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, 1926
Nearly 1,500 Porter County taxpayers made their way to the windows of County Treasurer A. J. Fehrman, Saturday and Monday and paid approximately $200,000 in cash. This was done in a period of about 18 hours. This means that the taxpayers set an average hourly payment total in excess of $10,000. On Saturday a total of 725 tax receipts were issued and on Monday a total of 732.
November 2, 1926
Not over half of the registered vote strength of Porter County is expected to cast ballots in today’s election. This is the opinion expressed by dopesters. At 3 o’clock today the city's thirteen polling places had counted some 2,000 ballots, about half the number anticipated. Voting was slow, indicating that ballots are being widely split and that thought is being exercised on the special amendments of which there are four. Backers of the Porter County hospital project are very hopeful for the venture, finding no organized opposition to the issue.
November 3, 1926
Porter County will not build a county hospital. This was the positive and convincing decision registered by 4,038 voters yesterday against the approving ballots of 3,198. The checkup revealed that opponents of the hospital measure had put up a majority of 840 against the project. Valparaiso city and Center Township precincts were the only ones to return a favorable majority. The thirteen city precincts gave a yes margin of 1,131 to which was added 29 by the outlying precincts of Center Township. This totaled 1,160. Westchester led the list of townships with “no” ballots, with a total majority of 663. Other townships showed the following majorities against the hospital plan: Jackson, 92; Liberty, 105; Pine, 134; Morgan, 138; Portage, 48; Porter, 264; Union, 22; Washington, 58; Pleasant, 176.
Rock-ribbed Republican Porter County is still rock-ribbed Republican Porter County. This tells in a nutshell the story of Tuesday’s off-year vote cast in observance of which about 6,700 of the 11,000 registered voters marched to the polls to cast ballots. Sheriff W. B. Forney, running for the third time for sheriff defeated Clayton Phillip by a vote of 5,160, to 1,526: County Treasurer A. J. Fehrman running for re-election decisively defeated P. A. Gant; C. A. Blachly won the auditor’s post over John D. Stoner 3,971 to 2,789; Mae R. London defeated E. M. Passow, for county clerk; E. D. Cain defeated Charles Casbon for county commissioner Center district; C. E. Barrett defeated Grace Sherburne for county recorder; Fred Marquart won over William Belcher for county assessor, and Judge Harry L. Crumpacker had a big lead over Attorney Ira C. Tilton for the superior court judgeship of Porter and LaPorte counties.
November 4, 1926
The Porter County Board of Commissioners Tuesday formally approved and authorized the leasing of Memorial Opera House to the Sons of Veterans organization. The lease covers a five-year period. Delay has marked the opera house leasing project because the commissioners desired to have a new heating plant installed in the building before drawing up final papers. The Sons of Veterans have been in charge of the property since last February.
Henry Schneider, for twelve years one of the janitors at the Porter County Courthouse building, was given an indefinite leave of absence by the board of county commissioners yesterday. Schneider has been ill for about two weeks. Clarence Thatcher was selected from a list of a half-dozen applicants to fill Schneider’s post.
November 5, 1926
The decomposed body of a woman found Tuesday afternoon one-half mile northwest of Hamlet along the Three-I railroad tracks by two Valparaiso men, Arthur Lucas and Hiley Hibbetts, employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge repair department, was identified late yesterday afternoon by Coroner Thomas C. Hite, of Knox, as that of Maggie Welch Hazen, age 45, missing for two months from South Bend. The finding of an empty bottle of carbolic acid near the body led to the belief the woman committed suicide. The body was turned over to a son, G. D. Hazen, of Winamac.
Rev. Chester W. Wharton, pastor of the Valparaiso Presbyterian Church, was reelected to the presidency of the Porter County Sunday School Association at the closing session held in Chesterton M.E. Church Thursday night. Following the election Rev. H. G. Rowe, state worker of the Indiana Council of Religious Education, installed Rev. Wharton and the other officers.
