Culver Military Academy 1894-1919  

"In all these thirty years since I have known the lake a hobby of mine has been to start a school. It has been one of my 'castles in the air.' The hobby first took definite shape in 1888. I saw in my mind's eye where the school would have to be, and I began to prepare ground for its location. For a number of years I was in correspondence with teachers everywhere, trying to get a suitable person to take charge of the school. I could find no one who saw promise in my plan. I then went to California, and upon my return, in March 1894, I found a letter awaiting me from an Indianapolis friend, who suggested that a summer school be located on my grounds, and that Dr. J. R. McKenzie, of the Ohio military academy, near Cincinnati, be selected as the head of the school. I agreed to this, and in April 1894, set aside the forty acres on the north shore of the lake for school purposes, and put up some additional buildings, The success of the summer school I consider assured, and I propose now to have the academy a permanent institution. The buildings are of a temporary character. I propose to have buildings of brick and stone, that will be as fine as the buildings belonging to any educational institution in the state."

"to; maintain a school . . . with a competent corps of teachers, (and) pay all expenses connected with the maintenance of the school . . ." The founder agreed to "put said buildings in condition for permanent occupancy," and; "if found necessary,"; add a gymnasium. With those simple rubrics, McKenzie set up headquarters in the old Chautauqua assembly building's, Culver Park Hotel and prepared to lead the newly formed Culver Military Institute. After expenses connected with the maintenance and operation of the school had been paid, "any surplus would be divided equally between the two parties of the contract", according to the agreement.

Less than five months after the Academy opened, a late afternoon fire broke out in the hotel and by dusk on Feb. 4, the structure had been destroyed. There were no injuries, but the just completed mid-year exams, grades, and personal possessions were destroyed. Jubilant cadets, anticipating an extended vacation from their academic responsibilities, were quickly disappointed when local residences, the Culver's summer home, and a nearby farmhouse were put into service as dormitories. Classroom space was provided in several auxiliary buildings and the tabernacle was reconfigured to serve as the dining hall.

In the biography on Milo Reno Cline in the History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986 (Taylor Publishing Co., 1986, Publication # 357 of 1422) Marshall County Historical Society pg. 125 it is stated:

"He helped build the first building for the Culver Military Academy, that building being constructed on the site of a former tabernacle in 1894. He became a friend of the Culver family, especially Edward Culver."

and in the same book on pgs. 73-4 under the Barnes family is found this:

In 1894, the year Culver Military academy was founded by Henry Harrison Culver, a contract was awarded to John E. Barnes of Logansport to construct a brick barracks, the first permanent building on the campus. The cornerstone for this building is dated May 16, 1895. It had an Engine Annex that contained a power plant. It produced the heat and generated electricity for the campus. Coal being was required to run the plant, a rail spur ran through the heart of the campus directly to the rear of Main Barrack, till 1911 when the Mess Hall was constructed.

John E. Barnes, in order to have a place to live while building this barracks, purchased the Arlington Hotel annex. He continued to build for the Academy and with his wife Elizabeth Jane Bates Barnes, maintained this home at what is now 704 West Shore Drive.

A son, James I. Barnes, in the meantime joined his father in the construction business. As the father grew older, this son, James, took over the business and continued the construction of many buildings built at the Academy in subsequent years....

But by Thanksgiving of this year Military had been incorporated into the school name.

Here is an ad from the 1895 Marmont Herald:


1895 - The 6^th of June, John Heyward McKenzie tenured his resignation; after a year of disputes and turmoil over operations of the school with H. H. Culver. The Culver Military Academy opened in 24 September of 1895 under the leadership of West Point graduate Maj. Clinton Tebbets


as Superintendent and Commandant but his tenure was less than 14 months handing in his resignation just before Col. Alexander Fleet [pdf file] arrived with his cadets to Culver. Nothing much can be found recorded of Maj. Tebbets his time at Culver.

