Looking Back • December 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

December 1, 1925

The Valparaiso City Planning Commission, meeting in city hall Tuesday evening, entered into a contract with Lawrence V. Sheridan, city planning engineer of Indianapolis, to draft a city plan and zoning ordinance. Engineer Sheridan will prepare a map planning the Valparaiso of “tomorrow” that not only includes the present city area but surrounding territory within a mile-and-a-half limit. He will also prepare a street and highway program that will link up the main thoroughfares of the city with the existing inter-city state highways, radiating toward Gary, Michigan City, LaPorte and south for a distance of twenty-five miles, and prepare outlines and specifications for the development of park sites and street improvement, also a charting of existing and probable transportation developments.

December 2, 1925

Word was received here today of the death at Blue Island, Ill., of Sidney J. Rigg, former Center Township Assessor in Porter County. Rigg was born in Pennsylvania seventy-five years ago and for many years lived at the corner of Garfield Avenue and Wood Street in Valparaiso. The Riggs left Valparaiso several years ago for Blue Island, Ill.

December 3, 1925

Fred Homfeld, farmer, living near Hebron, was accorded the honorary degree of Master Farmer at a meeting sponsored by Prairie Farmer in Chicago’s Sherman Hotel last night. Frank O. Lowden, former governor of Illinois, was the principal speaker. The entire program was broadcast over Station WLS. Twenty-two farmers received similar awards, among them being E. L. Constable, of Indiana, the only other from Indiana besides Homfeld to be honored.

Through a contract entered into with the Porter County Commissioners, Valparaiso University officials have given the materials in the old college building, destroyed by fire on February 16, 1923, to the county for dismantling the structure. The building was the first unit of the university when Henry Baker Brown came here from Ohio in 1871. Previously, the Methodists had used it for school purposes. The site where the building stands will be made over into the campus by the Lutheran management. 

December 4, 1925

Rev. C. E. Burns, Valparaiso Rotarian, and in line for the governorship of the 20th District, spoke at the meeting of the Michigan City Rotary Club Thursday afternoon. He appealed for support for a Rotary convalescent ward at the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Hospital at Indianapolis.

More than 250 Elks attended the annual game feed held in the spacious dining hall of the new temple on Thursday evening. Following the game supper, a splendid program of entertainment was enjoyed.

December 5, 1925

Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court Friday afternoon held the Ogden Dunes incorporation proceedings to have been regular and denied the petition of attorneys for the New York Central Railroad, which sought to have the action of the Porter County Board of Commissioners in approving the project and ordering it submitted to Ogden Dunes residents as an election issue, which almost unanimously carried, set aside on the ground that several streets and alleys had not been opened to the public. Judge Loring held with Porter County Attorney Grant Crumpacker that the only question at issue was whether the residents had approved the plan as ordered. In view of the election, he held that they had done so. Ogden Dunes, developed by Samuel H. Reck, will be developed into a high-class residential section.

Announcement was made today by Lewis E. Myers and Company, that the connection made a year ago with the S. S. McClure Company has been severed. At a meeting of stockholders of the S. S. McClure Company in New York City two weeks ago, sale of the McClure’s Magazine was formally ratified. The identity of the purchasers was not revealed by the local firm. William Daly, of Valparaiso’s Daly and Freund firm, assisted in conducting the negotiations that resulted in the sale of the magazine.

December 6, 1925

Valparaiso’s City Board of Education has a puzzle on its hands. After all plans had been formulated to hire a school nurse and an applicant from Elyria, O., had been found who met all requirements, the board received legal citations from the state board of accounts at Indianapolis that the statutes do not empower school boards to create the office of health nurse nor pay out any moneys of the school city for such purpose. The school board may employ a person to teach health and hygiene in the schools, and such a teacher may serve as a health nurse.

The first Porter County Poultry School will be held Thursday in Valparaiso’s Baptist church gymnasium. A community basket dinner will be served at Noon. A fine program has been arranged for the occasion.

December 7, 1925

The cornerstone of the old Valparaiso Male and Female college, laid on April 25, 1860, was opened this morning by Joseph Crowe, county highway superintendent, who is cleaning up the old ruins of the building which later served for many years as an administration building for Valparaiso University, and which was burned two-and-a-half years ago. Newspapers comprised the main find in the cornerstone.  These were in a fair state of preservation. Other articles, such as pictures of men who were prominent in the school and local civic life, suffered badly through time and the elements.

December 8, 1925

Porter County Fair officials were relieved of further worry over the $41,800 deficit incurred in this year’s fair promotion. The board of commissioners, following the action of the county council in making the necessary appropriation, voted for funds necessary to clear up the indebtedness.

December 9, 1925

For the second time in Porter County court history, a jury in Porter Circuit Court returned a death penalty. The verdict came in the case of Vito Sanchez, of Gary, age 18, charged with slaying Daniel Grigayen early this year. Sanchez took the verdict calmly without batting an eyelid. Judge H. H. Loring set March 26 as the date of execution.

The Insull interests, which recently acquired the South Shore Electric Line, are making extensive improvements at Tremont. A building has been purchased and will be remodeled into a station. A long siding will also be constructed to care for special parties and other extra trains carrying visitors to the Dunes region. Forty new shelters, to be used as local stops, are being built.

December 10, 1925

Martha Heinold and Hannah Dunkel, wives of well-known Pleasant Township farmers Joseph Heinold and John Dunkel, narrowly escaped death this morning when their automobile was struck by a Chesapeake and Ohio passenger train at the Malden crossing, six miles south of Valparaiso. The ladies were enroute to Valparaiso to attend an all-day session of the Porter County Poultry Association at the Baptist church. Both women suffered severe bruises and cuts, and Heinold received a broken leg. The automobile was completely demolished.

The Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, in its weekly newsletter sent to members, today urged a drive be made for a Porter County hospital and the establishment of a municipal market.

December 11, 1925

Fifteen hours after a Porter County jury had made criminal court history by returning a death verdict in a Gary slaying case, the same jury returned a second death verdict in the case of Henry Smith, charged with slaying Martin Smith, who the killer charged had been intimate with his wife. This morning, Attorney Daniel E. Kelly, of Valparaiso, appeared before Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court and entered his appearance on behalf of Vito Sanchez, who was found guilty yesterday. Sanchez and Smith were both represented by Attorney George Hitesman.

Compromise by promoters of the Town of Porter annexation program this morning removed this project from dispute, so far as the two leading remonstrators were concerned, after the Porter County Commissioners overruled the objections filed by the New York Central Railroad. The territory agreed upon will be merged with the Town of Porter.

December 12, 1925

Valparaiso High School defeated Hammond High School last night at Valparaiso University gym by a score of 56 to 27. Coach Brown’s charges were out in front at halftime, 27-14, and continued the dizzy pace in the second canto. Ebersold, with seven baskets, and White and Wood with six apiece, led the local scoring, which rolled up twenty-seven shots from the field. In a preliminary game, Valparaiso’s third team defeated Chesterton’s regulars, 20 to 18.

Harvey Bowen, age 30, attending Valparaiso University, was arrested last night by Sheriff W. B. Forney on complaint of W. P. Chisman, of Driggs, Id. Chisman told Sheriff Forney he had trailed Bowen all over the country after the latter had induced his daughter Goldie to withdraw her savings from the bank where she had served as cashier, taken her Chevrolet automobile, and departed for Valparaiso University, where he planned to secure an education. Bowen, according to Chisman, has a wife and a six-year-old daughter whom he deserted.

December 13, 1925

The boulevard lighting system for the Valparaiso business district will be revived again. Two years ago, the proposition was brought up but fell flat on account of the failure of Valparaiso’s city council, chamber of commerce, and lighting company to come to an agreement. Dr. J. R. Pagin, chairman of the lighting committee of the council, said today that a move was being made to again consider the plan.

The Valparaiso Lighting Company will make extensive improvements to its local plant in 1926. Extensions and betterments costing $25,000 to $30,000 will be made, according to Manager R. J. Cory.

December 14, 1925

Porter County Engineer W. E. Morthland and Joseph Crowe, superintendent of county highways, will attend the twelfth-annual Purdue Road School, to be held at Purdue University in Lafayette from January 18 to 22. Their attendance is compulsory as Indiana is probably the only state in the union in which county road officials are compelled by law to attend. Their expenses will average about $35 apiece for the four-day session and are covered by the county.

Rev. Ora E. Oxley, for three years a pastor of the Boone Grove Community Church, has accepted a call extended by the Christian church at Monticello, Ind., and will go there on January 1. Rev. Oxley became pastor at Boone Grove in 1922, coming from Rolling Prairie, where he made a fine record. Rev. Oxley has a wide Porter County acquaintance. For some time, he has been associated with the publicity department of the Porter County Farm Bureau.

December 15, 1925

Meeting in N. A. U. Hall this evening, Valparaiso Waltonians formed a permanent organization by naming Dr. H. O. Seipel, president; Dr. C. A. Nixon, vice president; Pierce L. Thatcher, executive secretary; R. K. White, recording secretary; Otto Roth, treasurer; Dr. C. O. Wiltfong, of Chesterton, Wallace Philley, and Dr. C. H. DeWitt, directors. N. A. U. Hall was selected as permanent headquarters.

December 16, 1925

Porter County Farm Bureau is in receipt of a letter from the International Agrarian Institute of Moscow, Russia, asking for co-operation of the local organization in an international farmers’ betterment movement. The letter was mailed eighteen days ago.

December 17, 1925

Rev. Father G. Taylor Griffith, former rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Valparaiso, and who recently went to the west coast on a rest after forty years in the ministry, is being kept busy filling pulpits. Recently, Rev. Griffith has occupied pulpits at Tacoma and Spokane, and a short time ago conducted services in the $50,000 cathedral at Portland, Oregon.

Elliott F. Van Ness, age sixty years, died at his home in Valparaiso yesterday of pneumonia. Van Ness was founder of the Van Ness Electric Company, and was associated with his father-in-law, J. D. Wilson, in the building of the Porter County Courthouse. He was also one of the builders of the first lighting plant in the city, being associated with Edward and J. H. Wilson, who were his brothers-in-law.

December 18, 1925

Charles M. Lush, for years engaged in the hardware business in Valparaiso, and for the last few months owner and manager of the firm bearing his name, has disposed of his holding to G. A. Krueger and Louis Wojahn, of Hobart, formerly of LaCrosse. He will retire from business the first of the year.

A total of $2,500 in fair premiums were distributed today by the Porter County Fair board to upwards of two-hundred persons who had exhibits at the recent Porter County Fair. The fair board, headed by H. I. Barnett, worked until 2 o'clock this morning at the office of Porter County Agent A. Z. Arehart, getting the checks ready for mailing. The settlement was delayed three months due to a financial shortage.

December 19, 1925

William Daly, prominent local attorney, has accepted a call to become Valparaiso City Attorney under the new city administration to be headed by Mayor William F. Spooner. Attorney Daly is a life-long friend of the new mayor and occupied the same position in a former Spooner regime when Judge William Johnston resigned and he was named to fill the vacancy. Rumors are that William Pennington, former sheriff, will be named chief of police.

Sheriff William B. Forney foiled an attempted jail break last evening by Henry Smith, of Gary, recently sentenced to die in the electric chair by a Porter Circuit Court jury for the slaying of Martin Smith, of Gary. When the sheriff went to Smith’s cell to lock him up for the night, the latter tried to throw a pail containing a mop saturated with cleaning liquid – which he had ignited – over the head of the sheriff as he came into the cell row. Sheriff Forney, however, evaded Smith’s attempt and beat off the attack, finally cowing him with a gun. Smith was burned in the attempted assault and was taken to Michigan City prison today for safe keeping.

December 20, 1925

Rev. Edward J. Mungovan, pastor for the last eleven years of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, was honored Sunday evening at Community Hall by the Catholic Ladies’ Club on the occasion of his forty-ninth birthday anniversary. Guests included Mayor-elect W. F. Spooner; William Daly, his city attorney designate; representatives of Valparaiso press, and close friends of Rev. Mungovan in and out of his church circles. Mary Long, president of the Ladies’ Club, presided. Talks were made by a number present, and Rev. Mungovan responded. A beautiful birthday cake was baked for the occasion by Helen Zawadzki.

Harvey Bowen, alleged bigamist, Sunday started the return trip to Idaho, where, prosecuted by W.P. Chisman, father of the girl he is thought to have made his second wife, he will face legal accounting. The county prosecutor of Driggs, Id., and a deputy sheriff accompanied Bowen. Chisman and daughter also returned.

December 21, 1925

Edward Hamilton, 56, clothing salesman, and Louis Berman, 42, clothing manufacturer, both of Chicago, were instantly killed this afternoon when their automobile was struck by a Pan Handle Railroad passenger train at a grade crossing west of Hebron. The machine occupied by the two men stalled on the tracks. An uncle of Hamilton, driver of the death car, miraculously escaped with painful injuries.

December 22, 1925

The Valparaiso City Council at its meeting Monday night refused to pass an ordinance designed to supplant the present water company management by a board of three trustees under control of the council but did officially receive the ordinance to come up for call at the next meeting, scheduled for Christmas night.

December 23, 1925

A quick temper, inflamed by moonshine Tuesday morning, caused the death of Stanley Mroz, age 21, of Indiana Harbor. The scene of the action was near Baileytown, west of Chesterton. Mroz was shot by Joe Jaworski, 17, a companion, who endeavored to persuade him from attacking a gang of railroad workers who had ordered the two men and another companion, Eddie Glemkowski, 22, from shooting near the railroad. When Mroz threw his gun down and started for the railroad gang, Jaworski grabbed him. In the scuffle, Jaworski’s gun was discharged. The charge struck Mroz in the chest. Mroz was taken to Mercy Hospital but died soon afterward. Sheriff W. B. Forney turned Jaworski over to Lake County authorities.

The purchase of Waverly Beach, a key point in the state’s plans for the new Dunes State Park in Porter County, was announced today by Charles Sauers, assistant director of the state conservation commission. The purchase price was given at $181,612.50. The purchase means that work will be started on the park next spring. The land was purchased from Murray Turner, Peter Meyn, and Carl Kaufman of Hammond, and Ralph Van Vechten of Chicago, for the same price paid by them in 1923.

December 24, 1925

Abe Irwin, age 66 years, a Lake County inmate of the Porter County Jail awaiting trial on a charge of slaying Earl Ellis, of Gary, died at the county jail this afternoon. His death was due to an incurable bone disease brought on by a severe rheumatic condition. Irwin was tried last May by a jury in the Porter Circuit Court and a disagreement resulted. Ellis the murdered victim, was found stabbed to death in an alley. Irwin’s wife was held to be the real author of the slaying and will be sent to an insane asylum. Ellis’ wife was never prosecuted. Irwin admitted carrying the dead body of Ellis to the alley and leaving it at the command of his wife. He denied any part of the actual killing.

Pierce L. Thatcher, executive secretary of Valparaiso’s chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, today received official notification of his appointment to the National Speakers’ Bureau of the organization. Identified as one of the moving factors in the re-launching of the Walton League program in Porter County, Thatcher has attracted state and national attention.

December 25, 1925

The Valparaiso City Council met in regular session Christmas night but did little in the way of transacting business. All the council did was listen to a talk by Mayor E. W. Agar regarding the new water operating plan and then adjourned to their homes to continue the Christmas festivities. However, the stage was set for the transaction of some of the hangover issues before the old year is rung out and the New Year is welcomed. They are the water plant operating ordinance, Bond and Grove Avenue project award, and proposed railroad crossing flasher ordinance.

December 26, 1925

A capacity crowd filled St. Paul’s Catholic Church for yesterday’s midnight mass services presided over by Rev. Edward J. Mungovan. St. Paul’s choir, assisted by Ruth Brown, William Von Doehren, and Jack Doyle, as soloists, provided beautiful choral numbers. Rev. Mungovan delivered a very forceful sermon.

December 27, 1925

Porter County Highway Superintendent Joseph Crowe and a force of men are engaged in tearing down the walls of the building on West Lincolnway formerly occupied by the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company. The building was destroyed by fire several weeks ago. The bricks will be used in county road repair as will the bricks obtained from the old university building also destroyed by fire in 1923. L. T. Ross is owner of the West Lincolnway building in Valparaiso.

Fire, which originated in the attic, caused a $2,000 loss this afternoon at the Valparaiso home of W. W. Dee, 2005 Elmhurst Avenue. A passerby discovered the blaze. A large amount of household goods were saved. The firemen worked for over an hour in temperatures which registered twelve degrees below zero.

December 28, 1925

L. T. Ross, owner of the property on West Lincolnway formerly housing the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company, and which burned recently, today announced that he would soon start the construction of a new business building on the site. Milton Take, head of the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company, will occupy the new structure when completed. He plans one of the most modern auto sales rooms in northern Indiana.

December 29, 1925

Valparaiso city officials are in a quandary regarding the collection of garbage. During the zero weather, the garbage collector is unable to get the garbage out of the can into the tank. The cans are owned by the householder, and he is prevented from taking them away. The only solution to the problem is for the housewives to keep the cans in a warm place where the garbage will not freeze.

December 30, 1925

The E. W. Agar city administration last night in a hectic Valparaiso City Council meeting took title in the name of the City of Valparaiso in the Valparaiso Home Water Company; passed the operating ordinance drafted by Mayor Agar by vesting the plant in the hands of a board of three trustees but withheld naming the trustees until tonight.

Sheriff William B. Forney last night tendered his resignation as chief of the Valparaiso Fire Department. Sheriff Forney stated his duties were such that he could not attend to the fire chief’s job. He has held the job since the death of Bert Wise over a year ago. Before that, he was a volunteer member of the department for many years.

December 31, 1925

John Shoup, well-known farmer residing near Porter Cross Roads, was killed yesterday afternoon when a shotgun accidentally discharged. Taking the gun from his home to kill a hog, Shoup stumbled in the snow and the gun was discharged. Shoup’s wife, who had been visiting a neighbor, arrived home in time to hear the shot. Rushing to the back of the house, she found her husband lying on the ground.

