Come To The 1974 Fair

Fair Week Schedule of Events, as it appeared in The Vidette-Messenger on August 3, 1974

This story originally appeared on page 4 of The Vidette-Messenger from August 1, 1974:

All of us in this area will have the opportunity next week of putting into the background of our minds our fears and frustrations caused by today's troublesome world and national problems – by attending the 102nd Porter County Fair.

We can anticipate with certainty that our young people and their adult leaders – not to mention the Fair Board – will again provide us with a refreshing display of livestock, farm products and of other activities which we will find informative and interesting.

We know that once again we will be able to turn with pride toward the work and efforts of a multitude of our young people and say gratefully "these are our kids.”

As has been its custom through the years, The Vidette-Messenger will be providing blanket coverage of the 1974 Fair in both words and pictures. We do this because we believe in these young people and their 4-H programs which involve those from suburban, as well as rural areas of Porter County.

According to the County Extension office report, there are 1,266 boys and girls involved in 4-H work this year. They are enrolled in 3,757 projects.

Many of these will be seen throughout the week grooming and pampering their fair entries and doing all sorts of other chores. Talk to these young people and their real pride of accomplishment will come through loudly and clearly.

Listed in this year's Fair booklet are 55 different projects which the 4-Hers are displaying in 1974. Two new projects, this time around, are classified as "small animals" and "bicycles."

While it shouldn't be too surprising one of the projects which has ballooned this year are the rabbits. To be shown are 250 of these animals, of various breeds. Because of this growth the Fair Board voted to provide a separate tent for their display.

Previously rabbits were lumped in the same showing area as were poultry – but that's been changed now.

This 102nd Fair continues Porter County's unique record of maintaining the attraction as being free of admission charge – and not many such events can make that statement. Obviously, there will be charges along the Midway and at the nightly Grandstand performances, but that is quite in order. In no way does this take away from the "Free Fair" slogan for our county.

And speaking of the Midway, attractions there will feature the offerings of the James W. Drew organization, which has established such an excellent rapport with the Fair Board that the firm has been a part of the Porter County Fair scene for more than a quarter century.

As usual, a fine card of events has again been booked for the 1974 nightly Grandstand shows. Barring any loud dispute with the weatherman, the seats should be crowded as they have been in other "Good Weather" years.

Queen to reign over festivities during the week will be selected at Tuesday night's grandstand event. Successor to Jill Lynette Long, Miss County Fair of 1973, will be selected at that time.

One problem for participants and visitors this year for those coming to the Fairgrounds from the southeastern part of the county could be the repair work being carried out by the city of Valparaiso along Roosevelt Road, a portion of which is closed to traffic.

However, we don't see this as a major roadblock, but a detour to the site of the fair could become necessary in some instances.

Another "problem" is that for the first time within memory the Porter and LaPorte County fairs are being held in the same week, which could cut down somewhat on attendance, although it is not anticipated that this will have a great overriding effect.

However, the local Fair Board is rightly thinking about moving up its 1975 Fair one week, to avoid such a conflict – which was caused by the moving up of the Indiana State Fair.

For several years now the county is in possession of two fairgrounds, but the one to the south of Valparaiso has not been developed because of the uncertainty as to what to do about selling the grounds in north Valparaiso. We would urgently suggest that county officials as soon as possible tackle this project headlong, and have as its target, development of the new grounds in readiness for 1976 as part of Porter County's observance of America's Bi-Centennial year.

At any rate, we trust the people of Porter County from Aug. 5 to 10 make it a point to visit the 1974 Fair as frequently as possible – if for no other reason than to take their minds off the cares of the world and our nation. But then there are many other better reasons to come to the Fair.

Fairgrounds map, as it appeared in The Vidette-Messenger on August 3, 1974

Valparaiso is Visited by Disastrous Fire!

Image of the Academy of Music Block during the February 1926 fire, from the Swihart Collection

This story originally appeared on the front page of the Valparaiso Daily Vidette from February 19, 1926, which was the day the disastrous fire occurred.

2 Firemen Killed; 4 Others Injured

Two firemen, one a member of the Gary fire department, and the other a citizen volunteer, are dead, one volunteer fireman was seriously injured, and three others were injured as the result of the destruction by fire of the Academy of Music block and the Kaufman Bargain store building in the downtown business district today. A revised estimate of $500,000 is placed on the property loss which is one of the greatest conflagrations to ever visit the city. The estimate of the property loss is divided about equally in buildings and stock.