When the Main Barrack opened in Sept. of 1895 and it replaced the first CMA building, the Culver Park Hotel, which had burnt in February 1895. It's construction time of eight months was remarkable feat. Bob Hartman's description of Main Barrack as it was then is:

It contained a chapel, mess hall, classrooms, library, and quarters for about ninety cadets. Its construction was described as "brick, stone, steel and iron, with concrete nine inches thick, so that it is impossible to be injured by fire." It was centrally heated by coal-fired boilers which also generated steam to the "Dynamo Room" to power electric generators.

Central Main Barrack and its Engine Annex which housed coal-fired boilers to produce steam to heat the barrack and drive electric generators] was erected these buildings were designed by architect, Albert Knell of Baker and Knell [of St. Louis].



This "Dynamo Room" or "Engine Annex" contained a power plant that produced heat and generated electricity for the campus. The fuel of course was coal being shipped in by railroad - thus a rail spur ran through the heart of the campus directly to the rear of Main Barrack.


This unsightly railroad track and the coal dump remained on the main campus until after the Mess Hall was built in 1911 and new power plant (now the Music and Arts Building ) was constructed in 1912


This is an ad for the Academy in the 1896 Culver Herald:


The school re-opened September 16, 1896, with twenty-nine boys, under Maj. Tebbetts and three assistants, and was progressing quietly when an event occurred which at once changed the current of affairs at the academy, and caused them to flow in a channel quite different from the course of the two previous years.

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 5^th 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.

Col. Alexander Frederick Fleet, Culver superintendent from 1896 to 1910, was born in King and Queen County, Va., in 1843. He joined the Confederate army in 1861, serving as a lieutenant and aide-de-camp to Gen. Henry Wise. He was present at Gen. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

1897 - Found in - The history of the state of Indiana from the earliest explorations by the French to the present time containing an account of the principal civil, political, and military events, from 1763 to 1897 (Indianapolis B. L. Blair Co., 1897) pg. 556-7 is the following:

The latest of ourt [-?-] education institutions, but one, that has already attraced [attracted] the attention of the whole country, is the Culver Military Academy on Lake Maxinkuckee. It was founded in 1894 by Mr. H. H. Culver, a citizen of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Culver was a wealthy and philanthropic man, whose heart was interested in the education of boys. He had a summer home on Lake Maxinkuckee, and there concluded to found his institure [institute]. The first building erected was a frame structure, which was destroyed by fire on the 4^th of February, 1895. It was at once decided to erect new buildings, which would be practically fire-proof, and this work was done during the spring and summer of 1895. The school at once began to flouris [flourish]. In September [September], 1895, the Missouri Military Academy, at Mexico, Missouri, was destroyed by fire. Mr. Culver at once made a proposition to its faculty to consolidate the institution with his Academy at Culver, which was accepted. This agve [gave] to the Indiana school an addition of seventy cadets at once, and necessitated the erection of another large building. The location for the Academy is one of the finest in the State, Lake Maxinkuckee has long been regarded as one of the prettiest pieces of water in the whole country, and has been for years a favorite resort in the summer for those who desired an outing. Surrounding the Academy is a beautiful park of three hundred acres, thickly covered with maples, oaks and beeches, and free from undergrowth. These grounds are laid out with great taste and fitted in every way for the use of the students. A fine calvary parade and drill ground is one of the attractions. The Academy is conducted on military principles, and is now the largest military school in the United States, with the exception of West Point. The lake furnishes excellent boating, and as athletics form one of the features of the school, the pportunities [opportunities] for a boat crew are highly appreciated. The Academy has been handsomely endowed by Mr. Culver.

1897 - Leigh Robinson Gignilliat [pdf file] became commandant/superintendent on a snowy night of 13 January, he arrived at the Marmont Depot. West barracks was erected - accommodating forty-four cadets and two officers, and containing six section rooms, one physical laboratory and one chemical laboratory. March 1897 the Black Horse Troop was purchased.


1897 - June the 1896-1987 catalogue was first catalogue with roster of cadets theretofore published, showed 122 cadets, and a graduating class of seven.

