Toner Avenue - Lake Shore Dr. - Early Maps and History  

The original and main area of the business district of Lakeshore Dr. (originally Scott & Toner Ave) and spaned from Lakeview Street to Helen Street now Forrest Place.

"Opposite of the Depot", "Near the depot"; "one Block West of the depot" - has been the familiar terms of location - which is fustrating - these term can extend as far west as to Harding Court , Coolidge Court and even Lakeview Streets; and probably as far east as the root beer stand - because one must remember that there was two locations for the depot.

The original Vandalia depot which burnt in 1921 sat opposite of what today is Osborns what was then the Lake Shore Garage as visible in this photo of it in the town park

When it was re-built it was relocated to the present day location a few yards west. One can still see the canopy in the background - these were repurposed as picnic shelters one in front of the new depot and the other at the very east end of the park and still exist today (2023)

1925 - Oct 28 - Toner Avenue is Being Widened Near Pen Depot

Contractor William O'Conner and his men are busy these days widening Toner Avenus near the Pennsylvannie Depot. A present, hust the south side is being worked upon for the reason that the railroad company had their side somewhat torn up following the building of the new station. The curb is being moved in to the edge of the sidewalk this allowing about six feet on this side of the street. It is planned that the north side of the street will be taken care of sometime after the south side is finished.

Over the years the business districts slowly expanded up to first Papas and the motel or Inn. It lies across from Lake Maxinkuckee and the Town Park and up and around the corner to include an area formerly known as 'Bunker Hill' where the water tower now stands. Over the years has expanded up to the corner of State Roads 10

Views of Lakeshore today (2006)



And treking back in time other areas over the years had 'spot' businesses also.

This is just a rough beginning of this listings. With no addresses in the early years just the street name it is hard to place their correct location. If those people relating oral history and they just happen to be the ICONS of the community what they said went down as TRUE actually FACT of the towns & lakes history whether they could doucment it or not until someone uncovers the MYTH and DOCUMENTS it. If you remember anything of the lake & Culver? won't you help?

An alpabetical listing of buisnesses of Culver in: 1952.

The  -  1906 Sanborn fire maps, 1914 Sanborn fire maps. 1924 Sanborn Fire Maps and 1937 Sanborn Fire Mpas.

Here is some interesting facts stated about the orginial property owners of the north side of the lake:

Zina and Emma Duddleson ..... The grandfather of Zina was a Civil War veteran and a farmer. His later years were lived in the Argos vicinity. The great grandfather originially owned the Thomas Houghton farm to the Maxinkuckee Lake on the west side of Burr Oak Road. The land now occupied by the Vandalia Park, was part of this farm and was given to Dr. Durr in payment for medical services. The consideration was $50., as great grandfather Duddleson considered it of little farming value. ..... - History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentenial 1836 - 1986, Taylor Publishing Co., 1986, Publication # 357 of 1422, Marshall County Historical Society pg. 153 - Marcella White.

From the Logansport Pharos Tribune dated 15 Aug 1882:

...Al Toner, one of Kewanna's influential citizens, is that sure of the road being Built that he purchased twenty-six acres of land at Lake Maxinkuckee probably for speculative purposes. The land purchased is on the present site where it is thought the depot will be located. The citizens of Marmont are not behind in agitating the benefits to be derived from the building of the road, and will, it is understood, aid in its construction by giving liberally of their wealth...

Another old timer of Culver who established the Toner Addition or culver and had Toner Street named after him was

The subject of our sketch is the youngest son of Samuel and Annie Toner, and was born June 30, 1834, in Ohio.

His father and family came to this county in 1842, and settled in Union Township, where he resided until the time of his death. Mr. Toner has ten brothers and sisters, of whom only John, Edward and Andrew are living.

The first two additions to make up the Lakshore Drive area were:

February 13, 1884, Peter Allerding filed what he called the "Vandalia Addition to said Union Town." The addition is in the west half of the south forty acres of section 16, 32, 1, except Thomas K. Houghton's corrected addition; also except three acres known as Bowles lot, and three acres immediately south of the same. Said addition being divided into 24 lots, and numbered from 1 to 24 inclusive; also 5 outlots and numbered from 1 to 5 inclusive. The length and breadth of said lots being indicated by figures on said plat; also the width of all the streets and alleys.

