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.
January 1, 1924
Building operations in Valparaiso for 1923 totaled half-a-million dollars, according to reliable estimates. Sixty-nine permits were issued by the Valparaiso City Clerk’s office, aggregating $175,000. Included in the lot were fifteen residence buildings, besides a number of business buildings, garage, and remodeled homes. The two Sievers buildings on East Lincolnway, the Valparaiso National Bank building, McGill Manufacturing Company building, and a number of others are not included in the clerk’s records.
January 2, 1924
Construction of a hard-surfaced road from Fort Wayne to Valparaiso over the Yellowstone Trail is definitely included in the 1924 program of the state highway commission, according to word received from Indianapolis. It is said that part of the route will be placed under contract next month.
January 3, 1924
The case against Prosecutor F. R. Marine, Attorney Oliver Loomis, and Constable Charles Adams, instituted last September by George W. Pfiel, proprietor of a dance pavilion at Burrows Camp on the Kankakee River, was dismissed in Porter Circuit Court for want of prosecution. The defendants were represented by Attorneys D. E. Kelly, T. P. Galvin, and Ira C. Tilton. Pfiel, in his complaint for $5,000 in damages, filed by P. J. Bailey, his attorney, alleged that the search warrant under which the raid was conducted was procured by Adams under false misrepresentation; that the prosecutor knew the dance hall did not contain stills of liquor, and that Attorney Loomis went to the hall armed with revolvers.
January 4, 1924
Announcement was made today that further activity in the Indiana Dunes State Park project in north Porter County would be apparent soon by the Dunes Park Committee of the Indiana Society of Chicago. Richard Lieber, of the state department of conservation, has returned from Chicago where he said a movement is on foot to raise money to purchase 2,000 acres of the dune land for a park. The 1923 state legislature provided a tax levy that will provide $1M for the project and the Chicago Prairie Club has promised that a like sum will be raised in Chicago by wealthy residents.
January 5, 1924
Herman F. Heimberg, one of the best-known residents of south Porter County, died this morning at his home in Kouts. Mr. Heimberg was born in Germany in 1873 and came to Porter County when two years of age. He taught in the parochial school at Addison, Ill. Later he went to South Bend where he taught school and served as organist and choir leader for fourteen years. From South Bend he went to Kouts. He was prominent in farm bureau work.
January 6, 1924
Porter County received the sum of $17,854 in the state apportionment of school funds for January. The county has a total enumeration of 5,711, and the distribution is made on the basis of $3.12 per capita. A total of $2.53M was distributed in the state.
The marriage of Miss Rose Deegan, of Valparaiso, and Edward Mahon, of Detroit, Mich., was solemnized this morning at St. Paul’s Chapel, with Rev. Father E. J. Mungovan officiating. A wedding breakfast followed at the home of the bride’s father, Thomas Deegan. The bride has been connected with the Hudson Department Store at Detroit. Mr. Mahon is a lumber and building contractor in Detroit.
January 7, 1924
Valparaiso University defeated the Gary Masons at University Gym Saturday night by a score of 35 to 7. H. H. “Beanie” Harris, of the locals, caged eight baskets. Coach Shadoan’s team displayed a fine passing game.
January 8, 1924
The Circuit Court Room, the largest single room in the Porter County Courthouse, is undergoing a cleaning process at the hands of Swan Nilson and a force of men. The walls have accumulated a fine covering of soot and grime since the last decorating and renovation is badly needed.
January 9, 1924
Two heavy rains visited Valparaiso Saturday and Sunday nights and a total of three inches of rain was recorded. The rain was accompanied by a tornado-like wind in some sections of the county. The level of Flint Lake was raised 5 ½ inches. This will necessitate pumping some of the water from Flint to Loomis Lake in compliance with a recent court order fixing the level of the lake.
The Frank W. Lesch Cut Glass Factory on South Franklin Street in Valparaiso was damaged by fire early Sunday morning and will be closed down for several weeks while repairs are being made. The fire started in the basement and was confined to that part of the building. Two pumpers placed four streams of water on the fire and succeeded in keeping the damage down to a minimum.