November 6, 1926
“We will carry on.” Despite the crushing defeats suffered in last Tuesday’s election - a repetition of other campaigns, in which Porter County Democrats, hopelessly outnumbered, made a brave and gallant attempt to carry their banner high, the local Jeffersonian contingent will not give up the ship. Instead, according to Attorney Ira C. Tilton, county chairman, they are going to fight harder than ever. Chairman Tilton is convinced that the Democrats made a mistake when they decided to allow county candidates to make a personal, quiet campaign instead of a united rally, with mass meetings, promotion schemes and the like.
Richard Liever, director of the State Department of Conservation, announced today that the department is planning to spend $750,000 at Dunes State Park in north Porter County within the next two years. Expenditures will be on the scale of $375,000 each year. Of this sum, for 1927, $250,000 is needed for roads, walks, and parking spaces, and $50,000 for a beach house and inn.
November 7, 1926
Judge H. H. Loring today became the owner of the twenty-two feet of property on South Washington Street on which was located the Jeffrey-Hughart block. This lot adjoins the sixty-six feet of Washington Street property, long held by Judge Loring and on which was located the Academy of Music block, destroyed by fire in February of this year. By this transfer, Judge Loring’s property is made 88 feet square on Washington and Lincolnway.
Valparaiso University gridders proved a surprise Saturday when they held the strong Adrian College team to a 13-to-13 tie at Adrian. A large homecoming crowd attended the game. Adrian scored its first marker and then Valparaiso tied the score, only to have the Michigan team come back and with the aid of a 48-yard run forge ahead. Although battered, the Valparaiso players uncorked a series of terrific line plunges, forced over a touchdown and then Bergman stepped back and kicked a perfect goal to tie the score and avert defeat. Coach Moll used his second-string players for nearly half the game, and they acquitted themselves in fine style.
November 8, 1926
Fifteen employees of the French Motors Company participated in an oyster supper this evening served in the basement of the garage. The Democrats of the company were hosts to the Republicans, proving themselves splendid hosts, if not campaigners. Wrestling matches were staged and moving pictures shown in conclusion.
November 9, 1926
An America dedicated for peace – but prepared for war – an America pacific in every instinct but ever ready on righteous summons to battle for liberty and justice – such was the Armistice Week rally call sounded from the platform of Memorial Opera House Monday evening by Dean Paul V. McNutt, of the Indiana University Law School. McNutt is the incoming commander of the Indiana American Legion. Legionnaires and their wives were present from Porter County, Michigan City, LaPorte, Whiting, and nearby cities.
November 10, 1926
President W. H. T. Dau, of Valparaiso University, today announced the appointment of Henry A. Dahlen, prominent New York City businessman, to the board of directors of the Valparaiso University Lutheran Association. Dahlen has been one of the strong backers of the university’s program.
Clyde Walb, chairman of the Indiana State Republican Central Committee, and one of the chief figures in the recent Reed investigation into charges that Wall Street was pouring money into Indiana to defeat Senators James E. Watson and Arthur R. Robinson, was in the city today. With him was M. J. Stinchfield, Jr., formerly of this city, and Walb’s chief engineer. They were in conference with Judge H. H. Loring concerning legal phases of the construction of the Burns and Brown ditches which the Walb Company has under contract. Walb refused to talk politics.
November 11, 1926
The board of directors of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce at its meeting yesterday passed a resolution thanking the hospital committee which worked so valiantly for the hospital project prior to the election. They also thanked the parent- teacher association of Porter County for opening its meetings to the hospital speakers and particularly praised Mrs. Louise Shauer, president of the Parent-Teacher Council who made these meetings possible. While admitting the vote against the hospital was a sore disappointment, the chamber directors believe there is a real need for a county hospital, and now that the project is turned down, some other method of providing hospital facilities for this county must be arranged.
Thomas Leasure, age 19, employed on the extra gang of the Pennsylvania Railroad, met death yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock when struck by a westbound freight train near Wanatah, a short distance from the Porter-LaPorte County line. Leasure’s attention was attracted by a passing special and he apparently did not see the freight train bearing down upon him. He was getting ready to quit work when the accident occurred.