At midnight, William O. McGinley, the only Democratic incumbent of a Porter County office, hands over the keys of the county treasurer’s office to Andrew J. Fehrman, Republican successor. McGinley has served for the last two years, during which time he handed over three million dollars of funds. In the November election, McGinley was defeated for reelection by Fehrman.

Looking Back • November 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

November 1, 1925

The Indiana Public Service Commission in Indianapolis today denied the petition of the Jahns Bus Company to establish a bus line between Valparaiso and Hammond. This ends the attempt of the company to extend its service through Deep River and Merrillville from Valparaiso to Hammond. At a hearing held here some weeks ago before Judge Samuel Artman, of the public service commission, the bus company indicated it was willing to operate four buses a day each way over the route. A number of persons living along the route testified the line was needed. At present, there is no line between the two cities.

Valparaiso University lost to Columbia College at Dubuque, Ia., 7 to 6, Saturday, when Evans failed to convert a goal after touchdown. Evans was responsible for the Valparaiso score by shooting a nice forward pass which was received by Jimmy Doran. Coach Anderson was much encouraged over the team’s showing and predicted a hard fight against DePaul next Saturday.

November 2, 1925

Attorney Oliver M. Loomis, of Valparaiso, will become secretary to Arthur R. Robinson, new United States Senator from Indiana. First indication that he was considered for the post came to Loomis Saturday while he was employed in a local lawsuit. Senator Robinson became acquainted with Attorney Loomis during the trial of Alex McCabe, of Chicago, charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in a holdup near Cedar Lake. A large number of applicants were out for the post.

The fame of Valparaiso’s new quarter-million-dollar Elks Temple is now nationwide. A photograph of the local building occupies page one of the Elks magazine. An extensive writeup of the building, dedication ceremonies, and recent state convention accompany the photograph.

November 3, 1925

William F. Spooner, Democrat, was elected mayor of Valparaiso over incumbent Edgerton W. Agar by forty-nine votes. Spooner polled 1,165 to Agar’s 1,116. This was Spooner’s sixth race for mayorship, and his fourth victory. Flora Kenny, Republican, defeated Bertha Drawans Ewing, Democrat, for the city clerkship by a vote of 1,170 to 1,066. E. S. Miller, Republican, in the first ward; C. A. Stanton, Republican, in the second ward, and Louis F. Leetz and Charles Hicks, running for councilman at large, were unopposed. In the third ward, Louis Gast, Republican, defeated Frank Reibly, Democrat, 426 to 214, and John R. Palmer, Republican, defeated Ray Adams, Democrat, in the fourth ward, 328 to 116.

November 4, 1925

Gretchen Smith, of the law office of Kelly and Loomis, has been selected by United States Senator Arthur R. Robinson, of Indianapolis, as his social secretary. Smith will leave Saturday for Washington. Oliver M. Loomis, of the law firm, will serve Senator Robinson as his secretary. Loretta Metker will succeed Smith in the Kelly office.

November 5, 1925

The Schmidt interests, known as the Columbia China Corporation, has acquired an extension of their option on the properties of the Fraunfelter China Company of Chesterton for the purpose of obtaining an appraisal of the plant. After the appraisement has been completed, the purchasing deal will be consummated at a consideration of $300,000. The Columbia Chicago Corporation is supported by powerful Chicago financial interests.

Officials of the Porter County Farm Bureau are confident that the drive to enroll 1,000 members in the county is going over the top. With three townships yet to work on, and five others not fully covered, a total of 760 members have been signed up. Center Township will hold a big meeting this evening at Lembke Hall, and this is expected to swell the membership. 

November 6, 1925

Sheriff W. B. Forney has returned from Chicago Heights, Ill., where he recovered a Buick car stolen from John F. Griffin. Two youths, ages 13 and 11, took the car here on election night. They started out from Bloomington, Ind., by stealing a Ford. They drove to Spencer, Ind., where they stole a Dodge. They then came to Valparaiso where they stole the Griffin car. Then they drove to Chicago Heights, Ill., and sold it for $10. Then they stole a Chrysler and drove to Phoenix, Ill., and back to Chicago Heights, where they sold it and took a train to Momence, Ill. While attempting to steal a Ford there, they were pursued and captured after a thirty-five-mile chase.

C. W. Bartholomew, veteran undertaker, suffered a stroke this afternoon at his home on Chicago Street in Valparaiso, and his condition is reported critical. He was at the undertaking establishment on North Washington Street this morning visiting with old-time friends, and, while there, became faint and was taken to his home.

November 7, 1925

A resident of Valparaiso since 1871, Ina McIntyre died yesterday afternoon at her home at 901 LaPorte Avenue. Survivors include the husband, three daughters, one sister, and one brother. Ina was the daughter of Rev. John Wallace, Presbyterian minister.

Sheriff W. B. Forney sold the Fred Tresemer farm in Valparaiso at Wolf’s Corners, for $40,000 this morning. A Chicago doctor held a mortgage of $28,000 against the property.

November 8, 1925

It was revealed today that the losers in Chesterton’s town election Tuesday are not yet through. Defeated candidates plan to demand a recount, which may end in an appeal to the Porter Circuit Court. It is said the Peoples’ candidates who were defeated are not satisfied that they were given a just tabulation of the vote, and a recount will show a reversal of the figures. Charles S. Kline, present trustee, was credited with 512 votes against 506 for William Lundberg, and Arthur J. Rader, present incumbent, defeated Hayes Fisher by 17 votes. More than 1,000 ballots were cast.

William Sievers, Grand Trunk businessman, died of a heart attack at his home Sunday night. He was born in Valparaiso in 1872 and had been engaged in business at the Grand Trunk for more than thirty years. A widow, two sons, and one sister survive.

November 9, 1925

Through Attorney George R. Williams, the two defeated candidates in the town election at Chesterton last Tuesday, today filed a petition with Judge H. H. Loring asking for an official canvas. A demand for a recount was also filed with Porter County Auditor B. H. Kinne.

Members of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club were given an insight today into the new movement to give Indiana better police protection through the passage of a state police bill by the legislature. The speakers were Bliss W. Boering, of Indianapolis, member of the state police auxiliary committee, and Captain H. C. Dayton, veteran of the Colorado Rangers. Boering told the Kiwanians, who had assembled at the Philley cafeteria for the weekly dinner, that the employment of a state police personnel of 195 men would not cost more than $500,000 annually. Captain Dayton told the requirements of a good police officer and cited some of the results being obtained by other states which have a state police system.

November 10, 1925

Lelah Robeson, of Indianapolis, president of the Rebekah Assembly, was honored at Odd Fellow Hall Tuesday night when she attended a meeting of Charity Rebekah Lodge, No. 64. Members of the local degree staff exemplified the degree and executed some fancy drills. Visitors were present from East Chicago, Gary, and Crown Point. Robeson gave a fine and instructive talk, in which she complimented the lodge on its splendid work. Members of Canton Valparaiso, No. 27, were guests of the lodge. Refreshments were served at the close of the meeting.

November 11, 1925

Rushed to Christian Hospital late last night, L.T. Fredericks, head of the Chicago Mica and Fibroc Insulation companies, submitted to an operation for removal of a ruptured appendix to prevent a spread of poisoning. Fredericks was stricken last Sunday night when aboard a train headed for New York City. Turning back at Fort Wayne, he returned here. At first, it was believed he was suffering from a digestive order, but later his condition was traced to his appendix. Reports from his bed today are encouraging.

November 12, 1925

With Commissioner F. J. Singleton of the State Public Service Commission presiding, petitioners for the new road from Waverly Beach direct through to the Dunes Highway met at Tremont Hotel this morning to press their claims against the opposition of the South Shore Electric Line, which has appealed the case to the commission. The Porter County Commissioners approved the proposed road project, and the railroad took an appeal from this ruling. The new road would give direct contact with Waverly Beach. Attorney E. J. Freund appeared for the commissioners. The railroad claims it would be put to great expense in bringing the crossing up to grade.

Chesterton’s election troubles, in which backers of the Peoples’ ticket are contesting the election of candidates of the Citizens’ ticket, is due to the Ku Klux Klan, according to Editor John G. Graessle, of the Chesterton Tribune. According to Graessle, the Klan forces two years ago took charge of the caucuses of both parties, carried the election, and elected their men. No protest was made by the other faction, and they accepted defeat gracefully. This year the same stunt was tried. However, the antis had perfected their organization and went into Citizens’ caucus and defeated the Klansmen candidates at their own game. At once, a howl went up, and everybody who was not for them was everything but a gentleman or lady.

November 13, 1925

Valparaiso Country Club’s new $20,000 club house was dedicated last evening with a dinner-dance program. Rev. E. J. Mungovan, pastor of St. Paul’s Catholic Church was the speaker of the evening. The Melody Makers, of LaPorte, furnished the music. Following Rev. Mungovan’s address, Walter E. Brownell, chairman of the sports and pastime committee, awarded prizes to winners of the various tournaments held this summer. The new building was built by the Foster Lumber and Coal Company and is an attractive structure, with a spacious assembly hall, sun parlor, and ladies’ room on the first floor and locker rooms and living quarters for the professional attendant in the basement. Harold Ridgely, formerly of the Dixmoor Golf Club, of Homewood, Ill., is the golf pro at the club.

Seven Hebron youths are facing criminal charges in Porter Circuit Court as the result of an attack on the home of Dr. William Butman, Hebron practitioner, on last Hallowe’en night. According to Dr. Butman, the youths peppered his home with rocks and other missiles, breaking windows in his home and office, and wrecking doors. Porter County authorities did not know of the fracas until a few days ago when affidavits were asked by Dr. Butman for the arrest of the youths. It is said the trouble resulted when Dr. Butman fenced off part of a plot of ground used by the boys for a recreation field.

November 14, 1925

The E. W. Agar city administration, which retires from office on January 1, Friday evening put over two history-making moves in Valparaiso municipal annals when it made plans to terminate the old contract with the trustees of the Valparaiso Home Water Department of the plant. It also authorized the board of education of the School City of Valparaiso to issue $150,000 in bonds for a new high school building, referring the plans for the new building to Valparaiso’s planning commission for investigation and report at the next meeting.

Rival faction in Chesterton’s red-hot election feud took the friendly advice of Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court and returned to their homes in Chesterton today after being informed that three official canvassers would be named to inspect the records of the election and the ballots cast for the various candidates. The court refused to impound the records in the election, holding that no notice had been served to the town clerk, Carl G. Nordstrom. According to the returns, Messrs. Kline and Rader, Citizens’ ticket candidates, defeated Messrs. Lundberg and Fisher by six and seventeen votes respectively.

November 15, 1925

The Chesterton election dispute grew a little hotter today when an affidavit was filed against George Groff, charging that he cast an illegal ballot. It is charged Groff is not an American citizen. Rudolph Slont is the complaining witness. Groff is said to have been a worker for the Citizen’s ticket, which was victorious over the Peoples’ ticket. Citizens’ ticket backers charge that members of the Peoples’ ticket are back of the prosecution.

Valparaiso University Gridders lost to Central State Normal at Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Saturday by a score of 41 to 0. Coach Millard Anderson’s squad was unable to stop the plunges of the Michigan team and were unable to penetrate the tight defense of the Normal Huskies.

November 16, 1925

Gaining entrance through the coal bin in the rear and working their way through the basement and upstairs, burglars for the second time within eight months robbed the Sievers Drug Store, on East Lincolnway in Valparaiso, of $500 of merchandise sometime during the night. The loot consisted principally of Ingersoll watches and choice fountain pens.

Chesterton and Hebron provided the excitement today in Porter Circuit Court. Seven Hebron youths charged with riotous conduct by Dr. William Butman, of Hebron, in the alleged wrecking of the doctor’s house and office on Halloween night, were given a preliminary hearing and released under $1,000 bond. Dr. Butman was also served with an affidavit charged with firing on one of the boys with a shotgun. He too was given a $1,000 bond. No date was set for arraignment. Chesterton’s town election dispute, in which Citizens’ and Peoples’ party candidates are engaged in a contest over the result of the recent town election, was continued one day because of the absence of Grant Crumpacker, who has been retained to assist Charles W. Jensen, Chesterton town attorney.

November 17, 1925

Word has been received here that Helen Schleman, daughter of William and Evelyn Schleman, of Valparaiso, and a student at Wellesley has made the famous Boston hockey team and will play in the games against the All-Chicago and Irish hockey teams. Last year, the Boston team won second place in the national tournament. Schleman is taking a course in physical training.

November 18, 1925

After listening to arguments pro and con as to whether a recount should be made in the Chesterton election controversy, Judge H.H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court this afternoon ruled that a recount of the vote should be made. The court named three commissioners to canvass the vote as follows: Charles W. Jensen, town attorney, representing the Citizens’ party, winners of the election; Attorney George R. Williams, representing the People’s party, losers, and Charles L. Hazlett, former postmaster of Chesterton and former township trustee. The court also issued a duces tecum subpoena ordering Carl G. Nordstrom, town clerk, to deliver the records of the election over to the commissioners.

November 19, 1925

Valparaiso has been given a place on the U.S. Highway 30, which will extend from Atlantic City, N.J., to Salt Lake City, Utah, according to dispatches from Washington, D.C. The new route will be marked with standard and warning signs.

Jury costs in the last two trials of Alex McCabe, Chicago gangster for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in Porter Superior Court, cost Lake County $3,000. All the money went to Porter County residents, but Lake County had to foot the bill.

November 20, 1925

Marked by atmospheric calm that almost belied all suggestion of difference and contest, the first move in the legal battle to contest Chesterton’s election results was made in Porter Circuit Court chambers this afternoon. Canvass of the vote was begun by the canvassers composed of Attorneys C. W. Jensen and George L. Haslett in the afternoon, after Sheriff W. B. Forney had delivered the ballots over to the board. It is expected the result will be made known tomorrow. Candidates William Lundberg, defeated by Charles S. Kline, and Arthur Rader, victor over Hayes Fisher, were present. They each selected two witnesses, namely J. G. Graessle and Agnes Morgan for the Citizen’s ticket and Attorney C. D. Wood and Charles Pearson, for the People’s ticket. Town Clerk Carl G. Nordstrom, a central figure in the contest proceedings, was also an interested witness. Sheriff W. B. Forney acted as guard.

Horn Brothers Quality Market today sold a carload of wool amounting to 22,000 pounds. The wool is being sacked and tomorrow will be shipped to Columbus, O. The wool was purchased in LaPorte and Porter Counties. A Fort Wayne man was broker in the deal. Such a shipment was made last year.

November 21, 1925

A recount of the vote in the Chesterton town election dispute completed Friday afternoon revealed no change as to the winning candidates, Arthur J. Rader and Charles Kline, but cut down the margins of the winners, William Lundberg, opponent of Kline, gained four votes, making the revised figures 506 for Kline and 504 for Lundberg. Fisher gained five votes on Rader, the count being 511 for Rader and 499 for Fisher. It is likely a court contest will be filed.

Announcement was made today that the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club will sponsor a show Tuesday, Dec. 8. Harry Albe will be in charge. On Tuesday night of next week, the Kiwanis Club joins with Rotary in a ladies’ night program before which Charles Brandon Booth, lecturer, will speak.

November 22, 1925

Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, in the Porter Superior Court this morning refused to reopen the issues and review the decision of Judge Virgil S. Reiter in the case involving the disbarment of Attorney Paul Glazier, of Lake County, trial of which came before him this term. Glazier’s attorneys, Conroy and Welsheimer, of Hammond, filed a demurrer and sought to have certain issues reviewed, asserting that on another occasion Judge Crumpacker had entertained a similar motion. “I grant that point, but I do not think it proper to follow a dangerous precedent. This is not a court of review,” stated the court.

Charles Brandon Booth, son of the founder of the Volunteers of America, and grandson of the founder of the Salvation Army, spoke to a congregation of men, women, and children at the Presbyterian church in Valparaiso Sunday night as an advocate of the Big Brother and Big Sister Federation movement. Tonight, he appears before a joint gathering of Valparaiso Rotary and Kiwanians at a Hotel Lembke banquet to sound his message which is, in brief, a direct challenge to the heart of America. “All there is to the Big Brother and Big Sister movement is the awakening of a social consciousness on the part of the individual man and woman by which they will take an interest in guiding and directing an individual boy or girl,” Booth said.

November 23, 1925

Principal Palmer, of Washington Township High School, Sunday proved the nemesis of one Jesse Grimes, and as result, Grimes was this afternoon sentenced to serve six months at the penal farm for breaking into Washington Township High School. Only the timely arrival of Principal Palmer prevented Grimes' getaway as he had completed his sacking and was just about ready to depart when confronted by Palmer, who had gone to the building to straighten up things following a social entertainment held there Saturday evening. Palmer held Grimes until the arrival of Sheriff W. B. Forney.

A daring thief entered the Texaco filling station at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Franklin Street in Valparaiso between Monday night and this morning and looted the place of $30 in money and a quantity of oil and alcohol. It was the second robbery of the week, as Sievers Drug Store was entered and sacked a few days ago.

November 24, 1925

Two sixteen-year-old youths, using a skeleton key, staged the robbery of the Texaco Oil Company station at Indiana Avenue and Franklin Street in Valparaiso Monday night, according to Sheriff W. B. Forney. The pair are under arrest at Chicago Heights for a similar robbery. Other places burglarized by the youths were in Gary and Merrillville. The youths gave the names of Mike Medred and George Zekuetki.

November 25, 1925

James Hamilton, age 71, who has lived in the sand hill section north of Chesterton, died this morning of a heart attack. His wife found him lying on the floor of the home. Years ago, the family occupied a log cabin that belonged to his father. Just a few years ago, with the big development being made in the dunes region, Hamilton built a fine new home. He had made the duneland country his lifelong residence.

