Culver Military Academy Culver Educational Foundation 1900-1919
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Here is a section referring to the Academy from the 1900 topographical map by J. T.
Scovell |
1900 Jun 28 - Culver Military Academy at Lake Maxinkuckee is in prosperous circumstances
and during this summer willbe enlarged. A new barracks, memorial hall and gymnasium will
be added to the already well equiped institution. The trustees of the academy state that
they will have the finest and best military school in the west, w hen the buildings are
completed. - Argos Reflector (Indiana) / 22 Jun 1900 Marshall County Independent
1900 Jul 6 - Althougn nore generally know, Indiana seems detined to be the home of
the second greates military school in the United States. Culver Military Academy, at
Lake Maxinkuckee founded by a wealthy gentleman of St/ Louis, Mo., is rapidly growing
its location aslo being favorable to a naval branch of instruction. The governement
furnishes a military instructor and in course of time government financial aid is
looked for - Bristol Banner (Indiana)
1900 Ad St. Louis Republic |
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1900 - Sept 10 - Fall Term Opening
The College Year Begins at Culver
Maxinkuckee, Ind. September 10, - Culver Military Academy will open tomorrow,
and reach 3 00. Many of the students will come from Chicago and St. Louis in
special cars, during the day. Every department of the school is ready to begin
work. About twenty-five students from Indianapolis will be at the academy this
winter. The members of the faculty are all here. - Indianapolis News.
1900 - Oct 31 -
Halloween Prank -
Culver Cadets expelled
Terre Haute, Ind. Nov. 3 - A telegram recieved here from Culver says
that about 100 students have been expelled or suspended from the
Culver Military Academy for sinking most of the pleasure boats,
including one steamer, in Lake Maxinkuckee, on the sore of which the
academy is situated. The sinking was a Halloween prank. - Nov, 3 1900
Muscatine Semi-Weekly News Tribune (Iowa)
1901 - Albert Knell added a fourth floor to Main Barrack
1902 - The campus area from an aerial view. It shows the old
view of the roads, before St. Rd. 10 was put in. |
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1901 = Mar 29 - Culver Military Academy, at Lake Maxinkuckee, has been made a
naval station. Twelve government yawls and the ususal small arms are to be
furnished for the use of the cadets who will be taken on a thrity day's cruise
each year by the gunboat "Michigan". doing police duties on the Great Lakes -
Bristol Banner (Indiana)
1901 - Apr 23 - A Revenue Cutter
For Culver Academy At Lake Maxinkuckee
Governor Durbin Notified That the School May Have the Vessel - Naval Studies
Indianapolis, Ind., April 23 - Through the co-operation of Governor Durbin, the
Culver Military School on Lake Maxinkuckee, is to have a revenue cutter from the
Navy, for use as training ship.
Under a law enacted by Congress, any military school of a certain rquired standard
and equipment, when indorsed by the Governor of the state in which it is located, may
apply for a revenue cutter, tp be loaned by the Secretary of the Navy.
Col. Fleet, superintendent of the school at Culver, was largely instrumental in
obtaining the passage of the law.
Governor Durbin indorsed the application the superintendent made to the secretary of
the Nanvy, and yesterday it was announce at the Governpr's offce that the application
had been honored, and that one of the revenue cutters will be sent to Culver soon.
The school will estblish a naval department in cinnection with the infantry, artillery
and clavry departments already established.
The school is entitled to one revenue cutter for each 100 students it has, but the
Secretary of War says only one cutter is available for use at this time. - Evansville
Journal-News (Indiana)
1901 - May 24 - The government load to the Culver Academy at Lake Maxinkuckee consist
of two 10-inch siege mortars; one from Jackson Barracks anf the other from Fort Macomb,
both in Louisanna. 200 Parrott rifles and eight 8-inch shells from Fort Winthroup =
Marshall County Independent - Plymouth Indiana.
1902 -Jun 17 - Those long looked for revenue cutters for the Culver Military Academy
have arrived, and are not reposing upon the crystal waters of old Lake Maxinkuckee.
