Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Your Comments

My name is Don Baker, I'm the son of Janet Beck Baker of Culver and the grandson of Olive and JC Beck of Culver. I have read with interest your many web pages about the history and geneaology of Culver. I also remember your husband Dave from my youth in Culver back in the 80s....Thanks for your interest in history and geneaology!

Good evening. I came upon your website on Lake Maxinkuckee, and found it very fascinating. My grandparents used to own a large cottage, set up on a hill overlooking the lake, on East Shore Drive. It actually boardered the Bird Sanctuary. My grandfather's name was Sidney Cressy, and he called our cottage "Fairview" Ginni Miller Gionfriddo

I did indeed enjoy your article about my Grandfather. What an interesting man. Sounds like you knew him well. What a wonderful tribute you have given... Thanks so very much: Cheryl Schrimsher

Judi, I really enjoyed reading about my great grandpa. I can barley remember him. The last thing I can remember is when he was the grand marshall in the bluberry festival. Also enjoyed the picture of uncle glenn ice fishing. Greg Burns

Great web page. I lived in Culver as a little boy, we moved away when I was 10 years old. I have great memories of Culver. Mike Guise

What you've put together on rootsweb is fantastic (and an incredible amount of work)... Thanks Ted Schenberg

This is A.J. Tarquino... You probably remember me by "Andy"... My job took me to Ohio and I have been away from Culver now, for over twenty something years. My mother and some of my family, brothers and sisters, still reside around the Culver area, so I do return several times a year for visits and I'm still a known runner, and participate in the LakeFest races every year that it's been held for the past 30+ years!... I am impressed with your web site. I have been back several times to it, just browsing and looking at what you placed there...

Hey Judi...where do you get most of your info on the cottages and lots? You have so much of it! Some one asked me that the other week and I was meaning to ask you....do you just go by old Plat maps, or do you do ocunty records, or what? It's great that you keep adding all of that!

Wow. It is indeed a slow, tedious process...must be, with all you uncover. I knew you must have used plat maps and of course Dave shared a lot, and all your genealogical experience...hadn't thought of the lake directories!

Yeah, the zinc house! I had a lady call me a couple of summers ago (or maybe last summer) and say that she was part of the family that had owned that house, though she herself didn't remember it, older members had told her about it. She gave me all this info on it over the phone and I was trying to get her to write some of it down or come in, etc. I asked her if she thought she could find a photo of it and she said she'd try, but I never heard from her after that, so...maybe someday.

Hey I was wondering: as far as that hotel/house on Harding and Lake Shore that burned in our history mystery pics (and I did update that with your information, but again...not "live" just yet!). I was trying to think where I had seen that house when it was still a hotel and it runs in my mind that I MIGHT have seen it in the 1937 film of Culver that has Dave in it, etc. I don't have time to go check it out right now, but it seems like that might be the case. There's a section of that film where they drive down Lake Shore Drive going west from the park area and that hotel shows up before they cut to another area...or maybe I just dreamed it! But I have heard someone talk about that when it was a hotel. I wonder about the name? Lake Shore hotel? Is that possible? Did I just dream that, too?

Anyway, keep up the good work!
Well there you go, you already have a ton of details on both! I should have guessed that. I have GOT to take more time to browse your site...it's just hard to find the time. Every time I check it out, though, I find something cool. I'll have to refer to your section on that hotel on our site...

I also had no idea there was so much info on the construction of those zinc/steel houses. Fascinating stuff.....

Thanks!!! -- Jeff

Jeff Kenney
Culver-Union Twp. Public Library
107 N. Main Street, Culver, IN 46511
http://www.culver.lib.in.us
(574) 842-2941 -- jkenney@culver.lib.in.us

My name is Lori McAbee and I was born and raised in Culver. My grandfather is George Franz... He helped and aided in much of the construction of the streets of Culver that are now traveled on. He also has a great grasp of so much of the history since he and my grandmother moved there many decades ago. He has been a farmer and excavator his entire life and had seen and been apart of many changes....did much of the work at the marina and Venetian Village.

He is 83 and very sick from cancer. If you were to talk to him about what he knows and the contributions he has made he woud feel very honored. It saddens me that I am unable to show him your website, as I know that he would greatly love the picture and the history.

As for the fishing segment of your site, he would be one great addition as for the fact that he owned a bait shop/deer check station in Culver for approx. 20 years. To this day people still stop and look for "George's Place"....

