Your Comments

Monday, February 05, 2007 3:03 PM
My name is Don Baker, I'm the son of Janet Beck Baker of Culver and the grandson of Olive and JC Beck of Culver . I have read with interest your many web pages about the history and geneaology of Culver . I also remember your husband Dave from my youth in Culver back in the 80s....Thanks for your interest in history and geneaology!

Good evening. I came upon your website on Lake Maxinkuckee, and found it very fascinating. My grandparents used to own a large cottage, set up on a hill overlooking the lake, on East Shore Drive. It actually boardered the Bird Sanctuary. My grandfather's name was Sidney Cressy, and he called our cottage "Fairview" Ginni Miller Gionfriddo

Date: Mon, 25 J ul 2005 11:04:47 -0500
My name is Cheryl Schrimsher. I am David's granddaughter. Daughter of Glen and Eunice Burns Schrimsher. We do have a recorded voice of my Grandfather talking about the lake and such. I would be happy to try and locate it for you if you are indeed interested. I may have some trouble do to the fact that it was in my Mother's possession and she passed on February 27th of this year. If you are interested please notify me. I did indeed enjoy your article about my Grandfather. What an interesting man. Sounds like you knew him well. What a wonderful tribute you have given our family. Thanks so very much Cheryl Schrimsher >

Judi, I really enjoyed reading about my great grandpa. I can barley remember him. The last thing I can remember is when he was the grand marshall in the bluberry festival. Also enjoyed the picture of uncle glenn ice fishing. Greg Burns

Tuesday, April 04, 2006 7:41 PM
Great web page. I lived in Culver as a little boy, we moved away when I was 10 years old. I have great memories of Culver . Mike Guise

Monday, April 17, 2006 6:19 PM
What you've put together on rootsweb is fantastic (and an incredible amount of work)... Thanks Ted Schenberg , President Lake Maxinkuckee Association

Thursday, February 08, 2007 3:56 PM
This is A.J. Tarquino ... You probably remember me by "Andy"... My job took me to Ohio and I have been away from Culver now, for over twenty something years. My mother and some of my family, brothers and sisters, still reside around the Culver area, so I do return several times a year for visits and I'm still a known runner, and participate in the LakeFest races every year that it's been held for the past 30+ years!... am impressed with your web site. I have been back several times to it, just browsing and looking at what you placed there... I saw the article about not being able to place a wreath on Dave's grave and this 'touched' me... Don't worry about what other people think about the relationship you enjoyed with Dave... Some people are "jealous" of the fact that you even had one with him... I understand, from what you said on your dedication page to Dave... Keep up your work on the web site... You sure have devoted many, many hours to it.. If you care to, ... Keep in touch with me... "A.J."

Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 6:04 PM
Judi, Do you know anything about the "Bader" of the Vajen-Bader smoke helmet? Our family stories says that my Great Grand Father, William Bader of Indianapolis was this Bader. Just so that we are telling it right any information wo uld be a great help. - YOGI aka: Granny and Judy Norman

Hey Judi...where do you get most of your info on the cottages and lots? You have so much of it! Some one asked me that the other week and I was meaning to ask you....do you just go by old Plat maps, or do you do ocunty records, or what? It's great that you keep adding all of that!

Wow. It is indeed a slow, tedious process...must be, with all you uncover. I knew you must have used plat maps and of course Dave shared a lot, and all your genealogical experience...hadn't thought of the lake directories!

Yeah, the zinc house! I had a lady call me a couple of summers ago (or maybe last summer) and say that she was part of the family that had owned that house, though she herself didn't remember it, older members had told her about it. She gave me all this info on it over the phone and I was trying to get her to write some of it down or come in, etc. I asked her if she thought she co uld find a photo of it and she said she'd try, but I never heard from her after that, so...maybe someday.

Hey I was wondering: as far as that hotel/house on Harding and Lake Shore that burned in our history mystery pics (and I did update that with your information, but again...not "live" just yet!). I was trying to think where I had seen that house when it was still a hotel and it runs in my mind that I MIGHT have seen it in the 1937 film of Culver that has Dave in it, etc. I don't have time to go check it out right now, but it seems like that might be the case. There's a section of that film where they drive down Lake Shore Drive going west from the park area and that hotel shows up before they cut to another area...or maybe I just dreamed it! But I have heard someone talk about that when it was a hotel. I wonder about the name? Lake Shore hotel? Is that possible? Did I just dream that, too?