The boats are 28 feet long, and fitted out with full sail outfits. These boats came
from the Boston, Nass., navy yards, and were given to the academy by a special act of
Congress. It is now an assuted fact that there will be a summer naval school conducted
by said institution, and appications are rolling very rapidly. There is no douby but
what this new feature connected with this school well be another great drawing carf ath the
laks - Weekly Republican, Playmouth, Indiana.
1902 - June 17 -
A School for Sailors
1902 - The "little" Gym was erected. Through the efforts of the Indiana delegation in congress, a law was passed authorizing the
loan to the academy of man-of-war cutters for the practical instruction of cadets, in a course of boat drills similar to those given to
the fourth class at Annapolis. In June of 1902, the Summer Naval School opened with 20 cadets (first called midshipmen circa 1920)
and commanded by Leigh Gignilliat's brother, Thomas, a Naval Academy graduate
Culver Military Academy, established by H. H. Culver ten years ago, on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee near the present town of
Culver, was Thursday incorporated with a capital stock of $240,000. The trustees are as follows: Walter L. Culver, Henry H. Culver,
Bert B. Culver, Knight K. Culver, Edwin R. Culver, Emily J. Culver and A. F. Fleet. - - Rochester Sentinel, Friday, July 18, 1902
1903 - The 4
th floor was added onto the Main Barracks - this being solely for academic purposes, and containing a drafting
room, physical laboratory, chemical laboratory, biological laboratory, Y. M. C. A. room, chemical and physical lecture rooms, dentist's office,
barber shop, and dark room for amateur photographers. In June of 1903, an agreement with the construction firm of J. E.. Barnes and
Sons of Logansport was signed for $14,225.70. A materials drawing account was set up on Aug. 29, and by the end of September,
construction was underway. Albert Knell was the designer and engineer. A survey of the 1895 power plant in the Engine Annex was
made. Bradley and Co. of St. Louis], recommended a major up-grades including new boilers, engines, and a dynamo and new Westinghouse
Electric Company switchboard. Barnes and Sons was given the contract to remodeling the Annex. The water tank was also inadequate to
supply campus needs and the roof possibly co uld not with stand any additional weight. A tower and larger water tank the hill just south
of the new gymnasium was constructed by Fairbanks, Morse and Company [of St. Louis]. Barnes and Sons did the site preparation for the
foundation and Bradley and Co. done the plumbing to connect the water lines from the Annex to the campus building.
1903 - An article by L. Robinson Gignilliat appeared sometime during this year in the Munsey's Magazine; it was 4 pages long and had 5
illustrations and was titled "
An Inland Naval School"
1903-04 a splendid gymnasium was constructed.
1904 - Aug 4 - Improvements at the Academy Brick work on the South Barracks has been finished and concreting and lathing ready on time.
Contracts have been signed for; a new kitchen west of the old gym and the extension and enlargement of the engine and boiler rooms.
There will be a twenty-foot extension on the ground now occupied by the formation sheds, and a dynamo capable of supplying 1000 lights
will be installed. The old gym. is being remodeled for a dining hall
1904 - South Barracks was erected - with capacity for ninety cadets and three officers.
Here is the cover of a summer catalog for 1904 |
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1905 - YMCA chapter established on campus. The gymnasium built in
1902 burned in 1905, it burned to the ground and was replaced, exactly
as before, in 1907
1906 -
Sanborn fire map of Culver Military Academy grounds.
1906 - Gym was destroyed by fire June 1, 1906, but was immediately rebuilt. This is the largest and most complete private school gymnasium in
existence. It is constructed in the Tudor Gothic style of architecture. The main gymnasium hall is seventy-five by one hundred and forty feet. It
has walls of white, enamel brick, capped by a heavy oak rail, to which are fastened pulley weights and other wall apparatus. The floor is of polished
hard maple. A suspended running track-seventeen laps to the mile-and gallery, skirt the four walls. The roof is supported by steel trusses, and no
pillar or post mars the ample floor space. Opening into the main hall are apparatus room, measuring room, filled with the best anthropometric
apparatus, director's room, locker room, drying room, and baths. West Barracks was renovated.
