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.
April 1, 1926
Because many Porter County roads are rendered almost impassable by the current storm-break, several circuit court jurors summoned to hear a suit failed to appear and Sheriff W. B. Forney was forced to do a little “quick picking up” this morning to make up a panel. Finally, he accomplished the task and the case went on.
Five years ago today on April 1, 1921, Keene’s Tire Service opened for business in its present location at 61 Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Today, under the able management of its two proprietors, Arthur D. Keene and Leigh F. Keene, the shop is enjoying a flourishing business.
April 2, 1926
Valparaiso High School won four out of five places in the district Latin contest held at Rensselaer last Saturday. John Wise won in Division I B; George Christy in Division I A; Ruth Baker in Division II, and Margaret Hughes in Division III. Martha Parker won second in Division IV. The four first-place winners will compete at Bloomington next Friday in the state contest.
A case with a Valparaiso setting today occupied the attention of Federal Judge James H. Wilkerson in Chicago and took placing as the first of its kind to be recorded anywhere. Fred Walmquist, recently acquitted in connection with the sensational Chicago bombing case, stands indicted under the Mann Act, charged with having abducted and criminally assaulted Marie McCloed, 16-year-old Chicago girl, who committed suicide. Charges are being pressed by the girl’s mother, Marie Moneo, who testified that Walmquist induced her daughter to accompany him to Valparaiso on December 8, 1924, took her to a hotel, and criminally assaulted her. This is the first case brought before the court in which the woman in the case has died.
April 3, 1926
Clogged roads and derailed interurban cars failed to stop many brave-hearted and adventurous spirits who battled the snowdrifts to come to Valparaiso today. W. M. Schmell, residing north of the city, walked into town when the Noon interurban was derailed about two miles away as the car took a curve. He carried twelve dozen eggs and marketed them. Shortly before 3 o’clock, Ray Crisman arrived from Wheeler. “It was a tough battle, but I had to come,” he stated.
Members of the Mathesis Club heard a strong plea for child protection delivered by Dr. Gerald H. Stoner, Valparaiso physician, at a meeting of the club held at the Stoner home Friday evening. “Let a cattle plague be located and money will be found to fight it. Send out a report of the development of hog cholera and cash will be at hand to finance a campaign of extermination. So it is with the other properties of man, yet, in Valparaiso there isn’t a cent available for the safe-guarding and protection of the health and physical will-being of hundreds of boys and girls who make up its school.” was the essence of Dr. Stoner’s thought-provoking challenge.
April 4, 1926
Tonn and Blank, of Michigan City, awarded the general contract for the construction of the new Valparaiso High School, costing $150,000, today qualified by signing the contract and giving the required bond. The sub-contracts have been mailed to successful bidders for signatures.
With more than one hundred Republican and Democratic candidates filed for various political offices in Porter County, the curtain for entering the May primary election in Porter County was rung down Saturday. The large number of filings assures one of the most spirited contests on record. The sensation of the last day filings Saturday was that of George Hitesman, Republican, who filed for county clerk in the morning, and due to strong pressure brought to bear upon him by other candidates, withdrew his filing, and refiled for justice of the peace of Center Township, for which positions a number of persons are contesting.
April 5, 1926
The Porter County Fair Building Committee, recently appointed with endorsement of the Porter County Farm Bureau and Valparaiso Chamber, has submitted its plan to the county commissioners for the issuance of a $60,000 bond issue for the construction of five new fair buildings and an office and administrative structure at the county fairgrounds. The buildings will include an art building, poultry buildings, and horse and cattle barns. In 1916, a proposition to build a $100,000 cattle sales barn at the fairgrounds was defeated in a referendum vote in the county by a margin of 79.
April 6, 1926
Alfred R. Putnam, former city and county engineer, and for a time a general road contractor in Valparaiso, is Valparaiso’s new city engineer, enjoying appointment at the hands of Mayor W. F. Spooner under the new ordinance passed at the last session of the city council. It was made known today that Putnam took office on the first day of the month and has since that time been rendering service to the city. He relieved Floyd R. McNiece, who served through the Agar administration and held over until the Spooner council got ready to outline its program. By the new employment plan, Putnam will give his time to city work. It is understood the building inspection ordinance will be revoked, and with it the $500-per-year salary, and these duties placed on Putnam. In addition, he will serve as engineer for the water department.