The dead are:

HARRY MCNAMARA, pipeman Engine Company No. 2, Gary, buried under a mass of wreckage of the falling walls of the Kaufman building.

ROBERT BARTHOLOMEW, employee of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company of this city, drowned when buried beneath the walls of the Kaufman building.

The injured:

RICHARD BROWN, lieutenant of Engine company No. 2, Gary, leg cut and bruised, gash in back of head and left hand mashed, by falling walls.

CLAUS HELMICH, local painting contractor and decorator, fractured skull and other injuries from falling walls.

LLOYD MILLER, employed at Wittenberg & Son, head badly cut by falling walls.

The body of Harry McNamara was recovered this afternoon about 3 o’clock after a search of several hours. McNamara, it was discovered, was crushed to death in the fall. Mayor Fulton and Chief Grant returned to Gary shortly after the body was recovered.

The condition of Claus Helmick is still very serious according to reports from the local hospital at 3:30.

The Academy of Music block is a total loss, as well as the Kaufman building. The structures occupied by the Farmers and American restaurants were badly damaged. The two first-mentioned buildings were reduced to a smoldering mass of masonry and twisted steel. The Academy of Music block was a three story with basement, while the other structures were of the two story type.

The two men who were killed and the four who were injured were on the second floor of the Kaufman building. They had invaded the structure with a hose to seek a vantage point whereby they might pour water into the Academy of Music building. Then something happened. A roar like a mighty blast at bay went forth. The whole end of the Academy of Music wall on the south, towering majestically above that of the Kaufman building, gave way In a brief space of time, before they were aware of it, six men went tumbling down into the vortex created by the enormous mass of brick and stone crushing the Kaufman building like an egg-shell.

Into the flame, smoke and broken pieces of the building, the men were cast. While this gruesome tragedy was being enacted others on top of the Farmers restaurant building had narrow escape from injury. Sheriff W. B. Forney, Charles Gilliland, commander of the American Legion post, Harvey Varner, Fred Hughes and County Surveyor William Morthland were here holding the hose that was pouring its liquid contents into the burning inferno.

With the crash of the wall, the firemen and helpers were peppered with bricks from the doomed building. Harvey Varner narrowly escaped falling over the ledge, but was pulled back by comrades. County Surveyor Morthland, struck on the head by a brick, was saved by pals when he tried to walk off the roof while in a dazed condition. Gilliland, on the hose, was pulled back by Sheriff Forney just as the pressure of the water was about to carry him over into the Kaufman pit.

Fireman and spectators at once went to the aid of the stricken men. Brown, Billings and Helmick were pulled forth from under the wreckage. Bartholomew was found and extricated, but was dead when taken out. While not badly bruised by the brick and stone, it is believed that he met death by drowning in the lake of water. The body was removed to the C. W. Bartholomew undertaking parlors. Helmick, Brown, Billings, and Miller were taken to the Christian hospital. An operations as performed on Helmick and it is believed he will recover. Miller was able to leave the hospital shortly afterward when it was ascertained that his injuries were not serious.

The body of McNamara was not recovered. Searchers pulled back the pile of brick and other debris in the basement of the Kaufman store, but were unable to locate him. At one time it was believed they had found him, but it proved to be Miller. After removing a large part of the mass of material under which he is believed to have been buried, the works rested in their labors. With the arrival of Mayor Floyd Williams and Chief of Police Wilford Grant, of Gary, an organized search was instituted. The Gary officials took immediate charge of the work and organized the workers into crews.

Bartholomew, one of the killed, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bartholomew, residing north of the city, and was 27 years of age. He was an employee of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone company. Besides his parents, he is survived by one brother, Hubert, and three sisters, Dorothy, Margaret and Myra.

McNamara, who also lost his life, was a veteran of the Gary fire department. His wife, who was notified of the tragedy to her husband, arrived in the city within a short time after the accident.

Bartholomew, Helmick and Miller were attracted to the fire like hundreds of others and when the occasion demanded gave willingly of their services in helping out the firemen to save property.

City officials and former officials, former members of the fire department and others showed their loyalty by doing everything possible to prevent the spread of the flames.

