Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy


Culver, Marshall, Indiana

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History of Lakeshore Drive
Culver, Marshall, Indiana
From curve to State Road 10 and 17  


I have placed the early history, Sanborn Fire maps, plat maps and interesting facts of lake Shore Dr. aka Toner Avenue onto a seperate page.

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

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 them correct - if you remember won't you help?

824 N Lake Shore Dr. - Original Root Beer Stand/Mark S. & Rebecca A. Damore, Douglas Phillip/Catherine


On the West side this is residential 7 homes till you reach the propert of the Lake Shore Clinic.

This area in years back was referred to as Bunker Hill - David Burns always called it that and said that it was named such as the Vandalia Trains filled up there. In an interview that Jeff Kenney and I was on with George Franz on 9 June 2007 he related that the railroad had underground storage area for their water tanks and possibly other railroad equipment that was needed for the area - where Papa's is today - something that I have never heard David ever mention and thus the real meaning of the name origin 'Bunker Hill'!

824 N Lakeshore - Papa's


830 N. Lakeshore    - Inn by the Lake


Town of Culver - Water tower
Town of Culver & Media Com improvements leased


This is where College Avenue T's into Lake Shore Dr.

This is a residential area from the motel on the east side to Academy Drive, 5 houses - and the West side from the Root beer Stand till the medical offices, 6 houses.

One must remember that the area to above College avenue was farm land the east portion belonging last to the Dillon Family Arthur J. & Dollis (Zechiel) Dillon, Arthur J. & Mildred Dillon and Lewis Cass Dillon which before him belonged to his father-in-law James Duddleson; the western portion over to School Street and Tamarack Road belonged to the Houghton family. The area north of what is now Academy Drive then Indiana Avenue was also farm land it mostly belonged to Lewis C. Dillon also except for a "triangle that belonged to the Bogardus family they had purchased the ground and area around the original Isaac N. Morris homestead.

The only buildings within this area from about 1957-1960/1962 were The Lakeshore Clinic (1955), Culver Dental Clinic (1957/8), Leroy D. & R. Elizabaeth Davis residence (1959) [DILLON 2ND ADD LOT 5 L] this is at the corner of Academy Drive and Forest Place, Oscar Wesson Vet Clinic (1958), Winklers Automotive, and commerical building at the corner of St. Rd. 10 & 17

921 N Lake Shore Dr - Lakeshore Clinic

Academy Dr. (Aka Indiana Avenue)

By the 1948 plat map College Avenue went straight through from School Street to Lake Shore Dr. (St. Rd. 17)and Academy Drive only existed east of Lake Shore Drive (AKA State Road 17).

Also the 1956 plat map Academy Drive only existed the length of the Leonard Hoffman's property and east of Lake Shore Drive (AKA State Road 17).

This inquiry came today (25 July 2007 - it has some interesting details - and some memory twisters for someone:

At that time Academy Road was the end of any housing to the north, and there was a big field and hill there. I used to fly a boc kite there, and tied a camea to it to take aerial photographs! I won the camera selling magazine subscription to the big homes on the east side of Lake Maxinkuckee.

That started my interest in photography which became my life's work, including directing a film in Hollywood for Howard Hughes Co. that was nominated for an Academy Award!

When was the area above Academy Road developed?....

Also, any way to see anything of the Black Horse Troop?

Judi, thanks for any help. - ...

Jack Fenimore

The expansion of Academy Drive probably began as early as - or earlier than 1947 - this is found in the Culver Citizen: One account of expanison and moving of houses is: 1947 - December 3 – Work has started on moving houses at C. M. A. for expansion program. Some of the lakefront houses on the Academy campus was moved up along Arcademy Drive then Indiana Avenue and in the subdivision on the east side of Lakehore Drive which was Dillon property and acquired by the academy from the family at an unkown date. But the name change came after 1952 as in the July 1952 Indiana Bell Telephone Directory - Academy Drive was still under its old name; as the peoples addresses were still as such in it. To the west which began about 1957-1959 when the subdivision was plated out (Maxinkuckee Highlands) from the Lakeshore Clinic north to School Street/Tamarack Road; this was all Dillon and Houghton farm ground. The Culver Animal Clinc (1958) and Winkler's Automotive; the Lakeshore Clinic and the Dental office were among the first building there - among the first houses was the Davis property at the corner of Forrest and Academy Drive.

