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 pages of Valparaiso’s Evening Messenger and Valparaiso Daily Vidette newspaper publications.
November 1, 1923
LaPorte Avenue, which is part of Lincoln Highway, and is being improved by city and county authorities with a tarvia top, will be ready for traffic sometime next week. The stone foundation for the highway, which is 1,700 feet long, was completed yesterday by County Road Superintendent Joseph Crowe. Today the Hayes Construction Company, which is finishing the tarvia top of the Lincoln Highway from eastern limits of Valparaiso to the Malone Turn in Washington Township, began placing stone on the highway preparatory to pouring asphalt. The improvement in Valparaiso will give a solid stretch of new highway six miles long.
Broncho John Sullivan, one of the few remaining war scouts, guides, and Indian fighters of the old school, drew large crowds yesterday afternoon and evening at Schelling’s Music Hall, where he appeared in person and presented a thrilling western story, “The Life of Buffalo Bill.” Broncho John was connected with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for many years and was associated with Buffalo Bill in the early days. He showed how to handle the big six shooter, a knowledge he obtained from Wild Bill when the west was young.
November 2, 1923
Valparaiso University today celebrated Brown Day at Brown Field. A big parade was staged this afternoon, led by the university band and faculty. At Brown Field, Valparaiso University’s football team defeated Lewis Institute of Chicago. The score was 110 to 0. The locals scored sixty-one points in the first half. Halfback Ralph Surface led in the scoring with ten touchdowns.
A large crowd attended the musical revue, “Cheer Up,” given last night at the Memorial Opera House under the auspices of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club. Headliners in the production were Frank Wilson, Miss Kathryn Salisbury, Dr. C. A. Nixon, and Dr. C. L. Bartholomew.
November 3, 1923
Valparaiso University presented a whirling mass of colors in the gymnasium when the Tokyo Carnival was in full swing last night. Hundreds of students and townspeople flocked to the Hill to enjoy the dancing and entertainment afforded by the Students’ Union. The same show will be presented tonight.
Hobart and Wheeler citizens are complaining bitterly because these towns have been lifted off the road maps for the future through traffic. Only local traffic is resorting to the two places, and through cars are a curiosity. Last Sunday, on the opening of the Dunes Highway, even with a bad and dangerous detour of over a mile at Baillytown, over 6,000 cars were counted passing over the detour.
November 4, 1923
William King, residing at 155 Lincoln Avenue (now Brown Street) in Valparaiso, was shot in the leg by a holdup man Saturday evening while returning to his home from a trip downtown. The shooting occurred near the Valparaiso Home Ice Company on South Lafayette Street. The bullet from the gun entered the right leg between the kneecap and hip.
The board of commissioners of Porter County met in the regular monthly session yesterday. A number of taxpayers appeared before the board to complain regarding personal property assessments made last year by a deputy assessor. It is charged that the assessor changed the amounts of the assessments after giving the taxpayers statements of their assessments.
November 5, 1923
The Valparaiso Dry Cleaning Works, owned by Joseph Mottl, was sold by Mr. Mottl to Hardesty & Moser, who took immediate possession. The concern has been located for a number of years in the Vail Jewelry store building and the dry-cleaning establishment on West Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso. Mr. Mottl is retiring because of ill health. Eleven years ago, he and Frank Radous purchased the business of Henry Goetz, a pioneer in the dry cleaning business in Valparaiso. In 1916, Mr. Mottl purchased the interest of his partner.
November 6, 1923
A carload of reactor cattle, numbering twenty-six, from Portage Township farmers, were shipped to the Chicago Union Stockyards yesterday. The animals will be slaughtered Wednesday morning. A number of farmers will go to Chicago to witness the killing. Dr. A. M. Jacoby, tester, is swamped with work. He has examined 12,000 cattle to date, and 5,000 of these will be due within the next thirty days. The state quarantine in cattle shipments will go into effect January 1 next.
November 7, 1923
Four towns in Porter County held elections yesterday. Frank Sheley, of the Citizen’s party, was elected trustee, and Hjalmar Vedel, of the Citizens’ party, clerk-treasurer, at Chesterton. At Porter, W. H. Reed was elected trustee, and John Carlson, Jr., clerk-treasurer. At Kouts, William Denzine and Ira Dye were named trustees, and George Kaley, clerk. At Hebron, the Citizens’ ticket had no opposition. Roy Rathburn, Charles Simpson and Edward Alyea are the new town board; Mamie Nolan, clerk, and Roy Childs, treasurer.
