Looking Back • December 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

December 1, 1924

Effective today, Wittenberg and Gibbs, implement dealers of Valparaiso, dissolved their partnership. Mr. Gibbs plans to associate himself with the Advance-Rumely Company, LaPorte, and take charge of the distribution of the company’s products in LaPorte, Porter, and the northern half of Lake Counties. Mr. Gibbs’ interest will be taken over by Fred Wittenberg, Jr., and the new firm will be known as Wittenberg and Son. Mr. Gibbs will continue to reside in Valparaiso.

The Anderson Brothers’ stores of Chicago, which has managed the Specht-Finney Grocery for several years, has taken over the meat department, which has been operated by the Steigley Brothers. Since the death of Theodore Steigley, James Steigley has been in charge. He plans to return to LaPorte and open a market. Glen Davidson will continue in charge of the local grocery and market for Anderson Brothers. 

December 2, 1924

The Valparaiso Lodge of Elks will hold memorial services for departed members this Sunday at 3 o’clock inside the Memorial Opera House. Rev. E. Richard Edwards, pastor of the First Christian Church in Valparaiso, will deliver the address. Five members of the lodge have died during the past year.

December 3, 1924

The Porter Circuit Court jury, which sat in the case of Alexander McCabe, Chicago gangster, charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Thatcher of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake in May, was discharged late this afternoon by Judge H. L. Crumpacker, special judge, when they were unable to reach a verdict. The jury was out for twenty-six hours.

December 4, 1924

Alexander McCabe, held by the state to be the ringleader of a gang that shot up the Halfway House near Cedar Lake, killing Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, must stand a second trial on the charge. A jury in Porter Circuit Court returned a disagreement after deliberating twenty-six hours on Wednesday. The new trial will probably not be heard until the next term of court. Meanwhile, McCabe will have to remain in jail.

Paul Lowell Dowdell, of Valparaiso, was elected President of the 1925 Senior Class at Valparaiso University on Monday morning. A spirited rivalry was evident throughout the voting which was close among several of the candidates.

December 5, 1924

Following a stirring talk by Martha Derbyshire, president of the Indiana Parent-Teachers’ Association (IPTA), in which she declared that the greatest issue before the American people is the unpreparedness of its men and women to fill the job of being fathers and mothers, two IPTA councils were formed here. Officers of the Valparaiso council are Mittie Stoner, president; Dr. A. O. Dobbins, vice president; Mrs. R. E. Whistler, recording secretary; Mrs. R. J. Stapleton, corresponding secretary; Estella Diefenbach, treasurer; Mrs. C. B. Sanford, Mrs. H. A. Nichols and Mrs. S. E. Deal, executive committee. Members of the Porter County council: Louise Shauer, president; Mrs. Frank Marshall, vice-president; Mary Trudelle, recording secretary; Dorothy DeWitt, corresponding secretary; Raymond Crisman, treasurer; William St. Clair, Rev. O. E. Oxley and Miss Lorena LaHayn, executive committee.

Blanche Merry, state attendance officer, has completed a tour of inspection of the schools in the southern part of Porter County. Nathan Sheppard, county attendance officer, accompanied her on the trip.

December 6, 1924

Peter J. Horn, veteran livestock man of Valparaiso, and his associates, Frank Pressell and E.V. Owens and son, were today winners of three ribbons on hogs at the International Livestock Show in Chicago. First prize came on the showing of hogs in the 250 to 300-pound class raised by Pressell and sons. Second prize was awarded to hogs in 200 to 250-pound class. Third prize was given on pigs weighing from 300 to 350 pounds. Even though 265 hogs were shipped to Chicago, only 159 were exhibited.

Sixty members of the Valparaiso Boy Scouts were awarded qualification badges at a meeting at Valparaiso High School on Friday night. First and second-class badges were also awarded. Short two-minute talks were made by Rev. E. J. Mungovan, Rev. E. W. Strecker, Rev. C. W. Wharton, and Rev. W. W. Ayer.

December 7, 1924

Valparaiso High School’s quintet was defeated by Plymouth High School in the opening game of the season at Valparaiso University gym by a score of 28 to 26. Captain Harold “Mike” Shurr led the Valparaiso team with seven baskets. Kizer, of Plymouth, was best for his team with four baskets and six free throws. Valpo failed to capitalize on free throws, caging only four out of eleven chances.

December 8, 1924

More than two hundred maple, ash, and elm trees were planted in Forest Park, Valparaiso’s new subdivision to the northwest last week. The park covers an area of 112 acres.

December 9, 1924

Walter E. Brownell, of the McGill Manufacturing Company, was today elected president of the Valparaiso Kiwanis, succeeding T. L. Applegate. Other officers named were S. E. Shideler, vice president; R. J. Cory, district trustee; Fred Moltz, treasurer. The Board of Directors is comprised of Dr. C. A. Nixon, F. R. Marine, C. W. Wharton, N. L. Bradfied and Dr. R. D. Blount.

William E. “Mike” Bowman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bowman, of Valparaiso Street, was seriously injured today in Gary when he attempted to open the top of an acetylene torch and the intense heat caused it to explode. Bowman suffered injuries to his chest, face and side, and a double fracture to his left arm.

December 10, 1924

Thirty candidates have reported to Coach Shadoan, of Valparaiso University, for tryouts for the basketball team. All members of the Victory Five, with exception of Andy Anderson, have reported. Among the candidates are Captain Earl Scott, Hiltpold, Harris, Cadwallader, Peterson, Florence, and Surface. Some of the new candidates are Hughes, Doran, Kaleel, Bourquin, Omar, Close, and Lowe.

A large crowd attended the reception tendered for Rev. and Mrs. E. R. Richards at the Christian Church in Valparaiso last night. Rev. Edwards recently came here from Logansport to assume the local pastorate. Talks were given by Mayor E. W. Agar, Rev. C. E. Burns, Mrs. E. D. Crumpacker, Mrs. H. B. Brown, pastors of the various local churches, and Rev. Edwards. Mrs. Cora Benham presided.

December 11, 1924

Thirteen Valparaiso High School athletes, members of the 1924 football team, received awards today. Vernon “Pat” Hauff, student manager, presented the Vs to the players, as follows: George London, Wilford Ebersold, Kenneth Hagen, John Lowenstine, Sedgwick Sanford, Harry Ludington, John McGinley, John Erler, Henry Miller, Russell Dillingham, Harold Shurr, Jack Zimmerman, and Edward Novak. Monograms were awarded to George Hauser, Gust Marks, Dan Wood, Allen Barkely, Fred White, John Spindler, Carter Dillingham, Herman Mohnssen, and William Collins.

Marvin, eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hjelm, of Chesterton, was instantly killed Wednesday afternoon when he was struck by a New York Central passenger train 500 feet west of the depot in Chesterton. The boy, with his brother and another schoolmate, was enroute home from school. It is said the boy attempted to beat his companions home and cut across the tracks in front of the train. Coroner Seipel, of Valparaiso, held an inquest.

December 12, 1924

Vernon “Jamey” Jameson, of Minnesota, was chosen captain of the Valparaiso football team for the coming year at the annual football banquet held at Atluria Hall last night. He succeeds Peter “Chris” Christiansen, who played tackle this year. The team this year won four games, lost two, and tied two, one of the latter being with Center College.

Jonathan Osborn, Valparaiso’s “grand old man” of Masonry, was initiated Thursday evening for the twenty-seventh time as prelate of Valparaiso Commandery, Knights Templars. For over sixty years, Mr. Osborn has been identified with the Masonic Order, joining the lodge at Westville on Jan. 5, 1864. He is now in his 93rd year.

December 13, 1924

At a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council last night, pay for members of the fire department was increased $15 per month. This gives the firefighters the same wage scale as the police, which is $125 per month.

Valparaiso High School won their first game of the season last evening by defeating Hammond, at Hammond, 33 to 17. Captain Harold “Mike” Shurr led the locals with seven baskets and seven free throws, for a total of 21 points. Fred White played a stellar game at guard. Valpo led at halftime, 14 to 6. The Valpo second squad defeated Boone Grove, 12 to 11, at Boone Grove.

December 14, 1924

An audience that well filled the Methodist church in Valparaiso last night heard Rev. Edward K. Strecker, pastor of the church, launch a drive for an aroused public sentiment that would give Valparaiso place as an outstanding home-city and educational center where men might bring their families to rear them in an atmosphere of safety and clean public morals. Rev. Strecker charged that elements small in number were bringing discredit upon a certain lodge organization; that a police call made by him early last Thursday morning in regard to a neighborhood disturbance was not answered during a period of ten minutes; that the press of the city had played up the case involving a university student, but failed to publish accounts dealing with other law violations worse in character and that a considerable traffic in illicit liquor was being carried on.

The case of Mrs. Anna Tulke, of Chicago, arrested with members of the gang that held up the Halfway House near Cedar Lake, resulting in the killing of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, will be venued from Lake County to Porter County for trial, it was announced today. Mrs. Tulke will be brought to the Porter County Jail here next week to await trial.

December 15, 1924

Members of Valparaiso High School’s basketball team, headed by Coach R. E. Schenck, were guests of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club last evening at a banquet given by the Northern Indiana Athletic Officers’ Association, held Monday evening at the Gary Y. M. C. A. Coach Nels Norgren, of the University of Chicago, was the chief speaker.

Mark R. McNay, former Valparaiso man, has been elected to the office of Worthy Patron of the Rising Light Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of Huntington Park, a suburb of Los Angeles Calif., according to word received here. The Huntington Park Chapter has 500 members. The lodge is building a new building costing $150,000.

December 16, 1924

The December settlement made by Porter County Treasurer William McGinley, with Auditor B. H. Kinne, shows that a total of $628,426.41 was collected during the fall installment of paying taxes. The collection is the largest for a December settlement in the history of the county and the largest of any except the spring settlement when $700,323.06 was collected and distributed to the various taxing units.

December 17, 1924

A tentative zoning ordinance for the City of Valparaiso was drawn up by the city zoning commission, headed by chairman E. S. Miller, upon suggestions outlined by city engineer Floyd R. McNiece and consulting engineer, Lawrence V. Sheridan, of Indianapolis. The ordinance will be presented at the next meeting of the city council. Members of the city zoning commission are E. S. Miller, Earl Mavity, F. W. Alpen, E. J. Freund, J. M. Oldham, F. R. McNiece, and Prof. Fisher, of Valparaiso University.

December 18, 1924

Floyd D. Burchard, Rensselaer merchant, owner of The Variety Store, has announced that he intends to move to Valparaiso in the spring and to discontinue his Rensselaer business connection. Mr. Burchard will close out his stock of goods at North Judson and center his business activity in this city. He is currently city treasurer at Rensselaer.

Justice T. B. Louderback, Valparaiso’s marrying squire, with a record of 48 years of tying marital knots, today announced he would perform all marriage ceremonies free of charge from now until Jan. 1. Judge Louderback has placed no time limit on his services. He is subject to call at all hours to perform the marriage ceremony.

December 19, 1924

Judge Harry L. Crumpacker in Porter Superior Court today, in the injunction case of the Gary Street Railway Company versus the City of Hammond, ruled that Indiana cities have the authority to grant a franchise to bus operators and also the power to control motor bus operation. The case was brought by the railway company to enjoin the City of Hammond from enforcing a certain ordinance which prohibited the railway from carrying on a bus service in the business section of that city.

Olaf Peterson, residing on the farm of P. W. Clifford, west of Valparaiso, narrowly escaped death Wednesday afternoon when he became tangled up in a buzz saw operated by a tractor. But for the fact that his clothing stopped the progress of the saw, he would probably have been killed. The left arm was cut so badly that amputation was necessary. He also suffered severe cuts on the side, and body bruises.

December 20, 1924

Weather conditions this week caused considerable damage to poles and lines of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company in Porter County, according to an announcement made today by Harry R. Ball, general manager. Ten months ago, a similar storm inflicted heavy damage. The estimated damage of the two storms is placed at $100,000. This week, some 200 poles of the company were broken down by the heavy sleet. Last February, the damage was more than three times as great.

Valparaiso High School lost to Culver High School last night at the Valparaiso University Gym when the Culver quint scored a last-minute victory with two charity tosses. The score was 28 to 27. Fred White shoved the locals into a 27 to 26 lead of play. Charles Banks, Culver forward, was fouled just before the gun barked, and he tossed in both free throws to clinch the game. Banks accounted for 18 points.

