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 the Valparaiso Daily Vidette newspaper.
March 1, 1924
Valparaiso High School was defeated in the sectional tourney at Gary this morning by the Whiting team by a score of 30 to 26. Failure to hit the basket was the cause of the locals’ downfall. In the first game played by Valparaiso, Hobart was defeated 48 to 8. Other scores: Hammond 29, Hebron 8; Boone Grove 18, Chesterton 13; Lowell 33, Kouts 6; Crown Point 40, Miller 8; East Chicago 23, Emerson 21.
Katie Vukovich, Gary woman, convicted of manslaughter in connection with the killing of Andrew Yoko, in Gary several months ago, was released today under $5,000 bond by Judge Harry L. Crumpacker. Harold L. Stiles, of Gary, and Ira C. Tilton, of Valparaiso, attorneys for the Gary woman, secured her release by inducing Gary friends to post bail.
March 2, 1924
Valparaiso University basketball team lost to St. Viator College last night at Kankakee, Ill., by a score of 25 to 17. Three hundred people from Valparaiso attended the game. The defeat put Valpo in second place, with LaCrosse Normal in the lead, St. Viator is third. Columbia fourth, DePaul fifth, and Luther sixth.
Whiting won the sectional basketball tournament held at Gary by defeating Crown Point in the final game, 19 to 17. Whiting defeated East Chicago in the semifinals in an overtime, 30 to 29, while Crown Point won from Hammond, 20 to 13. In the all-tournament selections, Brown, of Valpo, won the center berth, and White in the running guard position.
March 3, 1924
The Porter County Commissioners today took up the matter of improving the Valparaiso-Chesterton Dunes Highway, with county road superintendent Joseph Crowe. Mr. Crowe announced that as soon as the frost left the ground, he would start a large force of men and equipment improving the road.
March 4, 1924
Negotiations for the purchase by the Samuel Insull interests of the Valparaiso Lighting Company, and light and power companies at LaGrange, Elkhart, and Plymouth, from the J. H. Brewer interests became known in Indianapolis yesterday. The deal, which according to reports heard in the financial district is practically completed, involves a total investment of more than $1,500,000 and forms an important link in the chain of public utility properties operated in Chicago and across northern Indiana by the Insull management and control.
March 5, 1924
Mrs. Margaret Lydickson, who owns most of the subdivision of Edgewater on Flint Lake, has sold her hotel and ground surrounding it with two cottages. H. F. Hanson is the new owner and will take possession April 1. Mrs. Lydickson is one of the pioneers of the Flint Lake vicinity.
The Porter County Commissioners yesterday awarded the contract to the Art Metal Company, of New York, for additional steel shelving and cabinet equipment for the Porter County Auditor’s Office at a bid of $724.50.
March 6, 1924
Howard Fishburn and Son have sold the Bakerite Bakery to A. Luebsch, of Chicago. The new proprietor took charge this morning. Mr. Fishburn and Son have been conducting the business for a number of years.
At Holland, Mich., last night, Valparaiso University basketball team defeated Hope College, 22 to 20. The night before, Kalamazoo was defeated by Valparaiso, 28 to 25. Tonight Valparaiso plays the Michigan Aggies at Lansing.
March 7, 1924
At a meeting of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks, it was voted to exercise the option for the purchase of the Lyman Dean property next to the lodge building on Lincolnway. Mr. Dean will move his plumbing business to part of the building on East Lincolnway recently acquired by the McMahan Company. The Dean building will be razed, and the space will be used for the new lodge building, which will be three stories high. The two upper floors will be used by the lodge and the lower floor for business firms.
The Michigan Aggies basketball team defeated Valparaiso University last night at Lansing, Mich., by a score of 22 to 12. It was the second defeat of the locals this season. The locals played three games on the trip, winning two.
March 8, 1924
Changes of venue in five murder cases have been granted to Lake County residents to Porter County. They are the cases of Vanetta Garner, William Garner, James Collins, and Steve Stankovich, of Gary, and Ella Hayden of East Chicago. All were indicted by a Lake County grand jury.
March 9, 1924
L. K. Wyckoff, Joseph Heinold and J. A. Warren have received gold medals in the five-acre corn contest. All three men raised more than 100 bushels per acre. Jerome Bartholomew, H.G. Warren, and A. I. Warren received silver medals, and Ralph Turner, L. E. Sutter, and S. I. Warren received bronze medals.