I hope the people of Culver appreciate your efforts. With sincerest thanks Lori McAbee

Hi - I was just reading this great website about Lake Maxinkuckee. First I would like to say how much I've enjoyed it. I grew up in the farming community of Culver and later moved away when I was 18. I would like to give you a bit of information on one of your articles in the section of Lake Maxinkuckee drownings and accidents. I am talking about the boating accident you refer to in the late 1960's/early 1070's with the name of ??? McKee.... M Hill

Judy, I am enjoying your web site about Lake Maxinkuckee. My family is planning a vacation there in July for our first time. I have lived in Central Indiana all my life and have enjoyed lakes in Angola, the Weasel area and Monroe, Spencer, but have never heard of yours. We are renting a large stone cottage on the east shore and I will use your web site to improve my understanding of your rich history. Thanks for this.. Jeannie Crowe, MSW, LSW - Medical Social Service Coordinator - Hancock Memorial Home Care and Hospice

Hi Judy - I guess I have an unusal request. My in-laws have owned propery on the south side since the 1940's or 50's..... I would appreciate any help. Thank you, Nedra Wilson

I am a writer for Sandbar Magazine. I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about the ghost legend of Lake Maxinkuckee. Please feel free to either e-mail me. Thanks! Jacque Wilson Providence Communications

A very nice story about the Beissenherz family. I have some questions about the dates you put in the story: Born in 1838 When 15; he was send to Westphalia (1853) and then went in 1849 too the US (11 years) I hope you see my problem, can you explain (or revise) the story.[NOTE as biography was written].

My interest in the story is the connection too the Daudeij family. Its my hobby to collect en put the information in a family tree.

Maybe you have some more detailed information about the Daudeij branch. I have a very possible connection to link the named Daudeij’s too the information I have from Sachsenberg, if you are interested we can exchange information. With kind regards, Ron Daudeij - Petrus Panciusstraat 29 1782 VH Den Helder Holland

Judi - Thanks for taking the time to send that...I am actually phasing out this old email address, but have kept it this long for this very reason. In the many years since I posted that message, I did happen to find the place (and dozens of relatives), but the website is great. Thanks again, Karen Pritchett

My family owns the homes that are between what was the Bide-a-Wee and the lake...Let me know if you're interested in any more details. I am in my 30s, but my father, Jim, has been around the lake since the 1950s and has lost of cool knowledge. Great website!! Jason Sturman

...I looked at your website and commend you for your efforts!... Pam Cerutti Editor, NGS UpFront Newsletter
Looking a the history of the Railroad - Thanks for the site, you must spend alot of time..... Agnes (Mrs. John) Bramfeld - in person at Park N Shop

I appreciate the info you placed on rootsweb about John Mantle Judah and his off-spring. I am a cousin of Robert E Sherwood, who was married to Mary Judah Brandon, daughter of Henry (Harry). She later had two other marriages and divorced the 3rd one, Theodore Gaillard. I have not been able to find out where and when she died. She was born in 1901. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might locate her death? someone with the name Mary J Gaillard died in Jefferson, KY on Jan 30, 1988, but Ancestry gives her age as 93, which would be too old. Any suggestions would be welcome! Susanna Doyle

Hi Judi, - I am a propmaker based in the UK and came across your site, while researching Vajen-Bader 'Smoke Protector' and 'Fireman's Helmet' breathing apparatus. Thanks to your fantastic research I have managed to track down the following complete patents for Vajen-Bader designs. US Patents #456687, 645281, 645286, 645408. If they are useful I can forward them to you as PDF's... Once again, many thanks for your making your research available online. Best regards Gef Topping

Please forward the link to the Lake Maxinkuckee site to my brother Stanley Curtis Thank you. (A wonderful site!) Dave Curtis - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:40 PM

I’ve been looking at the work you’ve done and wanted to thank you for putting so much of the history and genealogy of the lake on the Internet. My parent’s are Jerry and Joanne (deceased) Johnston, are you familiar with the name? We had a cottage on the South shore. My Mother did a lot of genealogy work on my family tree which I now have. I’m not sure how I wandered onto your work but am glad I did. Take care, Julie Johnston

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:13:59 -0500 - Would you happen to have a higher resolution version of this photo posted on your site (see attached PNG file)? I'd appreciate having a copy if you do - thank you! Judi - thanks for the trip down memory lane - nice to see the cottage again at any size! - Jack J. Johnston

