Looking Back • March 1926

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.

March 1, 1926

Valparaiso High School basketball team defeated LaPorte High School in a thriller on Saturday night at university gym by a score of 59 to 34. Fred White and Van Buskirk each contributed nine baskets of the twenty-six made by the locals. Ward, Pease, Martin, and Treadway played best for LaPorte but Valpo led at half time, 25 to 16. The Valpo second team was defeated by the LaPorte second team, 31 to 21. Otis Bowman made six baskets for Valpo.

Valparaiso is getting the reputation of a Gretna Green. A large number of couples who hie themselves to Crown Point on Sundays and after hours and fail to get licenses continue on to Valparaiso, where they are accommodated by Porter County Clerk Roscoe C. Jones. Nearly every weekend, from six to ten couples come here for licenses when they find out that the Crown Point office is not open on Sundays.

March 2, 1926

Porter County today received $20,187.17 from the state as its share of the $1,800,000 gasoline taxes distributed to the 92 counties of the state. There is something like $600,000 yet to be distributed among the 500 Hoosier cities and towns on the basis of road mileage. Valparaiso is slated to receive $2,250.99. Porter County’s share this year is $4,000 greater than last year. The state auditor’s office shows that $7,300,000 was collected on gasoline sales during the last eleven months. The state highway commission received two-thirds of the amount, and counties, cities and towns, one-third.

Valparaiso public schools raised a total of $404.09 for the fire disaster fund, for the benefit of families of firemen killed in the Academy of Music fire, and those who suffered injury. The amount was turned over by Superintendent Boucher as the gift of the city’s school pupils, instructors, and members of the family. The fund is now at the $7,500 mark.

March 3, 1926

Earl Inman, former Valparaiso restaurant operator, who, for the past two years has operated the Kouts Cafe, has returned to Valparaiso with his family. Inman sold the Kouts establishment to John Herring, former gasoline truck driver, who is now in possession. Inman has not announced his plans for the future.

The old Val Blatz building at the corner of Napoleon Street and Lincoln Avenue (Brown Street) in Valparaiso, owned by F. W. Blaese, was badly gutted by fire Tuesday night. The building is used at present as a storage for near beer and soft drinks. The fire was discovered by a Pennsylvania crossing watchman. Firemen worked nearly three hours extinguishing the blaze. The cause of the fire is unknown.

March 4, 1926

Following closely on the heels of the $300,000 conflagration which wiped out the Academy of Music and Kauffman Bargain Leader store, flames early today attacked the James H. McGill home on North Washington Street in Valparaiso, causing a $10,000 loss. Robert McGill, his wife*, and Marjorie McGill were the only occupants of the home. Robert’s wife* was awakened by smoke which filled her bedroom. She roused the other occupants. Firemen worked for two hours before quelling the fire. The fire is believed to have started in the basement from spontaneous combustion.

*There is no record of Robert being married in 1926. Records available through Ancestry show he married Catherine “Kate Mae” Streetman in 1932 and Florence Fairclough in 1947. Census records from 1920 and 1930 designate Robert as single.

Valparaiso’s Fire Disaster Benefit Fund for firemen killed injured in the Academy of Music fire, went over the top today when the amount raised went above the $9,000 mark. To Valparaiso public schools goes the honor of having raised the largest amount outside local banks. Only $1,000 is yet to be raised to make the amount $10,000. This will be done through benefit shows to be given.

March 5, 1926

Ira A. Mummert, new agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, arrived here today, and in company with James Jones, Pennsylvania detective, visited businessmen about Valparaiso. Mummert was agent for the Pennsylvania at North Manchester for sixteen years, and was transferred here to succeed E. D. Hodges, who goes to Kokomo, Ind. While at North Manchester, Mummert was a member of the North Manchester board of education.

March 6, 1926

Valparaiso and Wheeler survived the grilling basketball struggle in the Porter County sectional, and only Hebron remains as an obstacle to the Wheeler five’s chance to enter the finals. Valparaiso won its way to the finals tonight by defeating Chesterton, 45 to 13; Fair Oaks, 58 to 8; and Morgan Township, 38 to 13. Wheeler won over Kniman, 47 to 5, and Tefft, 52 to 14.

Fred LePell, who has been employed in the men’s furnishings department of the Lowenstine Department Store for the past year, will sever his connection with that firm this evening and Monday will enter upon his new duties with the Valparaiso Daily Vidette. He will assist in the repertorial and advertising departments.

March 7, 1926

Ira C. Tilton was elected chairman of the Porter County Democratic Central Committee at a meeting held Saturday afternoon at Valparaiso City Hall chambers. Other officers named were Fay H. Black, vice-chairman, and John D. Stoner, secretary-treasurer. The following were nominated for county offices: E. M. Passow, clerk; Clayton Phillips, sheriff; John D. Stoner, auditor; and Grace Sherburne, recorder.

Valparaiso defeated Wheeler on Saturday in the Porter County sectional by a score of 29 to 9. Fred White, with twelve points, was high scorer for Valparaiso, while Ehretsman scored eight of Wheeler’s nine points. As a result of the win, Coach Joe Brown’s team will play in the South Bend regional next Saturday.

March 8, 1926

T. Sugimoto, electrical engineer of the Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., Shiga, Japan, visited here at the factories of the Chicago Mica Company and Fibroc Insulation Company. This concern is one of the largest electrical manufacturers in Japan and Sugimoto was here in the interest of products which the local companies furnish them.

March 9, 1926

Dr. E. H. Powell, Dr. G. H. Stoner, and George M. Dodge went to Chicago this morning to attend the funeral of Dr. William E. Schroeder, well known Chicago physician, who died last Friday at St. Petersburg, Fla. Dr. Schroeder made frequent trips to Valparaiso to perform surgical operations and was well known here. 

March 10, 1926

A faulty wheel on a Pennsylvania freight train caused a bad wreck two miles west of Valparaiso Tuesday evening about 7 o’clock. Twenty-five wooden and steel box cars were hurled from the tracks and the roadbed for a distance of 1,000 feet torn up. Traffic was held up for a period of seventeen hours. By a fortunate occurrence, a fast passenger train passed by the wreck scene a short time before the wreck. Valparaiso commuters to Chicago were able to get to their work in Chicago by routing over the Grand Trunk and Nickel Plate Railroads. The cars were loaded with general merchandise of all kinds.

Between forty and fifty contracting firms have submitted bids to the city board of education for the construction of a new Valparaiso High School building. The three lowest bids were submitted by Tonn and Blank, Michigan City, $137,848; Larson Danielson Construction Company, LaPorte, $146,519; and Foster Lumber and Coal Company, Valparaiso, $146,980.

March 11, 1926

In an opinion given by Valparaiso City Attorney William Daly, the Spooner administration was advised that the now-famous last-hour action of the preceding Agar administration, creating a board of trustees to take over the management and direction of the city’s newly acquired water plant, was illegal and void. By the decision, the council’s finance committee composed of Alderman E. S. Miller, John R. Palmer and C. A. Stanton, was advised to disallow the bills presented by former Mayor E. W. Agar, acting as president of the board of trustees, for salary during January and February. The total of bills is $188.

Articles of incorporation for the voluntary association organized to undertake the financing of the Valparaiso High School gymnasium structure, which the board of education is unable to finance because of bonding limitations, are expected to be forwarded to Indianapolis today. Incorporators include V. R. Despard, John F. Griffin, W. C. Sutter, J. E. Mavity, H. M. Evans, W. C. Brownell, H. E. Sievers, T. L. Applegate and C. W. Wharton.

March 12, 1926

Ninety-five ballots had been cast up to Noon today in the Evening Messenger’s poll on the prohibition question. Forty-four were in support of the eighteenth amendment as drawn and called for strict enforcement. Only twenty-four were cast for repeal of the act, and twenty-seven for modification. One of the repeal ballots was conditioned that neither the national nor state governments derive funds from the issuance of liquor permits.