November 12, 1926
Frank Cowdrey, age 74, veteran railroad man, died Thursday evening at his Weston Avenue home in Valparaiso after a five-day illness of pneumonia. Cowdrey retired from the service of the Pennsylvania railroad five years ago with a record of three months short of fifty years in the employ of the company. He came to Valparaiso in 1872.
The El Dorado is to be the name of the new apartment structure being constructed on West Lincolnway by Councilman Louis Gast and Frank Cincoski, his son-in-law. The name was selected by Cincoski after the women of the family had been unable to agree. The name has been submitted to the state industrial board as required by statute.
November 13, 1926
Taking warning from the antics of the weather man during the past week, the city council last night determined to guard against the danger of being snowbound this winter and ordered the purchase of two snowplows.
Wheeler High School’s fast basketball team defeated the strong Westville High School team 62 to 11 last night at Valparaiso University gym. Taylor, Jansen, Ehretsman, Walsh, and Poppenhagen proved a stellar combination, and Westville was unable to stop the fast driving of the Union Township boys.
November 14, 1926
Albert Z. Arehart, for over six years county agricultural agent of Porter County, Saturday evening announced his resignation, effective Dec. 1. On that date he will begin an association with Rev. John C. Baur, vice president and business manager of Valparaiso University. Arehart’s resignation was a shock to Porter County farm leaders. Coming here in 1920 to succeed Stanley B. Sink, Arehart has been responsible for the development of a broad program of agricultural advancement which covered every line of activity from boys’ and girls’ club work to the larger movements that gave Porter County a fair association management controlled by the Farm Bureau and just recently a cow tester under the restricted area, state, and federal plan.
Julius Herring, who has been for the past five years manager of the Johnson Oil Refining Station, left Sunday for Janesville, Wis., where he will assume charge of stations of the same oil company. Earl Huntoon, of Chicago Heights, Ill., has been named to fill the local vacancy.
November 15, 1926
Four members of the Rippe family, residing on the old Joseph Leonard farm, southwest of Valparaiso, narrowly escaped serious injury earlier tonight while on their way home. A seven-month-old Jersey heifer, which strolled onto the highway, was the cause of the mishap. The party, all employees of the Lewis E. Myers & Company, were riding in a Buick car at a fast clip and were unable to avoid hitting the calf. The machine plunged from the highway, tore off a considerable portion of fence and then tumbled over twice before coming to a stop. Those in the party comprised Fred Rippe, Ernestine Rippe, his sister; John Horan, a brother-in-law, and Fred Rippe, a cousin. All were bruised and badly shaken up.
November 16, 1926
Trustee Charles H. Crisman of Center Township today offered a reward for apprehension of the vandals who entered the St. Clair School, northwest of the city, over the weekend, and carried away school property and ransacked the various rooms. A window in the building was jimmied by the culprits. The robbery was discovered Monday morning when Janitor William Henry went to the building to reopen it for school.
November 17, 1926
County Agent A. Z. Arehart, L. K. Wyckoff, president of the Porter County Farm Bureau, and W. C. Sutter, manager of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, have returned from Indianapolis where they attended the conference on the farm relief question being conducted by the United States Chamber of Commerce. Wyckoff was a speaker.
Upon the motion of Attorney General Arthur Gilliom, Judge H. H. Loring has granted an appeal that will carry the famous suit of the State against Sarah L. Forsythe, involving title to $2,000,000 of Hammond and Whiting property to the state court of appeals. The original motion of the state, loser in the hearing held before Judge Loring, was for a new trial.
November 18, 1926
Eunice Biggs, employed at the Premier Candy Shop, and Marguerite Neff, daughter of Jonathan Neff, of Franklin Street in Valparaiso, were burned when benzine, which the young ladies were using in cleaning a dress, ignited at their apartments in the Ruge flats on East Jefferson Street last evening. Ralph Cory and his wife, who reside in the apartment across the hall from the girls, went to their rescue with water and extinguished the flames.