Chief of Police William Pennington was on the scene early and with the aid of members of the department assumed charge of the safety measures. Police lines were drawn and the crowds kept out and away from the danger zone. However, at times the spectators kept edging up near the building and caused the police considerable trouble in ordering them back.

With the falling of the wall and the death and injury of numerous persons, calls for ambulances were sent out to every undertaker in the city. Three of them were around the restricted area ready for service at all times.

Various persons served hot coffee to the hard-working firemen and J. Lowenstine & Sons through a representative, were on hand early to distribute mittens to the firemen to prevent frost-bit fingers.

Electricians were summoned and eliminated hazards in the form of live wires.

The smoke from the burning building soared high in the air and was carried a considerable distance. Rural residents were able to discern the fire location for many miles. Charles L. Jeffrey, president of the Farmers State bank, stated he saw the smoke four or five miles north of the city while enroute here from Chesterton.

While the building had only been burning a short time occupants of the burned structures received offers of temporary quarters from a number of sources. One of the first to extend an offer was Harry R. Ball, general manager of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone company.

Exact Cause is Not Known

The exact cause of the fire is not yet determined, though there are those who ascribe it to an overheated furnace located in the basement of the Academy of Music, directly under the Sievers Drug company store. August Koch, janitor, visited the basement at 5:30 o’clock to fire the furnace. After a visit to the State Bank of Valparaiso building to look after the heating apparatus, he returned again to the building shortly before 6 o’clock. When he went into the basement the smoke was so dense he could not get into the furnace room. Policeman Gordon Reynolds and August Schumacher in the meantime had seen the smoke issuing from the structure and immediately turned in an alarm.

Confronted by a pall of smoke that rushed through the crevices of the ancient structure and the clouds that hung lifeless within the interior of the building, the constant threat of crumbling floors, the valiant fire fighters augmented by scores of volunteer fighters, groped through the steam and maze of suffocating smoke, against biting winds and water that coated them with ice, to carry on until they wore down the flames after it seemed a certainty they would leap their way to the south and to the west until they had wrapped their cardinal tenacities about every business building in the block. They carried on gallantly for house without a letup on their part, with every indication that the job would necessitate a while day’s labor.

The flames gutted the Academy of Music block until only a charred mass remains they raked their way through the Kaufman Bargain store and practically destroyed that building. Water and smoke pouring through the Farmers restaurant and the American restaurant buildings caused untold damage, making both buildings untenable and unfit for business until extensive repairs have been made.

Although the firemen confined the fire to the Academy of Music building, the structure occupied by the Kaufman Bargain store, at no time were the firemen sanguine of being able to curb the flames until they had wreaked a far greater vengeance. The blaze marked the complete passing of the Academy of Music block, a landmark of the Vale, and once the pride of theatergoers in the older days. Built by Samuel Anthony and Ruel Starr back in 1864, it was one of the most substantially built buildings in the city. No expense was spared when the structure was built sixty years ago. The foundation walls are of Lamont stone, and the cross walls of the same material, built at a great thickness.

Once Was City’s Playhouse

For many years the third story of the building, vacated only recently by the Porter Lodge of Masons, once served as the city’s playhouse. Here some of the most noted actors tread the boards. A. F. Heineman, for more than forty years in the theatre business, was one of the managers. McIntyre & Heath, who are still performing in big time company, were among the favorites who appeared there.

The brick walls stand partly, but the building is roof-naked, its form gutted, its interior eaten out by the flames. Black joists, not quite burned away, jagged and forbidding, stand as bleak reminders of a relentless foe that not only exacted a property loss but claimed human toll. Walls seemingly gray in dismay stand ghostlike and pale to overlook the debris below. Inside the once burning and smoldering inferno may be seen the law books and furniture of many law firms which occupied the second floor of the structure. Over all hundred of icicles drape themselves across the volumes of black stone and seal themselves shut with heavy coatings of ice for all time. And overhead the roof gave way to let the blue sky of heaven and the all-merciful Father to look down on the desolate scene.