November 26, 1925

William Nuppnau, manager of the J. Lowenstine and Sons grocery department, narrowly escaped injury Thursday evening when, blinded by another car, he lost control of his Dodge machine, and skidded off the road. Although the car was badly damaged, Nuppnau was uninjured. He was returning home from Chicago.

Otho F. Helvie was rushed to the Christian Hospital in Valparaiso yesterday morning suffering from an acute attack of appendicitis. An operation was performed at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Reports from the hospital this morning were to the effect that Helvie passed a good night.

November 27, 1925

The Kleins and the Bernhardts, of Valparaiso, had narrow escapes from death Thursday evening when a Studebaker car driven by Abe Klein crashed into a fence along a highway between Valparaiso and Kouts, and partly overturned. The fact that the machine hit the fence prevented it from going down an embankment. All the occupants of the car crawled out through the windshield. Minnie Bernhardt suffered a fractured collar bone. The party was enroute home from a visit at North Judson with Ben Donchin and family.

Mary Shephard Moe, age 63 years, died last evening at her home after an illness of two weeks. She was born at Oconomowoc, Wis., and was united in marriage to O. M. Moe in South Dakota. She lived here for fifteen years. Surviving are the husband, two sons, one daughter, five brothers, and three sisters.

November 28, 1925

West Lincolnway’s future as the center of Valparaiso’s business design was assured today with announcement of new building projects soon to get under way. The Bloch Hotel building will soon undergo extensive remodeling, including a new front. The former Ward building, occupied by the Modern Toggery, has been sold to Leigh and Arthur Keene, who are now located in the Belmont Hotel building. They will move to the new site and make improvements. Sam Salberg, present occupant, is dickering for a location on West Lincolnway. The Roy Ross building, damaged by fire recently, is expected to be rebuilt and occupied by the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company, owned by Milton J. Take and J. G. Grantham.

November 29, 1925

Valparaiso Kiwanis met at Philley’s today for its regular noon-day luncheon. Plans were discussed for the promotion of the show, “Cheer Up No. 2.” Chairman Harry Albe urged all the members to give their full cooperation in making the show a success. The two directors of the play, Belva Rice and Mildred Erb, were introduced by President Walter Brownell. The directors assured the club of an excellent show and highly commended the talent on their rapid progress.

November 30, 1925

Principal H. M. Jessee, of the Valparaiso High School, will be one of the speakers at LaPorte’s annual basketball clinic to be held at LaPorte Y.M.C.A. Wednesday evening. Jessee will speak on “What the School Expects of the Official.” The talk will be in reply to a talk by Keith Crown, of Gary, who will talk on “What the Official Expects of the School.” Valparaiso basketball fans will attend.

St. Paul’s Parochial School basketball team of Valparaiso yesterday defeated Hebron Independents, 30 to 22. Hebron started off with a rush and soon had the locals gasping for breath with a 6-to-0 lead. St. Paul’s came back and at half time was leading 17 to 15. Nolan, from St. Paul’s, was the high-point man with thirteen points. Morgan, with 11, led the visitors’ attack.

Looking Back • October 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

October 1, 1925

A jury to try Alex McCabe, Chicago gangster, charged with slaying Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in a May 1924 hold up near Cedar Lake, was completed in Porter Superior Court this morning. As the twelfth man was selected to pass upon McCabe’s guilt or innocence in the third trial of the case, an attorney for McCabe filed a motion with Judge Crumpacker to lock the jury up and not allow them to separate during the hearing of the trial evidence. The court granted the request but excused the jury until Monday morning to permit them to get their affairs in shape for an extended “imprisonment.” A total of 148 veniremen were examined by attorneys before the jury was obtained.

“Watch the flasher.” This today became the slogan of Lincolnway motorists as they approached the Franklin Street intersection, Valparaiso’s busiest corner, and became aware that the long-promised automatic “stop and go” electric traffic signal was in operation. Workmen completed the installation about ten o’clock and then the fun began for fully one-half of the motorists, not being accustomed to such regulation, failed to pay any attention to it. Toward mid-afternoon, however, it began to have quite a general effect.

October 2, 1925

Jurors selected to sit in the McCabe murder case and sentenced to “confinement” during the progress of the trial, which starts on Monday, were cheered today to learn that Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, desirous of making their confinement as pleasant as possible, had been able to engage quarters for the jury at the home of Mae London on Garfield Avenue in Valparaiso.

H. C. Taylor, for the last three years proprietor of the Taylor Stationery Store on North Franklin Street in Valparaiso, today announced he would retire from business. He has sold his stock to a Chicago firm. Taylor came here from Zion City, Ill.

October 3, 1925

Word has been received here of the death at Elmyria, N.Y., of Aurelia Woodmansee, age 55 years, a resident of Valparaiso for five years. News of the death came to Frances Anderson, a sister, who had just returned from her bedside, much encouraged over her condition. During her residence here, she resided on North Napoleon Street. Her husband, two sons, mother, five brothers, and two sisters survive.

Peter J. Horn, today received a bronze medal from the United States Department of Agriculture signifying that his entry of a carload of Duroc-Jersey swine in the 250-to-300-pound classification won first prize at the twenty-fifth annual International Livestock Exposition held in Chicago last spring. Accompanying the medal was a personal letter from W. M. Jardine, secretary of agriculture, who complimented the local stockman “for the achievement represented by these superior animals.” Horn passed credit for the showing to E. V. Owens and Sons and Frank Pressel and Son who reared and conditioned the winning swine.

October 4, 1925

Clarence Darrow, famous criminal lawyer and defender of John T. Scopes, Tennessee school teacher, convicted in the widely heralded “evolution trial,” with his wife, was a guest at the James McGill home on Sunday. The trip to Valparaiso was made in McGill’s automobile. They returned to Chicago by train this morning. McGill and Darrow are friends of long standing. The veteran barrister is not a stranger to Valparaiso, having delivered addresses here some years back.

Maxine Knickerbocker, a young lady reared and raised by Eugene T. Funk, former superintendent of the Porter County Infirmary, was legally adopted by Funk today, making her a lawful heir to the Funk holdings.

October 5, 1925

B. A. Gott, manager of the Studebaker garage, is today suffering from a badly burned hand received when answering a call for help in his garage yesterday afternoon. He grabbed a pail of gasoline being used by his son, William Gott, in cleaning a motor, and which was ignited by sparks thrown off by a steel brush. Damage estimated at $150 was caused by the fire.

October 6, 1925

At a meeting of the Valparaiso Council of Boy Scouts, a decision was made that a camp be provided for the scouts, now numbering 217, for next summer. A committee was appointed to investigate the different lake properties and make a report at the November meeting.

October 7, 1925

Frederick James Marston, of Valparaiso, is making considerable progress in his teaching duties at the Kemper Military School at Boonville, Mo., according to word received by his parents, James and Emma Marston. Marston is now a captain in teaching rank and instructs in junior college English and is coach of the tennis team. He is a graduate of Valparaiso High School, Valparaiso University, and took post graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has been teaching at the Kemper school since 1922.

Fred Bartz, of Valparaiso, will represent Porter County in the farmers’ dairy judging contest, one of the highest educational events of the National Dairy Exposition, to be held at Indianapolis starting October 10. Thirty-seven other farmers from ten Indiana counties will also participate with those of California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

October 8, 1925

Johnny O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, now serving a life sentence in Michigan City prison for his part in the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake, was the main witness this morning at the trial of Alex McCabe, of Chicago, also for the Fancher slaying, in progress in Porter Superior Court. O’Reilly, brought here from the prison by two guards, testified that McCabe had no part in the killing and that he was also innocent of the Fancher murder. He refused to name the men who he claims committed the crime, though interrogated four times on this point by Prosecutor August Bremer, of Lake County.

Johnny O’Reilly, now in Michigan City Prison serving a life sentence for the murder of Thad Fancher, came here to testify in the trial of Alex McCabe, who is also being tried for the Fancher slaying. Due to precautions taken by court attendants this morning, a reporter for the Gary Post-Tribune, who had come here to report the trial, failed to get in because the doors were locked. Circuit Court Judge H. H. Loring came to his rescue and secured his admission.

October 9, 1925

James B. and Emma Dye, through Attorney Frank B. Parks, have started a suit in Porter Superior Court to quiet title of their property located north of the fairgrounds. This property, like all others, is traced from American Indian days. It goes directly back to the tribe of Chief Lewis Shadanai, to whom it was deeded in a treaty of peace with the government in 1823, a number of years before Porter County was surveyed. A few years ago, L. D. Wolf, who at one time owned nearly all this tract, quieted title to his property in a similar action.

For the 146th time during 1925, the Valparaiso Fire Department answered a call yesterday evening at 5 o’clock. An overheated stove caused a fire at the George Cota home, 106 Lincoln Avenue (Brown Street). The blaze was extinguished with a small chemical extinguisher.

October 10, 1925

Closing arguments are being made in Porter Superior Court in the trial of Alex McCabe, of Chicago, charged with the murder of Attorney Thad S. Fancher, Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup on May 4, 1924. Attorney D. E. Kelly made the opening address for McCabe, and was followed by Franklin T. Fetterer, deputy prosecutor of Lake County. During Fetterer’s talk, Earl Moorehouse, a juror, developed a toothache and time had to be called until he could visit a dentist and have the tooth treated. Attorneys for the defense in their arguments are attempting to show that another set of men other than McCabe were responsible for the holdup and killing.

Winter stretched a long hand out of the north last night and with rain, snow, and sleet, gave this section a blast of its icy breath. Valparaiso was completely blanketed with a cover of white this morning. The trees and shrubbery, unable to carry both the load of green leaves and fleecy snow, bent beneath the double burden.

October 11, 1925

Rev. Frank M. Briggs, new pastor of the local Methodist Episcopal Church of Valparaiso, was greeted by a large congregation Sunday morning on the occasion of preaching his first sermon. Rev. Briggs held pastorates at Chesterton, Lebanon, and Plymouth before coming here. Rev. Briggs was succeeded at Plymouth by Rev. E. W. Strecker, whom he succeeded in the local pastorate.

Alex McCabe, of Chicago, was acquitted by a jury Saturday evening in Porter Superior Court of the murder of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup in May 1924. It was the third time McCabe faced a local jury for the crime. In the first trial, the jury returned a disagreement. In the second trial, he was found guilty and given a life sentence. He was granted a new trial by Special Judge W. H. Worden, of LaPorte. In the interval between the second and third trials, Frank Cochrane, the state’s eyewitness for the killing of Fancher, was mysteriously slain while walking home one night.

October 12, 1925

E. E. Shedd, for forty-five years a resident of Porter County, Sunday celebrated his eighty-second birthday anniversary. In honor of the event, twelve members of his family were entertained at a fried-chicken dinner at the home of his son, Roscoe Shedd. Each fall, Shedd migrates south and is now planning to leave soon for Florida to spend the winter.

Members of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club were given the glad news today that Valparaiso electric consumers were to receive a lower rate schedule. The new rates have been approved by the public service commission and have been accepted by the City of Valparaiso. They are expected to result in a material saving to all consumers.

October 13, 1925

Valparaiso experienced a thrill this evening when a large number of officers from Chicago came here with armored cars, machine guns, and sawed-off shotguns looking for Martin Durkin, Chicago bad man and slayer of U.S. Agent Edward Shanahan. According to an aide who was captured in Chicago, Chicago police learned that Durkin was brought to Valparaiso on Monday and unloaded at the corner of Jefferson and Napoleon Streets. It was also learned that he made his way to the Nickel Plate Depot and purchased a ticket for Bellview, Ohio. Heading the Chicago police were Chief of Detectives Shoemaker and Captain Stege.

October 14, 1925

Efforts of William J. Murray, East Chicago attorney, to reopen the case of Milan Vucetich, one of the two 15-year-old East Chicago youths, who two weeks ago were sentenced to the Indiana Boys’ School by Judge H. H. Loring, when they pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of Nelson Reck, at Ogden Dunes, met with a severe rebuke this morning. Attorney Murray claimed the finding of the court was contrary to law and the court had no jurisdiction. Judge Loring informed Attorney Murray that Vucetich pleaded guilty and there was no way whereby a new trial could be granted. Judge Loring finally told Murray to leave his motion with the court, and he would consider the matter and enter his ruling.

October 15, 1925

Chesterton’s bid for a place in the industrial sun was given a rude setback today when it was announced the Fraunfelter China Company plant will be transferred to Zanesville, O., where the company operates another plant. The reason for the change was due to the heavy cost of operating the two plants at a great distance from one another. The company has $300,000 invested in the Chesterton plant, it is said, and this will be sold.

Indiana “Annie” Brown, widow of William T. Brown, who was born in Washington Township to John and Eleanor Shinabargar in 1843, died last evening at 9 o’clock at her home in Washington Township. She had lived in Washington Township all her life.

October 16, 1925

Arthur R. Robinson, of Indianapolis, one of the battery of attorneys for Alex McCabe, Chicago man, acquitted by a Porter Superior Court jury after three trials for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake, more than a year ago, is being mentioned as the successor of United States Senator Samuel M. Ralston, who died recently. Governor Ed Jackson, a Republican, has the power of making the appointment. Robinson was associated with Daniel E. Kelly in the defense of McCabe.

Responding to spirited appeals on the part of Prosecutor W. W. Bozarth and Deputy Prosecutor John P. Crumpacker, a jury in the Porter Circuit Court this morning after fifteen minutes deliberation, returned a verdict finding Simon Oszvar, of South Bend, guilty of reckless driving under the new Indiana statute. Oszvar was fined $100 plus costs and given a thirty-day jail sentence. It was charged that Oszvar drove his machine on the wrong side of the road into a car owned by John Adler, of Chicago, seriously injuring Adler’s wife.

October 17, 1925

Twenty-one additional deputy sheriffs, armed with serviceable Colts, and plenty of ammunition, are now on duty to guard Porter County from attack by bank bandits. Meeting at Valparaiso National Bank on South Washington Street last evening, officers of the newly organized Porter County Bankers’ Protective Association, in which the five banking institutions that are participating joined with the Valparaiso financial institutions in the war against bandits. Sheriff W. B. Forney also officially appointed this new defensive force.

Meeting at the James & LaForce Shoe Store, Friday evening, directors of the newly organized Lincolndale Country Club adopted bylaws and authorized the directors to take necessary steps to purchase the two-hundred-acre farm on West Lincolnway known as the Summer property. By this action, this Summervale County Club passes out of existence and is superseded by the new organization. The Lincolndale Country Club was incorporated Thursday at Indianapolis. Promoters expect a membership of two hundred.

October 18, 1925

Valparaiso University gridders lost to Michigan State Normal at Kalamazoo, Mich., Saturday, 25 to 0. Valparaiso played poorly offensively, never getting within forty yards of Michigan’s goal, and fumbling on almost every occasion when they had a chance to gain ground.

The Valparaiso chapter of the Izaak Walton League today launched a campaign to enroll three-hundred members in the organization. Earl V. Smith is chairman of the membership drive and has secured the cooperation of local business firms to display rally cards and show windows to bring the league’s message to sports lovers and those who like the call of the out-of-doors.

October 19, 1925

Charles E. Norton, of Valparaiso, was one of two men selected to act as delegates to the Moose Lodge convention to be held at Terre Haute. The selections were made at a district meeting held at Michigan City. Richard Smith, of Valparaiso, was nominated for Guiding Post and will be a candidate at the annual election to be held in Hammond this December.

Charles S. Pierce, local insurance agent, was host to a party of his old friends at a dinner held last night at Hotel Lembke. Covers were laid for twenty-two. Pierce brought to memory some striking incident in the life of each of his guests who, in turn, responded to his challenge to defend themselves.

October 20, 1925

A capacity crowd heard the concert by the United States Marine Band given at Valparaiso University’s auditorium this evening. A good-sized crowd attended the afternoon matinee. The band was brought here by the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks through the efforts of Congressman Will R. Wood.

October 21, 1925

Porter County G.O.P. leaders do not take kindly to Governor Ed Jackson’s action in naming Arthur R. Robinson as United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel M. Ralston. Many of them denounced the appointment as a “play of politics.” One Republican spokesman hinted that by naming Robinson instead of Albert J. Beveridge, the governor had made a bitter Republican primary fight next year inevitable. While the Porter County reaction was not directed against Robinson personally, except that all questioned his fitness, it did point out that the governor made a bungle of the situation, a bungle that would split the lines of party harmony. Ever since Jackson turned down the measure that would have made Valparaiso University a state normal school, Porter County Republicans have been lukewarm against him.

October 22, 1925

The Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the promotion of the organization of any financial institution such as a bank, trust company, or savings and loan association where there is a promotion fee attached, according to an announcement by the directors. This was forthcoming after it was stated that Valparaiso had been picked as one of the cities in which a Mutual Building and Loan Association would be organized. Investigation has developed that this type of organization has been driven out of both Michigan and Ohio, due to passage of adverse legislation.

A reception was held in the parlors of the Valparaiso Methodist Episcopal Church last night in honor of Rev. Frank R. Briggs, the new pastor, and his family. R. C. Higley acted as chairman. Talks were made by Revs. C. W. Wharton, E. R. Edwards, and W. W. Ayer. Rev. Briggs made a response. Musical numbers were rendered by Hollene Whitaker, Vernal Sheets and Frank Wilson.

October 23, 1925

The two-story structure on West Lincolnway, occupied by the Chevrolet Auto Sales Company, was completely gutted by fire early this morning, causing a property loss estimated at $55,000. The blaze is believed to have originated from a short in one of the fourteen used cars stored in the garage and storage department. The building is owned by Roy Ross, who estimates his loss as $30,000. Milton J. Take, president of the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company, figures his loss at $25,000. Six new Chevrolet cars in the display window were destroyed. The Messenger building next door was slightly damaged. Twelve years ago, the Frank A. Turner buggy plant, which occupied the Ross building, was destroyed by fire. Following this, the property was sold to R. D. Ross, father of the present owner.