Anyway, keep up the good work!
Well there you go, you already have a ton of details on both! I sho uld have guessed that. I have GOT to take more time to browse your site...it's just hard to find the time. Every time I check it out, though, I find something cool. I'll have to refer to your section on that hotel on our site...

I also had no idea there was so much info on the construction of those zinc/steel houses. Fascinating stuff.....

Thanks!!! -- Jeff

Jeff Kenney
Culver -Union Twp. Public Library
107 N. Main Street, Culver , IN 46511
http:/www.Culver .lib.in.us
(574) 842-2941 -- jkenney@Culver .lib.in.us

My name is Lori McAbee and I was born and raised in Culver . My grandfather is George Franz... He helped and aided in much of the construction of the streets of Culver that are now traveled on. He also has a great grasp of so much of the history since he and my grandmother moved there many decades ago. He has been a farmer and excavator his entire life and had seen and been apart of many changes....did much of the work at the marina and Venetian Village.

He is 83 and very sick from cancer. If you were to talk to him about what he knows and the contributions he has made he woud feel very honored. It saddens me that I am unable to show him your website, as I know that he wo uld greatly love the picture and the history.

As for the fishing segment of your site, he wo uld be one great addition as for the fact that he owned a bait shop/deer check station 'in Culver for approx. 20 years. To this day people still stop and look for "George's Place"....

I hope the people of Culver appreciate your efforts. With sincerest thanks Lori McAbee

Friday, February 23, 2007 2:21 AM
Hi - I was just reading this great website about Lake Maxinkuckee. First I would like to say how much I've enjoyed it. I grew up in the farming community of Culver and later moved away when I was 18. I wo uld like to give you a bit of information on one of your articles in the section of Lake Maxinkuckee drownings and accidents. I am talking about the boating accident you refer to in the late 1960's/early 1070's with the name of ??? McKee.... M Hil

Monday, February 26, 2007 5:53 PM
Judy, I am enjoying your web site about Lake Maxinkuckee. My family is planning a vacation there in July for our first time. I have lived in Central Indiana all my life and have enjoyed lakes in Angola, the Weasel area and Monroe, Spencer, but have never heard of yours. We are renting a large stone cottage on the east shore and I will use your web site to improve my understanding of your rich history. Thanks for this.. Jeannie Crowe , MSW, LSW - Medical Social Service Coordinator - Hancock Memorial Home Care and Hospice

Hi Judy - I guess I have an unusal request. My in-laws have owned propery on the south side since the 1940's or 50's..... I wo uld appreciate any help. Thank you, Nedra Wilson

I am a writer for Sandbar Magazine. I was wondering if you co uld tell me a little more about the ghost legend of Lake Maxinkuckee. Please feel free to either e-mail me. Thanks! Jacque Wilson Providence Communications

A very nice story about the Beissenherz family. I have some questions about the dates you put in the story: Born in 1838 When 15; he was send to Westphalia (1853) and then went in 1849 too the US (11 years) I hope you see my problem, can you explain (or revise) the story.[NOTE as biography was written].

My interest in the story is the connection too the Daudeij family. Its my hobby to collect en put the information in a family tree.

Maybe you have some more detailed information about the Daudeij branch. I have a very possible connection to link the named Daudeij’s too the information I have from Sachsenberg, if you are interested we can exchange information. With kind regards, Ron Daudeij - Petrus Panciusstraat 29 1782 VH Den Helder Holland

Judi - Thanks for taking the time to send that...I am actually phasing out this old email address, but have kept it this long for this very reason. In the many years since I posted that message, I did happen to find the place (and dozens of relatives), but the website is great. Thanks again, Karen Pritchett

My family owns the homes that are between what was the Bide-a-Wee and the lake...Let me know if you're interested in any more details. I am in my 30s, but my father, Jim, has been around the lake since the 1950s and has lost of cool knowledge. Great website!! J ason Sturman

...I looked at your website and commend you for your efforts!... Pam Cerutti Editor, NGS UpFront Newsletter

Looking at the history of the Railroad - Thanks for the site, you must spend alot of time..... Agnes (Mrs. John) Bramfeld - person at Park N Shop