January 10, 1924
Two men were killed at 6:28 o’clock last night when a Nickel Plate freight locomotive exploded in front of the Nickel Plate Depot. The dead are: A. G. Heffner, 23, fireman, Stony Island, Ill.; W. Passwater, 25, Fort Wayne; R. O. Shearer, 34, engineer, Stony Island, Ill., was critically injured. The freight train, piloted by Shearer, was westbound. Carroll White, telegraph operator, was preparing to hand a message to Shearer when the blast occurred. He ran to the rear of the building just before a couple of freight cars crashed into it. Sparks from the engine set fire to the nearby buildings.
Walter S. Bush yesterday sold the Lincoln Theatre on South Franklin Street in Valparaiso, which he has owned and operated for the last two years, to Charles Bailey, of Kalamazoo, Mich. Mr. Bailey formerly owned the business and sold it to Mr. Bush.
January 11, 1924
Two federal inspectors, representing the Interstate Commerce Commission, with one state safety inspector, were here today and made a preliminary examination of the boiler of the Nickel Plate engine, which exploded on the station grounds Wednesday night, causing the death of two trainmen, and serious injury to another. The federal inspectors refused to make any comment on what they found, but instructed the Nickel Plate to load the boiler, and take it to the shops and yards at Stony Island, where a scientific examination will be made to determine the cause of the accident. R. O. Shearer, the engineer, who was seriously hurt in the blast, was reported to have improved considerably at the Christian Hospital.
Cattle belonging to the Horns Brothers, housed in three cars on the Nickel Plate Railroad, which were located within a short distance of the scene of the engine blast Wednesday night, were unhurt. The cattle were to be shipped to Chicago having been in cars in the afternoon.
January 12, 1924
More than two hundred and fifty employees of the McGill Manufacturing Company, members of their families and friends, attended a housewarming Saturday night. The affair was held in the new building recently constructed by the company on North Campbell Street in Valparaiso. Dancing and card playing were the diversions.
Valparaiso University’s crack basketball team and the Valparaiso High School quintette were both victorious at Rensselaer Saturday night. The university defeated a team composed of DePaul University stars from Chicago, 20 to 18, and the high school won over Rensselaer by a count of 30 to 13.
January 13, 1924
Louis Gast came home today from Chicago where he had been in the interests of the Milk Producers Association. He reports that the organization has been active in sending out detectives to localities where milk is being shipped to Chicago, and that these detectives reported the milk received was very insanitary, and the matter has been taken up with the Chicago Board of Health today. The International Harvester says Mr. Gast gave a donation of $1,000 to help with the work, as did Montgomery, Ward & Company, and Sears, Roebuck & Company.
Two men were placed under arrest yesterday by Sheriff William Pennington, Deputy Sheriff Forney, and Deputy Sheriff Jerry Lafrentz for being involved in the shooting of Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney in a liquor raid in Portage Township some time ago. The two men are George Chalabis and Nick Kwiatneski. They were apprehended in Gary. Brunk, Zitko, and the other members of the gang, now in custody, have admitted firing the shot which struck Forney in the head, cutting a furrow in his skull.
January 14, 1924
Quinton Cameron, of Gary, was found not guilty by a jury in Porter Circuit Court last night of the slaying of Henry Wells, also of Gary. It was charged that Cameron shot Wells when the latter went to Cameron’s room to inquire about his wife. Attorney Frank B. Parks, for Cameron, charged that Wells went to Cameron’s room and threatened to kill him.
January 15, 1924
Stamp sales at the Valparaiso Post Office during 1923 totaled $93,104.17, as compared with $76,963.89 in 1922. In 1914, the sales were $36,078.99. Money order business at the post office during the year amounted to $1M.
January 16, 1924
Valparaiso University’s victorious basketball team copped the honors from the International “Y” champions in a thrilling overtime battle, 24 to 21. “Beanie” Harris starred in the first half with five field goals. Anderson, Cadwallader, Scott, and Hiltpold, besides Harris, comprised the lineup.