Valparaiso’s city board of education, at a meeting this morning, rejected all bids on the proposed new Valparaiso High School building because the bids were in excess of the funds on hand. It is not known whether the project can be carried through at all, or to whom the contract will be awarded if the financial tangle is satisfactorily arranged. The Tonn and Blank Company, Michigan City, and Foster Lumber and Coal Company of Valparaiso, were low bidders.

March 13, 1926

The Valparaiso High School basketball team was defeated in the South Bend regional tourney at South Bend today by the LaPorte team, 30 to 27, in an overtime game. Both teams were tied at 25-all at the end of the regulation game. Errors on the part of Valparaiso lost the game to a LaPorte outfit which had been decisively defeated by Valparaiso in two games played during the season.

The lifeless body of Norman Green, 55, former lawyer, rural mail carrier, and clothing salesman, was found shortly after Noon today by Sheriff W. B. Forney in an outhouse on the Green property on LaPorte Avenue in Valparaiso. It is believed from the condition of the body that Green had been dead for about a month.

March 14, 1926

Reporting complete success in the impressive demonstration of Valparaiso generosity in an impressive response to the call sounded just twenty-one days ago in which he asked for public subscription in the sum of $10,000, Arthur J. Bowser appeared before Friday evening’s session of the Valparaiso City Council and formally terminated his services as general chairman of the benefit fund drive. Chairman C. A. Stanton of the council’s fire committee was given a complete statement of the relief account and the receipt of Charles L. Jeffrey, treasurer of the benefit fund, raised for families of firemen killed and injured in the Academy of Music Fire.

Casting a total of 706 ballots in the Evening Messenger’s straw vote test on the prohibition issue, Valparaiso and Porter County friends of the eighteenth amendment, in a remarkable show of interest, sent in 294 ballots while the total opposition to this sent in a total of 412. The complete ballot for absolute repeal was 193. Added to those who favored prohibition, those who also favored modification totaled 513.

March 15, 1926

The Valparaiso school board in a special session this afternoon rejected all general contract bids on the new Valparaiso High School building received last week and gave notice that the new bids would be received for this project on March 30. Decision to take this action was made after full consideration had been given to suggestion offered by Perkins, Fellows, and Hamilton, the architects, that the project could be financed by revision of the specification to bring the total cost nearer the $150,000 authorized expenditure.

March 16, 1926

Meeting with the Chesterton Chamber of Commerce at Chesterton last evening, the Valparaiso Chamber, through its road committee headed by Dr. H. M. Evans, joined hands with the north civic body to put over the campaign to make the Calumet Avenue-Chesterton Road a state highway. To accomplish this, committees were appointed which will supervise the securing of additional right-of-way along the route. The state highway department demands a sixty-foot right-of-way whereas the present highway measures but forty feet for the greater part.

March 17, 1926

Leaving for Washington, D.C. this morning, Attorney Oliver M. Loomis, secretary to Senator Arthur Robinson, announced that Mark L. Dickover, secretary of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, had been appointed the senator’s private campaign manager for Porter County. Dickover and the senator are friends of long standing. Participation in the defense here of Alex McCabe, of Chicago, acquitted of the charge of slaying Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, just prior to his appointment as senator by Gov. Ed Jackson, gave Robinson an extensive acquaintance in Porter County and resulted in appointment of Attorney Loomis, Valparaiso young man, as his secretary.

Kenneth S. Conn, sports editor of the South Bend Tribune, has picked the following all-regional from the teams recently playing in the South Bend tourney: First team - Treadway, LaPorte, and Arnold, Rochester, forwards; Rockwell, Rochester, center; Logan, Plymouth, and Pinkerman, Nappanee, guards. Second team - H. Bixel, Plymouth, and Pease, LaPorte, forwards; Martin, LaPorte, center; Blaese, Valparaiso and Owen, South Bend, guards.

March 18, 1926

Porter County Circuit Court Judge H. H. Loring approved the sale of 430 shares of Specht-Finney Company stock held by the S. L. Finney estate to Herman E. Sievers. Appearing for Minnie Finney and Martha Finney Parks, administratrixes, was Attorney Grant Crumpacker, and for the First Trust Company, trustee, Attorney D. E. Kelly.

Reports from Indianapolis this afternoon gave assurance that the state highway commission had Governor Jackson’s approval for the taking over by the state of Calumet Avenue to Chesterton. The project, 10.5 miles in length, was part of the 911.5 miles of the 1926 state road building program adopted by the commission. Success in the undertaking completes the campaign made by the Valparaiso Chamber over a period of three years. Three years ago, when the chamber got the state to take over the Hebron-Valparaiso Road, now State Road 55, it urged the continuation, northward, into Chesterton, but failed to get the commission’s sanction. Approval of the plan was promised in 1925 but for some reason or another failed. The chamber joining the Chesterton Chamber, is now engaged in securing a full sixty-foot right-of-way to make state co-operation possible. The improvements will be undertaken this spring.

March 19, 1926

Attorney Grant Crumpacker on Wednesday filed his petition as a Republican candidate for Porter Circuit Court judge with the secretary of state as required by law. Failure two years ago to comply with the statute disqualified Attorney Clarence D. Wood, of Chesterton, seeking the office of prosecutor. Filings for state offices must be made at Indianapolis.

Attorney D. E. Kelly received notice that his efforts to gain a reprieve of the date of execution set for Vito Sanchez, convicted of first-degree murder by a Porter County jury, had been honored by the state’s supreme court. The date of execution, set by Judge Loring as March 26 has been advanced to October 8, during which time the high court will review the complete case. Sixty days were granted for the filing of briefs. Associated with Attorney Kelly was Russell B. Harrison, of Indianapolis, representative of the Mexican government, which interested itself in the Sanchez case. While the supreme court’s ruling delays the execution of the youth, Henry Smith, of Gary, also convicted by a Porter County jury, is scheduled to be electrocuted on March 26.

March 20, 1926

Because of bad conditions, Valparaiso and Porter County bus service schedules have been paralyzed. The Kouts bus has not operated for over a week, and Friday the Chesterton-Hebron service was discontinued. With the main highways in almost impassable condition, the side roads afford a challenge to all motorists. The Sager Road is being used by most of the Kouts-bound traffic. In one or two places, the Hebron Road is treacherous.

E. M. Carver, of Pine Township, has been chosen by the members of the Indiana Wheat Growers’ Association as one of the five men whose name will go on the ballot in the coming election for director from District Number One. Carver has been notified to this effect by Herman Steen, secretary-treasurer of the Indiana Wheat Growers’ Association and states that he will leave his name on the ballot.

March 21, 1926

Bandits Sunday morning perpetrated one of the most daring safe-blowing jobs ever committed in Valparaiso when they blew the safe at the J. Lowenstine and Sons’ store and escaped with upwards of $4,000. The robbery is believed to have occurred between 8 and 9 o’clock. Reports of the explosion were heard by several persons, and a short time later, a big automobile, bearing an Ohio license number, dashed out of an alley onto Indiana Avenue and made a spirited getaway. Between 9 and 10 o’clock, members of the firm came to the store, but not having any business on the second floor, where the offices are located, and where the robbery took place, failed to note anything wrong.

Marvin Campbell, of South Bend, a former resident, and a brother of Otto Campbell, of Valparaiso, was speaker this Noon at the regular weekly meeting of the Valparaiso Rotary Club. Campbell is president of a South Bend bank and president of several manufacturing concerns. The speaker talked of Valparaiso when he was a resident of this city and recalled former friends and business associates.

March 22, 1926

J. H. Henry, who will have charge of Valparaiso’s new dry goods, clothing, and shoe store at 53-55 Franklin Avenue, the old Brenner Drug Store location, which will be number 685 in the great chain of the J. C. Penney Company, has arrived in town. Arrangements for the opening date have not been announced, however, Henry, who for five years was employed at the LaPorte store of the Penney Company, purchased the William Powell property, 104 Harrison Boulevard, and moved his family here.

