spacious stage will accommodate large groups and addoed fine vision for audience

Tp the reader's righ is the architect's drawing og the Union township Community building which is nearing completion to the west of the hisgh school. It is a beuatiful structure designed according to the most modern ideas of architectural style, engineering efficiency and general utility.

The building covers a area of 97 feet by 118 feet and is joined to the school building by a connecting corridor.

The exterioris faced with a bugg collored brick trimmed with Indiana limeston. The two main intrances doors face the street on the south side and are sheltered by copper roofed canopies

The major portion of the building consisted of a large amphitheatre, having an unobstructed floor space 56 feet by 85 feet. Flanking this area on three sides are raised tiers of seats sufficient to accommodate 1000 persons. The framing og the building is so arranged that every spectator has a clear view of the floor, there being no posts or other obstruction of any king. The enitre roof of the main buillding is carried on a system of large steel trusses supported on steel columns embeded in the masonary.

The basketball court is 4 feet by 70 feet with a clear height of 22 feet below the roof trusses. The backstops are supported from above on a steel framewoork which is an intergal oart of the roof framing.

On unsual feature of the bilding is the ceiling which is covered with Celotex board which is applied in a novel manner, having panels formed by strips of this material applied over the joints. This serves the double purpose of improving the acoustics of the room and insulating against the cold.

Under the tiers of seats are the smaller rooms consisting of seperate showe and locker rooms for boys and girls, locker rooms for teams, first aid room, office of the physical director, ticket booths, check rooms and public toilets. SPace is also provided under the lower tiers for strong (storing) chairs and gynmasium apparatuus

On the north side of the playing floor is the tage which has a 27 foot proscenium opening, in front of which is a concealed orchestrr pit. The stage is 23 b6 75 ft. which will accommodate all school dramatic work by large groups. This room can also be used as a class room. The space under the stage is occupied by the m anual training shopp which is reached by a stairway at one side of the stage

The building is designed to serve the needs of the entire community, not only as a physical educational plant but as a meeting place fo public gathering and entertainment of general interst.

The building was planned an supervised by Bradley ad Babcock, archtect and engineers of Ft. Wayne who have had charge of a number of other important buildings in this county. All the general consturction work is being done by Russell Easterday of Culver.

Trustee John E. Dennie and his board are to be complimented for having no adequately provided for the present and future needs of the community and at the same time exercising the uptmost economiy in all expenditures. - Citizen Dec 18 1929

Many Obstactles met in Building New Gym

Weather a Handicap

Remonstrance was main delay that prevented construction during warm weather

Surmounting tedious delays, unsusual handicaps and heart breaking obstacles those connected with the erection of the new Union township gymnsaium have brought it to the point of chstruction where it is possible to put it into use, although considerable detail work is yet to be finished.

For several years the far-sighted citizens of the community had realized that the township needed a new community building and that the class room facilities of the high school were inadequate, but concerted action was not obtained,

Two years ago the trustees and advisory board decided that the move wa necessary and the high school inspector recommended it. But considerable objection was met and the advisory board voted a postponement of the improvement until the township's financial condition was improved.

Last year the state high school inspector reported that the change must be made at once or the school's rating lowered and the advisory board voted to change the old gymnasium into six class rooms and to erect a new $35,000 gynasium.

Then came the first of the obstacles that delayed the erection of the new gym. This was in the form of a remonstrance that was not sustained by the state tax board and only served to throw the consturction work into the cold time of the year. Ths also prevented completion in time for the opening of the bsketball season. A regretable delay of two weeks during perfect weather occured when material failed to arrive. And then stormy weather set in to handicap contractor Russell Easterday and his associates.

But those in charge refused to be discouraged and by exerting every possibl effort have finsihed he building to the point were it can be used on the date set in the early fall. The class rooms in the old gym were completed in time for use at the beginning of school.

The building, one of the finest in any town of this size in the state, will stand as evidence of the progessiveness of the majority of this community and as a tribute to all those connected with its planning and erection.

Special credit is due these who spent many hours in working out the contless details:
• Trustee John E. Dennie;
• Austin Druckmiller,
• Chester Bigley, and
• W. T. Parish, members of the advisory board;
• W. O. Osborn, Attorney;
• J. L. Tombaugh, former superintendent of schools;
• F. M. Annis, present superintendent of schools;
• Deane E. Walker, county superintent;
• Bradley & Babcock, archtects;
• Russell Easterday, contactor, who has added many features at his own expenses not called for in the contract and has rushed the work at a personal financial sacrifice; his corps or workmen and sub-contractors; and
• Ed Jones, janitor.


The countless citizens who supported the building program with pride, for their aid was quite vital to those in charge.

December 17, 1929, will long stand as a red letter day in the history of Union Township. --- Citizen Dec 18, 1929

Dedicatory Luncheon By School Officals

40 there as guests

Trustee Dennie, Supt. Walter and Princepal Annis hosts to school men and others.