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By age requirements of being 14 for naval school and the picture being of a young boy this is
inserted here - Lewis Wendell Willkie was born in 1892 and ny the time Willkie reached age 14 and
enrolled in Elwood High School, his parents were concerned about a lack of discipline and a slight
stoop, and they sent him to Culver Military Academy for a summer in an attempt to correct both. His
photo shows - the hat and uniform which is Naval I believe. If you wish to read more on the young
man see "Wendell Willkie on " WikipediA". I found the picture intriguing - because of the uniform
style and hat; besides the look on his face of total disgust. Years later he was a Republican
presidential nominee running aganst incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, won the 1940 election
with about 55% of the popular vote and took the electoral college vote by a wide margin |
Here are are early
1900-1909 ads
for the school.
1907 - a separate hospital building was erected, of strictly fireproof construction, and equipped with the latest sanitary appliances. It is two
stories high, has a diet kitchen, independent heating and lighting systems, and accommodations for twenty-five patients. The style of
architecture is the Tudor Gothic, which admits of highly ornate trimmings and is peculiarly adapted to buildings for this purpose. The
architectural treatment combines the restful and quiet effect essential to hospitals, with the massive and dignified appearance appropriate
to military buildings. A reception hall divides the first story longitudinally; this hall also serves as a waiting room. On the left of the reception
hall are located the surgeon's office and chambers also the operating, sterilizing, and emergency rooms. On the right of the reception hall is
the contagion ward, with separate baths, nurse's quarters, kitchen, etc
1907 - Culver Summer School of Cavalry opened. The here is an ad for the summer school. Gignilliat began a two-week excursion with the
entire Naval and Cavalry to the tri-centennial Jamestown Exposition in Virginia. An account of the excursion by Robert B. D. Hartman is
found in 2 parts - as: When the Rails Hummed the “SPIRIT OF CULVER”
part one and
part two
1908 - The Arsenal or Armory was built was located north of the present Mess Hall. It was converted to the Tailor and Uniform Shop c. 1920
and later was the dry cleaning, bookstore, and mens' clothing store (The Toggery Shop).
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This provides an unsual eagle eye view of the campus from above Lake Maxinkuckee; it was
created for the Culver Military Academy promotional catalog in 1908. It is a composite of
buildings and activities that were then part of the winter and summer programs. |
1908 - the Health Center - was built - names have varied over the years as to Hospital, Infirmary, and
Health Center. The main entrance originally faced the lake but in 1948, a major renovation added a north
wing, relocated the entrance to the west, and removed the 'gingerbread' facade it originally had atop of
the building.
Robert B. D. Hartman wrote of these early years as
BRICK, STONE,
STEEL AND IRON... AND LOTS OF VISION
1909 - Feb 25 - The Year in Building...
Academy, armory $5,000
Academy, grading $2,000
1909 - 26 Aug. - Sold For $100 An Acre
The James South Eighty Bought by Emily J. Culver
Last week James South gave Emily J. Culver a contract ofr a deed to be
delivered Oct. 1 to his 80-acre farm for $8,000, or $100 an acre.
The South farm is seperated from the Culver farm by
20 acres owned by Frank. Parker....
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1909 - News articles:
Now Indiana has a navy. The bill providing for a naval branch of the military, chiefly beneficial to Culver Academy, passed
both houses and has been signed by the governor. Now we are safe from foreign invasion. - - Rochester Sentinel,
Friday, March 5, 1909
E. R. Culver , son of the founder of the military academy at Culver , accompanied by Albert Krell, both of St. Louis, are
at Culver making arrangements for having plans drawn for a new dormitory to the Academy. - - Rochester Sentinel,
Wednesday, August 25, 1909
1909 - Open Air Barrack built just north of the Gym and in 1924 it was moved to where the Henderson Ice Arena is
today. It was used for the Academy Band. Final use was by the crew members of Universal Studios during the filming
of "Tom Brown of Culver " in 1932 and that summer it was razed to expand the area of the Woodcraft camp
Here are several
1909 ads for the school.
