Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Culver's Black History

From Summer of 1964 to early 1968 I lived on South Plymouth street with neighbors of the Hamptons, Hodges, Dickerson, Wilhites and Weavers

Also for a tear of two about 1966-1967 my brother had the South Bend paper route for the majority of the town - I took the south half and he took the north half which involved more the Academy area. Amongest my customers were many of the listed names below.

Thelma Hodges Moorehead in a letter to the editor of the Culver Citizens names the backbone people of the African American community - she states that if it were not for them "faculty row" would of ceased functioning in all reality if it were not for their services - the same was said of the East side summer residents of that era - now a thing of the past.

The African American community came into play when the Culver Military Academy came into existence in 1894; and especially when Henry Harrison Culver gave the invitiation to the Missouri Military Academy:

On 26 September 1896 the Missouri Military Academy boys was ravaged by fire that month - Sensing the opportunity to save Culver Military Academy H. H. Culver sent a telegram - "You have the boys, I have the buildings. Let's get together." - giving Fleet the opportunity to bring his students, and faculty to Indiana. H. H. Culver had proposed an acceptable deal resulting in Fleet's acceptance and H. H. Culver telegrammed back: "Veni, Vidi, Vici. The Academy is at your disposal. When will your party start? Answer quick." Culver hired a private train for Fleet, his staff and the cadets to bring them from Mexico, Missouri to Culver. On the evening of October 5th Head master Col. Alexander F. Fleet arrived along with the 72 cadets and five faculty members among who were Hugh Greiner and Hugh Glasswork; from there they went to the lake pier boarded the steamboats Peerless I and Aubeenaubee for the short trip to the Academy.

They came with them as waiters, janitors, cooks and domestice help.

By coming North with the school thay had hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families.

My only sad, bitter recollection of their lives were the one room shacks that lined the south side of the woods, I can remember my mother driving down that road from St. Rd. 17 to __ and seeing the people living in such conditions.

The most memorable memories is the friendliness of neighbors Bob Hodges [he loved to fish and cook them!], William Hampton and the Wilhites down on S. Plymouth Street.

Of William Hampton the Palm Sunday Tornado of 1965 is the vivid memory of him - he offerd me and my brother sancutary in his basement if the winds got worse. He caught me chasing mother's brand new trash can and lid down South Plymouth street and told me to let it go - to get in the house and stay there - it was not worth a human life; but I chased it down anyway and then returned home! I was only 13 what did I know then?

The People

A. M. E. Rollins Chapel

Last updated 24.11.2009

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