Bringing action under the Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act, Violet Farnum, widow of Edward Farnum, Hotel Lembke employee, who lost his life in an elevator tragedy on September 2, 1924, today presented her case before Edgar Perkins, member of the Indiana Industrial Board. If her claim is allowed, Farnum will recover around $4,000 under the compensation act.

October 24, 1925

The Valparaiso City Council was told that the city needs a greater firefighting force by Alderman Samuel E. Collins at the regular meeting last night. The second ward councilman declared that four regular firemen and twelve volunteers could not successfully combat a fire like the one that destroyed the Valparaiso Auto Sales Company, Chevrolet distributors, Friday morning, causing a loss of $55,000. Collins’ assertion was made after Fire Chief W. B. Forney made a request for two-hundred feet of new hose and a dozen rubber coats.

Valparaiso University gridders went down to their third defeat of the season Friday when they suffered a 24-to-0 setback at the hands of St. Viator College. In the first game against the Notre Dame freshmen, the locals lost 20 to 0 and followed the loss with a 25-to-0 licking at the hands of Kalamazoo State Normal. Powell, one of the Valparaiso regulars, sustained injuries that may prove serious.

October 25, 1925

Bidding his Valparaiso and Hobart congregations farewell, Rev. G. Taylor Griffith, priest in charge of the two Episcopal churches, Sunday delivered his last addresses. Forced to quit the pulpit for at least the winter season, Rev. Griffith departed today for the Pacific Northwest where he will spend the winter months. He will be succeeded here by Rev. Arthur Worger-Slade, of Peru, Ind.

Sunday marked the third year of the pastorate here of Rev. Chester W. Wharton, pastor of Valparaiso’s Presbyterian Church. With Dr. J. M. Gelston, now of Alma, Mich., former pastor of the church, in the pulpit, for both morning and evening services, good congregations were on hand in honor of the occasion.

October 26, 1925

“Taxation is the most important public issue before the American people. Like the tariff, it is not – and should not – be a political football, but such they have been made by the politicians and such they seem likely to remain." This was the keynote statement of Congressman Will R. Wood before the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club and guests at the regular meeting of the club at Philley’s cafeteria this Noon.

October 27, 1925

While Valparaiso is inactive as far as political battles are concerned, Chesterton and Kouts are waging red hot scraps between rival candidates for town offices to be filled on November 3. The most intense struggle is being carried on at Chesterton where it is said a record vote will be cast. The only political happening in Valparaiso is that Congressman Will R. Wood will deliver an address at Memorial Opera House on Wednesday evening.

October 28, 1925

Eugene T. Funk, for seventeen years superintendent of the Porter County Infirmary, died Tuesday at his home at Hillcrest, Flint Lake. He served as head of the county infirmary from 1907 until 1924. Funeral services were held this evening at the Elks’ Temple with Elk officials in charge. Rev. C. W. Wharton preached the funeral sermon.

With the Rt. Rev. John W. Noll, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne, presiding, assisted by Rev. J. Loche, of Knox, and Rev. W. Bone, of Lucerne, as deacon and subdeacon, and Rev. E. J. Mungovan, pastor of St. Paul’s Church as master of ceremonies, a class of sixty-seven was confirmed in the faith of the church in splendid and impressive ceremonies in St. Paul’s Church Tuesday evening.

October 29, 1925

Congressman Will R. Wood addressed a large gathering at Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso last night. He predicted that Calvin Coolidge would be the only man to ever hold the office of president for ten years. He advocated the two-party system Republican and Democrat and pointed out Germany’s plight with her score or more of parties. Candidates in the coming city election occupied the stage. Congressman Wood was introduced by Celista “Lizzie” Boucher.

More than five hundred Valparaiso people viewed Uncle Sam’s latest “Big Bertha” today at the Pennsylvania Railroad opposite the Three Trails Garage when the big gun stopped here on its way to Fort MacArthur, California. The gun is ninety-three feet and three inches in length and weighs 730,000 pounds. It is capable of firing a projectile weighing 1,560 pounds a distance of twenty-five miles.

October 30, 1925

The Rev. William Ward Ayer, pastor of Valparaiso’s Baptist Church, will have some of the burdens of an extremely active ministry removed from his shoulders by secretarial assistance provided to him by the church board. Some time ago, Rev. Ayer informed the church board that he had too many details to look after and this detracted from the more important business of the church. The board agreed and arranged to employ a secretary.

The Rev. Arthur Worger-Slade, who was recently appointed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Campbell Gray to succeed the Rev. Father Griffith as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, arrived today and assumed the oversight of the parish.

October 31, 1925

Sheriff W. B. Forney was on the jump yesterday and today. He was called to Porter last night by reports that two gunmen had robbed the E. J. & E. Depot at Porter, obtaining a goodly sum of money from the trainmen and the station agent. Search of all trains failed to find trace of the men. Returning to Valparaiso, the sheriff got word that a man answering the description of Martin Durkin, Chicago killer, had been seen in Jackson Township. Sheriff Forney overtook the suspect near Woodville but found that he had made a wild goose chase.

Because he was favorably impressed with the ability of Attorney Oliver M. Loomis, junior member of the law firm of Kelley & Loomis, with whom he associated in the last trial of Alex McCabe, who was acquitted of the murder of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, Attorney Arthur R. Robinson, of Indianapolis, appointed by Governor Ed Jackson as United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel M. Ralston, has asked Loomis to take over his extensive practice in Indianapolis. Attorney Loomis is in Indianapolis to consider the proposition.

Looking Back • September 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

 September 1, 1925

The Foster Lumber and Coal Company is tearing up the old limestone sidewalk along the east side of the Meagher Drug Store in Valparaiso to make way for a new cement one. County Highway Superintendent Joseph Crowe and a force of men are taking out the old blocks of stone and moving them to the Grand Trunk yard to be used in construction of abutments for bridges.

September 2, 1925

Four of the nine delinquents in the matter of dog taxes who failed to pay up this year and whose names were certified to the prosecutor for prosecution, have paid up their taxes at the county auditor’s office. Two delinquents mailed checks to the county clerk who turned them over to the auditor. Unless the five others make their payment, cases will be filed against them in the circuit court.

September 3, 1925

The rear end of the building occupied by the Szold Department Store, under which a force of workmen has been excavating a basement, collapsed this morning at 8 o’clock while workmen were engaged in digging near the foundation walls. Lives of a number of workers were saved by the presence of mind of James Urbahns, who noticed a cave in around the walls and warned diggers of their danger. All got out in safety. Workmen tried to reinforce the wall but were unable to save the wall. About thirty feet of wall collapsed.

September 4, 1925

Work on construction of 1,000 feet of new fence at the entrance to the Porter County Fairgrounds was completed yesterday afternoon. The fence is woven with steel posts and is six feet in height. An appropriation of $1,300 was made recently by the Porter County Commissioners to defray the cost of the present construction.

William Schultz, age 54 years, a prominent farmer residing one mile west of Deep River, was killed at 1 o’clock on Thursday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while crossing the Lincoln Highway. He was driving cows at the time. Schultz died twenty minutes after being removed to his home.

September 5, 1925

The blue and gold flag of the State of Indiana today floats over the first unit of the new Hoosier state park in the Dunes. The flag of Indiana has been placed atop the newly christened Mount Tom, formerly known as Mount Green, and one of the group of three sand mountains that eventually will be within the park area. The mount is on the 120-acre tract for which the state already has received a deed. It was purchased from John O. Bowers, of Gary, for $32,000.

September 6, 1925

Hebron’s American Legion Post, which sponsored the homecoming celebration of last Friday and Saturday, had a break of luck. The heavy rain last Friday and Saturday added $500 to the bank account because of a rain insurance policy. The weather cleared in time, however, for the big program of Saturday evening and about 1,000 attended. The post officers will meet Thursday evening to count up the profit.

Wray Short, of Chicago, was drowned Sunday at Long Lake. Short was diving from a boat and is believed to have suffered cramps. The drowning occurred near the Fernekes’ Hotel, and companions of Short did not discover his disappearance for some time. A search failed to find the body until several hours afterward when it was discovered entangled in the weeds. Short is also said to have suffered from heart trouble.

September 7, 1925

Edward Ferenc, manager of the White Front Garage, will attempt to swim from Waverly Beach to Michigan City next Sunday morning. This is a stretch of eleven miles. Ferenc has many times covered a similar distance in inland lakes. A big crowd will be on hand to watch his progress. He will be accompanied by Michigan City lifeguards.

John G. Marks, local fireman, left this morning for Evansville, Ind., to attend the state convention of Indiana firemen. Over 1,000 delegates are expected to attend the meeting. The convention will last three days.

September 8, 1925

John Dinse, of Morgan Township, is building a new chicken house that will be one of the finest in this section. He has visited a number of model houses within a radius of 250 miles and will embody all the various features found by him in his travels in his new house. The structure will be 100’ x 20’ with ten compartments and a complete water system. The house will have a capacity of 1,000 birds.

September 9, 1925

Dogs in Porter County continued their nefarious operations of killing sheep and poultry of the farmer throughout the county during the month of August, according to claims filed with the Porter County Commissioners. Six claims amounting to $170.50 were allowed by the board. During July, about $200 in claims were filed with the board and allowed at the August meeting. The money paid comes from the surplus dog fund which comes through the payment of dog taxes.

September 10, 1925

The Valparaiso-Chesterton Highway is included in the tentative mileage to be taken over and included in the state highway system for 1926. Members of the state highway commission informed W.C. Sutter, secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, while in the city during court litigation in connection with the improvement of Indianapolis Boulevard. Nothing, however, can be done until 1926, Sutter was told.

A petition has been filed with the Porter County Commissioners for the extension and widening of Waverly Road, leading from the concrete to Dunes Highway in north Porter County. The plan is to make the highway eighty feet wide. G. E. Bornholt, F. W. Alpen, and C. S. Pierce, named by the commissioners as viewers, returned a favorable report on the road, so the commissioners will probably order its establishment, subject to the approval of the Indiana Public Service Commission, which will be called upon to act as the highway crosses several railroads.

September 11, 1925

A miniature cyclone passed through the southern part of Porter County this afternoon during a heavy electrical storm and caused a considerable amount of property damage, but no loss of life. The twister traversed a strip of territory in the vicinity of the Morgan Township Consolidated School. The greatest amount of damage was done at the William Bochtler farm, about a mile east of the school, where a heavy wind demolished several buildings, tore off a portion of the house, and uprooted shade and fruit trees. Eight years ago, a cyclone wrought havoc to life and property in the Hebron and Kouts districts.

A deposit of $79,000 was made with J. F. Wild and Company at Indianapolis by the Lutheran University Association to retire preferred stock of the Valparaiso Realty Company, owners of the property housing Valparaiso University, according to an announcement made today by Rev. J. C. Baur, of Fort Wayne, President of the Valparaiso University Association, operating company for the Lutheran University Association. This practically completes the deal whereby the Lutherans assume control of the local institution of learning, a deal which has been pending for three months. Contracts have already been let to local firms for rehabilitating the buildings in time for opening on September 28. Rev. Baur stated today that a campaign has been launched to raise $383,000 from Lutheran members for the school.

September 12, 1925

Lizzie Boucher will give an inspirational talk on the new university as a headliner on the program to be broadcast by Radio Station WRBC, of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Valparaiso, on the evening of September 14. Other features of the program will consist of vocal music by Lillian Sayers and Marie Yost, and an organ number by Ruth Hershman.

The body washed up on the shore at Lake Michigan, off Dunes Park beach yesterday morning was identified by two Chicago men as Victor Bacon, age 22, Chicago dental student at Northwestern University. Bacon was a member of a party of eighteen young people from Chicago who went to Dunes Park beach to visit over Labor Day. Bacon mysteriously disappeared while swimming with a girl companion. The latter was rescued by Carl Passage, of Hammond, who saw her sinking. When revived, the girl told rescuers to save Victor. A reward of $100 was offered for the recovery of the body of Bacon, and Passage, on the lookout, came across the body after it had washed ashore. Coroner A. O. Dobbins held an inquest, and the body was sent to Chicago.

September 13, 1925

While Ray Knight, spitball artist, was pitching airtight ball, allowing only four hits, his teammates on the Valpo Moose baseball team were touching up Richey, of Wheatfield, for 22 hits, resulting in sixteen runs. The Moose team made seven runs in the first inning and then took things easy. Knight allowed four hits and three runs.

The sixteenth annual reunion of the Pennsylvania Western Veterans’ Association was held here Saturday at Elks Temple. One hundred-and-ninety-eight members of the association attended. Two special trains conveyed veterans and officials here. At 6 o’clock, a chicken dinner was served by the Vivian Society. This is the fourth time the association has met here. Byron Holmes, of Fort Wayne, was named president of the association.

September 14, 1925

The fact that he drove a span of mules eighteen miles through Monday’s rain and mud to bring the calf his grandson had raised to the fairgrounds for exhibit, caused officials of the Porter County Fair to award “Grandpa” James Carver, of Pine Township, the title of “The Most Loyal Fair Booster.” “Grandpa” Carver is 76 years of age.

September 15, 1925

Pointing out how the Grand Trunk water tank is located on the east side of the Calumet Avenue crossing in Valparaiso, eastbound trains are forced to stop in such manner as to completely block the right-of-way and delay north and south automobile traffic. Officials of the local chamber have called attention to this nuisance and offer the suggestion that, by moving the tank to the west side of the crossing, the annoyance would be overcome.

September 16, 1925

An enumeration of voters in Porter County recently taken shows a total of 6,295, according to announcement made today by B. H. Kinne, county auditor. Center Township leads with 2,485, followed by Westchester Township with 1,095. There are two people of color on the voter list, both in Union Township.

Charles Pratt Post, American Legion, and the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club joined in a meeting last night at Hotel Lembke in honor of “Constitution Night.” Thomas McConnell, of Fowler, state commander of the American Legion, was the main speaker.

September 17, 1925

Don E. Turner, farmer, residing southwest of Hebron, is in a critical condition today after a twenty-four-hour fight to survive the effects of burns sustained late Tuesday night. Turner was attempting to fill the gas tank of his automobile while the engine was running, and an explosion resulted. Enveloped by flames, Turner flung himself on the ground and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Physicians worked for two hours treating the burns. The truck and load were totally destroyed.

For a third time in as many years, Frank A. LePell, local undertaker, heads the Funeral Directors’ Association of the Fifth District. LePell was given the honor at the convention held at Rensselaer on Wednesday.

September 18, 1925

Lillian Newsom, nurse at the Christian Hospital in Valparaiso, was the victim of three youthful, masked men near the Traeger Crossing, near the Lake-Porter County line, between Hobart and Wheeler, early Thursday evening. The thieves were somewhat abashed when they discovered their victim was a woman and only made a hasty search of her pocketbook. They took some currency, but overlooked a salary check and her diamond rings in a small coin purse.

Joseph C. Griffin, son of Joseph and Jennie Griffin, of Valparaiso, died suddenly last night at his room in the Hotel Wilmot, in Chicago, according to word received here. He was a plasterer by trade. Surviving are the widow, parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

September 19, 1925

J. W. Morland, former registrar at Valparaiso University, has returned to Valparaiso to reside. Morland will move his family here from Tennessee, where he has been teaching at Memorial University. Leaving here, Morland went to Monmouth, Ill., where he was employed as registrar for two years. Then he went to Chicago, entering Chicago University, and received his Doctor of Law degree. He will come to Valparaiso as assistant to Dean M. J. Bowman, of the School of Law. Prof. VonHolst, the former assistant, will go to Chicago to practice law.

Charles Celeste, the “rube” tight wire walker whose act has been entertaining hundreds of spectators at the Porter County Fair during the week, was injured Friday afternoon when he tried to pull his stunt. With the eyes of the crowd upon him, Celeste missed his step and crashed to the ground, dislocating a shoulder.

September 20, 1925

Officer J. W. Riley, specifically appointed as a Valparaiso traffic cop, today resigned his position. He left his star and “equipment” on Chief Brown’s desk and took his leave. He was engaged for a period of three months. He expects to visit relatives in Hammond and then take his family to California.

Porter County Superintendent of Schools Fred H. Cole spoke before the closing session of the Newton County Union Church services held in Morocco on Sunday and had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with Rev. J. A. Lord, pastor of the Methodist church there, and former pastor of the Hebron church.

September 21, 1925

At a meeting of the Valparaiso High School Athletic Association this afternoon in the high school auditorium, William Allerton was elected Freshman captain, and Gordon Durand, freshman manager; Harry Agnew, sophomore captain, and Howard Moltz, sophomore manager; Harry Lytle, junior captain, and Foster Fairchild, junior manager; Fred White, senior captain, and Charles Stinchfield, senior manager.

Adding to his lists of accomplishments, Porter County Agent A. Z. Arehart last night acted as announcer for Radio Station WRBC. In addition to a splendid musical program given by local artists, Dean M. J. Bowman, of the Valparaiso University law department, gave a survey of the courses of study for the coming term.

September 22, 1925

Beginning its thirty-first year of work, the Valparaiso Woman’s Club recently dedicated its new home – the former Dr. D. J. Loring property at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso – in fitting exercises. The building will be known as the Sarah Porter Kinsey Memorial. A fine program was given, featuring a dedicatory address by Eva Bondy.

September 23, 1925

Valparaiso today mourned the death of E. Leslie Loomis, superintendent of the Valparaiso Home Water Company and secretary of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, who died Tuesday at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 o’clock at the Christian church, with Rev. Edwards officiating.

September 24, 1925

Valparaiso taxpayers will be called upon to pay $4 for every $100 of taxable property in 1926, according to an estimate given today by B. H. Kinne, county auditor. This is a reduction of $.22 over the current rate. The reduction will mean little by way of saving to local property owners, as the state tax board increased local valuations by $1,500,000. The Valparaiso Civil City rate was cut from $1.14 to $.98. The Valparaiso School City rate was cut one cent from $1.85 to $1.84.