1910 - Fleet retires. Major Leigh Gignilliat, the commandant became superintendent and Bert H. Greiner became Commandant.
Culver Military Academy Alumni Association was formed.
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About 1910 Edwin Raymond Culver built
his home just east of the Palmer House; another partial
view. In the mid 1920's turned it over to the Academy for use as the superintendents house until 1989 when it
along with the guest house next door was razed in 1989 to make way for the new library. Culver Military Academy Alumni
Association founded by Gignilliat |
A NOBLE STRUCTURE,
New Mess Halll at Academy to Be the Most
Complete of Its kind Anywhere |
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1910 - Open air barracks was built north of the "Little Gym". The Culver family secured a patent for the
design. The novelty of is wore off by the 1920's and it was converted to a more traditional use, In 1923
it was moved to the area of the Henderson Ice Arena and was used and the band building till 1932 when was
razed for additions to the Woodcraft Camp. It was last used by the film crew during the production of
"Tom Brown of Culver ".
Here is
1910 ads:
On April 17, 1911 the new CMA Mess Hall was dedicated. It altered the layout of the campus. It's size dominated the west side
of the campus. The cost of construction, excluding furniture, fittings, and kitchen equipment was $80,000.
The Iron Gate and the Final Formation, as we know it, was born on, June 8, 1911 and thus began the graduation tradition of
passing through the iron gates. The iron gate was found by Edwin Culver and his wife during the first decade of the 20th
century while on a tour in Europe - had hopes of it being used in one of the new campus buildings on campus but it did not
fit and was stored away.
This a
1911 Catalog for the Summer Naval School
gives information for the Naval School Cadets and battalions of 1910. As well as many vintage pictures of the Academy grounds,
buildings and Naval school activities along with scenes of the lake. And here is the full page from the Harpers Magazine Advertiser
and the cropped out add for the academy:
Here are several
1910-1919 ads for the school.
1912 - The heating and Electrical Plant was built several yards north of the Mess Hall. It is now the Music and Arts Building. The
Woodcraft Camp established. Here is a winter scene about
1912 of the academy campus:
ACADEMY STIRS UP BIG FUSS
Culver Military Academy has stirred up a big fuss in Washington by its request that the cadets be permitted to march near the front
of the inaugural parade as an escort to Vice President Marshall. It now looks as if the school wo uld certainly be permitted in the
procession.
Capt. W. A. Fleet, of the Academy, is now in Washington attempting to gain a place for his cadets. He first visited Gov. Wilson at
Princeton, and learned that the coming executive had no objection to the plan to honor his colleague, if it co uld be arranged
satisfactorily. Armed with this word, he hastened to the capital, only to be frowned upon by Gen. Wood, who has charge of the
military part of the parade. The general impression seemed to be that the procession was originally arranged in honor of the
President, and that his running mate should not share in the glory. However, at a meeting which Senator Shively and Capt. Fleet
had with Gen. Wood, it was finally decided that the Vice President-elect shall have an escort and that it shall be the Culver
Black Horse Troop. Sixty of the troopers will form the escort and will bring their mounts with them from Indiana. - Rochester Sentinel,
Saturday, February 1, 1913
1912 - December over the Christmas holiday the laundry was moved out of the basement of East barracks into new
quarters of what was the old engine room.
1913 - Feb. - 1, Saturday - the Vedette Vol. XVII Number 14 pg. 1 Class Memorial Recently a meeting
of the first class was called to consider the question of a memorial. Specifications for an excellent
guard house, which were sent to the school by. Mr. E. R. Culver , were shown to the members. The plan is
to have the guard house in a space formed by the two sidewalks near the southeast corner of the East barrack.
Its construction, will probably one of stone, the door being metal. the class favored it, but no
definite steps were taken, since the prices were not available at the time.
