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 3, 1941: Art Society Has Meeting

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 3, 1941.

Art Society Has Meeting

The Porter County Art Association held a May-Day meeting with Miss Edna Agar at 501 North Locust street Thursday evening. Miss Agar was the recipient of congratulations on having received recognition by the Hoosier Salon at Indianapolis for her painting “Our House” which painting has been sold through the Hoosier Salon. The evening was profitably spent in the exchange of different ideas, supported by actual experiences with the various media used by artists to portray abstract concepts or record prosaic realties. The principal points under discussion were the relative values of papers for water colors, canvas, masonite boards, etc., for oils.

Exchange Views

Many interesting experiences were exchanged in the handling of oil colors, cleaning of palettes, brushes, etc. Mr. J.H. Euston of Chesterton has contributed a worth while expedient for cleaning brushes which is a moderate size covered tin can that a short distance above the bottom has a piece of wire screen fastened to the sides below the level of either turpentine or coal oil. The screen served admirably, as the brushes are rubbed over it, to remove the paint. Mr. Amstutz had a rock-group water color. Mrs. Euston presented the members with pretty bon bon baskets in vari-colored paper trimmings.

Mrs. Ponader showed a delicate textile, with linoleum block impressions in blue color. Mrs. Hannell showed a water color study, Miss Agar a letter press study, “Life Begins at Forty”, Mr. Hannell had miniature animal figurines.

Plan Garden Party

A report was received by the committee on the formation of a Business Men’s Amateur Art Club which stated that a meeting of interested persons is to be held on Monday evening, May 5. Arrangements were made for a pot luck garden party meeting at the home of Mr. Amstutz on Chicago Road, June 5 with opportunities for outdoor sketching. The hostess, assisted by Lillian Sayers served delicious strawberry shortcake.

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 24, 1966: 5 Will Tour Washington, New York

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 24, 1966.

5 Will Tour Washington, New York

Five high school students from Porter county will have the opportunity this year to see Congress and the United Nations in action during the World Day Affairs spring tour April 3-8, under the auspices of the Indianapolis Council on World Affairs.

Spearheading the drive to secure Porter county organizations to sponsor and defray the $130 cost and expenses of the tour is the Porter County League of Women Voters.

Mrs. Albert Langlutting, league president, and Mrs. Phillip M. Cagen, chairman of the student tour, were pleased with the enthusiasm evidenced by sponsoring groups this year.

Students selected by their respective high schools and the organizations which will sponsor them are: Miss Joyce Casbon, Valparaiso High school, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Casbon, 562 Grove, Tri-Kappa; and Miss Christine Mrak, Portage High school, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mrak of 10522 E. 29th, Portage, Portage Federated Woman’s club.

Also, John Carlson, Liberty High school, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Carlson, RFD 5, Liberty school, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Meska, RFS 5, Liberty PTA; and Miss ROse Baranko, Jackson High school, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Baranko, RFD 1, Chesterton, Jackson Township PTA.

In Washington, D.C., students will visit foreign embassies, the state department, the capitol and will watch Congress and US senators in action.

The group will then travel to New York where the main emphasis will be placed on the United Nations where special appointments will be made.

Also on the New York itinerary is a Broadway musical and a special summing-up session at the World Affairs center.

Students will be accompanied by adult leadersーone for each 12 persons participating in the tour. Adult leaders are under the direction of Dean Virgil Hunt, head of Indiana University’s downtown campus.

The five students from Porter county and their mothers attended a briefing Wednesday night at the home of league member Mrs. Paul Viezke, 1302 Summit place.

Present also were representatives of two sponsoring agencies and Valparaiso High school students who participated in the tour last spring.

Those taking the tour are all junior students and were selected by their high school faculties because of their interests in world affairs.

Because they will all return to their schools next fall as senior students, they will have the opportunity to share their tour experiences with their fellow students and respective communities.

TALK ABOUT MUSICAL

Mrs. George Schiller, (left) representative of Portage Woman’s club which sponsors a student to World Day Affairs tour, tells students selected for tour they will see a Broadway musical in New York, Students are Rose Baranko, Jackson High school, (center) and Christine Mrak, Portage High school.