The Bartz Brothers, of Porter County, own the best producing herd cows in the state, according to word received by Porter County Agent A. Z. Arehart, from Purdue University. John Dinse, of Morgan Township, was second among the cow testing associations of the state with his herd, thus giving Porter County first and second places in the ranking.
March 10, 1924
Trial of Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, on charges of incompetency, was commenced this morning before the Porter County Commissioners. Representing Funk are Attorney Frank B. Parks, of Valparaiso, and Ralph N. Smith, of LaPorte. T. P. Galvin, Bruce Loring, and Prosecutor F. R. Marine are directing the case against Funk. Grant Crumpacker is representing the county attorney. John Brown, secretary of the state board of charities, was the first witness. He told of conditions at the infirmary as seen by him while on an inspection visit.
March 11, 1924
While bringing Ralph Watts, of Valparaiso, from Hobart to Valparaiso, an ambulance driven by Herman Pflughoeft, Hobart undertaker, skidded off the Lincoln Highway, between Ainsworth and Merrillville, and struck a telephone pole. Watts was not injured. Mrs. T. J. Watts, his mother, who was riding with him, suffered injuries to one of her legs. A Gary ambulance was called and brought the Valparaiso people to their home.
March 12, 1924
Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, on trial before the Porter County Commissioners on charges of incompetency, made slow progress today. Van Dolson Massey, an inmate, testified that Funk beat an inmate with a buggy whip. Three weeks later he died. Massey testified to other conditions at the infirmary including the time he saw Funk intoxicated. Girl inmates of feeble-minded institutions, which were formerly at the infirmary, were not allowed to testify.
Mrs. C. W. Boucher was elected president of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club at the annual election of the club held yesterday. Other officers were Mrs. E. H. Earle, first vice; Mrs. M. S. Campbell, second vice; Mrs. H. B. Kenny, recording secretary; Mrs. Roscoe Gaston, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. F. Patrick, treasurer; Mrs. C. E. Barret, auditor; Mrs. C. H. DeWitt, federation secretary; Mrs. E. W. Chaffee, Mrs. A. R. Putnam and Mrs. G. W. Vann, directors.
March 13, 1924
Margaret Koensman, 17-year-old girl, created a sensation in Porter Circuit Court yesterday when she testified that Eugene T. Funk, former superintendent of the Porter County Infirmary, on trial for charges of incompetency, chained her at the institution. She ran away on several occasions because of alleged mistreatment, she testified.
The play, “Honor Bright,” was presented at the Premier Theatre last night by members of the Latin Department of Valparaiso University. Miss Edna Agar, local director, coached the principals in the production.
March 14, 1924
The Dean Plumbing Company, which sold its building on West Lincolnway to the Elks’ Lodge as part of the building site for the new lodge building, has acquired property on East Lincolnway of the McMahan Seed Company. Plans have been drawn to make the new location one of the finest plumbing shops in Northern Indiana.
The trial of Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, on charges of incompetency, was adjourned late this afternoon until March 25. Testimony today included depositions of witnesses who testified that when children were born to women inmates of the institution, Funk attended them as doctor.
March 15, 1924
Insanitary conditions at the Porter County Infirmary and that the superintendent, E. T. Funk, was intoxicated on numerous occasions, was given in testimony by witnesses in the trial of Funk yesterday afternoon before the Porter County Commissioners. Despite the fact that the trial was put on hold until March 25, scores of persons came to the courthouse today to attend the proceedings. They were a disappointed lot when they learned of the postponement.
Miss Thyra Sheffield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sheffield, east of Valparaiso, is to be featured in “Thank You Madame,” annual play given by the Junior Class of the University of Michigan.
March 16, 1924
Petitions asking that the practice of tuberculin testing of cattle be abolished are being circulated as a result of a rousing meeting held recently at Hurlburt. More than three hundred farmers were in attendance. It is the contention of the protesting farmers that the method of testing has proved injurious to the herds and unjust to the owners.
March 17, 1924
The Merchants’ Bureau of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and the officers and directors of the Porter County Better Farming Association will hold a joint banquet at the Hotel Lembke Wednesday evening. Prof. G. I. Christie, director of the agricultural extension department of Purdue University, will make the main address.