1897 - Sunday, September 26, 1897 Henry Harrison Culver dies. The estate remained unsettled until 1902 - at that time - Emily Jane Culver received the family home on Lake Maxinkuckee , one of seven shares in the Academy [later giving it up for an increase annuity] and the earnings from property at 12th and Locust Streets in St. Louis. Edwin took over where his father left off in his vision for Culver Military Academy. Bertram took over the Wrought Range company; and eventually Edwin and Bertram forced one brother out in 1906; their sister filed suit in 1910 trying to claim mismanagement, by her efforts were foiled. In 1912 another brother died and his shares were passed on to Edwin and Bertram and the full control of the company.

Here is a drawing of the campus; which shows the lagoon system:


1898 - The cavalry school was added in 1898 and Riding hall was erected - which was finer than those built by the national government for its cavalry posts or at West Point, and probably without a superior in the world. This remarkable building, one hundred and four by two hundred and twelve feet, of brick and stone, with great steel trussed roof, of ornate architecture and incorporating every essential of the complete riding arena, was erected at a cost of $50,000.

1899 - East Barrack was erected - accommodating sixty cadets and two officers, with hospital of four rooms, two laboratories, and library. January and May of 1899 the boiler room was enlarged, two additional tubular boilers installed, and six rooms for employees were built over the engine room, a brick stack one hundred feet high being also constructed. A powder magazine, covered gallery for formations, and new walks in the grounds were other improvements made.


As the Academy expanded the road on the North Shore of Lake Maxinkuckee - Aubeenaubee Bay changed many times over the years.

Here is a section referring to the Academy from the 1900 topographical map by J. T. Scovell:


1900 - Mal's Annex was erected.

1901 - Albert Knell added a fourth floor to Main Barrack

1902 - The campus area from an aerial view. It shows the old view of the roads, before St. Rd. 10 was put in.


1902 - The "little" Gym was erected. Through the efforts of the Indiana delegation in congress, a law was passed authorizing the loan to the academy of man-of-war cutters for the practical instruction of cadets, in a course of boat drills similar to those given to the fourth class at Annapolis. In June of 1902, the Summer Naval School opened with 20 cadets (first called midshipmen circa 1920) and commanded by Leigh Gignilliat’s brother, Thomas, a Naval Academy graduate

Culver Military Academy, established by H. H. Culver ten years ago, on the shores of lake Maxinkuckee near the present town of Culver, was Thursday incorporated with a capital stock of $240,000. The trustees are as follows: Walter L. Culver, Henry H. Culver, Bert B. Culver, Knight K. Culver, Edwin R. Culver, Emily J. Culver and A. F. Fleet. - - Rochester Sentinel, Friday, July 18, 1902

1903 - The 4^th floor was added onto the Main Barracks - this being solely for academic purposes, and containing a drafting room, physical laboratory, chemical laboratory, biological laboratory, Y. M. C. A. room, chemical and physical lecture rooms, dentist's office, barber shop, and dark room for amateur photographers. In June of 1903, an agreement with the construction firm of J. E.. Barnes and Sons of Logansport was signed for $14,225.70. A materials drawing account was set up on Aug. 29, and by the end of September, construction was underway. Albert Knell was the designer and engineer. A survey of the 1895 power plant in the Engine Annex was made. Bradley and Co. of St. Louis], recommended a major up-grades including new boilers, engines, and a dynamo and new Westinghouse Electric Company switchboard. Barnes and Sons was given the contract to remodeling the Annex. The water tank was also inadequate to supply campus needs and the roof possibly could not with stand any additional weight. A tower and larger water tank the hill just south of the new gymnasium was constructed by Fairbanks, Morse and Company [of St. Louis]. Barnes and Sons did the site preparation for the foundation and Bradley and Co. done the plumbing to connect the water lines from the Annex to the campus building.

1903 - An article by L. Robinson Gignilliat appeared sometime during this year in the Munsey's Magazine; it was 4 pages long and had 5 illustrations and was titled "An Inland Naval School"

1903-04 a splendid gymnasium was constructed.

1904 - South Barracks was erected - with capacity for ninety cadets and three officers.