April 7, 1926
Attorney D. E. Kelly today announced he had taken Edward J. Ryan, of Savannah, Ill., into partnership. A graduate of Notre Dame University law school, Ryan had been engaged in the banking business in Chicago. Attorney Kelly’s attention was called to him through a mutual friend at Knox where the young attorney had spent a few months. Since Attorney Oliver M. Loomis withdrew from partnership with Attorney Kelly in accepting appointment as secretary to United States Senator Arthur R. Robinson, Kelly has been conducting his affairs single handed.
Destroyed by the tornado of 1917, St. Mary's Catholic Church at Kouts is to be rebuilt. Announcement was made today that the Smith and Smiths Company of Valparaiso has been awarded the contract for the construction program, which will be directed by Rev. Joseph A. Suelzer. For the past nine years, the congregation has worshipped in a basement structure built upon the site of the old church. Last year, a beautiful parsonage was constructed and the present program will give St. Mary’s parish a fine new church plant. The Kouts Christian Church was destroyed in the 1917 blow, but has since been rebuilt under the Rev. John C. Whitt.
April 8, 1926
The Porter County Commissioners today refused to accede to the request of Mayor W. F. Spooner that Dr. C. H. DeWitt be relieved of his county appointment and another physician be named in his stead to act as joint county and city health officer. The board, instead of complying with Mayor Spooner’s request, named Dr. DeWitt for another four-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 1926. The appointment leaves Mayor Spooner free to go ahead and name his own city health officer. The break resulted between Dr. DeWitt and Mayor Spooner over the appointment of a deputy health officer, Dr. DeWitt insisting that John Wulf be the appointee, and Mayor Spooner holding out for Bertha Ewing.
Yesterday afternoon as Dr. C. L. Bartholomew was returning from DeKalb, Ill., where he had taken the remains of Sarah Archer, he was forced off the road by another car, and his funeral car leaned over against a bank. It would have overturned but for the bank. After hard work, the car was straightened and was driven to Valparaiso. No one was injured.
April 9, 1926
Valparaiso Boy Scouts scored a big hit at Memorial Opera House last night when they presented the play, “A Country Boy Scout.” Among those taking part in the play were Donald Will, Victor Johnson, Denver Mitchell, George Pittwood, George Black, Mahlon Cain, David LaRue, Robert Pulver, Jean Boyer, William Chambers, Vincent Gray, Victor Despard, and Ralph Hallowell. Features of the program were provided by Billy Fryar and Murray Beach, ukulele and song artists; an exhibition of Culver military drills, the scout gang, directed by Bud Lowenstine, and a Charleston dancing sketch by Katherine Christy and George London. Lily Darby’s high school orchestra played several selections.
Unless a change in ruling is received from the attorney-general’s office, only one candidate will be selected for justice of the peace in Center Township at the May primary election. Porter County Chairman B. H. Kinne stated today that he was going to stand by the special ruling handed down by the state election board holding that, under the 1925 act, Valparaiso would be entitled to only one justice of the peace in view of the fact that the mayor sits as city judge.
April 10, 1926
The Spooner city administration at a meeting Friday evening passed an ordinance repealing the water plant ordinance passed by the preceding Agar administration. By the new ordinance, the board of trustees set up by the Agar administration is abolished and is replaced by an ordinance that puts the council in direct control through establishment of the offices of superintendent, assistant superintendent, and clerk with salaries of $1,200, $1,800, and $300 respectively.
Returning home from the morning session of the Valparaiso Teachers’ Institute today at Noon, Kate Billings failed to find her sister, Edna Osborne, up and around the house as customary. Sensing that something was wrong, she went upstairs to find Osborne still abed, and upon investigation, found she had passed away. Death was due to a heart attack from which affliction she suffered. Osborne was only 39.
April 11, 1926
The Farmers State Bank has acquired the Sidney Kern property on West Lincolnway in Valparaiso from James L. Meagher as a probable site for a new home. The banking institution, which is now located in the Neva Brown building at the northeast corner of Washington Street and Lincolnway, was routed out of its Academy of Music location when the building was razed by fire this past February.
Work was started this morning by the Foster Lumber and Coal Company on a new front on the building occupied by the Szold Department Store on Lincolnway in Valparaiso. The structure is owned by Peter Combis.
April 12, 1926
Pierce L. Thatcher, secretary of the Valparaiso Izaak Walton League, has been appointed state organizer for the league and placed on the speaker list of both the state and national organizations. Taking up league work last year, and becoming actively interested in the reorganization of the local chapter, Thatcher’s success was noted by state officers and his fame spread. His first assignment takes him to the Lafayette district.