March 23, 1926

Flashing light warning signals at the Pennsylvania Railroad crossings on Napoleon, Lafayette, Washington, and Franklin Streets were placed in service today under the new ordinance passed by the Agar administration just prior to giving up office. They are the latest type and automatically flash a red-light warning when a train is approaching from either direction.

March 24, 1926

Eighteen members of the girls’ basketball team of Valparaiso High School were entertained at a banquet last evening at 5:30 o’clock at the Central School building by their supervisor, Dorothy Hoffman. Other guests present were Prof. H. M. and Mabel Jessee, and Hazel Brown. Hoffman acted as toastmistress and short talks were given by Prof. Jessee, Coach Joseph Brown, and each member of the team. Prof. Jessee talked of the new high school and new gym soon to be erected. Coach Brown and Hoffman were presented with boxes of candy by the team members.

Declaring he was not satisfied that the general answer in denial of contempt of court proceedings filed against Joe Locrasto, Dunes Highway resort operator, sufficiently covered the points at issue, Judge H. H. Loring held him guilty and assessed a fine of $100 and a thirty-day jail sentence. Attorney Ira C. Tilton, counsel for Locrasto, announced today he would ask for a rehearing, and if denied, would carry the case to the state’s supreme court. Locrasto gave bond for his release. His troubles arose over the operation of Roamer Inn, many times raided by county officers. In a raid following an injunction issued against the place, several inmates were arrested. Locrasto claimed he did not have anything to do with the operation of the resort at the time of the raid, being in Detroit.

March 25, 1926

Mary Margaret Kenny was guest of honor at a party given last evening at the home of Carrie Mae Sergeant. Dinner was served at 6:30 o’clock. The hostess was assisted by Ruth Loring. Bridge was played and prizes were awarded to Laura Neet and Winifred Welton. Dorothy Tousley, of Chicago, was an outside guest. Kenny leaves Saturday for Los Angeles, Cal., where she has accepted a position in the Lewis E. Myers and Company offices.

Chesterton is still in the grip of a scarlet fever epidemic. Reports from the north-end metropolis are to the effect that several new cases, none of them serious, developed during the past week. In order to prevent spread of the disease, health authorities have advised against all unnecessary public gatherings. The Chesterton High School play “Pickles,” the Men’s Aid shows, and a religious pageant have been called off indefinitely.

March 26, 1926

Henry Smith, of Gary, known as the “Tennessee killer,” convicted by a Porter Circuit Court jury of the slaying of Martin Smith, of Gary, died in the electric chair at Michigan City prison at 12:14 o’clock, twelve minutes after he had been strapped in the chair. Smith, who created a sensation when he attempted to escape from the custody of Sheriff W. B. Forney, of Porter County, by hurling a blazing mop at the officer, died gamely. Smith is said to have killed several persons in Tennessee.

Checks from the Gary Railways and Northern Indiana Public Service Company have swelled the Harry McNamara fire disaster fund raised in Gary to near the $5,000 mark, according to reports from the Steel City. Plans are being perfected for the distribution of Valparaiso’s $10,000 benefit fund and an announcement is soon to be made.

March 27, 1926

C. A. Stanton, Louis Gast, and Charles Hicks, in charge of the distribution of the $10,000 fire disaster fund raised by Valparaiso citizens and others have made a partial distribution as follows: Sadie McNamara, Gary, $4,000; Claus Helmick, $2,000; Agnes Bartholomew, $1,000; Lloyd Miller, $500; Ray Berrier, $150; Fred D. Hughes, $75; James O. Billings, $100; Richard Brown, $100. The remainder of the fund is in the hands of Charles L. Jeffrey, treasurer, is to be held until recovery is assured of those who live in Valparaiso. Sadie McNamara, wife of Harry McNamara, Gary fireman killed in the fire, received $4,000, in addition to the $5,000 raised in Gary. Agnes Bartholomew, mother of Robert Bartholomew, who also lost his life, received $1,000. Claus Helmick, local painter, who suffered a fractured skull, received $2,000. In the case of Helmick, additional money may be allotted to him.

A petition, signed by 100 residents of Campbell Street and presented to the Valparaiso City Council last night, asked that the thoroughfare be improved. In the petition, property owners set out that the street is so bumpy that automobiles cannot travel over it without danger.

March 28, 1926

Blinded by a dense fog that made safe-driving vision impossible, Constable Charles Adams early this morning drove directly into the path of the Pennsylvania Flyer at the Franklin Avenue crossing in Valparaiso. The flyer’s lower speed of thirty miles an hour at the time saved Adams from being killed. His Overland car was completely demolished.

Included in a list of special offices just created by the state legislature finance committee, will be a patrolman for the new state park in the Porter County Dunes region. The post will carry a salary of $1,500. In addition, the Dunes Park will also be served with a special game warden as will the Kankakee River marsh land strip. These offices will command a salary of $1,200 each. In all, the total addition to the state payroll because of the new offices will be $8,000.

March 29, 1926

E. F. Clifford received a wire from St. Petersburg, Fla., announcing the death there Monday of W. E. Franklin, former Valparaiso resident, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at Watseka, Ill., Thursday afternoon. The Franklins moved to Bloomington, Ill., four years ago after selling their residence property to Lewis E. Myers. Franklin was connected for many years with circus companies, including Hagenbeck and Wallace.

March 30, 1926

County Auditor B. H. Kinne drew the second check of its kind of Porter County record. It was made out to Warden Walter H. Daly, warden of Michigan City Prison, and was for $50. It represents payment by Porter County for the electrocution of Henry Smith, Gary murderer. In November 1924, Auditor Kinne drew a similar check to the order of Warden E. J. Fogarty for the execution of Harry Diamond, the first man to be given the death penalty in Porter County.

March 31, 1926

Pearl Winneguth has received a cable from Hong Kong, China, informing her that her sister, Mabel Brummitt, is aboard the S.S. Empress Russia, homeward bound after a two years’ stay in the Philippine Islands. She is due to arrive in Vancouver on April 19 and will come here to visit her parents, John and Emma Brummitt. Mabel Brummitt is in the employ of the United States Government.

Despite the storm of last evening, more than two hundred Valparaiso and Porter County lovers of the outdoors gathered at the Memorial Opera House to greet “Wisconsin Cal” Johnson, noted sportsman and lecturer. Introduced by Dr. H. O. Seipel, president of the Izaak Walton League, sponsor of the program. “Wisconsin Cal” gave a splendid talk on the national scope of the Izaak Walton League. In his talk, Johnson gave the following points as the League’s main working program: Elimination of pollution of both coastal and inland waters; stopping of indiscriminate drainage; reforestation; a better understanding of the game laws.

Looking Back • February 1926

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.

February 1, 1926

Claude E. and Huldah McCormick will open the “Home Furnisher” store the latter part of this month in the east third of the former Lish Hardware at 117 East Lincolnway in Valparaiso, now the Krueger & Wojahn store. They will carry a complete line of home furnishings, including rugs, linoleums, draperies, laces, fancy pillows and so forth.

February 2, 1926

Charles Bailey, who was manager of the Lincoln Theatre, now the Tivoli, in Valparaiso for a number of years, died last Wednesday at the home of his daughter in Gary, according to word received here. Bailey had been employed in the American Tin Plate Company. He had been a sufferer from heart trouble.

February 3, 1926

Dr. W. T. Dau, prominent St. Louis educator, given the unanimous call to the presidency of Valparaiso University by the Lutheran Educational Association, “is personally willing and even anxious to accept the call.” This was the word brought from St. Louis today by Rev. John Baur, who spent the weekend in the Missouri city, where the board of directors of Concordia Seminary are considering both the appeal of Valparaiso University management and the personal request of Dr. Dau that he be released from duty there and transferred to Valparaiso University. A decision is expected in the near future.