December 21, 1924

Attorney Grant Crumpacker, president of the Porter County Bar Association, will go to South Bend Tuesday to attend a meeting of committees from Northern Indiana Bar Associations for the discussion of the Hickey Bill, providing for a second federal judge for the state. Under the bill as amended by the senate committee, the state will remain a single district, but two judges will alternate throughout the state. Seven divisions will be created, with cases being tried in the division in which they originate. The Porter County Bar Association has gone on record favoring the original Hickey Bill, creating two definite districts.

Valparaiso High was defeated at Gary Saturday night when Froebel High defeated the locals, 40 to 20. The Schenckmen were outplayed from the start and were unable to cope with the strong Froebel attack. The Valpo Reserves dropped a thriller to the Froebel Reserves when a Froebel player swished in a long one from the center of the floor to break a 23-to-23 deadlock.

December 22, 1924

With total receipts of $7,581.20, the special sale of Ayrshire cattle and fancy hogs held at the Montdale Stock Farm, east of Valparaiso, Monday afternoon, was a striking success. J. B. Metz, of Plano, Ill., paid $2,160 for a string of thirteen cows and heifers, while $2,075 was paid by Adam Seitz, of Waukesha, Wis., for seven cows and heifers. W. F. Shuttleworth, of Ypsilanti, Mich., purchased stock to the value of $1,420.

December 23, 1924

Valparaiso High School’s new movie machine, purchased as an educational venture, will not be put to a commercial use. Exhibitions will be given at the school each week to raise funds to pay the balance of the amount owed on the machine.

December 24, 1924

Figures made available today by Porter County Auditor B. H. Kinne show that the jury cost during the September term was the heaviest in Porter County court history. A total of 170 veniremen were called for jury duty during the term, whereas the normal number does not exceed fifty. The total outlay for the September panel was $1,360.60, not counting the cost of meals, bailiffs, and other charges which will aggregate $400 more. The increase in jury cost was due to two murder trials venued here from Lake County.

J. A. Wise, president of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, and chief of the fire department, has received a citation of commendation from President Calvin Coolidge for going to the polls last November in the face of an illness which forced his retirement from active participation in the field of private and public affairs for years. Mr. Wise’s act was called to the attention of the president by Dr. C. M. Cahill, of Chicago, a friend of Mr. Wise for years.

December 25, 1924

A radio wedding was held in Valparaiso Christmas evening when Miss Mable Josephine Anderson, Westville school teacher, became the bride of J. E. Seals, of Chicago. The ceremony was performed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church by Rev. George F. Schutes. The ceremony was broadcast over Station WTBC in the church. An eighty-year-old father in Minnesota, and other relatives of the couple in Georgia, tuned in on the broadcast. Edith Weems, of Valparaiso, was matron of ceremonies, while Miss Morse, of Westville, attended the bride and Dr. George Grundy, of Chicago, was best man.

December 26, 1924

Leonard B., Lucy E., and Eliza E. Mander, of Jackson Township, have filed a remonstrance to the construction of the proposed Koselke Ditch in Jackson Township. They claim damages of $10,000 will result to their property and rights should the drain go through. They further charge legal errors in the preliminary steps to bring the matter up for decision and claim also that their property is being unjustly assessed.

December 27, 1924

The Valparaiso City Council at its meeting last night approved the annual report of Chief J. A. Wise, of the fire department, and approved the list of volunteer members recommended by the chief for appointment. They are W. B. Forney, Fred Wittenberg, Wilbur Cowdrey, Carl Dahlke, John Deardorff, Ray Dean, John Fabing, William Johnston, Freeman Lane, John Marks, William Peters, and Gordon Wheeler.

Porter County Surveyor-elect William E. Morthland today announced the appointment of John R. Fabing as his deputy surveyor. This is the second time he has served in this capacity, having been the deputy for Floyd R. McNiece, present surveyor, for three years. Since last July, Mr. Fabing has been connected with the inspection department of the Indiana State Highway Commission. He will assume his new duties on Jan. 1.

December 28, 1924

J. A. Wise, age 58, president of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, and chief of the Valparaiso Fire Department, died Sunday afternoon at his home here after an extended illness. Mr. Wise was for many years engaged in the job printing business on College Hill, the firm being known as Wade & Wise. Wise recently sold his interests to the Lewis E. Myers & Company because of ill health.

The Mary Jordan home on East Erie Street in Valparaiso was threatened with destruction Saturday night when a Christmas tree caught fire from lighted candles. Mrs. Jordan, at great risk to herself, grabbed the tree and carried it out of doors. A library table in the home was damaged.

December 29, 1924

Valparaiso Water Department employees were engaged today in flooding the field on the new high school site, the old Ball property at Park and Campbell Streets. This will provide an ideal skating pond for all lovers of the sport.

December 30, 1924

J. A. Houghton on Monday filed his bond to assume the duties of Justice of the Peace, succeeding T. P. Louderback on Jan. 1. Mr. Houghton was formerly deputy constable. He has purchased the office business of Mr. Louderback, who is retiring after over fifty years.

December 31, 1924

Valparaiso was shocked today to hear of the death Tuesday evening in Chicago of Dr. Carl M. Cahill, former Valparaiso University student and practicing dentist on College Hill. Death was due to heart trouble. Dr. Cahill was in this city on Sunday calling at the home of J. A. Wise, his close friend, who was buried this afternoon. Dr. Cahill was a nephew of the late Prof. M. E. Bogarte, of this city. The body will be brought here for burial.

William Pennington, who retires as sheriff of Porter County tomorrow after having served two terms, will become deputy sheriff. He will serve under William B. Forney, who served as deputy under Sheriff Pennington since the latter has been in office. This is the third time Forney has been elected, having served two terms before the election of Pennington.

Looking Back • November 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

November 1, 1924

Frank Cochrane, who was shot in the foot during the holdup of the Halfway House near Cedar Lake and was an eyewitness to the slaying of Attorney Thad S. Fancher, of Crown Point, was the state’s star witness against Johnny O’Reilly, of Chicago, on trial for his murder in Porter Circuit Court yesterday. Cochrane identified O’Reilly as one of the holdup men, and said that Alexander McCabe, one of the gangsters, shot Fancher after he had unsuccessfully tried to take Fancher’s diamond ring away from him.

L. T. Ross, who with his father, R. D. Ross, were the pioneer automobile agents in Porter County, have again embarked in the auto business in Valparaiso. He has taken over the Star-Durant Agency at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette Street.

November 2, 1924

The lumber yard of the Elkhart Lumber Company at Kouts was destroyed by fire this morning. The mill, 60x150 feet, is located just east of Kouts, near the railroad tower. About 400,000 feet of lumber was destroyed. A pumper from the Valparaiso Fire Department responded and did effective work. Louis Ely, of Valparaiso, is manager of the Kouts plant.

The Porter County Fair Society made its report on finances of the September fair at a meeting held Saturday at the county agent’s office. The report, rendered by Leonard Maxwell, showed receipts of $10,183.00 and expenditures of $9,782.16, leaving a balance of $400.84.

November 3, 1924

A forest fire, which spread on both sides of the Dunes Highway in north Porter County, and threatened destruction to many country homes, raged all Saturday night. Considerable timberland was burned over. Groups of farmers fought the flames. Long furrows were plowed and dug to prevent spread of the fire to the farm homes. Warm weather and a late fall have dried the leaves and shrubbery, making the underbrush tinder for sparks from passing trains. Motorists who fail to stamp out their campfires have also been responsible for several fires.

November 4, 1924

The case of Harry Diamond, convicted wife slayer, now rests with the Indiana State Pardon Board. This was made known when Governor Emmett F. Branch turned over to the board the petition of Diamond’s attorneys for a commutation of sentence. The application to Governor Branch for executive clemency was made in a last desperate attempt to bring about a commutation of the Porter Circuit Court’s sentence of death in the electric chair. Attorneys for Diamond contend that he is insane at the present time.

November 5, 1924

Porter County Republicans scored a smashing victory in yesterday’s election. Coolidge, for President, had majority of 2,700 over John W. Davis and Robert LaFollette. Majorities of county candidates were: W. B. Forney, sheriff 1,313; A. J. Fehrman, treasurer, 610; W. W. Bozarth, prosecutor, 1533; Walter Atwell, county commissioner, 2,782; E. D. Cain, county commissioner, 2,164. The county hospital proposition was defeated by 187 votes, the vote being, 3,962 against, and 3,775 for.

Ed Jackson, Republican, was elected governor of Indiana over Carlton B. McCulloch, Democrat, by a majority, which is expected to reach 100,000. With two-thirds of the precincts heard from, Jackson is leading his opponent by 75,000.

November 6, 1924

Charlotte Crumpacker is in receipt of a telegram from her son, Maurice E. Crumpacker, in which he tells of his election to Congress from the Third Oregon (Portland) District. He was successful by a large majority. His father, the late E. D. Crumpacker, served in Congress from the Tenth Indiana District, for a period of eighteen years.

The state has rested its case in the trial of Johnny O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, in Porter Circuit Court this morning. The defense followed the state action by placing a number of witnesses on the stand to testify as to the character and standing of the defendant. O’Reilly is charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher in the Halfway House holdup near Crown Point last May.

November 7, 1924

The O’Reilly murder case went over yesterday afternoon until Monday morning when the hearing will be resumed by Judge H. L. Crumpacker. The recess was made necessary by the absence of Special Prosecutor W. J. McAleer, of Hammond, who had to appear before the Indiana State Pardon Board at Indianapolis today in the pardon hearing of Harry Diamond, which came up today before the board.

Complete returns from the state show that Calvin Coolidge led John W. Davis for President by a majority of 210,267 votes. The vote was: Coolidge, 701,946; Davis, 491,679; LaFollette, 68,085. Ed Jackson, Republican, elected governor, over Carlton McCullough, Democrat, ran behind Coolidge by nearly 50,000. The vote was Jackson, 655,505; McCulloch, 571,477.

November 8, 1924

The Porter County Commissioners yesterday afternoon decided to construct the asphalt-top road across the Forest Park Addition, coming out at the brick house on top of the hill at the old Chicago Road. The road will be built under the county unit law, the city having filed consent for its construction through the part that was recently taken into the city limits. Bids will be received for the work on December 2.

The Albe and Pool Recreation Hall at 55 S. Franklin Street in Valparaiso, known as the Stag Billiard Hall, has been sold to W. R. Boesel, of LeRoy, Ind., who has taken possession of the place. Messrs. Albe and Pool will continue in the wholesale candy and tobacco business.

November 9, 1924

Rev. E. R. and Lena Edwards, of Valparaiso, miraculously escaped death Saturday evening when their car plunged into the ditch near the Jasper Finney Farm, east of the city, while they were enroute from Logansport. The car leaped a ditch 8 feet wide and finally stopped against a tree. Bright lights of another car were held responsible for the crash. Lena Edwards suffered severe scalp wounds. Rev. Edwards assumed the pastorate of the local Christian church on Nov. 2.

John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, on trial in Porter Circuit Court for the slaying of Attorney Thad S. Fancher, of Crown Point, took the witness stand today and told his story. He said he went into the Halfway House, became involved in an argument with another man and was knocked over the head and rendered unconscious. He finally found his way out of the place and was going to get in his car when someone hit him over the head and dragged him into another car.

November 10, 1924

Peter W. Meyn, of Hammond, through his attorneys, the Crumpacker Brothers, today filed suit in Porter Circuit Court for an appeal from the survey established by Porter County Surveyor Floyd R. McNeice at Waverly Beach. He owns about 400 acres of land, bought from the Morgan Estate, on which is located Waverly Beach. The complaint alleges the survey brought the property back 250 feet from the Lake Michigan water line, when the plats of the property go completely to the waterfront. This survey would deprive the owner of riparian rights.

The Chicago & Erie railroad has bought a strip of land at Elliott, on the Lincolnway Highway, west of Valparaiso, and is building a brick and cinder detour for the Lincolnway Highway across the right-of-way, preparatory to beginning the construction of the subway under the tracks. Work was commenced today by the Indiana State Highway Commission on constructing the grade for the new road leading to the new bridge on the Lincoln Highway at the Malone Turn.

November 11, 1924

Fire which started in a small coal shed used by the Methodist church at 202 Indiana Avenue caused a $150,000 blaze in Chesterton early this morning. Fire departments from Valparaiso and other surrounding places assisted the Chesterton firefighters. Buildings damaged were the Chesterton High School, 212 Indiana Avenue; Bird and Groff Furniture Store, 203 Broadway; Jay Betts’ garage, 205 Broadway; and the Johnson barn. The damage to the school building will amount to $100,000.