April 13, 1926
As a result of Monday’s visit to Indianapolis by W. C. Sutter, secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber, F. W. Alpen, chairman of the road committee, and Senator Will Brown, members of the Indiana State Highway Commission announced that Lincolnway would be designated as State Road 2. The action of the local committee prevented Chicago Street from being selected as the route line through the city. The chamber officials plan to start the ball rolling for a re-location of the Joliet Bridge over the Pennsylvania Railroad to afford a straight link over the railroad right-of-way.
April 14, 1926
Pennsylvania Railroad officials today announced that beginning Wednesday, the Greenwich Street crossing in Valparaiso will be protected by the flasher type of crossing warning and the old gates removed. A watchman will be left on duty, however, in conforming with the new ordinance. This completes the installation of six new flashers and does away entirely with the gate guards.
Joe Locrasto, operator of a resort on the Dunes highway, was among those arrested in a wholesale raid staged last night by Sheriff W. B. Forney. Locrasto has been arrested twice before and is under a charge of contempt of court conviction by Judge H. H. Loring. He has been at liberty because of an appeal taken to the Indiana Supreme Court.
April 15, 1926
The Fibroc Insulation Company held its annual stockholders’ meeting today and an audit of the books of the company showed that it increased sales for the year 1925 by 28.5% over the preceding year. The total volume of sales for 1935 was $455,721. On this volume, the company showed a net profit of $45,674. After deduction of federal tax and miscellaneous net charges, the company showed earnings of $34.19 on each share of common stock. These earnings were turned over to a surplus account to take care of expanding business during 1926. A. W. Pickford, John F. Griffin, and L. T. Frederick were named directors for the year.
Alfred R. Putnam, named city civil engineer by Mayor W. F. Spooner, is finding that the job is a bigger one than he believed. Putnam has been checking up on building operations the last week, and has found that property owners pushing building operations have not taken out a permit, and in other instances where permits were taken out, they do not cover the operations involved. He plans to give his entire time to the building situation until the muddle is straightened out.
April 16, 1926
A Center Township Calf Club was organized last evening at a meeting of the Center Township Farm Bureau, held at the Cook’s Corners school. The club is for boys who are interested in farm work and desire to have exhibits at the Porter County Fair. Five boys joined the club last evening.
Rev. W. W. Ayer, Howard Clark, and former Mayor E. W. Agar will go to Wanatah this evening to act as judges in the oratorical contest to be held there in which LaPorte, Michigan City, and Wanatah High Schools will be represented. The contest will be the first sponsored by the American Bar Association for the promotion of Americanism. The winner of the national contest will be given a trip to Europe.
April 17, 1926
Dr. Preston Bradley, pastor of Peoples’ Church, Chicago, is to be the speaker at the big union meeting of Valparaiso churches on Mothers’ Day, May 9. The affair is being sponsored by the Mother’s Club with co-operation of local ministers. A large, robed choir of children under direction of Inez Hughes will have part in the musical program.
The battle between the former Agar city administration and the present Spooner administration for control of Valparaiso Water Department affairs was settled Friday evening when a compromise was reached between the two factions. Former Mayor E. W. Agar, was named president of the newly created board of trustees at a salary of $1,200 a year by the old Agar council, and now becomes Superintendent Agar at a salary of $1,200 a year, and Trustee-Secretary G. W. Eifler, with a salary of $1,800, becomes assistant superintendent at a salary of $1,800 per year. Trustee-Secretary M. L. Dickover, with a salary of $300 per year, becomes clerk with a salary of $300 per year, and Etta Mullins becomes bookkeeper at a salary of $120 per month. Both factions are well satisfied with the result.
April 18, 1926
Joseph Mroz, poultry dealer in Kouts, died Sunday in Chicago, following a week's Illness of pneumonia, which he contracted while there on a business trip delivering a truck of eggs and poultry to the Chicago market. Surviving are a widow and three sons. The body will be brought back to Kouts for burial.
Rev. W. W. Ayer, pastor of the First Baptist church of Valparaiso, today announced he would refuse to support the proposed Mother’s Day services planned for May 9 by the local Mothers’ Club and a number of local pastors, with Rev. Preston Bradley, Chicago, as speaker. Rev. Ayer charged that Dr. Bradley, whose fame as a radio announcer is nation-wide, is a modernist whose theology is against established and accepted tenets of the orthodox churches. He attended a meeting of the Valparaiso Ministerial Association and declared he would oppose the appearance of Bradley here.