Accomplishments of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce were reviewed this noon at the weekly meeting of the board of directors by Edmund J. Freund, who will retire as president of the chamber at the end of this week. When President Freund took office twelve months ago, interest in the organization was at a low ebb. During the year, the budget enlarged. The biggest achievement of the year was the saving of Valparaiso University to the city by interesting the Lutheran University Association in taking over the tottering institution.

February 4, 1926

Portage Township’s new high school gym was dedicated last night with fitting ceremonies under the direction of the Parent-Teachers’ Association of the Crisman district. The structure was constructed under the leadership of Trustee Herman W. Swanson. County Superintendent Fred H. Cole gave the main address of the evening. Following the dedicatory rites, refreshments were served in the high school building which adjoins the gym structure.

Valparaiso University fell before the prowess of Notre Dame University cagers 41 to 27 last night at University Gym. Crowe, diminutive forward of the Notre Dame team, made eight baskets, while Colerick, at center, slipped in five from the field. C. Peterson, with five goals, and Jimmy Doran, with three, led the Valparaiso attack. The game was unusually fast and clean.

February 5, 1926

Viola Richmond, 18-year-old daughter of Amos Richmond, farmer, residing near Wheeler, died Thursday noon, the victim of a furnace-kindling explosion. The young woman died in Methodist Hospital, Gary. Richmond was enveloped in flames when she poured kerosene on live coals in the furnace. Her mother died last August.

Froebel High School, of Gary, defeated the Valparaiso High quint at University Gym last night, 43 to 35. Jackson and Sammy Polizzotto played best for Froebel and White and Van Buskirk carried the heavy work for Valpo. The Valpo seconds defeated the Froebel seconds, 34 to 22.

February 6, 1926

Valparaiso Rotarians will back the candidacy of Rev. C. E. Burns, of Valparaiso, for the high post of Rotary’s Governor of Indiana and plan a whirlwind campaign. When Hoosier Rotarians gather in Muncie on February 22 and 23, they will be faced by a 100% delegation from the Valparaiso club who will be boosting every minute for their candidate. In addition to the Valparaiso club, Rev. Burns will have support of Calumet district clubs.

Valparaiso University was given a rude jolt at University Gymnasium Friday night when Columbia College basketeers triumphed over the local aggregation, 32 to 19. The first half ended 15 to 13 in favor of the visitors. In the second half, the locals went to pieces and Columbia rolled on to an easy victory.

February 7, 1926

Leigh G. Furness, age 69 years, a native of Porter County, died Saturday of a heart attack at Miami, Fla., where he had gone with his wife on a sojourn. Furness was connected with the auditing department of the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago. Furness served as representative in the Indiana’s state legislature at one time. The town of Furnessville in Porter County was named after his father, Edwin Leigh Furness.

Upholding the contention of Prosecutor August Bremer and his deputy, Franklin T. Fetterer, of Lake County, that the rights of Vito Sanchez, convicted at the last term of the Porter Circuit Court, and given a death sentence, had not been impaired by incompetence of his counsel. Judge H. H. Loring, late this afternoon overruled the motion of Attorneys D. E. Kelly, of Valparaiso, and Russell Harrison, of Indianapolis, representative of the Mexican government, and denied a new trial. Unless Sanchez is granted a new trial in an appeal to the supreme court, he will be electrocuted on March 16.

February 8, 1926

Members of the city board of education stated today they expected word from Indianapolis within a few days approving plans and specifications for the proposed new high school unit. Superintendent C.W. Boucher spent the weekend at Indianapolis interviewing members of the state board of health who pass upon the ventilation plans involved. As soon as state authorities give approval, the board will advertise for bids preparatory to getting ready to build in the spring.

February 9, 1926

Gene Boyer, member of Troop 3 of Valparaiso’s Baptist church, was Monday evening presented with the Eagle Scout merit badge, emblematic of the highest ranking in scouting. J. E. Corboy, of Chicago, a veteran scout, made the presentation. Gene won the Eagle’s badge after less than one year’s experience in scout work, mastering twenty-one different scout tests and formulas.

February 10, 1926

Merger of the Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Company and the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, until recently called the Calumet Gas and Electric Company, is proposed in a petition filed with the Indiana Public Service Commission at Indianapolis. Upon completion of the merger, the combined properties will be operated under the name of the Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

Rev. Chester W. Wharton, whose leadership during the past year made possible the saving of Valparaiso University and the launching of the recent expansion program of the chamber of commerce, was elected president of the organization at a meeting of the board of directors today. Attorney E. J. Freund, relinquishing the chairmanship, voiced appreciation of the support given him during the closing year. Other officers are Dr. H. M. Evans, first vice-president; Victor Despard, second vice president; F. W. Alpen, treasurer; and Earl V. Smith, secretary.

February 11, 1926

Banta school patrons meeting Wednesday night at the school adopted a resolution asking that the curfew ordinance be enforced and apprising the mayor and council in Valparaiso of the attitude of the organization in this respect.

Valparaiso Knights of Columbus will join with other councils of northern Indiana at the Gary beach pavilion next Sunday honoring Bishop John R. Noll, of Fort Wayne diocese, Catholic church, at a testimonial banquet. Speakers besides Bishop Noll will be J. L. Flaherty, leading Catholics of America, and T. P. Galvin, state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, who will act as toastmaster. The Notre Dame University Glee Club will provide music. Knights from ten district cities will attend.

February 12, 1926

Officers and directors of Graceland Cemetery met last night in the annual session and renamed J. W. Sieb as president, W. J. Morris as vice-president, and S. B. Sink as secretary. Sieb announced his retirement as manager after twenty-three years of service. An expansion program will be launched to increase the Perpetual Care Fund from the present total of $20,000 to $200,000, and the laying out and development of the new section to the north with new trees, shrubbery, roads, and lanes. John Thatcher will remain as sexton.

More than twenty-two hundred persons were in attendance at Sunday school in Porter County last Sunday. These were the figures collected by the Porter County Council of Religious Education. The report shows that the Valparaiso M. E. Sunday school had the highest total with 377; Valparaiso Christian, 218; Valparaiso Presbyterian, 207; and Valparaiso Baptist, 182. The totals by districts were Valparaiso, 1,171; Chesterton-Porter, 514; Hebron, 400; and Kouts, 181.

February 13, 1926

Dr. W. H. T. Dau, professor in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and one of the prominent Lutheran churchmen in America, has accepted the presidency of Valparaiso University and will take up his new duties on June 1, it was announced today. Dr. Dau is Professor of Dogmatics at Concordia. The Valparaiso job was offered to him in January. He succeeds Dr. H. M. Evans, whose resignation was effective January 1.

Finding of a technical error in the plans and specifications submitted by the Valparaiso City Board of Education for the construction of a new high school building caused the state board of accounts at Indianapolis to withhold approval until the error has been erased.

February 14, 1926

At the regular meeting of the Valparaiso Moose Lodge recently, it was voted to obtain the lease of Armory Hall for a period of years. The lease has been under consideration for some time, and moving of all belongings of the Moose Order from the Bondy building will be started immediately. The move was fostered by Harvey W. Robinson, dictator of the lodge.

Saturday at the home of Effie Sisson, Sisson and Helen Mudge entertained thirty school friends of many years ago. A long table in the living room accommodated all the guests. It was set according to the best traditions of Valparaiso forty years ago. At the close of the meal, Grace Rathburn Crumpacker read an original poem which voiced pleasure of all those present being eligible to the feast.

February 15, 1926

The Valparaiso branch of the Hoosier Automobile Association of Northern Indiana was busy today signing up late comers. To date, the local office has given out 3,100 passenger licenses, 500 truck licenses and 75 chauffeur licenses. Last year at this time, 2,600 passenger and 400 truck licenses were issued.