Here is the cover of a summer catalog for 1904:


1906 -Sanborn fire map of Culver Military Academy grounds.

1906 - Gym was destroyed by fire June 1, 1906, but was immediately rebuilt. This is the largest and most complete private school gymnasium in existence. It is constructed in the Tudor Gothic style of architecture. The main gymnasium hall is seventy-five by one hundred and forty feet. It has walls of white, enamel brick, capped by a heavy oak rail, to which are fastened pulley weights and other wall apparatus. The floor is of polished hard maple. A suspended running track-seventeen laps to the mile-and gallery, skirt the four walls. The roof is supported by steel trusses, and no pillar or post mars the ample floor space. Opening into the main hall are apparatus room, measuring room, filled with the best anthropometric apparatus, director's room, locker room, drying room, and baths. West Barracks was renovated.

By age requirements of being 14 for naval school and the picture being of a young boy this is inserted here - Lewis Wendell Willkie was born in 1892 and he attended Culver Academy Summer School right after his freshman year of high school. His photo shows - the hat and uniform which is Naval I believe. If you wish to read more on the young man follow thelink above. I found the picture intriguing - because of the uniform style and hat; besides the look on his face of total disgust.


1905 - YMCA chapter established on campus. The gymnasium built in 1902 burned.
In 1905, it burned to the ground and was replaced, exactly as before, in 1907
Here are 1906 & 1907 ads for the school.

1907 - a separate hospital building was erected, of strictly fireproof construction, and equipped with the latest sanitary appliances. It is two stories high, has a diet kitchen, independent heating and lighting systems, and accommodations for twenty-five patients. The style of architecture is the Tudor Gothic, which admits of highly ornate trimmings and is peculiarly adapted to buildings for this purpose. The architectural treatment combines the restful and quiet effect essential to hospitals, with the massive and dignified appearance appropriate to military buildings. A reception hall divides the first story longitudinally; this hall also serves as a waiting room. On the left of the reception hall are located the surgeon's office and chambers also the perating, sterilizing, and emergency rooms. On the right of the reception hall is the contagion ward, with separate baths, nurse's quarters, kitchen, etc

1907 The gymnasium built in 1902 which burned to the ground in 1905 was replaced, exactly as before.

1907 - Culver Summer School of Cavalry opened. The here is an ad for the summer school. Gignilliat began a two-week excursion with the entire Naval and Cavalry to the tri-centennial Jamestown Exposition in Virginia. An account of the excursion and the continuation of it is found in this article by Bob Hartman.

1908 - The Arsenal or Armory was built was located north of the present Mess Hall. It was converted to the Tailor and Uniform Shop c. 1920 and later was the dry cleaning, bookstore, and mens' clothing store (The Toggery Shop).


This provides an unsual eagle eye view of the campus from above Lake Maxinkuckee; it was created for the Culver Military Academy promotional catalog in 1908. It is a composite of buildings and activities that were then part of the winter and summer programs.

1908 - the Health Center - was built -names have vaired over the years as to Hospital, Infirmary, and Health Center. The main entrance originally faced the lake but in 1948, a major renovation added a north wing, relocated the entrance to the west, and removed the 'gingerbread' facade it originally had atop of the building.

1909 - News articles:

Now Indiana has a navy. The bill providing for a naval branch of the military, chiefly beneficial to Culver Academy, passed both houses and has been signed by the governor. Now we are safe from foreign invasion. - - Rochester Sentinel, Friday, March 5, 1909

E. R. Culver, son of the founder of the military academy at Culver, accompanied by Albert Krell, both of St. Louis, are at Culver making arrangements for having plans drawn for a new dormitory to the Academy. - - Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, August 25, 1909

1909 - Open Air Barrack built just north of the Gym and in 1924 it was moved to where the Henderson Ice Arena is today. It was used for the Academy Band. Final use was by the crew members of Universal Studios during the filming of "Tom Brown of Culver" in 1932 and that summer it was razed to expand the area of the Woodcraft camp

Here are several 1909 ads for the school.

