Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy


Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Home | Contact Us | What's New | Search This Site| Site Map   | Forum 

History of West Side Main Street


I wrote this up for Jeff Kenney for the library site - and I have expanded it some since I wrote it originally. I will try and do more with it - Do you remember the businesses of downtown Culver, the years, etc. - Can you expand upon this listing? If so e-mail me -

At least this is a start - Another part of history to be recorded slowly as I work on finishing the lake part up - It will be an ever changing page - why? because of a kids memory of the 1960's - to what it was in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's - then you mix in the past and try and re-create - what was - and is now and try to make an accurate record of history for Main Street Culver (an impossible task - maybe?)! NOW that is a challenge I present to everyone!

I wrote this up for Jeff Kenney for the library site - and I have expanded it some since I wrote it originally. I will try and do more with it - Do you remember the businesses of downtown Culver, the years, etc. - Can you expand upon this listing? If so e-mail me -

At least this is a start - Another part of history to be recorded slowly as I work on finishing the lake part up - It will be an ever changing page - why? because of a kids memory of the 1960's - to what it was in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's - then you mix in the past and try and re-create - what was - and is now and try to make an accurate record of history for Main Street Culver (an impossible task - maybe?)! NOW that is a challenge I present to everyone!

This is just a rough beginning of this listings. With no addresses in the early years just the street name it is hard to place them correct - if you remember won't you help?
Buisness locations unknown:
1905 Businesses Main St.
  • Wm. A. Foss & Son - Bakery  
  • Howard & Davis Bakery  
  • G. R. Howard Bakery - ? Dec 1908  
  • G. R. Howard has disposed of his bakery business to Daniel R. Wolf of Syracuse, who takes possession today. Mr. Howard will hereafter devote his time to his ice craam business. Rochester Sentinel, Friday, December 18, 1908
  • Faniel R. Wolf purchased G. E. Howard Bakery - Dec 1908  
    • 2nd floor L. W. Keech's cigar factory
    • April 1 – L. W. Keech of Kewanna has rented the second story of the bakery building and will remove his cigar factory to Culver
  • Parr - Barber - 1914  
  • 1909, May 20 - H. H. Austin opened his skating rink
  • E. A./Harry Poor - Barber - 1914  
  • April 9 – Harry Poor has bought the Parr barber shop…
  • 10 July 1909 Culver CItizen Mont Foss last week sold his restaurant to his fahter who trade it to Milo Pryor... 
  • The Surprise - F. Hessel prop. 
  • Cement Block Manufacturing - John Osborn  
  • Stahl & Co.  
  • Porter & Co. 
  • City meat market - D. G. Walter  
  • Morris Hotel - Margaret Morris, prop. 
Unknown Locations 1920's 1930's
  • Gem Barber Shop - 1920 - C. W. Pickard, prop. 
  • 1927 - September 21 Culver Dry Goods moves entire stock out of town.
  • Biddinger Barber Shop - ?-1932
    • Red's Barber Shop - 1932-?Clarence Calhoun
    • 1932 - November 23 – Clarence Calhoun buys Biddinger Barber Shop.
  • Culver City Bakery , Wm. Minardow, Prop. - 1920 
  • Conklin's Grocery
  • NAMED STATION MANAGER - Byron Studebaker, son of Councilman Claude Studebaker and Mrs. Studebaker, has been named manager of the Gulf Oil Company filling station in Culver. He assumed his new position yesterday, but has been employed by the company for the past six months. - The News-Sentinel, Thursday, October 17, 1940
Unknown Locations
  • Trailsman - 1958 
  • 1958 - September 3 – “The Trailsman,” Main Street sporting goods store, is going out of business
  • the one and only taxi in Culver, operated by Frank McLane, who also taught English in the High School


North Side of street:





Lakeshore Dr. & Main St.
    • Empty Lot 1906-1937  
    • Empty Lot 1906 - 1937
    • Boy Scout cabin sat on back part of lot before divided
    • Indiana Bell Telephone Company - 1950's-1984, Parent company AT&T 1920-1983
    • Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a Ameritech Indiana- 1984-1999
    • Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a Southern Bell Company/SBC Indiana - 1999-2005
    • Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Indiana - 2006-?
    Main St. & Lake Shore Dr.
    • 313 N Main
      • dwelling 1906-1937 
      • 1930 Laura J. Medbourn
      • Bodey's Hair Salon
        • downstairs Apartment
        • Upstairs Apartment
      • Silhouette Beatuty Salon 1952-2007
      • 1985-6 Lou Townsend & Marcia Beck; 1987 Lou & Marylin Reinholt
        • downstairs Apartment
        • Upstairs Apartment
    • 307 N. Main
      • 1906 was part of 313 & 303 N. Main  
      • dwelling 1906-1937 
      • Frederic & Marsha Adams - 1953
      • private residence
      • Thomas & Bernadette Zoss
      • Someone else states Tom Zoss whil he was editor of the paper c. 1987/1988/1989 and that Zoss used the basement to layout the newspaper in wood frames.
      • Marianne Ransdalll
      • The Painter & The Poet Gallery & private residence - 2001 - ? Esther & Ward Miller (est. 1989)
    • 303 N. Main
      • dwelling 1906-1937 
      • 1930 - 1960/70's J. Stinchcomb
      • Easterday Dental Office - Gregory Easterday 1970's-200_
        • W. Bailey Davis Orthodonist - 1986
        • Upstairs Apartment?





