Lembke Hall at Valparaiso University, circa 1925
These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.
July 1, 1925
Because of numerous deaths among cattle in Porter County, believed due to eating poisoned weeds, county agent A. Z. Arehart and Dr. A. M. Jacoby, federal tuberculosis tester working here, have called upon A. A. Hansen, Purdue University, to make a survey in the county to determine whether poisonous weeds exist, and adopt methods necessary for their eradication.
July 2, 1925
Members of the special state Dunes Park commission named by Governor Ed Jackson are today conferring with property owners in Lake and Porter Counties preliminary to purchasing the acreage for the new state park. Preliminary purchases are expected to be made by the committee. Subsequent purchases of the park acreage will increase it to 2,000 acres. The park will front Lake Michigan for three miles.
J. C. Kline, the first county agent of Porter County, visited here today enroute to Elkhart, Ind., to visit his family. He is now county agent at Belvidere, Boone County, Ill. He resigned here because of ill health.
July 3, 1925
Attorney A. H. Brown, of Indianapolis, today filed a motion with Special Judge George E. Hershman, of Crown Point, in Porter Circuit Court that the judgement of the court be set aside, the guilty plea of the defendant be vacated, and a new trial be granted in the case of Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, sentenced to 190 days at the women’s prison at Indianapolis for liquor law violation. Judge Hershman set the motion down for hearing on July 10.
Charles E. Foster, builder of the new Elks Temple, entertained members of the Elks Lodge in the new temple last evening preceding the regular lodge session. More than 250 members were in attendance. The Apollo Male Quartette of Chicago rendered a fine musical program. Foster was presented with a fine golfing outfit. The new building will be dedicated in August when the state Elks convention is held here.
July 4, 1925
John G. Kirby, age 28, of Gary, drowned today in Lake Eliza, southwest of Valparaiso. Kirby was an insurance salesman and came to Lake Eliza with his family to spend the holiday. It is believed he suffered a stroke. The body was not recovered for six hours.
July 5, 1925
The Valparaiso Moose baseball team was defeated at Kouts on Sunday by a score of 6 to 5. W. Peters, on the mound for the Moose, allowed Kouts only four hits, but errors behind him were costly.
July 6, 1925
The life of Joseph Kassokowski, 72, living on the Dunes Highway, was snuffed out by a South Shore interurban train at Tremont. Kassokowski was crossing the tracks and walked directly in front of the train, according to eyewitnesses.
July 7, 1925
C. B. Bales and Ward Gilbert, field examiners for the state board of accounts, recently arrived here to examine the books and accounts of Porter County township trustees for the years 1923 and 1924. The audit is supposed to be made every year, but by some slip, it passed over until this year.
July 8, 1925
Maheldia Neidermayer, 16-year-old daughter of John and Hedwig Neidermayer, residing near Cook’s Corners, a victim of wanderlust, was found in Chicago on Tuesday. Sheriff W. B. Forney and Deputy Sheriff William Pennington, who following a tip, made a tour of the big city and found their guest. The girl disappeared two weeks ago.
E. L. Loomis, chairman of the county’s Republican central committee, superintendent of the Valparaiso Home Water Company, and secretary of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, is reported critically ill at the home of his brother-in-law, John W. McGinety, in Indianapolis. He is not expected to recover.
July 9, 1925
Valparaiso coal dealers are in good shape to weather a coal strike if it arises, it was learned today. Local dealers state that the public is much concerned about the impending strike. During the last ten days, more orders have been received than all the rest of the season.
Word has been received here from Indianapolis that the condition of E. L. Loomis is somewhat better, though he is still in an unconscious condition. Attorney Oliver Loomis, a son, wired Attorney D. E. Kelly that his father spent a comfortable night.
July 10, 1925
Those in charge of negotiations for the transfer of Valparaiso University to the Lutheran Educational Association stated today they expected decision in the matter within the next few days. “We probably will hear nothing further until the final statement is prepared,” stated Manager W. C. Sutter, of the Valparaiso Chamber.
John and Katie Uehlin, of Flint, Mich., are here for a visit at the E. A. Bell home. They resided in Valparaiso forty-two years ago, at which time Uehlin was employed as a baker in Windle’s Grocery.
July 11, 1925
Special Judge George E. Hershman, of Crown Point, today in the Porter Circuit Court refused a new trial to Catherine Cassler, of Hebron, self-confessed bootlegger, and now serving a six-month sentence at the Indiana women’s prison at Indianapolis. Cassler was represented by Attorney H. A. Brown of Chicago, who submitted three affidavits, all going to the point that the woman was a victim of ill health and of friends who used her as a tool, and was in no manner responsible when she followed advice of her three local attorneys and entered a plea of guilty to violating the prohibition law. Cassler, at the time of her arrest, was alleged to have been working with federal agents. She was backed by Capitola Dilley of Hebron, president of the Porter County Women’s Christian Temprance Union.