On the 5th day of August, 1886, Albert D. Toner made an addition to the Vandalia addition, said addition being laid out of lots Nos. 3,4 and 5 of school subdivision of Section 16, 32, 1, commencing at the northwest corner of said lot No.3; said additions being divided as shown on plat in 13 lots and numbered from 1 to 13 inclusive; and also eleven outlots, numbered from 1 to 31 inclusive. The length and breadth of said lots being indicated by figures on said plat; also the width of all streets and alleys are so indicated, except from this plat outlots 2, 7, 8, 10 and 11.

Not all of Scott & Toner Avenue is represented by the Sanborn Fire Maps of 1906 & 1914 maps! Missing is what is the most important part of Scott & Toner Avenue the area in and around the Vandalia Depotrefred to as "Opposite the Depot" and the very "infamous" area called "One Block West of the Depot" or "Near the Deopt" in all the nortious ads of the 1880's. 1890's and early 1900's. and even into the 1950's in some cases, I guess the tradition hung on even tho street numbers and mailing addresses had existed sometime after 1914 when the post office was condsidering "free delivery".

It is noted that this area and the Marmont Depot was not considered a part of the town during the 1880's and into 1890's

Marmont is gradually growing towards the railroad station. It will not be many years before the bulk of the business will drift in that direction. - Jul 16, 1889 Logansport Pharos Tribune

I personally can't imagine why this area with its depot, dry goods stores, hotels and restaurants was not detailed the Sanborn maps.

1906 The Sanborn fire maps of area of Scott & Toner Avenue now Lakeshore Drive from Lakeview Street to State Street

1906 The Sanborn fire maps of area of Scott & Toner Avenue now Lakeshore Drive from School Street to Lakeview Street to State

Here is an enlarged portion of what is to be the business district as represented by the 1908 plat section of the Toner Street now Lakeshore Drive area. On it is annotated the depot and one other building "Opposite the depot" this became the site of the Lakeshore Gargage (of which is of different shape) which burnt the last Monday (31st) of January 1972; and now is Osborn's Mini Mart.

The Colonade Hotel 8 May 1981 (formerly refered to as "the railroad resturant" which became the Ohmer Housec. 12 June 1886) which burnt on 27 April 1900; as pictured in this photo would of sat off to the left, and would of probably occupied the area from Bennett's to possibly Brockey's Insurance by this photo

Reference to this area was found in the Citizen of June 8 1904 - The Colonade lot, now owned by T. E. Slattery, is occupied by a promiscuous lot of tents such as lunch. lemonade and peanut, also a barber shop.

1913 - Aug 28 - T. E. Slattery, who owns 156 feet of frontage opposite the depot, was recently offered $65 per front foot — $10,140 — in trade by a Chicago party who desired to put up a store building. He paid $3,000 for the land 10 ago.

1914 the Sanborn fire maps of area of Scott & Toner Avenue now Lakeshore Drive

The Sep 10 1914 Citizen proclaimed that the paving (brick) was done on Lakeshore Drive.

1914 - Oct 15 - -Emest Parr and Earl Working have formed a partnership and the former's barber shop will be moved into a new building adjoining the Hayes restaurant, and E. A. Poore has taken possession of the building vacated by Parr. Earl Poore takes Working's place in Harry Poore's shop.

1920 - Sanitary Barber Shop - Fletcher Strang, Opposite Depot

1921 March 9 - C. E. Hays has started the foundation for a 30x60 building adjoining the Solomon Dry Goods Store which will be occupied by Strang's Barber Shop, Mrs. Lummis Beauty Shop, and Dr. Lura Oberlin's office.