November 12, 1924

John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, was found guilty and given a life sentence by a jury in Porter Circuit Court last night for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake last May. The jury took 22 ballots before arriving at its decision. The case of Alexander McCabe, also charged with the Fancher killing, will be tried at the next term of court which begins next week.

November 13, 1924

The Chesterton Road, from Valparaiso north to Chesterton, and the Dunes Highway has been included in the state highway system, according to word received from Indianapolis. Chambers of Commerce in Valparaiso and Chesterton, and other civic bodies, have been active in interesting the highway body in taking over the road.

Indiana Governor Emmett Branch yesterday turned down the petition filed by attorneys of Harry Diamond, of Gary, scheduled to die in the electric chair at Michigan City prison Friday morning, for a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment. Diamond was convicted in Porter Circuit Court of the slaying of his wife, Nettie, on Feb. 14, 1922, during an auto ride between Gary and East Chicago.

November 14, 1924

Harry Diamond, of Gary, went to his death in the electric chair at Michigan City this morning for the slaying of his wife. Few men ever faced death more complacently than Diamond. When guards went to his room, they found him asleep. He quickly dressed himself and trudged his way to the death chamber. He did not make any statement. No one was allowed to witness the electrocution. A Porter County jury convicted Diamond. He had slain his wife in cold contemplation of “getting rid of her.” He was 21 and she was twice his age. She was reputed to possess $100,000.

Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court dissolved the temporary restraining order issue against the Town of Hebron to prevent it from proceeding with the construction of a sewer drain through the town. The town will now resume work on the project.

November 15, 1924

Promise that he would do all in his power to establish a state park in the dunes of north Porter County was made today by Col. Richard Lieber of Indianapolis, Director of the Department of Conservation, following a tour of the dune country yesterday afternoon. Col. Lieber pointed out that one of the drawbacks to the purchase of the land required for park purposes was that the legislative act providing for raising of funds extended the time for collection over a period of five years. He said that a move was on foot to collect a sizeable sum from private donors to assist in buying the land needed.

The Valparaiso City Council will not purchase a new police car at the present time. The regular car recently figured in a crash and is of little use. Several members were against buying a new car because the city finances would not justify it. City Attorney E. Guy Osborne agreed to loan the city his car. Alderman Louis Gast opposed the move saying the city did not need a police car. The council, however, agreed to accept Mr. Osborne’s offer.

November 16, 1924

Nora Kovan, of Porter, died by suicide Saturday evening about 7:30 o’clock when she shot herself through the heart. Fear that the Ku Klux Klan was going to “get her” was given as the reason for the rash act. Just before killing herself, she had put her five children to bed. Coroner H. O. Seipel conducted an inquest.

*Nora and her husband John don’t appear in Polk’s Valparaiso City Directory for 1924, which includes all Porter County locations. The 1920 census places the Kovans in East Chicago.

Central Michigan Normal defeated Valparaiso University in a football game played at Gleason Park, Gary, Saturday before a crowd of 2,000 persons. Michigan Normal scored both touchdowns on forward passes. Valparaiso advanced the ball three times to the Michigan goal line and lost it on downs. Valparaiso players were suffering from injuries and severe colds received in the LaCrosse State Normal game on Armistice Day.

November 17, 1924

H. I. Barnett, of Washington Township, was elected president of the Porter County Fair Board at a meeting held last night. Other officers named were: Thomas Turner, Boone Township, vice-president; John R. Burch, Center Township, secretary; Bryce Lantz, Porter Township, treasurer; J. W. Whitaker, Center Township, general superintendent.

November 18, 1924

The trial of Alexander McCabe, of Chicago charged with the murder of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, at the Halfway Roadhouse between Crown Point and Cedar Lake, will commence in the Porter Superior Court Wednesday. McCabe has been in the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso pending the transference of his case from Lake County.

November 19, 1924

Manager Wallace Sutter, of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, is back from Indianapolis where he was informed by the State Highway Commission officials that Porter County is to get another main state road. The road will run through Porter County at the LaPorte County line near Westville and shoot across the county in a straight line to connect with the Ridge Road in Gary. A large amount of new right-of-way will have to be obtained. Manager Sutter was also informed that the Chesterton Road and the road maintained to the Dunes Highway would be taken over on Jan. 1. Paving of Yellowstone Trail from Plymouth to Valparaiso will not be undertaken until 1926, it was announced by the commission.

The R. L. Polk 1924 Directory for Valparaiso and Porter County is now being delivered. The book is a handsome one, similar to the Bumstead Directory, which was distributed here for many years by F. K. Bumstead & Company, of Chicago.

November 20, 1924

Edward Brobeck, age 68 years, was found dead in the hallway of the Court Hotel at 4½ Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso last evening about 8 o’clock. Coroner H. O. Seipel who held an inquest rendered a verdict that death was due to heart failure. He was a signal maintainer on the Grand Trunk Railroad.

Three youths, ranging in ages from 17 to 23 years, were arrested yesterday in the Dunes Park region by Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney, charged with robbery of a number of summer cottages in the dunes. The youths, apparently on a trapping expedition, entered the homes and took a large amount of loot, aggregating a value of about $1,000.

November 21, 1924

Three youths, ranging in ages from 17 to 23 years, arrested in the Dunes region of north Porter County yesterday for looting summer cottages were given prison terms this afternoon by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court. John Harncair and Martin Ribinkar were sentenced to 1 to 8 years in the state reformatory and Raymond Canter was given six months in the state penal farm.

Peter Fernekes and Clayton Nichols left this afternoon for Florida, where they will remain until April. Fernekes has a fishing camp and has charge of the pier and boats at Gulfport. He says it is the usual thing for between 800 to 1,000 people to go fishing every Tuesday and Friday, the big fish days.

November 22, 1924

Evan Taylor and Glenn Newsom, of Wheeler, while hunting geese the other night, shot into a flock of what they believed to be geese. They wounded several of the birds which set up an unearthly yell causing the remainder of the flock to attack the boys. They beat away the attackers and captured one. It proved to be a barn owl, white in color and beautifully marked in brown.

Arthur J. Bowser, for years editor and owner of The Chesterton Tribune, and now actively engaged in the editorial department of the paper, has decided to make Valparaiso his home. He has closed the deal for the purchase of the C. F. Pearce property, corner of Greenwich and Jefferson Streets, and will move here as soon as the house can be placed in condition. Mr. Bowser will continue his work in Chesterton.

November 23, 1924

Lombard College defeated Valparaiso University Saturday at Galesburg, Ill., by a score of 14 to 7. Two long runs by Lamb placed the ball in scoring position for Lombard. Valparaiso scored its touchdown in the fourth quarter with a pass from halfback Harold “Beanie” Harris to halfback Ralph “Swede” Surface. Another Harris-to-Surface short pass failed when the ball sailed over Surface’s head to back of the goal. White, Valpo fullback, was injured in the first period and had to leave the game. Harris took his place.

Tom Morony, of Valparaiso, suffered a double skull fracture early Saturday when his automobile rammed into the rear of a truck near Elgin, Ill., which carried no lights. Morony was rushed to a hospital in Oak Park, Ill. He was enroute from Madison, Wisc., to Chicago to attend a football game. He is a senior at the University of Wisconsin.

November 24, 1924

B. C. Stockman, Valparaiso attorney and member of the Valparaiso Abstract Company, died suddenly at his home on East Monroe Street last night. He came to Valparaiso in 1902 and has lived here ever since. In 1911, with Attorney Mark B. Rockwell, with whom he was engaged in the law practice, he organized the Valparaiso Abstract Company. He was prominent in Masonic Lodge affairs.

November 25, 1924

Tom Morony, of Valparaiso, who suffered a fractured skull in an automobile accident near Elgin, Ill., on Saturday is reported to be much improved in the Oak Park, Ill., hospital, where he was taken after the accident. He is still in a semi-conscious condition.

November 26, 1924

The Valparaiso Hotel Company took over management of the Hotel Lembke according to an announcement made today. L. M. Pierce is president of the new company; Ralph Marimon, vice-president; J. E. Dreschoff, secretary-treasurer. L. M. Pierce, Ralph Marimon, Louis G. Horn, Harry R. Ball, Anna Dreschoff and J. E. Dreschoff, directors.

The jury to try Alexander McCabe, Chicago gangster, for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, in the Halfway House holdup near Cedar Lake last May, was selected in Porter Circuit Court today. Those on the jury are: William Henry, George Martin, Herman Baker, John DeWitt, Sam Wheeler, William St. Clair, William Weidman, Clarence Fisher, James Rigg, Reuben Freer, Vernon Shurr, and George Quinn.

November 27, 1924

William and Mary Turner, of Leroy, were instantly killed Thanksgiving Day when their automobile was struck by a Pan Handle passenger train at the Henderson Crossing between Hebron and Crown Point. The Turners were enroute home from Hebron where they had spent Thanksgiving. Surviving are four sons and one daughter.

Valparaiso University defeated Dubuque University before 3,000 shivering fans on Brown Field Thanksgiving Day by a score of 10 to 0. Valpo scored its first points when George “Pumpkins” Close kicked a pretty field goal from the 35-yard line. The one touchdown of the game was scored when James “Jimmie” Doran blocked a Dubuque punt and Valpo recovered. A series of plays carried the ball to the Dubuque 8-yard line, where Harold “Beanie” Harris shot a pass to Ralph “Swede” Surface for the touchdown. Close kicked the goal.

November 28, 1924

George Sheeks was elected a member of the school board at a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council last evening. He takes the place of G. Leonard Maxwell, who was elected some time ago, but resigned because of other business.

Valparaiso may have a new sewer system if members of the city council go through with their plans discussed at a meeting of the body last night. It was consensus of opinion among the council that the city expends enough money trying to keep the present system in operation in twenty-five years to build a new sewer. A survey of the present system and the future needs of the city will probably be made.

November 29, 1924

Lynn M. Whipple, of Niles, Mich., has purchased a half interest in The Evening Messenger of H. F. Strother, and will come to Valparaiso and assume the editorship of the paper. Whipple has been editor of the Niles Daily Star, and was also employed by Benton Harbor, Mich., newspapers.

November 30, 1924

The formal opening of the new Valparaiso National Bank building Saturday was attended by a large crowd of patrons of the bank and others. The officers and employees of the bank extended a cordial welcome to all who called. The interior of the bank was beautifully decorated with flowers from various banking institutions and local firms. Music was furnished by an orchestra, and in the evening, a radio arranged by M. E. Packman and an electric piano by the Fidler Piano House added to the entertainment of the changing crowds.

Looking Back • October 1924

Read about the cornerstone ceremony for Valparaiso’s “new” Elk’s Temple under the October 2 entry.

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

October 1, 1924

The advent of October in Valparaiso was marked with a heavy frost throughout the city and Porter County. The temperature took a big drop during the night and this morning the thermometer stood at 35 degrees.

The lease controversy between the Valparaiso Masonic Lodge and H. H. Loring, owner of the Academy of Music building, the third floor of which is occupied by the lodge, was settled by agreement in Porter Circuit Court today. By the terms of the settlement, the lodge will pay $2,500 from May 1, 1922, to Nov. 1, 1924, when Mr. Loring will get possession of the building.

October 2, 1924

Impressive ceremonies marked the laying of the cornerstone of the new $200,000 temple of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks this afternoon. The city was decorated in holiday attire for the event. A parade of Elks of the local lodge and visiting lodges was held prior to the ceremony. Exalted Ruler Paul E. Marks presided at the cornerstone laying. Alderman Ross A. Woodhull, of Chicago, a former Valparaiso man, made the address. This evening at Altruria Hall a banquet will be served with talks given by Mayor E. W. Agar, Rev. E. J. Mungovan, Judge H. H. Loring, and Frank M. Hogan, of Fort Wayne. P. L. Sisson will act as toastmaster and music will be furnished by the Apollo Male Quartet and Mrs. J. M. Sheldon. A dancing party at the Valparaiso University gymnasium will follow the Altruria program.

Governor Edward Morrow, of Kentucky, gave a talk at Memorial Opera House last night for the Republican ticket. Attorney Grant Crumpacker presided. Governor Morrow scored the LaFollette movement, bringing out that such movements were dangerous to the foundation upon which the government by the people functions.

October 3, 1924

Anna Tulke, of Chicago, member of the Chicago hoodlum gang which shot up the Halfway House between Crown Point and Cedar Lake in May, killing Attorney Thad S. Fancher, was charged with first degree murder in an indictment returned today by the Lake County Grand Jury. Alex McCabe and John O’Reilly, also indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury, will be tried in Porter County, their cases having been venued here.