March 18, 1924
Five Lake County residents, charged with murder, have been brought to the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso, where they will be held pending their trials. The quintet took changes of venue to this county. The defendants are William and Vanetta Garner, James Collins, Ella Hayden, and Steve Stankovich.
March 19, 1924
James M. Sheldon, age 56, for ten years operator of the Hotel Spindler, now site of the Premier Theatre, died last night at his home on West Street. Before coming to Valparaiso, Sheldon operated hotels at Lansing and Niles, Mich. For the last three years, he was engaged in the floral business.
The Foster Lumber and Coal Company was the low bidder on the general contract for the construction of the new school in the first ward when bids were opened last night at the Central school. The local firm’s bid was $61,480.
March 20, 1924
Miss Anna Louise Bushore, age 32, stenographer in the law office of Daniel E. Kelly, and a member of the Porter County Bar, died this morning at Mercy Hospital, Gary, of a heart attack, following an operation for appendicitis. She was president of the Sphinx Club and Daughters of Isabella.
Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, today denied he is to resign his position. He stated that he is ready to defend his administration when his trial is resumed next Tuesday morning. Complainants against Funk, who is being tried on charges of incompetency, have finished their evidence which has been sensational in every way.
March 21, 1924
Arthur O. J. Kreiger, age 49 years, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Chesterton, and for several years town clerk and treasurer, died at his home in Chesterton last night of pneumonia. He was organized as one of the Republican leaders in Porter County.
Harold Feltwell, age 17, of Hobart, was killed, and E. W. Porter, 28, of New Chicago, was seriously injured this morning when their automobile milk truck was struck by a Pennsylvania Railroad train at a grade crossing in Wheeler. The body of Feltwell was brought to Valparaiso, while Porter was taken to the Methodist Hospital in Gary.
March 22, 1924
Valparaiso’s first school of citizenship was held yesterday at Recital Hall, Valparaiso University. Addresses were made by Prof. S. C. Hoover, Prof. E. W. Agar, Dr. H. M. Evans, and Prof. F. H. Guild, the latter of Indiana University.
E. W. Porter, of New Chicago, injured in an auto-train crash near Wheeler yesterday, which claimed the life of Harold Feltwell, died last night in the Methodist Hospital, Gary, where he was taken following the accident. Coroner H. O. Seipel will conduct an inquest in the case Wednesday.
March 23, 1924
The Michigan City, Chesterton, Valparaiso, and Hebron bus was not allowed to operate on the Valparaiso-Chesterton Road today, being ordered off that road by Porter County Road Superintendent Joe Crowe because of its weight. The bus, however, was operated between Michigan City, Valparaiso, and Hebron, but had to miss Chesterton. The road from Valparaiso to Hebron is a state highway, and from Valparaiso to Westville a state highway, the rest of the way to Michigan City being over a LaPorte County highway.
Porter County Democrats met Saturday afternoon at Armory Hall in Valparaiso and nominated a county ticket for the coming election. Porter County Treasurer William O. McGinley will be a candidate for re-election; William Black, at present a member of the Valparaiso Police Department, will run for sheriff; Ira C. Tilton will contest for prosecutor, and William Domke and Isaac Jones will be candidates for Porter County Commissioner of the center and south districts, respectively. E. M. Passow was elected chairman; Mrs. Raymond Sherburne, vice-chairman, and Charles Quinn, of Porter Township, secretary, of the county organization.
March 24, 1924
Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, took the witness stand today in the hearing being held before the Porter County Commissioners on charges filed against him of incompetency and denied the numerous charges hurled against him by scores of witnesses. He was questioned by his attorneys, Ralph N. Smith and Frank B. Parks. Funk denied that he had even beaten Funston, an inmate, or that he had been intoxicated.
March 25, 1924
Five candidates have already filed for the Republican nomination for prosecutor of Porter County at the May primary. Those filed are J. S. Bartholomew, F. Ray Marine, C. D. Wood, W. W. Bozarth, and A. C. Faulkner.