FROM LIBERTY

Liberty school juniors Darlene Meska and John Carlson who will take World Day Affairs tour, talk over itinerary with Mrs. Paul Vietzke (left) who held briefing session for all county participants in her home Wednesday night.

SIGHTSEEING PAMPHLETS

Mrs. Charles Anderson (left) representing Tri-Kappa sorority which is sponsoring Valparaiso High school student to Washington and New York, and Mrs. Phillip Cagen, (center) Tour chairman from County League of Women Voters, give sightseeing pamphlets to VHS student Joyce Casbon. All students will have opportunities to see Washington and New York during tour.

March 23, 1931: THEY WELCOME MOST TOURISTS BUT THIS TRUCK DRIVER MADE TOO MUCH OF A HIT, IT SEEMS

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 23, 1931

THEY WELCOME MOST TOURISTS BUT THIS TRUCK DRIVER MADE TOO MUCH OF A HIT, IT SEEMS

Ray and Martha Eschenbach, owners of a tourist camp on Dunes Highway, in Mineral Springs addition, northwest of Chesterton, are always anxious for patrons to stop at their place, but there are certain rules which must be observed.

When Clayton Merrill, an Illinois man, drove into the Eschenback place on March 18, at 9:30 p.m. his presence was not exactly desired, especially as Merrill failed to control his Reo speed wagon which was running at high speed, collided with a building, 20x34 feet, used by the Eschenbachs as a tourist quarters.

The building was completely wrecked, and damage in the sum of $450 was incurred. This is all set out in a complaint for damages and attachment filed today in Porter superior court by Attorney George R Williams, of Chesterton, representing the Eschenbachs.

March 18, 1981: Chesterton house owned by Youngs for many years

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 18, 1981.

Chesterton house owned by Youngs for many years

Photos by Kathy Steinbach

Text by Mary Henrichs

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Osberg have been told their red brick house at 324 S. Second St., Chesterton, was built in 1871. Although they have no proof of the construction date, the Osbergs do know that the home was erected by Martin Young and that it remained in his family until Eleanor Young willed it to Sadie Atkinson shortly before the Osbergs purchased it in 1959. The original two-story residence contained six rooms. The Osbergs believe the two rooms behind the curved porch (at right in photo) were probably added in the early 1900s.

This plaster mold in the entrance hall ceiling supports a glass chandelier. None of the light fixtures is original. The home has 11-foot, 9-inch ceilings which make it costly to hear in winter but which keep it cool in summer, Osberg said.

This handsome archway sets off the bay window in the Osbergs’ living room. The interior woodwork, all of which is painted, is of clear white pine without knots. When the Osbergs bought the house, the plaster was in excellent condition and they have never had to renew it.

Traditional Victorian carvings line the eaves of the original part of the house. Exterior walls are composed of 4½ inches of brick, 4½ inches of air space, and 4½ inches of brick lined inside by ⅜-inch of plaster, Osberg said.

The stair rail in the entrance hall makes this curve as it reaches the second floor. The residence has six chimneys and was originally heated by stoves. It contained no fireplaces because “It was a very up-to-date house for its time,” Mrs. Osberg said.

This close-up one of the two plaster molds flanking the arch at the bay window.

March 15, 1966: Card Show Preference For Merger

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 15, 1966.

Card Show Preference For Merger

By ADELYNE RUOFF

CHESTERTON ー More than 530 Chesterton residents have sent in cards favoring the merging of the town of Chesterton and Porter and only six against, Everett Witte, town board president, reported at the regular meeting of the organization held Monday night.

Following a short discussion, board members voted unanimously in favor of a merger of the two north county towns. Witte suggested that action be taken in the near future to have the proposal placed on the November general election ballot.

To Arrange Meeting

Fernandes Babcock, member of the Porter Action committee said he would try to set up a meeting with the Porter Town board concerning the merger.

In other matters, Dr. Phillip Vukovich, president of the Chesterton Park board, appeared before the town board to discuss the fencing along the New York Central railroad right-of-way, at the rear of Railroad park.

Dr. Vukovich said his group would fence 455 feet and asked the town board to fence 373 additional feet. The town board voted to make the fencing a joint project.

Bids were opened and taken under advisement on street materials and gasoline.

Bids on street materials were received from U.S. Steel corporation, Gary, Material Service corporation, Gary, United Blacktop Paving, Westville and Seneca Petroleum, Chicago.

