April 21, 1951: Stake Out Site of First YMCA Unit

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 21, 1951.

Stake Out Site of First YMCA Unit

JOHN MacFARLANE, 8 Roosevelt Road (right), sights down the line of the rear wall of the $40,000 YMCA unit, excavation work on which will begin in the near future, according to “Y” Secretary Harold Xavier (left). MacFarlane is standing where the northwest corner of the youth center and office unit will be and is looking south along the line of the rear wall. The batter boards have been placed in the ground at the “Y” site at Chicago and Washington and strings now mark the outline of the 34 by 72 foot building.

March 31, 1951: Prepare YMCA Lot For Erection of Building

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 31, 1951.

Prepare YMCA Lot For Erection of Building

CLEARING TREE from the YMCA lot at Chicago and Washington streets is the current project in preparation for the building of a $60,000 office and youth center building. Here two Phalanx club members, Sam Jensen (left) and Jack Ruhe, Chesterton, who began the tree cutting operations last Saturday and who plan to work today, weather permitting, are at the job of clearing the lot. Permission to build was received a week ago by “Y” officials from the National Production authority.

Oct. 27, 1965: Goblins To Roam Valparaiso Streets

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 27, 1965.

Goblins To Roam Valparaiso Streets

Annual Halloween festivities in Valparaiso will open Friday night when witches, goblins, ghosts and other eerie costumed and other eerie costumed characters will take to the streets (sidewalks, that is) for a single evening of “Trick-or-Treat” as designated by Mayor Don Will.

Following a restful night youngsters of the city will be guests of Valparaiso’s Jaycees at the organization’s annual Halloween Party at the Porter County YMCA Saturday evening.

According to Chairman Robert Crawford, costumed children are requested to meet Saturday at the south side of the courthouse between 7 and 7:30 p.m. sharp for the parade to the YMCA, led by a city fire truck.

‘Y’ Entertainment

At the YMCA youngsters will be ushered through a system of entertaining chutes to the basement area where judging of costumes will be held.

Crawford said today 42 prizes will be awarded for winning costumes in a variety of categories.

Also on the entertainment agenda for the evening will be the showing of popular film cartoons.

Refreshments of doughnuts and soft drinks will be served by the Jaycees.

TRICK-OR-TREAT PARTICIPANTS一Group of young goblins and ghosts peeking around cornstalks are representative of cast which will take to Valparaiso streets for annual ‘Trick-or-Treat’ night set by Mayor Don Will for a single run Friday. City’s youngsters will be feted at Jaycee Halloween party at YMCA Saturday evening. From left Beth Harrington, 3, Lynn Harrington, 4, Mike Meyer, 7, Jeff Harrington, 6, and Michele Meyer, 4. (V-M Staff Photo)

Oct. 5, 1970: Joe Lives On His New Bike

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 5, 1970.

Joe Lives On His New Bike

CHESTERTON 一 Young Joe Winter practically lives on his new bicycle since he threw his crutches away.

Joe, 10, the youngest of six sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Winter, 2501 Riverview Dr., was restricted in normal boy activities for two years while he used crutches because of perthes disease, a disease of the hip bone.

His leg was confined in a harness to prevent him from moving it during the two-year period.

His mother said the two years were difficult for Joe because he likes outdoor activities and was unable to join in many of his brothers’ activities.

When the doctor recently told Joe he could discard the crutches and resume some activities, his parents bought him a new bicycle. While Joe can’t yet do a lot of running, he can, besides riding the bike, continue to participate in swimming, which he has been doing at the Valparaiso YMCA Center.

Joe’s mother said since he has been swimming at the Y, her son has become an excellent swimmer.

Joe’s classmates at Bailly Elementary School, where he attends fifth grade, celebrated the throwing away of crutches by holding a weiner roast last week.