Valparaiso bespoke the love and esteem in which it held E. L. Loomis this afternoon when, with every major mercantile and business house in the city closed during the funeral hour, a crowd that packed the First Christian Church turned out to pay last respects to a man they held as a friend and leader. A wealth of flowers surrounded the pulpit platform from which Rev. E. Richard Edwards delivered a touching and impressive eulogy.

September 25, 1925

Alex McCabe, Chicago gangster, will face trial for the third time in Porter Superior Court on Monday, and jury commissioners Paul Nuppnau and E. J. Gardner will, on Saturday, draw a special venire of one-hundred talesman for the selection of a jury to try the Chicago man for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Crown Point in May 1924. In the first trial, the jury disagreed, and in the second, McCabe was found guilty and given a life term. He was granted a new trial by Special Judge W. H. Worden, of LaPorte.

Twenty candidates have turned out for positions on the Valparaiso University football team and Coach Millard Anderson is attempting to mold a team from a large amount of new material. A number of last year’s team have not shown up as of yet but are expected to be back in time for the opening game.

September 26, 1925

Herman Hagen’s fifty years of odd fellowship were fittingly observed by members of the Odd Fellow and Rebeka Lodges in a program Friday evening. “Colonel” Hagen was congratulated upon reaching his ninety-first year. On behalf of the local lodge, Charles Mackay presented Hagen with a bill book. Flowers were also presented.

Prospects for a big enrollment at Valparaiso today appeared very bright. Students are coming in fast, and many are expected all of next week. Catherine Corboy and the rest of the office force are being kept busy registering students and giving information. Altruria and Lembke Halls are prepared to receive girl students. All sororities will be abolished this year and all girls attending school will be expected to room at one of the two dormitories.

September 27, 1925

Bidding against five competitors, none of them local, the Fletcher-American Company, of Indianapolis, today was successful in buying the $24,400 bond issue on the Frame Road now being constructed of gravel by the McGillicuddy Contracting Company, of Valparaiso. The bonds brought a premium of $259.85 and will be marketed to yield 4.25%. Porter County Treasurer William O. McGinley was in charge of the sale.

The case of Edward Beverly, of Lake County, has been filed in Porter Circuit Court on a change of venue from Lake County. Beverly is alleged to have shot and killed Lige King on May 8, 1924.

September 28, 1925

Valparaiso was stunned early today by the sudden death of Mannie Albe, local hotel and restaurant proprietor. He died while conversing with his wife at the breakfast table. He had not complained of feeling bad prior to the attack. For nearly a quarter of a century, Albe was in the restaurant and hotel business in Valparaiso. The widow and two sons and two brothers survive.

Reports that Dr. H. M. Evans was to be succeeded as president of Valparaiso University by Dr. W. H. T. Dau, of St. Louis, Mo., and that Rev. John C. Baur, of Fort Wayne, is to become vice-president and business manager, is being rumored today throughout the city. Official confirmation at university offices could not be obtained, though Dr. Evans informed that eventually a man would be selected to succeed him.

September 29, 1925

Fourteen Porter County chicken fanciers attended the poultry tour to Purdue University. The day was an ideal one and the trip profitable, the only thing to mar it being a slight automobile mishap at DeMotte, while enroute home, when the car, driven by Porter County Agent A. Z. Arehart, skidded on loose gravel and turned over completely. The only injuries received by the occupants of the car were scratches on Lena Sievers. Other occupants of the car were Minta Pierce and Mildred Gallaher.

September 30, 1925

Examination of jurymen for the trial of Alex McCabe, Chicago gangster on trial in Porter Superior Court before Judge H. L. Crumpacker, is being conducted by Arthur Robinson, well-known attorney of Indianapolis, who has been added to the battery of attorneys representing McCabe. Robinson is a former state senator from Marion County.

Looking Back • August 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

August 1, 1925

Porter County Auditor B. H. Kinne received word today from the Indiana Board of Tax Commissioners ordering Porter County taxing officers to meet immediately and a revision upward of valuations fixed by the special assessment survey that ended three weeks ago. The recent assessment showed a loss of $600,000 on local taxables.

Making final plans to protect Porter County banks from attacks of bandits, members of the newly organized Porter County Bankers’ Protective Association, headed by T. L. Applegate, assistant cashier of the Valparaiso National Bank, met with Sheriff W. B. Forney at Elks Temple Friday night and drew up a plan of organization. Under the plan, eighteen social deputies will be selected. Each will be armed and will have to pass a marksmanship test.

August 2, 1925

Charles Claudy, Grand Trunk railroad employee, who has been transferred to Battle Creek, Mich., has sold his Valparaiso residence, 1113 North Franklin Street, to Howard and Della LePell.

Application of owners of Ogden Dunes, one of the newer developments along the Lake Michigan shoreline, for incorporation as a town, now pending before the Porter County Commissioners, is being opposed by the New York Central Railroad, which has filed a remonstrance petition.

August 3, 1925

Walter N. Shook, for the past six years a salesman for the United States Rubber Company, will open up a tire and accessory store at 118 East Lincolnway, to be known as the Valparaiso Tire Market.

August 4, 1925

What is believed to have been an attempt to steal narcotics from the office of Dr. C. H. DeWitt was frustrated Monday evening about 6:40 o’clock when Dr. DeWitt caught an intruder in his office. The man told the doctor he was looking for the legion doctor. When he was gone, Dr. DeWitt discovered the office had been broken into, so he notified Sheriff W. B. Forney. The man, who had been hanging around Valparaiso for a few days, was taken into custody.

August 5, 1925

All facts are agreed upon by all parties and negotiations are complete awaiting signatures. The deal is expected to be complete Friday of this week. This was the word given to members and students of Valparaiso University at the regular weekly chapel exercises held this morning. Wallace C. Sutter, secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, imparted the information following a visit to Fort Wayne where he conferred with officials of the Lutheran University Association, representatives of the Brown family, and banking interests.

Close bidding marked the awarding of contracts by the Porter County Commissioners Tuesday afternoon for the construction of a number of gravel roads in the county. C.T. Eadus, of Kouts, captured the Biggart Road in Pleasant Township at a bid of $19,450, just $19 below the bid of Albert Keen. William St. Clair, of Valparaiso, got the Scofield Road in Portage Township at a bid of $51,000. Ray DeMass took the Nicholson Road at $19,220, or $2,840 below the next bidder. Gerald McGillicuddy was the low bidder on the McCord Road at $17,400, $380 below the next bidder. O. E. Nichols, of Hebron, was awarded the Burns Ditch bridge on the Scofield Road at $17,732.

August 6, 1925

The boosting of city and town tax valuations thirty-three and a third percent by the state tax board will result in Valparaiso becoming a fourth-class city, according to Mayor Edgerton W. Agar. The tax boost is expected to raise the city’s valuation over the $7.5M mark, which would automatically place it in fourth-class ranking. A number of changes in city government will result. Control of the police department will pass from the mayor to a board of public works; the mayor will not serve as city judge unless appointed by the council by ordinance, and the board of public works must be appointed at salaries unless the council decides to take over the duties of the board.

Fire on Wednesday evening, believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion, destroyed the big barn on the farm of Ira Biggs six miles north of Valparaiso, on the Chesterton Road. Horses and livestock were saved, but a large amount of grain was burned. The loss is estimated at $7,500.

August 7, 1925

Paul E. Marks, exalted ruler of Valparaiso Lodge of Elks, returning from the national meeting of the Elks at Portland, Oregon, told members of the lodge at the regular meeting Thursday night that all of the grand lodge officers, with exception of W. H. Atwell, grand exalted ruler, would attend the state convention to be held here when the local lodge dedicates its new lodge building. Marks also stated that he expected 5,000 Elks and their wives here for the convention.

Virginia Fisher, of Valparaiso High School, and Robert Quinn, of Boone Grove, have been awarded scholarships at the University of Indiana. Award is made on standings and general school record. Porter County Superintendent of Schools Fred H. Cole made the announcement.

August 8, 1925

Nine big tents have been erected at Wauhob Lake to shelter the 250 boys and girls from Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties who will attend the annual 4-H club camp to be held next week. The enrollment, according to Porter County Agent A. Z. Arehart, is more than 100 over last year’s total.

Porter County Auditor B. H. Kinne is expected to complete the revision of taxable valuations in Valparaiso and towns of the county today and forward the revised tax abstract to the state board at Indianapolis. While some counties have stood out or compromised with the state tax board’s orders, Porter County fully complied with the edict. The increased valuation will place the city in a fourth-class ranking, giving the city an advantage in floating a bond issue for a new school building and making a number of changes in the city government.

August 9, 1925

Boone Grove defeated Kouts 9 to 3 on Sunday. Boone Grove had a number of new players in its lineup, while Kouts used local players. G. Maloney for Boone Grove struck out thirteen batters. Link, for Kouts, pitched good ball, but was accorded poor support, seven errors being made behind him.

Attorneys Ira C. Tilton and J. S. Bartholomew are to have joint offices. Workmen are making necessary alterations in the Western Union building on North Washington Street. Tilton moves across the hall to the Bartholomew rooms, and Frank A. Turner takes over Tilton’s former quarters.

August 10, 1925

With the holding of the annual state convention of Indiana Elks here next week, Valparaiso Elks officials announced that open house would be held on Friday afternoon and evening when the new $150,000 building of the lodge will be available for inspection by the public.

Members of the board of trustees of Valparaiso University today paid tribute to the late George F. Beach, a member of the body for a number of years, in a resolution adopted by the governing body made public today. Beach died last month while on a pleasure trip in Canada.

August 11, 1925

I. Newton Perry, a wealthy Chicago club man, who was stopped on Dunes Highway some three weeks ago and three pints of liquor found in his automobile, surrendered to Sheriff W. B. Forney here yesterday. The sheriff went to Chicago to serve a warrant on Perry but the latter was out of the city. When he returned from New York, he learned of the sheriff’s visit and came here and said he was ready to face the charge. He was released under a $3,000 bond for a hearing in September.

August 12, 1925

A message received here last night about midnight from Fort Wayne that the Lutheran University Association had closed the deal with Valparaiso University officials for the taking over the Valparaiso University. When the message was received here the college and Immanuel Lutheran church bells were tolled and an automobile parade formed. The paraders serenaded the homes of President H. M. Evans and members of the board of trustees of the school. Later a wire was received from Dr. John C. Baur, of Fort Wayne, acting secretary of the Lutheran University Association, informed the local board of trustees to go ahead and announce that the university will open its fifty-third year on September 28.

August 13, 1925

C. D. Fouts, former commercial instructor in Valparaiso High School, has accepted a position as principal of the high school at Eaton Township, Indiana. Twenty instructors and six-hundred pupils are under his supervision. A new addition is under construction.

Attorney A. D. Bartholomew, age 83 years, former judge of Porter Circuit Court, and mayor of Valparaiso, died this morning at his home here following a stroke suffered six weeks ago. He was born in Morgan Township, Porter County, on May 20, 1843. He began practicing law in Valparaiso in 1866.

August 14, 1925

Mrs. Joseph Lovrish, wife of the city garbage collector, died last evening at Christian Hospital of a broken neck suffered in a fall from a wagon while riding with her son Joseph, near the corner of Garfield Avenue and Jefferson Street in Valparaiso. The mishap occurred when the son arose from a board on which he and his mother were sitting, and the latter lost her balance and fell off. The son was collecting garbage at the time.

Waverly Beach settlement is still up in the air over what is believed to have been a lake tragedy Wednesday evening. So far, a search by a Michigan City life-saving crew, which joined the hunt Thursday, has failed to clear up the mystery. Porter County officers are likewise mystified. Report is that a man riding in a canoe capsized. While a man on shore went after help, the man disappeared. No reports of missing men have been made to Porter County Coroner A. O. Dobbins.

August 15, 1925

More than 4,000 persons inspected the new Elks Temple building last night. The affair sponsored by Elk officials was a great success. The guests were ushered about the building by members of the various committees. The lodge building was prettily decorated with flowers. Music was furnished by the Collegian Orioles Orchestra, and a mixed quartet composed of Bessie Fisher, Mabel Nixon, Frank Wilson, and Dr. C. L. Bartholomew. Over 1,500 roses were presented to lady guests.

“California Joe Gans,” lightweight boxing champion, now holds forth at the Lake Eliza arena as trainer for Archie “Kid” Cain, who is to be featured in one of the Elks picnic bouts of next Thursday. Gans trained Carpentier for his fight with Tom Gibbons at Michigan City. Boxing matches are scheduled at Lake Eliza each evening.

August 16, 1925

With practically every landowner going to the polls yesterday, Ogden Dunes voters went on record as unanimously favoring incorporation. Twenty-four ballots were cast to make the lake-edge development a town. The result of the election will be officially presented to the county commissioners at a special session this afternoon.

Valparaiso Lodge of Moose played San Pierre Sunday afternoon at San Pierre and came off with the long end of a 9-to-0 score. Ray Knight allowed San Pierre only two hits, both by E. Eckert, the San Pierre pitcher.

August 17, 1925

Paying a visit to his boyhood town where he received his early schooling, and where he later taught in the little country school, Superintendent of Schools C. W. Boucher, Lizzie Boucher, and daughter Martha, have returned from Napoleon, O. Boucher was sorely disappointed at the sights he beheld. Instead of the little old log schoolhouse, the site was occupied by a new building. The complexion of the town had changed so that Boucher scarcely recognized it.

A big extra edition of The Torch, Valparaiso University publication, has been placed in the mails, 2,500 going to high school graduates in this section. Dr. H. M. Evans, president of the school, reports a splendid response. As many as twenty-five requests for catalogues are received daily from persons who plan to enroll for the fall term.

August 18, 1925

Bruce Campbell, of East St. Louis, Mo., former Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge, dedicated the new lodge temple of Valparaiso Elks today in fitting ceremonies. Acting on behalf of Grand Exalted Ruther William H. Atwell, of Dallas, Texas, who was unable to attend, Campbell officially received the temple for the grand lodge and then turned over the keys of the lodge room to Julius Albe, of Valparaiso, trustee of the Indiana Elks’ Association who received it on behalf of that organization. A dedicatory banquet was held last night at Altruria Hall. Speakers included former Mayor P. L. Sisson and Grand Trustee Robert Scott.

August 19, 1925

A twenty-room hotel for tourists is now under construction on Dunes Highway in the Pines subdivision in Pine Township, Porter County. The building is to be brick and to cost $50,000. The Mid-City Realty Company, of Gary, is said to be promoting the project.

August 20, 1925

Between 1,000 and 1,200 persons, Porter County Farm Bureau members and friends braved the risk of a threatening storm, that fortunately failed to materialize and journeyed to Wauhob Lake today to participate in the annual picnic and outing. Former Governor W. L. Harding, of Iowa, spoke on the importance of the construction of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Deep Waterway. Following Harding’s talk, the afternoon was spent in games and sports.

Upwards of 1,500 Elks participated in the parade last night climaxing the closing events of the Indiana Elks’ Association convention here. The East Chicago band won the band contest; LaPorte lodge, the parade floats; and the Noblesville team the ritualistic work.

August 21, 1925

Enthusiastically sounding praises of Valparaiso as a convention city and Valparaiso lodge as official hosts, officials of the Indiana Elks Association and the visiting lodgemen departed homeward Thursday night and this morning pronouncing the three-day convention just concluded “the best in the history of the association.” The attendance at the convention was not as large as we expected. Many, it is said, did not come here because they thought the city could not offer ample accommodations.

Four changes in the teaching personnel of the Porter County schools were announced today by Fred H. Cole, county superintendent. A. E. Steele succeeds C. H. Reider at Hebron; Guy Vaughn, formerly of Boone Grove, goes to Kouts in place of J. H. Baker; E. H. Mandell goes to Boone Grove, and Hazel Bockelman replaces W. L. Welch at Liberty Center.

August 22, 1925

Thieves entered the Associated Physicians’ office over the Palace Confectionery in Valparaiso sometime between Noon on Thursday and Friday morning and took $50 in gold leaf and valuable dental work. No trace of the robbers has been found.

Valparaiso Mayor Edgerton W. Agar today congratulated the citizens of Valparaiso on the manner in which they co-operated in entertaining the visiting Elks and their families by caring for the overflow from the hotels in their homes and the business houses for their part in decorating for the convention. City police and Pennsylvania Railroad police were also praised by Dr. C. L. Bartholomew, parade chairman, for their assistance during the three-day convention.

August 23, 1925

Former Mayor P. L. Sisson has presented a $1,000 Elks building bond to the Valparaiso Woman’s Club. In presenting the bond, Sisson paid high tribute to the efforts of Lizzie Boucher as one of the moving factors in the development and establishment of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club. Sisson also emphasized her labors to commemorate the memory of Sarah Porter Kinsey by founding the club’s home in quarters formerly occupied by the Elks Lodge as club rooms.

Fire today swept over five-hundred acres of the Wolf tract, owned by Glen Robbins, three miles southeast of McCool, charring the land and destroying a large amount of timber. Farmers of the neighborhood fought the blaze and succeeded in extinguishing it.

August 24, 1925

Valparaiso bankers today went on record as opposing the pardoning of former Governor Warren T. McCray from a federal prison in Atlanta, Ga. Those who expressed themselves against releasing the former governor were A. A. Hughart, C. W. Benton, Paul Nuppnau, and E. J. Gardner.

Through an increase in taxable valuation, Valparaiso now automatically becomes a city of the fourth class. Figures just released show the city has a valuation of $8,400,000 for 1925 in comparison with $7,156,600 in 1924.

August 25, 1925

Officials of the newly formed Valparaiso University Association have exercised several of the options on LaPorte Avenue property. The property will give entrance to the athletic field site.

August 26, 1925

Contractor Gerald McGillicuddy will begin work on the new Wood Street paving job in Valparaiso on Thursday. The local contractor is also engaged to a curb and gutter contract at Chesterton.

August 27, 1925

Great agitation was registered at the Valparaiso Police Department headquarters last evening with the arrival of a mysterious crate. Investigation disclosed, however, that it contained nothing but the long-awaited automatic traffic signal that is to be installed at the corner of Lincolnway and Franklin Street.

