March 7, 1956: Four Cars Jump Tracks At Chesterton

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 7, 1956.

Four Cars Jump Tracks At Chesterton

DAMAGED FREIGHT CARS block westbound route of New York Central railroad at Calumet crossing in Chesterton. Four cars jumped tracks Tuesday noon as it was slowing down for a stop-over in the Westchester township community. No one was injured. The crossing was reopened to traffic one hour and 15 minutes after the accident occured. It was closed again at 3:30 p.m. until early evening to permit wrecker crews to remove the damaged cars. Traffic was re-routed over the Fourth avenue crossing.

March 3, 1956: Relief Seen Necessary For Muddy South Sagers Road; Carrying Heavy Load Since State Highway 49 Is Closed

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 3, 1956.

Relief Seen Necessary For Muddy South Sagers Road; Carrying Heavy Load Since State Highway 49 Is Closed

By ROLLIE BERNHART

A slithering, splashing muddy ride over a two-mile span of South Sagers Road in Center and Morgan townships, Friday afternoon, convinced south Porter County Commissioner C. A. Carpenter that immediate corrective action should be taken before the roadbed is completely undermined.

Carpenter made the test ride with a complainant, Wilbur Finn, a resident along the road, and a V-M reporter-photographer.

Carpenter’s conclusions were summed up in his statement following the test run, “It is almost as bad as it was in the old horse and buggy days.”

Finn, a resident in the section for the past two years, complained to Carpenter that inadequate grading and lack of gravel had resulted in a gradual undermining of the roadbed.

In not less than six spots along the approximately two-mile span tested, the road was veritably a quagmire with little or no gravel to be seen.

Carpenter also observed that the original ditches had long been filled with loose gravel, dirt and weeds, providing little or no drainage during rain, snow and thaw. In one spot near the Gatewood farm, a slight downgrade was almost a washout.

Traffic Increases

Both Finn and Carpenter were of the opinion that additional heavy traffic, shunted on south county roads through the recent closing of Indiana 49, has contributed greatly to the condition of the road.

Carpenter said he also felt that with the eventual closing of Indiana 8 for widening purposes, south county roads will suffer still more as the spring thaws come.

In this respect, Carpenter said he would confer with the county commissioners and Mox Ruge, county attorney, Monday, concerning the possibility of procuring some aid from the State Highway commission in lieu of damage caused to county roads because of the current widening programs on the two highways.

Carpenter stated that he will present the issues involved on the road’s condition to the other members of the board at its regular monthly session Monday. A trip along the muddy strip for the board and road supervisor Anton Jensen is also to be proposed.

Just Like Horse and Buggy Days

“IT’S ALMOST AS BAD as in the horse and buggy days” is what C.A. Carpenter, right, south county commissioner, told Wilbure Finn, left, a resident along the old Valpo-Kouts (now Sagers) road, who points to one of the badly undermined spots near his home.

Feb. 18, 1956: Washington Township Girl Apt Pupil In Air

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 18, 1956.

Washington Township Girl Apt Pupil In Air

By ROLLIE BERNHART

Judy Lindberg, 17-year-old, Washington Township High school senior, is an apt pupil.

A week ago, after 45 minutes of instruction in a dual control plane in which she had never before riffen, Judy took off and did a solo over the Porter County Municipal airport “for 15 minutes”, the first time any girl has done this feat at the county field.

To make it even more remarkable, she did it the hard way, taking off over a snow packed runway on skis for the first time, and landing the craft as “lightly as a feather.”

Adding to the ability of the Washington township girl to take instruction aptly, is the surprising fact that her “teacher” has been her father, Claude.

Where it has been a proven fact that parents rarely can teach their offsprings the art of driving a car, let alone piloting a plane, Judy’s father said that he has never lost patience during instruction periods. “She just seemed willing to learn, and has never had fear of being in the air.”

Judy simply says, in explanation of her father never having to “bawl her out” over some infraction while up in the air, that the motors make so much noise, she would not have heard him anyway.”

8,000 Hours In Air

She comes by her flying ability naturally. Her father, a former instructor and manager at Urschel field, and currently teaching with the Porter County Flying club at the county airport, has had more than 8,000 hours flying time.

Judy has been training in a Piper cub plane for about one year. As far as she is concerned flying is just a hobby. Although she would like to become a member of the county flying club, the organization’s by-laws contain no provision for the opposite sex on its roster.

When Judy is not flying, she can be found practicing with the “Washington Township Blue Notes,” a championship singing octet which will be vieing for its second consecutive state title at the Indianapolis finals today.

Mrs. Lindberg has the utmost confidence in the ability of her daughter and husband. “I am going to be Judy’s first passenger when she gets her pilot’s license. If her father thinks she’s good enough to take over, I’m willing to take a chance, too.”