1913 - The North barracks and the Administration building were built. The Administration building included a magnificent administration hall and
administrative offices. A descriptive of this building was found as such:
1913 Saturday May 3, Volume XVII Number 24, Vedette - A new barrack will be erected during the summer of 1913 and the capacity of the
academy increased thereby to 440 cadets...the site for the new building has been selected on the ground north of the East barrack, which
the new one will parallel...The first floor will contain offices for the headmaster and commandant, together with the additional class rooms...
The upper floors will be given over to the cadets. The most distinctive feature of this new building will be the imposing sally-port which will
constitute a sort of official front for the academy to which visitors will be brought over the drive which is eventually to lead from the corner of
the grounds near the hospital. Above this will be a splendidly lighted airy room for the purpose of faculty meetings, courts-marial, etc. The
increase room capacity and in number fo cadets will also make it possible to carry out a long cherished plan for six company organization insted
of the present four, and for the rooming of the cadet corps according to companies. the quarters will divide admirabluy in a way to allow this,
with one floor for the band quarters.
1913 - May 17 - Vedette GROUND BROKEN - The new barrack is already of the way to realization since ground was broken on Monday. The Old
retaining wall and three trees have gone and the sand from the foot of the hill is filling the grade toward the track. Mr. Baker, of the architects,
Baker & Knell, has been on the job all this week runnings levels, and staking off the lines of the new building and of the changed drives and walks.
1913 - may 24 - Vedette - Pick and Shovel - A great deal of progess on the new barrack and administration building has been bade during the past
week. All the plans have been completed, the stakes have been set and the foundations have been started. It was necessary to tear out all the old
heating pipes for the gymnasium in order to make room for one corner of the new building. Most of the excavating has been done. When the building is
completed it will contain all the academy offices and several new section rooms, besides enough cardet rooms for one company.
Madam Schummann-Hein Recital on Easter Sunday,
1913. - - The little circular guard house that stood at the corner of the East barrack was remodeled and a given new coat of paint in the school colors
Library was moved from the East barrack to the Y.M.C.A. rooms; into the room that housed the bilard tables they have been moved into the bolwling alley.
The Old library room of the East Barrack will be remodeled for the superindent offce and there will be an entrance into it from the North barrack.
1913 - March 25 the Cadets of Culver Military went to the aided and rescue of the residents of Logansport, Cass, Indiana when the
Eel River and the Wabash River flooded the town | |
1913 - April 19, Saturday - Vedette - The new pier is now nearing completion, all brand new material, painted warship gray, which makes it look much
finer than its predecessor, which never received a coat of paint. the peir is made in sections, each being numbered so that when it is taken down in the
fall it can be put up again wwhen wanted without much trouble. this pier will reach 500 feet from shore, more than half the length of the giant steamer
'imperator'. To accompany this pier wer are also to have new diving towers, chutes, and most likely a place for polo games. The new apparatus for the
water games will doubtless induce more to enjor the delights of the water sports.
October 13, 1913 Vol. XVIII No. 2 Vedette
The Grading down of the terraces in front of the gymnasion and riding hall has added much to the appearance of the buildings.
A gravel road has been made, starting at the side of the riding hall, passing in front of the camp and then turning again to the right
of the riding hall, the gymnasium and the new barrack. A concrete pavement has also been made, extending along the new barrack
over to the camp.
The parade ground..The entire field has been heavily fertilized, then plowed, harrowed and rolled. It will now be sown to grass once more....
The Grading down of the terraces in front of the gymnasion and riding hall has added much to the appearance of the buildings. A gravel
road has been made, starting at the side of the riding hall, passing in front of the camp and then turning again to the righ tof the riding
hall, the gymnasium and the new barrack. A concrete pavement has also been made, extending along the new barrack over to the camp.
The parade ground..The entire field has been heavily fertilized, then plowed, harrowed and rolled. It will now be sown to grass once more....
Here are several 1913 ads for the school.