Dr. George R. Jones has sold his farm and residence located on LaPorte Road to O. P. Barrows, of Chicago. Barrows and family will move to Valparaiso from Chicago about April 1 and take possession of the Jones property.

February 16, 1926

The thirty-first anniversary of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club was celebrated at Hotel Lembke on Monday evening. One-hundred-and-seventy ladies sat at the banquet table. Following the repast, the president, Mrs. M. S. Campbell, presented Mrs. A. C. Smith who gave a history of the club from the time it was called the “Neighborhood Circle,” and "Harriet Beecher Stowe Club” down to the present. She paid tribute to the officers of the first circle, Mrs. N. L. Agnew, president; Mrs. E. D. Crumpacker, vice-president, and Mrs. J. A. McConahy, treasurer. The various department heads of the club had charge of a program given.

February 17, 1926

The dog situation in Valparaiso at the present time is deplorable. City police are being deluged by complaints from citizens. A number of dogs have been killed, but their number keeps on increasing. Police have ordered owners of dogs to keep them tied up under penalty of being shot.

February 18, 1926

Luther W. Bloch, Sr., owner of the Bloch Hotel and Restaurant on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, died this morning at his apartment over the restaurant following an attack of influenza. He was born in a building on the site of the local restaurant on July 6, 1867. He started in the restaurant and hotel business seventeen years ago. His widow, Hulda, of Valparaiso, and a daughter, Lillian Yellenti, of New York City, survive.

Richard F. Mangel, of Valparaiso, today praised Charles Pratt Post, American Legion, and former commander Harvey C. Varner, for the aid given him in securing compensation from the government. “Others worked on my case for three years and got no results,” Mangel said. “Mr. Varner took up the case less than a month ago and now I have been taken care of,” he added. Mangel operates a taxicab.

February 19, 1926

Fire early today caused a $300,000 loss when the Academy of Music Block was gutted by fire starting in the boiler room under the Heineman and Sievers’ Drug Store. A dozen firms were rendered homeless. Two men, a Gary fireman, Harry McNamara, and Robert Bartholomew, Valparaiso telephone lineman, lost their lives when a wall fell. A dozen volunteer fire fighters received injuries.

J. Seymour Wilcox, for many years identified with Valparaiso’s business life, and a former member of the Valparaiso City Council, died at his home here this afternoon. He was a Civil War veteran and member of the Valpo Lodge of Elks. He was 79 years of age.

February 20, 1926

The Farmers’ State Bank, rendered homeless by the fire which destroyed the Academy of Music Block, opened for business this morning in temporary quarters in the Brown building at the Northeast corner of Washington Street and Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Before the flames had time to cool, President Charles L. Jeffrey and directors of the bank had leased the quarters and made arrangements with a local builder to place the building in shape. Attorney Daniel E. Kelly, another fire victim, took quarters in the Valparaiso National Bank Building on Washington Street, where he had started thirty years or more before. Mayor E. W. Agar took quarters with Attorney Bruce B. Loring in the Valparaiso State Bank building on Indiana Avenue. Prosecutor W. W. Bozarth and Attorney P. J. Bailey took quarters in the Brenner Drug Store building. The Sievers Drug Company will confine its activities to its new store on Lincolnway. The Bargain Store, Grieval and Vevia, and Tobin pool room have not made plans. The Yellow Taxicab Company is located in the old Specht Flower Shop quarters on Washington Street.

Valparaiso High School defeated Emerson High School of Gary, 51 to 40, last night at the university gym. Emerson came with the expectation of winning easily. At one time in the first half, Valpo led 22 to 4. Then Emerson spurted and the half ended 30 to 20, Valpo. White with nine baskets, Van Buskirk with six, and Wood with seven, led the locals’ attack. Shay, with eight, led the Emerson cagers. Link, Altehoff, Elser, Wood, Sotock, and DeLong played well for Emerson.

February 21, 1926

Charles Magnuson, of Valparaiso, was elected president of the Porter County Rural Letter Carriers’ Association at the annual meeting held at Chesterton on Saturday. Other officers named were J. C. McAlpin, Hebron, vice-president; Ellsworth A. Mitzner, Valparaiso, secretary-treasurer. Charles Magnuson and Elmer Gay were named delegates to the state convention. The next meeting will be held in Valparaiso.

The home of Prof. C. S. Hoover, 208 Lincoln Avenue (Brown Street), was badly damaged by fire Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Fire started in the basement from an unknown cause but would not have spread through the house had not the water hydrants been frozen. Prof. Hoover, partly overcome by smoke, managed to make his way from the home. His daughter, Louise Groves, was taken out an upstairs window as was also a young boy, who resides at the home. The entire home furnishings were a total loss.

February 22, 1926

Gary and Valparaiso today paid tribute at the biers of Herry McNamara, Gary fireman, and Robert Bartholomew, Valparaiso youth, who gave their lives “in line of public duty” in Friday’s Academy of Music Block fire. Headed by Valparaiso Mayor William F. Spooner, members of the common council, augmented by Fire Chief Fred Wittenberg and other city employees, a delegation of Valparaiso citizens motored to Gary this morning and attended services for McNamara. With all business and commercial institutions responding to Mayor Spooner’s appeal that the city gave marked evidence of mourning, Valparaiso this afternoon paid final tribute to Robert Bartholomew. Stores were closed, flags at half mast during the funeral period. Dressed in uniform, 120 representatives of the Gary Fire Department and city officials returned here with the Valparaiso delegation that attended the McNamara funeral and attended the Bartholomew rites, which were held at 2 o’clock from the Christian church. Every seat in the church was filled. Rev. E. Richard Edwards preached the eulogy.

February 23, 1926

At a special meeting of the Valparaiso City Council on Saturday evening, Arthur J. Bowser sponsored a program whereby a benefit fund of $10,000 is to be subscribed by Valparaiso citizens on behalf of those called upon to mourn and suffer by reason of the Academy of Music fire. Bowser said an especial debt of gratitude was due to the family of Harry McNamara, Gary fireman, who lost his life in the blaze. Members of the family of Robert Bartholomew, of Valparaiso, also killed in the fire, and others who suffered injuries will be recompensed.

February 24, 1926

Announcement was made today that E. D. Hodges, for fourteen years agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Valparaiso, will be transferred on March 1 to Kokomo, Ind., one of the chief cities of the Pan Handle branch of the Pennsylvania system. During his residence here, Hodges was president of the chamber of commerce, secretary of the Porter County Tuberculosis Association, and active in Rotary Club circles. He came here from Hanna, Ind. Ira A. Mummert, of North Manchester, Ind., will succeed Hodges here.

Headquarters were established today in the chamber of commerce rooms by Arthur J. Bowser, veteran newspaper publisher, selected as the leader of the Fire Victim’s Benefit movement. The drive to raise $10,000 for victims of the Academy of Music blaze was gotten under way at once. Mary E. Long volunteered her services as assistant to Bowser. The fund, when raised, will be turned over to the fire committee of the Valparaiso City Council for distribution.

February 25, 1926

One quarter of the $10,000 firemen’s fund for relief of families of those killed and injured in the Academy of Music fire was raised today when four Valparaiso financial institutions agreed to underwrite the raising of $1,000. The local banks, in coming to the aid of the fund, broke a long-standing rule, A. J. Bowser, chairman of the fund, said. Meeting in chamber of commerce rooms, the executive this morning said the committee made final plans for the drive. Towns and rural communities of the county will be asked to assist in raising the $10,000 fund.