B. H. Petty, of Purdue University, concluded his tour of inspection of Porter County highways on Friday by attending a meeting of the Chesterton Chamber of Commerce and participated in a roundtable discussion of road problems. Twenty-six members of the Chesterton organization attended the meeting. The Chesterton meeting concluded his stay in the county. He was accompanied throughout his tour of inspection by Joseph Crowe, county road superintendent.
July 12, 1925
Bud Lackey, employed at Valparaiso’s Hotel Lembke, proved to be the hero of the day on Sunday when he swam out to save the life of J. E. Harding, also employed at the hotel, who had gone out too far swimming, at Flint Lake. Lackey, seeing that Harding was having difficulty in getting back to shore, started to his assistance, but before he had reached him, Harding had gone under twice.
A decision is expected this week by officials of the Lutheran University Association who have been conducting negotiations for the purchase of Valparaiso University, it was announced today. It is said the officials of the association and the owners of the university are about $100,000 off on the question of closing the deal.
July 13, 1925
An echo of the Harry Diamond murder was heard in the appointment of the Indiana Harbor National Bank as administrator of his estate, which is estimated at $75,000. Diamond was executed in the state prison at Michigan City last December after a Porter Circuit Court jury found him guilty. He was charged with slaying his wife while they were driving between Gary and East Chicago. The slaying was said to have been committed so he could obtain her estate.
July 14, 1925
Former Governor W. L. Harding, of Iowa, will be the main speaker at the annual picnic of the Porter County Farm Bureau to be held at Wauhob Lake on Thursday, August 20. Governor Harding is a noted orator and farmer-organization advocate.
July 15, 1925
Warren Wright, for several years employed on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at Cincinnati, O., has become associated with his brother, Walter Wright, local electrical contractor. He has purchased the interest of Harold Bochtler.
Valparaiso music lovers, denied the annual summer band concerts, will hear the famous Haskell and Barker Band of Michigan City on Friday night at the courthouse square. Following the concert, the band will be feted at the Elks Temple.
July 16, 1925
Members of the Kouts American Legion Post paid final tribute to the second member of the Radilyack family on Wednesday when it buried Martin Radilyack, who died Monday of wounds received in the World War. Funeral services were held from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rev. E. J. Mungovan, of Valparaiso, officiating. A brother of the decedent, William, died of injuries received in battle and the post in Kouts was named after him.
Because he is loath to see the Valparaiso Chautauqua Association die, of which he is one of the founders, Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar today stated he had sent the yearly association fee to the secretary of state in order to keep the legal form of organization maintained on record. Agar said he was hoping that someone would come forward and take over the job of maintaining the chautauqua.
July 17, 1925
Fire early last evening originating in the kiln department of the American China plant between Chesterton and Porter destroyed the second floor of the plant and caused a loss estimated at between $30,000 and $40,000. The Porter and Chesterton Fire Departments fought the blaze. The plant will have to be rebuilt.
Sitting in Valparaiso City Court today, Mayor E. W. Agar assessed fines totaling $700, and jail sentences of 180 days, against four operators of Dunes Highway liquor joints. The men were arrested in a drive being conducted by J. E. Browning of Hammond, federal prohibition officer in Northwestern Indiana.
July 18, 1925
Attorney D. E. and Angela Kelly and a large group of relatives and friends, including Rev. E. J. Mungovan, Pastor of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, have returned from St. Louis, Mo., where on Thursday Cecelia Kelly, eldest daughter of the Kellys, took the veil marking her reception as a novice of the Carmelite Order.
The courthouse square was jammed on Friday evening while the Haskell and Barker Band of Michigan City, brought here by the local Elks Lodge, provided a splendid hour-and-a-half program. The band members were feted at an “open house” party at the new Elks Temple after the concert.
July 19, 1925
Word was received today of the death at Quebec, Canada, of George F. Beach, local jeweler and businessman, following a severe attack of indigestion. Beach, in company with former Mayor P. L. Sisson, was sojourning in Canada at the time. Beach has been in business in Valparaiso since 1893, when he purchased the interest of J. N. Walker, who established the business.
Announcement as to whether the Lutheran University Educational Association will take over Valparaiso University will be made at the regular eleven o’clock chapel service, Dr. H. M. Evans, President of Valparaiso University, said today. A special invitation was issued by Dr. Evans to the public to attend the service. It is said the association will take over the school, and that articles of incorporation have been filed at Indianapolis.
July 20, 1925
The Kilmer-Fraser Company, which recently purchased the Sheridan Beach property at Flint Lake of Sigmund Freund, are pushing a program of development at the property. Major Joseph M. Bush, an engineer, is in charge.
The body of George F. Beach, Valparaiso jeweler, who died suddenly at Quebec, Canada, while on a vacation with former Mayor Perry L. Sisson, arrived here this morning. Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Christian Church, conducted by Rev. E. Richard Edwards. Valparaiso City Hall is draped in mourning for Beach, who served as a city alderman.
July 21, 1925
The Indiana Landscape Association, represented locally by Ray Berlin, has been awarded the contract to build a nine-hole golf course at Summervale Country Club, two miles west of Valparaiso, owned by W. Carroll Summer. The grounds are also to be landscaped, a water system installed, and a club house erected.