Gasoline bids were opened from Mobil Oil and Marathon Oil companies. This was for 50,000 gallons, more or less, plus the installation of a pump.

The board passed a resolution to issue $40,000 in bonds to raise funds to pay for the New York Central railroad depot and surrounding land. Resolution will be sent to the State Tax commission for further action.

March 12, 1936: Chesterton, Porter Plan Big Banquet To Bury the Hatchet; Fire Truck For Farmers Sought

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 12, 1936.

Chesterton, Porter Plan Big Banquet To Bury the Hatchet; Fire Truck For Farmers Sought

CHESTERTON, March 12.ーThe age-old rivalry between Chesterton and Porter, miniature “twin cities” of Porter county, may soon be just a memory of the horse and buggy era.

If present plans materialize the two towns may join handsーnot to the extent of forming one communityーbut to bind two units into a group working together for common benefits.

Not so long ago a reorganization of the Chesterton Business Men's club was effected and a younger element gained control. More recently a membership drive was sponsored by the Porter Chamber of Commerce and the new blood obtained has enlivened the group considerably.

The latest result of this unheard of phenomenon is that a committee has been appointed by the Porter group to meet with a similar body from the Chesterton organization and smoke the pipe of peace. Porter representatives are M.H. Smith, Arthur Hokanson and William Givens. The Chesterton group will be appointed next Monday night by President Leslie Pratt of the Business Men’s club.

The two committees will formulate plans for a joint banquet at which time the hatchet which has taken so many scalps in the past will be buried and the promotion of projects to mutually benefit the two towns will be discussed.

One of the proposals is being clothed in airtight secrecy but that both towns would welcome a new factory is common knowledge. Recreation parks, attractively landscaped and with facilities for kittenball and tennis is the most immediate goal of the Chesterton club which has appointed Lester Gunder as chairman of a committee to obtain permission for the use of Railroad park, located in the heart of the north Porter county community.

To date no active attempt has been made by either Porter Chesterton to entice the hundreds of summer resorters at Lake Michigan into visiting their shops and churches. A program of this nature is expected to be one of the major issues at the hatchet-burying banquet.

The one immediate problem: where will be the banquet be heldーin Porter or Chesterton?

ー

A spark which Friday night started the fire that completely destroyed the home of Carl J. Rhoda, Jr., has also generated a blaze of sentiment for the purchase of a new fire truck. Leaders in a new movement to get such equipment for the use of farmers in the north end of the county are John Lenburg, C.A. Anderson and M.P. Brummitt.

Township trustees of Westchester, Pine, Jackson, Liberty and Portage will be asked to contribute toward the purchase of a light truck equipped with a 500-gallon tank.

The fire Friday night was the second disaster to befall the Rhoda’s within the last year. The owner had just recently completed a new barn, the old one having been destroyed by a conflagration. Because of the frozen water main and lack of other adequate water facilities both the Chesterton and Porter fire departments were handicapped in fighting the most recent blaze.

ー

Chesterton is entering a “wite hope” into the heavyweight ranks. He is Bill Peterson, 19-year-old giant, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Peterson and a graduate of the local high school in 1934.

Bill was spotted by a fistic expert while working at the Inland Steel company and now holds a membership in the George Trafton gym, Chicago. The local fighter, while a student at Indiana university, was a star member of the boxing squad.

ー

Bernard Wiseman is reported improved following a dangerous double mastoid operation at the Mercy hospital, Gary, last Friday. Earlier reports which gave the cause of his critical illness as streptococcus infection and a spinal meningitis complication were not substantiated by a more complete medical examination.

ー

Twenty-one Boy Scouts were guests of their sponsors, members of the Chesterton Lions club, at a chicken dinner held Tuesday night at Mrs. Krueger’s restaurant.

Boys who enjoyed both the dinner and the entertainment were: James Lillywhite, Kenneth Magnuson, James Somers, Richard Wiseman, Richard Friday, Henry Radiger, Ned Beatty, Horace Cooper, Harlan Behrendt, Raymond Deiotte, Howard Johnsen, Milford Hageman, Cleon Trowe, Myron Braun, Bud Fend, Dewayne Yost, James Dee Vaughn, Richard Klinkman, Walter Peterson, Frank Brunk, and Robert Miller.