Wolford Building, Wolford Saloon, Wolfrod Restaurant  

This is probably 640 Lakeshore Dr.

Dec 17, 1897 An Open Letter. Grand Ledge , Mich - Dec. 12, 1897

Mr. Editor: I understand through private parties that certain citizens of Culver are kicking because I left Andy Vorhees in Charge of my saloon while I returned to Michigan to transact important business. My license is not up until May and my county and state licenses are O. K.

Hence I have just as much right to leave Mr. Vorhees in charge of my saloon as Mr. Kreuzberger has Win. Kneoble, or any other man.

The question of my not coming back is all humbug, as my relations with the man I rent the building of, Mr. Wolford, has always been agreeable, consequently I expect, nothing preventing, to conduct the saloon another season. Yours very truly, J. K. T.

Mark Roeder states:

that the 27 April 1899 [sic 1900] Herald reported that the hotel had burnt at 2 a.m. [sic 2:30 a.m] on Saturday. The loss was $10,000 or near that figure. Also burning as a result of the fire was the Wolford Saloon and Kelley barber shop; they all burnt to the ground quickly. The smell of coal oil was detected and it was the belief that the Colonade was intentionally set afire.

Facts within his staement are true but the date has been erronously stated.

This photo captures a smaller building in the background near the upper left; to the right iof the Colonnade is a building which is probably the Wolford Saloon and the corner of a canopy the canopies which grace the east and west portions of todays town park as picnic shelters.

Culver Herald - Apr. 27, 1900 - A large gang of carpenters are at work erecting a new building for Wolford, the dimensions of which will be 22X80, the first 40 feet two stories high. the whole structure will be artistically finished, with a saloon in front, and restaurant in the rear. At first Wolford did not contemplate rebuilding, but as Mr. Overman had already secured his license for a year, and was a heavy looser by the fire, Mr. Wolford thought he was duty bound to rebuild.

MAY 4, 1900. - - A large force of carpenters are at work upon the Wolford building, I and in less than three weeks from the commencement the building will be ready for occupaucy.

May 18 - - The John Wolford building near the depot is being rapidly pushed toward completion

June 8 - - The Wolford building near the depot is completed, and last Saturday evening Wm. Overman opened his saloon and restaurant in said building. It is two stories high, with fine finished rooms in second story while below it is finished in very modern style with saloon in front and restauraut in the rear. Every detail about the building is first class and every Particular, and is lighted by by gas. The building is an oranment to the town and shows that no pains has been spared to make it to date.

1903 - Jul 21 - Grand Buffet - Opposite van Depot - A complete Line of Wines, Liquors and Cigars. - Short Order Restaurant - In Connection - Geo. F. Wolford, M'g'r - Culver Indiana

1903 - Oct 8 - Andy Vorhees has bought the saloon interests of John Wolford in Culver and will conduct the business after this himself. He will also handle oysters and run a lunch counter.

1904 - John Wolford will raise his saloon and pit in a stone wall, remodel the biuilding and build an addition on the rear this spring

1906 - May 17 - Wolford's former saloon at the depot has been opened as a "quart house" where under a government license liquor and beer can be sold in quantities of not less than a quart to be drank off the premises

1904 - Jun 16 - Grand Buffett - Geo. F. Wolford, M'g'r - Short Order Restaurant in connection

' 1906 Jan 4- Three cases were filed of the state of Indiana against George Wolford for selling liquor on Sunday

1907 - Jan 31 - Alleged "Blind Pig"

Lee manager of Wolford's restrautant at the depot, was arrsted last week on the complaint of George Schaller chrging him with keeping a diisorderly house.

The case was taken before Squire Voreis on Friday with five or six witnesses in attendance.

District Attorney J. A. Molter was present to prosecute, but after examining the affidavate decided that it was not strong enough to insure conviction and the complaint was quashed.

Hunter was again arrested that evening on one of several complaints charging him selling liquor without a licenses and the case was set for yesterday (Wednesday) afternooon.

1907 - Feb 7 - Sold Withou License

Lee Hunter, manager of the Wolford restaurant, plead guilty before Squire Voreis to selling liqour without a license and was fined $5 and costs on three compaints, the amounts aggregating $41.

Five or six witnesses, coloered men, were on hand to testify for the state.<

Hunter was represented by Lawyer Martindale of Plymouth.

The case was regarded as hopless by the defendant and he took the easiest way out of the scrape.

A repetition of the offense will be punished by a heavier fine.

Wolford, however, has aggreed to ship out all alcholiv stimulants from ohis place.

1908 - Apri - 9 The Wolford restaurant has been reopended with the Bogardus boys in charge.

1908 - Jul 20 - Poor Bros have leased the restaurant in the Wolford Building

1908 - Dec 10 - Wolford Blind Tiger Case -

In the blind tiger case tried at Culver before Justice Voreis last summer and in which the liquors seized were ordered destroyed, Fred Wolford has files an affidavit in the court at Plymouth to which the case was appealed for a change of venue from Judge Bernetha.

On Monday afternoon Judfe Berentha assigned the case to Hon. ENoch Myers of ROchester as special judge.

Probably the case will be tried sometine during the present term of court.

A very determined fight has been waged inthe case and when tried before Justice Voreis created a good deal of interest in the community,and the case at that time was heard by a large number of citizens of the township, it being the largest attended trial ever held here.

When the case is tried at Plymouththere will likely be a large nu,ber of our people present as witnesses to testify.

1908 - Dec 24 - The case against Fred Wolford for conducting a blind tiger in Culver, which has been hanging fire over a year, will be tried at Plymouth Dec. 31

1909 - Jan 7 - Wolford Case Postponed -

The Wolford liquor case, which has been pending in the circuit court for more than a yeasr, has been postponed to the February term on account of Special Judge ENoch Myers of Rochester being unable to get here. The people of Union township are getting extremly anxious for this case to come to trial. - Plymouth Ind.

1909 - Apr 15 - Garland bogardus has bought the Green and Listenbrg restaurant in the Wolford building to the depor

1909 Dec 2 - To Whom? - The Plymouth Democrate says that John Wolfrod has sold his Culver Proptery

1909 - Dec 9 - Bought by Bogardus - Garland Bogardus is rthe purchaser of the Wolford restaurant property at the depot.

1910 - Jan 6 - Liquor Found "Guilty"

Stock of Contaband Booze in Culver Ordered Destroyed

After many vicuissitudes and a cold storage litigation of morn than two years, it has been decided that John Wolford's stock of beer and whiskey captured in the raid on his blinf tiger and which since September 1907 has lain in th Culver calaboose, was legally confiscated and belongs to the state

The case was docketed against Fred Wolford, a son of John, as the nominal owner.

Wolford replieved the goods, and for one cause and another the suit had dragged along.

On Firday Judge Enoch Myers of Rochester heard the case. Fred Wolford was not present. A jury was waived and the evidence was submitted to the court who decided that the ownership of the wet goods was in the state, and otffered theri destruction

1910 - Dec 8 - Alive at Great Age.

The replevin suit of Fred Woldord against the town of Culver to recover the value of liquors taken from the Woldord restaurant is set for trial in the circuit court on Jan. 3

The goods were confiscated in 1907 and judgement was rendered by Justice Boreis declaring the town's possession valid.

The suit was appealed and ffor resons best known to the attorneys has been delayed in its progess through the court.