Your piece on Lake Maxinkuckee is greatly appreciated! I am a cousin of Robert E Sherwood's and I wonder if you know how I might find out the name of Helen Louise (Armstrong) Brandon's second husband. I wanted to know when and where she died and thought you might have a suggestion as to where I might look! I do have death information on Harry Brandon if you are interested, and on his second wife also. Their second daughter, Constance, eludes me. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have. Susanna Doyle

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 12:08 PM You need to see the History of the Vonnegut family and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. early life at Maxinkuckee Cliff Hall. He wrote back and told me where to find it which is: The Vonnegut + Maxinkuckee Connection is found in the “Northern Indiana Lakes Magazine” May 2008 issue.

Judi , I had just scanned a photo of my grandfather, Arthur F. Billow, of Akron Ohio, that had printed on the back, 'Culver Academy, 1914'. Do you have any informatoion on Culver Academy? Russell Ault

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:37 PM - How many acres is Lake Maxinkuckee ? Thanks in advance. - Bob Jeglum

Answer: It is the second largest lake in Indiana. It is oblong in shape, approximately three miles long and two and a quarter miles wide; it covers an area said to be 1,864 acres and its shoreline is of about ten miles of lake front. Volume of the lake is 14,858 million gallons of water or 45,600 acre feet. Normal average water level elevation is 733.12 feet mean sea level. It is of almost every type of terrain from level beach, gradual slope, steep incline, abrupt bluff, rounded headland; elevation from waters edge to nearly fifty feet in places.

Reply on Roowstweb Message board for Martin county Flordia - Hello, I was doing a search for my own name and came across one of your entries. Walter & Bertha were my great great grandparents. I don't know very much of them. May I obtain a copy of your research? Thank you, Catherine Spilos

Hi Judi, I'm sorry to bother you with this request, if in fact it can be filled. I see my grandfather's obituary on your website. Thank you. It means a lot to us that you have posted it there. Really. I wonder if I can ask a favor. The family last name is mis-spelled several times (in several ways) throughout. Is it too late to repair this in the web version of the article? The correct spelling of the family name is: Schweidler Hopefully it can be repaired, if not... it's ok too. Again thank you. Sincerely, Christine Schweidler Mon, September 15, 2008 10:14 pm

Several Questions: Culver was first a university. I do not see that in this history. When were these dates? Culver now has a Pipe & Drum Corps. It began in 2002 by Pipe Major Brent Van Norman. Culver Pipes & Drums wears the Henderson Tartan. Picture attached, taken in front of the chapel. They perform at ceremonies and community events as well as represent Culver at Midwest Pipe Band Association Competitions. Need more info, google Culver Pipes & Drums or please write. Thanks Brent Van Norman Mon, September 15, 2008 10:14 pm

Yes......I was corrected.It was an army college for Engineers during WWII, for only a short period.I have a cap badge on eBay listed that has the Culver U logo on it.It is...I'm told.....very rare. Brent Thu, September 25, 2008 8:09 pm

Judi, Do you know anything of a family resturant in central Culver in 1957? It was owned by a family of mother, father, 2 sons and one daughter, the children all about 10-18 years old. I believe they lived in a rural home and attended a protestant church. Thanks, George Allen; Mon, September 22, 2008 6:26 am

Others heard from are but forgot to file copies of their e-mails in correspondence section in text or e-mail from:
Kim (Amond) Wright
Beth (Pearce) Muehlhausen
Caroline Vajen Brown Robbins
Sally Medbourn C--
Mr. Grouthouse
Brad Flora - Go Culver

I am contacting you, because I spent summers at Maxincuckee, two of my brothers attended the academy and you have my fathers journal on your web-site. History of Culver Military Academy. Major WM Hand. I can't believe I am sitting here looking at it. So glad you are doing this. My Uncle Donald Hand was the mayor of Culver at one time, and I spent nearly every summer on the lake. Very fond memories. Dad died in 1982 and would love to donate pictures, etc. Please e-mail me back. Janet Lynn Hand

Hello Mrs. Burns I discovered your webpage on culver tonight I thought it was great. I am the grandson of Bob and Thelma Hodges, I thought it was so cool to see pictures of my grandparents on your page reading, and looking at the pictures really brought me back to some of my fondest and most wonderful experiences in Culver thank you so much. Sincerely Charles M. A. Hodges Sun, October 12, 2008 7:43 pm

Last updated 22.11.2009

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