Estey Worstell, daughter of A. J. Worstell, of Valparaiso, who has been connected with the Internal Revenue Department at Washington, D.C., has resigned her position to take a position with a real estate firm at Dayton, Florida.

August 28, 1925

Fifty sportsmen attended the picnic held at Wauhob Lake yesterday and enjoyed a fine time. Prosecuting Attorney W. W. Bozarth won the casting contest; Harry Albe and P. J. Bailey, the horseshoe contest; Dr. C. A. Nixon the story telling contest; and Wallace Philley, the prize for the best chef.

Valparaiso City Attorney E. Guy Osborne has a good memory. He went to Gary to attend the sessions of the Indiana Municipal League. When apprised that Governor Jackson was to make an address in the evening, Osborne drew the deadline. “What, a Valparaiso man attend a meeting to hear Gov. Jackson speak? I should say not. All the friends the governor ever had in Valparaiso were lost when he turned down the university project to make the local school a state institution,” Osborne declared.

August 29, 1925

After an absence of nearly fifty years, James C. Owens, of Chicago, is in Valparaiso over the weekend visiting his old friend, Frank Cowdrey, of Weston Avenue. He left Valparaiso in 1867. He built the Cowdrey home, later selling it to Cowdrey. He recalled that the home formerly stood on the outskirts of the city. Like Cowdrey, he has been employed on the Pennsylvania Railroad for over forty years.

September 8 is the date set for the farewell dance of the Mandarin Club at the Elks Temple ballroom. Al Copeland and his famous Rendezvous Orchestra of Chicago will furnish the music.

August 30, 1925

Valparaiso’s board of education, through Arthur A. Hughart, its president, today declared war on abused liberty and license by public school students and placed itself on record as calling a halt on the indulgence by high school attendants of questionable parties and wild wine and liquor drinking escapades. Hughart made his assertion before members of the Valparaiso Rotary Club at their regular weekly Noon-day luncheon. He declared that any boy or girl found guilty of taking part in a wild party, of which there were many last year, would be expelled.

Charles H. Reider, formerly head of the Hebron schools, has been signed to head the San Pierre schools. San Pierre has a new building. Eleven buses haul children to the school.

August 31, 1925

With the State of Indiana now in possession of the first deed, it is believed the entire Dunes Park site may be acquired sooner than was expected. Erection of park structures, perfecting of a regular park organization, and the building of roads and trails through the virgin duneland, will be the next move. Tentative plans of Gov. Jackson and state conservation department officials regarding the improvement of the park, including the erection of a large hotel at Waverly Beach, flanked by cottages supplied with all modern conveniences.

The Valparaiso Moose Baseball team defeated the Crown Point Athletic Club Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds by a score of 5 to 4. Knight for Valparaiso and Pitts for Crown Point pitched fine ball. Wilbur Cowdrey, of the locals, hit a double and triple to lead his teammates. Knight allowed four hits and Pitts allowed five hits.

Looking Back • July 1925

Lembke Hall at Valparaiso University, circa 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

July 1, 1925

Because of numerous deaths among cattle in Porter County, believed due to eating poisoned weeds, county agent A. Z. Arehart and Dr. A. M. Jacoby, federal tuberculosis tester working here, have called upon A. A. Hansen, Purdue University, to make a survey in the county to determine whether poisonous weeds exist, and adopt methods necessary for their eradication.

July 2, 1925

Members of the special state Dunes Park commission named by Governor Ed Jackson are today conferring with property owners in Lake and Porter Counties preliminary to purchasing the acreage for the new state park. Preliminary purchases are expected to be made by the committee. Subsequent purchases of the park acreage will increase it to 2,000 acres. The park will front Lake Michigan for three miles.

J. C. Kline, the first county agent of Porter County, visited here today enroute to Elkhart, Ind., to visit his family. He is now county agent at Belvidere, Boone County, Ill. He resigned here because of ill health.

July 3, 1925

Attorney A. H. Brown, of Indianapolis, today filed a motion with Special Judge George E. Hershman, of Crown Point, in Porter Circuit Court that the judgement of the court be set aside, the guilty plea of the defendant be vacated, and a new trial be granted in the case of Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, sentenced to 190 days at the women’s prison at Indianapolis for liquor law violation. Judge Hershman set the motion down for hearing on July 10.

Charles E. Foster, builder of the new Elks Temple, entertained members of the Elks Lodge in the new temple last evening preceding the regular lodge session. More than 250 members were in attendance. The Apollo Male Quartette of Chicago rendered a fine musical program. Foster was presented with a fine golfing outfit. The new building will be dedicated in August when the state Elks convention is held here.

July 4, 1925

John G. Kirby, age 28, of Gary, drowned today in Lake Eliza, southwest of Valparaiso. Kirby was an insurance salesman and came to Lake Eliza with his family to spend the holiday. It is believed he suffered a stroke. The body was not recovered for six hours.

July 5, 1925

The Valparaiso Moose baseball team was defeated at Kouts on Sunday by a score of 6 to 5. W. Peters, on the mound for the Moose, allowed Kouts only four hits, but errors behind him were costly.

July 6, 1925

The life of Joseph Kassokowski, 72, living on the Dunes Highway, was snuffed out by a South Shore interurban train at Tremont. Kassokowski was crossing the tracks and walked directly in front of the train, according to eyewitnesses.

July 7, 1925

C. B. Bales and Ward Gilbert, field examiners for the state board of accounts, recently arrived here to examine the books and accounts of Porter County township trustees for the years 1923 and 1924. The audit is supposed to be made every year, but by some slip, it passed over until this year.

July 8, 1925

Maheldia Neidermayer, 16-year-old daughter of John and Hedwig Neidermayer, residing near Cook’s Corners, a victim of wanderlust, was found in Chicago on Tuesday. Sheriff W. B. Forney and Deputy Sheriff William Pennington, who following a tip, made a tour of the big city and found their guest. The girl disappeared two weeks ago.

E. L. Loomis, chairman of the county’s Republican central committee, superintendent of the Valparaiso Home Water Company, and secretary of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, is reported critically ill at the home of his brother-in-law, John W. McGinety, in Indianapolis. He is not expected to recover.

July 9, 1925

Valparaiso coal dealers are in good shape to weather a coal strike if it arises, it was learned today. Local dealers state that the public is much concerned about the impending strike. During the last ten days, more orders have been received than all the rest of the season.

Word has been received here from Indianapolis that the condition of E. L. Loomis is somewhat better, though he is still in an unconscious condition. Attorney Oliver Loomis, a son, wired Attorney D. E. Kelly that his father spent a comfortable night.

July 10, 1925

Those in charge of negotiations for the transfer of Valparaiso University to the Lutheran Educational Association stated today they expected decision in the matter within the next few days. “We probably will hear nothing further until the final statement is prepared,” stated Manager W. C. Sutter, of the Valparaiso Chamber.

John and Katie Uehlin, of Flint, Mich., are here for a visit at the E. A. Bell home. They resided in Valparaiso forty-two years ago, at which time Uehlin was employed as a baker in Windle’s Grocery.

July 11, 1925

Special Judge George E. Hershman, of Crown Point, today in the Porter Circuit Court refused a new trial to Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, self-confessed bootlegger, and now serving a six-month sentence at the Indiana women’s prison at Indianapolis. Cassler was represented by Attorney H. A. Brown of Chicago, who submitted three affidavits, all going to the point that the woman was a victim of ill health and of friends who used her as a tool, and was in no manner responsible when she followed advice of her three local attorneys and entered a plea of guilty to violating the prohibition law. Cassler, at the time of her arrest, was alleged to have been working with federal agents. She was backed by Capitola Dilley of Hebron, president of the Porter County Women’s Christian Temprance Union.

B. H. Petty, of Purdue University, concluded his tour of inspection of Porter County highways on Friday by attending a meeting of the Chesterton Chamber of Commerce and participated in a roundtable discussion of road problems. Twenty-six members of the Chesterton organization attended the meeting. The Chesterton meeting concluded his stay in the county. He was accompanied throughout his tour of inspection by Joseph Crowe, county road superintendent.

July 12, 1925

Bud Lackey, employed at Valparaiso’s Hotel Lembke, proved to be the hero of the day on Sunday when he swam out to save the life of J. E. Harding, also employed at the hotel, who had gone out too far swimming, at Flint Lake. Lackey, seeing that Harding was having difficulty in getting back to shore, started to his assistance, but before he had reached him, Harding had gone under twice.

A decision is expected this week by officials of the Lutheran University Association who have been conducting negotiations for the purchase of Valparaiso University, it was announced today. It is said the officials of the association and the owners of the university are about $100,000 off on the question of closing the deal.

July 13, 1925

An echo of the Harry Diamond murder was heard in the appointment of the Indiana Harbor National Bank as administrator of his estate, which is estimated at $75,000. Diamond was executed in the state prison at Michigan City last December after a Porter Circuit Court jury found him guilty. He was charged with slaying his wife while they were driving between Gary and East Chicago. The slaying was said to have been committed so he could obtain her estate.

July 14, 1925

Former Governor W. L. Harding, of Iowa, will be the main speaker at the annual picnic of the Porter County Farm Bureau to be held at Wauhob Lake on Thursday, August 20. Governor Harding is a noted orator and farmer-organization advocate.

July 15, 1925

Warren Wright, for several years employed on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at Cincinnati, O., has become associated with his brother, Walter Wright, local electrical contractor. He has purchased the interest of Harold Bochtler.

Valparaiso music lovers, denied the annual summer band concerts, will hear the famous Haskell and Barker Band of Michigan City on Friday night at the courthouse square. Following the concert, the band will be feted at the Elks Temple.

July 16, 1925

Members of the Kouts American Legion Post paid final tribute to the second member of the Radilyack family on Wednesday when it buried Martin Radilyack, who died Monday of wounds received in the World War. Funeral services were held from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rev. E. J. Mungovan, of Valparaiso, officiating. A brother of the decedent, William, died of injuries received in battle and the post in Kouts was named after him.

Because he is loath to see the Valparaiso Chautauqua Association die, of which he is one of the founders, Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar today stated he had sent the yearly association fee to the secretary of state in order to keep the legal form of organization maintained on record. Agar said he was hoping that someone would come forward and take over the job of maintaining the chautauqua.

July 17, 1925

Fire early last evening originating in the kiln department of the American China plant between Chesterton and Porter destroyed the second floor of the plant and caused a loss estimated at between $30,000 and $40,000. The Porter and Chesterton Fire Departments fought the blaze. The plant will have to be rebuilt.

Sitting in Valparaiso City Court today, Mayor E. W. Agar assessed fines totaling $700, and jail sentences of 180 days, against four operators of Dunes Highway liquor joints. The men were arrested in a drive being conducted by J. E. Browning of Hammond, federal prohibition officer in Northwestern Indiana.

July 18, 1925

Attorney D. E. and Angela Kelly and a large group of relatives and friends, including Rev. E. J. Mungovan, Pastor of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, have returned from St. Louis, Mo., where on Thursday Cecelia Kelly, eldest daughter of the Kellys, took the veil marking her reception as a novice of the Carmelite Order.

The courthouse square was jammed on Friday evening while the Haskell and Barker Band of Michigan City, brought here by the local Elks Lodge, provided a splendid hour-and-a-half program. The band members were feted at an “open house” party at the new Elks Temple after the concert.

July 19, 1925

Word was received today of the death at Quebec, Canada, of George F. Beach, local jeweler and businessman, following a severe attack of indigestion. Beach, in company with former Mayor P. L. Sisson, was sojourning in Canada at the time. Beach has been in business in Valparaiso since 1893, when he purchased the interest of J. N. Walker, who established the business.

Announcement as to whether the Lutheran University Educational Association will take over Valparaiso University will be made at the regular eleven o’clock chapel service, Dr. H. M. Evans, President of Valparaiso University, said today. A special invitation was issued by Dr. Evans to the public to attend the service. It is said the association will take over the school, and that articles of incorporation have been filed at Indianapolis.

July 20, 1925

The Kilmer-Fraser Company, which recently purchased the Sheridan Beach property at Flint Lake of Sigmund Freund, are pushing a program of development at the property. Major Joseph M. Bush, an engineer, is in charge.

The body of George F. Beach, Valparaiso jeweler, who died suddenly at Quebec, Canada, while on a vacation with former Mayor Perry L. Sisson, arrived here this morning. Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Christian Church, conducted by Rev. E. Richard Edwards. Valparaiso City Hall is draped in mourning for Beach, who served as a city alderman.

July 21, 1925

The Indiana Landscape Association, represented locally by Ray Berlin, has been awarded the contract to build a nine-hole golf course at Summervale Country Club, two miles west of Valparaiso, owned by W. Carroll Summer. The grounds are also to be landscaped, a water system installed, and a club house erected.

July 22, 1925

Fate of Valparaiso University hangs in the balance this afternoon as the committees representing the Lutheran Educational Association arrived in the city and went into conference with the chamber of commerce committee that has been handling the negotiations on behalf of the university authorities. It is believed an announcement will be forthcoming after the meeting.

July 23, 1925

At the Valparaiso University chapel services this morning, at which announcement was expected to be made of the taking over of the university by the Lutheran Educational Association, President H. M. Evans conferred degrees of Doctor of Law upon E. L. Loomis, now seriously ill at Indianapolis; Rev. George F. Schutes, and Rev. Chester W. Wharton, for their efforts on behalf of the university. B. P. Holst, representative of the Lutheran University Association, announced that formal transfer of the school to the association would soon be made as legal details are completed.

Prosecuting Attorney W. W. Bozarth, of Porter County, in a letter to Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom regarding the working of the new dry law, has informed the state official that, as far as he can see, the public is little interested and concerned in the enforcement of the liquor law.

July 24, 1925

Meeting on Friday evening, Portage Township officials decided to build a $10,000 community building as another unit to the Crisman School. The new structure will be given over to general educational purposes and to athletic activities in particular.

Funeral services on Thursday afternoon attended by city officials, representatives of various lodge and civic organizations, in the ranks of all of which he had actively participated, were held from the Christian Church, honoring the memory of George F. Beach. Close personal friends of the decedent acted as pallbearers. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.

July 25, 1925

The Goodrum sub-station of the Gary-Valparaiso Railway, six miles north of Valparaiso, was destroyed by fire this morning at 2:10 o’clock. The blaze originated when a bolt of lightning struck the building. The loss is estimated at $25,000. A quantity of oil in the transformers, some ten thousand gallons, turned the structure into a seething mass of flames.

Orvin Alyea, of Valparaiso, a lineman for the Calumet Gas and Electric Company, was electrocuted at 10:30 o’clock this morning when, in working on a pole repair job in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania Elevator on South Washington Street, came into contact with two high-voltage tension wires. He was rushed to the Christian Hospital, but resuscitation efforts failed.

July 26, 1925

The Joseph Principe home, corner of Lincoln Avenue (Brown Street) and Locust Street in Valparaiso, was swept by fire at 6:00 o’clock this morning when a gasoline stove exploded. Arthur Principe, a son, who narrowly escaped being burned, tried to combat the flames, but they spread rapidly.

Funeral services for Orvil Alyea, victim of Saturday morning’s electrocution tragedy, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock from the Salem Church, with burial in Salem Cemetery. The Charles Pratt Post of the American Legion will be in charge of the services.

July 27, 1925

Valparaiso is to have an automatic stop-and-go street signal. It will be installed at the intersection of Franklin Street and Lincolnway by Mayor E. W. Agar’s street committee in an effort to regulate traffic. Flash stop signs will also be placed at the Washington and Lafayette Street intersections on Lincolnway.

Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar has appointed former city councilman Harold J. Schenck to a place on the city planning commission. This is due to the resignation of Professor Henry T. Fisher, who has also severed his connection with the engineering department of Valparaiso University.

July 28, 1925

Herman F. Wagner, Westchester Township Justice of the Peace, is the champion fee-collecting justice in Porter County, according to Auditor B. H. Kinne. During the period from January 1 to July 1, the Westchester Township jurist turned over nearly $1,800 in fees collected from various legal offenders.

July 29, 1925

Ida Wolfe, who has been proprietress of the Ladies’ Shop on Washington Street in Valparaiso for the last eight years, has decided to quit business because of ill health. She will place her entire stock on the auction block.

July 30, 1925

With word received here this afternoon that Henry Kinsey Brown is in Fort Wayne ready to complete final negotiations for the transfer of Valparaiso University, a report is awaited every minute that the big deal has been consummated. When this flash comes, the bell of Immanuel Lutheran Church will be tolled and the news broadcast over Station WRBC.

Fifty couples attended the Mandarin Club’s dancing party last night at the Sheridan Beach dance pavilion. Music was furnished by Patterson’s Big Five of LaPorte. Chaperons for the dance were the Helvies, the Silveys, and the Philleys.

July 31, 1925

L. M. Pierce and Wallace C. Sutter, of the local chamber of commerce committee in charge of the Valparaiso University negotiations, returned from another conference with the Lutheran Educational Association, held Thursday, but brought back nothing new in the way of a definite announcement as to the time the deal will be consummated. “The statement will come from the Lutheran organization,” they said.

Remonstrators in the Sandy Hook Ditch, now under construction in the south end of the county, have asked the Indiana Supreme Court to review its decision, which a short time ago it sustained the position of Attorney Grant Crumpacker, that the original action had been brought in error in that his firm was named defendant instead of the petitioners. The first appeal was taken after Commissioner George E. Hershman had denied the force of Attorney Crumpacker’s objection.

Looking Back • June 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

June 1, 1925

Fred H. Cole, present incumbent of the office of county superintendent of schools, was re-elected at a meeting of the Porter County Board of Education. He received seven votes, as opposed to five for Charles H. Reider, principal of the Hebron school. Cole was first elected superintendent in 1908 to succeed Samuel C. Ferrell.

