Oct. 14, 1940: Letter From England Says Nazi’s Aim Not So Hot

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 14, 1940

Letter From England Says Nazi’s Aim Not So Hot

EDITOR’S NOTE一Because of the interest shown by a number of local readers in the publication of letters from Jabez Shufflebotham of Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, England, to his brother, Thomas, of this city, The Vidette-Messenger herewith presents the latest “news” from the British Isles. Jabez Shufflebotham’s home is located in the midlands, Great Britain’s industrial district, which has been a constant target for German bombers.

Sept. 6, 1940.

Hello Everybody:

I hope that you are getting the papers and letters I am mailing you. Please let me know, for we in this country have a gentleman or gentlemen who return your letters if you are a little indiscreet in what you say and I have had that unfortunate experience.

For the past fortnight we have had siren warnings every evening about retiring time, some of them lasting until early morning before the all clear has been given, and when I tell you that he has dropped bombs in a circle around the place where I work, you can understand how the people look forward to nightfall. But believe me, up to now his aim has been rotten, and I wonder if he is out to hit his so-called military objectives or to demoralize the British public. It appears that not only is he concerned about the living, but he has actually bombed the dead, having hit two cemeteries within a three-mile radius. I cannot mention names. What will be put down in his record for that?

Considering the number of times he has been over the district, the bombing has been, up to now, so accurate that we have had only two deaths, both little boys, and about 10 people injured, most of the bombs having fallen on stony ground.

If ever you people in America have to prepare against air raids, go the whole hog for deep large communal air raid shelters一being more satisfactory in all ways to the small family shelter which has been provided to all families here who have the spare ground to erect one.

Let me quote an illustration: We have a garage here which has a large underground cellar, with girders and reinforced concrete roof and accommodations for about 300 people, which has been opened by the owner to the people who have no Anderson shelter. As soon as the alarm is sounded, the people commence to take cover, and believe me, anyone who suggested two years ago that they would see pajama parties and informal concerts would have been considered mad. Nearly everyone proceeds as they are, with just a wrap over their sleeping attire, and I have seen the spectacle of the small children playing ring-a-roses, while we who have been on watch at the cellar entrance have heard the dull thuds as the bombs have fallen in the surrounding districts.

They must have a bog morale value, because I have seen people mixing up who in the past have considered themselves superior beings, just entirely wrapped up in themselves, with no thought of-how the community lives or acts.

I suppose a lot of the views I state will be a little late in the day when you receive them, but please remember we have only limited news, and the time it takes the mail to reach you. But I still believe that England is not his objective. Remember Hitler’s words, “We must export or die.” He is not exporting, hence he must try to remove the cords that are strangling him and Mussy. These cords are fastened tightly in the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and the Suez and that I believe, is our weakest spot, because in the past we have not treated the natives of those dominions as well as we should have done.

Your loving brother, Jabez.

Oct. 13, 1965: Home Mail Delivery In Offing For Porter People

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 13, 1965.

Home Mail Delivery In Offing For Porter People

By ADELYNE RUOFF

PORTER 一 Residents of the town of Porter will have house-to-house mail delivery and mounted route service, according to numbers, in the near future.

Mail service will also be provided for residents of the newly annexed area after a numbering system has been set up.

The information was received by the town board via a letter sent by Charles Ryan, deputy assistant postmaster general of the United States.

Reads Letter

Thomas Wagner, president of the Porter Town board, read the letter at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Ryan stated that the conversion of the present Porter Post Office to a branch of the Chesterton Post Office has been approved.

In the letter, it was stated that Porter, as an independent post office, does not meet the request for establishing city delivery service.

“We can comply by converting the Porter Post Office to a contract branch of the Chesterton Post Office,” Ryan said in his letter. “Mail delivery service will be brought to more than 8-- people with a savings in operation costs of $3,500 yearly.

Favors Change

“Porter’s present postmaster, Orith Imhof, favors this change since it provides improved service to his patrons,” Ryan noted in his letter.

“Imhof is eligible for immediate annuity and has indicated he will retire when the contract is effected,” the acting deputy postmaster general added.

Bids are now being received for a building to house the branch office in Porter.

At the present time, residents of Porter come to the post office for their mail. Rural routes are serviced out of Chesterton.

Oct. 12, 1970: Relate Home Remedies At Antique Study Meet

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 12, 1970.

Relate Home Remedies At Antique Study Meet

Old Time Remedies, “home cures” dating back to pioneer days were topics at the Antique Study Group meeting held with Mrs. Dorothy Simmons. Seventeen members volunteered such information culled from scrapbooks they remember having been used in their families and through literature from a medical library.

Home remedies were handed down either by word of mouth or through notes exchanged by families and acquaintances usually pasted in a scrapbook by a housewife.