April 19, 1926
Valparaiso dentists met at Hotel Lembke tonight in the interest of a Dental Health Week campaign beginning April 26 and continuing until May 1. The movement is being sponsored by the Indiana State Dental Society and is statewide. Those present were Drs. G. R. Jones, Mox Ruge, J. D. Keehn, Paul LaCount, G. D. Conover, Raymond Shurr, and C. A. Nixon. A banquet preceded the business meeting.
April 20, 1926
Dr. Preston Bradley, pastor of the Peoples’ Church, Chicago, and one of the famed and most notable pulpit figures in the United States, will be speaker at Mother’s Day services to be staged by the Valparaiso Mothers’ Xlub at Memorial Opera House despite the fact that opposition to his coming has been raised by Rev. W.W. Ayer, pastor of the Baptist church. Officials of the Mothers’ Club and members of the Ministerial Association stated they regretted that any question had been raised concerning the engagement of Dr. Bradley but declare they cannot now gracefully or courteously withdraw the invitation after he accepted.
April 21, 1926
That the $150,000 bond issue of the School City of Valparaiso is considered a first class and desirable investment was established last night when seven financial institutions submitted offers for financing the new high school project. Offering a premium of $1,537, some $250 higher than the next high bid, the bonds were sold to the City Securities Company of Indianapolis.
Announcement was made today of the purchase by the Lutheran Educational Society of the John W. Cole property, 158 Greenwich Street in Valparaiso. The property will become the home of Dr. W. H. T. Dau, newly elected president of Valparaiso University. The Daus are expected to arrive from St. Louis early this summer to take over the property.
April 22, 1926
Valparaiso University authorities today announced the selection of Conrad S. Moll, of Burlington, Ia., as new coach of Valparaiso University athletics and chief of physical training. The new athletic head is a graduate of Concordia College, Fort Wayne, and attended Indiana University. Last year, Moll attended the Y.M.C.A. College of Physical Education in Chicago. He has been acting as assistant athletic director at the Y.M.C.A. in Burlington, Ia.
Valparaiso now has a city board of health. Acting under an ordinance adopted by the Valparaiso City Council at his suggestion, Mayor W. F. Spooner late Tuesday selected two physicians and one layman to constitute the board. His selections were Dr. Malcolm B. Fyfe, Dr. Andrew P. Letherman, and Alice Dalrymple. Meeting this morning in an official session, the newly elected officials organized by electing Dr. Fyfe president and Dr. Letherman, secretary.
April 23, 1926
Echoes of the almost forgotten murder of Attorney Thaddeus Fancher, of Crown Point, two years ago when a drunken gang of Chicago hoodlums, with two women in their company, pulled up at the South Halfway House, near Cedar Lake, and robbed and shot up the place, were heard today with the arrest of Frank McErlane, leader of a desperate gang of booze runners and gunmen. McErlane was arrested by Chicago police in connection with a series of gangland killings. For two years, Lake County authorities have attempted to snare him for the Halfway House shooting of Fancher. Those captured after the holdup were Alex McCabe and Johnny O’Reilly. O’Reilly was convicted in Porter Circuit Court and given a life sentence. McCabe was tried three times, the first trial resulting in a disagreement, the second in conviction and life imprisonment, and the third in acquittal after a new trial had been granted.
Porter County’s W.C.T.U. legions, meeting in institute session at Chesterton Thursday afternoon, went on the warpath against all foes of prohibition and gave a climax to their proceedings by forwarding a wire to President Coolidge demanding the official head of General Lincoln C. Andrews, chief federal prohibition officer. Four candidates for office spoke. They were John J. McQuire, Valparaiso, and Clarence D. Wood, Chesterton, candidates for prosecutor; John R. Burch, Valparaiso, candidate for joint representative of Lake and Porter Counties, and Ross M. Crisman, candidate for county commissioner.
April 24, 1926
The Spooner city council Friday night awarded the contract for collecting garbage to Thomas Hines, present operator, at a bid of $3,600 per annum, for four years. The bid of Ernest Holmgren, for $2,700, was turned down by the council because it was not certain he could handle the disposal problem to the city's advantage. The council took no action on a petition signed by seventy commuters to Chicago and Calumet district asking that the city adopt daylight savings. It was referred to the ordinance committee.
Hitting the highways to carry his appeal directly to the people, Ward B. Hiner, of Indianapolis, former motor bus baron, visited Valparaiso Friday, and from his machine parked off East Lincolnway, presented his senatorial campaign arguments. He attacked government regulation of business, especially transportation, boldly asserted, from banners that covered his bus, that he was against the Volstead Act, and for the rights of the people. He declared for a government loan to farmers and the application of business sense to governmental management.