Dr. E. H. Powell was the winner of the golf tournament held at the Valparaiso Country Club Saturday and Sunday. He scored a 68 with his handicap. George Rynick Jr. was second with a 70 and Lowell Dowdell third with a 71. The tourney was the first to be played over the permanent course.

June 2, 1925

An increase of $800 in salary was granted by the Porter County Commissioners to Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Superior Court, on a petition signed by nearly three-hundred taxpayers of the county. The increase is due to a law passed several years ago providing that judges might be paid $2,800 in addition to their $4,200 salary received by the state. LaPorte County has paid Judge Crumpacker $2,000 of the amount for several years.

June 3, 1925

Byron Loomis, son E. L. and Nellie Loomis, will be graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis today. Midshipman Loomis is completing his course with high honors. After receiving his commission as ensign, he will come to Valparaiso for a month’s visit with his parents. Ensign Loomis’ first assignment will be on the U.S.S. Cincinnati at New York harbor, where he will be stationed all summer.

June 4, 1925

The Foster Lumber & Coal Company, of Valparaiso, has been awarded the contract to build the club house for the Valparaiso Country Club on a proposal to erect the structure at a cost not to exceed $15,0000, and according to the plans and specifications. The new building is to be 30x90 feet, with a huge porch facing the east. The dance hall and banquet room is to be 30x50 feet. The basement is to be fully excavated. It is expected the building will be ready for occupancy by Labor Day.

The Dunes Highway in north Porter County is presenting a problem for the state highway commission. The highway is going to pieces under the extreme heat. In one spot, near Tremont, a section of the pavement exploded like someone had placed a stick of dynamite under it. Superintendent George Pearce reported yesterday that eight places in the pavement had disintegrated. Pearce reports the same condition exists on Lincoln Highway, west of Valparaiso. The asphalt pavement, east of Valparaiso, is said to be standing up fine.

June 5, 1925

Four Valparaiso University students refused to be balked by such a little thing as a Grand Trunk freight train, which blocked the Calumet Avenue crossing yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock. When the engineer refused to heed their honkings, the driver of the car drove down the tracks until the caboose was reached and then went around it and down Calumet Avenue. City police stopped the car at the Presbyterian Church corner and took them to the station for questioning. They were released after a lecture. The students said they did not want to be late for supper.

Pleas of not guilty were entered by Catherine Cassler and Loren Patrick, arrested Decoration Day at Hebron in a raid by Sheriff W. B. Forney, when they were arraigned this morning before Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court. The defendants were represented by Attorney John J. McGuire. Capitola Dilley, president of the Porter County W.C.T.U., and Rev. A. T. Neblung, pastor of the Hebron Christian Church, were interested spectators in court. Both are backing Cassler in her fight for vindication. A group of Hebron citizens are asking that the state press the charges against the pair to the limit. Among them are Senator Will Brown, Mel Morrow, and Geo. C. Gregg. The case promises to be a merry legal battle.

June 6, 1925

Charlotte Ann Lucas Crumpacker, widow of the late Congressman Edgar D. Crumpacker, died Friday evening at 9:40 o’clock at her Valparaiso home on Michigan Avenue and Erie Street, following a stroke suffered May 29. She was born at Belvidere, Ill., on March 6, 1853, and came to Valparaiso following her marriage in 1879. Surviving are three sons.

At a meeting of the Porter County W.C.T.U. held yesterday afternoon at the home of Nellie Gibbs, Capitola Dilley, of Hebron, president of the organization, and D. C. Shouse, federal undercover worker, were the principal speakers. Dilley reviewed step by step the work done by Shouse and his assistants in the county in uncovering evidence against liquor violators. Both Dilley and Shouse defended Cassler, arrested in a recent liquor raid, claiming that Cassler had been acting under federal orders.

June 7, 1925

Motions for change of venue in the cases of Catherine Cassler and Loren Patrick, of Hebron, charged with liquor violations, were overruled this morning by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court. In overruling the motions, Judge Loring said he believed there were enough fair-minded men in Porter County to obtain a jury.

Loemma Chester, of Valparaiso, connected with the United States Public Health Service, suffered a fractured hip Saturday when she was thrown from an automobile at Terre Haute, Ind. Chester has been doing public health work in Indiana for the last six months. Previously she had been working in Mississippi.

June 8, 1925

Valparaiso school authorities today announced that plans are underway for starting work on the Valparaiso High School building within a short time so as to have the structure ready for occupancy by September 1. Arthur A. Hughart, member of the board of education, made the statement following the announcement that the board had purchased seven more acres fronting on Chestnut Street of Lewis E. Meyers, for a consideration of $14,250. Members of the board will meet with the architect this evening to go over the plans. It is proposed to build the first unit and later on add other units. The financing of a part of the construction, including the gymnasium and heating plant will be made through a holding company, and will be leased by the school board on a plan whereby the rentals will liquidate the construction cost.

George E. Hershman, of Crown Point, was named special judge to try the cases of Catherine Cassler and Loren Patrick, of Hebron, charged with liquor law violations. Attorneys for the pair filed a motion for a change of venue from Judge H. H. Loring and it was granted. The case will be heard sometime next week.

June 9, 1925

Valparaiso citizens displayed no interest in the meeting of the citizens’ council held today. Only four women, three men, and two newspaper reporters attended. Nathan H. Sheppard acted as chairman of the meeting and used his former calling, the ministry, as an illustration of the prevailing tendency toward indifference and criticism. Effie Earle, head of the city administration committee, said the committee had a central plan but no one to submit it to.

June 10, 1925

Members of the Valparaiso University senior law class were admitted to the bar by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today. Those admitted were Jay E. Darlington, William H. Diercks, Paul Lowell Dowdell, Florentine P. Azuar, Paul G. Lutz, Royal L. Lease, Elbert B. Lamson, Carl A. Huebner, Rhea C. Myers, Thomas W. Skinner, Frances Elle Tilton, William Paul Wright, Charles R. Scott and Frank St. Angelo. Joseph V. Trickson, Ernest McBride and John McGuire, members of the class, had previously been admitted. John A. Gleason will be admitted in Lake County, and Gertrude Cavanaugh has not yet attained the legal age required by law. Charles R. Scott, admitted today, was graduated last year, but could not be admitted until today because of the age limit.

June 11, 1925

Jack Yasovich, former Valparaiso man, was bound over to the Lake County grand jury at Crown Point yesterday, charged with the murder of Florence Gauzca, 14-year-old East Chicago girl last fall. Yasovich was arrested by East Chicago police three weeks ago on a technical charge of contributing to the delinquency of a son, Steve, age 10. Yasovich is also under suspicion of slaying Harry Heath, of East Chicago, on December 7, 1924. Yasovich and Heath were formerly roommates.

Dr. H. M. Sherwood, superintendent of public instruction, spoke at a meeting of the chamber of commerce, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs at Hotel Lembke this Noon. He lauded the Bouchers for their great work at Marion Normal School, which he attended when the Bouchers were heads of the school. “Everything I have accomplished in the way of education, I owe to them,” he said. Sherwood also urged his hearers to get behind the schools and further the cause of education. He spoke of the great need for better school facilities in Valparaiso.

June 12, 1925

Ninety-six young men and women were given diplomas at the fifty-second annual commencement of Valparaiso University held in the university auditorium this morning. Joseph A. Kitchen, commissioner of agriculture and labor of North Dakota, delivered the address. He told the class that Valparaiso graduates were making good in North Dakota. As an example, he cited the fact that Walter Black, of Valparaiso, was state highway engineer. President H. M. Evans presented the diplomas.

The Hebron Woman’s Christian Temprance Union (WCTU) organization has passed a resolution endorsing the work of law enforcement and the attitude taken in the case of the State versus Catherine Cassler by Capitola Dilley, Porter County WCTU president, and extending to her any aid within the power of the Hebron union. Dilley is backing Cassler and Loren Patrick, of Hebron, arrested by Porter County authorities on liquor law violations. It is contended that Cassler was acting as undercover agent for federal officers.

June 13, 1925

Arthur A. Hughart, of the Farmers’ State Bank, was re-elected a member of the city board of education at a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council last night. Hughart’s selection was unanimous. He is an experienced school man, having served as county and city school superintendent, and also city superintendent at Coffeyville, Kan.

The case of Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, charged with liquor law violation, will come up for trial Monday in Porter Circuit Court before Special Judge George Hershman, of Crown Point. Cassler is being backed by Capitola Dilley, president of the Porter County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. It is claimed Cassler was acting as under-cover officer for federal agents.

June 14, 1925

Catherine Cassler, who entered a plea of guilty yesterday in Porter Circuit Court on a liquor law violation was fined $200 and costs and sentenced to six months in the women’s prison at Indianapolis, fainted in court just after the sentence was pronounced. It was some time before she could be moved to the county jail. Cassler made threats that she would take her life with poison, and officers kept a close watch on her.

John O. Carlson, age 42, chicken and truck farmer residing near Malden, died Monday afternoon in Valparaiso’s Christian Hospital of injuries received when his automobile truck was struck by a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train at Liberty Way Crossing, just east of Valparaiso.

June 15, 1925

Catherine Cassler was sentenced to six months in the Indiana State Women's Prison at Indianapolis and fined $200 by Special Judge George E. Hersman in the Porter Circuit Court this afternoon at 3:45 o’clock. The court’s fine was $100 fine and 90 days sentence on each count of selling liquor and having liquor in her possession. Cassler entered a plea of guilty and threw herself on the mercy of the court. Judge Hersman informed her that she was not entitled to any mitigation of her sentence after her plea of guilty. Cassler had claimed she was acting as an undercover officer for federal agents who were working in Porter County.

Stephen P. Corboy, Jr., and Bernard Finnegan, of Valparaiso, were among the 313 graduates receiving diplomas at the annual graduating exercises held at Notre Dame university Saturday. Both were graduated from the college of law.

June 16, 1925

The construction of the Clancy St. Clair Road in Valparaiso’s Forest Park is nearing the stage where asphalt will soon be applied by the contractor, William St. Clair. The road is a penetration job and is about three-quarters of a mile in length, starting at Campbell Street and traversing through Forest Park, where it connects with Yellowstone Trail.

June 17, 1925

Word has been received here of the death last night in Los Angeles, Calif., of Peter H. Ludolph, a former Valparaiso resident. He was 71 years of age. At one time he was publisher of The Valparaiso Vidette and also conducted a newspaper in Chicago. A son, Edward, of Valparaiso, and a sister, Emma Schneider, also of Valparaiso, are among the surviving relatives.

June 18, 1925

Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, arrested by Porter County authorities on liquor charges, and who entered a plea of guilty in Porter Circuit Court after posing as an undercover worker for federal officers, was taken to the women’s prison at Indianapolis today where she will serve six months. A $200 fine assessed against her, unless paid, will further increase her stay at the prison. The whereabouts of Loren Patrick, arrested along with Cassler, are still unknown. He was released under a $1,000 bond. Cases against other persons arrested on evidence secured by Cassler will probably be dismissed.

Mary E. Long entertained last evening at a farewell dinner in honor of Prof. B.F. Williams, of Valparaiso University. After thirty years of service at the university, Williams leaves for Stillwater, Okla., to take a position in the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. Guests of the evening were longtime friends of Williams, who, with him, were patrons of the eating house kept by the late beloved Mary Small, at the corner of Franklin and Chicago Streets in Valparaiso.

June 19, 1925

Joseph Murphy and Edward Miller, local painters, were injured this morning when a ladder on which they were painting crashed to the ground at the Alva Leonard home on East Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Murphy suffered internal injuries and was taken to his home in an ambulance. Miller suffered a fractured bone in his right foot.

The chamber’s university committee is at Fort Wayne today presenting the university matter to the synodal meeting of Lutheran churches. The committee is endeavoring to get an endorsement of the proposition in order to facilitate the work of the National Lutheran Educational Association which at its convention at Mankato, Minn., considered the matter of taking over Valparaiso University.

June 20, 1925

James O. Cox, of Chautauqua Park, has returned from Westerville, O., where he attended the annual meeting of the trustees of Otterbein College, from which school he was graduated. Medillia Cox and daughter, Miriam, who accompanied him to Westerville, have gone to Springfield, O., to visit her parents.

James H. McGill and son, Robert, went to Chicago this morning to meet the LaFollette funeral train which arrived in the city from Washington, D.C. McGill was a great friend of the Wisconsin senator and his family, and will probably accompany the body to Madison, Wisc.

June 21, 1925

Alva Herbst, Kirchoff Park farmer, entered a plea of not guilty when arraigned before Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court this morning on a charge of rape on Marie Palen, 12-year-old LaPorte girl. He was held under a $2,500 bond.

Paul Hayes and W. J. Wakefield, of Valparaiso Chapter No. 2, Disabled American Veterans of the World War, left yesterday for Omaha, Neb., where they will attend the annual convention of the organization. The Valparaiso men are backing J. W. Scott, of Gary, for national commander. He formerly attended Valparaiso University and served with the American Forces in France and Germany.

June 22, 1925

The Mark Wolf Company, located on North Washington Street in Valparaiso, is just finishing the construction of a new 132’ x 50’ concrete building, to be used by the concern in the handling of their coal and concrete business. A second story extends over half the length of the building to be used as storage for building and roofing supplies.

June 23, 1925

John Schumacher, who recently purchased the building on Washington Street formerly occupied by the Valparaiso National Bank, has purchased the restaurant equipment of the French Cafe on College Hill and will install it in his building. He plans to open his place within a short time.

June 24, 1925

Samuel L. Buchanan and his wife have sold their apartment building, known as the Maralou Apartments, on Michigan Avenue in Valparaiso to Julius Meister, of Wheeler. Buchanan took a stock and grain farm of 267 acres near Wheeler in exchange.

The body of Goldie Lowenstine, wife of Jacob Lowenstine, who died in Los Angeles, Calif., Monday night, will be brought to Valparaiso for funeral services and burial. The funeral party will leave Los Angeles on Friday and arrive in Chicago on Monday morning.

June 25, 1925

Norman L. Bradford, operator of the Nickel Elevator at Nickel, Ind., east of Valparaiso, has leased the Pennsylvania Elevator on South Washington Street in Valparaiso. Bradford has also acquired the grain and feed business of the McMahan Brothers, who have been operating the elevator.

Valparaiso High School will have a gymnasium for playing basketball games this fall. A. A. Hughart, a member of the city board of education, announced. Members of the local board, comprising Hughart, W. J. Morris, and George Sheeks, and Superintendent C. W. Boucher, will go to Evanston, Ill., tomorrow to look over the high school buildings in that city.

June 26, 1925

Louis I. Robinson, of Union Township, has sold his 140-acre farm in that township to John L. Diedrich, of Chicago, for a consideration of $22,400. He took an eleven-room dwelling in Chicago in exchange for the farm. The Robinson farm has been in possession of the Robinson family for a century, having been acquired by Robinson’s grandfather, Otis Robinson, from the government on April 20, 1825.

Former Valparaiso Mayor Perry L. Sisson is summering in Canada and Alaska, according to word received here. The former mayor has mailed to the Vidette copies of two Alaskan newspapers. One of them is a small four-column, four-page affair, and carries a large amount of news and an abundance of advertising. The subscription price is $12 per year.

June 27, 1925

Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar has announced the appointment of J. W. Riley, of Hammond, as city speed cop. It was announced that Riley would look after speed violations exclusively. For some time, the need of a speed cop has been felt throughout the city because of numerous violations of the traffic laws.

Alexander McCabe, twice tried for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake in May 1924, may be released on $25,000 bond from the Porter County Jail, where he has been confined for a year. McCabe was recently convicted and given a life term by a jury in superior court, but Special Judge W. H. Worden, of LaPorte, granted him a new trial. In the first trial, the jury disagreed. He will be tried again in September.

June 28, 1925

The Hebron American Legion post has received word from the government that a cannon captured from the Germans has been shipped to Hebron from the Raritan Arsenal at Nixon, N.J. The cannon will be used as a memorial to Boone Township boys who gave their lives in the World War.

An attempt to secure release of Alexander McCabe, Chicago gangster, awaiting trial for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Porter Superior Court, failed Saturday when attorneys for McCabe appeared before Judge Harry L. Crumpacker at Michigan City and tendered a $25,000 sturdy bond. Judge Crumpacker held this was insufficient and demanded $45,000 for the three counts on which McCabe is held. Attorneys for McCabe said the additional bond would be secured.

June 29, 1925

Sigmund Freund, of Valparaiso, last night contracted to sell his Sheridan Beach property at Flint Lake to Malcolm “Buck” Fyfe, Chicago pitcher. The property comprises 45 acres, a 50-room hotel, dance hall, boat house, 29 summer cottages and numerous small buildings. Freund purchased the property in 1905 from Aaron W. Lytle when only a few buildings were on the site.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by Coroner A. O. Dobbins in the case of Walter Mohnssen, Jr., who fell to his death from a fire escape at the Valparaiso University auditorium on Saturday night.

June 30, 1925

Because of numerous deaths among cattle in Porter County, believed due to eating poisoned weeds, County Agent A. Z. Arehart and Dr. A. M. Jacoby, federal tuberculosis tester working here, have called upon A. A. Hansen, Purdue University, to make a survey in the county to determine whether poisonous weeds exist.

Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar today ordered city police to strictly enforce the ordinance relating to the discharge of fireworks in the city. Last night, a fistfight resulted between youths. The fracas commenced when the trousers of one of the youths was burned by a firecracker thrown near him.

Looking Back • May 1925

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

May 1, 1925

A gold vanity case picked up near the body of a woman slain northeast of Chesterton on Sunday has caused authorities to believe the woman is Josephine Desiderio, age 27, estranged wife of Louis Desiderio, of Gary. The latter is well known to Gary police and formerly conducted a garage in Gary. He was suspected as a fence for stolen automobiles. During the trial of one of the men implicated as an accessory in the Tolleston bank robbery, in which Herman Uecker, cashier, was killed. Desiderio was an alibi witness for the man who received a two-to-twenty-one-year prison term.