1922 map of the east area if one looks real close the locations of businesses are listed there along with several unnamed business "Dry Goods", "Misc", " Paint Store" "Lakeshore Garage; also with the depot and its canopies. The Backwards "L" at the end of the park was the originial boat house or beach lodge (not the one that exists today). It now bears the name Lakeshore Dr.

the theater is located on the south side of the street at Lakeshore & Coolidge Ct. east of its present location!) the two hotels are marked at Lakeshore & Harding (the Lakeside) and Lakeshore & State (Bradley Hotel which became known as the Chasnelle & then Paramount Hotel); and the once Kreuzberger's Park and Saloon building is marked in lot No 7

a very rare view of this area in the mid to late 1920's; a first that gives a fairly uncluttered view of some of the business buildings as a whole partial block area. This photo was found in the Culver Military Academy archives - someone has dated the picture as being taken in 1922

The building at the extreme right is the Coffee Shoppe which appears to be alot larger building in this picture. This would indicate that a portion of it was either torn down - or that it had burned down and was re-built at a later date. At the time of the picture this could be F. G. Solomon's. Could this be the locations of F. G. Solomon's as it was located somewhere on Lakeshore Dr. during the 1920's - clothiers - Fred Solomon, and has been proven to be fact by:

Culver (Marshall County J S Bilby 1920) About 100 yards west of the railroad station at Culver on the east side of the track 325 yards east of railroad bridge 148 26 220 yards east of the switch signal for siding 80 yards south of F G Solomon's merchandise store 2.75 meters 9.02 feet east of the east and nearest rail The station and underground marks are bronze tablets set in concrete as described in notes la and 7a 1 There is no reference mark - Precise Traverse and Triangulation In Indiana by Charles A. Mourrhess, Mathematician and Jasper S Bilby, Signalman United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Special Publications - Google Books Result by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey - 1922

and by the news quip found that they moved from a Lake Shore Drive location to Main Street:

1922 May 31 - The Solomon Store is moving to the new K. of P. building [110-112 N Main Street].

> Of the buildings from the left to right as many would remember them are - the theater, Hansens, Lakeview Tavern and the bowling alley [these resemble the size they were; during the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's but the appeareance drastically changed; the next two buldings are what is assumed to be refered to as the "Hays building" and 'Solomon Dry Goods'

1924 Sanborn fire maps of area of Scott & Toner Avenue now Lakeshore Drive The only label store fronts are the "Movies", Dance Hall (the Hayes Building), and the Lakeshore Garage

1926 - May 5 - Scott Street and Toner Avenue were made into one name Lake Shore Drive.

1931 - December 9 - 1931—$7,000 fire threatens block. Fire of an unknown origin razed the Lakeview Restaurant and Castle Garden dance hall and partially destroyed the Louden Grocery store on Dec. 8. On the other side of the restaurant the Tuck Swigart soft drink parlor was saved by its cement block construction. This prevented the fire from spreading to the express office and Johnson's apartments. Sparks threatened the nearby Williams apartments, but a small blaze on the roof was quickly extinguished.

T. G. Louden established the Grocery business in 1921 and - in 1932 it closed because of the fire that destroyed the Hays dance pavilion and restaurant next door. February 17^th, 1932 issue of Culver Citizen announces that Dick Louden opens new store, rebuilt after other structure was destroyed by fire

The 1937 Sanborn Fire map labeling it as E. Lake Shore Dr. (Toner). Labeled is the Auto Sales & service with visible gas pumps; Filling Station; and the Lakeshore Garage (remodeled or rebuilt)

Newspaper Quips of Businesses

Others have yet to be determined as many were famous for the "One block west of the Depot", "Near the Depot, and "Opposite the Deopt "in their ads and business cards but of course one must realize there was no street number system till after 1914 when "free delivery" was being considered by the post office. Just some mention of businesses in the "Infamous area" that have not located their home are: 1890 - May 12 - John Martin, of Logansport, iis putting up a building just west of the Ohmer house, to be used as a lunch room and a saloon.

1890 June 4 - Beaber & Martin of this city, have completed a three story building at Lake Maxinkuckee, to be occupied as a saloon and boarding house. Lake Maxinkuckee

1890 - Jun 9 - Beaber & Martin of this city, have completed a three story building at Lake Maxinkuckee, to be occupied as a saloon and boarding house. Logansport Pharos Tribune

1891 - Jul 21 - Mrs. C. C. Beaber. of the Westside,brought suit against her son, John Martin, for the possession of a saloon at Lake Maxinkuckee. The court decided that the defendant might retain possession for one year from June 1st. 1891.

