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.