    Cass Street
    • 217 N. Main
      • dwelling 1906-1937  
      • private Residence
      • Gift Shop Lois Curtis 1980's
      • The Country Harvestor - June 1984 - Carol Saft Leino
      • 13 June3 1984 - The newest business in Culver is the Country Harvester, owned by a former Culverite - Carol Shaft Leion - who has returned to town. The store will be located at 217 N. Main Street across from the forist and gift shop) in downtown Culver and is the Indiana distrinbutor for the Mountain Man But and Fruit Company of COlorado. Carol will act as distributor for the fruits, buts, candies, and snacks. Her father Paul G. Saft was ROTC department at Culver Military Academy while Carol attended grades 1-9 in Culver.
      • private Residence Arthur & Elaine Giudice
    • 213 N. Main
      • dwelling 1906-1937 
      • private Residence
    • 203 N. Main - Culver Express (BP) Good's Amoco Inc. Ind. Corp.  





      • Washington Street
        • 107 N. Main St. & 109 N. Main St. - Culver Union Township Public Library
        • 101 N. Main St. - - 1st Farmers Bank


        • Culver downtown 1968, this was taken during Art fishburns 'last ride' on the fire truck. In the lower right hand corner is Kline's and the telephone booth that sat on the corner; the lower left is the State Exchange Bank and in the upper left at the corner of Main & Washington is the Standard 'full service' gas station.






        Jefferson Street
        • Grocery
        • ?John Osborn - 1899/1900 - 1904
        • John osborn established and conducted a provision store here for four years. The business was then sold to the Stahl brothers.
        • ?Stahl's Brother's Grocery
        • Hotel & Eating house - 1906 Main & Jefferson
        • Dwelling/Hotel & Eating house - 1914 Main & Jefferson
        • Walter Hand - Residence before 1919
        • Said to have been the 1868 school house which he purchased and had moved to this corner. It was used for a home until 1919 when it was remodeled and turned into a store. It was finally torn down in 1926. The Citizen reported that there was still plenty of use in the old oak frame.
        • 'S' - 1924 Main & Jefferson
        • Wm. M. Hand & Sons Service Station c 1935 Don Hand
        • Gordon's Standard Service - 1952  
        • Texaco - ?-1980's - Gordon Cultice  
        • Empty Lot  
        • Heritage Park Antiquarian & Historical Society  
        • 6 November 1996 – The Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver revealed plans for a small park on the site of the former Texaco gasoline station at the southwest corner of Main and Jefferson…

        • 103 S. Main  - empty
        • Osborn Block  
        • 117 Main- Corndance Cafe





        Madison St.
          Somewhere where in this vicinity was:
          • ?- July 1952 Culver News Agency - Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Slaughter
          • ?- Nov 1952 Culver News Agency -Mr. and Mrs. H. Serrin
          • 1952 - July 2 – Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Slaughter announce the sale of the Culver News Agency to Mr. and Mrs. H. Serrin of Plymouth…

            1952 - November 26 – The Culver News Agency moved from the corner of Main and Madison Street to the Wickizer Building
        • 203 Main
          • Dwelling - 1906-1937
          • Dr. Francis L. & Mary Ella Babcock Residence ? - 1998
            • Dr. Francis L. Babcock, Optomertrist Office
          • Jeffery M. & Seana I Badalich 1998-2002
          • Cristian Condeiu Date of Transfer: 2002 - 2003
          • Main Street Manor2002- 2010 - David Beggs& Susan and James H. Wisniewski
          • A new bed and breakfast, Main Street Manor is under construction at the corner of Madison and Main Streets. As work continues the new shape emerges and promises to be another new delight for our community.