The Porter County Board of Commissioners took no action yesterday to reimburse the Valparaiso Chamber on the award of damages to the several property owners in straightening the Malone Turn on the Lincoln Highway, four miles east of Valparaiso. The damages amounted to $600 and was paid by the chamber. A state law recently passed by the legislature gives chambers and other organizations the right to purchase right-of-way for the state highway commission and receive a refund from the county.
November 8, 1923
By a deal consummated today, Will M. Bennett, proprietor of the Electrical Sales Company on Franklin Street in Valparaiso, sold his business to Wright & Bochtler, owners of an electric shop on Washington Street. The deal was made through the H. R. Dye Agency. The new owners took possession at once and are getting ready for a big closing-out sale. They plan to remove the remaining stock to their location on Washington Street. H. C. Taylor, the stationer, will take over the space vacated.
E. G. Gibson, connected with the state fire marshal’s office, is here superintending the standardization of the various equipment at the local fire station in Valparaiso. All hose, hydrant, engine, and other equipment will be changed to conform with the standard throughout the state. Members of the Valparaiso Fire Department are assisting Mr. Gibson in the work.
November 9, 1923
United States Marshal Harry H. Cross, of Hammond, visited Valparaiso today for the purpose of obtaining the assistance of local officers in arresting a number of Porter County citizens living in the south part near the Kankakee River, charged with violation of the game laws. They will be brought to Valparaiso for a hearing.
John Van de Vries, manager of the Central Division of the United States Chamber of Commerce, was speaker at the second monthly meeting of the Valparaiso Chamber held last evening at Hotel Lembke. One hundred-and-twenty-five persons were in attendance. Leroy V. Hensel was master of ceremonies and Earl J. Salisbury acted as “morale” officer and led the singing. Madge Lindall was at the piano. Frank Wilson sang two solos. Porter County Superintendent of Schools Fred H. Cole presented Mr. Van de Vries and gave a fine talk on differences among children.
November 10, 1923
Shades of the old controversy between the City of Valparaiso and Valparaiso Lighting Company stalked in city hall last night at the regular meeting of the Valparaiso City Council when discussion ensued regarding the cost of electrical energy to local users. City Attorney E. Guy Osborne was instructed by the council to go to Indianapolis to take up with Attorney General U. S. Lesh the question of proceedings in the LaPorte Circuit Court in the case of the Valparaiso Lighting Company versus the Indiana Public Service Commission, a suit to vacate the order of the commission establishing lower rates for Valparaiso.
Two cars of reactor cattle will be shipped Monday from McCool to the stockyards in Chicago for slaughtering. Dr. A. C. Jacoby, federal state tester, tested the cattle. Dr. Jacoby said that with the cooperation of the farmers of the county he will be able to place Porter County in the modified area class.
November 11, 1923
Valparaiso University defeated LaCrosse Normal Saturday afternoon at football, 14 to 0. The game was played at LaCrosse, Wis., and was the first game lost by LaCrosse on its home grounds in many years. Touchdowns were scored by Surface and Dycke. Spurgeon and White played fine ball for the locals.
Lincoln Highway, east of Valparaiso, was thrown open to traffic Saturday. Traffic was heavy during the day, but it reached an apex Sunday and today. Porter County Road Superintendent George T. Pearce said a detour must be made at Malone Turn, to the north, due to a bridge being out over Crooked Creek.
November 12, 1923
B. A. Gott, of Wheeler, purchased the interest of E. R. Kuss in the firm of Kuss & Poncher, dealers in automobiles and accessories, on East Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Mr. Kuss will not retire from the auto sales business but will retain the agency of the Stutz car. Mr. Gott will become a partner of Mr. Poncher.
November 13, 1923
Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar, Porter County Sheriff William Pennington, Valparaiso Prosecutor F. R. Marine, and Valparaiso Chief of Police Charles Cook will attend a meeting at South Bend Friday, called by Governor McCray, following the suggestion made at a recent conference with governors of various states with President Coolidge on the matter of law enforcement, with special reference to the prohibition law. Representatives from a number of counties will attend district meetings to be held throughout the state.