1910 - Fleet retires. Major Leigh Gignilliat, the commandant became superintendent and Bert H. Greiner became Commandant. Culver Military Academy Alumni Association was formed.

About 1910 Edwin Raymond Culver built his home just east of the Palmer House. In the mid 1920's turned it over to the Academy for use as the superintendents house until 1989 when it along with the guest house next door was razed in 1989 to make way for the new library. Culver Military Academy Alumni Association founded by Gignilliat.


This article is incomplete - :

New Mess Hall at Academy to Be the Most
Complete of Its kind Anywhere
Culver Military academy has just completed its thirteenth session, the most successful in its history. As in previous years, the applications for admission have far exceeded the capacity of the buildings. Yet no new barracks will be built. The trustees instead had decided upon comprehensive plans...

...present mess hall, with some crowding, would seat the number we propoce [project] so seat in our new building, yet the lod [old] hall has only half the floor space of the new. This comparison give an idea of the spaciousness of the new building. The generous dimensions provided for broad aisles between the tables...

...addition there will be provided a canning and preserving room; also a room equipped with power ice cream freezers.

The floor space of the kitchen will be about equal to that of the mess hall. Those already familiar with the academy's plant will again an idea of the size of the mess hall and kitchen building from the fact that it will occupy more space than the which hitherto has been the largest building on the grounds. In this building there will be adequate messes for civilian employess [employees] and for kitchen and mess hall help. Like the mess hall the kitchen will be built of reinforced concrete throughout, fireproof and absolutely saniotary [sanitary]. It...

The rear of the building was three stories high and supported a hugh kitchen, refrigeration plant, bakery, dairy and ice cream plant. The main floor of the Mess Hall was constructed of small green, wine, and white tiles. They were laid in 1911 and quickly became a focal point of the expanse of floor without supporting pillars was quite revolutionary for the period. The ceiling was divided by three skylights, thus providing natural lighting, reducing weight and supplementing electric lights. The main hall is 90x130 feet, and contained seating for 1,000. Cadet and faculty tables were set family-style and served by waiters through 1958. Each waiter was assigned two-three tables and and was respondible for his settings, silverware, and glassware. They maintained small pantrys built into the walls and were responsible for washing and maintaining their inventory. The waiter staff was under the command of major domo and head waiter, Charlie Dickerson. His service to the Academy covered more than half century. He maintained a military-like precision with his waiters. They stood inspection, were checked for clean uniforms, polished shoes, and took great pride in their professionalism. The expansive hall seated the entire corps of cadets in a single formation. The sidewalls are wainsccoated in white marble broken at intervals by green marble pilasters. The four murals depicting scenes from Indiana history were gifts of the Class of 1928. The unique chairs were designed for the Academy by E.R. Culver. Each had a metal frame attached to the back that could hold a folded overcoat and hat of the occupant. The second floor mezzanine was used almost exclusively for visitors. Faculty were at assigned tables beneath the mezzanine. To add character, ivy was allowed to grow unimpeded well into the building's second decade when the ravages on the masonry were finally heeded. Thereafter, "ivy-covered walls" became an anathema.

1910 - Open air barracks was built north of the "Little Gym. The Culver family secured a patent for the design. The novelty of is wore off by the 1920's and it was converted to a more traditional use, In 1923 it was moved to the area of the Henderson IceArena and was used and the band building till 1932 when was razed for additions to the Woodcraft Camp. It was last used by the film crew during the production of "Tom Brown of Culver".

Here is 1910 ads:

On April 17, 1911 the new CMA Mess Hall was dedicated. It altered the layout of the campus. It's size dominated the west side of the campus. The cost of construction, excluding furniture, fittings, and kitchen equipment was $80,000.The Iron Gate and the Final Formation, as we know it, was born on, June 8, 1911 and thus began the graduation tradition of passing through the iron gates. The iron gate was found by Edwin Culver and his wife during the first decade of the 20th century while on a tour in Europe - had hopes of it being used in one of the new campus buildings on campus but it did not fit and was stored away.