I appreciate the info you placed on rootsweb about John Mantle Judah and his off-spring. I am a cousin of Robert E Sherwood, who was married to Mary Judah Brandon, daughter of Henry (Harry). She later had two other marriages and divorced the 3rd one, Theodore Gaillard. I have not been able to find out where and when she died. She was born in 1901. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might locate her death? someone with the name Mary J Gaillard died in Jefferson, KY on Jan 30, 1988, but Ancestry gives her age as 93, which wo uld be too old. Any suggestions would be welcome! Susanna Doyle

Hi Judi, - I am a propmaker based in the UK and came across your site, while researching Vajen-Bader 'Smoke Protector' and 'Fireman's Helmet' breathing apparatus. Thanks to your fantastic research I have managed to track down the following complete patents for Vajen-Bader designs. US Patents #456687, 645281, 645286, 645408. If they are useful I can forward them to you as PDF's... Once again, many thanks for your making your research available online. Best regards Gef Topping

Please forward the link to the Lake Maxinkuckee site to my brother Stanley Curtis Thank you. (A wonderf ul site!) Dave Curtis - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:40 PM

I’ve been looking at the work you’ve done and wanted to thank you for putting so much of the history and genealogy of the lake on the Internet. My parent’s are Jerry and Joanne (deceased) Johnston, are you familiar with the name? We had a cottage on the South shore. My Mother did a lot of genealogy work on my family tree which I now have. I’m not sure how I wandered onto your work but am glad I did. Take care, Julie Johnston

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:13:59 -0500 - Wo uld you happen to have a higher resolution version of this photo posted on your site (see attached PNG file)? I'd appreciate having a copy if you do - thank you! Judi - thanks for the trip down memory lane - nice to see the cottage again at any size! - Jack J. Johnston

Your piece on Lake Maxinkuckee is greatly appreciated! I am a cousin of Robert E Sherwood's and I wonder if you know how I might find out the name of Helen Louise (Armstrong) Brandon's second husband. I wanted to know when and where she died and thought you might have a suggestion as to where I might look! I do have death information on Harry Brandon if you are interested, and on his second wife also. Their second daughter, Constance, eludes me. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have. Susanna Doyle

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 12:08 PM You need to see the History of the Vonnegut family and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. early life at Maxinkuckee Cliff Hall. He wrote back and told me where to find it which is: The Vonnegut + Maxinkuckee Connection is found in the “Northern Indiana Lakes Magazine” May 2008 issue.

Judi , I had just scanned a photo of my grandfather, Arthur F. Billow, of Akron Ohio, that had printed on the back, 'Culver Academy, 1914'. Do you have any informatoion on Culver Academy? Russell Ault

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:37 PM - How many acres is Lake Maxinkuckee ? Thanks in advance. - Bob Jeglum

Answer: It is the second largest lake in Indiana. It is oblong in shape, approximately three miles long and two and a quarter miles wide; it covers an area said to be 1,864 acres and its shoreline is of about ten miles of lake front. Volume of the lake is 14,858 million gallons of water or 45,600 acre feet. Normal average water level elevation is 733.12 feet mean sea level. It is of almost every type of terrain from level beach, gradual slope, steep incline, abrupt bluff, rounded headland; elevation from waters edge to nearly fifty feet in places.

Reply on Roowstweb Message board for Martin county Flordia - Hello, I was doing a search for my own name and came across one of your entries. Walter & Bertha were my great great grandparents. I don't know very much of them. May I obtain a copy of your research? Thank you, Catherine Spilos

Hi Judi, I'm sorry to bother you with this request, if in fact it can be filled. I see my grandfather's obituary on your website. Thank you. It means a lot to us that you have posted it there. Really. I wonder if I can ask a favor. The family last name is mis-spelled several times (in several ways) throughout. Is it too late to repair this in the web version of the article? The correct spelling of the family name is: Schweidler Hopef ully it can be repaired, if not... it's ok too. Again thank you. Sincerely, Christine Schweidler Mon, September 15, 2008 10:14 pm

Several Questions: Culver was first a university. I do not see that in this history. When were these dates? Culver now has a Pipe & Drum Corps. It began in 2002 by Pipe Major Brent Van Norman. Culver Pipes & Drums wears the Henderson Tartan. Picture attached, taken in front of the chapel. They perform at ceremonies and community events as well as represent Culver at Midwest Pipe Band Association Competitions. Need more info, google Culver Pipes & Drums or please write. Thanks Brent Van Norman Mon, September 15, 2008 10:14 pm