1914 - Feb. 21 - Vedette - The Passing of the Shack - It is gone! The time honored and much abused O.d's shack has been taken down entirely
obliterated. All that remains are the memoires of days gone by and a few scars on the wall. the shack could of told man storied on which Culver
history is founded. So might the permit board, willl-worn by the sands of time assisted by the ever jacknife in the hands of industrious orderlies
who are now making the same deep cuts in the business would as the ded on the old permit board. It is alas! with the rest of the shack, has gone
to join the ranks of the great "has beens".
1914 April 25 - vedette - on the west side of the hospital a road has been built, connecting with the one that is in front of the gymnasium, and
extending to the publice road at the rear of the hospital. It will afford a better way for the battallion to go to and from the drill field and will give
the vechiles a shorter route out of the grounds.
1914 - As a thank-you and remembrance to the cadets services - Logansport donated the
"Logansport Gates" to the academy and they were dedicated.,
and here on this page too can be found an account to the "big wind" or storm of 1913. |
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And here is the 1914
Sanborn map of the Academy
grounds.
1914 - Nov 26 - Golf course was established as in the Nov. 26 1914 paper it was referenced as “From here your drive to the
first hole, which is in the southeast corner of the drill field, then to the second hole 300 yards straight ahead towards the
Shaw school house. The third tee is across the field from the cavalry field, from where you drive to the third hole near the
Shaw School house, then to the fourth hole in front of the grandstand. From here your drive to the fifth hole which is 375
yards due north to the railroad track. Then from the sixth tee, which is on the small hill near the swamp across the railroad track,
you drive the sixth and last hole which is in the rear of the artillery sheds.
1915 - Planning was began to formulate for a two-week long Schoolboy Military camp for high school-age youngsters. By in March they had gained the
endorsement of state and county officials for the program. Commandant Gignilliat had named the facility "Camp Woodrow Wilson". The students started
arriving on May 9
th and ended on the 26
th. The last session was in 1917 and was sponsored by the Culver family.
1915 -
Academy Road Proposed change (April); and
Some Plain Truths (May )
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1915 - October 22 the stable burnt the housed the
Black Horse Troop
and 66 of the horse died in that fire [another account says 1915 and 80 horses died] |
Plans were announced for construction of a new 104' by 212' Riding Hall to house 136 mounts.
Albert Knell was he architect who designed the building.
1915 - Nov. 4 - Vast Improvements
Military Academy Plans Extensive addition to Equipment as a Result of Barn Fire
From the smokek and ashes of Monday moening's fire t he plans of the "Still Greater Culver"
will grow with assed br eadth and magnicficence.
New buildings for the cavalry department, the change in the road, new rifle range, and the
extension of drill and athletic field will be begun at once and will be pushed to
completion as rapidly as pposible.
Diagonally to the northeast of the hospital is the site of the new stables and riding hall
which will far surpass the dreams of the olc Culver troopers.
The riding hall will be a splended arean 300 feet long by 100 feet wide, facing toward
Aubeenaubee bay and the Culver Hill. Rising abouve and running back from the side wall for
the entire length of the structure will be a gallery sufficient to seat 1,200 oersons.
Under the same roof and placed in part under the gallery will be the stables, which are to
be 300 feet b y 65 feet. Here there will be room for 100 horses.
Not only will the entire structure be made as fireproof as it ca n be built, even with a
concrete roof, but the stables will be dividied into five sections, each seperated from the
others by a solid brick wall. Two doors from each section will open into the hall and each
dorr will admit two horses side by side.
Here too will be provided sections for the artillery. In connection there will also be locker
and shower rooms, and every facility for rapidly taking care of the troop equipment.
The change in the road which will swing around the new building and neet the lake shore road
about 600 feet east of the present route will supply the extension of drill and athletic
grounds. In the new area thus thrown open toward the lake there will be constructed a fine
new cinder track and there will bel aid off several new football and baseball fields.
The terrace will be carried on in a wide swing beyond the hospital, and on its front below the
riding hall will be the grandstande of the future. This eastern extgension will thus become the
atheltic center of the academy with every facility for recreation.