November 14, 1923
A proposed settlement of the Northern Indiana coal case before the industrial commission on freight rates to several Northern Indiana counties will bring a reduction of five to ten cents a ton. The commission is asking for reductions of $1.60 to $1.70 per ton on freight from Clinton and Linton coal fields. Valparaiso is among the cities included in the case.
A unique wedding was staged in the sand dunes last Monday when Dudley Hayden, of Furnessville, and Miss Sadie Sparks, of Chicago, were married. A number of guests from Michigan City and Chicago were in attendance. Rev. A. H. Lawrence, of Chesterton, read the ceremony in one of the cottages on the preserve of the Prairie Club.
November 15, 1923
Legality of payments of approximately $35,000 made in Porter County of public money under control of twelve public offices, ranging from county to city offices, to township justices of the peace, have been questioned by field examiners of the state board of accounts, who have just completed reports on what they found in the offices in an examination of the records of the years 1920 and 1921, according to advices received from Indianapolis. The report was made by Ure M. Frazier and W. A. Hammond, field examiners.
November 16, 1923
Exceptions to reports of the state field examiners for the state board of accounts in an examination of city and county offices made public at Indianapolis yesterday were made by Valparaiso city and county officials today. The officials pointed out that the law provides for many of the items and that the examiners did not allow for this.
The formal opening and dedication of Dunes Highway, between Gary and Michigan City in Porter County, took place this afternoon at 2 o’clock, when a four-mile automobile parade was staged. A banquet was scheduled for this evening at the Spaulding Hotel in Michigan City. Members of the state highway commission and prominent men were in attendance.
November 17, 1923
The Dunes Highway was officially opened yesterday amid a downpour of sleet and rain. The automobile train left Gary at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and stopped at Baillytown where a short dedicatory ceremony was held in charge of Captain H. S. Norton, president of the Commercial Club of Gary. Their entourage was composed of representatives of every city in the Calumet district and a number of cars from Chicago. Proceeding to Michigan City, a banquet was served at Hotel Spaulding to 200 persons. Earl Crawford, member of the state highway commission, spoke. Valparaiso was represented by E. J. Freund, Herbert Schleman, H. V. Deopker, A. R. Hardesty and W. C. Dutter, the latter manager of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.
Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar, Chief of Police Charles Cook, Prosecutor F. R. Marine and Porter County Sheriff William Pennington returned last night from a district meeting held at South Bend yesterday in the interest of the enforcement of the prohibition laws. Nine counties in the northwest part of the state were represented. A number of excellent talks were made on various problems encountered by officials in the enforcement of the eighteenth amendment.
November 18, 1923
Valparaiso University defeated St. Viator Saturday at Kankakee by a score of 10 to 7 in a hard-fought battle. Valpo’s points were scored by White, who went over for a touchdown and kicked goal, and a place kick by Spurgeon. L. Winterhalter scored for St. Viator and also kicked a goal.
At the various services of the Methodist Episcopal Church yesterday, $300 was collected for the relief of starving peoples of the Near East. Alonzo E. Wilson, of Chicago, connected with the Near East organization, made talks on behalf of the movement.
November 19, 1923
R. Surface, halfback of the Valparaiso University football team, is probably the holder of the scoring title for the Midwest, if not the entire country. Surface has tallied sixteen touchdowns already this season, while Grange, of Illinois, who is the highest in the Big 10, has made eleven.
November 20, 1923
Defiance College, scheduled to meet the Valparaiso University football team at Brown Field on Saturday, has canceled its game, according to word received by Coach Shadoan. The reason assigned by Defiance was that the team has been badly crippled by injuries.
November 21, 1923
Political gangsters who wax fat on public office were assailed by D. C. Stephenson, grand dragon of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan in a speech at the Memorial Opera House last night. A packed house heard the address. “We must take the graft out and put God in,” Stephenson declared. He bitterly assailed the Federal Reserve System of banking. He also asserted laws must be passed to stop the riff-raff from Europe coming into the country.
Two extensions will be made at the Lewis E. Myers & Company in Chautauqua Park early next year, it was announced today. It is planned to double the two-story portion of the plant. The second extension will be in the rear of the present plant and will be used for the manufacturer of Hy-San Colors art pencils. Portions of the company business now being conducted in the other centers will be moved here.