Girl, 17, Solos In Plane

JUDY LINDBERG, 17, of Washington township, is at controls of a plane in which she recently did a solo at the Porter County municipal airport, the first girl to do this feat at the county field. Her father and instructor, Claude, is seated at her right.

Father Is her Instructor

JUDY, senior at Washington school and member of the 1955 state high school championship octet, the Blue Notes, here takes propping instruction from her father.

Feb. 16, 1956: Wise Use of Materials is Being Urged

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 16, 1956.

Wise Use of Materials is Being Urged

“If everyone uses scarce building materials wisely, more building can be done in Porter county and vicinity during the emergency,” according to Charles E. Foster, Jr., local lumber and building materials dealer and member of the public affairs committee of the national retail lumber dealers association.

“Because of production restrictions adopted to meet the needs of the rearmament program, supplies of certain building products, such as nails, pipe, gutters and downspouts, metal lath and reinforcing steel, are likely to be restricted for some months to come,” Foster said.

“By not using those scarce products unless absolutely necessary, using no more than is required for safe construction, and avoiding waste in their use, the available supply can be made to stretch over a larger amount of construction work and benefit a larger number of local people.

“There should be plenty of lumber, wall board, cement, brick, and other non-critical building materials in the months ahead, but the amount of building that can be done will be determined largely by the care with which materials containing critical metals are used in building.

“With the virtual elimination of copper and aluminum for construction purposes steel now is the material which must be carefully conserved in building until such time as expanded production makes it possib;e to meet both defense and civilian needs.”

Feb. 15, 1956: Wheeler Dial Phone Conversion Is Completed

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 15, 1956.

Wheeler Dial Phone Conversion Is Completed

GENERAL TELEPHONE COMPANY of Indiana Inc., officials presided at a tie-in ceremony in the new dial equipment building at Wheeler at 7 o’clock this morning, when the Union township community was officially converted to the new dial telephone system. Only a few minor service disruptions were reported, but were quickly cleared.

Left to right in photo: P.E. Platt, district manager; Jack Lorditch, commercial manager; and Joe Randolph, division equipment superintendent.

(Bill Brooks Photo)

Feb. 9, 1956: Comic Book Group, Named By Mayor, Will Meet Friday

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 9, 1956.

Comic Book Group, Named By Mayor, Will Meet Friday

A committee of three women, appointed by Mayor John E. Wiggins, will meet Friday with City Judge William Conover to discuss the city’s comic book ordinance.

The measure banning lewd and indecent comic books from local newsstands was passed last April 26 by the City council.

Members of the committee are Mrs. George Nightingale, 300 Chester; Mrs. Leonard Wetmore, 102 Brown, and Mrs. Lester Mankin, 405 Randle, Mayor Wiggins announced.

Judge Conover and the women will meet to determine the function of the committee of three in the executive of the ordinance’s provisions.

In part, the ordinance sets out that it is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to exhibit, sell or circulate any indecent or lewd book, pamphlet, article, picture or other thing of an immoral or scandalous nature, which glorifies or makes crime or any law violation appear attractive or desirable.

When the ordinance was passed last year, it was reported that the committee of three was to act as an advisory group to screen all complaints that may be made concerning violations of the ordinance.

The committee is to report all violations to the chief of police or any other law enforcement agency for prosecution.

Fines of $50 to $200 are set out for persons found in violation of the ordinance.

Feb. 6, 1956: Kiwanis Project To Aid Handicapped Children

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 6, 1956.

Event Is Thursday

Kiwanis Project To Aid Handicapped Children

Valparaio’s Kiwanians will don their aprons again this Thursday, Feb. 9, to provide recreation enjoyment this summer for some local handicapped children.

The occasion is the annual Pancake Day.

It will be held at the Moose hall on Indiana street with service being continually from 6 a.m., to 8 p.m.

Members of the club will do the preparing and serving.

The menu will include pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee and milk, with no limit placed on the number of portions served to those who attend.

“We hope that with the help of the people of this region, that this will be the greatest Pancake Day event we have ever managed,” Carl Nellans said today when queried concerning the annual Kiwanis money raising project.

Nellans is vice president of the local service club and is in charge of the Pancake Day arrangements.

“We know that we have done a lot of good for area youngsters in the past and we hope to do even more in the future, Nellans continued.

“Last year we sent six handicapped children to a special camp at Twin Lakes, near Plymouth, for four weeks. We paid $100 for each child but that is not too much when you consider the number of specially trained people who are required to be in attendance on these children.

“They received wonderful care and enjoyed themselves in surroundings far removed from their everyday life. It would be a shame if we could not continue this part of our program.”

Camp Provides Services

Nellans further explained that the children were transported to the camp in a special railroad car which left Chicago with other campers and picked up the local group here.

The camp provides medical services and therapy for children who need special attention. The camp’s activities include swimming, handicrafts and similar pastimes engaged in at other summer camps for children.