The home of Mr. Wills, north of Valparaiso, was destroyed by fire at 6:30 o’clock this morning, together with all its contents. The property is owned by Glen Collins, of Valparaiso. Mr. Wills was not at home at the time and members of the family had gone to the orchard. When discovered, it was a mass of flames. Last winter, the Wills’ home near Wolf’s Corners was destroyed by fire, the family narrowly escaping through a window.

October 4, 1924

Judge W. C. Pentecost, of Knox, judge of the Starke County Circuit Court, who was chosen special judge in the case of Mrs. Drusilla Carr against the Phiblin estate heirs to decide title to the 100 acres of valuable land on the Lake Michigan beach near Miller, has accepted appointment. The land in question has been in litigation for 17 years. Trial will start next Monday in LaPorte Circuit Court at LaPorte.

Dr. O. W. McMichael, nationally known tuberculosis specialist, and at one time a practicing physician at Wheeler, Porter County, is dead in Chicago following an automobile accident. Funeral services were held in Chicago today.

October 5, 1924

Neither of Valparaiso’s football teams came home Sunday with the bacon. The university played Center College at Danville, Ky., and the game ended in a 0 to 0 tie. The high school dropped a 27 to 0 decision at Morocco, Ind.

The Indiana Public Service Commission today issued an order permitting the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company to issue and sell preferred stock amounting to $55,000. The company had asked permission to sell $100,000 in stock, but this was cut down to $55,000.

October 6, 1924

Miss Hazel Bielby, a former history teacher in the Valparaiso High School, died Monday in a Cincinnati, Ohio, hospital of a tumor on the brain. She taught in the local school for two years but was forced to resign her job because of illness. Students of the Valparaiso High School some time ago bought a radio and presented it to her. She will be buried in Ripley County at Sunman, Ind., her former home.

October 7, 1924

A total registration for the November election in Porter County in 1924 is 10,329, the largest registration in the history of the county. Of this number, 5,788 are men and 4,541 are women. In 1922, the total registration was 8,230, or 2,099 less than the 1924 registration.

October 8, 1924

The Masonic Lodge has signed a lease for the rental of the entire floor over the Maxwell Implement Company and the Specht Flower Shop and will remodel the place for occupancy on November 1. It will be necessary to construct a stairway between the Maxwell Company and the Specht Flower Shop. At present, all the space is occupied by the McGill Company as a storeroom. For many years, the Masonic lodge has had quarters in the Loring building over the Farmers’ State Bank in the Academy of Music Block.

October 9, 1924

The Lincoln Highway, east of Valparaiso, to LaPorte, after having been closed practically all year, will be thrown open to traffic next week. The black top from LaPorte to Westville will be completed this week, and the work between Westville and Valparaiso will be finished Monday. Officers of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce have been invited by Highway Superintendent George T. Pearce to go over the new road in the initial trip. Mr. Pearce has been in charge of the construction work.

A petition was filed at Indianapolis with Governor Emmett O. Branch yesterday by the Progressive Independent party. The petition carried only the name of Rudolph Duffy Raymond, of Valparaiso, for governor. State officials expressed themselves as doubtful whether the filling of such a petition is legal. It will be referred to the state election board for decision. The petition bore the signatures of Michigan City, Muncie, Hammond, East Chicago, Valparaiso, and other Indiana voters. The petition makes the tenth filed by political parties in Indiana.

October 10, 1924

The Maxwell Implement Company, of Valparaiso, yesterday filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the federal court at Hammond. The company lists assets of $112,995.19, and liabilities of $145,498.21, consisting mostly of real estate, stock in trade, bills, notes and securities.

Mittie Stoner was elected treasurer of the Indiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at the twenty-fourth annual state conference being held at Marion. Mrs. Stoner’s name was placed in nomination by Marie Chester.

October 11, 1924

Valparaiso property owners affected by the improvement of the alley running from Napoleon Street to Campbell Street, between Lincolnway and Jefferson Street, filed a remonstrance with the Valparaiso City Council Friday night. Attorney William Daly, who represented the remonstrators, said they were objecting to a brick paving, but would consent to concrete or macadam.

A number of Valparaiso bricklayers went to Whiting last evening and were initiated into the Masons’ Union. They were Claus Jungjohan, Thomas Lemster, Charles Lemster, Elmer Lemster, Will Lembke, Leslie Lembke, Detlef Blocker, and John Rehder.

October 12, 1924

Work was begun today tearing out the old front of the Brown building on Lincolnway, next to the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks building, preparatory to installing a new front. The front will match the style and design of the new Elks’ temple. The lower floor will be occupied by the Stinchfield and Fehrman undertaking establishment.

Valparaiso University defeated Albion College of Albion, Mich., here Saturday afternoon at Brown Field in a football game that was a nip and tuck struggle. Albion outweighed in both line and back field, held the locals even for three-quarters, and had the advantage by having the ball deep in Valpo territory. However, in the final quarter the locals, with “Buckshot” White, fullback, doing the ball carrying, swept over the final score, 14 to 3, in favor of Valparaiso.

October 13, 1924

The Valparaiso Lodge of Masons, who leased the second floor of the Sievers building, occupied by the Maxwell Implement Company on Lincolnway, has decided to exercise an option in the lease to buy the building.

A stay of execution for Harry Diamond, Gary man, convicted in Porter Circuit Court of the slaying of his wife, was asked in a petition filed with the Supreme Court yesterday. Diamond is under sentence to die on Nov. 14. The verdict of the Porter Court Jury in returning a death sentence for Diamond was upheld by the Supreme Court, but a re-hearing is pending.

October 14, 1924

Harry Diamond, of Gary, wife killer convicted by a jury in Porter Circuit Court and sentenced to die in the electric chair, lost his chance for another trial when the Supreme Court denied his petition for rehearing. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the local court on appeal, but Diamond’s attorneys petitioned for a rehearing. He is scheduled to die on Nov. 14, in Michigan City prison.

October 15, 1924

Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today ordered a new panel drawn for the John O'Reilly murder case. Defense attorneys objected to the panel because there were no women drawn on it. The old jury panel was discharged.

October 16, 1924

Eleven women were drawn in the special venire for jury service in the trial of John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, when the jury commissioners of the Porter Circuit Court drew a new panel at the insistence of Judge H. H. Loring, who ordered the old venire thrown out upon protest of O’Reilly’s attorneys on the ground no women had been drawn. It was the first time in the history of Porter County that women were called for jury service. Previous to the drawing, the names in the jury box were emptied and a new batch of names substituted.

The political address of United States Senator James E. Watson on Oct. 18 in Valparaiso will be broadcast from a platform on the north side of the courthouse square. The Zenith Radio Corporation, with the aid of a portable station, will send out the speech.

October 17, 1924

Attorneys for John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, charged with slaying Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, filed a motion this morning for a change of judge, and Judge H. H. Loring granted the motion. Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Superior Court, was selected as special judge.

The Indiana Board of Election Commissioners have denied the petition of R. D. Raymond, of Valparaiso, to have his name placed on the LaFollette Progressive Ticket as that party’s candidate for governor. Raymond had previously filed on another ticket. Attorneys for Raymond announced they would take legal action to force the board to place Raymond’s name on the ticket.

October 18, 1924

The capture of Earl Hurst and Sidney Purcell, confessed train robbers, now in custody of federal officers, is expected to solve a number of train robberies in Lake and Porter Counties. It is said the two men have confessed and named higher-ups who acted as tip offs for the men.

Word has been received here of the death at Grand Island, Neb., of John Hameloth, age 73 years, a former resident of Valparaiso. Mr. Hameloth was a brick mason, and while enroute to Chesterton to work on the Chesterton School Building, his wife and four children were burned to death in the family home, near Claussen’s Corners, south of Valparaiso. Mr. Hameloth later attempted suicide, but only shot his eye out. Afterward, a friend apprised him that a boyhood sweetheart of Mr. Hameloth lived at Grand Island. He went there and soon they were married. Word of his death was received by Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Specht.

October 19, 1924

United States Senator James E. Watson delivered a speech in Valparaiso Saturday afternoon from the north side of the courthouse square. Senator Watson was introduced by Mayor E. W. Agar. He pleaded for a strong productive tariff and bitterly condemned the LaFollette movement, especially the stand taken by LaFollette against the Supreme Court. The speech was broadcast over Zenith Radio Station WJAZ.

Another effort to save Harry Diamond, Gary wife slayer, from the electric chair on November 14, has been made by his attorneys, Conroey and McMahon, of Hammond. They have filed with the Supreme Court a petition setting forth that since his conviction in the Porter Circuit Court, Diamond has become insane. The petition asks the Supreme Court to order the Porter Circuit Court to hear evidence on the question of sanity and rule upon it.

October 20, 1924

A third dredge has been placed in operation on the Burns Ditch by the Walb Construction Company in an effort to construct the ditch as soon as possible. It is learned that the State Highway Commission has complete plans for the new bridge over the Dunes Highway but are awaiting the outcome of a suit in the Supreme Court to determine whether the bridge will be constructed by the State Highway Commission or the county.

John Skibbe, age 40 years, structural ironworker, of Chesterton, was killed at Buffington, Ind., yesterday. He fell 50 feet from a scaffold when he lost his balance. His skull was fractured. Surviving are a widow and three children.

October 21, 1924

Work is progressing rapidly on the new Valparaiso National Bank building on South Washington Street, and C. W. Benton, president of the bank, stated today the building will be ready for moving into inside of three weeks. The tile floors are being laid at the present time.

October 22, 1924

For the first time in the history of Porter County jurisprudence, women are today on a jury in the Porter Circuit Court. Two women were drawn on the jury to try the Newell vs. Seipial, for damages, resulting from an automobile accident on Ridge Road, Gary. The women jurors are Mrs. Martha Cowdrey and Mrs. Alice Bryarly.

October 23, 1924

The Porter Lodge of Masons, of Valparaiso, today sold a vacant lot at the southwest corner of Indiana Avenue and Franklin Street to the Independent Oil Company, of LaPorte. The lodge acquired the property some time ago intending to build a new temple, but with the recent purchase of the Sievers building on East Lincolnway, gave up the idea.

Rev. Richard Oscar, of Chicago, has accepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at Kouts and will deliver his first sermon on Sunday morning. Rev. Oscar has spoken in Kouts on several occasions.

October 24, 1924

Valparaiso radio broadcasting station WRBC, owned and operated by the Immanuel Lutheran Church, has received a letter from Winnipeg, Canada, stating that the church service broadcast Sunday evening was heard very distinctly there. This afternoon, the station broadcasted the Valparaiso-St. Viator football game direct from Brown Field.

Fire at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon damaged the Hanson Boarding House on College Hill, across from the Valparaiso University auditorium. The blaze started on the roof and gained considerable headway before discovery. The entire top floor was gutted and the lower floor damaged. Students living in the home lost much of their clothing. It is believed that the fire originated from a water heater.

October 25, 1924

The Valparaiso University football team defeated St. Viator College here yesterday at Brown Field, 12 to 0. The visitors greatly outweighed the locals. Halfback Ralph “Swede” Surface made both local touchdowns with long runs after fumbles. St. Viator smashed its way to Valpo’s two-yard line but were held for downs.

The Valparaiso City Council at its meeting last night awarded the contract for the construction of Calumet Avenue, with curb and gutter, to Gerald McGillicuddy. Samuel Richards was given the contract for the construction of the Alpen sewer.

October 26, 1924

The Indiana Attorney General’s office moved Saturday to block the final efforts of Harry Diamond, awaiting execution for the murder of his wife, to escape the electric chair. A petition has been filed with the Indiana Supreme Court asking dismissal of a petition filed by attorneys for Diamond, in which they sought an order on the Porter Circuit Court for a sanity hearing for Diamond. His attorneys claim he has become insane since his sentence to the electric chair.

Elmer Varbel, age 25, was killed Sunday afternoon at his home when a rifle was accidentally discharged. Mr. Varbel was struck in the temple. He was taken to the Methodist Hospital in Gary, but died three hours later. He was employed in the tin mills at Gary.

October 27, 1924

The murder trial of John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, was begun this morning in Porter Circuit Court before Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Circuit Court, who was selected as special judge. Yesterday Judge Crumpacker overruled a motion attacking the legality of the drawing of the jurors to try the case.

The direction of the Porter County Farm Bureau held a meeting yesterday and elected officers as follows: L. K. Wyckoff, president; E. E. Starkey, vice president; Vernon Shurr, secretary; Bruce Lantz, treasurer.

