Culver & Its Newspapers Jul 1923 - Jun 1953  

1 July 1923

1923 - June 20 - Ownership and management of The Citizen has passed from the hands of A. B. Holt to the hands of M. R. Robinson and F. C. Leitnaker

On 1 July 1923 the paper was sold to Miles R. Robinson and F. C. Leitnaker. Robinson and Leitnaker had been roommates at a college in Kansas, and they were both World War I veterans. They had had experience an newspapers under the direction of others, but this was their first attempt at producing a paper with f ull control.

FIRST ISSUE

The first Culver Citizen issued by the new firm of Robinson & Leitnaker, was off the press July 4. The paper has been increased to a seven column size and two more pages have been added. - Rochester Sentinel, ' Saturday, July 7, 1923

They immediately changed the paper back to an eight-page weekly, increased the price of a subscription from $1.00 per year to $1.50, and added more organization to the journal’s structure. Pictures and serials, along with excerpts from pop ular books, were added in the 1920s, and a society and local news page was added during their tenure. Visits, weddings, and other personal happenings continued to run in the paper, but they were not as extensive as before.

1923 - Sept. 3 - O. A. Gandy has resigned his position at The Citizen office. He has been with the office force for over 20 years and his face will be missed by the townspeople as well as the Citizenites.

1923 - December 5 - With a good deal of satisfaction the Culver Citizen announce the installation of a new Model 14 Linotype.

The Citizen enlarged under their energetic management and became a leader in community activities.

1926 - November 11

Miles R. Robinson purchased Leitnaker’s share in the business in 1926, continuing as the sole proprietor until March 1949, thus began this he ownership for twenty-three years.

Mortgagor	Mortgagee	Date	Amount	Description
Robinson, Miles R.	State Exchange Bank	November 10, 1926	$3,935.82	Entire printing & publishing business, etc

This is 180 E. Washignton St

In the 1930s the paper remained an eight-page weekly. A large cartoon with political overtones or social commentary appeared on page one. The society and local news column continued to reveal who was about to get married and other personal information. As the town grew, the personal notices that appeared in these columns helped the community to remain intimate. A new column concerning Culver High School related the planned activities and reports of recent adventures and sports news to readers. The “Citizen Bazaar” was an early classified's section. By the mid-1940s the paper had grown to twelve pages, but column space had shrunk to five columns from seven earlier in the 1930s. Finally under his tenure the paper became a 16-page tabloid with seven 22-inch columns on the page as of 18 Oct 1933; and had won state and national prizes for reporting and editorials.

PAPER IS HONORED

1933 - The Culver Citizen was judged the second best weekly newspaper in Indiana at a meeting of the Indiana Weekly Press Association in Indianapolis last week. The Corydon Republican was placed first only three points ahead of the Citizen. News-Sentinel, Friday, February 24, 1933

Citizen Goes Tabloid

Another says that: The present "Citizen" was changed to a 16-page tabloid, October 18, 1933, from eight 22-inch pages, seven columns to the page, each column 20 inches in length. This was quite a daring change, but it marked a definite step forward, in keeping with the times. The "Citizen" was a pioneer among small-town weeklies in this sort of venture. Time has proven its success.

New printing equipment was also purchased as evidenced by the following information:

Robinson, M. R.	State Exchange Bank	2 May 1932	$1,500.00	2 pringing presses, 1 linotype
Robinson, M. R.	State Exchange Bank	2 May 1934	$1,500.00	2 printing presses, linotype

1933 - Oct 18 - The Citizns announcment of change to tabloid:

It Is The Same Citizen But In a Remodeled Form

The spirit of the New Deal that has changed so much for us has invaded the office of The Citizen, and behold what has happened! It really is the same paper that has chronicled the news of this community for forty years, but is now the victim of the editor's yen to try an experiment in modernization that may be found increasing among newspapers in the next few years.

This idea of printing a weekly newspaper is not original with us, although there are probably not a half dozen weeklies over the country in the tabloid-form. We have been toying with the idea for some time and have finally decided to try three or four issues, leaving the final decision as to future issues up to the vote of the readers.

Easier; to Fold.

We have long felt that the pages of the standard size newspaper are unwieldy. You have to fold it once or twice to read a page, then wrestle with the buckling pages when you try to turn them while holding the sheet at arms length, then repeat the process for each page.

