Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Colonnade Hotel

The spelling of the hotel's name was speeled first as 'Colonade' is has been and then sometime during its existenance it was changed to 'Colonnade' - this is documented in the advertising as well as the building .
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The location has been given as being located on the northeast corner of Lakeshore Dr. and State street where the parking lot is for the fire department - where the fire department is - as being opposite of the depot; another source says north of the depot. But pictures dating pre 1920 of the depot looks as if it places the Colonade directly behind it on Toner Avenue - now Lakeshore Dr. some have said that it was located approximately where Osborn Mini Mart sits today; but by the location of the depot on the map below this is very much untrue. And the very last picture of it on this page pretty well places like the ad say "Opposite of the depot" at someplace as one can see the corner edge of the canopy in it.

Here is a 1908 plat section of the Toner Street -now Lakeshore Drive area -

Some of todays and yesterdays finer establishments are represented by the colored dots - with a key in the upper right hand corner to aid identification. Note Forrest Place was non-existent in 1908, as was College Avenue. This help put into prespective more the location of past buildings also I hope.

This is a 1895 ad for the Colonnade Hotel - and it uses the spellling of 'Colonnade'

States that the manager was W. S. Marks. Rates $2 per day. Reduced by the week. Located at the Vandalia depot opposite Park Station boat landing. Special attention given to table service. This hotel is supplied with all the modern improvements with splendid sample rooms.

The following buisness card dates after the 24th day of October 1895 when proceedings were held for the name change of Marmont to Culver and the spelling on the card is 'Colonade':

It boast being under entire new management - Crump & Pittman; rates of $2 per day and upon application there are rates for families made known. Lake Maxinkuckee

It boasted a dining hall that seated 400 people and it included its own fountain. Dances with orchestras were held there too. It had oil paintings, a roller skating rink and an auditorium. People waiting on trains ate there since it was across from the Depot and made it convenient during the 30 minute train stop that passenger trains made.

Mark Roeder in his book stated: "The Colonnade was perhaps one of the most architecurally interesting hotels that has graced the town of Culver. Old photos reveal it to have been a rather large structure with two floors or roons. One of the most distinctive features of the Colonnade were the porches which surrounded th hotel on both levels on at least three sides. The lattice work brings to mind the style of New Orleans.

In a snipit in the Culver Herald on 15 May 1896:

We are pleased to note that under the management of Mr. Postlehwaite the Colonnade Hotel is becoming more and more popular everyday. Traveling men say it is a pleasure to put up there now and a large number of resorters will spend their vacations at said house this season. The hotel is being repainted and thoroughly renovated upon the interior and today will compare favorably with any oother first class house in northern Indiana. Then, at this exceeding popular hostelry can be found, at all hours, a first class lunch counter where you can procure for very little money an excellent meal.

and then also on 22 May 1896 in The Herald:

The first excursion of the season to the shores of Lake Macinkuckee came over the Wabash and Vandalia lines on Saturday last. It was given under the auspices of Purdue University of Lafayette. About a hundred and fity were present and although the weather was notvery propitious for the occasion, all seemed to enjoy themselves. The occasional showers somewhat marred the pleasure of the boating parties, but between these occasionals they managed to get a tour of the lake on the steamers. In the afternoon a dance was held in the spacious and most complete dining room of the Colonnade and on every hand gallant young men were seen filling up spaces on their programs with the names of the young ladies who were to be their partners in tripping the light fantastic to the sweet strains of music of Professor Ohlsen's orchestra, who accompanied the party from Lafayette. After supper the tables were cleared and the dancing once more indulged in until the bell of the locomotive attached to the train [that] was to bear them home announced that it was time to start and at 10 o'clock p.m. moved off, having on board one of the happiest and jolliest parties that ever graced a college of learning.

and also in the 14 Aug. 1896 issue of the Herald is stated that - Among the guests were famous actors of the day.

and also in the 21 May 1897 issue of the Herald it is claimed that in May a seven pound, two ounce bass was on display at the fountain.