Shortly after the mess hall was built the academy had a short lived in-house dairy. The academy bottled its own milk around this time - a Half-pint milk bottle imprinted "Culver Military Academy Culver, Indiana", dated 1914 exists. It is believed that the dairy barn was probably located on St. Rd. 117 at the south west entrace of what is the golf course today - this barn burnt down in the 1970's. Later the Newman Dairy Farm south of Culver supplied the milk for the academy which was pasteurized on-site at Culver. There was a series of pipes where the milk came down to a spicket where waiters would get it.

This a 1911 Catalog for the Summer Naval School gives information for the Naval School Cadets and battalions of 1910. As well as many vintage pictures of the Academy grounds, buildings and Naval school activities along with scenes of the lake. And here is the full page from the Harpers Magazine Advertiser and the cropped out add for the academy:

Here are several 1911 ads for the school.

1912 - The heating and Electrical Plant was built several yards north of the Mess Hall. It is now the Music and Arts Building. The Woodcraft Camp established. Here is a winter scene about 1912 of the academy campus:

Here are several 1912 ads for the school.


ACADEMY STIRS UP BIG FUSS Culver Military Academy has stirred up a big fuss in Washington by its request that the cadets be permitted to march near the front of the inaugural parade as an escort to Vice President Marshall. It now looks as if the school would certainly be permitted in the procession.

Capt. W. A. Fleet, of the Academy, is now in Washington attempting to gain a place for his cadets. He first visited Gov. Wilson at Princeton, and learned that the coming executive had no objection to the plan to honor his colleague, if it could be arranged satisfactorily. Armed with this word, he hastened to the capital, only to be frowned upon by Gen. Wood, who has charge of the military part of the parade. The general impression seemed to be that the procession was originally arranged in honor of the President, and that his running mate should not share in the glory. However, at a meeting which Senator Shively and Capt. Fleet had with Gen. Wood, it was finally decided that the Vice President-elect shall have an escort and that it shall be the Culver Black Horse Troop. Sixty of the troopers will form the escort and will bring their mounts with them from Indiana. - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 1, 1913

1912 - December over the Christmas holiday the laundry was moved out of the basement of East barracks into new quarters of what was the old engine room.

1913 - The North barracks and the Administration building were built. The Administration building included a magnificent administration hall and administrative offices. A descriptive of this building was found as such:

1913 Saturday May 3, Volume XVII Number 24, Vedette - A new barrack will be erected during the summer of 1913 and the capacity of the academy increased thereby to 440 cadets...the site for the new building has been selected on the ground north of the East barrack, which the new one will parallel...The first floor will conotain offices for the headmaster and commandant, together with the additional class rooms...The upper floors will be given over to the cadets. The most distinctive feature of this new building will be the imposing sally-port which will constitute a sort of official front for the academy to which visitors willbe brought over the drive which is eventually to lead from the corner of the grounds near the hospital. Above this will be a splendidly lighted airy room for the purpose of faculty meetings, courts-marial, etc. The increase room capacity and in number fo cadets will also make it possible to carry out a long cherished plan for six company organization insted of the present four, and for the rooming of the cadet corps according to companies. the quarters will divide admirabluy in a way to allow this, with one floor for the band quarters.

1913 - May 17 - Vedette GROUND BROKEN - The new barrack is already of the way to realization since ground was broken on Monday. The Old retaining wall and three trees have gone and the sand from the foot of the hill is filling the grade toward the track. Mr. Baker, of the architects, Baker & Knell, has been on the job all this week runnings levels, and staking off the lines of the new building and of the changed drives and walks.

1913 - may 24 - Vedette - Pick and Shovel - A great deal of progess on the new barrack and administration building has been bade during the past w eek. All the plans have been completed, the stakes have been set and the foundations have been started. It was necessary to tear out all the old heating pipes for the gymnasium in order to make room for one corner of the new building. Most of the excavating has been done. When the building is completed it will contain all the academy offices and several new section rooms, besides enough cardet rooms for one company.

