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

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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

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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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be well to give a brief account of it. Word came to the Academy toward night that most of the city of Logansport was under Water. The converged rivers were running in a torrent in which ordinary craft could not live. The moment word was received here the mar- velous efficiency of the school was demonstrated. T The large naval cutters were immediately loaded on flat cars and- the older men who had received naval training in the summer school were sent with these boats to the distressed city. Then began twenty-four hours of heroic service, an service Which, when it became known, made this school the cynosure of the entire nation. From house to house the cadets Went, saving men, women and children, and for the greater part of the time Worked in the dark and against a terrific current which almost defeated their efforts. 'ln recognition of this service the people of Logansport erected the now famous gate so familiar to us all at the entrance of the Academy grounds, and on the day of its presentation thousandsof Logansport citizens came to 'Culver to express their gratitude. 4 ln N09 the plans for Greater Culver were launched by the trustees. Since that time thousandspp-on thousands of dollars have been spent in the beautifying of the grounds and the addition of new buildings. And yet these plans have beengreatly enlarged on and even now X .