In the 1 Sep. 1897 issue of the Culver Herald proclaimed -

Flew the coop. The Citizens of the usually serene community were some what startled at the news that Mr. Pittman, manager of the Colonade Hotel the past four months had quietly shoved down all the cash and skipped for parts unknown, taking all the cash and his family with him. He also leaves many creditors.

Ads from the 1898 Culver Herald Souviner Booklet and the spelling on sign board of the building at this time is 'Colonade' :

the above ad is a picture of the building with the name spelled 'Colonade"special rates by the week or for parties and families D. R. Avery prop..

The word ad above uses the spelling 'colonnade'. The location being "opposite depot" Culver, Ind. (Lake Maxinkuckee). Also special rates by the week or for parties and families - First-class throughout - Largest dining room in Northern Indiana - A home for fisherman and pleasure seekers - Local and long distance telephone - Meals or lunch delivered on trains. D. R. Avery prop.

The picture above is the one in the ad - and below is a different style business card and tho stamped "12 Feb. 1901" for some unknown reason - as by an account we know that it burnt unless it was rebuilt -

In this shot of the depot and grounds one can see the top of the Colonade in the back ground - it has been croped to show just the buildings:

Mark Roeder states that the 27 April 1899 Herald reported that the hotel had burnt at 2 a.m. on Saturday. The loss was $10,000 or near that figure. Also burning as a result of the fire was the Wolford Saloon and Kelley barber shop; they all burnt to the ground quickly. The smell of coal oil was detected and it was the belief that the Colonade was intentionally set afire.

another account of the fire is found as such:

$12,000 FIRE AT CULVER A $12,000 fire occurred at Culver, at 9:30 o'clock this morning, consuming the Colonade hotel and contents, owned by Hers & Co., the Beeber saloon, and the Keller barber shop. The fire is supposed to have been started by an incendiary.

The Beeber saloon was under the management of Dan Emmons, of Rochester. The greatest loss is on the Colonade, which was the largest and most elegantly furnished hotel on the lake. The saloon and restaurant were partially covered by insurance. Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 21, 1900

The second business card is stamped Feb 12, 1901 but we know the Colonnade was destroyed by fire in early 1900 per the above news article found. The business card reads: $2.00 per day. Sepcial rates by the week and to families and partners. Satisfaction guaranteer. Large Cool dining room. Colonnade Hotel New Depot Lake Maxinkuckee Culver Indiana. Meals delivered on trains. Good lunch room always open. cigars, Tabaccos and Candies. D. R. Avery, prop. There must of been something on the backside as on the one edge is (over). Below is another picture of the hotel and the sign board on it has been changed to the spelling of 'Colonnade'.

Found in the One Township yestryears is only a brief mention of the Colonnade:

George E. Nearpass, III; of Indianapolis,... "I remember also when the old Colonnade Hotel, which stood across from the depot, burned down. The passenger train years ago stopped thirty minutes at Marmont, for dinner at the Colonnade Hotel, and on Sundays the trains would bring into the village around five and six thousand people on excursions, to spend the day at the lake."

So if what he relates is accurate the Colonnade stood in the block that is now Osborns Mini Mart and if it entailed the entire length of the depot and canpoies it also took in the area that Bennetts, The Coffee House down to waht is part of the Edgewater Cafe of today - thus in relation to the 1922 plat map:

and by the pictures of the Colonnade we can see that it had ample land around it in front and along the sides. And we see te edge of the one canopy is it the east canopy or is it the west canopy?

Here is a picture of the deopt - note the fence in the lower right corner - it is the fence of the Colonade as pictured above.

and below is a picture of the showing the depot with the canopies also of interesting note - notice the double tracks? I as a kid in the 1950's remember only one set of track running through the park area. It would be interesting to find out when the one set of tracks were taken up.

and one can see the Colonnade fencing in this photo below of the rail crew - the builing tho does not resembele the Colonnade and must of been possible the livery or stable for horses.

A hypothis of the developemnt of the area which the Colonade Hotel occupied and became the now "Lakeshore Drive Business District

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