Among some common remedies was an alcoholic combination of 16 herbs used by Indians for female ailments which often produced a relaxing slumber, reported Mrs. Joseph Vaughn, topic mistress.

Colds were treated with a combination of honey and vinegar (also for insomnia); congested chests were salved with camphor, turpentine, mustard plaster, goose grease, skunk grease, bacon or garlic tied around the neck. Coughs were treated with onion juice and sugar, hoarhound and millen leaf, glycerine and honey, rock candy and rye whiskey.

In the case of stiffness, especially arthritis, two teaspoons of honey followed each meal and also the drinking of alfalfa tea; itching was alleviated with powered sulphur and lard; tea bags were used for burns (tetanic acid), and vinegar, applied with a cloth, butter and soda kept fresh burns from blistering; ammonia and soda helped bee stings.

Sassafras tea was commonly used in the spring to thin blood, which many believed thickened in the winter. Many families also grew the trees for the root in their back yards. A asphyaty bag hung around the neck was also believed to keep sickness away.

Doctors would grind their potions in a pestle and mortar, such as mothers did to devise quick relief一such as crushing fresh peach tree leaves in a cloth when a child stepped on a rusty nail as used by Mrs. Harry Lundstrom’s mother.

Children were dosed regularly with the proverbial castor oil and orange juice. Mrs. Dale Gilmore referred to an 1879 reprint cook book containing “household remedies”, and Mrs. Walter McLean showed members a “Book of Fluxes” printed in 1790. Mrs. Donald Zeller concluded the round-table discussion, relating the fact that she and her husband use a quantity of honey and vinegar each day, and that two teaspoons of white apple cider vinegar in a glass of water each meal reduces body weight.

Refreshments prior to the meeting were served by Mrs. Zeller and Mrs. Simmons’ mother Mrs. Margaret Spiro.

Oct. 11, 1935: Herbert Bell, Former Local Resident, Writes About Old Time Shows Given At Memorial

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 11, 1935.

HERBERT BELL, FORMER LOCAL RESIDENT, WRITES ABOUT OLD TIME SHOWS GIVEN AT MEMORIAL

(Editor’s Note: Herbert Bell, author of the following, resident, and a son of the late M.A. Bell, formerly a jeweler in Valparaiso. Mr. Bell is now located in Toledo, O.)

After layin offa the Old Hoam Towne Bugle all summit were back on skedule agin readin the Star Vidette and Evein Messenger all fer one price.

We aint goin to deny the fact that after skrimpin an savin we got together enough scrop to satisfay the circulation Mgr. just sos we could find out what has bin did about the court house.

Seams like the court house is goin the way them public works plans has went hear: out the back door.

Now that they is a war in mebee you could tell me how that fite between them too fellers on the drop curtain cum out over to the Memorial Opery House.

When I left town back in 1909 they was about to run one hue trus with a stabber on a gun.

Mebbe you remember the fast one Al. Heineman pulled on the town when he booked a one nite stand of a Burly Cue company and called it a musical komedy.

The komedy part cum when the little cutie over on the right end caught her foot in that little gold chain that ran around the stage. You know the one, strung on them short poles between the orchestra and the foot lights. Well this hear dame had black hair and when she lit out with her right foot she hooked the chain, lost her balance and fell fer the drummer.

Him bein a blond an the girl giving of her life’s blood fer him: havin tore her stockin foar she lit, or was she lit fore she fell; Mebee it as the “Turkish Texan Company or “Mr. Jolly of Jolliette”, I fergit which. Anyhow nobody asked for rain checks so Al kept the 30-70 or 40-60 what was komin to him.

An now dear readers it is time for me to “go to work and take and make my exit” as one of Al’s men would have said. Thanking you again fer your kind attention after the company has presented the third and last act of this time worn play the management requests that I bid you an all a kind good nite

—Herb Bell

P.S.—The drummer was Clarence Bell.

P.S. No. 2—August Wolf was leadin the orchestra

P.S. No. 3—The pianna player was sort of upset about the same tyme the girl upset herself on the drummir. Jellis?? Your tellin me.

—H.B.

Oct. 10, 1930: 25 Pheasants Are Given Out

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 10, 1930.

25 PHEASANTS ARE GIVEN OUT

Harold A. Sievers, secretary of Valparaiso Chapter of the Isaac Walton League reports a shipment of twenty-five pheasants from the Brown County Game Preserve at Helmsburg, Ind. Since the Valparaiso Ike Waltons received no pheasant eggs this year because of the failure of the game farm to keep their contract, Mr. Shirts was determined to replace this loss. Accordingly the live pheasants were sent and released around Valparaiso. Out of respect and as a token of appreciation to the Department of Conservation and Mr. Shirts the sportsmen of Porter county are requested not to molest these birds.