October 28, 1924

The Indiana Supreme Court is adjourned until Nov. 5, the day after election, postponing hearing on the petition for a stay of execution of Harry Diamond, convicted Gary wife slayer, sentenced to die Nov. 14. Diamond’s plea was to have been heard yesterday. He was convicted in the Porter Circuit Court.

October 29, 1924

Two jury panels drawn for the John O’Reilly murder case were exhausted today with the jury box still lacking the requisite number of jurors to try the case. Judge H. L. Crumpacker ordered a new panel drawn this afternoon and extra talesman summoned tomorrow morning for examination.

October 30, 1924

The John O’Reilly murder jury in Porter Circuit Court was selected today. The jury is as follows: A. A. Jones, Morgan Porch, George Arnold, Bert White, Henry F. Black, Swan Nilson, Ray Crisman, Charles Tannehill, M. L. Galbreath, Alice Bryarly, Martha Cowdrey, and John McRoberts.

Ed Jackson, Republican candidate for governor, spoke to a large crowd in Memorial Opera House last night. County Chairman E. L. Loomis presided, and Dr. H. M. Evans introduced the speaker. Mr. Jackson spoke mainly on taxation in Indiana. Arthur L. Gilliom, of South Bend, candidate for attorney general, also spoke.

October 31, 1924

First testimony in the John O’Reilly murder case on trial in Porter Circuit Court was given on the witness stand this morning. Witnesses were Melvin Prevo and Miss Muriel McCambridge, who were in the Halfway House, near Cedar Lake, at the time it was held up by the Chicago gangsters. Both witnesses identified O’Reilly as one of the holdup men.

While excavating for a new home in Forest Park, diggers yesterday unearthed a human foot which had become petrified. It is believed that it belonged to a Native American, possibly a member of the Potawatomi, which inhabited this region until the early 1830s.

Looking Back • September 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

September 1, 1924

John G. Marks and Gordon Wheeler left today for Michigan City, where they will attend the annual convention of the Indiana Firemen’s Association. The meeting will last two days.

September 2, 1924

The Beatrice Creamery Company, of Chicago, recently opened a new cream station in the Specht Flower Shop on Lincolnway. Three hundred gallons of cream were handled on the opening day. The cream is delivered daily to Chicago by express.

September 3, 1924

The Walb Construction Company, which has the contract for the excavation of the Burns Ditch, will place the big dredge boat in operation tomorrow. The river dredging started at the point where the Wabash Railroad crosses the Little Calumet River. Mayor R. O. Johnson, of Gary, will throw the first full scoop of mud via dredge boat.

September 4, 1924

The Porter County educational exhibit by the Farm Bureau at the Indiana State Fair won second prize this year, according to a telegram received today from County Agent A. Z. Arehart. Fayette County took first honors, Porter County second, and Howard County, third. Last year Porter County carried off the blue ribbon.

September 5, 1924

P. T. Clifford and Son, of Valparaiso, have just been awarded two big railroad construction contracts. One of these contracts is to build a new yard for the Nickel Plate Railroad at Stony Island. The other contract is for grading and laying rails of the Union Railway at Fort Wayne.

Rev. and Mrs. George Schutes left today for Logan, Ohio, where the local pastor will preach at a mission festival on Sunday. Logan, Ohio, is the old pastorate of Rev. Schutes and the local pastor and his wife are looking forward to a happy reunion with old friends.

September 6, 1924

Attendance in Valparaiso and Porter County schools for the fall opening is exceptionally large, according to reports received today. A total of 1,550 were registered in the Valparaiso City Schools. The count in the county has not been tabulated as yet, but this year’s figure is expected to show an increase over last year.

Miss Annette Ketchum, a graduate of Valparaiso High School, has gone to Ann Arbor, Mich., to enter the nurse's training school there. She is a daughter of Dr. Frederick G. Ketchum, a former Valparaiso physician. She attended Indiana University at Bloomington for two years after finishing high school.

September 7, 1924

The Philley Brothers today announced they had leased the Haste building on Franklin Street in Valparaiso. They will add a bakery and dairy lunch, with H. S. Philley, formerly of the University Bakery and Cafeteria, in charge. It is expected the new place will be in operation by October 1. The Schelling storeroom will be vacated in favor of the new location. The Premier Theatre store will be retained for the present, but eventually will be sold.

The estate of William E. Pinney, local banker, is valued at $85,000, according to an inventory filed in Porter Circuit Court. At the time of his death, Mr. Pinney owned 1,000 acres of land in Porter and LaPorte Counties at a valuation of $60,000. Personal property was valued at $25,000. In 1919, Mr. Pinney deeded 468 acres to Purdue University, and also deeded a number of farms in Porter and LaPorte Counties to his daughter, Mrs. Myra Pinney Clark.

September 8, 1924

A Porter Circuit Court grand jury was empaneled today by Judge H. H. Loring, who instructed them as to their duties. Matthew S. Campbell was appointed foreman, and D. Clark, secretary. The jury, after being instructed, adjourned for one week.

The program broadcast by Station WRBC, of Valparaiso, last night brought many favorable comments and praise from music lovers listening in. Those taking part were Mrs. Larson, the regular organist; Mrs. A.Z. Arehart, choir director and soloist; Miss Elizabeth Wyman, William Von Doehren, and George Wyman.

September 9, 1924

College Hill rooming house owners met and voted to decrease prices on rooms by 25%. The step followed that of Valparaiso University authorities who announced a price reduction several days ago.

September 10, 1924

The Fibroc Insulation Company, of Valparaiso, was today awarded the contract for a new building costing $45,000. The building, which is expected to be completed within thirty days, will give the company 6,000 additional feet of floor space. The company has many large orders on hand from radio manufacturing firms, which use the local product in building radio sets.

September 11, 1924

Vandals are giving school authorities at Westchester Township plenty of trouble these days. The latest is the theft of a big leather belt, valued at $100, from the Westchester Township High School. At the Porter school, a lock to the playgrounds was tampered with and rendered useless by youths stuffing it with small sticks.

Porter County Christian churches will hold their annual meeting in Valparaiso on Sunday, Sept. 14. A basket dinner will be served at the church at Noon. Each church in the county will have a program to render at the meeting and the Rev. Claude E. Hill, a former pastor of the local church, will attend.

September 12, 1924

Valparaiso today celebrated National Defense Day with a parade and fitting exercises held in the Memorial Opera House. Business throughout Valparaiso suspended at Noon to join in the rites. Following the parade, Oswald Ryan, of Anderson, was chief speaker at the exercises held at Memorial. Judge H. H. Loring presided at the meeting. At the Valparaiso High School in the morning, President H. M. Evans, of Valparaiso University, spoke. Schools were dismissed at Noon for the day.

The Foster Lumber & Coal Company is rushing work on the new Elks’ Temple building. Some delay ensued because of failure of steel to arrive, but it is now here, and work is being rushed with hope that all mason work will be finished before cold weather sets in. The concrete men worked last night under the glare of electric lights.

September 13, 1924

The Porter County Farm Bureau directors have completed arrangements for the handling of Farm Bureau commodities, it was announced today. S. J. Brown will act as agent in the handling of all Farm Bureau products, such as feeds, fertilizer, twine, coal, and seeds. These commodities will be handled in carload lots throughout the county.

Frank Cowdrey, S. C. Keeler, William Wareham, Chris Gruenert, Charles Larrew and J. W. Barnes, the latter of Wheeler, are attending the annual outing today at Winona Lake of the Pennsylvania Railroad. A dinner was served at the Winona Hotel and a program followed.

September 14, 1924

Harry Clyde Coffeen, age 47 years, of Oak Park, Ill., was drowned on Sunday afternoon in Lake Michigan off Waverly Beach. Coffeen, a member of the Prairie Club of Chicago, was riding in a canoe with Mrs. Frank Pond, of Oak Park, when the craft capsized as he tried to change seats. Mrs. Pond swam ashore but Coffeen, though a good swimmer, sank. He was brought to shore by other members of the party but could not be revived. Acting Coroner Harry E. Gowland held an inquest.

State Highway Superintendent George Pearce announced today that the pouring of tar for the new black top on the Lincoln Highway east of Valparaiso would begin in a few days, and that, if weather permits, the highway will be open again for traffic within three weeks.

September 15, 1924

Wheeler is to have a new Pennsylvania Railroad passenger station. Plans for the new station are now in the hands of carpenter foreman J. F. Sheley, who states that work will begin at once. The station, a combination freight and passenger depot, will be of frame construction and 42’ by 20’ in size.

C.J. Gruenert, veteran Pennsylvania Railroad conductor, running out of Valparaiso, was elected president of the Western Veterans’ Association of the railroad employees at the annual meeting held at Winona Lake on Sunday. Two hundred and fifty employees with more than twenty-five years of service were in attendance.

September 16, 1924

Charles W. Ronan, age 72 years, and a former resident of Hebron, was found dead around 10 o’clock in the evening at the Peter LeFlesh place at Flint Lake. Mr. LeFlesh found the body after he had failed to receive an answer to a call made by him. Heart trouble was the cause of death.

September 17, 1924

Henry Massey, of Gary, was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff Howard Walter, of Lake County, last night when he tried to hold up the Tierney soft drink parlor at Merrillville. Shortly after the shooting, a man, giving his name as John Dillinger, and believed to be an accomplice of Massey, was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Walter. Dillinger was sitting in a car parked near the railroad station in Merrillville at the time. He was unable to give any good reason for his presence there.

September 18, 1924

With Valparaiso school buildings crowded, agitation is being started in Center Township and Valparaiso for the organization of a township high school district, similar to Westchester Township. Valparaiso is in dire need of a new high school building and Center Township, outside of Valparaiso, also has a surplus of pupils. Jointly the two corporations, Valparaiso and Center Township, could issue bonds in the sum of $215,000 for the building of a high school. This would allow the Central School to be used for Junior High and grade pupils.

Additional contracts for the new Elks’ Lodge building now being built were awarded last night. A new ventilating system and plate glass windows for the entire building will be installed. The building committee will meet next Wednesday to award the contract for the heat control system.

September 19, 1924

The W. R. C. District Convention convened today at Odd Fellows Hall in Valparaiso. The district comprises fifteen counties, and there are two hundred and fifty delegates present. Flags were displayed about the business district in honor of the visitors. At Noon, a dinner was served to the visitors at Odd Fellows Hall, and this afternoon an automobile ride was given to the delegates, sponsored by the directors of the chamber of commerce.

A large number of Valparaiso people are planning to go to Gary tonight to hear John W. Davis, Democratic candidate for President, deliver an address. Mr. Davis addressed a crowd estimated at 15,000 in Chicago last night at Dexter Pavilion.

September 20, 1924

Michigan City was chosen for the next meeting of the Thirteenth District W. R. C. meeting in 1925 at the annual gathering held in Valparaiso yesterday at Odd Fellow Hall. The meeting was honored with the presence of three department officers, Mrs. Cooper, president, of Evansville; Mrs. Eifler, of Gary, inspector; and Mrs. Hubbard, Hammond, chaplain. Officers of the local corps, headed by Mrs. Ida Cowdrey, president, opened the meeting, later yielding their chairs to the district officers, headed by Miss Josephine Frazier, of Valparaiso. Mrs. A. O. Bondy gave the address of welcome, and Mrs. Blanche Gardner, of Wanatah, the response.

The Valparaiso City Council at a meeting last night adopted a resolution for the improvement of Calumet Avenue, from the Grand Trunk Railroad tracks north to the city limits.

September 21, 1924

Rev. E. W. Streker was returned as pastor of the Valparaiso Methodist Episcopal church at the annual conference held at Clinton, Indiana. Announcement of appointments was made today. Rev. Bender was sent to the Hebron church in place of Rev. J. A. Lord.

John Piepho, of Hebron, today filed suit in Porter Circuit Court for an injunction against the Town of Hebron. He avers the town is constructing a new sewer and that the outlet is on his 123-acre farm. He has never consented to the move, he alleges.

September 22, 1924

The Valparaiso High School lost its first football game of the season to the strong East Chicago team at East Chicago by a score of 33 to 0 on Saturday. The locals were too light for the heavy East Chicago team. Mohnssen, Valparaiso fullback, suffered a broken collar bone while making a tackle.

Sunday was one of the hottest days of September with the thermometer at the Flint Lake pumping station showing a temperature of 90 degrees. Late in the day a heavy fall of rain broke the heat wave. About seven tenths of an inch of rain fell in a few minutes. A heavy electrical display prevailed.