Drive Out by Flames

With the arrival of the fire department on the scene, an attempt was made to get into the building but this was later given up when the suffocating fumes dove the firemen to the street. Within a short time the flames broke forth through the roof and lighted the hazy morning light with a blaze of glory. Four lines of hose were lad but these had no effect on the flames. Fire Chief Fred Wittenberg after a hasty survey of the situation dispatched word to surrounding towns for help. Gary sent an American LaFrance machine from Engine Company No. 2 under the direction of Lieut. Dick Brown and a force of men. Homer Ouderkirk, former Valparaiso man, drove the truck here in thirty-five minutes. The quick arrival of the Gary apparatus was all that saved the Ruge building and other structures to the west. The Gary men set about immediately to check the progress of the fire on the west. Had the Gary truck been five minutes later in arriving, there is little question but that the Belmont Hotel and Keene Tire Shop would have been included in the wreckage.

The firemen concentrated their attention on the Academy of Music at the start but later were forced to desert the structure when the wind send the flames in the direction of the Kaufman store, and the Farmers and American restaurants and threatened to engulf the $100,000 building of the Valparaiso National bank and other buildings to the south.

Hack Way to Vantage Points

Hacking their way through walls and windows where ever they could reach and climb over perilous roof surfaces the firemen made their way to vantage points where they laid down a water barrage on the interior of the Academy of Music building. The answer of the flames came in the form of dense smoke screens which drive the men back to points of cover and safety from falling walls. The flames in the first floor of the structure were quenched after hard efforts put behind heavy joists and in corners inaccessible through the peculiar style of construction the flames were more difficult to combat. Tons of water were poured on the flames, but they were so much powder for the good they did. The hose nozzles were forced steadily forward, but the imminent threat of crumbling floors, roofs and 2walls made these advances extremely hazardous and the firemen dared not go within a shirt distance of the structure. Only at times did the brave fire boys and volunteers work their way to the building and open apertures wherein they might pour in sheets of water on the secluded spots.

Falling Walls Threaten

Smoke continued to gush forth and the flames shooting against the sky to give it a scarlet tinge. The smoke nuisance proved baffling at times to the firemen. The fire picked its way into the mortar, sealing the blocks together, presenting a menace greater than the fire itself, that of the danger of the brick walls crumbling and burying the firemen beneath it. With streams of water pouring on the structure for hours the water-logged walls began to bulge and sway on the structure. The first sign of falling walls became manifest on the easy side of the structure, when a large portion of the third story crashed into the street, narrowly missing a number of firemen and spectators. Flying brocks spattered on the sidewalk and in the court house year across the street.

Building Owned by Judge Loring

Judge H. H. Loring, of the Porter circuit court, owner of the Academy of Music building, estimated his loss at between $100,000 and $125,000. About $30,000 of insurance is carried on the structure. In the Academy of Music building the greatest loss occurred. The Farmers State bank occupies the corner location on the first floor of the building. The greatest damage to the bank will be in the shape of furniture and fixtures and supplies, and the loss of suspension of business. Announcement was made by Charles L. Jeffrey, president of the bank, that quarters had been obtained in the building at the corner of Lincolnway and Washington street, formerly occupied by the Szold department store, and that the bank would be open for business tomorrow. All the current files were saved from fire, and the remainder of the records are in the fire-proof vault, believed safe and immune from the flames.

The Sievers Drug company, which maintained a store in the Academy of Music, suffered a total loss in the way of drugs and merchandise. The Tobin pool room, also located in the lower part of the building is also a complete loss. The loss to both firms will be in the neighborhood of $30,000.

In the basement of the building, on the Lincoln Highway side, were located the office of the Yellow Taxicab Company, the Truman Tailor Shop, and the Greibel & Vevia Barber Shop. These rooms were practically gutted and the contents destroyed. Estimate of losses are hard to make, but it is believed that they will amount to several thousand dollars.

Loss to Attorneys is Enormous

The second floor of the building was known as attorneys’ row. Here in are located many of the law firms of the city. Edgerton W. Agar, former mayor, and E. Guy Osborne, former city attorney, maintained law and insurance offices in one part of the structure. Then came the rooms of A. C. Faulkner, recently sent to the state penal farm for drunkenness; Daniel E. Kelly, one of the oldest and leading lawyers of the city; Prosecuting Attorney W. W. Bozarth, P. J. Bailey and F. R. Marine, and Frank A. Turner, abstractor. All the law libraries of the attorneys and the records are destroyed with the exception of those documents housed in safes and fire-proof receptacles. An estimate of the value of this property cannot be estimated. In some cases the books and records are not replaceable. Attorney Kelly had one of the finest law libraries in the state, and the loss to him will be considerable.

