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

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The Staff of the Roll Call of 1923 Albekt W. Biggs Editor-in-Chitt Aaron J. Jones, Jr Busmebb Manager J. Park Bernard Managing Editor George F. Hilgeueier Asst Business Manager W. L. Jack Nelson Athletic Editor Walton H, Bachrach Asst. Business Manager Richard F. McGraw Art Editor J. Dean Askew Assistant Editor [22l

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A Culverian Outline of History SOME men desire to leave great wealth as a monument to their fulfilled ambition, others perpetuate their names by shafts of stone, but the most philanthropic and generous leave as a memorial a great institution bearing their name. Henry Harrison Culver, the founder of this school, belongs to this latter class. Mr. Culver was born in London, Ohio, on August 9, 1840. Denied much in his earlier life, through his unceasing energy and untiring efforts he became wealthy in his later days. When he had reached the top rung of his ladder, his generous nature asserted itself, and now that he was in a position to help others, he looked about for a way in which he might assist the youth of America in their climb to success. While debating the question of how he would carry out his project, ] Ir. Culver happened to spend his vacation at Lake Maxinkuckee. Here the grandeur of the sylvan hills and the azure beauty of the game-stocked lake appealed to him, and here, he decided, would be the site of his gift to the world; for on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee he would build a school for boysl In the summer of 1894 Mr. Culver ' s idea took definite shape when eighteen Cin- cinnati boys formed the first student body. That September the first winter session opened with a total attendance of twenty-five cadets, Dr. J. H. lacKenzie being the first superintendent. The school was housed in a group of frame buildings which formerly composed the Maxinkuckee Chautauqua. In February of 1895 a fire destroyed the wood structure, which was the main building. But Culver arose from her ashes, as did the Phoenix of old, and plans were immediately made for the con- struction of a large fireproof building. The next May saw the laying of the cornerstone of the new building. This build- ing was main barracks proper, and the first of a long line of thoroughly modern, fire- proof barracks. The next fall the school started with an enrollment of thirty-two cadets. In 1896 the Missouri Military Academy was destroyed by fire. I Ir. Culver invited the superintendent, Col. A. F. Fleet, to unite the two schools. This offer was accepted, and Colonel Fleet brought his cadet corps here, and took charge of the school. In 1897, Mr. Culver, the founder of the institution, died. Culver men all over the United States mourned the death of the man who had given to them their Alma JNIater. During this same year a young graduate of the Virginia Military Institute came here as commandant of cadets. This young man, teeming with the energy and ambition of youth, was Major L. R. Gignilliat. if Pif Within the first fif- tt s teen years the enroll- |[ pK ment grew to over j! i three hundred and 0 S fiftv. This large stu- -Ij fflEr dent bodv was made | »s possible by the erec- w. tion of east, west, and south barracks, and bv jg-lF .. -J adding anothei floor to ■nu main barracks. The Hvl faculty was greatlv in- IHH creased and improved — it was literallv a gateway to knowledge. [24]