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

Page 31 text:

with Colonels Glascock and Greiner as the keystone. Dur- ing this span of fifteen years, the carpenter shop, arsenal, gymnasium and the old riding hall were erected. In 1905, Culver won the gold medal at the Louisiana Purchase Expo- sition, and in 1906, Culver was for the first time desig- nated as an Honor School by the War Department. This year was the one in which the famous Black Horse Troop DinicMii.N hf loganspokt Gau was purchased and developed. In 1909, one of the most prominent landscape gardeners in America, aided by a tremendous budget, began the improvement of the grounds, which resulted in Culver ' s having one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. Then the trustees decided on a Greater Culver program. In accordance with this policy, the mess hall, open air barracks, the new riding hall, the swimming pool and the administration buildings were built. In 1911, Culver suffered her second great loss when Colonel Fleet, the superin- tendent, died. Colonel Fleet was a man of great ability and was dearly beloved by the corps. Major Gignilliat became superintendent then, and today occupies that same important position. In 1914, ninety Culver cadets assisted in the saving of one thousand people during the Logansport flood. The generous townspeople of this young city showed their appreciation of this deed by presenting to the academy The Logansport Gate. At

Page 30 text:

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]

Page 32 text:

the presidential inaugurations in 1913 and 1914, the Black Horse Troop, the personal escort of Vice-President Marshall, established firmly its enviable reputation. Then came the world war. Culver men — alumni, faculty and cadets — flocked to the colors. Thirteen hundred alumni and students, together with half a hundred of the faculty, participated in the gigantic struggle. Culver ' s service flag, with its fifty- five gold stars, is a mute testimony to the fact that this school teaches men to live and die for their country. With the signing of the armistice came the return of General (then Colonel) Gig- nilliat and other officers on whom the institution greatly depended. A new era of activity ensued. Two new barracks were built — Chateau-Thierry and Argonne. Con- struction was started on the Memorial Library. The old battalion gave way to the regiment. The Black Horse Troop and the Culver Battery were organized as sepa- rate units. Culver, ever in the vanguard, established an aviation school. The Culver Legion, always guarding the interests of the cadets, founded the Cadet Club of the Culver Legion from the remains of the old Service Club. In 1921, the school was honored by the visit of General Payot. On December 9 of the same year, Colonel L. R. Gignilliat was promoted to the rank of brigadier- general. This was a fitting recognition of the superintendent ' s great work in the training and education of boys. In 1922, this school was visited by General Pershing. The corps put up an excel- lent appearance, and our distinguished guest was very favorably impressed. In December of this year, the recreation building was totally destroyed by fire. This building was the scene of the commencement exercises in former years, and once had been the riding hall and home of the Black Horse Troop. Old Culver men all over the states were saddened at the destruction of a building which had once been the center of many happy events. The New . partment