The third-story of the structure was vacant at the present time, having been deserted only a short time ago by the Porter Lodge of Masons, which moved to a new home on East Linconway.

The Kaufman Bargain store is a total loss. Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise in the way of wearing apparel, boots and shoes, and dry goods were burned. Above the Kaufman store were two flats, occupied by Floyd Bonnell, manager of the Atlantic & Pacific Tea company and Joseph Lingg. The contents of both flats were more or less destroyed, though some were carried to safety.

Fixtures of the Farmers and the American restaurants were carried out by the owners and spectators to points of safety after it was believed that no chance existed for the firemen to stem the tide.

Kaufman Store a Total Loss

The Kaufman building is owned by Charles L. Jeffrey, president of the Farmers State bank. It was practically destroyed, though much of the structure can be salvaged in the new construction. The loss will be in the neighborhood of $15,000. The building occupied by the Farmers restaurant is owned by Mrs. John Sievers, of this city, Art Boyd, of Crown Point and Mrs. Hoyman, of Ft. Wayne, brother and sister of Mrs. Sievers. The building occupied by the American restaurant is owned by John Schumacher, who also owns the restaurant. The losses to these two buildings will be considerable. The Belmont hotel and restaurant building on the west, owned by Dr. Mox Ruge, was slightly damaged in the rear.

Still Burning at 3:30

At 3:30 o’clock this afternoon the fire was continuing unabated with firemen extending every effort to extinguish the last vestige, short distance away from the fire workmen were digging in the ruins in a herculean task of finding the body of McNamara. Plans were being made for the tearing down of the walls of the Academy of Music in order to remove the danger that exists. Trucks will be used in pulling the brick and mortar from their present moorings.

Cherokees Tourney Champs

Members of Morgan High School basketball squad are, from left, second row, Curt Finney, Tim Bucher, Jon Cooros, Greg Birky and Marvin Grieger; and from left, rear, Coach Paul Bauer, Bill Snider, Dale Hardesty, Jerry Blum, Ernie Lodics, Ed Wellsand and managers Kyle Fleming and Rod Peters. Cheerleaders, from left, front, are Doreen Brust, Julie Jacobs, Mary Kloss and Julie Jones.

This story, written by V-M Sports Editor Chuck Zulich, originally appeared on page 13 of The Vidette-Messenger from January 28, 1974.

The Morgan Township High School Cherokees are champions of the 1974 Porter County tournament.

Coach Paul Bauer's Cherokees defeated the Hebron Hawks, 76-66, Saturday night in the new VHS gym in the finals of the 51st annual PCC tournament to capture their first championship since 1964 and the fourth in the history of the school.

As in the semifinal victory over the Kouts Mustangs, the Cherokees were forced to come up with another big rally to down the Hawks from Hebron.

Going into the last eight minutes of play the Cherokees trailed the Hawks by five points at 54-49. Ed Wellsand opened the last period with a field goal and Bill Snider hit from the corner and the Cherokees trailed by one point. Rex Werner scored for Hebron, but Jon Cooros flipped in a 25-footer and the score was 56-55. Hebron called time with the clock showing 5:23.

With their fans going wild, Morgan took the lead on another basket by Cooros. Mike Rust, Hawk reserve, and Wellsand traded baskets and then Werner and Grieger. Morgan took a three-point lead on a rebound shot by Ernie Lodics.

Mark Stokke cut the Morgan lead to just one point at the two-minute mark when he calmly sank two free throws. With 1:15 left, Wellsand scored for the Cherokees but Larry Cooley retaliated for the Hawks.

With 49 seconds left, Snider was fouled as he attempted a rebound shot. Bill made both free throws. With 37 shots showing, Chapman was fouled by Lodics and Mike made both shots to make the score 67-66 Morgan.

On the toss in, Brian Bell fouled Marvin Grieger. The Morgan forward made the first but missed the second. The missed shot was tied up. Morgan got the tip and found Wellsand all alone under the basket. Ed scored to make the scoreboard read, 70-

66. The clock showed six seconds left. The wild toss in went to Snider who tallied an unmolested goal at the gun.

The first quarter of the game was a scoring duel between Stokke and Snider as the Hawks outscored the Cherokees, 19-16. Stokke had five baskets for Hebron and Snider had nine points for Morgan on four field goals and one free throw.