September 23, 1924

The Lewis E. Meyers Company has bought eight acres adjoining its plant, recently acquired from the Pitkin & Brooks Glass Company. The land was owned by L. S. Higley and F. A. Turner. The deeds were filed today on record. The land will be used in further expansion of the company.

September 24, 1924

If plans for engineers for the Michigan Central railroad are carried out, the Town of Porter is going to lose the site of part of its business houses, if not all of them. Plans of the engineers call for the taking of the greater part of the present business area for the connection of the Michigan Central tracks with those of the New York Central. A plan is being advanced to open Sherman Street to the Dunes Highway and locate the business houses on the street.

September 25, 1924

Attendance at the annual Porter County Fair Wednesday was not up to standard, and fair officials were keenly disappointed because of the fine program given, especially in the race events. The free acts were also of fine character. Judging of the various exhibits began yesterday and premiums were awarded.

A motion for a change of judge in the famous Carr Land Case pending in the LaPorte Circuit Court was made at LaPorte Tuesday by attorneys for the defendant. The case was venued to LaPorte Tuesday by attorneys for the defendant and after the State Supreme Court had sent it back for retrial. It involves ownership of valuable property on Lake Michigan near Miller.

September 26, 1924

Unless the State Highway Commission intervenes, the Dunes Highway will be cut in two by the digging of the Burns Ditch. Broderick Brothers, digging the main channel, are approaching the Dunes Highway at the rate of fifty feet a day. Orders have been given to the contractors to pay no attention to the state highway but dig right through it. According to the report, the highway is said to be a trespasser across the ditch. No permission was ever asked by the Highway Commission when the road was built. A bridge over the ditch would be 150 feet long, with a seventy-foot span thirty-five feet above the ditch bottom. It would entail a cost of $100,000.

Pickpockets operated at the Porter County Fair yesterday and several losses were reported. One lady is said to have lost a piece of jewelry valued at $1,500, while one farmer lost $125. A number of others lost articles.

September 27, 1924

An airplane operated by J. J. Grady, an aviator, at the Porter County Fairgrounds, crashed yesterday afternoon. Grady suffered cuts and bruises, and Edward Fraley, age 18, of near Boone Grove, a passenger suffered a broken leg, broken collarbone, fractured nose and other injuries. Grady, according to accounts of the accident, had taken Fraley for a ride, when about 850 feet up the controls jammed, due to, it is said, someone tampering with the machine. Grady managed to prevent the plane from nose diving, but the craft struck the ground with terrific force, completely wrecking it.

The Ku Klux Klan held a big initiation last night at the Porter County Fairgrounds following a fireworks display. A fiery cross was a feature. The Chesterton Klan took charge of the ceremony, initiating a class of fifty-five candidates.

September 28, 1924

The Philley Brothers’ newsstand and confectionery store is moving to its new location, across the street from the Schelling Theatre, and is now doing business in the new place. They plan to hold a grand opening later.

Edward Fraley, of near Boone Grove, who was badly injured in an airplane crash at the Porter County Fairgrounds Friday afternoon, is reported to be on the road to recovery, despite rumors that he had died. He will be confined to his home for some time with his broken leg.

September 29, 1924

The people of Porter County will have an opportunity to vote on whether they want a county hospital. A petition has been filed with the county commissioners asking the erection of such a building, not to cost more than $100,000, and asking for a $2M tax levy to be levied over a period of 20 years. The county board will place the petition before the voters at the November election.

The Salvation Army Band, of Chicago, gave a concert Sunday afternoon at the courthouse lawn. Col. Alexander Damon was in charge of the band. The concert was given gratis.

September 30, 1924

The Valparaiso Kiwanis Club has closed the contract for the appearance here on Oct. 28 of the famous Bohumir Kryl and His Band, of Chicago. The band will play in the Valparaiso University auditorium. A metropolitan grand opera soloist travels with the band.

Looking Back • August 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

August 1, 1924

Clarence Quinn, who for a number of years has operated a general store at Winfield, Lake County, has sold the business to W. S. Lindall, and has taken the Lindall farm near Cook’s Corners in Porter County and will move there this fall.

Six Chicago boys, ranging in age from 12 to 15 years, were placed under arrest today noon by Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney, charged with stealing $89 from Bert Sager, of Sager Lake. After stealing the money, the “baby bandits,” who were camping at Sager’s buried the money back of the bath house. All the money was recovered. The boys will be held pending an investigation.

August 2, 1924

Valparaiso will be represented in the Northern Indiana Tennis Tournament at Whiting after all. Miss Helen Schleman, a local star, who was selected as the best girl athlete at Northwestern University by President Walter Dill Scott, has signified her intention of entering the women’s singles. Play will start next week.

James H. McGill, staunch political backer of Robert M. LaFollette for president, on the Independent ticket, was boosting the “Fighting Bob” campaign in LaPorte yesterday. Mr. McGill is optimistic over the headway that has been made in organizing LaFollette clubs in every city, town, and township in the state. A meeting in the interest of LaFollette will be held in the North American Union Hall at 58 Lincolnway in Valparaiso Tuesday evening.

August 3, 1924

Manager Deak Austin’s reorganized Durant-Stars defeated the Columbia City Greys at the Robinson Park in Fort Wayne Sunday by a score of 4 to 2. The only scoring was in the Valpo seventh when four runs were collected by Newkirk, former Chicago Cub hurler, held Columbia City to two hits and struck out 14.

Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriff W. B. Forney captured a big still and fifteen gallons of whiskey in Portage Township late Friday night. Metro Vingenor was taken into custody charged with violation of the liquor laws. His partner in the business made his escape.

August 4, 1924

Smith and Smiths Lumber Company, of Valparaiso, was awarded the contract for the improvements to be made at the Baptist Church by the board of trustees at a meeting held last night. An entirely new auditorium will be built, and an addition built for a Sunday school room and recreation center. A new heating plant and latest lighting fixtures will be installed. The improvements will cost around $20,000.

August 5, 1924

A party of Canadian farmers from Ontario will spend the night in Valparaiso on Monday, August 18, enroute to Illinois. The party will number 100, including women, and will visit the corn belt of Indiana and Illinois. The visitors will be met at Michigan City and given a supper here. County Agent A. Z. Arehart is in charge of the arrangements.

August 6, 1924

Approximately thirty enthusiastic believers in Senator LaFollette’s program met at the North American Union Hall last evening and organized a LaFollette-Wheeler Club for the ensuing campaign. A number of those present made talks. Another meeting will be held next Monday evening at the Union headquarters, at which the committee of five will make a report on the best plan for a permanent organization.

Charles Nuppnau, former Valparaiso man, has been granted a building permit at Gary to erect an addition to his store building at 579 Massachusetts Street, costing $25,000. The new addition consists of a storeroom and three apartments.

August 7, 1924 

Through the efforts of State Senator Will Brown, of Hebron, and other citizens in the south part of Porter County, the Harding Highway has been permanently located and marked through Porter County. The road runs from Marion, Ohio, the old home of the president, to the Pacific coast. The road strikes Lacrosse and enters Porter County in that vicinity, passing through both Kouts and Hebron, and then through Lake County to the state line at Illinois.

The Nichols Construction Company, of Hebron, has been awarded the contract by the Lake County Commissioners for a new steel and concrete bridge at the 21st Avenue Crossing of the Little Calumet. The bridge will not be built until the Burns Ditch is completed sometime next year. The bridge will cost $26,000.

August 8, 1924

Rev. J. P. Findley, an old-time Christian minister, died recently at the Deaconess Hospital in Indianapolis following two operations. Years ago, he officiated as pastor of the Christian churches at Hebron and Boone Grove. He also frequently visited in Valparaiso.

The Walb Construction Company, contractors on the Burns Ditch, will begin operations within a few days. The company will work between the head of the main channel at Dunes Park to the mouth of Deep River. The Broderick Company, of Detroit, Mich., is now excavating the main channel between Lake Michigan and Little Calumet River. A gigantic electric-driven digger is eating its way through a sand dune 56 feet high and 1,000 feet wide. The ditch at this point will be 70 feet wife at the bottom and 250 feet wide at the top of the banks.

August 9, 1924

The Valparaiso City Council at its regular meeting Friday night adopted a building code ordinance by a vote of 5 to 1. Councilman Louis Gast voted against the measure. The council awarded the contract for improving East Main Street with curb and macadam to William St. Clair at a bid of $9,300, and the contract for combined curb and gutter on North Franklin Street to Gerald McGillicuddy for $2,470.

Preparations for the big Brown-Kinsey banquet on August 13, one of the features of the Valparaiso University homecoming, are now complete. A dinner will be held at East Hall, and a program staged later in the auditorium. The program for August 9, 10, and 11, was announced today. Judge Ninan H. Welch, United States Senator, A. A. Jones, of New Mexico, Patrick H. Kelly, and Father William T. Sloan are on the program for addresses. Miss Burdette Cleveland, Mrs. Gertrude Horn-Cregor, Mrs. Fannie Amstutz-Roberts, Carl Craven, Mrs. Lucille Wynekoop, Ruth Axe Brown, and Anna Krasankas will be featured in musical numbers. Miss Murial Bielter, Miss Louise Horn, and Miss Edna Agar will give readings.

August 10, 1924

Miss Helen Schleman, of Valparaiso, ace of Northwestern University’s co-ed athletes, was defeated in the Northern Indiana tennis finals held at Whiting Saturday. Mrs. Lewis Bailey, of Chicago, a veteran tennis player, was her nemesis. Miss Schleman captured the first set, 6 to 3, but dropped the last two, 6 to 3.

Work on lowering the grade in the stretch of sidewalk from Valparaiso’s new Elks’ temple to Napoleon Street, was commenced this morning. The improvement will remedy the dangerous slope where the walk crosses the post office alley.

August 11, 1924

The plant of the Valparaiso Lighting Company has been purchased by Calumet Gas & Electric Company from the Central Indiana Power Company, which in turn is controlled by the American Public Utilities Company, the Kelsey-Brewer syndicate of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Charles W. Chase, of Gary, will become head of the local company. R. J. Cory will remain as manager. The Valparaiso Company has 2,790 electric and 1,860 gas consumers. It also serves electric customers in Hebron, Kouts, Boone Grove, and other small communities. The average monthly output of electricity is 170-kilowatt hours and gas sales average 3,500,500 cubic feet monthly.

August 12, 1924

Attorney Daniel Kelley and his wife, Angela, returned home recently from a six weeks’ trip abroad. They visited France, Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Mr. Kelly attended the international bar meetings in London, and both were presented at Buckingham Palace to the king and queen. A dinner party was enjoyed today at the Kelly home at which a number of relatives from Michigan City attended.

August 13, 1924

John L. Foster, 62, Valparaiso wholesale and retail ice cream dealer, died yesterday afternoon in the Christian Hospital of injuries received earlier in the day when he slipped and fell down a stairway in the rear of the Superior Inn on North Washington Street. He was discovered by Jack Stephens and taken to the hospital. Just before he died, he told doctors that he had stumbled and fallen down the stairs.

Valparaiso’s contribution to the Near East relief was shipped out today and consisted of 76 gunny sacks and eight packages. The boy scouts gathered the contributions, and four trucks were donated for the work by local garages. The grocers gave the sacks, and the material was packed in the Methodist church by representatives of the various churches. The Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company shipped out the clothing today.

August 14, 1924

Nine hundred persons attended the banquet given in East Hall last night in honor of Henry Baker Brown and Oliver P. Kinsey, founder and co-founder of Valparaiso University. It was one of the highlights of the annual homecoming celebration of the school. John M. Stinson, of Hammond, acted as toastmaster. Talks were made by Eugene F. O’Riordan, Elmer D. Brothers, Perry L. Sisson, Martin H. Carmody, Mrs. Edward D. Crumpacker, Thomas F. Donovan, Mrs. H. B. Brown and others.

The Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company which recently closed negotiations for the purchase of the Portage Telephone Company, Wednesday began wrecking the Chesterton end of the Portage Home plant and a gang of men are engaged in taking down the old poles and wires. The entire system will be junked, and a cable strung to take care of the increased patronage of the Northwestern company. Next week, the company will begin work putting all the wires in the business district underground and will take all poles out of the alleys and streets.

August 15, 1924

After Engineer Floyd R. McNiece had submitted three different plans for the street grade on Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso, north of the Grand Trunk railroad, and Councilman Louis Gast had tried to get the council to accept one of the three, without result, the matter was finally continued for two weeks. Engineer McNiece told the council to forget that he had drawn any plans and obtain another engineer to make a survey and draft plans.

