May 11, 1961: Postal Force Is Moving At Chesterton

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 11, 1961.

Postal Force Is Moving At Chesterton

By ADELYNE RUOFF

CHESTERTON ー Today was moving day for the Chesterton postal force. From now on the government employes will occupy their new 82x50 feet building on Third and Broadway, Postmaster Irvin Dolk announced.

The building, which contains twice the floor space of the old postoffice, was built by the Morgan Construction company. It has an exterior of brick and Luxite Coolite plate glass. Free offstreet parking is also provided on the west side of the building.

There are 274 boxes available to patrons at the new building, compared to the 200 which were provided formerly. A loading dock is located in the rear of the building for incoming and outgoing mail. The working area is newly equipped.

CHESTERTON POSTOFFICE TO OPEN
Chesterton’s new postoffice at Broadway and Fourth, is scheduled to be turned over to town’s postal authorities this weekend, according to contractor on job Wednesday. Most of exterior parking lot and landscaping has been completed. Carpenters were working on necessary interior fixtures for new postal unit, for which ground was broken by Rep. Charles A. Halleck last November.

(V-M Staff Photo)

12,500 People Served

The Chesterton postoffice serves 12,500 people, Dolk noted. This number includes all of Westchester, part of Portage, Liberty, Jackson and Pine township. The local postoffice is expected to lose about 300 families now serviced by Chesterton, when the new Portage postoffice is completed, Dolk noted.

There are four city routes and a new route will be added this summer. Three rural route carriers cover more than 135 miles per day. In the new building there is window service from Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.

Gross receipts have increased 75 percent within the last five years, Dolk stated. The local office was advanced to first class rating in 1955.

The first postoffice was established in Chesterton in 1835 and was called Coffee Creek. This postoffice was situated one mile east of the present town of Chesterton. In December of 1849 the name was changed from Coffee Creek to Calumet.

The Village of Calumet, which took its name from the postoffice, was laid out in 1852 along the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad, which later joined railroad, which later joined with the New York Central railroad.

In 1869, the Village of Calumet was incorporated into a town, and the name was changed to Chesterton. The 187- the Postoffice department designated the name of the local postoffice as Chesterton.

Serves 7 Years

Postmaster Dolk has served the Chesterton area for seven and one half years. He is a life-long resident of the community.

His assistant is Owen Gavagan. Additional employes are Robert Thoesen, Eugene Groff, Margaret Johnston, Allen Fuller, Lawrence DeKoker, Harry Ray, Albert Bushore, Donald Sabinski, Charles O’Brian, and Ronald Schroeder.

Rural carriers are Richard Wagner, Robert Carlson and John Hoover. Rural assistants are Florence Nelson and Ralph Stinchcomb. Custodian is August Janoski.

Postmaster Dolk said the expanded facilities will enable the local office to expedite service. however , he noted, it will still be up to the patron to make certain the mailing addresses are complete and legible.

May 6, 1961: ART WORK

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 6, 1961.

ART WORK

Westville authorities have attributed ‘art work’ on east side of sewage disposal plant, to ‘group of persons physically grown up but mentally about eight to nine years old.’ Cost of covering up artistic endeavor will eventually come out of taxpayers’ pocketbooks, it was noted.

(V-M Staff Photo)

April 22, 1961: Teaching Offers Many Rewarding Experiences

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 22, 1961.

Teaching Offers Many Rewarding Experiences

(EDITOR’S NOTEーApril is Teacher Career Month. In observance The Vidette-Messenger presents the fourth in a series of weekly articles on that subject by teachersーpast, present and to-be.)

By DOROTHY LANDING

(1st Grade Teacher, Northview)

Do you enjoy being with children? Do you like to help them? Do you have a moderate amount of patience? Are you considering college?

If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you should seriously consider entering the teaching profession.

It seems like only yesterday that I was a senior at Valparaiso High school doing my cadet teaching. But I must admit it has been six years.