Both teams displayed balanced scoring in the second quarter as the Hawks outscored the Cherokees, 20-18, to take a 39-34 lead into the dressing room. Wellsand and Grieger each had five points for Morgan in the quarter and Snider added four. Bell topped Hebron with five but Stokke and Chapman each added four.

The third quarter was a 15-15 defensive stand-off. Chapman, Bell, and Werner each had six points for Hebron and Wellsand led Hebron with five.

Wellsand, a junior, had an outstanding game for Morgan. He tallied 22 points on 9 of 13 from the field (7 for 9 in the second Half) and four of five from the line. Snider, only a sophomore, tallied 19 points on eight baskets and three free throws.

Stokke led Hebron in scoring with 18 points. Chapman had 14 and Werner 12. From the field, Morgan was 21 for 65 and Hebron, 27 for 60.

With the victory, the Cherokees also claimed the Porter County Keg.

Award Program

Rodney Kurzhal, Washington Township High School's outstanding senior basketball player, was presented the coveted M. E. Dinsmoore award Saturday night at the conclusion of the 51st annual Porter County basketball tournament.

The award was presented to the student-athlete by Lonnie Steele, principal of Morgan Township High School. Selection was made by an impartial committee.

Cheering section award was earned by the Boone Grove cheering section. Citation was presented to the Wolves cheerleaders by Paul Rommelmann, Kouts High principal.

Other awards were: runner-up trophy to Hebron by Calvin Willis, Porter County superintendent of schools; tourney champion trophy to Morgan by

W. Beau Christian, Boone Grove principal; The Vidette-Messenger traveling trophy to Morgan by Chuck Zulich, V-M sports editor; and silver basketballs to champion team and coach by Donald Broughton, Hebron principal.

Jaycees have ball already

The Valparaiso Jaycees humungous, 12 feet in diameter, popcorn ball as the finishing touches are applied. The ball is being covered with popcorn and latex glue. Over 300 garbage bags of popcorn were used to create this atlas of popcorn. The ball will roll down Lincolnway as part of the first Popcorn Festival parade.

This story originally appeared on the front page of The Vidette-Messenger from September 14, 1979.

The largest popcorn ball in the world?

The Valparaiso Jaycees are hoping the 300 garbage bags of popcorn shaped into a large ball will be accepted by the Guinness World Book of Records.

John Worstell said a letter has been received from the Guinness people in New York stating the qualification rules. The Jaycees have followed the rules, keeping track of time spent and will weigh their gigantic entry when finished. The rules also require observers as the work progresses. Worstell and George Neeley, local businessmen connected with Popcorn Festival activities on the Courthouse Square, will prepare the data and submit it to the Guinness office.

When the ball rolls down Lincolnway for the parade, it will be 38 feet in diameter and includes 75 feet of chicken wire. The wire is a frame for the ball into which popcorn was poured to fill it. The frame is attached to a snowmobile trailer.

Four commercial poppers have been popping more than 300 garbage bags of popcorn for two weeks, said Steve Hoard, president of the Jaycees. The ball is now being covered on the outside with, you guessed it, popcorn!

The popcorn for the outside is mixed with latex glue and blown on the ball with an insulation machine. Bruce Evans of Evans Insulation has loaned the machine and his time to put the ball together.

Fifty members of the Jaycees and Jayshees have worked more than a month on the popcorn ball project and have worked non-stop for the past two weeks.

Hoard says if the ball doesn’t make It to the parade, it will be on display at the Jaycee booth near First Federal Savings.

Simple things key to 105-year-old’s life

Kathi Anderson shows Ella Coash one of her dolls wearing clothes made by Coash. Image credit to Philip Potempa

This story by Philip Potempa originally appeared on page 6A and 7A in The Vidette-Messenger on August 31, 1993.

VALPARAISO - Ella Cash appreciates the simple things in life, like flowers, poetry and animals. Coash, who celebrated her 105th birthday last week at Canterbury Place, grew up during an era filled with simple pleasures rather than modern conveniences.

"Ella never did rely on modern conveniences throughout her life. She always preferred to do things ‘the old-fashioned way.' Even while she was on her own up until 1983, she did her cooking on an old cast-iron cook stove. She did have a small electric grill that she used once in a while, but not often," said Pinney Sommers, of Kouts, Coash's first cousin.

Sommers and his wife were two of Coash's closest family members who attended a big birthday celebration in her honor last Tuesday at Canterbury Place, where Coash has been a resident for the past 10 years.