The Valparaiso City Council, in a special meeting last night, re-employed Chief of Police Charles Cook and all members of the police force. A salary ordinance was adopted fixing the salaries in the same amounts as received last year.
January 17, 1924
Valparaiso University’s basketball team defeated Wesleyan College at Winchester, Ky., last night by a score of 38 to 21. Valparaiso will play Center College at Danville tonight.
In one of the most spirited elections held for the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in many a year, six new directors were named as follows: E. J. Freund, for civic group; W. J. Morris, L. E. Meyers, and Byron Smith, industrial group, and Fred Moltz and B. L. Brenner, mercantile group. A total of 204 ballots were cast.
January 18, 1924
The building, owned by the Elks’ Lodge on West Lincolnway, occupied on the first floor by the David Poncher Shoe and Repair Shop and W. L. Stoddard Saloon, and upper floors by the Valparaiso Board of Education for overflow school purposes, was destroyed by fire early this morning. Night Clerk J. E. Harding, of the Hotel Lembke, discovered the blaze at 2:30 a.m. Four lines of hose played on the structure for four hours. The loss will be in the neighborhood of $40,000. Poncher’s loss was $1,300 and Stoddard’s was $1,500. School children of the fourth and fifth grades lost their schoolbooks and other articles.
Russell Seymour, for the boys, and Maycel Orwig, for the girls, were awarded first prizes in the annual oratorical contest of the Valparaiso High School held last evening at the high school auditorium. Others taking part were Carolyn Lytle, Mary Ellen Sheley, Avis Worstell, Harold Pulver, Byron Wright, Wayne Zerber, and Martin Wheeler.
January 19, 1924
Before a crowd of 1,500 basketball fans at Danville, Ky., last night, Coach Shadoan’s Valparaiso University basketball team conquered Center College by a score of 33 to 27 in a very exciting game. The Danville Chamber of Commerce banqueted the Valparaiso team after the game. Valparaiso plays Eastern Kentucky State Normal tonight.
Valparaiso High School basketball team defeated Plymouth High at University Gym by a score of 37 to 29. The two teams were tied at half time, 16 all. Valpo caged nine baskets to Plymouth’s three in the second half to clinch victory. The Valpo High School seconds defeated Chesterton by a count of 22 to 10. Coach Joe Brown used three teams against the north county boys.
January 20, 1924
The Nokomis Restaurant on College Hill was badly damaged by fire this morning. The blaze was discovered in the upper part of the structure. Firemen prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings. The rear part of the building, and the Tokio Tea Room on the second floor, were damaged. This is the second time within a year that the building has been damaged by fire. The first blaze completely destroyed the building. L. Brown is owner of the Nokomis Restaurant.
The Casbon sisters, who have a delicatessen on East Erie Street in Valparaiso, have purchased the Wise property, corner Franklin and Chicago, formerly occupied by the Longshore grocery. The new place will be occupied as a delicatessen. The Erie Street business will also be continued.
January 21, 1924
A Chesapeake & Ohio manifest freight train, east bound, was wrecked about 5 o’clock this morning between Beatrice and Merrillville, when the locomotive struck a broken rail. Eleven freight cars piled up on the track, spilling flour and various kinds of freight along the right-of-way. No one was injured.
January 22, 1924
F. H. Hurt, of Indianapolis, state sanitary inspector, is in Porter County making an inspection of the premises where bovine tuberculosis has been found in livestock. Hurt will make recommendations as to how to rid the place of infection. Fourteen counties in the state are operating on the T.B.-free area plan.
January 23, 1924
The Sager property, including the lake, mill, grounds and so forth, excepting the residence property of the family, has been leased to Frank L. Hume, of Chicago. The lease is for a period of ten years and involves an annual payment of 8% of $64,000. The lessees are given the right to sublet the mill rights. It is understood that Hume and his associates intend to erect a modern sanitarium on the site.
Engineer Shearer, of the Nickel Plate freight train, whose engine exploded in local yards, is improving steadily at the Christian Hospital in Valparaiso and it is believed he will be able to leave the hospital within another week. The fireman and head brakeman who were riding in the cab with him were both killed.