Culver Citizen
July 19, 1919
The New Academy Road

Work began Monday on the academy road beginning at the top of Bunker hill and extending 550 feet to a point north of the horse barn. The work is being done by the county at an estimated coist of an bout $14,000, the money to come out of the repair fund in the county treasury. The county is using its own roller, scarifier and truck. The road will be 16 feet wide, and will have a foundation of crushed rock on which gravel will be placed, with a surface of ashphalt and broken rock thoroughly mixed and pot on hot. The section between Bunker hill and the mess hall will be finished by the opening of the Summer school if all goes well.

Academy Road

820 Academy Drive - Jun 2006 - 2009 Culver Educational Foundation

806 Academy Drive - Culver Educational Foundation - Accounting

N. Lake Shore Dr.

__ N. Lake Shore Dr. - 1927 - NIPSCO
West Terrace


It is the area bewteen Academy drive, Lake Shore Dr. (St. Rd. 17), St. Rd. 10 West and the Academy grounds; on the east.

This area was developed probably as early as 1957-1959 when the Epley Auditoriom was being constructed. the Dillon family owned it and I remember it being a just a farm field. What really was grown in it I can not remember. I have vague vision of my father standing in a wagon - possibly hay, as you could look out the living room windows of the little white house on the northwest corner and see the area.

this where some of the houses that were on the academy campus lakefront were moved to they came from the area in and around the Eppley Auditorium and Culver Inn (now the Huffington Library today) and the Culver Inn Motel. This began probably as early as 1947 and continued on and off as the academy expanded this general area of the campus during those years; another major move of houses located on the campus occured during the years 1957-1958 when the Epley Auditorium was constructed. After that the remaining houses of the subdivision over the years have been built.

Maxinkuckee Highland

Part of this area above Academy Drive between St. Rd. 10, Lake Shore Dr. (St. Rd. 17) and School Street is labeled as Maxinkuckee Highlands; this page is made up of mainly map sections of this area and past ownership as shown by the plat maps. This area is a mixture os residential and commerical today.

The history of this area did not exist untill it began to start slowly in the 1960's it was I believe it was intended and plated out to be a mainly housing subdivision. The 1970's and 1980's seen the change to include the combination of commercial uses.

In November 1920, the State Highway Commission announced plans for a new East-West Highway, State Road #50 (State Road 10 today) from Warsaw to Demotte. This became feasible after the drainage of wetlands, especially old Lake Manitou extending to the west of Culver. It was completed in 1929.

1001 N Lake Shore Dr. - Culver Dental Clinic

--- N. Lake Shore Dr. - Vacant Lot - May 2007-2009 - Culver Educational Foundation

PRT OF NW1/4 SEC16T32NR1E LEGAL DESC: COM AT SE COR OF NW1/4 TH N90E 2.17 TO WEST LN LAKE SHORE DR TH N0E 124.79 TO POB AT SE COR LOT 12 MAX HIGHLAND TH N0E 278.31 TH N87-32-48W 425.87 TH S1-47-03W 264.12 TH S88-17-43E 110
1049 N. Lakeshore Dr. - First National bank Monterey

1105 Lake Shore Dr. - Park n Shop

1111 Lake Shore Dr. - Culver Animal Hospital

State Road 10

This area was refered to as 'Dillon's Corner' for years it is the intersection of St. Rd. 10 (east & west) and St. Rd. 17 (north & south). The history of the dillon propery.