The party guests included Canterbury residents, staff, relatives and area dignitaries. “Today Show" weatherman Willard Scott read Coash's name over the NBC air-waves, while State Sen. Bill Alexa, D-Valparaiso, sent a special written birthday greeting to be read following the birthday dinner.

The dinner and party had a “turn-of-the-century" theme that recalled what life was like during the early 1900s.

Despite the afternoon heat, the Canterbury staff donned floor-length black skirts, white ruffled blouses and pinned-up their hair to resemble the attire of the period.

Fresh-cut flower tops floated in water-filled, fluted-glass globes on every table of Canterbury's main dining room. Coash, sporting a large corsage, sat at a head table that was adorned with a large center-piece. All of the flowers for the occasion were donated compliments of Costas' floral department.

"Ella loves fresh flowers. She always has. Her small house here in Valparaiso always had flower beds (for cutting) to fill any empty vases inside her home," Sommers said.

What do you give someone celebrating their 105th birthday?

"Flowers are the perfect gift for Ella. We told everyone who was invited that if you want to get her a gift, flowers are one of the things that she really enjoys," said Diana Carnahan, Canterbury's director of marketing who helped plan the event.

The birthday dinner was a feast of old-fashioned favorites - fried chicken, carved ham, homemade buttermilk biscuits, fresh jams and jellies, corn-on-the-cob, strawberry shortcake, sugar and molasses cookies and cherry, apple and ice-box lemon pies. The birthday cake was donated by Costas bakery.

Coash is remembered by many people in Porter County for her craft of making doll clothes. Some of the staff members at Canterbury still have dolls from their childhood that are clothed in Coash's doll designs.

"I was 10 or 11 when my mother took me to Ella's house to pick out some doll clothes," said Kathi Anderson, a physical therapist at Canterbury.

She said Coash's doll clothes ranged in price from $5 for basic garments to $35 for elaborate wedding gowns.

"Ella worked for Dr. Louis for many years as both receptionist and examining room assistant. She was also the private babysitter for local manufacturing magnate Charles McGill's children, as well as a frequent contributing writer for ‘The Vidette-Messenger' about social events,” said

Don Coash, Coash's first cousin from Crown Point.

Coash said the Canterbury's detailed "period party" was perfect for his cousin because she spent much of her life recording historical information, such as home remedies, family customs and social and religious events, in a scrapbook that is on file at the Porter County Library.

And what did the birthday girl have to say today about all of this?

“Do you know the name of a rich millionaire? I’d like to marry him,” joshes Coash, who never married. 

Kouts Icon Ewalt Jahnz Passes Away

Deputy Sheriff Ewalt Jahnz outside the west entrance of the 1871 Porter County Jail during Sheriff Lester Hineline's administration. Circa 1950s. Image courtesy of Marian Goffoli.

This story was originally written by Bradley Cole and first appeared in The Times on March 7, 2000.

KOUTS -- Porter County residents are remembering Ewalt Jahnz as an icon, who was known as much for the respect he garnered as the life of service he gave to the community.

Jahnz, 91, lived his entire life in Kouts, passed away Friday in Valparaiso.

A US. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, Jahnz served as Kouts town marshal from 1935 to 1943. When he returned from the war in 1946, he served on the Porter County Sheriff's Department for 45 years. He was also a member of Kouts Volunteer Fire Department for 60 years, serving as fire chief from 1935 to 1943.

At the time of his retirement from the Kouts Fire Department, he was honored by the state and district fire marshals for his years of service to the community.

"He was a heck of a man. He certainly broke the mold," said Butch Collinsworth, 29-year Kouts volunteer firefighter. "He was truly dedicated to helping people in this community. If anyone needed anything, he was there to help." Collinsworth also noted that in the 1930s and 1940s, Jahnz also served on the street department, in addition to his town marshal and fire chief roles.

Like Collinsworth, those who knew Jahnz remember him as a strong man who was all business when it came to the task at hand. Those same people will also remember him as a man who loved to surprise others with his strength and who had a special place in his heart for children.

"He commanded about as much respect as a man could possibly get from another man," Porter County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Herring said. "He was a big, strong man, I don't think there was a man on this department who would dare even play wrestle with him at 91 years old."

Kouts Fire Chief Don Sutter said Jahnz like to kid around, especially with the rookies.