There is a mass of reading material before you that is hard for the eye, as well as making it difficult to pick out the smaller stories. Each article has an increased emphasis when on the smaller page.

The tabloid offers a better opportunity for the advertisers as there are fewer ads to a page, allowing each to stand out on the page. There are few "buried" ads so that each advertiser's message Is surer of securing the attention of the reader.

Allows Grouping.

We believe the smaller sheet will allow an improvement in make-up so that a story on how to" raise pigs won't be on the same page with an account of a wedding. Also news stories of general interest will be found throughout the paper so that subscribers will want to read every page.

Although the size of the page is smaller it does not mean that the readers are receiving less reading matter than before. In fact, there will be more than before in total number of inches the entire issue of sixteen page

It may be that mechanical difficulties will crop up that will make this change impossible, but we will know that after the first issue has come off the press. If none appear it is planned to the tabloid size for three or four weeks and then send out ballot cards for each reader to express his preference, for The Citizen is issued for its subscribers and their votes will decide if this change is to be made permanent.

Miles R. Robinson purchased the Argos Reflector which was established in 1881 ss evidence by the articles below: 1939 - The "SchoolbBell" became a part of the Culver Citizen - written by Culver High School Students.

Culver EDITOR BUYS THE ARGOS REFLECTOR Mills Robinson, editor of the Culver Citizen, purchased the Argos Reflector Friday from Mrs. Cora Wikizer. He will take possession March 1, 1939.

The newspaper will be edited in Argos and printed in Culver , according to announced plans for the publication.
News-Sentinel, Monday, December 19, 1938

ARGOS REFLECTOR SOLD

An announcement was made at Argos that the Argos Reflector has been sold by Mr. M. Robinson, of Culver , to Mrs. N. D. Thompson, of Argos, who took charge October 12. Mrs. Thompson will edit the paper and it will be printed in the office of the Culver Citizen as it has been since Mr. Robinson bought the business three and a half years ago from Mrs. John M. Wickizer. Mr. Robinson is the editor of the Culver Citizen - The News-Sentinel, Friday, October 16, 1942.

1943 - September 29 The Schoolbell starts its fourth consecutive year with Virginia Miller as editor-in-chief for the current year.

M. R. Robinson built new quarters for the Culver Citizen at 200 East Washington street, the building was erected by the James I Barnes Construction Company under the supervisdon of Russell I. Barnes [sic Russell I Easterday], manager. The electrical lighting was engineered by James E. Tally. The building is 60 by 90 feet with streets on three sides.

1945 - Oct 24 - Work has been started on the construction of a new building to house The Culver Citizen. The exterior will be of brick, while the interior will have a plaster finish throughout. Glass blocks and air conditioning will replace windows to keep the building at an even temperature

The prodigious and nerve-racking job of moving starting May 8, 1946, with completion four days later.

1946 - May 15 - The Citizen has completed the moving of its machinery, merchandise, and equipment to its new building at the corner of Washington and Plymouth Streets. Production has resumed but it will be several weeks before everything is in order.

1947 - Oct 9 - An aticle found by Joe Adams Rambling 'Round in the Indianapolis Star describes his vist coing to Culver and the new Culver Citizen building and its uniqueness as follows:

THE CALM, MEDITATIVE, blue waters of Lake Maxinkuckee at Culver provide a welcome sedative for the vertigo induced by the corkscrew road leading to that fabulous area. At Grass Creek there are no less than three speed limits 40, 30 and 20 MPH so your car won't reverse itself on the sharp turns. The result is you don't miss a thing, visually, that is, on the main and what seems to be the only street.

Thus I saw the Happy Home Aviary and even listened to some selections by the feathered songsters. And soon thereafter I was convinced that the road was still a-winding when I was almost served a cup of coffee on the wing. I had driven that close to. an eatery aptly called Curve Inn.

Then as I got deeper into rugged and picturesque Marshall County, a real glacial region whose crowning jewel is its famed glacial lake, the turns became sharper and mofe numerous, so that I was bound to get a closeup of the lake. Though most of the campers have ieft the 3,000 fr so cottages, the lake, bordered by forests now developing a beautiful autumnal mosaic of colors, was, indeed, soothing to' the jaded eye. IN SIZE Maxinkuckee is second in Indiana.

It is no mill pond, for it is 2.6 miles long, 1.6 miles wide and embraces 2,011 acres of spring-fed water. Its average length of shoreline is 7.3 miles, the distance around it by road is 12 miles and its greatest depth is 89.5 feet.