Philley Brothers, operators of a confectionery, newspaper, and refreshment stand in the Haste building on Franklin Street and the Premier Theatre building in Valparaiso, announced a dissolution of partnership, beginning today. Wallace Philley will take over the Premier store, and Vernon Philley, the Franklin Street stand.

May 2, 1925

Samuel Ross, of Gary, was taken into custody by Porter County authorities last night and lodged in jail here in connection with the murder of Josephine Desiderio, whose body was found mutilated and half burned northeast of Chesterton. Ross will be held until it is established the victim was Josephine Desiderio. A new clue developed today when it was learned that the Desiderio woman had applied to a Gary attorney to have her husband, Louis, placed under peace bonds after he had threatened to kill her.

Nathan H. Sheppard, of Valparaiso, was re-named county attendance officer at a meeting of the county board of education held yesterday at the office of Porter County Superintendent of Schools, Fred H. Cole.

May 3, 1925

The Porter County Board of Commissioners today handed down a ruling granting the petition of the Town of Chesterton to annex about 2,000 acres of land, extending from the town’s limits to the Lake Michigan shoreline. About thirty to forty property owners living in the area to be annexed were in court when the decision was announced. They plan an appeal to the Porter Circuit Court through their attorneys.

Mary Deegan entertained the teachers of Valparaiso’s Gardner school on Saturday in honor of Mary Armfield, whose resignation takes place at the close of the term. Covers were laid for eight and a delicious three-course luncheon was served.

May 4, 1925

Because Porter County authorities are not yet sure that the body of a woman found slain on a country highway, northeast of Chesterton, is that of Josephine Desiderio, of Gary, Dr. A. O. Dobbins, county corner, refused to surrender the body to the parents of Desiderio. Dr. Dobbins stated that he had sworn statements from two persons who viewed the body and declared that it was not that of Josephine Desiderio. Florence Boto, alias Kish, a chum of the Desiderio woman, identified the body as that of Desiderio. Boto claimed she was with Desiderio the greater part of last week in the company of two men.

Gilbert W. Butler, from the Boy Scouts of America, spoke to members of the Kiwanis Club at the Hotel Lembke today. He gave many interesting experiences from his thirteen years of volunteer work.

May 5, 1925

E. W. Agar won the Republican primary nomination over John R. Burch. Flora Kinney defeated Grace Blachly for the city clerk nomination by a vote of 907 to 817. Laura Kouns came in third with 290 votes. Charles Hicks and Louis Leetz were nominated for at-large council positions. Rollin C. Higley, present councilman, was a close contender. Other council selections were E. S. Miller, first ward; C. A. Stanton, second ward; Louis Gast, third ward, and John R. Palmer, fourth ward.

May 6, 1925

Summervale Country Club is the name of a new golf course and recreation grounds to be opened in the next two weeks at the S. J. Summer farm, two miles west of Valparaiso, on the Lincoln Highway. The club is the result of an agreement between Summer and his heirs, as parties of the first part, and Roy Hall and others, as parties of the second part. More than fifty members have signed up for the new club.

May 7, 1925

The Liberty Theatre, formerly the Schelling Music Hall, will open on May 9 for the first time since it was closed last fall, following the expiration of the lease held by G. G. Shauer and Sons. August and Josephine Miller, owners of the Valparaiso building, have furnished and equipped the building in attractive style. The Six Mooseheart Melody Masters from Mooseheart, Ill., will provide the opening show.

Fifty members of Charity Rebekah Lodge tendered George G. Sherwood a farewell party last evening at his home on East Chicago Street in Valparaiso. Sherwood will leave Saturday for Cassville, Mo., for the benefit of his health. He will be joined later by his wife and two daughters.

May 8, 1925

Students of the Valparaiso High School Senior Class presented “Golden Days,” a society drama of New York’s four hundred, at Memorial Opera House last night. The players were drilled by Celista Boucher. The high school orchestra under Lily Darby provided music. Players taking part were Anita Parker, William Christy, Millicent Thatcher, Luella Goodrich, Virginia Fisher, Frances Shurr, Vernon Hauff, Lois May Whitehead, Harold Shurr, Dorothy Goodpaster, Mox Ruge, Avis Worstell, Englebert Zimmerman, Leroy Chumley, and Berniece Wakefield.

Freda Brunelle and John Leming, two inmates at the Porter County infirmary, eloped several weeks ago, it was learned today. Porter County authorities today announced that no effort to apprehend the pair was made. Brunelle figured as an important witness in the celebrated case of Eugene Funk, former superintendent, who resigned after charges had been preferred against him and a public hearing held. Leming, a resident of New York, was injured on the Dunes Highway by a hit-and-run driver, and brought to the infirmary while he recovered from his injuries.

May 9, 1925

Par A. Johnson, well known Chesterton businessman, who died recently, left a large sum for charitable purposes, according to his last will admitted for probate in Porter Circuit Court today. The estate is valued at $25,000. The sum of $5,000 was left to nieces and nephews, and the balance to churches, hospitals, and other organizations designed to relieve the sufferings of humanity.

About twenty-five members of Canton Valparaiso, No. 27, I.O.O.F., and Ladies’ Auxiliary, were present at a birthday party given last night at the home of G. G. Sherwood, of East Chicago, on the occasion of Sherwood’s 59th birthday anniversary. A potluck supper was served and games and contests played.

May 10, 1925

The body of the charred and mutilated young woman, found lying by the side of the old Chicago-Detroit Highway, two miles northeast of Chesterton, Sunday afternoon, April 26, was saved from a potter’s field burial Saturday when Bernardi Genero, of Gary, claimed the body of his daughter, Josephine Desiderio, age 21. The Generos heretofore had been unconvinced that the body was that of their daughter. Burial was made in Oakhill Cemetery, Gary.

Echoes of the Thad Fancher murder case, for which Johnny O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, was sentenced to life imprisonment, for his part in the Fancher slaying, were heard in Crown Point on Saturday when Frank Cochran, star witness for the state in the trials of Fancher’s alleged slayers, was found murdered. Cochran was with Fancher at the time of the holdup in which Fancher was killed. He identified O’Reilly and Alex McCabe, who was also convicted of the Fancher slaying, but who has a new trial pending as the killers. Chicago police declare that Cochran was slain by members of the Frank McErlane gang, of which O’Reilly and McCabe were members.

May 11, 1925

V. R. Despard left today for New York City, to join his wife, Minnie, and son, Victor, Jr., who are visiting relatives there. On Saturday, May 16, the Despards will leave on a six-week vacation trip, visiting various European points of interest. They expect to return here early in July.

Frank A. Moore, a member of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28, Knights Templars, died last night at Columbus, Ohio, according to word received here by Mark L. Dickover. Moore was at one time a resident of Chesterton. During the World War, he served as an engineer on one of the government boats.

May 12, 1925

Froebel High tennis players defeated Valparaiso two matches to one in the third match between the two teams at Brown Field. Anda Pepa, Froebel star, subdued John Lowenstine, and Dick Higley, of the local team, lost to Richter, giant Froebel player. Bud Ruge, the only Valpo player to come through, defeated Milton Levenburg, to avenge a former defeat.

May 13, 1925

Clarence Schultz, fifteen-year-old Chesterton High School boy, was seriously injured yesterday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile on the Dunes Highway. The boy had been riding in a truck and got off, walking directly into the path of a car driven by George Hutch, an employee of the Dunes Highway Garage. The boy was taken to Chesterton and later brought to the Christian Hospital in Valparaiso.

May 14, 1925

Robert Edwards, of Gary, was acquitted by a jury in Porter Circuit Court on Wednesday night of the murder of Percy Coob, in Gary, on December 12, 1924. Edwards had entered a plea of self-defense. According to the evidence, Cobb went to the Edwards home to effect a reconciliation with his wife, who is a sister of Mrs. Edwards. An altercation followed and Cobb attacked Mrs. Edwards and her daughter and attempted to attack Edwards. The latter went to another room, got a gun, and shot Cobb. 

Thomas E. Crowe, well-known Kouts attorney, and formerly head of the Kouts baseball team, will leave Porter County and move to Gary where he will establish a law and real estate office. He has been a resident of Kouts for the last thirty-three years.

May 15, 1925

Milton J. Take, who has been manager and secretary of the Valparaiso Auto Sales Agency, is now president and treasurer with a controlling interest in the company. Take has been connected with the local concern since 1922.

Mildred G. McMahan, wife of Zenas J. McMahan, died this morning at the family home on North Michigan Avenue in Valparaiso, following a year’s illness. She was past president of the Woman’s Relief Corps and member of the Ladies of the Mooseheart Legion.

May 16, 1925

A jury in Porter Circuit Court yesterday afternoon returned a disagreement in the case of Abe Irwin, Gary man, charged with murder of Earl Ellis, during a fracas in the Edwards home in Gary on November 4, 1924. The jury deliberated for eighteen hours. At one time, the jury stood ten to two for giving Irwin a life sentence, but two held out for manslaughter. 

Valparaiso University was defeated at Dubuque, Ia., yesterday by Dubuque University, by a score of 11 to 8. Both teams made fourteen hits, but Dubuque’s hits were of the long-range variety. “Beanie” Harris clouted out four hits for Valparaiso, one being a homer.

May 17, 1925

George Gullstrom, of Chesterton, was sentenced to the state penal farm this morning by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court for a term of six months. Gullstrom and Elmer Anderson broke a lock on the Chesterton town jail and freed Barnard Stangland, china factory employee, who was serving a sentence for drunkenness. The two men forced the jail lock with a Ford axle. Anderson, who was scheduled to be tried this morning, did not appear, and his bondsmen were ordered to produce him.

O. E. Nichols, of Hebron, recently awarded the contract for the construction of a bridge across the Burns Ditch on the Dunes Highway in Portage Township, Porter County, commenced work this morning. A controversy between state highway commission members and sub-contractors on the ditch has been holding up the work.

May 18, 1925

Valparaiso authorities today announced that the city dump, located southeast of the city near the county infirmary, would be abandoned as far as hauling garbage and dead animal matter to it for disposal was concerned. Farmers living in the vicinity instituted legal action and secured an injunction. The matter is pending in LaPorte Circuit Court. Thomas Hines, of Pleasant Township, has been awarded a contract for hauling garbage and will take it to his farm south of Valparaiso and feed it to his hogs.

Thirty-two of the fifty-seven seniors of Valparaiso High School, who graduate this month, qualified as cake-eaters this morning. The little party, staged in the classroom of Mabel Benney, high school instructor, was limited to seniors, who in their early days, came under the guidance and supervision of Margaret Cameron Beer, for forty-two years a teacher in Valparaiso. Beer sent a mammoth cake from her home in Iron Mountain, Mich., as a treat for those whom she had once taught and who are now graduating.

May 19, 1925

A big crowd attended the boxing and wrestling show held at Memorial Hall under the auspices of the Moose Lodge. Dick Conners, local lightweight, won from Herbie Kessler, of South Bend, on a technical knockout. Dan Kramer, of Knox, and Dick Martin, of LaPorte, boxed eight rounds to a draw. George Matropoulous, former Olympic champion, was awarded a fall in the wrestling match with Archie “Kid” Cain. Tommy Jones and his gang of boxers from Gary climaxed the bill with a free-for-all.

May 20, 1925

Special judge W. H. Worden, of LaPorte, today granted a new trial to Alex McCabe, Chicago man, recently convicted in Porter Superior Court of the charge of slaying Attorney Thad Fancher in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake in May, 1924. The ruling by this court came after arguments by Attorneys D. E. Kelly and Oliver M. Loomis in support of the contention that the court had erred in failing to properly instruct the jury as to the punishment for second degree murder.

May 21, 1925

Fifty-seven members of the Valparaiso High School Senior Class received diplomas in the annual graduating rites held Wednesday night at the Premier Theatre. Bishop Edwin Hughes, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, delivered the address, “Certain Dangers Along the Intellectual Road.” Superintendent C. W. Boucher presented the diplomas, and Principal H. M. Jesse made a short talk to the graduates.

Three of this year’s graduates at Valparaiso University have landed jobs for next year. Earl Scott goes to Glendale, Calif., to coach basketball and football; Harold “Beanie” Harris has landed a coaching job in Florida, and Walter Hiltpold will direct football and basketball teams at North Manchester, Ind.

May 22, 1925

Girdon S. Bartholomew, age 59 years, died today at his home here with a heart attack. He was born in Morgan Township. Twenty-five years ago, Bartholomew engaged in the bookstore business on Washington Street in Valparaiso with his cousin, Mark Bartholomew. Later, he took over the management of the J. Lowenstine bookstore.

Work was begun this morning on the new Summervale Country Club, west of Valparaiso. Interested in the new venture are S. J. Summer and son, Carroll, owners of the grounds on which the new club will hold forth. It is expected the golf course will be ready for play in the very near future. Memberships in the club are selling fast.

May 23, 1925

Porter Lodge, No. 137, Free and Accepted Masons, dedicated its new lodge home on East Lincolnway last evening in fitting ceremonies. Representatives from many neighboring lodges were present. Judge J. C. Orbison, potentate of Murray Temple, Indianapolis, was the main speaker, Jonathan Osborn, for many years prelate of the local lodge and oldest mason in Porter County, occupied a position of honor during the services. The Apollo Quartette of Chicago sang a number of selections. A social session, inspection of the lodge rooms, and an appetizing lunch followed by the Eastern Star ladies followed.

Joseph B. Brown, manual training instructor at Valparaiso High School, leaves today for Remington, Ind., where on Thursday of next week he will be united in marriage to Hazel Lee Culp, of that city. The marriage is a culmination of a college romance. Brown will return here next year to teach. 

May 24, 1925

Lucy Clark Bramhall, age 76 years, a former resident of Jackson Township, Porter County, and a sister of ex-Congressman Jerry Simpson, of Kansas, known as “Sockless Jerry,” himself a Porter County product, died Friday afternoon at her home in Michigan City. All her life had been spent in Porter and LaPorte Counties.

Jack Yasovich, 52, a Russian, who formerly lived on the Hiller place on Linwood Avenue, is being held by East Chicago police pending an investigation of a story told by his eleven-year-old son, Steven, involving him in the slaying of Florence Guazea, age 15, in East Chicago last November. The lad, according to East Chicago advices, is said to have told on his father after the latter had treated him abusively. On the night of the murder, the boy said his father came home and told his son he had just killed a girl, and that if he squealed, he would kill him. The lad remained silent until a few days ago. While a resident here, Yasovich was sentenced to two-to-fourteen years in prison for the theft of chickens. After his release, he was charged with failure to support his children.

May 25, 1925

The annual alumni banquet of Valparaiso High School was held last night at Altruria Hall. Upwards of two hundred attended. Dr. R. C. Shurr acted as toastmaster. Sarah Darst ‘84, welcomed the class to the alumni. Vernon Hauff, class president, gave the history of the class. Talks were given by John Shatz ‘17; Howard Eschell ’24; James Nixon ‘25, Helen Mabel Benney and Principal H. M. Jessee. Howard Eschell was elected president; Edith Stoner, secretary; and Forrest Jones, treasurer.

The Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury, impaneled a week ago by Judge H. H. Loring, spent half a day investigating the Chesterton murder case. They interviewed Sam Rossi and Florence Boto, friends of Josepine Desiderio, murder victim, and convened this afternoon to resume its investigation. George F. Beach is foreman of the body, and Clara Kirkpatrick, clerk.

May 26, 1925

It cost the City of Valparaiso the sum of $655.78 to conduct the recent primary election. Of the entire cost, $129.50 was for meals, or an average of $1.85 per election worker.

May 27, 1925

Charles Ohlfest, administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Bodamer, today sold the Bodamer farm, of 80 acres, fronting on the Lincoln Highway at Blachly’s Corners, to John Bodamer for a consideration of $5,275. The farm has been in the hands of the Bodamer family for over fifty years.

Ben T. Lemster, formerly of Valparaiso, first assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Gary, has been chosen as cashier of the Gary Trust and Savings Bank, to succeed Walther H. Thomas, who recently resigned. Lemster will be succeeded at the First National Bank by C. R. Brown, second assistant cashier.

May 28, 1925

Judge Martin Smith, of the Lake County criminal court at Crown Point has barred Chicago attorneys from practicing in his court. This is because of the slaying of Frank Cochran, of Crown Point, a witness in the case of Alex McCabe, charged with murder of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup a year ago. Judge Smith’s edict was aimed at W. W. O’Brien, Chicago attorney, who represented McCabe at his first trial.

May 29, 1925

Herman E. Sievers, for many years connected with the Specht-Finney Company, and one of its stockholders, was elected president and treasurer of the company at the annual meeting held last night. Other officers named were Claus F. Specht, vice-president; Grover Hinkle, secretary. Sievers is contemplating a number of changes in the store’s arrangement.

Katie Vukovich, of Gary, was freed of the charge of slaying Andrew Yacko when Judge H. L. Crumpacker, in Porter Superior Court, suspended a 2-to-21-year prison sentence given by a jury in superior court here more than a year ago. Judge Crumpacker’s ruling came after the Vukovich woman’s attorneys, Harold Stiles, of Gary, and Ira C. Tilton, of Valparaiso, argued a motion for a new trial, which was overruled by the court. According to the evidence, Yacko was killed when he endeavored to enter the room occupied by the woman in Gary and she shot through the door. 

May 30, 1925

Sheriff W. B. Forney and his aides raided the home of Catherine Cassler at Hebron and placed Cassler and her house guest, Loren Patrick, under arrest. Five quarts of alcohol and one pint of kimmel liqueur were confiscated by the officers. The pair were brought to Valparaiso and released under bonds.

May 31, 1925

Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court this morning announced the appointments of John G. Johnson, of Westchester Township, and Clayton Phillips, of Porter Township, as members of the Porter County Board of Review. They, with Auditor B. H. Kinne, Treasurer William McGinley, and Assessor Fred Marquart, will form the board of review to pass on the 1925 assessments.