Camp Dillingham, the Porter and LaPorte County boys’ and girls’ club camp at Wauhob Lake, came to a close last night with a burst of enthusiasm. Many visitors were present at the camp yesterday and saw the boys and girls at work; they formed the bread line with them; they witnessed the impressive flag lowering exercises; they heard the patriotic songs. A campfire closed the day’s festivities.

August 16, 1924

Valparaiso and Porter County will have two new school buildings for use this fall. They are the Banta grade building in Valparaiso, and the Morgan Township consolidated school in Morgan Township, south of Valparaiso. The Morgan school is on the center of a twenty-acre tract. It will contain nine rooms, a domestic science department, and gymnasium. Six teachers will be employed at the school, three of them for the four-year high school course.

Chief Pharmacist’s Mate M. F. Moe was replaced by Chief Torpedoman L. M. Eddy on Wednesday as officer in charge of the Valparaiso recruiting office located in the chamber of commerce building. Mr. Moe, a former Valpo boy, will be added to the recruiting staff of the Indianapolis office.

August 17, 1924

The Valparaiso Durant-Stars defeated the Pontiac, Ill., team at Pontiac on Sunday by a score of 6 to 2. Knight struck out twelve Pontiac batters. Buck Weaver played short for Valparaiso.

Nelson Field has closed the deal for purchase of the T. H. Claussen building at 18 Indiana Avenue, south of the courthouse, in Valparaiso. Mr. Field will move his job printing office into the new location and expects to have his place ready within thirty days.

August 18, 1924

The building code ordinance, regulating the construction of new buildings, extending the fire limits, and so forth, which has been the chief topic for consideration by the Valparaiso City Council for several months, will become a law of the city after its official publication. The first publication was made today.

August 19, 1924

O. C. Ferrell, of Valparaiso, employed in the Gary steel mills, is confined to his home here from a sprained back received while working in the mills Saturday afternoon. He is employed as a pipe fitter.

August 20, 1924

One hundred and ten Canadians in twenty-five automobiles, arrived in Valparaiso last night to spend the night. They left this morning for Steger, Ill., and will then go to Joliet, Ill., for a visit at the state prison and prison farm. They will stay at Bloomington for the night, and then go to the University of Illinois. Friday, they will visit several interesting farms and attend the Interstate fair. The Canadians will cover 1,000 miles in their trip through Illinois counties.

President H. M. Evans, of Valparaiso University, today announced that material reductions in tuition, board, and room would be made for the fall term of school. The tuition rate has been fixed at $48 per term, with $4 for athletics, library, and Torch. Board at Altruria has been lowered from $4.50 to $4, and room rent has been lowered 25%.

August 21, 1924

The large number of accidents on the Dunes Highway in north Porter County has caused agitation throughout the county for additional state roads to relieve the congestion on that highway. Valparaiso interests are trying to interest the state highway commission to build a hard-surface road through Wheeler and Hobart to Gary and then change the Lincoln Highway state road number back so that it comes straight through LaPorte and Valparaiso. Tourists then would have a straight road to Chicago through Hobart and Wheeler.

Valparaiso today sweltered in one of the hottest days of the summer. The official reading on the government thermometer at the Flint Lake pumping station showed 92 degrees at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon.

August 22, 1924

R. D. Raymond, of Valparaiso, well known in Valparaiso and Porter County, returned last evening from Indianapolis where he has been attending a session of independent voters. Duffy obtained prominence at the meeting when he announced as a candidate for governor on the independent ticket. Raymond’s decision to run on an independent ticket resulted from a refusal of the Indiana convention of the LaFollette Progressive Political Action party to recognize a state ticket. Raymond led the insurgent group which named a state ticket. In the platform adopted, one of the planks calls for the driving of the Klan out of Indiana.

The new Morgan Township school was in use for the first time last evening when the Ladies’ Aid of Malden gave an ice cream social at the schoolhouse. The social was given for the benefit of the Adams Sunday School and about $40 was cleared. A new piano will be purchased.

August 23, 1924

The Valparaiso City Council at its regular meeting Friday extended an invitation to the officers of the Indiana Elks’ Association to hold its 1925 meeting in Valparaiso. The council, in a resolution passed, assured that every courtesy possible would be shown the visiting Elks while in the city.

The story of Lowell Thomas, world famous traveler and lecturer, who worked his way through Valparaiso twelve years ago and, for a time, was an assistant instructor in the school, is graphically told in a six-page article in the September issue of American Magazine. It tells of his war record in Palestine, Arabia, Germany, and other countries.

August 24, 1924

At a called meeting of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club on Saturday, decision was reached whereby the club purchased the Loring property at the corner of Jefferson and Washington Streets, of J. R. Pagin, for a consideration of $30,000. The building will be called the Sarah Porter Kinsey Memorial, after Mrs. Kinsey, who has been a leader in local, state, and national women’s club affairs.

The Kouts Boosters defeated the strong North Judson team Sunday at Kouts by a score of 5 to 4. Crowe and Wellman were the battery for Kouts, and Dunkleburger and Rickey worked for North Judson. Wellman led the Kouts attack with a double and triple. Dunkelburger struck out thirteen Kouts batters.

August 25, 1924

The Porter County Holstein Friesian Association has decided to ship a carload of cattle for exhibition at the state fair at Indianapolis. Walter Williams, of Porter Township, will accompany the cattle, which will leave Valparaiso on Saturday. Herman Homfeld, Charles Ohlfest, Frank Bushore, John Froberk, Edward Anderson, Tom Keene, and Dan Haxton will furnish the cattle.

August 26, 1924

The new Banta School, in Valparaiso’s First Ward, recently completed, will be thrown open for inspection Friday, the school board announced today. A short ceremony, in which the building will be turned over to the city, will be held at the south entrance on Beech Street before the inspection.

August 27, 1924

Valparaiso was yesterday awarded the 1925 Elks’ State Convention at the annual meeting held at Terre Haute. Gary was the chief contender against Valparaiso, but the local lodge went down well fortified to land the honor. The convention will be held in August. The new Elks’ Temple under construction will be ready for the accommodation of the visiting host which is expected to number several thousand.

An accidental death verdict was rendered today by Coroner H. O. Seipel in the death of Edward Murphy, of Valparaiso, who was killed late yesterday afternoon on the Lincoln Highway, just west of the city, when struck by a car driven by R. D. Anderson, of Jamestown, N.Y. Murphy was killed while walking along the highway toward town.

August 28, 1924

Rev. C. E. Burns, pastor of the Christian church, tendered his resignation to the board of trustees at a special meeting held last night, and will be associated with the Children’s Foundation in the capacity of a member of the administrative staff. He and his family will continue to reside here.

Julius Albe, of Valparaiso, was named trustee for three years at the annual meeting of the Indiana State Elks’ Association held at Terre Haute. Charles P. Nuppnau, of Gary, former Valparaiso man, was appointed Chaplain by President Garnet R. Fleming.

August 29, 1924

William E. Pinney, one of the pioneer residents of Valparaiso and Porter County, died at the Chicago home of his daughter, Mrs. Myra Pinney Clark, this afternoon at 1:15 o'clock. He was born in Clinton Township, LaPorte County, seventy-seven years ago. He was an attorney for a number of years, organizer of the State Bank of Valparaiso and Trust Company, and prominent in the civic and business life of the city and county. Mr. Pinney was a large landowner and gave a 468-acre farm in Porter and LaPorte Counties to Purdue University to be used for experimental purposes.

At a meeting of the Valparaiso School Board and Porter County Red Cross Society last evening, Mrs. E. K. Finney was selected as county health nurse to succeed Mrs. Jewell Reagan, who tendered her resignation. Mrs. Finney will begin her new duties on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2.

August 30, 1924

The new Banta School in the first ward was officially turned over to the City of Valparaiso in ceremonies held Friday afternoon at the school. A large crowd was present when Superintendent C. W. Boucher opened the meeting with a short talk. Others speaking were Charles Foster, the contractor; Mittie E. Stoner, member of the school board; Martin Erickson, Gary, architect; A. A. Hughart, president of the school board, and Councilman Rollin C. Higley, representing Mayor E. W. Agar. Following the speech-making, the crowd was shown through the school. The building was started on March 25, and cost $76,000 unfurnished. It was named after William H. Banta, first superintendent of Valparaiso schools.

Midshipman Byron Loomis, of the United States Navy, is here for a visit with his parents, E. L.  and Nellie Loomis. He has just returned from a tour of Europe on the battleship Colorado. This is his last year at the academy.

August 31, 1924

The Porter County Cow Testing Association completed the year’s work on August 1 with a total of 174 yearly records averaging 8,023 pounds of milk. This is an increase of 551 pounds of milk per cow or 7% over the average for 1922-23.

William Quinn, a former resident of Valparaiso, was in the city Sunday visiting old friends and relatives. Mr. Quinn, known by his old friends as “Bill,” left for the west forty-two years ago and, since then, no one had heard from him.

Looking Back • July 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

July 1, 1924

The Fibroc Insulation Company, of Valparaiso, today made payment of its semi-annual dividend at the rate of eight percent per annum to stockholders of preferred stock of the company. Business has increased in the last six months and the company is now preparing to double the volume of its production.

Edward Mitzner, former Valparaiso businessman, died yesterday afternoon in Nichols’ Sanitarium at Savannah, Mo., according to word received here. The body will be brought back here for burial.

July 2, 1924

At a meeting of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club in the high school assembly room, the members discussed plans for the acquisition of a club home. Celista “Lizzie” Boucher, club president, presented the following properties to the assemblage for consideration: Stevens and Szold properties, corner Washington and Erie; and the W. H. Gardner home, on North Washington Street, now owned by H. V. Deopker.

July 3, 1924

Telephone rates in Valparaiso and Porter County will be boosted August 1, upon the order of the public service commission, it was announced today. The order will be effective for two years, after which the present rates will again prevail. High labor and construction costs, and the fact that the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company sustained a $100,000 loss because of sleet storm damage, was the cause of the increase.

July 4, 1924

Members of the Ku Klux Klan held a big celebration at the Porter County Fairgrounds. Beginning Thursday night, Klan members began arriving at the grounds, and continued on through the night and next morning. Many booths were arranged for the sale of novelties and for feeding the big crowd. Tiger Bull’s Wild West Show, horse racing, auto racing, drills, band concerts, balloon ascension, and talks by speakers provided plenty of amusement.

Valparaiso Junior Klansmen defeated Elkhart Junior Klansmen in a baseball game, 9 to 8. A big parade was held in the evening from the Porter County Fairgrounds to the business district, followed by the initiation of 200 candidates at the fairgrounds. Between 7,000 and 8,000 persons attended the festivities.

July 5, 1924

Misses Lois Mae Whitehead, Isabell Foster, Anita Parker, Virginia Kirkpatrick and Margaret Lunbeck are attending the Presbyterian Young Peoples’ Conference this week at Winona Lake, Ind. They are stopping at Bethany Lodge, one of the choice places at the park. They expect to see the noted photoplay, “The Ten Commandments.”

July 6, 1924

The Valparaiso National Bank has taken over all the property under the cattle mortgage held by the Lee Motor Car Company on West Lincolnway. All display cars are at present in the hands of the National Discount Company, of South Bend, which holds mortgages on them. R. B. Lee, who was in charge of the sales room, has left Valparaiso, and no receiver will be named as all available property has been seized by creditors.

At the Sunday morning service at the Baptist church, plans were launched to raise $20,000 toward remodeling and rebuilding the present church structure. For nearly a year, officials and members of the church have been planning the undertaking. Meetings will be held every night this week to bring the matter before the congregation and elicit their support. It is expected to occupy the new plant by Thanksgiving Day.

July 7, 1924 

The East Chicago baseball team refused to play the Valparaiso Durant-Stars at the fairgrounds yesterday because Walter Zock, manager of the visiting team, demanded 40% of the $.75 tickets after he had agreed to take 40% of the $.50 admissions. Fans were given their money back at the gate when Zock ordered his team from the field.

A. C. Sheets and J. Dolan tied for first in the 75-target event of the Valpo Gun Club shoot held yesterday at Sheridan Beach, Flint Lake. Each broke 67 clay pigeons out of 75. Other scores were Dr. D. C. Shurr, 63; C. Peters, 42. In the 50-target event, Ora Gray broke 46, C. E. Hershman, 45, William Hunsley, 44, O. W. Wickey, 38, R. Westergren, 37.

July 8, 1924

Recent rains have caused the layoff of a number of laborers and the suspension of the excavation work on the new three-story Elks Temple building on West Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Deep mud in the basement makes the use of wagons and trucks impossible. Work, it is said, will not be in full swing until the middle of next week.