There is no open season pheasants in Indiana and the killing of them is punishable by a heavy fine for every one killed. If the sportsmen will cooperate in protecting the pheasants it will only be a short time until they will be plentiful enough to permit an open season such as they are now enjoying in Michigan. The Valparaiso Ikes ask that the people of Porter County cooperate and give the pheasants a break.

Oct. 9, 1945: Varied List Of Problems Occupy ‘Dads’

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 9, 1945.

Varied List Of Problems Occupy ‘Dads’

Maplewood Cemetery, largest and second oldest of the city’s three burial grounds, is undergoing rehabilitation from its “disgraceful condition,” which has existed since the departure of Ross Corson, sexton, two years ago.

This was revealed at Monday night’s city council meeting when a list of equipment needed at Maplewood was read by Mayor G. O. Conover.

Incidentally, it was revealed that Ray Collar was in charge of cemetery upkeep. For many months the council had been trying to hire a man, without avail.

For the last two years just prior to Memorial Day, when cemeteries are visited by hundreds of persons to decorate graves of soldiers and loved ones, the city has made special efforts to doll up Maplewood.

Because of the help problem, City Street Commissioner Harry Gustafson was drafted to mow the tall weeks and collect rubbish. This year the burial plot was neglected because of press of other businesses.

Mayor Conover’s equipment list for the cemetery included a power lawn mower and cycle mower. These machines he said, can not now be purchased. Fire Chief Wilbur Cowdrey said the fire department had a rubber-tired wheelbarrow which it would donate. The council voted to turn the list over to the purchasing committee for action.

Along with the cemetery cleanup and equipment purchase, Mayor Conover told the council the sexton would like to have electrical current put in the cemetery chanty. The current will be used to run a grinder for sharpening cycles. The grinder for sharpening cycles. The grinder will be supplied by Graceland Cemetery and used in cooperation with that cemetery. The request was ordered by the council.

No action was taken by the council to increase the grace opening permit fee at Maplewood. The city charges $10 now, but this is less than is charged by other cemeteries.

Street Commissioner Harry Gustafson called attention to the annual custom of burning leaves on asphalt streets. The council authorized him to give notice by publication warning persons against this violation.

Because the old snow plow has no safety device and is almost worn out, the council authorized Street Commissioner Gustafson to get quotations on a new plow.

An offer of A.O. Van Drake to purchase for, $40 an 18-foot length of corrugated sewer pipe to place across Smith ditch on his property at State Road 49 and 2 was delayed until it is determined whether the city will need it. The council, however, authorized sale of one length of pipe, now in possession of the Armco Drainage Company, of Crawfordsville. The pipe was taken by the company for reconditioning but it was found it would not be feasible to do so. The company informed the city it had a buyer for $40. The pipe at present is in southern Indiana.

Paul Hibbard was given permission by the council to erect a canopy over the sidewalk at his property, 307 Lincolnway, in connection with the construction of a store front for his music store.

This council authorized purchase of two new tires for the police car after Chief Jerome Frakes reported the auto was not only in bad condition, but two tires were also worn out. The council has been trying to buy a new car, but has been unsuccessful. An appropriation of $1,500 has been set up for next year.

A break in the West End sewer was reported, and about 30 feet of pipe and three bands will be needed to make repair, Sewer Commissioner Edward Deu said. The city has 20 feet of pipe on hand. Quicksand caused the break, Deu said. A digger will be needed to excavate. Deu was told to purchase the pipe and bands.

At the instance of City Atty. George W. Douglas three appraisers who acted in evaluating properties taken over by the city because of delinquencies in assessments resulting from construction of District Sewer No. 1, on which the city paid the outstanding bonds, will be employed to appraise several parcels near the Nickel Plate Depot, which were not appraised in the original undertaking.

The city attorney said he was watching out for the city’s interests in the recent Forest Park foreclosure suits brought in circuit court, in which the city is a party.

Oct. 8, 1940: Parents Get Spanked By Dr. Bradley

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 8, 1940.

Parents Get Spanked By Dr. Bradley

Over four hundred local citizens last night heard Dr. Preston Bradley of Chicago in a discourse, sponsored by the PTA Council of Valparaiso, that touched on war, government, politics, dictators, religion, education and philosophy.

In his address, the title of which was “Education and Life,” Dr. Bradley took occasion to reprimand parents as having missed the bus, in the education of young people. Youth, he said, has been treated like a bunch of guinea pigs, with the result that many have not been allowed to “grow up normally.” It is time now, said the speaker, to turn our attention to adults, find out where the older generation has failed, and instead of criticism for youth, offer boys and girls cooperation instead.

Nor did the Chicago pastor spare the schools. Our educational system, he charged, is under indictment by virtue of the fact that after 50 years of public education a national survey shows an average adult intelligence of 14 years.

