The Shack - Candy Shop

1911 - May 18 - Fred Thompson has just finished a dandy little store building, 17x25 for the Palmer House. It takes the place of the old candy shop, and is located at the entrance of the academy grounds.

In 1912 - soon after David Braden (CMA, 1896) opened the "Toggey Shop" and moved to the Pa,er house part of his operation became known as the "Palmer House Candy Shack", and in 1915 a soda fountain was added thus giving birth to the "Shack".

1913 - Jun 24 - Landlord Walter is figuring on some imporatant changes at the Palmer House. inside toilet rooms will be installed and the "candy shop" will be enlarged by the addition of a kitchen

1914 Jul 16 - - Frank Lamson is having the old candy shop has been moved back to be fitted up as a kitchen, and Al Keen is building a large addition to supply the living and sleeping rooms.

1915 - Jun 24 - Landlord Walter has let the contract to O. W. Stengel of Rochester for a steam heating plant to be installed in the Palmer House and the famous "Candy Shop".

1903 - Jun 25 - Frank Lamson is building a 10x2-4 pavillion between the New and Hertz cottages . He will put in a full line of confectionary, tobacoes, etc. Could this be a photo of the building?

Here is an ad from the "King's Official Route Guide - Section Five Automobile Routes of Indiana and Southern Indiana" published in 1915.

1916 - May 4 - Elmer Ransdell has taken a postition for the summer in the Plamer House candy shop.

1919 - Jan 1 - Arthur Simpson has bought the Mikesell restaurant. Mr. Simpson who was in charge of the Palmer House "candy shack" for some time.... - Citizen

1919 Feb 19 - J. P. Walter will start work on a 22X40 addition to the Palmer House candy shack which will double its present capacity and will also afford facilities for dancing

1920 - Feb 4 - A Prodigious Sweet tooth

The academy cadets have a combined sweet tooth of heroic dimensions is indicated by the receipts of the new exchange or "candy stand".

Since Oct. 22 up to Jan 14 - about nine weels (excluding the Chrsitmas vacation) - $5,957 had been taken in and the profits are $11,502.

Besides the business done in the exchange the Palmer House "candy shack" has been patronized by the boys. - Citizen

1922 - Mar 17 - Charles Shorb, who has been in charge of the candy shack at the Palmer House all winter, left yesterday for his home in Warsaw. His the successor is from Kokomo - Citizen

By 1922 it had an annex building to the back of it, by the 1922 plat map. In 1922 it was listed as the same but with J. P. Walter Prop. & in the 1922 Marshall County Plat book also and Jno. P. Walter, prop. And its location for 1922 and shows the annex

1922 - May 3 - A Big Little Business

The profits of the canteen at the academy for the month of February were $1368. as a "candy shack" and a soft drink parlor the C.M.A. canteen is a handsome investment, and the best parrt of it is that all the profits are donated to the Y.M.C.A. officer's club, cadet club and the company organizations. - Citizen

1924 - Oct 15 - Boy Wanted - To work evenings after school and Saturdays and Sundays, at the Palmer House Schack C. A. Shorb, Palmer House - Citizen

1925 - Jun 10 - Walter Wiseman, of Purdue returned home last Wedensday and is again working at the Palmer House Candy shack. = Citizen

In 1927 1933 David Braden, - "The Toggery Shop", and was located on the first floor of the Palmer House... His policy of liberal credit to the cadets and sending the bills home to dad began to cause trouble for the Palmer House. and the Culver s ended his operation and the Shack moved into this area.

30 Dec. 1930 - Culver Citizen - Palmer House Will Change Management First of New Year -

After January 1, when the present lease runs out, the control of the Palmer House will be taken over by the Culver Hotel Operating Company. The rooms will be outfitted with new beds, the toilet facilities will be increased, and the building will be put in as good condition as possible in spite of its age. There will be no structural changes in either the hotel or the "Shack". The improvements will be of a type that will make the temporary hotel more comfortable and enjoyable to its guests. The P. H. "Shack" will specialize in home cooking and consequently will furnish a more varied menu.

During the 1930's Braden's lease for the "Toggery shop" came to an end and the entire area was paneled in pine the space was equipped with booths, tables, chairs, short-order kitchen and a brick fire place

1931 - Jan 14 - Culver Citizen - Palmer house Undergoes Redecorating Refurnishing -

The Palmer House "Shack" which has been remodeled during the holidays, will be reopened in the early part of the coming week. The floor space has been enlarged by extensions on the side and rear and the entire room has been redecorated. The old equipment has been replaced by new tables and chairs, a new fountain and new kitchen appliances...