H. R. Robinson, editor and publisher of the Culver Citizen, doesn't hesitate to put Maxinkuckee at the very top.

Yes, sir, at the top of the front page of his paper every issue he calls it "the best lake in Indiana." Thousands agree with him. As for myself, as I watched the blue ripples in the sunset of a gorgeous October day, it positively was the best in the world for the time being.

IT WAS WHILE gazing eastward toward the lake from the main street of Culver that I made another discovery. I spotted the uniquely handsome home of the Citizen, a one-story brick building as modern and attractive as it is adroitly constructed.

This time it wasn't the lure of printer's ink that prompted me to enter; I wanted to see what was back of this new look in small town newspaper plants.

It was a revelation. First off, it was almost as quiet as a chapel Inside, despite the fact printing was in progress. Its ceilings are soundproofed, and there are no windows, only glass blocks for directional and diffused light rays. MR. ROBINSON recalled the reaction of a patron who entered the building for the first time after it was completed a year ago last May.

"What!" said the woman. "No' windows? Why," she went on in a demonstration of mind over matter, "I can't breathe!" But one can breathe and one can talk and be heard perfectly.

The walls block out the sound even of an auto horn being tooted at the curb outside. And when the linotypist first set his machine in operation in the new composing room he thought there was. something wrong with it.

"It doesn't sound right," he said. ANOTHER FEATURE is the heating system. Heat comes from coils-of hot water and in summer the plant is kept cool through utilization of the same circulatory system. Instead of hot water the coils then are chilled by water from a well on the premises. Its temperature is 54 degrees.

This is the fourth home of the Citizen, now in its 53d year. Its last home was a remodeled barn nearby. The purpose of the modern construction and temperature control is to eliminate static which interferes with the fine job printing the plant turns out. And it has done it, says Mr. Robinson, former school superintendent in Benedict, Kas.

1949 - April 26 - Charles Maull jr., owner and publisher of the Culver citizen announced today that he has leased his buisness; another stated it as sold the Culver Citizen Press, a commercial printing firm and publisher of the weekly newspaper, Culver Citizen. to Robert Rust

Mar 1949

1949 - Mar - M. R. Robinson, retires after twenty-two years of service, and transfers ownership to Charles Maull, Jr.; Miles R. Robinson sold the Citizen to Major Charles Maull Jr. [now colonel] who owned the paper into the early 1950s. Maull employed Robert Rust as editor in 1949.

1948 - Robert Rust becomes He had been editor and publisher of The The Culver Citizen and The Culver Press

photos and brief biographies of the staff at this time.

In May 1950, Robert Rust with his wife Bertha May leased the paper from Maull and served as editor and publisher. As was announced in the 26 April 1950 issue- :

Charles Maull Leases Culver Citizen Press
To Business Associate Charles Maull , Jr., owner and publisher of The Culver Citizen, announced today that he has leas ed outright his business to Robert Rust. Mr. Maull will devote full time to extensive busines interests in St. Louis, Mo.

In making the announcement Mr. Maull said, “For the past several months most of my time has of necessity been devoted to business interests other than here, with The Culver Citizen Press, I believe that this direct lease of The Citizen will best serve the interests of the community and at the same time permit me to carryout business responsibilities.”

He will establish his residence in St. Louis where he has purchased a home. The Maull’s will continue to occupy their East Shore home dur ing the summer months.

Mr. Rust, who has been editor and manager of the printing firm since Mr. Maull purchased the business, stated that there would be no changes in the operation of the plant and the business.

“While we appreciate the reasons for Charlie’s decision we regret the fact that he will be leaving Culver. He has our sincere best wishes and we are happy to know that although he will be moving to St. Louis, he and his fami ly will spend as much time as possible here at Lake Maxinkuckee,” Rust stated.

Robert and Bertha May Rust also became the editor-publisher of the Argos Reflector in 1951

1950 - Aug. 20 Robert Rust, editor and publisher of the Citizen, has sold the 70-year-old reflector to Mr. and Mrs. R. S. O'Neill of Mishawaka

1953 June 17 - Robert Rust sold the The Culver Citizen and The Culver Press to Chester W. Cleveland yesterday.

1894 - May 1903 ~~~ May 1903 - 1923 ~~~ 1923 - 1953 ~~~ 1953 - 1967 ~~~ 1967 - ? ~~~