Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Park Cafe and Hotel

D. R. [David R.] Avery was the owner and proprieter of Avery's Park Cafe Hotel and Restuarant, "one block west of the depot."

David R. Avery had been the proprietor of the Colonnade which 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. which burnt.

The location of the Park Cafe has not been determined as yet - 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 I hope.

Could the above building be the Park Hotel and Cafe; and replaced the Colonnade? Could it have been the Charlenne which was located where the fire department is today? Or the Paramont/Chasnelle which sat where the parking lot for the fire department is today?

An early 1900s business card for Avery's Park Cafe hotel and restuarant, reads" one block west of the depot".

David R. Avery is listed on the Year: 1900; Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: T623 392; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 82 - the street written on the side of the page was Scott Street - census date is 30 June 1900.

This gives his neighbors - and since - most business of that era had apartments above and generally the owner or the manager lived above the place of business this gives a possible location of the Park Cafe.

The Avery's were married about 1886 - oldest son was born about 1888 in Michigan and youngest about 1894 in Indiana.

The 1890 census is non-existnant except for a few fragments - the check of the 1880 for Michigan - brings this entry which is a prefect match with what data is known from the 1900 census - Year: 1880; Census Place: Constantine, Saint Joseph, Michigan; Roll: T9_603; Family History Film: 1254603; Page: 294.2000; Enumeration District: 191:

So one can assume that this is the David R. Avery who came to Marmont or Culver Indiana and was the hotel propertior of the Colonnade in 1898 and later the Park Cafe and Hotel.

By 1901 by the sketch below the Park Cafe - was Major Anderson's.

The above picture is about 1900 it is believed and the sigh reads Averys Restaurant Meals 25 cents; the sign under it is for a meat market that was in the building also.

Katy Swartz - a grand niece writes that D. R. Avery's had Nellie May that was born in Culver, 9-26-1897 but only lived one day.
She also writes that her Aunt wrote (copied word for word as was)the following of D. R.:

Occupation: Store Operator - worked Boston store five years, then bought store at South Columbia St. and stayed four years. In 1897 moved to Culver for five years. In Bradley Place one year, Colonnade one year then to Park Cafe, then out one year, then to 919 Madison St. then to Kewanee Hotel, then back to 1009 Lawrence St. when the store was started about 1903 or 1904. In 1904 bought the corner from Mr. Brenan for $900. Store was moved by Staples for $80 to the corner where store was enlarged.

D. R. Avery is not on the 1910 in Union township Marshall County (the date given is 16 April); thus sold the property by this date. He is found as follows - census Year: 1910; Census Place: South Bend Ward 4, St Joseph, Indiana; Roll: T624_378; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 174 on St. Lawrence St. Portage Township as a retail merchant of groceries - census date was 18 April. This pre-dates the time that his grandson John Avery related to Jeff Kenney of D. R.'s move to South Bend ca. 1915 - pre World War I to find find work, and spent the rest of his life there.

Here are some of the business locations as of the 1922 plat map - even tho not named but only by type:

Son Ross is found Year: 1920; Census Place: South Bend Ward 4, St Joseph, Indiana; Roll: T625_464; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 244; on Madison Street.

None of the other family is found in a general rearch of the 1920 census for Indiana, seemed to have escaped the census taker. Ross is found Year: 1930; Census Place: Penn, St Joseph, Indiana; Roll: 628; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 89;-

Also after he left the area and sold the property - Park Hotel and Cafe could it became what is known as the Charleene Hotel? The assumed location is the corner of State Street and Lakeshore Drive which is now the location of the fire department - 504 Lakeshore Drive.

Under the St. Joseph county Indiana grave registration is found: AVERY, DAVID R. 1857 1926 0042 and this is found for Martha: Birth records - Avery Martha 1867 tombstone;

Here is a list of obituaries that connect to this family by the census records listed:

Avery, David R. 427 E. Howard South Bend IN 1926 South Bend Tribune 02/18/1926 1, p. 5, 2, p. 8; South Bend Tribune 02/20/1926 1, p. 6

Avery, Howard L. 54850 Bittersweet Mishawaka IN 1981 South Bend Tribune 09/26/1981 , p. 12 South Bend Tribune 09/27/1981 , p. 48

Avery, Clarice J. (Mrs. Howard L.) 1035 North Allen St. IN 1960 South Bend Tribune 08/04/1960 South Bend Tribune 08/05/1960

Avery, Martha (Mrs. David A.) 427 East Howard St. IN 1949 South Bend Tribune 06/21/1949

Avery, Ross B. Golden Age Manor Nursing Home Mishawaka IN 1980 South Bend Tribune 06/05/1980 , p. 35

Avery, Ruth (Mrs. Ross) Simonton Laek Elkhart IN 1966 South Bend Tribune 12/31/1966

Avery, Mildred S. (Wolf) (Mrs. Richard C.) 2003 North Byrkit St. Mishawaka IN 1994 South Bend Tribune 07/10/1994 , p. A17

Avery, Wilfred J. 56149 Hoover Ave. Mishawaka IN 1995 South Bend Tribune 07/17/1995 , p. B5

FRANCIS B AVERY WEST CATALPA DR MISHAWAKA IN 2003 South Bend Tribune 02/14/2003 Death Notice 02/14/2003 Obituary, d.02/12/2003

Avery, James Edward South Shore Dr. Eagle Lake MI 1971 South Bend Tribune 05/23/1971 former resident of South Bend

Could It have been sold to Stephen H. Hill listed in the 1905 business directory? ANd if He bought it he is not listed on the 1910 census for Union township either - so the property could of changed hands again.

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