In addition to its program for handicapped children, the Kiwanis club in the last year also donated money to the Mooseheart home for boys and girls and gave help to other children who needed aid which was not available from public funds.

Assistance given by the club is without publicity and the names of those aided are known only to the committee which handles aid matters for the club, Nellans stated.

Kiwanians To stage Annual Fund Raising Drive

VALPARAISO KIWANIS members Ben Kemp, Lee Salberg and Carl Nellans fill syrup pitchers in preparation for annual fund-raising Pancake Day to be held all day Thursday at Moose hall. Money raised by the event is used for aid to handicapped children.

Feb. 5, 1966: Trails Said Port Threat

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 5, 1966.

Trails Said Port Threat

‘DOUGLAS WALL’ーCartoonist offers conception of how non-contiguous areas crisscrossed with trails in southern fringe of proposed Lakeshore acreage will bottle development of harbor and industry. Harbor opponents see this as maneuver by Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas to whittle down economic development in Indiana, thereby aiding Illinois industry, hence name ‘Douglas Wall’.

One of the major bones of contention between proponents of the Indiana harbor, now under construction in North Porter county, and supporters of the proposed Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, soon to be the subject of a House hearing in Washington, is the so-called non-contiguous areas.

The average person, when referring to the lakeshore, often thinks about the land and the sand stretching immediately south of the shore of Lake Michigan, but gives little thought to those marshy areas on the southern fringe of the 11,000-acre parcel.

In S. 360 ー the bill which seeks to establish the lakeshore ー the non-contiguous areas are referred to as “hinterland”.

Supporters of the harbor see in these fringe properties a sharp lever by seaport foes to reduce Indiana’s harbor from a first rate to a third rate facility, because they feel it will strangle their economic development.

For this maneuver ー as well as the many other delaying tactics that have been hurled at the seaport ー they blame Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas. Hence they refer to this southern zone as the “Douglas Wall”.

S. 360 does not clearly define the intent of those “hinterlands” other than that they obviously are to be used to preserve the flora and fauna and for the establishment of trails.

Harbor enthusiasts see in this area only one of the cloudy phases of S. 360. However, some light is believed shed on the federal government’s intent for this area by a portion of this testimony at the Feb. 8, 1965 Senate Subcommittee hearing in Washington.

The report on that hearing includes pertinent testimony offered by George B. Hartzog, Jr., director of the National Park Service. His answer followed a question asked by Sen. Alan Bible, of Nevada, chairman of the subcommittee which held the hearing.

Asked Sen. Bible:

“The problems, I think, that have concerned the committee about these so-called non-contiguous areas: No. 1, the distance from the lake, and No. 2, the fact that you have to go over three railroad tracks and two highways to get there.

“Is this correct? How many highways and how many railroads are there between the lake and these noncontiguous areas?”

Hartzog never quite got around to answering Sen. Bible’s direct question, but this was his reply:

“Sir, our thinking has been that the roads and railroad tracks would either be overpassed or underpassed with trail systems in order to connect the areas of the natural lakeshore.

“We have somewhat the same situation, for example, at Chalmette National Historical Park in Louisiana, where an industrial use road separates the battlefield, for example, from the river.

“We are working on a plan now to provide access to visitors across this road. This is a problem, but we don’t believe it is insurmountable.”

Project Expensive

Sen. Bible: “Do you have any cost figures on this? I suppose if you have an overpass or underpass it gets a little expensive, doesn’t it?”

Hartzog: “Yes, sir. The development schedule is indicated in the book. The development cost is about $5,700,000, and thisー”

Bible: “I'm sorry. I did not hear you.”

Hartzog: “About $5,760,000. This includes roads and trails that would be necessary for access among these detached units.”

Bible: “Now, is that the total cost of developing the non-contiguous areas, the $5.7 million?”

5 Year Figure

Hartzog: “Yes. During the 5 years. This is the first 5-year cost figure that we supplied.”

Bible: “Just for these areas along?”

Hartzog: “No. This is all development.”

Bible: “This is what I was trying to develop. How much does it cost to develop these and how much does it cost to build the trails and overpasses and underpasses to them? Do you have that breakdown?”

Hartzog: “We don’t have it broken down here precisely as to what part relates to the detached areas and what part is inside the main body of the national seashore.

Roads, Trails

“However, in the breakdown we show $15,000 in the first year for roads, $550,000 for roads and trails in the second year, the same amount in the third year, and $250,000 in the fourth year.

“So this would be roughly $1,365,000 for roads and trails. All of this would not be, however, solely for the purpose of linking up the detached units. There would be some trail developments within the principal areas itself.”

Harbor supporters consider this linkup as a scheme by Sen. Douglas to contain economic development in Indiana in order to provide greater industrial advantages to Illinois. That is why they call it the “Douglas Wall”.