Following a policy to rid north Porter County highways of vice dens, and questionable resorts, Sheriff William B. Forney and his aides Wednesday night made another raid and arrested a dozen inmates of alleged houses of ill repute. Two of the places raided were the Roamer Inn, supposed to be under lock and key by a temporary injunction order by Porter Circuit Court Judge H. H. Loring. The establishment is owned and operated by Joe Locrasto. It is known that Attorney Arthur L. Gilliom is “keeping his eye” on Dunes Highway law enforcement. At the time of the stir-up of the scandal involving the office of Prosecutor W. W. Bozarth in connection with alleged breach of promise trust in the notorious Herbst cases, the attorney-general let it be known that he was not satisfied with Porter County conditions as then existing and indicated he would take a hand unless vigorous law enforcement resulted.

February 26, 1926

A total of $3,500 has been pledged to the $10,000 fund to be raised for Valparaiso’s fire victims, according to a checkup made today. To speed up subscriptions, the executive committee sent out solicitors today, but many persons interviewed had already sent in their subscriptions. From Covington, La., today came a letter from G. G. Shauer, local theatre man wintering there, expressing deep sorrow for the catastrophe which befell the city, and pledging a $100 contribution for G. G. Shauer & Sons.

The O. C. Fredericks Real Estate Agency yesterday completed deals whereby Allen J. White becomes the owner of the Mary Thimings property located at 205 East Chicago Street, Valparaiso, and George DeFoor, of Gary, purchased two lots near Wolff’s Corners of the Pratt brothers. Dr. DeFoor will build in the spring and make his home here.

February 27, 1926

A fire causing a loss estimated at $10,000 visited the J. B. Foley farm one mile from Morgan Township High School last night, completely destroying three large stock barns. Iden Hittle, tenant, who was just preparing to move to the J. Wolf farm, north of Wheeler, was the chief loser with Foley. Heroic work by neighbors saved the farm home. Foley was able to save fifteen head of cattle, but six head of horses, four-hundred bushels of oats, four-hundred bushels of corn, twelve tons of hay, a silo completely filled with silage, and a calf burned. Scott Ginder, who was to take over the Foley farm, lost two-hundred bushels of corn and a wagon which he had moved to the Foley place.

A. J. and Ida Worstell, of 607 North Franklin Avenue in Valparaiso, will on Sunday celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. They were married in Ohio and moved to Porter County nine years after their marriage. They have lived in Valparaiso for the last eleven years.

February 28, 1926

Valparaiso’s mercy fund for the benefit of families of two firemen killed and for others injured in the Academy of Music fire, today reached the $7,000 mark. Sunday was Fund Appeal Day in Valparaiso churches, and while a substantial sum was raised, the amount has not been collected together as yet. Yet to hear from are the city’s industrial units, and the rural appeal program outlined by County Agent A. Z. Arehart and the one day’s pay program in charge of Ralph McGillicuddy. It is expected by Chairman Bowser that the $10,000 fund will be raised within the time limit. Disbursers of the fund will be Charles Hicks, Louis Gast, and C. A. Stanton, members of the fire committee of the Valparaiso City Council.

With an armed posse of eight special guards under the command of Sheriff W. B. Forney, the vault of the Farmers’ State Bank, which went through the Academy of Music fire, was opened Saturday evening and its contents safely removed. Everything in the vault passed through the fire in perfect shape. The safe containing the bank’s cash was removed to the bank’s new quarters in the Brown building, and the safety deposit boxes to the Valparaiso National Bank building, where they will be available to customers.

February 29, 1926

Valparaiso High School basketball team defeated LaPorte High School in a thriller on Saturday night at university gym by a score of 59 to 34. Fred White and Van Buskirk each contributed nine baskets of the twenty-six made by the locals. Ward, Pease, Martin, and Treadway played best for LaPorte but Valpo led at half time, 25 to 16. The Valpo second team was defeated by the LaPorte second team, 31 to 21. Otis Bowman made six baskets for Valpo.

Valparaiso is getting the reputation of a Gretna Green. A large number of couples who hie themselves to Crown Point on Sundays and after hours and fail to get licenses continue on to Valparaiso, where they are accommodated by Porter County Clerk Roscoe C. Jones. Nearly every weekend, from six to ten couples come here for licenses when they find out that the Crown Point office is not open on Sundays.

Looking Back • January 1926

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.

January 1, 1926

The Valparaiso City Council at a special meeting Thursday night named the first board of trustees of the Valparaiso Home Water Company, recently taken over by the city. The board is Edgerton W. Agar, outgoing mayor; Mark L. Dickover, secretary of the Valparaiso Building & Loan Association, and George W. Eifler, present treasurer of the water company. Councilman Louis Gast opposed the passage of the ordinance creating the new board of trustees.

January 2, 1926

Valparaiso Mayor-elect William F. Spooner and the newly-elected members of city council will take their oath of office and seats of office on Monday noon. Spooner will succeed Edgerton W. Agar. C. A. Stanton, Charles Hicks, and Louis Leetz will succeed S. E. Collins, R. C. Higley, and John R. Burch on the council. E. S. Miller, Louis Gast, and John R. Palmer will retain office. Flora E. Kenny will succeed Grace Blachly as city clerk.

January 3, 1926

Elizabeth Noel Bowser, age 86 years, mother of Arthur J. Bowser, veteran Porter County newspaperman, died at her home in Valparaiso on Saturday afternoon.

F. W. Alpen today consummated the deal for the purchase of the property at 70-72 East Lincolnway in Valparaiso, occupied by the Cash Market, the Consumers Grocers, and Albe Hotel. The property fronts forty-four feet on Lincolnway and one hundred thirty two on Lafayette Street. Ben H. Urbahns, treasurer of Indiana, and former Valparaiso man, was owner of the property.

January 4, 1926

With a “How Do You Do” led by Rev. Chester W. Wharton, and “Spooner’s All Right” cheer sponsored by Rev. E. Richard Edwards, blazing the way, about fifty persons were guests of Mayor W. F. Spooner at a 1 o’clock luncheon dinner today at the Hotel Lembke. Seated around the table were representatives of both outgoing and incoming Valparaiso city administrations, and members of the clergy. Every minister of the city was present. Mayor Spooner made a short talk following the dinner. Other talks were made.

Coach J. B. Brown’s Valparaiso High School basketball team defeated Hobart High School quint Saturday night at the Valparaiso University gym, 54 to 24. Fred White, star running guard of the Valparaiso team, caged twelve baskets and two free throws for twenty-six points.

January 5, 1926

After twelve years of service as judge of the Porter Circuit Court, Judge H. H. Loring announced that he will not be a candidate for renomination at the May primary election. He plans to retire from the bench when his term ends on January 1, 1927. With Judge Loring’s announcement, names of three prominent attorneys have been mentioned as possible candidates. They are Grant Crumpacker, for years one of the leading members of the bar of northern Indiana, former Prosecutor Charles W. Jensen, of Chesterton, and Mark B. Rockwell, well-known Valparaiso attorney.

January 6, 1926

Speaking before an audience that filled the Valparaiso University auditorium this morning, Dr. Horace M. Evans announced his retirement from the presidency of the university. Six months ago, before the Lutheran Educational Association took over the school, Dr. Evans said he would remain with the institution until the Lutheran Association had completed all details leading up to the acquisition of the school. This has been accomplished. A successor is expected to be named soon.

January 7, 1926

Representatives of Perkins, Fellows, and Hamilton, of Chicago, architects of the proposed new high school building, today outlined before members of the Valparaiso School Board plans devised for the construction of a gymnasium in connection with the high school proper at a meeting held at the office of Superintendent C. W. Boucher. Members of the group forming a holding corporation by which an additional $150,000 in bonds is to be floated for the building of the gymnasium were also present. It is the hope of school officials to launch the building program early this spring.

The Porter County Commissioners at the January meeting entered an order reducing the dog tax by cutting the tax on male dogs from $3 to $1. The tax on females was left at $3. Last year, between $7,000 and $8,000 was realized from the higher tax. The reduction will mean a saving to taxpayers of about $2,000.