"He used to ask the rookies if he'd shown them where the horse bit him," Sutter said. "Then he'd grab their thigh so tight, he'd darn near crush the bone. Everybody but the recipient would love it."

Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds said Jahnz had a legacy that will live on. He described him as the kind of person who does not come along very often and who will surely be missed.

Herring said Jahnz was a family man, who always put his wife, Lu Lu Mae, first.

He said Jahnz also "had a heart the size of Texas" when it came to dealing with children.

Porter County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Susan Resteau joined several others in calling Jahnz an icon.

"He has always been a special person to this department," Resteau said. "A few years after he retired from the department, we honored his 50 years of service by naming our Fraternal Order of Police Lodge after him."

Over the years, Jahnz received several awards and recognitions, including the Kouts Fireman of the Year award, which was named after him. But those who knew him best said he never sought glory or honor.

Jahnz once said in an interview with The Times, that volunteering his time to the Kouts Fire Department was something he and the others wanted to do. He said getting paid was never the ultimate reward. The ultimate reward came from helping others.

Deputy Sheriff Ewalt Jahnz (1908-2000) and turnkey Foster Ironside (1880-1960) outside the residence connected to the 1871 Porter County Jail during Sheriff Lester Hineline's administration. Circa 1950s. Image courtesy of Marian Goffoli.

Jeff Misses Final Eight By Inches

Valparaiso champ Jeff Bach scores a one-sided victory over El Paso, Texas, racer in opening round of 1973 All-American Derby in Akron, Ohio.

These images and accompanying story by Rollie Bernhart originally appeared on the front page of The Vidette-Messenger on August 20, 1973.

AKRON, Ohio - Valparaiso derby champ Jeff Bach knocked on the door of opportunity twice at the 36th running of the All-American Soap Box Derby and was denied chances to dip into the educational scholarship pot by inches.

The 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bach of North Meridian Road, won three heats to enter the “Sweet Sixteen" semifinals. But he was turned back by six inches by the Cleveland entry driven by 13-year-old Margaret Zoller, for a spot in the final eight which would have meant scholarships ranging from $3,500 to $7,500.

The Cleveland miss eventually wound up in sixth place and a $3,000 in scholarship awards.

In double elimination competition for ninth place and $1,000 in scholarship funds, Bach's grey racer broke on top, was in the lead to the 800-foot mark, then appeared to hang and lose to Columbus, Ga., which went on to beat his competition for the spot in the money. The margin wasn't more than two inches, if it could be measured at all.

On the way to his three victories, the Valparaiso 75-pounder, who will be an eighth-grader this year, defeated entries from El Paso, Texas, Salem, Ore., and Little Rock, Ark. Bach's best time was a 27.71-second effort against the distaff driver from Cleveland in the fourth round.

An indication of what was to come insofar as determination of a champ for the 1974 running of the gravity car grand prix down the 950-foot track at Akron's Derby Downs, came in the upper bracket of the

138-car event when Boulder, Colo., streaked the distance in 27.48 seconds, which not only turned out to be the fastest time of the day, but also turned out the national champion. James Gronen, 14, beat Bret Harborough, 11, Elk Grove, Calif., for the title, duplicating the championship won by the Boulder entry last year.

The 36th running of the derby also forewarned the boys that the girls - 17 were entering - weren't going to take back seats in this type of competition. In addition to the Cleveland miss taking sixth place, 11-year-old Diane Mills, Putnam County, N.Y., copped third place and turned back stiff male competition all through the day which was marred only by a 10-minute downpour just before the races got under way.

Other winners for the scholarship awards were: Ossining, N.Y., fourth; San Jose, Calif., fifth; Anderson, Ind., seventh, and Winston-Salem, N.C., eighth.

In the entertainment feature of the pre-race activities, Knickerbocker basketball star Jerry Lucas won Marathon Oil Company's Oil Can Trophy amble down the hill over Astronaut James Lovell and comedian Marty Allen. Allen complained that his mop of hair caught too much wind and kept him from winning.

For Valparaiso, it was the second time in two years that its city champ has won three heats and just missed getting into the championship round.. by a matter of inches. It was that close Saturday for Jeff Bach.

Jeff Bach shows helmet given to him as souvenir by champ from Venezuela who was his cabin mate at Derbytown. From left are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bach, sisters Debbie and Julie, and Derby Director Chuck Conover.