January 24, 1924
E. D. Hodges was unanimously re-elected president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of directors held at the Hotel Lembke. W. J. Morris was named vice-president of the industrial group; Fred Moltz, vice-president of the mercantile group, and E. L. Loomis, vice-president of civic group. Edmond J. Freund was elected secretary, and T. L. Applegate, treasurer. Mr. Freund is serving his 13th year as director.
The Porter County Bankers’ Association held a meeting and banquet last evening at Hotel Lembke, with 35 in attendance. Gordon Wilson, comptroller of the National Bank of the Republic, Chicago, spoke on “The Modern Trend of Banking.”
January 25, 1924
The Valparaiso University Basketball team defeated the City College team of Detroit, Mich., Saturday night at University Gym by a score of 32 to 17. A large crowd saw the game. Following the game, a banquet was served at Hotel Lembke for the team by the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. Louis Applegate presided as toastmaster, and toasts were given by Rev. C. E. Burns, Dr. H. M. Evans and Dr. G. R. Douglas.
The Valparaiso High School Basketball team lost to Warsaw High School at Warsaw Saturday night, 36 to 35. Valparaiso led at half time by a count of 27 to 18. A total of 18 fouls were called on Valparaiso. George Douglas was ejected from the game and his removal weakened the locals.
January 26, 1924
A large number of mules, owned by P. T. Clifford, got out of their lot, and wandered on the Nickel Plate tracks. A train ran into the animals, killing four of them. The animals were used by Mr. Clifford in construction work. The accident occurred west of Valparaiso, near where the Grand Trunk and Nickel Plate Railroads cross.
A charter was granted Saturday to Lewis E. Myers & Company Ltd., by the provincial Government of Ontario, at Toronto. The new company is a private company with a capital of $100,000. Lewis E. Myers is president and treasurer; Charles Eveleth, managing director; Floyd L. Dorsey, secretary, and Milo Bowman, assistant treasurer.
January 27, 1924
Sol Freidheim, of Chicago, is here visiting friends. Mr. Friedheim was formerly employed at the Horn Quality Market. He is recuperating from an operation performed some time ago, following an automobile accident in which he suffered a double fracture of the collar bone. He was confined in the Streator Hospital in Chicago for several months.
W. H. Settle, secretary of the Indiana State Farmers’ Bureau, will visit Valparaiso on Feb. 4 for a meeting with the directors of the Porter County Farm Bureau. In the afternoon, he will deliver a talk to the farmers of the county on the wheat pool and marketing conditions.
January 28, 1924
H. L. Gould, the new Porter County cow tester, began his duties today. He comes to Valparaiso from London, Ontario, Canada, where he was official cow tester. He is a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural college.
January 29, 1924
Funeral services for Ferd Benham, former Valparaiso resident who died Friday of pneumonia, were held in Chicago yesterday with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Benham was a former Valparaiso resident, and operated a tailor shop here with his brother, Frank, on South Franklin Street. He left here thirty years ago.
January 30, 1924
The mystery surrounding the death of Miss Minnie Brooks, 15-year-old Chesterton girl, found dead behind the counter of a Chesterton bakery, was solved by the confession of a 13-year-old Chesterton boy who admitted that he picked up a rifle in the restaurant to examine it and it was discharged, the bullet striking the girl. The confession was obtained by Coroner H. O. Seipel, Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney. The boy will not be held.
The Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury filed its report yesterday and a severe scoring was made against E. T. Funk for the management of the county infirmary. The county commissioners were also taken to task for failing to supervise things at the institution. Sensational charges were embraced in the report.
January 31, 1924
Valparaiso University continued its winning streak last night at University Gym by defeating Dubuque College by a score of 43 to 18. “Beanie” Harris, “Caddy” Cadwallader, “Andy” Anderson, “Hippy” Hiltpold, “Scotty” Scott, Surface, “Pep” Peterson and “Lefty” Close, comprised the local lineup.