During this time I have received my B.A. from Valparaiso university and I have had two years of delightful experience teaching the first grade at Northview school.

I became interested in the first grade particularly because this is where the reading program begins. I have found that the satisfaction one gets from teaching a child to read, and to love reading is one of the greatest rewards of teaching. Also at this age they are extremely eager to learn.

Not a “Job”

Teaching can not be regarded as just a job. It is one rewarding experience after another.

These rewards cannot be measured in money, for a teacher is blessed with the satisfaction of seeing her children progress; and in knowing she has done her best to help prepare them for the future.

Of course there is work involved such as grading papers, preparing lessons, etc., but anything worth-while involves work.

There is never a dull moment; and each day brings many humorous episodes such as the time a child hurried into the room to give me a Hershey bar but with a sorrowful look on her face whispered, “I accidentally dropped it in a mud puddle.” we carefully dried it off and I gratefully thanked her for such a nice gift.

Then there’s the little boy who happily brought me a worm. What could I do but show my delight?

These little things are so important to a child and must be handled with tact and a big smile. I could go on and on with my experiences as every teacher could.

Fine Program

I think the cadet program is extremely worth-while. This program places the cadets in the classroom as prospective teachers instead of students. It gives them an excellent opportunity to examine the elementary school program.

The children welcome the cadets wholeheartedly; and have the greatest respect for them. I find the cadets to be a great help and inspiration in the classroom.

The high school students here are especially fortunate to have a fine teaching program offered at Valparaiso university. College can be a wonderful experience, whether at home or away from home.

The teaching profession offers you immeasurable satisfaction, room for advancement, security, and a valued place in your community. If you enter the teaching profession I know you will love teaching just as I do.

April 19, 1961. BEGIN URSCHEL PLANT ADDITION CONSTRUCTION

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 19, 1961.

BEGIN URSCHEL PLANT ADDITION CONSTRUCTION

Bulldozer rips up existing concrete base west of present Urschel Laboratories, Inc., building on north Calumet (Ind. 49) as work on firm’s new $125,000 expansion project started Tuesday. Second major expansion at food processing machinery manufacturing plant will be construction of 180x72 foot building and will include 110 percent increase in office space, new foundry, heat treatment department and increased machine shop area. Manufacturing area will be increased to more than 50,000 square feet, it was noted. General contractor is Tonn and Blank, Michigan City.

April 15, 1961: Four Decades of Teaching Recalled By Ralph Schenck

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 15, 1961.

Four Decades of Teaching Recalled By Ralph Schenck

(EDITOR’s NOTEーApril is Teacher Career Month. In observance The Vidette-Messenger presents third in series of weekly articles on that subject by teachersー past, present and to-be.)

By RALPH SCHENCK

(Retired VHS Teacher)

As a public school teacher for over four decades (just retired), and now draping myself bulkily into an upholstered capsule, the thoughts of writing a short article about school teaching as a career is rather baffling.

Incidentally, there have been a lot of changes in this teaching business since the giddy and exotic Twenties when Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand were the inspiration of the then juvenile delinquents.

Too, then, the dazzling Valentino was the pinnacle of female infatuation and the flaming Clara Bow was the “IT” of all the male juveniles.

Now, of course, I could camouflage this teaching career with a splatter of educational jargon, spiced with some quibbling semantics. It might be a better and more conventional therapy for you youngsters that should accept teaching as a career.

Obviously, by this time, you should be saturated with the vice, violence, and vulgarity that you get on your TVs. You’d better wander back into the monotony of virtue, veneration and the verities and you don’t need bulging horn-rimmed glasses to see through this.

Maybe in the early Twenties we did have too many Mrs. Grundys and too few Mr. Micawbers on the educational firing line, but changes are inevitable.

If you contemporaries are seeking glamor and glory instead of grammar and grace, you’d better dodge the pedagogical arena.

