Culver Military Academy - Roll Call Yearbook (Culver, IN)

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actually begun, and on the momentous day of May lo, 1895, the corner stone for the new edifice was laid. ln September, 1896, the Qvlissouri Military Academy was destroyed by Fire. Mr. Culver heard of this and the idea. of uniting the two schools prompted him to send an offer to Colonel A. F. Fleet, Superintendent of the former institution. This offer was accepted and on Qctober 5 of the same year the seventy-two cadets of the Missouri Academy, together with their instructors, came to Culver. Colonel Fleet deserves a ,great part of the credit for this school. 1-le instilled in the cadets who were here under his rule a certain spirit and instinct for right which has become a feature in the life of Culver. ln january, 1897, L. R. Cignilliat, a Lieutenant Colonel in the national guard, joined the faculty. He was a young and exceptionally abQe man. During this time in the Academy's exis- tence it was growing steadily-so steadily that new barracks were 1 The Old Dining Room in What Later Became the Trunk Room

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The History of Culver CL'ufER ls a young school with only twenty-two years back of her. We have been prone to consider that she lacks in tradition. Hence it seems altogether fitting that the events in the history of the school should be recounted in this book. Mr. Henry Harrison Culver is the man to whom must be accredited the inspiration for the wonderful Academy that bears his name. Mr. ,Culver was born at London, Madison County, Qhio, August 9, l84O. He was philanthropic and it was his penchant to help young men to rise under difficulties. ln H383 he decided to build a home on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee. This decision marks- the actual begin- ning of Culver Military Academy. A F or many years it had been Mr. Culver's desire to found a school. In 1894 his ambition was realized and this school 'was begun in a tiny building formerly used for chautauqua purposes. During the first year the students were housed in a hotel built by Mr. Culver and in several nearby cottages. The thirty-two cadets who began the next year, however, were destined to have new quarters. On February 24 the hotel was burned. Within a very few days plans were drawn up for a new and modern building, construction ,:,,,':S 7. ig, I-,. .,-g-dk. An Early Football Team G

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The Olds Library and Reading Room required. First came East barrack, then West and lastly South. Shortly after Major Cignilliat had begun his work as commandant of cadets the school gained special recognition from the War Depart- ment. I n the course of tenyears, from a corps of thirty cadets, quar- tered in a small frame building and an institution hardly known within its own state, the Academy had developed until it had an enrollment of over four hundred cadets, double the number attending any other military institution in America. During the same short period it had acquired also a splendid riding hall, a large gymnasium and a thoroughly equipped hospital. Even at this date Culver had a more completeQy equipped plant than any school of its class in the United States. In l9lO Colonel Fleet retired and was succeeded by Major-who then became Colonel-Cignilliatg Captain Creiner stepped up to fill the position left vacant by Colonel Cignilliat and Captain Clascock was made l-lead Master. The administration of these three men has been one of unbounded success, and under them the school has increased in numbers and in name. ln 1913 the in- fantry battalion and the Black l-lorse Troop escorted Vice-President Marshall in the inaugural parade. Such was the impression made upon Washington and in all other cities in which the Culver men appeared that frequently opinion varied as to whether West Point or this school should be accorded first rank. It was in this .same year that the school answered Logansport's cry for help and ninety of the cadets rescued one thousand four hundred people from the flood which devastated that city. Inasmuch as this is one of the most important events in the annals of Culver, it may