Memorial Legion

At E.R. Culver's instructions, Albert Knell,St. Louis architect adopted design features from the Herstmonceau Castle in Sussex, Eng. The towers, crenelations, firing slits, and arched doorways were part of the Tudor-Gothic architectual style that Knell and E.R. Culver adopted in 1895 for future buildings. It was the last of 22 campus buildings designed by St. Louis architect, Albert Knell

The cornerstone for the Legion building was laid in 1919. Work was resumed on the legion in 1923. And it was dedicated on November 2^nd, 1924.

The Legion building itself originally housed the campus library

In keeping with tradition Culver students and faculty salute the Gold Star located at each entryway upon exiting or entering, in honor of the dead.

The Culver Legion Memorial Building was dedicated to the memory of Culver's heroic dead of World War I. Never had such a distinguished contingent of national and international figures gathered on campus. Noted military figures of the war and representatives of the allied nations all met at Culver to pay tribute.

A highlight of the inspiring dedication ceremonies was E.R. Culver's formal presentation of the keys to the building to the president of The Culver Legion. As symbolic keepers of this noble memorial,

The Legion's role was indelibly etched in the past, present, and future of Culver. The Legion motto still greets those who enter the building. Above the inner door of the main entrance is the inscription: "Haec Signa Duci Mataeque Accipimus" (These emblems we accept as guide and goal.) And in the Alumni Lounge in the north wing, above the fireplace, is the original shield of The Culver Legion coat of arms which incorporates the emblems to which the motto refers. They are: oak leaf surrounded by a chain -- strength of fellowship; star enclosed by a wreath -- service and victory; broadswords and scales -- might and justice; open book flanked by torches -- tradition and knowledge

The Great Hall of the Legion Memorial Building was first viewed at its dedication of the building on Nov. 2, 1924. The flags are those of allied nations in WW I. Doors on the balcony opened to the Gold Star Room (left) and the Legion Board Room (right). In 1953, the names of those who lost their leves in WW I were set in bronze in the staircase wall

The staircase of Great Hall in the Legion Memorial Building remained without adornment from 1924 until 1953. The names of the WW I dead were recorded on a marble tablet in the Gold Star Room off the main balcony. When that room was closed and converted to the Literature Room after Gen. Gignilliat's death in 1952, the names were placed on the stairway wall.

Opened in 1924 as the Gold Star Room, this third floor room in the Memorial Building was dedicated to Culver men who died in WW I. Their photos surrounded the four walls. A marble plaque with the names of the dead was on the west wall. The room was closed in 1953 and the names placed on the staircase wall of the Great Hall.

The Legion Memorial Building was adapted for use as a library and its opening in 1924 provided a bright and roomy venue for students in the Reading Room . The lounge on the opposite side of the building provided relaxed seating. A large stack room was at the rear.

The memorial is a handsome three story building erected on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee. It is the gift of the board of trustees of the academy and will be presented to the Culver alumni as tribute to their school fellows lost in the war by E. R. Culver, president of the board. The structure embraces a dormitory and club for the exclusive use of the academy alumni and the large academy library, as well as an assembly room, a sulte for the board of trustees, and a shrine in which have been placed a marble tablet bearing the names of the men to whom the building is dedicated, their photographs. and a volume giving their individual war records. There were 62 alumni who died in service: 34 in the army, 14 in the army air service, seven in the navy, four in the marines, and three with the allied armies. The structure is of the Tudor Gothic type of architecture, the exterior of brick and stone and the interior of Indiana limestone. Old English and Italian ideas in the interfor design, decorations and furnishings give an old world character to the main entrance hall and the wing containing the club rooms. Cathedral window glass, beamed ceilings, an antique fountain, and Italian stairways and balconies supply rare touches of distinction uncommon to building's in the new world. - South Bend Tribune Fri, Oct 31, 1924

The dedication booklet below has some wondrful pictures of the legion within.