July 22, 1925
Fate of Valparaiso University hangs in the balance this afternoon as the committees representing the Lutheran Educational Association arrived in the city and went into conference with the chamber of commerce committee that has been handling the negotiations on behalf of the university authorities. It is believed an announcement will be forthcoming after the meeting.
July 23, 1925
At the Valparaiso University chapel services this morning, at which announcement was expected to be made of the taking over of the university by the Lutheran Educational Association, President H. M. Evans conferred degrees of Doctor of Law upon E. L. Loomis, now seriously ill at Indianapolis; Rev. George F. Schutes, and Rev. Chester W. Wharton, for their efforts on behalf of the university. B. P. Holst, representative of the Lutheran University Association, announced that formal transfer of the school to the association would soon be made as legal details are completed.
Prosecuting Attorney W. W. Bozarth, of Porter County, in a letter to Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom regarding the working of the new dry law, has informed the state official that, as far as he can see, the public is little interested and concerned in the enforcement of the liquor law.
July 24, 1925
Meeting on Friday evening, Portage Township officials decided to build a $10,000 community building as another unit to the Crisman School. The new structure will be given over to general educational purposes and to athletic activities in particular.
Funeral services on Thursday afternoon attended by city officials, representatives of various lodge and civic organizations, in the ranks of all of which he had actively participated, were held from the Christian Church, honoring the memory of George F. Beach. Close personal friends of the decedent acted as pallbearers. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.
July 25, 1925
The Goodrum sub-station of the Gary-Valparaiso Railway, six miles north of Valparaiso, was destroyed by fire this morning at 2:10 o’clock. The blaze originated when a bolt of lightning struck the building. The loss is estimated at $25,000. A quantity of oil in the transformers, some ten thousand gallons, turned the structure into a seething mass of flames.
Orvin Alyea, of Valparaiso, a lineman for the Calumet Gas and Electric Company, was electrocuted at 10:30 o’clock this morning when, in working on a pole repair job in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania Elevator on South Washington Street, came into contact with two high-voltage tension wires. He was rushed to the Christian Hospital, but resuscitation efforts failed.
July 26, 1925
The Joseph Principe home, corner of Lincoln Avenue (Brown Street) and Locust Street in Valparaiso, was swept by fire at 6:00 o’clock this morning when a gasoline stove exploded. Arthur Principe, a son, who narrowly escaped being burned, tried to combat the flames, but they spread rapidly.
Funeral services for Orvil Alyea, victim of Saturday morning’s electrocution tragedy, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock from the Salem Church, with burial in Salem Cemetery. The Charles Pratt Post of the American Legion will be in charge of the services.
July 27, 1925
Valparaiso is to have an automatic stop-and-go street signal. It will be installed at the intersection of Franklin Street and Lincolnway by Mayor E. W. Agar’s street committee in an effort to regulate traffic. Flash stop signs will also be placed at the Washington and Lafayette Street intersections on Lincolnway.
Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar has appointed former city councilman Harold J. Schenck to a place on the city planning commission. This is due to the resignation of Professor Henry T. Fisher, who has also severed his connection with the engineering department of Valparaiso University.
July 28, 1925
Herman F. Wagner, Westchester Township Justice of the Peace, is the champion fee-collecting justice in Porter County, according to Auditor B. H. Kinne. During the period from January 1 to July 1, the Westchester Township jurist turned over nearly $1,800 in fees collected from various legal offenders.
July 29, 1925
Ida Wolfe, who has been proprietress of the Ladies’ Shop on Washington Street in Valparaiso for the last eight years, has decided to quit business because of ill health. She will place her entire stock on the auction block.
July 30, 1925
With word received here this afternoon that Henry Kinsey Brown is in Fort Wayne ready to complete final negotiations for the transfer of Valparaiso University, a report is awaited every minute that the big deal has been consummated. When this flash comes, the bell of Immanuel Lutheran Church will be tolled and the news broadcast over Station WRBC.
Fifty couples attended the Mandarin Club’s dancing party last night at the Sheridan Beach dance pavilion. Music was furnished by Patterson’s Big Five of LaPorte. Chaperons for the dance were the Helvies, the Silveys, and the Philleys.
July 31, 1925
L. M. Pierce and Wallace C. Sutter, of the local chamber of commerce committee in charge of the Valparaiso University negotiations, returned from another conference with the Lutheran Educational Association, held Thursday, but brought back nothing new in the way of a definite announcement as to the time the deal will be consummated. “The statement will come from the Lutheran organization,” they said.
Remonstrators in the Sandy Hook Ditch, now under construction in the south end of the county, have asked the Indiana Supreme Court to review its decision, which a short time ago it sustained the position of Attorney Grant Crumpacker, that the original action had been brought in error in that his firm was named defendant instead of the petitioners. The first appeal was taken after Commissioner George E. Hershman had denied the force of Attorney Crumpacker’s objection.