1891 Nov 11 Mrs. C C. Beaber of the Westside has secured possession of her saloon property at Maxinkuckee. The Marshall circuil court also gave her two judgments against her son, John F Martin.

1891 - The road (which is now Lake Shore dr.) was not opened up to North until this year - it was done by the railroad

The expenditure of ...over the previous year includes costs of litigation as follows:..; over opening roadway north of station at Marmont $567.25 - pgs. 38-40 Fourth-Fourth Annual Report of the President and Directors of the Terre Haute and Indianapolis Rail Road Company to the Stockholders for the Year Ending November 30 1891 By Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company

1896 - A unique log cabin has been erected near the the depot which will be used as a barber shop - 15 May Culver Herald

Don’t forget to take a peep in Will Eulitt’s "wigwam,” east of the (Colonade Hotel, directly opposite a barber pole, and near the depot. If you look in, you will find it so cool and inviting that you will be forced to settle down in his easy chair and undergo the operation of having one pf the smoothest and cleanest shaves, haircut or shampoo you ever had in vour life. You will find him an entertainer of the highest order, and a humorist of the “Bill Nye” class (in fact he is a facsimile of old “Bill ” himself), and as courteous as they make ’em,

1896 Dec 19 For rent—Saloon at Maxinkuckee. — C. C. Beaber, 365 Sycamore st.

1896 Dec 28 Vandalia hotel for rent— C. C. Beaber 365 Sycamore street.

1900 - April 22 Sunday - the Colonnade and several other businesses burned to the ground

Colonnade hotel and contents, owned by Herz & Co., (unoccupied but leased for season)
Beeber building
Emmons saloon, under the management of Dan & Andrew Emmons, of Rochester
Avery's [A. E. Avery] restaurant.
Peter Keller, a barber, in a small frame building east of the Colonade hotel
Wolford's saloon [J. W. Wolford, of Plymouth, owner conducted by William Overman east of Kellers.

1900-1908 - Wolford Building, Wolford Saloon, Wolford Restaurant

1904 - Oyster Bay - Opposite Vanda!sa Depot. Andy Vorhees, Prop

1909 - 15 May Opening night of Link Theater

1914 - May 28 - A New Building - Work was started last week on a one story business building, which is to be erected for Mrs. Kate Edwards. This building is to be of frame construction 23 1/2 x 60 feet. Ito will adjoin the building occupied by Ela Cromely near the depot and will be for rent.

1914 - August 13 – Tim Wolfe has his billiard and pool hall in the new Edwards at Depot Place in full tune…

1918 - April 10 - The local Ford agency has been moved from opposite the depot to the old machine shop on Jefferson Street

1918 - Sep 11 - Garland Bogardus has exchanged his store and flat building opposite the depot to Chas. Schwidler for the latters property in Burr Oak. Mr. Schweidler will becom a resident of Culver.

1920 - John Hollett Grocery & Meats

1920 sep 22 - Ezra Hawkins has bought two buidings on Toner Avenue opposite of the depot from Mrs. Kate Edwards. John Hollett has rented the two story building and the Wolf brothers will continue to operate the pool room in the one story building.

1920 - New Station Restaurant - Howard Hass, prop.

1921 Apr. 27 - A new business enterprise has opened its doors to the Culver public. "The Palace of Sweets" is an attractive establishment opposite the depot.

1923 - January 31 The Tuck Swigart soft drink and lunch place opposite the depot is a wreck from a fire which practically destroyed the building Sunday evening

1923 - Mar 21 - The Logansport Ice Cream Company has leased for a term of 5 years the Charles Schweidler building opposite the depot

1928 - Mrs. Myrtle Fishburn has purchased the Bolin Restaurant and A. B. Long has opened a pool room in one of the Hayes buildings.

1929 - A much needed business in Culver is ready for trade in its building across from the depot. The new flower shop is operated by Albert and Gordon Byer.

1935 - March 13 - Donald Young states that he will have an official opening of his paint and roofing store opppsite the depot on March 3