The reason for this condition, according to Dr. Bradley, is that emphasis has been placed on knowledge as the goal rather than character and the ability to think for oneself. He offered as his definition of a well-educated person one who is so completely in control of himself that he can achieve victory over any given situation.

Touching on politics, the speaker said that in his opinion there is no single man in this nation big enough to wreck democracy. Our way of life, he said, will be wrecked from the bottom up, not from the top down, if it is to be wrecked. Elaborating on this point, he urged his audience to cease worrying about the presidential election and give thought, instead, to local party tickets. Representatives and senators, he said, are vastly more important to our political system than the president. He cited “land-slides” as proof that the national tendency is toward voting ‘straight’ tickets, a practice he deplored as un-democratic.

Dr. Bradley attacked dictators as the result of a condition in which the people of a nation lost their sense of humor. If the citizens of German, Italy and Russia had only laughed at Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin and had kept laughing, he said, these men would never have arisen to power. Inferentially, the speaker suggested that the world would be better off if dictators were dead. “We need a few first class, highly successful funerals more than anything else today,” he said.

Of churches, the speaker expressed his opinion that their atmosphere was too much that of a mausoleum. “Churches have lost their radiance,” he charged. “They need, more than anything else, the light of the midday sun.”

Rapping national hysteria over “fifth column” dangers, the speaker suggested that America’s real danger lies in an attitude that this nation’s problems can’t be solved in the American way. This sense of futility and ultimate totalitarian regimes.

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, he pointed out, would have met today’s problems head-on and would not have taken the “cry-baby” attitude that so permeates our national scene today. He debunked the theory of the indispensable man, either from a republican or democratic standpoint.

Dr. Bradley was introduced to the large audience by Mrs. Ray Dean, president of the Valparaiso Parent-Teacher council who said that America’s first line of defense is the home and that the object of the PTA is to raise home standards through parent education and child welfare.

Supt. R. B. Julian of the Valparaiso city schools, presented Mrs. Dean to the crowd and praised the PTA for the splendid work it is doing in this community to foster co-operation between home and school.

Oct. 7, 1950: Fire Levels Six Farm Buildings

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 7, 1950.

FIRE LEVELS 6 FARM BUILDINGS

Call 4 Crews To Blaze In Portage Twp.

Property Owned By George Lute; Crowd Attracted

A spectacular fire destroyed six farm buildings late Friday afternoon at the George Lute farm in Portage Township, occupied by his son, Howard Lute, and his family.

A large barn, about 90 by 50 feet, was the source of the fire and that building was the major loss.

Four fire departments answered the call to the blaze which broke out in the hay mow about 4:40 p.m. and the last unit left the scene about 10 p.m.

The fire, which consumed the barn, milk house, implement shed, garage, an older implement shed and corn crib, could be seen for miles around and attracted hundreds of cars which lined the road for nearly a mile. Residents in Crocker, about five miles away, reported seeing the flames.

The 267-acres farm is located on the first east-west road north of U.S. 6 in Portage Township, near the south end of the Willow Creek Road.

Spontaneous Combustion

Spontaneous combustion in the hay mow was believed to be the only possible cause for the fire, according to Mrs. George Lute, who said that hay and straw had been stored in the barn for only a month.

A south wind contributed greatly to the loss in property as the fire spread rapidly north from the barn, consuming the other buildings and much machinery as the flames progressed.

The large farm house, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lute and their two children, was saved although neighbors, whose efforts were although neighbors, whose efforts were praised by Mrs. George Lute, had cleared the house of all its furnishings, even tearing the cupboards from the kitchen walls. Also saved was a new corn crib.

Improvements costing $4,000 were affected on the barn, which was built in 1913, last summer. The building, which had facilities to house 39 head of cattle, had no cattle in it when the fire broke out. But had the blaze started 10 minutes later, the cattle might have perished in the conflagration since it was almost time for the evening milking when the fire started, Mrs. Lute said.

Milkhouse Destroyed

The milkhouse, which was joined to the barn, contained a milk cooler, cans and tanks used in washing milk implements which were destroyed.

The implement shed loss included a corn shredder, corn sheller and corn picker and numerous smaller articles.

A car was driven out of the garage before flames engulfed that building. The corn crib loss included the building. The corn crib loss included the building and a brooder and fanning mill. An old implement shed, formerly used as a granary, also contained several farm implements which were destroyed.

Damage to the silo attached to the barn was confined mainly to the doors, Mrs. Lute said.

The East Gary Fire Department, first to arrive at the scene, was assisted by units at the scene, was assisted by units from Chesterton, Valparaiso, and Hobart. They concentrated mainly on saving the farm house and also were instrumental in saving some machinery from the smaller buildings.