Local fight fans were given a fine program last night at Armory Hall by Earl Vergin, promoter for Valparaiso’s Moose Lodge. The crowd, which was not large, was well satisfied with the bouts presented. George Rock, of South Bend and Don Burns, Michigan City, boxed six slashing rounds to a draw. Archie Cain, Valparaiso man, gave a fine exhibition in his bout with young Brooks of Hobart. Earl Smith, pride of the Chicago Stockyards, knocked out Jack Milton, of Valparaiso, in two rounds. In a wrestling bout, Young Londos, of Valparaiso, took two out of three falls from Hassen Ahmed, famous Turkish wrestler from Boston.
November 19, 1926
Quietly and under cover of secrecy, Frank McErlane, Chicago beer baron and gangster, who will be tried by a Porter County jury for the slaying of Attorney Thaddeus S. Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House shooting near Cedar Lake, in May 1924, was this afternoon taken from Michigan City prison where he has been confined to the Lake County jail at Crown Point. Warden Walter Daly turned McErlane over to Sheriff Ben Strong of Lake County, and Sheriff W. B. Forney of Porter County.
C. Oliver Holmes, one of Lake County’s three state senators, and a leading figure in the state legislature, is being boomed for the office of lieutenant governor of Indiana on the Republican ticket. Lake County organizations have endorsed his candidacy. Holmes is a former Porter County resident.
November 20, 1926
A summer camp site has been selected and leased by the Potawatomi Scout Council, which includes Porter and LaPorte counties. The site is located about five miles north of Rolling Prairie on what is known as Beaumont Lake. There are nearly forty acres of fine woods in this tract which is a part of the Dudect Farm. The site fills all the requirements that are desirable for an organized camp.
Pepping up for the big game today with an ancient foe, St. Viators, and in celebration of homecoming students of Valparaiso University, numbering 800, held a pep meeting and grand parade last night. Marching around town, they gathered up boxes and barrels of every description and proceeded to the college ballpark where a huge bonfire was built. A passerby seeing the fire turned in an alarm, and the firemen made a run to the scene.
November 21, 1926
A total of 2,021 men and women passed through the new Leslie Lembke home, on East Jefferson Street, during the nine days viewing “what wonders electrical science had wrought.” This was deemed an excellent showing by the promoters of “The Electric Home,” as during most of the exposition period inclement weather prevailed. Especial praise was bestowed upon C. E. McCormick, the furnisher who personally supervised the entire setting of the very pleasing and complete residence.
Oliver Loomis, former Valparaiso attorney, now secretary to United States Senator Arthur R. Robinson, is in Valparaiso visiting his mother, Nellie Loomis, and will remain over Thanksgiving. “We have plenty to be thankful for, this year,” Loomis said. “First there was the splendid victory of Senator Robinson and there is coming one of mother’s turkey dinners, the best to be found.”
November 22, 1926
“Thanksgiving and Every Day Living” is to be the subject upon which Rev. Chester W. Wharton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, will deliver the annual Thanksgiving Day message from the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church Thursday evening. Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Christian churches and their congregations unite in this program.
November 23, 1926
Garfield Horner is again in possession of his Ford touring car, reported stolen on September 8, last. The car, used in the delivery of flowers for the Kaber florist shop, was recovered when garage men notified state police that a Ford car that had been in possession of a farmer in that vicinity for some time was brought to a garage at DeMotte for disposal. A plate bearing a Kaber name led to the identification of the owner. The car had been stripped of the tires and other valuable parts.
November 24, 1926
Thirty-two years ago, a hunting party, composed of four local youths, now all prominent here and in Chicago, was formed with Abe and Mandel Lowenstine, Ross A. Woodhull and Attorney Joseph S. Bartholomew as members. The first trips were made to the Kankakee River where duck hunting formed the chief sport at that time. For some time past, the quartet has gone to Michigan and Wisconsin for larger game. This year each was rewarded with a fine deer apiece, all of which have been brought to Valparaiso and are on display in the Lowenstine store windows. After Thanksgiving, the deer will be dressed, and friends of the hunters will possibly feast upon venison.