Many of you moderns have been maturing in the shallow, but glittering filigree of neon-lighted “joints” and all of you know more about the facts of life than you teachers. So I should apologize instead of advise you about a teaching career.

Old Casey (me) has finally struck out, but I wish I could go back to bat again. Paradoxically, I suspect there is a lot of joy in Mudville, however, for Old Casey could easily remind this present generation of “delinquents” about their parental “delinquents” of the ‘20s and ‘30s.

Just to list a VERY FEW there were Mayor Will; Sheriff Buchanan; Chief Gott; Councilman Miller, Beach, and Billings; Drs. Makovsky, White, and the DeGrazias; Attys. Chester, Douglas, and Nixon; Bankers Hildreth, Stephens, and Durand; Insurance Agents Sievers, Bartholomew, and Nuppnau; Federal Servicemen Linholm, Lembke, and Doud; Car Agents Marimon, Lightcap and Stanton; “Feeder” Wellman, Take and Merrill; academic Luminaries Miss Joanne Phillips, Swarner, Buffington; Merchants Lowenstine, Linkimer, and Salberg; and Pedagogues Phillips, Crisman, and Ellis

Then there were Col Dy, Maj. Williamson, and Chaplain Justice. And too, there was that courtesy winner, policeman (pardon me, captain), Black, who handcuffed me as a driving delinquent and scuttled me up before His Honor, Judge Ruge, the shyest student in all that decade of classes. Here I copiously apologized to both for goose-stepping them into those omniscient final exams of their school days.

Then there was that “delinquent” Bartholomew, who “ambulanced” me to the hospital where a covey of those “angels of mercy: gleefully exclaimed, “just what we’ve been waiting for”. Here I had to explain to them why I was late, but they graciously pardoned me as a pedagogical “delinquent.”

If the editor weren’t throttling me, I’d list another column of names. That list was just a sampling of the successful “delinquents” that are now holding positions of trust and responsibility and this is all so typical over these United States.

Yes, these “boys” and “girls” are skilled in the democratic procedures, and in creating and guiding this age of technological plenty.

A long time ago, I recall that lasting impression of my uncle as he stood on the spacious porch of his huge country home, late one summer evening looking over the undulating waves of golden wheat, the verdant crop of corn beginning to tassel, and the fat and healthy stock grazing on the luscious pasture lands. His was an etching of pride and joy in successful attainment that had come about as a result of planning, experimentation, effort and thought.

So, my prospective teaching neophytes, we, (“us” retirees), who have had just a small part in this abundant harvest of youth in our community, experience the intangible contentment which comes over us as we see the constant emergence of these successful “delinquents”. Now, you go forth, sow the deed, cultivate the crop, nourish the wavering, and your harvest will be beyond verbal description.

These fine folks and the many others like them, are the trademarks of our profession and “us” retired teachers are more than pleased because we had just a little to do with guiding them. We recommend to you present day “delinquents” to give some thought to school teaching as a career. It is the cause for precious rejoicing.

April 5, 1961: Fire Uncovers Mystery Wine Cellar In Field

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 5, 1961.

Fire Uncovers Mystery Wine Cellar In Field

CHESTERTONーSeveral barrels of wine, more than enough to wet the palate of any connoisseur, were destroyed by flames Tuesday night while Chesterton police and firemen watched with amazement.

Nobody apparently even got a taste of the red claret as fire consumed a mysterious wine cellar in a field, north of U.S. 20 and east of Ind. 49, on property formerly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brasus.

Chesterton policemen were called to the scene about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday when an unidentified person saw smoke coming out of a small chimney sticking out of the ground.

Cellar Is Mystery

Upon making an investigation, the police found a 9x12 foot dugout in the ground. The cellar was supported by railroad ties and covered with earth.

Chesterton firemen were called to the sire, but were unable to get a truck back through the field to the cellar.

Nobody apparently knew that the wine cellar existed. Cause of the fire is unknown.