This was where Bryce Bigley during the summer months had his fruit and vegetable stand and billboards were prevelant. He empolyeed High School and college girls to run the stand one of whom I remember being Nancy Franz; besides himself and his wife Ann. On the Dillon acerage he grew sweet corn and then turnips and when they were ready to be pulled we were allowed to pull what mom wanted to use; they were basically used as a fall/winter crop for fertilizer. Mom would peel them and cook them with what remained on the ham bone.

Some not so good pictures of the area:


But this depicts the southwest corner in the background with the billboards; where the Liquor store is now located. The chevy belonged to my mom's sister or father - so this was an a weekend sometime before 1960 probably. This was snitched from my mom's sisters collection - I would love to know if she took more outside and if you could see more of the area but I will never know.

South Side

1125A & B - Jamieson's Town and Country Liquors

--- St. Rd. 10 - 1988-2009 -Culver Storgae Units - Ralph E & Barbara A. Winters

--- St. Rd. 10 - Nov. 1993-2009 - Ralph E & Barbara A. Winters - Culver Storgae Units

18561 St Rd. 10 - Vacant

18571 St Rd. 10 - Vacant

--- St Rd. 10 - Culver Storgae Units - 1988-2009 - Ralph E & Barbara A. Winters

18591 St Rd. 10 - Culver Power Equipment

18619 St. Rd. - 1983 - Dairy Queen - Sep. 1996 Robert & Darlene Lee
      Sep. 1996-2009 - Dairy Queen - John J. & Laurie L. Simmons
    MAXINKUCKEE HIGHLANDS COMM LOT 3

18701 St. Dr. 10 - 2007-? - Family Dollar - Apr. 2006 - 2009 - Sorensen Development Inc.
    MAXINKUCKEE COMMERCIAL SUB LOT 2

2000 - 2009 - Anchors Away / Sky Line Builders Inc.
AKA The Riggings Hortizontal Property Regime
there are 3 parcels of Land, one of these parcels says 1.38 A; other 2 are unlabeled there is no description listed ofr the land - These are Condominiums; purchased by individuals.

--- St. Rd. 10 - Farm land 2-3 residences

730 School St. - 198_ - 2009 Millers Merry Manor Nursing Home (the entrance for them is 730 School Street)

701 School St. - 1967-2009 Culver Community School Corportation
the Southwest Corner of the intersecting road/street of School Street/Tamarack Rd. & ST. Rd. 10 down to Academy Dr.

North of St Rd. 10

1963, Arthur Dillon Jr.
1963 - 2009 - Black Horse Troop Field /Culver Educational Foundation

Some not so good pictures of the area:


This depicts the northwest corner - one can see the corner of the little white house on the left there were two hugh pine trees that sat just off the stone front porch in the front yard; there is rements of the front wall that held the yard up about a foot to two feet high it ran the full length of the house property on the east and on the south it ran to the front side walk which lead to front stone porch and the front door. Barely visible in the upper right hand corner is the barn that sat on the northeast corner; [looking through the car windows - one can see parts of the building] this is now the Black Horse troop field.

1963, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978 Arthur Dillon Jr.
17261 St. Rd. 17 /Brick House - Duddleson/Dillon Homestead
    ? Apr. 1994 - Charles M. & Helen M. Huys
    Apr. 1994 - Apr. 1996 - Charles M. & Helen M. Huys
    April 1996 - Aug. 2000 - Michael T. Heuer
    they obtained a permit for animal cages with chain link fencing of 30 X 30 AND 20 X 17.
    Aug. 2000 - 2010 - Michael J & Susan E Sheskey
    The brick house, the lean-to barn, the flat barn and milk house were all removed by March 2000. George Hopple done the demolition work etc.

    ACREAGE: 3.5 AUDITOR DESC: BEG 115FT N 01/DEG 02/MN WINTERS LEGAL DESC
18550 St. Rd. 10 / White House, this was tore down in the late 1970's to early 1980's My parents lived there from about 1953/4 to 1959/60; others lived there amony them Carey & Katie Cummins.