At the same time the unobstructed sweep from Administration Front to the Hisson hill (there will
be no fences along the road) will offer superb opportunities for maneuvers and sham battles.
East of the road will be the drill field for calvary and artillery. WIth one permanent firing line
north of the stables the target range will extend east with the targets placed in echelon so that
all ranges may be fired from the s ame line. Targets will number sixteen in contrast ti the present
four.
With the completion of the new riding hall the present fine building will be transformed into an
indoor recreation room which will solcve the question of winter sport when out door oppoetunities
are blocked by the snow, ice or rain. A floor sutable for all sports will be put in and sufficient
apparatus for all necessary equipment. Then there will brobably be erected a new cover way to the
gymnasium.
Along with these improvements there will follow another which many cadets have long wished to have,
namely a swiming pool. This will be added to the present gymnasium and will put the crowning
feature upon the plan for the recreative part of cadet life.
The trustees have lost no t ime in getting the work started on this program of construction.
Already a steam shovel, track cars and a full outfit for handling the excavations have been
ordered and are on the way.
Archtect Knell is working over time in getting out his plans for the new buildings so that his
orders for structural iron may be p lace at once and the usial inevitable delay from this source
be avoided.
Altogether the changes thus set on foot will still further the academy equipment from that which
the old boys five of six years ago thought them to be the acme of completeness and beauty - Citizen
At the same time Albert Knell also designed the new Arsenal and its
construction began in 1916. |
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The trustees decided to center both buildings to the east and northeast of the Academy Hospital and convert the
old Riding Hall into a Recreation Building. The site was to low and to unstable for foundations for the Arsenal and
Riding Hall - thus began the massive fill of the area with dirt for the area now occupied the Woodcraft; when
completed the grade had been raised 14 feet.
1916 - ROTC or Reserve Officers Training Corps comes to Culver; this came about with the passing of the
National Defense Act of 1916 passed in June which had been drafted in November of 1915 by the War Department.
among the Culver was in the first round of colleges and secondary schools which totaled 46 and had three branches -
Calvary, Infantry and Field Artillery. Camp Newton D. Baker opened in May and continued till 1942 when World War II
ended all ROTC activity. Also authorization for construction of three new buildings was granted by the trustees for:
the English, mathematics, and Commerce Departments; which were located between the Mess Hall and the power plant.
Gignilliat commissioned Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock to design an official ring for Culver Military Academy.
And the sa me year the Culver Military Academy Alumni Association founded in 1910 by Gignilliat at his suggestion the
name was changed to the Culver Legion.
Culver IS OFFERED TO REGULAR ARMY
By International News Service
Culver , Ind., April 10 -- Official announcement has been made that the Culver Military Academy has tendered to Maj. Gen.
Barry, commanding the central department of the United States army, the use of the buildings and the ground of the
academy for training soldiers. It is estimated that 25,000 men can be taken care of here. -- Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday,
April 10, 1917
CAMP NAMED FOR BARRY
Culver 's military camp for high school boys from eight states has been named "Barry camp," in honor of Maj. Gen. Barry,
commanding the central army division with headquarters in Chicago. - - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 5, 1917
1917 - In 1916 at the advice of Edwin Culver that the grounds was in need of some landscaping attention; Jens Jensen
a landscape architect was hired. His first suggestion was to get rid of the canal system by filling it in - and then get rid
of all the un-natural foliage in the area and replace it with shrubbery and trees native to the area. The filling in of the
canal system and reflecting" pool took place soon after the area for the new Riding Hall was filled in and the Riding Hall
was erected. Robert B. D. Hartman renders his story of Jens Jensen and
The Campus in its Glory
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Thus by 1917 the drainage ditch system and the lagoons faded into history. |
And the expanse of lake front campus as known today was created. And during this year Edwin Culver asked the Academy
grounds keeper to procure for him a personal gardener - thus came "Leo" August Wennerstrom and ultimately became in
harge of the Academy grounds also until his retirement in 1949.