Yes......I was corrected.It was an army college for Engineers during WWII, for only a short period .I have a cap badge on eBay listed that has the Culver U logo on it. It is...I'm told.....very rare. Brent Thu, September 25, 2008 8:09 pm

Judi, Do you know anything of a family resturant in central Culver in 1957? It was owned by a family of mother, father, 2 sons and one daughter, the children all about 10-18 years old. I believe they lived in a rural home and attended a protestant church. Thanks, George Allen ; Mon, September 22, 2008 6:26 am

Others heard from are but forgot to file copies of their e-mails in correspondence section in text or e-mail from:
Kim (Amond) Wright
Beth (Pearce) Muehlhausen
Caroline Vajen Brown Robbins
Sally Medbourn C--
Mr. Grouthouse
Brad Flora - Go Culver

I am contacting you, because I spent summers at Maxinkuckee, two of my brothers attended the academy and you have my fathers journal on your web-site. of Culver Military Academy. Major WM Hand. I can't believe I am sitting here looking at it. So glad you are doing this. My Uncle Donald Hand was the mayor of Culver at one time, and I spent nearly every summer on the lake. Very fond memories. Dad died in 1982 and would love to donate pictures, etc. Please e-mail me back. Janet Lynn Hand

Hello Mrs. Burns I discovered your webpage on Culver tonight I thought it was great. I am the grandson of Bob and Thelma Hodges, I thought it was so cool to see pictures of my grandparents on your page reading, and looking at the pictures really brought me back to some of my fondest and most wonderf ul experiences in Culver thank you so much. Sincerely Charles M. A. Hodges Sun, October 12, 2008 7:43 pm

Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2013 5:28 PM

I really enjoy your work on the history of the lake and want to add and edit some information on our property at 1000 East Shore drive that we sold in 1993....

In 1994, when my husband, Bill, passed on I purchased a small condo at the Cove so that my family co uld have access to our beautif ul lake. We have continued to enjoy Culver and all the advantages of this lovely part of Indiana. I have painted many sailboat paintings, The Culver Inn, and also did pen and ink drawings of the CMA Chapel, the railroad station, and Beach House. Bill and I were Lions and I donated the station prints for the Lions money making projects.

Please contact me if you have question or want further information, I wanted to get the information corrected as to my family history on the lake.

Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2013 6:25 PM

Thanks for the quick reply! Dave was one of Bill's favorites and had many laughs with him all those years. I miss him, too, along with dear Clara!...

You may know Steve, my younger son was Commodore 2 years ago and my grandson, Adam is teaching in the summer Naval School. He will be a junior in college next year. He excelled in the Naval School and is quite a sailor, too! He reminds me so much of Bill.

I am 82 now and still live alone and do my art. I always have some painting going and make silver jewelry, too. I rent my condo in the winter but come down in the summer off and on so my grandkids can enjoy the lake.

Keep in touch. Barbara Miller Meeker

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 9:49 PM

Hi, Judi! Hats off for your Herculean efforts to share so much information about Lake Maxinkuckee! - alan albright Zolfo Springs, Florida

Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 8:00 PM
I just came across your impressive website today and I have attached two genealogical charts that you may not have seen....

I have some textual, biographical information on my family that you may be interested in but I just wanted to tell you that I am very impressed with your hard work to bring my family's colorful past alive! Skip - Henry H. (Skip) Culver, Jr.

Wednesday, March 01, 2017 2:48 PM I also do genealogy. My exhusband is Phillip K. Wallstead. His grandmother was a Rector. I found your site by accident. I have done quite a bit of genealogy and added to my Legacy Program on Phil's family since we were married almost 20 years. Also, while married to other people we have remained good friends. The information you have for the Rector's is a gold mine! I sent him the link last night and he was very happy to get it. He will be sharing it with his sister later on this month. I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the site is and that the Rector information was dynamite!! Thank you so much!!! P.S. Isn't genealogy a great journey??!!! I love it. The hunt… Pam Rice

From: Lauren Prasek
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2017 4:43 PM
This website is so informative and lovely!

Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

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