April 25, 1926
Tom Callahan, of Kouts, was badly injured Saturday afternoon when he was the victim of a dynamite explosion near Kouts. Callahan was blasting a stump at the time of the mishap. Two other workmen who were working nearby ran to his assistance but were unable to account for the blast. So terrific was the blast that Calahan’s right arm was so badly injured that amputation at the elbow was necessary. His face and upper body were badly seared and bruised, and there is a possibility his eyesight may have been destroyed. He was brought to the Christian hospital in Valparaiso.
Gary authorities have become alarmed because of the spread of scarlet fever in Chesterton and Porter. Fifteen new cases of the disease have been reported within the last few days. Dr. C. H. DeWitt, Porter County health officer, stated the epidemic was confined principally to the north end of the county. A large amount of milk from farms in that vicinity is shipped to Gary, and officials of that city are considering placing a ban against shipments.
April 26, 1926
Anna Small, of Valparaiso, was today named district vice-president of the Rebekah organization at the spring meeting of District No. 2, held at Union Mills. More than two-hundred members of Rebekah lodges of Porter and LaPorte Counties were in attendance at the all-day meeting.
April 27, 1926
Valparaiso is seen as a rival of Crown Point as a Gretna Green, according to the Chicago Daily News, which features Valparaiso in a big writeup. Photographs of Justice G. E. Bornholt, Porter County Clerk Roscoe C. Jones, and Valparaiso’s Lincolnway, with Justice Bornholt’s office indicated by an arrow, and even the “setting” for a Valparaiso-made marriage, is included with the writeup. Twenty trains a day to Chicago and return, three railroads, a benign justice of the peace and an amiable county clerk willing to pop out of bed at any time of the night to furnish the legal routine for wedlock, and good roads all the way for motoring are some of the advantages offered by Valparaiso, says the Chicago paper.
April 28, 1926
Dr. John C. Baur, acting president of Valparaiso University, spoke before a large gathering at chapel services in the auditorium this morning on the progress being made at the school. He stated that all the university buildings are undergoing repairs at the present time, and the surroundings improved with shrubbery. The inauguration of the new president, Dr. W. H. T. Dau, of St. Louis, will be held at the beginning of the fall term. Dr. Baur reported that the Lutheran Association now has a membership of 16,000 and at least 20,000 will be added.
Marie Palen, 14-year-old girl, complaining witness against Alva Herbst, Kirchhoff Park farmer, charged with rape, took the witness stand in Porter Circuit Court this afternoon to tell of her relations with Herbst. Under questioning of Special Prosecutor Mark B. Rockwell, the girl told her story. One of the facts that stood fixed in her mind was that while she was with the Herbst family, his business was the making and transporting of beer. She also told she was the victim of Herbst on five occasions. When asked why she did not tell officers of these happenings, the girl said Herbst threatened her with beatings if she told.
April 29, 1926
Announcement was made today that the new addition to the McGill Metal Company’s plant on North Lafayette Street in Valparaiso, given over to the manufacture of Schubert Bearings, from McGill Metal, will be completed and in operation by Saturday. A force of from 20 to 30 trained mechanics will be employed at the outset. Heavy orders are on hand for the new product, and a most progressive expansion is anticipated.
Lillie Sayers and her mother, Ella Sayers, narrowly escaped serious injury or death about 10 o’clock last night on College Hill. Leaving Music Hall, Lillie Sayers attempted to drive her car around the College Place corner at Locust Street. The machine struck the curb and was starting down the grade embankment leading to the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks when its progress was stopped by a tree. Neither occupant was hurt.
April 30, 1926
The jury in the case of Alva Herbst, Kirchhoff Park farmer, charged with rape of Marie Palen, 14-year-old LaPorte girl, who lived at the Herbst home, returned a disagreement at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon after deliberating for twenty hours. It is understood the jury stood 9-to-3 for conviction. After the jury was discharged by Special Judge George E. Hershman, Special Prosecutor Mark B. Rockwell moved for a special trial, and the case was set down for May 28. Herbst was remanded to Porter County Jail under $2,500 bond.
Attorney Ira C. Tilton, Democratic county chairman, was Thursday declared the winner of a debate with Porter County Clerk Roscoe C. Jones on the issues of whether the election commissioners or the party chairmen were to notify the various precinct board officers of their appointment. In the past, the party chairmen have performed this service. The law is somewhat uncertain, but Attorney Tilton held it was the duty of the clerk, and the election board supported his position.