1917 - the second Armory was built containing large bays on either side of the arsenal tower to house cannon and caissons.
1917 the Riding Hall was dedicated and the lake front side of the riding hall was terraced and outfitted with reviewing stands
for athletic event and military reviews. Major Hugh Glasswork became acting superintendent while Gignilliat was off serving
his country. The last Schoolboy Camp assembled on April 30.
1918 - The CMA Trunk Room caught fire from a fire in the stovepipe and the building was consumed in 30 miintues time. The
building was first bult by H. H. Culver as the Tabernacle for the 1889 chautauqua season. It became the CMA gym whe the
school was started in 1894 then in 1907 after the new gym was built it became the school's dinning hall and after it was built
in 1911 the building was moved and became a trunk room, housing cadet luggage and belongings.
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1918 - The superintendent's home then known as the Gignillat cottage burnt on 25 March. Some furniture and belongings
were saved from the fire. |
In 1918, the new Riding Hall was opened and the old Riding Hall was converted into the Academy's first Recreation Building. It
becaame a venue for athletics and dances.
1918 The new arsenal was ready to be occupied in 1918, there was not formal dedication of the building and the equipment
did not arrive till the summer of 1919 after the war surplus had been inventoried by the army from World War One and also to
arrive were 80 horses. The old Arsenal became the Tailor Shop and the QM Store after being remodeled and sat north of the
Mess Hall. One of the towers rooms are used for campus security and the other for the horse carpentry shop. The west end
houses the harness shop, blacksmith shop, storage space for hay and feed; box stalls and practice cages for polo occupy the
remaining space. When the Junior ROTC was terminated in 1989 the 2
nd and 3
rd became abandoned.
Here is the
1918 Naval Academy Catalog. It is packed full Summer Naval School gives
information for the Naval School Cadets and battalions of 1917. As well as many vintage pictures of the Academy grounds, buildings and Naval school
activities along with scenes of the lake.
1918 - Sep 11 Change at Palmer House - The academy has rented the Palmer House for the winter sessionas a barrack for 43 additional cadets admitted from the
waiting list who will fomr a replacement contingent to fill the probable vacancies caused by the draft. The "Roost" will also be used for the same purpose accommodating
six cadets. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Walter will reserve apartments in the hotel for their own use.
1919 - a contract was signed to construct a road from Bunker Hill (Lakeshore Drive) 5,500 feet north and east to
the CMA Riding Stables. Earlier the Lake Road ran along Aubeenaubee Bay from Logansport Gate. David Burns always
claimed if you looked closely at the Parade ground field - on a good frosty morning you could see the path of the
old Lake Road still today.
Also in 1919 the cornerstone for the Legion building was; Argonne and Chateau Thierry Barracks was built and opened
honoring the American contributions in WWI named after two battles where American soldiers and Marines contributed to major victories in Flanders, 1989.
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June 1919 - Ahdeek, a 38-foot motor pleasure boat, was built in 1916 at Morris Heights, New York. She was
acquired by the U.S. Navy on 2 September 1918 and served into the next year as USS Ahdeek, probably in the
New York area. Served during World War I and in the early post-war era as USS Ahdeek
(SP-2589) in 1918-1919, probably in the New York area.
Using their powers of persuasion on the U.S. Navy, Ross and Gignilliat received four “motor yachts complete in every
respect” between 1920 and 1922 and they became mainstays in Culver's fleet. Two of them, the Estelle and the
Ahdeek, were designated as “Flag Boats,”
In June 1919 she was ordered sent to the Culver Military Academy, in Indiana, where she apparently
remained for many years, on loan from the Navy. Ahdeek was finally stricken from the list of Naval vessels in October 1933.
Belonged to the Culver Military Academy and was destroyed in the boathouse fire of March 1938 |
History 1883-1893 ~ ~
History 1894-1899 ~~
History 1900-1919 ~~
History 1920-1944 ~~
History 1945-1969. ~~
History 1970-present