Madam Schummann-Hein Recital on Easter Sunday, 1913. - - The little circular guard house that stood at the corner of the East barrack was remodeled and a given new coat of paint in the school colors

Library was moved from the East barrack to the Y.M.C.A. rooms; into the room that housed the bilard tables they have been moved into the bolwling alley. The Old library room of the East Barrack will be remodeled for the superindent offce and there will be an entrance into it from the North barrack.

1913 - March 25 the Cadets of Culver Military went to the aided and rescue of the residents of Logansport, Cass, Indiana when the Eel River and the Wabash River flooded the town. Bob Hartman provides the date:


1913 - April 19, Saturday - Vedette - The new pier is now nearing completion, all brand new material, painted warship gray, which makes it look much finer than its predecessor, which never received a coat of paint. the peir is made in sections, each being numbered so that when it is taken down in the fall it can be put up again wwhen wanted without much trouble. this pier will reach 500 feet from shore, more than half the length of the giant steamer 'imperator'. To accompany this pier wer are also to have new diving towers, chutes, and most likely a place for polo games. The new apparatus for the water games will doubtless induce more to enjor the delights of the water sports.

October 13, 1913 Vol. XVIII No. 2 Vedette
The Grading down of the terraces in front of the gymnasion and riding hall has added much to the appearance of the buildings. A gravel road has been made, starting at the side of the riding hall, passing in front of the camp and then turning again to the righ tof the riding hall, the gymnasium and the new barrack. A concrete pavement has also been made, extending along the new barrack over to the camp.

The parade ground..The entire field has been heavily fertilized, then plowed, harrowed and rolled. It will now be sown to grass once more.... The Grading down of the terraces in front of the gymnasion and riding hall has added much to the appearance of the buildings. A gravel road has been made, starting at the side of the riding hall, passing in front of the camp and then turning again to the righ tof the riding hall, the gymnasium and the new barrack. A concrete pavement has also been made, extending along the new barrack over to the camp.

The parade ground..The entire field has been heavily fertilized, then plowed, harrowed and rolled. It will now be sown to grass once more.... Here are several 1913 ads for the school.

1914 - Feb. 21 - Vedette - The Passing of the Shack - It is gone! The time honored and much abused O.d's shack has been taken down entirely obliterated. All that remains are the memoires of days gone by and a few scars on the wall. the shack could of told man storied on which Culver history is founded. So might the permit board, willl-worn by the sands of time assisted by the ever jacknife in the hands of industrious orderlies who are now making the same deep cuts in the business would as the ded on the old permit board. It is alas! with the rest of the shack, hos gone to join the ranks of the great "has beens".

1914 April 25 - vedette - on the west side of the hospital a road has been built, connecting with the one that is in front of the gymnasium, and extending to the publice road at the rear of the hospital. It will afford a better way for the battallion to go to and from the drill field and will give the vechiles a shorter route out of the grounds.
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1914 - As a thank-you and remembrance to the cadets services - Logansport donated the "Logansport Gates"  to the academy and they were dedicated., and here on this page too can be found an account to the "big wind" or storm of 1913.


Here are several ads of 1914.

And here is the 1914 Sanborn map of the Academy grounds.

1915 - Planning was began to formulate for a two-week long Schoolboy Military camp for high school-age youngsters. By in March they had gained the endorsement of state and county officials for the program. Commandant Gignilliat had named the facility "Camp Woodrow Wilson". The students started arriving on May 9^th and ended on the 26^th. The last session was in 1917 and was sponsored by the Culver family.

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


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


1916 - ROTC or Reserve Officers Training Corps comes to Culver; this came about with the passing of the National Defense Act of 1916 passed in June which had been drafted in November of 1915 by the War Department. among the Culver was in the first round of colleges and secondary schools which totaled 46 and had three branches - Calvary, Infantry and Field Artillery. Camp Newton D. Baker opened in May and continued till 1942 when World War II ended all ROTC activity. Also authorization for construction of three new buildings was granted by the trustees for: the English, mathematics, and Commerce Departments; which were located between the Mess Hall and the power plant. Gignilliat commissioned Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock to design an official ring for Culver Military Academy.