1880 J. Duddleson 109.__ A.
1898 L. Dillon 99.20, 10 A.
1908, 1922, 1936 - L. Dillon
1948 Arthur Dillon
1956, 1960, 1961, 1962 Mildred Dillon
1963 Culver Educational Foundation Sic - Dillon Property yet
1967 Dillion Barnhart 88 A.
1968,1972,1974,1976,1978,1979,1981 Arthur J. Dillion Jr. etal. 88.87/88.4 A.
1980's Camelot Bowling Lanes and Skating Rink Camelot Bowling Lanes and Skating Rink built by James J. Sarna
198_ - Sat empty
1987 -199_ - Julie Mae's Restaurant, Game Room & Bowling Alley - Don & Julie Mae Neidlinger
1991 - Culver Lanes & the 11th Frame Lounge - Don Neidlinger
Then converted the game room into a bar/Lounge called the 11th Frame Lounge. the Neidlingers got a divorce and Don ran it for awhile afterwards before selling out.

1992/3- ? - Culver Lanes & the 11th Frame Lounge -Ozuscik's
Two brothers Steve & ? Ozuscik's who were semi-professional bowler and interested in bowling bought it and ran it for a couple of more years.
199_ Aug 2000- Ozuscik Properties - mid 1990's sat empty
At the bowling alley was reomved immediately and later the concrete pavement was removed.
Aug. 2000- Feb 2008 - Michael J & Susan E Sheskey (Split property)
.017 A of land was deeded to the state of Indiana by Nov. 2008
Feb 2008 - 2010 Michael J & Susan E Sheskey
ACREAGE: 2.073 AUDITOR DESC: BEG N R/W SR 10 & W R/W LN SR 17 TH N1-2-W 115' TH N87-38W 222.4' TH N1-2W 276.8' ETC EX

the rest of the area from the 1970's on became residential acreage lots along St. Rd. 10, St. Rd. 17 Tamarack Rd. and 17th Rd. There is still farm acerage in the middle in the form of a hay field of 39.07 acres which is owned by the Culver Educational Foundation

and across the Tamarack Rd. on the Northwest Corner of the intersecting road/street of School Street/Tamarack Rd. & ST. Rd. 10
was the Easterday farm:
17257 Tamarack Rd.
    1880 - S. Medbourn
    1898 - B. F. Garn 80 A
    1908 - B. F. Garn
    1922 - B. F. Garn 80.05A
    1936 - L. C. Garn 90.05 A
    1948- Russell Easterday 78.75 A
    1956-62- Russell Easterday 78 A
    1963-1967- Russell Easterday 80 A
    1968- - Russell Easterday 88.75*
    1972- - Russell Easterday 88.80*
    1978 - Wandah Easterday 50 A
    1979 - Jun 1996 - Wandah Easterday 51 A, deceased
    Mar 1980 - Russell & Wandah Easterday
    1981 - Jack Easterday 51 A
    1995-6 - Jack Easterday 49A
    Jun 1996 - 2009 - Jack D. Easterday Life Estate remainder to Suzanne Easterday
the house was sold off as - 2.833A
Oct 1992 Jack D. Easterday
Oct. 1992 - May 2004 - Brian G & Chantelle Toblski
They had a prenninal greenhouse for a while.
May 2004 - 2009 Nick & Gina Hnatusko

Most of the are is within the Culver Corporate limits now and area further north which was the Dillon and Houghton properties will probably eventual be within to Culver Corporate limits; some of us may not live to see it - but its coming eventually.

There are two maps photo only that show the subdivisions, and then just one with the street names. The Dillon/Duddleson property by my eyeview guess looking at the 1880 plat map dropped down to what is now College Avenue on the west - to the Morris/Dillon property east of Lake Shore Drive dropped down to what is Academy drive as shown as that on the 1880 plat map. These are provided for comparison agaist the earlier plat maps presented; as well as give some idea of the subdivisions listed above.

...THANKS for the memories...