            OP LOT 3 LEGAL DESC: LOT 3 IN OP OF UNIONTOWN LATER CALLED MARMONT NOW CULVER CITY
            /
        • 203 Main - Empty Lot
          • Dwelling 1906-1937
          • torn down in the late 1960's
          • Lot - Dr. Francis L. & Mary Ella Babcock ? - 1998
          • Jeffery M. & Seana I Badalich 1998-2002
          • Cristian Condeiu Date of Transfer: 2002 - 2003
          • Lot - David Beggs& Susan and James H. Wisniewski 2002-2010
        • 219 Main - empty lot & lot with residence
          • empty lot 1906-1937
          • "Peanuts" Carmel McKinney Roibert L & Margaret Ross ?-1991
          • Herman A. 7 RObin R Brettin 1991-2004
          • harold W. 7 lydia M. 2004-2005
          • David T. & Judith A. Beggs - 2005-2010
          • HOUGHTONS ADD LOT 1 N 30' LEGAL DESC: NORTH 30' LOT 1 THOMAS HOUGHTONS CORR & AMEND PLAT
            OP LOT 1 S 36' LEGAL DESC: SOUTH 36' LOT 1 OP
        • 2 residences




      Marmont St.
      • 311 S. Main St. residence - Philip David Jr. & Stacy M. Scruggs - 1998 -2010




        Clover St.
      • 315 S. Main  
        • dwelling - 1906-1937  
        • E. J. Yocum - 1952 - Veterinarian  
        • dwelling - 1906-1937 - tore down 1960's  
        • EUB Church - Parking Lot ?1960's?  

      • S. Main  
        • dwelling - 1906-1937 - tore down 1960's  
        • EUB Church - Parking Lot ?1960's?  



      Mill St.
      • 115 W Mill street  Culver Auto Body
      • 401 S. Main St  
      • 401 S. Main St  
        • EUB Parsonage 190?-2005/6 
        • Kipp's Residence - 2006  
      • 419 S. Main St  
      • Ezra Hawkins 1903-1944  
      • Burns Residence - 1944-200_  
      • 4__ S, Main St.
        • House   1914 part of 419 s. Main property
        • House   1924-1937
        • Mildred Ditmire property 19__- 1980's
        • Robart's Rental Property 1980's-200_
      • 4__ S. Main St.
        • Candy Shop - between 1914 and 1924 - David Burns said use was this at one time & owned by Youngs?  
        • Mildred Ditmire property 19__- 1980's
        • Robart's Rental Property 1980's-200_
        Hawkins Court - T's into Main St. on the west , alley on the east
      • 439 S. Main St.  
        • ?-1961 Samuel Woods residence/ Samauel Woods Sales & Service  
        • Engine Repair Shop - Mike Fitterling  
        • 196_- Jack Keyser Residence & machine Shop  
      • residential Area  
        Winfield St. - T's into Main St. on the east
      • residential Area  
      Davis St. - T's into Main St.
      • 527 S. Main (Corner of Main & Davis St)  
        • Sam's Cities Service Station  
        • 535 S. Main (Corner of Main & Davis St) 
        • Gas Station -? Al Barsh Owned  
        • Empty - Al Barsh Owned  
        • Hammer's Garage 1989/90 - ? 
        • Re-Max/Oak Crest Real Estate - Pam Baker  
      • 530 S. Ohio Marmont Grill Georg Peske
      Farm land now only - there was a house & barns on the hill about where Tampa St. is think the lane to buildings was . Only thing remains is one shed.

      Some of this area is slated for Garden Court assisted living facility - Culver Garden Court Property Annexation Continues to Move Forward - Saturday, February 6th, 2010
      Pardo St. - T's into Main St. on the east
      Tampa St. - T's into Main St. on the east
      Batabano St. - T's into Main St. on the east
      Wabash St. - T's into Main St. on the east

        • ? Duddleson  
        • George Franz 187A - 1957 
          • Lela Bell (Bussard) Sperry
        • Eugene O'Mahony  1999
        • Roderick A& Dollie Martindale  1999 - 2001 - 68A
        • Wade & Claudia H. Mc Gee 32A 2001 - 2010 
        • ? Duddleson  
        • George Franz 187A - 1957 
        • Eugene O'Mahony  1999
        • Roderick A& Dollie Martindale  1999 - 2001
        • Glen & Martha J. Roberts 32A 2001 - 2010 
      • 1155 S. Main - a part of the 187A listed above.  
        • ? Duddleson  
        • George J Franz Residence ? 2009
        • George's Place (Bait Shop)- 1979-200_George Franz he opened 'George's Place' a bait shop in the basement of their home at 1155 S. Main St. and then built a seperate building for the business behind the house 
        • Tim E. Howard 2009 - 2010


      __ Tammarack & W. Shore Dr. Pierson's Corner 1989 1990-1991
        • stood empty for many years until it was razed duriing 2009.
        W. Shore Dr. - T's into Main St.
        Tamarack Rd. - T's into Main St. from the south


        ...THANKS for the memories...