“The present owner of the property is not known at this time,” Chesterton officials said.

Mr. and Mrs. Brasus formerly operated a barbecue restaurant on the front part of the property.

March 22, 1961: Hebron Club Looking For Site For Park

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 22, 1961.

Hebron Club Looking For Site For Park

VIEW HEBRON PARK SITE ー Hebron Junior Women’s club park committee inspect seven acre site, just south of Hebron city limits on Ind. 53, for possible establishment of a park for the town of Hebron. Members of committee at site, from left: Mrs. Herbert Wilson, chairman; Mrs. William Mullins and Mrs. Robert Thompson. Project plans include town’s first public swimming pool.

HEBRONーMembers of the Hebron Junior Woman’s club have been considering and viewing several sites for establishment of a public park.

Mrs. Herbert Wilson, chairman of the club’s park committee with Mrs. William Mullins and Mrs, Robert Thompson, inspected a seven-acre tract, just south of the Hebron city limits, on Ind. 53, Tuesday.

The club plans to purchase a site and aid the town in developing the tract as a swimming, recreational and picnic area.

Want Pool

“We have always wanted a swimming pool,” said Mrs. Wilson, “and this is the only way we are going to get one.”

Members of the committee indicated that drainage of the seven-acre-site will have to be tested. They also expressed anxiety over a ditch which splits the site.

Mrs. Wilson said it is the hope of the committee to secure financial aid for the project from other Hebron organizations and interested citizens.

A tentative promotional plan includes sale of “One-Inch Square Plots” to buyers.

Hebron currently has a small town park near the Methodist church.

March 17, 1961: Burned Building Verdict Awaited

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 17, 1961.

Burned Building Verdict Awaited

By CHUCK ZULICH

As a safety measure, workmen Thursday afternoon removed the upper front wall of the masonic Temple, 113 Lincolnway, which was destroyed by fire Wednesday night.

Fire Chief Stanley Conner said today that he had been informed that a decision will be made in the next few days as to whether all of the lower section of the building will have to be removed.

This involved stores, Meyer’s Ready to Wear, Ehrhardt’s Auto Shop, and Anderson’s GIft and Tot shop, which were put out of business from water and smoke during the fire.

Johnston’s Closed

Also closed today is Johnston’s Sports store, 119 Lincolnway. Merchandise in this store was badly damaged by water. Owners of the store are reportedly awaiting an agreement with insurance estimators.

Dr. Thomas Sheffield, who operates a dental office above Johnston’s Sports, is “doing business as usual” today.

Chief Conner said a decision was made to remove the front wall after a meeting was held between himself, Mayor Don Will, William Morthland, city engineer, Charles Kauffman, chairman of the board of trustees of the Masonic lodge, and insurance adjustors.

Gape With Awe

A large crane owned by Tri-State Steel and Welding Company, Inc., Valparaiso, was called to the scene and the removal of the wall was begun under the direction of Charles Trump, of the Smith-Nuppnau company.

While many spectators “gaped with awe”, the operator of the large crane lifted the wall down to the street “bite by bite”.

The bricks and other debris were hauled away in trucks.

Final cleanup work was completed by members of the Valparaiso street department.

Area was blocked off during the operations, but barriers were removed at 10:30 a.m. today.

City Cleans Up

Steet Commissioner Harry Gustafson said today that men from his department also cleaned up the block in front of the Masonic temple early Thursday morning.

It had been previously reported that workers from the State Highway department had helped in this cleanup.

Members of the Valparaiso police department and special police were on duty to help handle the traffic problem resulting from the closing of the one block on Lincolnway.

BEGIN CLEAN-UPーCrane and claw shovel, top, was used by Tri-State Steel company, Valparaiso, to remove unsteady beams and debris damage estimated at $800,000 to Masonic lodge building and adjoining downtown business establishments Wednesday evening. Bottom, Fire Chief Stanley Conner inspects area in lodge kitchen where he believes blaze started