Culver's Indiana Centennial Celebration

Culver, Indiana Celebration Meeting Notes (PDF)

1916 - March 9 - STATE'S CENTENNIAL

The Twentieth Century Progressives Take Steps Toward Its Observance in Culver.

The meeting of the Twentieth Century Progressives at the Osborn hotel Wednesday evening was thoroughly enjoyed.

Piano solos by Mrs. Phil McLane and Mr. Church were well rendered and appreciated.

The debate on the question "Resolved that that the United States should be adequately prepared in order to maintain peace and uphold the national dignity" was very ably contested, Miss Edwinna McFarland and Mr. Shilling speaking on the affirmative, and Mrs. G. W. Overmyer on the negative. The decision was given to the negative.

Mr. Shilling was heard to remark after hearing the negative side of the question, "I really felt as though we ought to send word to President Wilson to desist in his efforts to secure preparedness." Mesdames Goss, Eisenhard, Stabenow, Heminger and Marks acted as hostesses of the evening, and a most delightful lunch was served.

A program for the future work of the club was outlined by the president.

In April Lieut. Conrad of the academy faculty will lecture on his sojourn in Jamaica, which will be illustrated with more than 100 views taken from life.

In May Mrs. Dr. Slonaker will favor the club with some of her readings. June and July have been left open, plans for which will be announced later.

The club has decided to join with the different forces of the state in the centennial celebration, and a committee of three - Mrs. Marks, Mrs. Goss and John Osborn was chosen to have charge of the historical exhibit which will be one of the most interesting features of the celebration.

No part of the state is more rich in historical data than our beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee, and as this is to be made a community celebration let everyone help to make it a success.

Nearly every home has its rare relics, specimens and curios which will be doubly interesting when the history, story or description of the article is known.

As the close of the century of Indiana draws near, all over the state arises a feeling that the epoch should be properly recognized. The general assembly has made an appropriation of $25,000 to be applied toward a statewide celebration, and all over Indiana preparations are being made. In many places elaborate programs are being arranged, with gay and historical pageants of local and state development.

Our county seat, Plymouth, has arranged a splendid program, to last several days, to which every township is expected to contribute.

Several organizations have already begun the plans for their part. So far, well and good.

But why not have a celebration of our own?

Haven't we the historical data back of us? Where is there a more noted location in Indiana? Lake Maxinkuckee has been known since the time of the good chief Nees-wau-gee who resided on the East side near the Maxinkuckee Landing of present date as the most delightful spot at which to live this side of the Land of Paradise. And many are the noted people who have dwelt with us since his time.

The wonderful development of the community will give scope in which to work, and different organizations have signified their willingness to help to make it a success.

This should in no way conflict with the county celebration, and the writer would suggest the Fourth of July as a very appropriate date on which to hold our celebration.

1916 - Mar 16 - Parent-Teacher Club - ... President Mrs. Eisenhard appointed a committee consisting of Mrs. Charity Stahl, Dr. Wiseman and Mrs. Meredith to represent the club in arranging with committees from other organizations for the Indiana centennial celebration to be held here July 4.

1916 - Mar 23 - The Centennial Celebration is On.

With a patriotic swing the committees representing the different organizations of Culver fell into line and much interest was shown at a meeting held last Friday evening.

The different organizations over the township will be asked to participate.

The advisability, of having the celebration in the form of a pageant, consisting of a parade, tableaux, etc., was favorably discussed, but nothing definite was decided.

A committee was appointed to notify the various organizations of the town and township and request them to send a representative to the next meeting, which will be held the first Friday evening in April.

The following orders and organizations were represented : I. O. R. M., Pocahontas, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, W. C. T. U., Culver City club and Parent-Teacher club.

1916 - April 16 - Historical Pictures.

Every effort is being made that the celebration of the centennial in the state this year shall be with most profit to all citizens.

There are, and have been many things of interest in the state that we all ought to know about.

The state committee have prepared a set of 100 slides of persons and places of interest with a view of arousing and interest in our state and especially the celebration we observe this year.

On Tuesday evening, April 11, at 8 o'clock, these pictures will be given in the school house, under the auspices of the Parent-Teacher club.

No admission will be charged and all who are interested in your own state are invited

1916 - Apr 13 - Important Meeting. On account of the weather, the meeting for the arrangement of the state centennial celebration was postponed until Friday evening, April 14. On that evening, the various committees, organizations. schools in Culver and Union township and all persons who are interested in making this celebration one of the. biggest affairs to be held in the state will make it a point to be present. Each order and organization is requested to have present at least one representative. Remember the date, Friday April 14. Com.

1916 - May 11 - Sunday School Meeting. There will be a meeting of the Union Township S. S. association officers and superintendents next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the M. E. church. The purpose is to discuss the part the Sunday schools shall take in the centennial celebration. C. R. NEWMAN, Township President.