March 26, 1924
The Foster Lumber & Coal Company, of Valparaiso, was awarded the general contract on the new first ward school building at its bid of $58,120 by the city school board at a special session Friday night. The Valparaiso Plumbing Company was given the heating; M. J. Beach & Son, the plumbing; the Powers Regulating Company, Chicago, the heat regulation; and the Van Ness Electric Company the electric wiring. The total contract figures $75,246.
A jury to try three Gary residents for murder was selected today in circuit court. Dwight Kinder, Lake County prosecutor, is handling the state’s case, and Attorneys McLaughlin and Hueston, of Gary, represent the defendants, William and Vanetta Garner, and James Collins, all charged with the slaying of William Rucker.
March 27, 1924
A building boom has hit Valparaiso. The new building, just completed by John Sievers for the home of the new Rexall Drug Store, will be opened on Saturday. Buildings to be built this summer in the city include the new $75,000 first ward school, the Valparaiso National Bank building, and the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks building. Work is now proceeding on the rebuilding of the Saran Apartments damaged by fire recently.
Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, on trial in the county commissioners’ court on charges of incompetency, placed a large number of character witnesses on the stand this morning. Among those who testified were Chris Bornholt, John Carlson, Fred Billideau, William Arnold, Harry Beltzhoover, and Charles Mann.
March 28, 1924
The district convention of undertakers was held yesterday afternoon and evening at Hotel Lembke with 55 members in attendance. Talks were made by E. J. Ragsdale, of Indianapolis, and Floyd Williamson, of Gary, president of the district association. At 6:30 o’clock, a banquet was served with Attorney T. P. Galvin as toastmaster. Talks were given by E. D. Hodges, chamber of commerce president; Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar, Rev. C. E. Burns, Wallace Sutter, chamber of commerce manager, and Joseph Kosiar, of Michigan City.
Closing arguments by attorneys in the trial of Eugene T. Funk, Porter County Infirmary Superintendent, were made today before the county commissioners. Attorneys Bruce B. Loring, F. Ray Marine, and T. P. Galvin made the pleas for the petitioners asking the removal of Funk, while Attorneys Ralph N. Smith and Frank B. Parks argued in defense of the infirmary head.
March 29, 1924
The new Rexall Drug Store opened for business in the new building on East Lincolnway in Valparaiso recently built by the Sievers Drug Company. John Sievers, senior member of the firm, started his mercantile career in 1900 when he formed a partnership with A. F. Heineman. In 1921, Mr. Sievers purchased the interest of his partner. The building occupied by the firm on South Washington Street will be operated until the expiration of the lease, which runs for two years.
The studio of M. M. Mudge, located in the new Sievers’ building on East Lincolnway in Valparaiso, was opened to the public Saturday. Hundreds of persons called at the new place during the day and night and souvenirs were given to all. The studio is one of the finest in northern Indiana.
March 30, 1924
Valparaiso and Porter County were storm swept Saturday evening and continued over into Sunday morning. Several inches of snow fell, and in the Hebron and Boone Grove vicinity, the storm assumed the aspects of a cyclone. Flint Lake is reported at its highest stage in years.
Donald McDonald, who tried to kidnap Valparaiso Policeman Robert Bryarly by driving with him to the rural section after the officer had climbed on the running board of McDonald’s machine in an attempt to stop him, was fined in Justice G. E. Bornholt’s court on a number of counts, including intoxication, resisting an officer, and receiving liquor from a common carrier. McDonald refused to stop when Bryarly hailed him and told him to drive to the station. “Station H—!” McDonald is credited with saying. “We are going to the country, where I am going to kill you.” Bryarly’s plight was discovered by Policeman William Black, who gave chase in another car, overtaking McDonald.
March 31, 1924
Officers of the Porter County Farm Bureau from every township in Porter County met at the county agent’s office here last night to hear M. J. Briggs, of Macy, Ind., talk on the wheat pool. Practically every wheat producer signed up to pool his wheat. Tonight Mr. Briggs will talk at Morgan Township, and Wednesday night at Wheeler.
Paul Nuppnau, Sr., who has been serving as cashier of the State Bank of Valparaiso since March 1, 1899, was honored last night at a dinner given at Hotel Lembke by directors of the bank, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of Mr. Nuppnau’s occupancy of the cashier’s job. Cashiers preceding Mr. Nuppnau were J. Hanford Skinner, John Stoner, and Leslie R. Skinner.