Prior ro the dedication of the gymnasium last night a dedicatory luncheon was held in the new domstic science rooms with Trustee John E. Dennie, Co. Superintendent Deane E. Walker and Principal FLoyd M. Annis as hosts.

The delicious meal was served by the domestic science department of the Culver High High School under the supervision of Miss D. Mignon Anderson. The girls not only prepared tasty and excellently cooked food, but served in fautless style. It was ample proff of the thorough work being done in the local domestic science department.

Forty guests of honor were invited and were composed of school men of the county and those who hade actively connected with the erection of the new gymnium.

The lunceon served as a fitting opening to the evening's celebration and ceremonies.

The guests of honor were:
A. L. Trestor, commisiioner, Indiana High School athletics;
C. E. SPaulding, superintndent, Plymouth
C. B. Macy, superintendent, Bremen
R. E. Scudder, superintendent, Argos
L. E. Michael, principal Plymouth
E. P. Smith, principal, Bourbon
John Norman, principal, LaPaz
Daniel Shambarger, principal, Tyner
Estil Ginn, principal West township
T. G. Weaver, principal Tippecanoe
Frank Lamson, trustee, Center Township, Marshall county
Frank Albert, trustee, North township, Marshall county
John Drake, trustee, Polk township, Marshall county
Claude Garrison, trustee, West township, Marshall county Clarence Sellers, trustee, Tippecanoe township, Marshall county
James Boreis, trustee, Green township, Marshall county
O. B. SMith, trustee, Bourbon towsnhip, Marshall county
Claude Fletcher, trustee, Walnut township, Marshall county
Ed Kitch,
Carl Srtombeck and
Joseph Whitsell, Plymouth School Board
LeRoy Bradley and
Dan Babcock architects, Fort Wayne
Russell Easterday general contractors
Matt Kizer and
Frank Helms heating and plumbing contractors
Charles Henry, electrical contractor Fort Wayne
Paul Underwood, coach, Culver
Walter E. Thurston, coach Plymouth
Audris Buckner, coach Plymouth
C. A. Burt, official
M. R. Robinson, Culver Citizen
Howard Grossman, Plymouth Pilot
Jess L. Tombaugh Rochester
Evert Hoesel, Culver
Wm. Osborn, Culver
The local school officials present were:
John E.Dennie, Trustee union township
Deane E. Walker, county superintendent, Marshall county
FLoyd M. Annis, pricipal, Culver
Frank McLane, assistant principal
Austin Druckmeiller
Wm. T. Parish and
Chester G. Bigley advisory Board of Union township - Citizen Dec. 18, 1929+

Township Decicates New Gym

Culver Beats Plymouth, 39 to 28, before record breaking crowd that packs gym,

Tresrter dedicates building with plead for good sprotmanship

Culver's big lead reduced by spurt

Structure wins praise of all visitors and local citizens amdmire their new arena

The dedication of the new Union township gymnasium in a proper manner was taken care of by the Culver high school first team last night when it haded the Plymouth Red Jackets a 39 to 28 defeat

A. L. Tester, commissioner of athletics of Indiana high schools, took care of the formal dedication, but it remained for for the high school athletes to make the evening a real success, for the local viewpoint.

The evenings dedication cermeonies opened with a luncheon in the domestic science rooms. Then the second team of Plymouth and Culver tangled...the final score 21 to 18 in favor of the visitors. The Culver team played the best ball it has displayed to date.

Between games A. L. Tester gave the dedicatory speaach. He complimented the progressiveness of the community as indicated by the fine building and pointed out the importance of athletic training to high school students and to adults. He stressed the need of sportsmanship among players, coaches and students, but patticularly by the fans in the bleachers. He cited examples how it was usually the adult fans that caused trouble by unsportsman-like acts at games.

The P;ymouth band played several number that were will rendered. Before Mr. Tester's talk several local citizens who plaved an important part in securing the new gym were introduced and W. O. Osborn acted as their spolesman.

The first round of the first team game was all Culver's ...but the visitor's were unable to keep up the drive and Culver connected with a few on its side to make the dedication a satisfactory affair.

A crown of about 1300 was present, the largest ever at a Culver game...

Union Township Trustees report... eneding December 31, 1929...
Bond Fund Receipts
St. Ex. Bank Sale of bonds $29,000.00

Disbursements
Bradley & Babcock Fees $990.00
Plly Pilot adv. Bonds 19.89
Cul. Civitzen adv. bonds, 11.47
Russell Easterday cont. 6,375.00
Com.Plumb. Co. on cont. 700.00
Bradley & Babcock, fees 272.00
Bradley & Babcock, fees 200.00
Com.Plumb. Co. on cont. 1,500.00
Russell Easterday cont. 9,775.00
W. O, Osborn, att. fess 100.00
Cilv Citizen ptg. 40.00
Voucher correction 26.69
Com. Plumb. Co. on cont. 2,500.00
Henry Electric Co., wire 650.00.... CItizen Jan 15, 1930