1916 - May 18 - The Twentieth Century Progress held their meeting at the Osborn Hotel Wednesday evening May 3... A committee was appointed to devise ways and means to defray expenses met with in the promotion of the centennial exhibit...

1916 - May 25 - CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

The meeting for the promotion of the Centennial celebration announced for Thursday evening, May 25, will be postponed until June 2, when it is hoped the program will be outlined and the work ready to submit to the various organizations, to begin work on immediately.

The work of submitting the membership of the various organizations to the afternoon program committee is now in order and any organization wanting to be in this program, and whose membership list has not been submitted, will do well to turn the same in to J. R. Saine, secretary of the Centennial Celebration committee.

The church and Sunday school will have charge of the entire forenoon and have outlined a splendid program, some of the features of which are a Sunday school parade, a Sunday school pageant and an address to be given by a man chosen by the pastors of the various churches.

1916 - Jun 8 - Notice to Sunday Schools. Sunday school officers and superintendents and any others interested please remember the meeting on Sunday at 2 o'clock at the M. E. church to make arrangements for the centennial celebration. Important matters will be discussed and a good attendance is desired. CLAUDE R. NEWMAN, Township President.

1916 - June 22 - CENTENNIAL PLANS

Committees Formulate Program for the Celebration at Culver on July 27.

The meeting of the committees of the various organizations for the centennial celebration was held at the library auditorium Friday evening, and the outline of the program was completed. The academy was represented by Captain Hunt who showed much interest and made some helpful suggestions and promised some splendid features from the academy.

The program will be as follows:

JULY 27-
FORENOON. (In Charge of Township Church and Sunday School Organizations. Claude Newman, Marshal.)

9:30, Parade, exhibiting the different phases of Sunday school work.

10:30, Sunday school pageant, showing a Sunday school of 100 years ago, and a Sunday school of today. 11:00, Address by Dan Pyle, attorney, of South Bend. 12:00, Picnic dinner, under supervision of Township S. S. association. Rev. J. W. Bechtel in charge.

AFTERNOON.

The afternoon program will begin with a parade, J. W. Riggens, marshall. In this parade will be represented the various organizations in such form as they may choose, and some splendid ideas have been suggested. The parade will form at the south end of the business district and proceed to the depot park where the following program will be held under the supervision of Mrs. Eisenhard:
Prologue, written by Dr. Wiseman.
Indian Occupation, by I. O. R. M. and D. of P.
Portrayal of Indian Life-love scene in tableau.
Song, "Romance of Maxinkuckee," written by Mrs. Eugenia McDonald.
The Coming of the White Settlers, to be represented by the C. C. club.
Pioneer song, chorus, by Eugenia McDonald.
Pioneer Home, by Parent-Teacher club.
"Home, Sweet Home," chorus.
Indian Attack - burning of cabin, capture of children, rescue by militia.
Music by the band.
State Song, "Indiana," chorus.
Adoption of Constitution, Progressive club. Flag drill by Burr Oak Gleaners.
"Star Spangled Banner.
Pottawattomie Village.
Cadman's Indian love songs.
Treaty scene.
Taking Away the Indians.
"Just Before the Battle, Mother."
Indiana in War 1861-5, by Black Horse troop.
Remnants of Civil war. G. A. R. Woman's Part in Civil War, Pythian Sisters.
"Long Live the C.M.A;" a tribute written by Eugenia McDonald, chorus.
Frontier Education, by Culver board of education.
Local historical incidents, by Odd Fellows.
Tableaux by W. C. T. U.
Development of Industry, Commercial club.
Culver Up to Date, epilogue, by Dr. Wiseman.


Mrs. Clarence Behmer will direct the chorus, and Martin Heminger has been made chairman of the properties committee. The Culver band will furnish music for the parade.

MRS. G. W. OVERMYER, Chm. Prog. Com.

1916 - Jun 29 - Singers, Attention. The chorus for the centennial celebration will hold their first practice at the M. E. church Monday evening under the direction of Mrs. C. D. Behmer. Singers from the various churches are cordially solicited to be present to lend their services for this worthy purpose.

1916 - Jul 20 - STATE'S CENTENNIAL

Exercises to Commemorate 100th Anniversary, at Culver on Thursday, June 27.

On next week Thursday a never before equaled in Marshall county will be presented in Culver. will be an all-day exhibition in commemoration of the state's 100th anniversary. People from out of town are planning to bring basket dinners and to make the greatest in their lives. We hear of many parties who are coming from 50 miles away. The Sunday School Parade.
Plans for the Sunday school parade which will be the opening event the big centennial celebration on July 27, are practically completed. The committee, consisting of the school superintendents and township officers, have been working diligently on this feature of the day's celebration, and are expecting this be equal to what might be looked for from an institution as great as the Sunday school and the importance of the day we celebrate.