January 8, 1926

Rev. George F. Schutes and Herman E. Sievers, members of the newly formed board of trustees now controlling the administration and affairs of Valparaiso University, left today for Fort Wayne where they will attend a meeting of the directing heads, which may result in selecting a new president for the university to succeed Dr. H. M. Evans, who resigned. Members of the former board of trustees, through their secretary, Dr. G. H. Stoner, today through a resolution, expressed their appreciation of the services rendered by President Evans.

Appearing before one-hundred-fifty persons at a meeting of the Center Township Farm Bureau held at Cook’s Corners school last night, Byron Kinne, Porter County Auditor, declared that the matter of taxation was very largely a local problem. He said last year $1,800,000 in taxes and fees were raised in Porter County on a valuation of $60,000,000. He asserted that as the larger part of the tax dollar was spent in the township, the matter of control of how it is spent is up to the taxpayers of the township.

January 9, 1926

Dr. W. H. T. Dau, professor at the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., was selected as president of Valparaiso University at a meeting of the board of trustees of the university meeting at Fort Wayne on Friday. He succeeds Dr. H. M. Evans, who resigned two days ago. Dr. Dau was formerly head of the Concordia College at Conover, North Carolina, and also served as pastor of the Lutheran church in Hammond, Ind.

Valparaiso’s new Spooner city administration at its first meeting of the year on Friday night knocked the Agar administration city court program into a cocked hat; balked on the issue of providing a $30,000 outlay for operation of the new water department, and voted three to three to reject bids on the proposed Bond Avenue paving project.

January 10, 1926

Helen Glover, of Valparaiso, was drowned in Flint Lake on Saturday night when an automobile in which she was riding with Richard Bundy and Mildred Ford, both of this city, dived into a freshly-cut ice channel on the lake. Young Bundy and the Ford girl barely escaped with their lives. The body of the Glover girl was not recovered until the next morning at 7:45 o’clock. 

Valparaiso High School defeated Lowell High School basketball team Saturday night in Lowell’s cigar box gym by a score of 35 to 19. After Valparaiso had accumulated a 19-to-3 lead, Coach Joe Brown withdrew his first stringers and substituted his second stringers.

January 11, 1926

Accepting the unanimous call of the Porter County Bar Association to become a candidate for the Republican nomination for circuit judge to fill the vacancy caused by announcement of the retirement of Judge H. H. Loring, present incumbent who stated last week he would not be a candidate for a third term, Grant Crumpacker, one of the foremost attorneys of northern Indiana, formally accepted the invitation in the spirit of accepting a call to service.

Montdale Farm, consisting of two-hundred-thirteen acres, one of the finest dairy farms in Indiana, and noted for its fine breed of registered Ayrshire cattle and Duroc hogs, has changed hands. Three years ago, the farm was purchased from Harry Curran, son-in-law of J. Lowenstine, by J. W. Dowd. Fred B. Mateer, of Chicago, is the new owner. The consideration was $125,000.

January 12, 1926

During the Christmas holidays, Rev. C. W. Baer, former pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, of Valparaiso, and now pastor of the English Lutheran Church of the Redeemer at Fort Wayne, Ind., received a call to the English Lutheran Church of Our Savior at Brooklyn, N.Y. Rev. Baer has decided to remain in Fort Wayne. He has been voted a substantial increase in salary. During his pastorate at Fort Wayne, three-hundred new members have been added and a church plant costing $150,000 was built.

January 13, 1926

Jack Chester, son of George and Marie Chester, was badly injured Tuesday evening when he was struck by an automobile driven by a man named Bowman, residing east of Valparaiso. The mishap occurred at the intersection of Lincolnway and Locust as the Chester boy was on his way to the home of his grandparents, John and Flora McNay, from the Columbia School. At the Christian Hospital, it was found he had suffered a fractured skull and an operation was performed.

January 14, 1926

Issuance of five-hundred-forty-seven marriage licenses, against the granting by Porter County courts of nine divorces, was the record established last year according to the annual reports of Porter County Clerk Roscoe M. Jones.

Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce leaders are confident that the goal of $12,000 set for the operating budget for 1927 will be achieved. A three-day campaign showed a total of $5,665 pledged in memberships. This is $1,600 over the 1925-mark, and according to workers, only sixty percent of the available chamber membership has been approached. President Edmund J. Freund was highly elated over the fine showing.

January 15, 1926

Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today sentenced Daniel Majowski, Gary millhand, to prison for 1-to-3 years for deserting his wife, daughter of a McCool farmer. Majowski was given a chance some time ago by the court, but failed to live up to his promise.

Laura A. Kouns returned today from Maywood Ill., where on Monday her son, Ralph Kouns, a World War veteran, submitted to a serious operation. Although attending physicians are hopeful, the young man’s condition is considered grave.

January 16, 1926

Directors of the Lincolndale Country Club, recently organized, met last evening and took steps to insure a vigorous program of improvement and completion of a new golf course at the grounds west of Valparaiso next spring. Harry J. Collins, Chicago, designer of the famous Flossmoor course, will supervise the work. Nearly one-half of the two-hundred members have been signed up.

Charles Ohlfest, of Valparaiso, was elected treasurer of the Holstein-Friesian Association at a meeting held at Purdue University, Lafayette. C. W. Newman, Culver, was elected president.

January 17, 1926

Persons living along the Dunes Highway in north Porter County have prepared petitions addressed to Sheriff W. B. Forney asking that several roadhouses, long set down as questionable resorts, be placed under padlock. It is the contention of the objectors that these places are nuisances and that operators of the places have been arrested on numerous occasions but still continue in business.

Lewis E. Myers and Company today announced the sale of their Practical Agriculture business to James O. Cox, one of the executives of the company. Practical Agriculture consists of a school chart purchased three years ago by the Myers company from R. O. Evans and Company, Chicago. Cox will conduct the business under the name of The National School Service Company.

January 18, 1926

L. A. Hammersley, for the past seven years employed by the Specht Finney Company as manager of the men’s furnishings section, today resigned his position. He has not announced his plans for the future.

Word has been received here that Ben H. Urbahns, of Valparaiso, state treasurer of Indiana, submitted to an operation for removal of a kidney in an Indianapolis hospital today. His condition is reported as favorable, according to Harry C. Fenton, secretary of the Indiana Republican Central Committee. 

January 19, 1926

Chesterton was thrown into excitement today when it was learned that a young grade school boy seeking a thrill permitted a dog to enter the basement of the Chesterton school building, where it attacked three girls and bit them. Those injured were Margaret Samuelson, Elzene Carlson, and Jeanette Stevens. The dog is believed to have been attracted by scraps of food thrown out from the domestic science room. The girls were eating their lunch at the time of the attack.

January 20, 1926

Following closely upon the announcement that Judge H. H. Loring would not be a candidate for reelection, came the thriller today that Mae R. London, deputy county clerk for the last six years under Clerk Roscoe C. Jones, would be a candidate on the Republican ticket for the office of clerk to succeed Jones.

January 21, 1926

At a meeting of the new Spooner Valparaiso City Council Wednesday evening, some thirty candidates for jobs on the police department were referred to the police committee, headed by Councilman Louis Gast. Those out for police chiefs are William Pennington, former sheriff; Gregg Stansell, former chief of police, and John S. Miller. For placing among the four patrolmen are Matthew Brown, Gordon Reynolds, William Lederer, Walter Bush, John Wulf, Robert Bryarly, Jerome Frakes, Robert Felton, Louis Detlefs, Charles F. LaCount, W. B. Williams, Herbert Mann, S. W. Mitchell, and Abe Hermance. John Wulf, health officer, has been replaced by Bertha Drawans Ewing. Policeman Matthew Brown in all probability will be retained. Fred Wittenberg seems to have the call for the post of fire chief. Those seeking jobs as regulars are John Deardoff, Gordon Wheeler, Freeman Lane, and Carl Dalke, with Wilbur Cowdrey, Gust Long, and L. J. Rosenberger as rivals.

