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History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Culver Military Academy Riding Hall

1897 - Part of the Black Horse Troop first appeared in the Inaugural parade for President McKinnely he was first elected in 1896. The photo is the 80 horse honor guard of the 1 ^stCleveland Calvary Troop A as in appeared in the Inaugural parade.

The orginial Riding hall was built in 1898. The hall was the largest of its kind in America. The hall was 104 feet wide and 212 feet long; a mommoth amphitheater, sufficient to manuever 60 horses. The dome of the arched roof towered to 60 feet above the floor. The tower raised 100 feet above the lake providing a unique picturesque view of the countryside. It was erected at a cost of $50,000.

1916 - October 22 the riding hall burnt that housed the Black Horse Troop and 66 of the horses died in that fire [another account has 1915 and that 80 horse died].

Plans were announced for construction of a new 104 by 212 Riding Hall to house 136 mounts. Albert Knell was the artitecht who designed the building.

At the same time Albert Knell also designed the new Arsenal and its construction began in 1916.

The trustees decided to center both buildings to the east and northeast of the Academy Hospital and convert the old Riding Hall into a Recreation Building. The site was to low and to unstable for foundations for the Arsenal and Riding Hall - thus began the massive fill of the area with dirt for the area now occupied the Woodcraft; when completed the grade had been raised 14 feet.

15,000 JOB FOR BRIDGE CO.
The Rochester Bridge and Structural Steel Co., has secured the contract for furnishing the steel to be used in the building of Culver Military Academy's new $100,000 riding hall, to be built soon. The job embraces 250 tons and is worth about $15,000 to the local company. The building will have a clear riding space of 92x327 feet, with stables attached. The steel work will be unique in several respects. Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, January 27, 1916

1917 the Riding Hall was dedicated and the lake front side of the riding hall was terraced and outfitted with reviewing stands for athelic event and military reviews.

NEW RIDING HALL IS NEARING COMPLETION Culver, Ind., Aug. 27. - With the first stage of the $165,000 building project at the Culver Military Academy due to be completed and ready for occupancy by the Black Horse Troup on Sept. 8, work at the Academy has been stepped up during the last few weeks and 24-hour shifts are rushing the work to its completion... - - The News-Sentinel, Friday, August 27, 1937

Last updated 15.11.2009

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