According to the plans formulated, there will be eleven floats in the parade. These will represent different departments of Sunday school work. Then it is hoped that every person connected with the Sunday schools of the township will be in the parade.

Conveyances will be provided for those who are too young to walk as well as for those who are older and unable to walk so far. The Cradle Roll and Beginners pupils will all ride. The Primary and Junior members from 6 to 12 will walk and each one will be provided with a flag. The Secondary department, from 12 to 21, are planning to make their department the most interesting of all. Each class will carry a banner or pennant with their class name.

Each pupil will wear: a sash the color of the department. Forrest Benedict is marshal of this division. The Adult division will march in two sections, the women in one and the men in another. Each class will also carry a banner on which is the class name. The parade will start from the Evangelical church at 10 o'clock.

The committee requests that the marchers assemble at 9:30, or at 9:45 at the latest.


The Afternoon Program.

The afternoon parade will form at the south end of the business district under the direction of J. W. Riggens, marshal.

At the depot park the following program will be carried out;
Prologue, written by Dr. Wiseman
Indian Occupation, by I. O. R. M. and D. of P.
Portrayal of Indian Life - love scene in tableau.
Song, "Romance of Maxinkuckee," written by Mrs. Eugenia McDonald.
The Coming of the White Settlers, to be represented by the C. C. club.
Pioneer song, chorus, by Eugenia McDonald.
Pioneer Home, by Parent-Teacher club.
"Home Sweet Home," chorus.
Indian Attack - burning of cabin, capture of children, rescue by militia.
Music by the band.
Organization of State.
State Song, "Indiana." chorus.
Adoption of Constitution, Progressive club.
Flag drill by Burr Oak Gleaners.
"Star Spangled Banner."
Pottawattomie Village.

Cadman's Indian love songs.
Treaty scene.
Taking Away the Indians.
"Just Before the Battle, Mother."
Indiana in War 1861-5, by Black Horse troop.
Remnants of Civil War, G. A. R.
Woman's Part in Civil War, Pythian Sisters.
"Long Live the C. M. A.;" a tribute written by Eugenia McDonald, chorus.
Frontier Education, by Culver board of education.
Local historical incidents, by Odd Fellows.
Tableaux, by W. C. T. U.
Development of Industry, Commercial club.
Culver Up to Date, epilogue, by Dr. Wiseman


Academy Looms Large.
Colonel Gignilliat has made a splendid response to the suggestion of the committee, and has placed the entire resources of the country's most famous private military school at the disposal of the committee

As a result a reproduction of the Battle of Tippecanoe will be staged with historic accuracy. Furthermore, the whole battalion, including the Black Horse troop, will be seen in the parade.

As this is the first time that the school has made a complete appearance outside of a few notable national events, our people will accept the concession as a high compliment.


The W. C. T. U.
The Woman's Christian Temperance union pageant will show two evening home scenes - one a home of poverty and sorrow - Indiana wet; the other showing a home of peace and prosperity - Indiana dry. In each scene the family is waiting for the father to come home to supper.

They will also have a float in the parade.

1916 - Jul 20 - Greatest Day of the Year.

On Thursday of the centennial week, in the evening, will be presented an historical pageant portraying the history of this county from the earliest days down to the present.

Real Chippewa Indians will be seen in their wild dances and powwows. They will capture the early settlers and burn their homes.

Some of the scenes of the war of '61 will be portrayed.

An idea of the amusement of the pioneers will be given in a square dance, supposed to have occurred at Higby tavern, and a sham battle will be fought by the Black Horse troop and cadets from Culver. Military academy.

This pageant is one of the most spectacular exhibitions ever given in this county, more than 1,000 people in full costume being on the stage at one time

1916 - Jul 27 - CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Culver is looking forward to the biggest day in its history tomorrow when the hard work and the intelligent efforts of a few of our people will be demonstrated in the great all-day program which begins at 10 o'clock with a parade of all the Sunday schools and a program of speaking and exercises on the lake front. The afternoon parade and pageant will furnish the spectacular features of the day. The band will give a street concert at night. Order of Afternoon Parade. Marshal of the Day Riggens has made out his order of parade as follows:
Indians.
Early settlers.
G. A. R. veterans.
Pioneer floats.
Knights of Pythias.
Burr Oak Gleaners.
Business men.
W. C. T. U.
Parent-Teacher club.
Culver fire department.
Black Horse troop.
Academy naval battalion.
Automobiles.

1916 - Jul 27 - Notice. Leaders of the different organizations in the centennial parade will please report to J. W. Riggens at 12:30 PROMPT at the Exchange bank corner for assignment to position in the parade - which will start at 1 o'clock sharp.

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