November 22, 1923
Covers were laid for forty last night at the Tokyo Tea Room on the occasion of an organization banquet of the Hill Club. The new organization, a fraternity, is for students, and has been formed to foster a feeling of good fellowship between students and to advance a friendly feeling for Valparaiso University among people in various communities where students live. Membership has been limited to 160.
The Tuesberg Land Company, of St. Joseph, Mich., yesterday submitted a bid of $15,000 to the state auditor at Indianapolis for a quantity of land at the headwaters of the Kankakee River in Starke and Porter Counties. The company plans to retain part of the land and transfer the rest to the state conservation department for state park purposes.
November 23, 1923
Rev. C. E. Burns, pastor of the Christian Church, will be the main speaker at the annual Lodge of Sorrow of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks on Sunday, December 2, at the lodge hall on West Lincolnway. Four members of the lodge, John McGuillicuddy, J. Fred Fitzwilliam, Otto P. Wharton, and James R. Malone have died during the year.
Eight Porter County men were granted naturalization papers at a hearing held in Porter Circuit Court today. National examiner W. W. Wiggins, of Chicago, conducted the hearing. Three men were turned down because they claimed exemption as aliens during the World War.
November 24, 1923
Reports coming in from various townships of the county bring the assurance that more than 1,000 members are already signed up in the farm bureau membership campaign commenced last Monday. Six townships reported a total of 719 members. The townships reporting showed enrollment as follows: Porter, 203; Washington, 122; Pleasant, 120; Portage, 110; Center, 84; Pine, 71. Other townships have not reported, but indications are that all will show increases over last year.
Kirchhoff Park, on the eastern edge of Valparaiso, is being placed in condition preparatory to being turned over to the Civic Association. A fence is being placed around the park and a number of trees are being set out.
November 25, 1923
The Kaber Company, florists, of LaPorte, have leased the Schleman-Morton Company building on Washington Street, formerly occupied by Hardesty and Moser, dry cleaners. The latter firm has consolidated its business in the Vail Jewelry Store building following its purchase of the Valparaiso Dry Cleaning business of Joseph Mottl. The Kaber Company maintains a large floral shop at LaPorte.
November 26, 1923
P. T. Clifford & Son, of Valparaiso, today started moving an outfit from Belleville, Ohio, where the concern has the contract for twelve miles of double track for the Nickel Plate Railroad from Fostoria to Arcadia. The company also has a shovel outfit in operation at Maple Grove, Ohio.
November 27, 1923
The county wards enjoyed their annual banquet at the Porter County Infirmary yesterday. Seventeen years ago yesterday, Superintendent E. T. Funk moved the wards into the present building which is one of the best in northern Indiana. The only guests outside the wards were Miss Gulbransen, superintendent of the Christian Hospital, and Dr. Loren Lewis. Roast goose was the chief article on the bill of fare.
Henry Schickler, representative of the No-Tobacco League of Indiana, is working in Valparaiso for a few days. His chief work is to keep the cigarette from the growing boy and girl. He spoke Sunday in four churches and yesterday afternoon addressed the Mothers’ Club. A week ago, he spoke to Valparaiso High School pupils. Mr. Stickler will probably give his famous lecture, “Around the World Without a Cent” before leaving the city.
November 28, 1923
Indiana Federation Day was observed last night at the home of Mrs. A. O. Dobbins. “The Return of the Delegates” presented the reports of the four delegates, Mesdames Boucher, Bondy, Chaffee, and Pagin. A poll of the members showed Coolidge received almost half the votes cast for president with Johnson, McAdoo, and Ford the next three in favor.
November 29, 1923
Playing knee deep in mud and water, Valparaiso University and the University of Dubuque battled to a scoreless tie at Brown Field in the annual Turkey Day football game yesterday. Coach Shadoan’s warriors were slowed up by the heavy field. Both teams displayed some fine defensive football. Dubuque held Valpo on the two-yard line at one point. Valpo ended the season with four victories, two defeats, and one tie.
November 30, 1923
The Valparaiso High School Varsity defeated the Valparaiso High School Alumni in basketball last night, 18 to 10. Coach Ralph E. Schenck’s team had their shooting eyes in form. George Douglas, with four baskets, led the varsity. Larson was best for the alumni with three baskets.