Valparaiso Councilman E. S. Miller has been renamed president of the city planning commission by Mayor W. F. Spooner. Edmund J. Freund and J. Earl Mavity were named attorney and secretary respectively of the commission. Last month, the city planning and zoning ordinance was formally adopted and is now in effect.

January 22, 1926

Indiana was shocked today, and Valparaiso, his home city, stunned in sorrow as word was received of the passing Thursday evening at Indianapolis of Ben H. Urbahns, treasurer of Indiana. Although deeply shocked, Governor Ed Jackson, a personal friend of Urbahns, stated that he had promised in event of the latter’s death to name his widow, Grace Banta Urbahns, to fill out the unexpired term. Funeral services will be held Sunday at Indianapolis and burial will be made there. Urbahns made a visit to Valparaiso last week and disposed of his business block at the corner of Lafayette and Lincolnway to F. W. Alpen.

Given notice that Porter County is in for a period of more drastic liquor and general enforcement. Prosecutor W. W. Bozarth today appeared before Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court and asked for temporary injunctions against three Dunes Highway resort operators, with a view of making their owners show cause why their establishments should not be closed under the padlock law. Among the resorts sought to be closed is the notorious Roamer Inn owned by Joe Locrasto.

January 23, 1926

Members of the police and fire departments were named at the regular meeting of the Valparaiso City Council Friday night. William Pennington was named police chief, and Matthew Brown, Gordon Reynolds, Jerome Frakes, and Robert Felton, patrolmen. Bertha Ewing was named health officer, Fred Wittenberg, Sr., was named fire chief. Freeman Lane, Wilbur Cowdrey, Carl Dalke, and Gust Long, were named as drivers.

Tragic fate, which early last year took the life of Russell Maudlin, Valparaiso milk dealer, when he was trapped and killed at a local grade crossing, early this morning claimed the life of Lauren “Bud” Maudlin, his son. The latter was killed when an automobile in which he was riding was struck by a streetcar in Chicago. Maudlin died in Mercy Hospital before local relatives could reach his side.

January 24, 1926

Owners of roadhouses along the Dunes Highway in north Porter County will contest the move by Prosecutor W. W. Bozarth to have them declared public nuisances and permanently closed, was indicated Saturday when the operator of Roamer Inn, the largest of the three establishments against which Judge H. H. Loring issued temporary restraining orders, appeared in court and gave notice through attorneys that they would contest the action. Prosecutor Bozarth’s move was actuated by petitions presented to him signed by fifty property owners living along the Dunes Highway objecting to the operation of roadhouses.

Former Valparaiso Chief of Police James Jones on Sunday completed a period of twenty years of police service. Sixteen years of time have been spent as division detective for the Pennsylvania Railroad and some four years on the Valparaiso city police force. Acting Chief Matthew Brown, who in February steps back into the ranks of patrolman, was the man, who as city marshal in 1906, first engaged Jones. Through this period, Officer Brown and Detective Jones have remained close friends.

January 25, 1926

Action of the Indiana Board of Tax Commissioners in ordering a flat increase of thirty-three-and-a-half percent increase in the valuation of town and city property will cost Valparaiso and the five other incorporated units of the county a tax increase in 1926. Porter County taxpayers, according to Auditor Kinne, will pay a total of $1,396,268.82 in 1926, as against $1,355,578.05 last year. The county valuation for 1926 is $59,897,630, which is an increase of $800,000 over last year.

Dorothy Cunningham, Republican National Committeewoman from Indiana, today advocated the nomination of Grace Urbahns, of Valparaiso, by the Republican State Convention to be held in May for the office of state treasurer, held by her late husband, Ben H. Urbahns, who died recently. Urbahns, had he lived, would have been renominated, and it is proper that his widow receive the same honor. Grace Urbahns has not indicated she would be a candidate for the office.

January 26, 1926

A new move to build a Porter County hospital was launched at a meeting of Porter County Farmers-Business Men’s Short Course and Corn Show by Rev. Chester W. Wharton, pastor of the Presbyterian church, and chairman of the committee that represented the chamber of commerce in negotiations resulting in the taking over of Valparaiso University by the Lutheran Educational Association. Rev. Wharton declared that those who voted against it two years ago now want it.

January 27, 1926

Everett Gardner, of the state conservation department, has left Indianapolis for Gary, Valparaiso, and Chesterton to close deals for more acreage in the Dunes State Park. Gardner says he hopes to purchase acreage enough to round out the holdings now held by the state relative to various highways and streams.

January 28, 1926

An unheralded cold blast that hit Valparaiso on Wednesday afternoon developed into the most severe blizzard of the year, blocking roads, disarranging train schedules, and generally stranding the traveling public. County Highway Superintendent Joseph Crowe had a force of twenty men directing six snowplows and wielding snow shovels at various points throughout the county. Despite the activity of the road forces assisted by hundreds of farmers, many roads, except in the Hebron vicinity, are blockaded. Local hotels were crowded with traveling salesmen last night due to the storm. At Wanatah, a Pennsylvania passenger engine was derailed and delayed traffic.

Word has been received here of the death at Charlotte, Mich., of Rev. Arthur Hayes, a former Porter County resident. He was born near the Hayes school, southwest of Valparaiso, and was 61 years of age. He attended Valparaiso University. Rev. Hayes was a minister of the Baptist denomination.

January 29, 1926

When the case of Vito Sanchez, recently found guilty and given the electric chair, comes up Monday in Porter Circuit Court, Attorney D. E. Kelly, of Valparaiso, and Attorney Russell B. Harrison, of Indianapolis, Mexican counsel, and son of former President Benjamin Harrison, will attempt to obtain a new trial for the youth. According to the attorneys who recently entered the case, the defendant was given the legal representation to which he was entitled. Sanchez claimed he shot in self-defense after he had been robbed of $20.

Mary Deets Freeman, a former well-known Valparaiso resident, died at her home in Centralia, Wash., on January 16, according to word received here. The Freemans resided here for a number of years while William Freeman conducted a dry goods store.

January 30, 1926

Sunday marks the last day of service for five city employees, three police officers, and two firemen, and Monday will mark the beginning of new periods of service for five others. On that day, William Pennington will become chief of police under the Spooner administration, succeeding Matthew Brown, who takes rank as a policeman. Former Chief of Police Robert Felton and ex-officer Jerome Frakes will take the positions held by Walter Bush and William Lederer, Health Officer John Wulf is also dropped with Bertha Ewing taking his position. Officer Gordon Reynolds remains on the force with Robert Bryarly dropped from police duty for the time being. Bryarly will continue as a special merchant policeman. In the fire department, Wilbur Cowdrey and Gust Long will take the positions of John Deardoff and Gordon Wheeler.

Valparaiso High School defeated Michigan City last night, 31 to 23. White got nine points and Van Buskirk and Wood eight each for Valpo. Benson, with nine, and Flotow, with eight, were best for Michigan City.

January 31, 1926

Wheeler boys and Crisman girls are basketball champions of Porter County. Wheeler won the title by defeating Boone Grove 38 to 10 in the final, and Crisman triumphed over Chesterton to the tune of 21 to 8. Chesterton boys, last year’s winners, were defeated by Crisman 28 to 27. Crisman, in turn, fell before a fighting Boone Grove outfit, 17 to 13. Wheeler gained the right to play in the finals by winning from Chesterton and Morgan, the latter by a close 20-to-18 margin.

William N. Muster, veteran rural mail carrier out of the Valparaiso Post Office, died Saturday afternoon at his home after a two-month illness. His death was attributed to an injury received two years ago when he was thrown from his racing car while driving in a horse race at the LaPorte County Fair. He was fifty-eight years of age. He had been a mail carrier for twenty-four years. As a tribute to him, the Valparaiso Post Office will close during his funeral on Tuesday.

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.