And the same year the Culver Military Academy Alumni Association founded in 1910 by Gignilliat at his suggestion the name was changed to the Culver Legion.

CULVER IS OFFERED TO REGULAR ARMY
By International News Service
Culver, Ind., April 10 -- Official announcement has been made that the Culver Military Academy has tendered to Maj. Gen. Barry, commanding the central department of the United States army, the use of the buildings and the ground of the academy for training soldiers. It is estimated that 25,000 men can be taken care of here. -- Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, April 10, 1917

CAMP NAMED FOR BARRY
Culver's military camp for high school boys from eight states has been named "Barry camp," in honor of Maj. Gen. Barry, commanding the central army division with headquarters in Chicago. - - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 5, 1917

1917 - In 1916 at the advice of Edwin Culver that the grounds was in need of some landscaping attention; Jens Jensen a landscape architect was hired. His first suggestion was to get rid of the canal system by filling it in - and then get rid of all the un-natural foliage in the area and replace it with shrubbery and trees native to the area. The filling in of the canal system and reflecting" pool took place soon after the area for the new Riding Hall was filled in and the Riding Hall was erected.


Thus by 1917 the drainage ditch system and the lagoons faded into history.


And the expanse of lake front campus as known today was created. And during this year Edwin Culver asked the Academy grounds keeper to procure for him a personal gardener - thus came "Leo" August Wennerstrom and ultimately became in charge of the Academy grounds also until his retirement in 1949.

1917 - the second Armory was built containing large bays on either side of the arsenal tower to house cannon and caissons.

1917 the Riding Hall was dedicated and the lake front side of the riding hall was terraced and outfitted with reviewing stands for athletic event and military reviews. Major Hugh Glasswork became acting superintendent while Gignilliat was off serving his country. The last Schoolboy Camp assembled on April 30.

In 1918, the new Riding Hall was opened and the old Riding Hall was converted into the Academy's first Recreation Building. It becaame a venue for athletics and dances.

Here are several ads of 1917.

1918 The new arsenal was ready to be occupied in 1918, there was not formal dedication of the building and the equipment did not arrive till the summer of 1919 after the war surplus had been inventoried by the army from World War One and also to arrive were 80 horses. The old Arsenal became the Tailor Shop and the QM Store after being remodeled and sat north of the Mess Hall. One of the towers rooms are used for campus security and the other for the horse carpentry shop. The west end houses the harness shop, blacksmith shop, storage space for hay and feed; box stalls and practice cages for polo occupy the remaining space. When the Junior ROTC was terminated in 1989 the 2^nd and 3 ^rd became abandoned.

Here is the 1918 Naval Academy Catalog. It is packed full Summer Naval School gives information for the Naval School Cadets and battalions of 1917. As well as many vintage pictures of the Academy grounds, buildings and Naval school activities along with scenes of the lake.

1919 - a contract was signed to construct a road from Bunker Hill (Lakeshore Drive) 5,500 feet north and east to the CMA Riding Stables. Earlier the Lake Road ran along Aubeenaubee Bay from Logansport Gate. David Burns always claimed if you looked closely at the Parade ground field - on a good frosty morning you could see the path of the old Lake Road still today.

Also in 1919 the cornerstone for the Legion building was; Argonne and Chateau Thierry Barracks was built and opened honoring the American contributions in WWI named after two battles where American soldiers and Marines contributed to major victories in Flanders, 1989.
Here are several ads of 1919.

June 1919 - Ahdeek, a 38-foot motor pleasure boat, was built in 1916 at Morris Heights, New York. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 2 September 1918 and served into the next year as USS Ahdeek, probably in the New York area. Served during World War I and in the early post-war era as USS Ahdeek (SP-2589) in 1918-1919, probably in the New York area. In June 1919 she was ordered sent to the Culver Military Academy, in Indiana, where she apparently remained for many years, on loan from the Navy. Ahdeek was finally stricken from the list of Naval vessels in October 1933.