Coach Conrad S. Moll, director of athletics at Valparaiso University, has announced that there will be no game played by the college eleven tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day. The reason for this regretted condition seems to be that all football teams with which games were desired were under obligation to play on this date according to previously arranged schedules.
November 25, 1926
Troop 2, Valparaiso Boy Scouts, commanded by Charles West, won second place in the hiking contest which extended over a month, on Saturdays, and concluded yesterday. Troop 10 of Michigan City, which won first place after hiking a total of sixty miles during this period, was awarded an official first aid kit. The Valparaiso organization, hiking forty-nine miles, finished second, and was awarded a set of patrol flags. Twelve troops participated, five of them from Valparaiso. They were Troops 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8.
One of the sprinkler heads at the J. Lowenstine and Sons’ store burst this morning at about 11 o’clock, flooding the bakery, grocery, and grocery storeroom. The sprinkler is part of the fire equipment which operates when an excessive amount of heat melts a head of the sprinkler system and allows the water contained in a tank on top of the building to run out. The tank holds 50,000 gallons of water, and had not Gust Wesche, one of the bakers, visited the shop to look after the oven fires, and discovered the leak, great damage would have resulted.
November 26, 1926
Valparaiso officials recently discussed the matter of opening up several streets in the north end of the city to relieve the present bottled-up condition of that section. Streets cited for opening were Locust and College. City Civil Engineer A. R. Putnam also urged the opening of four other thoroughfares, Garfield, Elm, Beach, and Billings.
November 27, 1926
Fire of unknown origin this morning destroyed the two-story frame Wanatah Hotel at Wanatah, inflicting a loss estimated at between $10,000 and $12,000, and for a time threatening to envelop all the structures surrounding the hotel square. Only the prompt arrival of fire companies from LaPorte, Union Mills, Hanna, and LaCrosse averted the spread of the flames and consequent heavy loss. The Valparaiso department also responded, rushing one truck to the scene. It was too late, however, to take part in the firefighting. The fire is believed to have originated from sparks from a passing train. Tymon Mitchell, former Valparaiso man, who operated the hotel, and John Vernon, of Fort Wayne, owner of the building, were the chief losers.
November 28, 1926
Viola Baird Quinn was agreeably surprised yesterday on her sixty-third birthday anniversary when her children, grandchildren, and other relatives, numbering about fifty, from Boone Grove, came after church at the noon hour with well-filled baskets of food. After dinner, music, dancing, and good sociability filled the day.
A large barn on the Arthur Peterson farm in Liberty Township, tenanted by David McCorkel, was burned to the ground last evening about 8 o’clock. A fine herd of dairy cows was saved, but three head of cattle, eight horses, a silo, 1,500 bushels of oats, thirty tons of hay and two hundred tons of silage were burned. The Chesterton Fire Department responded and succeeded in saving the home and outbuildings. The McCorkel family were retiring for the night when the fire broke out.
November 29, 1926
Valparaiso homes are being made the target these nights of young vandals who raid the iceboxes of food articles and other things. This evening the gang operated at the Harley Bowsher home, where a party was in progress. Among the things taken was a radio set. The homes of Valparaiso City Clerk Flora E. Kenny and Porter County Treasurer A. J. Fehrman were looted the night before of food articles.
November 30, 1926
It was all a mistake, that little matter of leaving the home of Catherine Cassler, celebrated at one time as Hebron’s one-time booze vendor, with bedspreads, bedsheets and other sundry articles. This was the claim today of John Ellis, boarder at the Cassler home, arrested by Sheriff W. B. Forney on complaint of Cassler. Ordered to report at South Bend for work on a road gang, Ellis said he wrapped up some of Cassler’s property by mistake.