1931- Jan 28 - The officers Club had a formal bridge party at the Palmer House Shack the evening of the 21st, Wednesday... Citizen

1933 - Jan 21 - the Vedette reported on the new look for the Shack

A Replica of an Old Tavern

The "Shack" mecca of those who like good food but do not desire the formality of the dinning room, will re open about the first of February, after several weeks of remodeling and generaly renovation.

Those "oldtimers" who remember the shack of several years back, which had its tables spread around in close proxoimity to the old coal stoe, will see little resemblence in the new quarters.

During the past vacation the "Shack", (this name is no longer suitable) has indergone its second remodeling, and emerges as an attractive tavern.

A large fireplace has been built in the southern wall of the room, adding respectability to the knotty pine walls, which have been stained broown to appear rustic.

Benches are place about the walls for those who desire to lounge around and hold "buill sessions".

Thoise acquainted with the oldf Shack will remember the old cook stove over whch "Skeeter" presided. This has been replaced by a new gas range. There are several other replacements; one is a new soda fountain.

Those improvements, the employment of efficient, wairesses, and placing Miss Anna Ellsworth in charge, are making this spot one of the most popular on campus.

1933 - Jan 25 - Fire at "Shack" Causes $100 Damage Friday

A fire, originating in the Shack at the Maxinkuckee Inn where construction work is in progress caused damages amounting to approximately $100 late Friday night

The direct cause of the fire was ascertained to have been the overheating of the wall which divides the SHack from the Inn proper.

Heat from the bricks of the fireplace which has recently been constructed against this wall in the SHack penetrated the asbestos protection abd set fire to the wall board on the opposite side, which happens to be in the bathroom of one of the front rooms opening off of the porch.

Smoke penetrated into the lobby about ten o'clock, and the night man on duty immediately notified the Culver fire department. Upon its arrival, the firemen used axes to chop a large hole in the wall in order that the seat of the conflageration might be gotten to and very shortly extingusihed the blaze

In order to safe-guard against repetition of this, it will be necessary to tear down the fireplace and construct a fire-wall between the SHack and the Inn. Citizen

1936 - Mar 11 - Charles Reed To South Bend

Mr. and Mrs Charles Reed moved on Friday to SOuth Bend where he ahas a position with National Biscuit company.

He was formerly employed at the Maxinkuckee Inn Shack, which position has been filled by Tom Marshall. His place at Oberlin's Grocery has been taken by Juanita McKee - Citizen

1939 - Al Graham, chef at the Maxinkuckee Inn Shack - Citizen

1939 - July 19 Academy Calender... 8:00 p.m. - Dance. Shack. Sunday, July 23... Citizen

1945 - Jul 25 - Wanted Woman for short order cook at Maxinkuckee Inn Shack - Citizen

1949 - Mar 23 - Remodeling Maxinkuckee Inn;

Plan to Erect New Addition

The Maxinkuckee Inn, one of the oldest landmarks on Lake Maxinkuckee, is undergoing extensive alteration with the additon of a new building scheduled to be erected in the near future...

Other major changes provide... An enlarged kitchen with completely new equipment and additional cold storage fanilities will provide service for both the dining room and the Shack... - Citizen

1958 - Apr 30 - We are taking application for Shack cook at the Culver Inn, Pease apply in person - Citizen

1960 - Mar 23 - The Culver Inn's Beautiful Dining Room Getting Face Lifted
.... Plans are also being made to fully air condition the Inn's lobby and dining room and the Shack by summer.




Tha Shack was a popular hang out for cadets and employees alike.



By the mid 1980's overhead costs among other things lead to its demise. The renovation of the dining hall had included a ground-level student center and by 1986 the otiginal Shack closed its doors, re-opening in the dinning hall's Lay Student center in 1987



>When the Culver Inn was tore down in 1991 the paneling was preserved from the original Shack and wss utilized for the 2020 "recreated" "Shack" at the Brian L. Reichart '68 Shack of today.

Palmer House ~~ Maxinkuxkee Inn ~~ Culver Inn ~~ Culver Motels ~~ Candy Shop / Shack