Vonnegut Orchard

This is a section out of the 1908 plat map that shows the Marks land. Owned by 20 acres D. W. Marks and 2 sections each of 40 acres for a combination of 80 acres under Jennie L. Marks; by this the Marks family had acquired the 20 acres of F. M. Parker and another 20 acres of the D. W. Sparks property of 40 acres by the time Vonnegut s bought it. The Geo. Peeple's farm in the lower left which became "Hollyhocks" which was in Emma Vonnegut's on the 1922 plat map. The violet line is 18th Road and the brown lline is Vonnegut or Queen Road.

And an enlarged area of the "Holly Hock" farm area shows the location of the house while it was still under the ownership of George Peeples on the 1908 plat map. Emma Vonnegut purchased the Peeples farm before 1922 by the plat map - her obit of 1939 states 10 years ago which would be 1929 - but is in error.

The orchard is said to have operated from before 1910 until her death in 1939; an aerial view one can see the original house "hollyhocks" in te lower right hand corner and acces was gained from 18th Rd and not East Shore Drive as today.

Walter Vonnegut purchased land for an orchard as related:

1910 March 17 - the 140 acre farm belonging to D. W. Marks, east of the lake, was sold last week to clemence Vongegut of indianapolis for $13,000

1910 - Apr 14 - Will Start A Fruit Ranch


Extensive Operations to be instituted onthe Marks Farm

Walter Vonnegut of Indianapolis, who bought the Marks Farm of 140 Acres last month, will have the co-operation of the professors f Prudue Agricultural Expermint station in extensive expermints if fruit-raising. Mr. Vonnegut says: "The soil and conditions in the neigihborhood of Lake Maxinkuckee are particularly fitted for fruit growing purposes. The surface soil is loam and the subsoil is clay. The lake tends to ptevent early spring and late autumn frosts, thus giving a longer growing season for the fruit. Where intensive cultivation has been applied to fruit growing in the region the results have been extraordinarily sati dfactory."


In May, 1910, Walter Vonnegut purchased the 160-acre Marks Farm on the east side. In cooperation with Purdue University, he announced plans to become an orchard grower. A 30 acre orchard was planted by the Vonnegut family and for a number of years produced a large crop of apples.

1919, Apr. 26 - Clemens Vonnegut Jr Deed Bk 80 "Hollyhock"

Sarah M. & Albert Pefley, Mary & Henry M. Speyer, Edna & Harry A. Dillon - heirs of George Peoples

1919, Apr 30 - The heirs of George Peoples have sold the 35- acre farm to Mr. and Mrs. Clemens Vonnegut who have begun improving it by sinking another well, installing a water service to be operated by a hydraulic ram, repainting.

1919, May 21 - The Peeples farm which was recently purchased by Clemens Vonnegut. has been named "The Hollyhocks". The wealth of there noble flowers on the place which always attracts the attention of the passeby makes the name very appropriate one.

In her obit It is stated that in 1929 Emma Vonnegut purchased the Peeples farm and has been conducting an apple orchard that gained fame for its quality throughout northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

This was part of the Vonnegut land holdings in years past and was an orchard at one time. In fact David Burns said the Vonegaut holdings was represented by the metal fencing that was on the East side of the road; this holds true by the plat maps of early time. During the spring of the year the front section of the woods - near St. Rd. 117 East Shore was in full bloom with yellow daffodils.

Sections of land one of 11.90 acres and another of 28 acres, on the east side of the lake road ( State Road 117 or East Shore Dr.) which by the 1922 map belonged to Emma Vonnegut . the larger section the Vonnegut Orchard on it, this property today and is called "Kur-Cor". The original barn was, at least, still standing on the property in the 1970's. The orchard ran as far as the east curve of today’s 18th Road (which runs East & West) and ran along the east edge of Queen Road (which runs North & South) it was also known as the “Vonnegut _ Road". Also shown is 2 sections belonging to Walter Vonnegut one of 60 acres and another of 66 acres.

Walter A Vonnegut lived for a time with Emma Vonnegut, her orchard house was dubbed "the Holly Hocks" and burnt as was noted in her obituary:

Three years ago (1937) the home was destroyed by fire and Mrs. Vonnegut at once rebuilt a house that was her "dream home".

A Sept., 1920 Indianapolis Star article acclaimed 70-year old Emma Vonnegut as a “successful and versatile orchardist.”

A 1920's ad reads "Apples at the packing shedfrom "the Hollyhocks" East side of lake now picking Wagener, Grimes, Jonathon Vonegut Orchards

The Vonnegut Orchard logo

The Vonnegut Orchard farm pick-up

Walter became a stage actor in New York city during the 1930's and it is when Emma took full charge of the orchard

This cropped area of the plat of 1936 shows that it was only about 28 acres marked with "W V "- the land purchased from George Peeples and 51 acres a part of the Jennie L. Marks farm marked "W Vonngut".

Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Indiana Tuesday, October 13, 1936 Page 7; of the classifieds reads:

APPLES—Now have Grimes Golden. Delicious, Winter Banna, York, Rome, King David, Greenings and Stayman Winesap. Vonnegut Orchards, Culver , Ind. east side of Lake Maxinkuckee.

Emma known by famly members as 'Oma' was said to have been the real force of the Vonnegut family.

What once was the Vonnegut Orchard:

811 East Shore Drive

845 East Shore Drive

865 East Shore Drive

953 East Shore Drive - Kur-Kor

and afterwards the Oberlain Orchard owned by Howard Oberlain he had puchased someotime before the 1948 plat map

The plat map of 1948 shows that Howard Oberlin had acquired the 28 acres Of the Vonnegut Orchard and the Culver Military Academy had acquired the 51 acres

Vonnegut Family Index