Walter Hiltpold, star pitcher of the Valparaiso University baseball team, hurled the Gary Elks to a 5-to-1 win over the Slovak A. C. team in the final round of the Steel City Championship at Gleason Park on Sunday afternoon. He allowed five hits and struck out eight men.

July 9, 1924

Robert Bruce was found guilty of murder in the second degree by a jury in Porter Circuit Court of the slaying of Henry Turner, in Gary, on May 28, 1924. The two men are said to have quarreled over the hauling of some household goods.

July 10, 1924

The $1,000 damage suit of Charles A. Bartholomew, George Morton, L. D. Younglove, and Peter Detlefs against the City of Valparaiso, William Arnold, and E. W. Agar, to abate and enjoin continuance of a nuisance, was commenced in Porter Circuit Court this morning. The plaintiffs allege in the complaint that a large amount of garbage, rubbish, and filth, gathered off the streets of Valparaiso, are deposited on the defendant’s real estate near the premises of the plaintiffs, thereby creating a nuisance. The dump, from which the foul odors are emitted, comprise eleven acres on the road to Hebron, near the county infirmary.

July 11, 1924

Judge H. H. Loring, judge of the Porter Circuit Court, this morning granted a temporary restraining order in the Valparaiso City Dump case brought by residents living in the vicinity of the county infirmary. Certain restrictions were made requiring the city to use the dump in a way not injurious to the health of the surrounding property owners.

The Porter County Board of Charities and Corrections, named by Judge H. H. Loring some time ago for the purpose of making regular inspections of the county infirmity and county jail, have made a report of their findings to the court. The members of the board are Mabel Albe, Mrs. W. H. Lloyd, Dr. G. H. Stoner, of Valparaiso, and Clara Williams, of Chesterton

July 12, 1924

Motion for a rehearing before the Indiana Supreme Court has been filed by Joseph H. Conroy, of Hammond, attorney for Harry Diamond, convicted in Porter Circuit Court of the murder of his wife, and sentenced to the electric chair. The supreme court recently denied a motion and ordered the execution carried out on Nov. 14. If the court denies the new motion, Attorney Conroy plans to appeal to the state pardon board to commute the sentence to life imprisonment.

Wallace C. Sutter, secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, will leave tomorrow for Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., to attend the National Secretary School, sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Secretary Association. The session will last for two weeks.

July 13, 1924

Resolutions for building over 100 sidewalks in Valparaiso, costing more than $20,000, were passed by the city council at its regular meeting last night. Petitions for sidewalks on Calumet Avenue and Hickory Street, together with certain individual ones, were stricken out while other walks in the city were ordered in.

Bernard, John, and Frank McMahon and John Dwyer, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to a charge of petit larceny in Porter Circuit Court this morning and were sentenced to six months at the state penal farm. The quartet were charged with assaulting and robbing five men on the Dunes Highway near Baillytown. Later they were picked up by Michigan City Police for intoxication and violation of liquor laws.

July 14, 1924

Gustaf Swanson, Jr., age 4 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustaf Swanson, of Gary, was drowned yesterday afternoon in the Listenberger Drainage Ditch, west of Burlington Beach, Flint Lake. Young Swanson, with a boy companion, 3 years of age, was attempting to cross a bridge over the ditch when he slipped and fell in four feet of swiftly moving water. The boy was rushed to the Christian Hospital here but was pronounced dead by a physician.

The building campaign of the First Baptist Church, which has been under way the past week, came to a close last night with subscriptions totaling $25,400, or 25% over the quota. Rev. S. G. Huntington, of Indianapolis, was in charge of the services Sunday when the solicitations were made. The building will be started almost immediately and will be rushed for occupancy by Thanksgiving Day.

July 15, 1924

B. H. Wood, until recently with the McMahan-Wood Company, is establishing a milling firm at 20¼ Indiana Avenue under the name of B. H. Wood and Son. The new mill will be a flour and cereal mill of two units. The firm plans to exchange flour for wheat.

Mayor E. W. Agar, who has been active manager of the Valparaiso Chautauqua for 13 years, and for 29 years a member of the Valparaiso University faculty, is developing a unique home-coming Chautauqua for this summer. It will be made up entirely from talent taken from former students and former faculty members of Valparaiso University, which this year is celebrating its 51st anniversary. Governors, United States Senators, jurists, men and women of note in the fields of music, art, and commerce are to be on the program. The event will be held from Aug. 9 to 17.

July 16, 1924

A check forger worked in Valparaiso cashing a bad check for $2 at the M. Linkimer Store but was unsuccessful when he attempted to pass a $47 check on Joe Gross, in charge of the Bargain Leader on Washington Street. Police were notified but the forger could not be located.

July 17, 1924

Work was started this week on the $330,000 Burns Ditch project. One big dredge is working in the Dunes and another, a floating dredge, will begin work in a few days on the Little Calumet River at East Gary. The two dredges will work toward each other and within nine months there will be a flow of water into the lake from the headwaters of the Little Calumet River. The watershed is at Broadway in Gary. Clyde Walb, of LaGrange, is the contractor, and A. P. Melton, of Gary, is engineer in charge. The ditch will reclaim 53,000 acres of flood land extending from the Columbia River in Hammond east to the Porter County line.

July 18, 1924

The Porter County Bankers’ Association held its annual outing and meeting at Binyon’s Resort at Cedar Lake yesterday afternoon and evening. Following a short business session, a chicken dinner was served at six o’clock. Officers were named as follows: A. E. Wilson, Porter, president; C. J. Hobbs, Hebron, vice-president; E. J. Gardner, Valparaiso, treasurer; T. L. Applegate, Valparaiso, secretary; E. L. Morgan, Chesterton, member-at-large. Boating, swimming, fishing, and dancing were enjoyed during the afternoon and evening. Officials and employees of the banks and their wives attended.

One of the features of homecoming week at Valparaiso will be the presentation of the play, “Pollyanna,” under the direction of Miss Edna Agar. Miss Opal Williams and William Diercks, who have starred in previous plays given by the university dramatic department, will have the leading roles.

July 19, 1924

Work on the new Elks’ Temple building on West Lincolnway has been progressing rapidly during the last few weeks. Twenty employees have nearly completed the excavation work and a score of others are busy pouring concrete for the foundation of the three-story structure. According to the contract, the building will be completed by next May.

Ira C. Tilton and Frank B. Parks, attorneys for Robert Bruce, convicted of murder in the second degree in Porter circuit court on July 8, and sentenced to life imprisonment, will file a motion for a new trial early this week.

July 20, 1924

A several-months-old baby was abandoned in an automobile of two Valparaiso men parked near the Premier Theatre last night. Discovery was made when the young men came out of the show with their girls and started to get in their car. The baby was turned over to Sheriff Pennington. Today the sheriff was conferring with the members of the Mothers’ Club in an effort to find a home for the baby. If no home is found, the baby will be sent to an orphans’ home.

July 21, 1924

Assessed valuation of real estate and personal property in the City of Valparaiso increased $299,520 last year and the county total increase was almost half-a-million dollars, according to figures compiled by Porter County Auditor Byron H. Kinne. The total assessed valuation of Valparaiso is $5,927,500 compared to $5,627,980 last year. The 1924 total for the county is $31,678,410, as against $31,209,130 in 1923. This does not include assessments of corporations.

Mark Palmer, Inc., Ford, Fordson and Lincoln dealers, are today closing a deal with John Sievers for the purchase of the building they occupy on East Lincolnway. The new building was constructed for the Ford agency, and after moving into the new location this year, the Palmer Corporation liked the place so well that steps were taken toward its purchase.

July 22, 1924

Flint Lake is now standing at its normal level. The water is just flush with the top of the old concrete dam, west of the pumping station. Some time ago the company removed the temporary board on top of the concrete dam and the water has been going over the dam, besides being pumped into the new lake. Until now, the level of the lake is at a point ordered by the court in its mandatory injunction order. Besides the water that has gone over the dam, the water company has been pumping three million gallons every 24 hours from Flint Lake into the new lake as well as a million gallons daily for consumption.

Real summer weather is being dished out to Valparaiso and Porter County today. The thermometer at the Flint Lake Pumping Station reached 90 degrees. This is the third time this year that 90 degrees has been recorded. On July 20 and 21, the mercury touched 90 degrees.

July 23, 1924

At a meeting of the Northern Indiana Undertakers’ Association in Hammond, Frank A. LePell, of Valparaiso, was re-elected president of the organization. The next meeting will be held in Shelby, Indiana.

July 24, 1924

The George S. Haste building, formerly occupied by the John D. Stoner Furniture Store, will be ready for renting purposes by September 1. Mr. Haste announced today that the lower floor would be divided into two rooms and that he would maintain the upper floor, known as “Armory Hall,” as a dancing pavilion.

July 25, 1924

Rapid progress is being made on the construction of the Banta grade school building in the First Ward, and the structure will be ready for occupancy when school is resumed in September. The building has been named in honor of Prof. William H. Banta, the founder of Valparaiso High School. Including the kindergarten, 300 pupils can be accommodated. The building will cost $80,000.

James J. McGill left today for Indianapolis where he will attend a conference at which plans will be considered for the perfecting of a LaFollette organization for Indiana.

July 26, 1924

A meeting of Rural Free Delivery mail carriers of the 13th Congressional District was held in the assembly room of the Hebron Public Library building Tuesday evening. Forty carriers from Lake, Porter, Starke, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, and Pulaski Counties attended. Talks were made by Ross Immel, of New Paris, Ind., member of the Rural Carriers’ Association. Following the meeting, a lunch was served at the Rathburn Restaurant.

Miss Mildred Dillingham, for the last five years deputy county auditor under Auditor B. H. Kinne, resigned her position effective today and will be married within the next few weeks to a Mr. Kuntz, of Iowa. Miss Loretta Reibly will take the place held by Miss Dillingham in the auditor’s office.

July 27, 1924

S. S. McClure, noted magazine publisher, whose boyhood was spent in Valparaiso and where he attended high school, visited Valparaiso today as the guest of Lewis E. Myers, and delivered a talk before members of the Valparaiso Rotary Club. He spoke mainly of his travels throughout the world and the attitude of the people of various countries toward the United States. Mr. McClure will speak at Valparaiso University chapel exercises on Wednesday morning.

Clara Inez Walkinhood, 20, former Valparaiso resident, was shot and instantly killed Saturday by her husband, Donald Walkinhood, 23, at Marshall, Mich. Mrs. Walkinhood was carrying an infant baby at the time she was slain. The child was unharmed. Mrs. Walkinhood was the daughter of Mrs. D. B. Bowman, who resided east of Valparaiso.

July 28, 1924

Miss Alice Parker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Parker, 308 Lafayette Street, has passed a rigid three-day examination in South Bend admitting her to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Miss Parker is one of a group of 100 honor girl students which are permitted to enter the college each year.

Wallace C. Sutter, secretary of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, returned Saturday from Evanston, Ill., where he attended the two weeks’ session of the National Secretary School at Northwestern University. There were 260 secretaries in attendance from 150 cities in the country.

July 29, 1924

The Fraunfelter China Works, of Chesterton, resumed operations at its plant with all former employees back at work. The plant has been closed for some time during which it underwent a thorough remodeling. Owners see a considerable expansion within the next year.

July 30, 1924

After visiting the scene of Valparaiso’s Calumet Avenue improvement yesterday afternoon, the mayor, city council, and city civil engineer practically agreed upon a new grade for the bad stretch of road extending from the Grand Trunk Railroad to the fairgrounds. Steps will be taken immediately to repair the road which will undergo exceptionally heavy traffic during the Porter County Fair in September.

July 31, 1924

At a meeting in Music Hall last night attended by rooming hall proprietors of College Hill and three members of the Valparaiso University faculty, preliminary arrangements were made for a “Brown and Kinsey” banquet to be given on the evening of August 13, during the university homecoming assembly. Efforts will be made to have a crowd of 1,000 present. Townspeople will be invited.

The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company will open a new store in the Salyer building on Lincolnway this Saturday. Workmen have been busy for several days placing the room in shape to begin business. Floyd Bonnell will manage the store.

Looking Back • June 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

June 1, 1924

The identity of the sixteen-year-old lad killed when his bicycle collided with an automobile on the Lincoln Highway, west of Valparaiso, Decoration Day, remains a mystery. The body is still being held at the Stinchfield-Fehrman undertaking parlors. An effort is being made to trace his name through the bicycle manufacturer.

Mary A. Reibly has sold her Valparaiso residence property, corner of Michigan Avenue and Chicago Street, to Dr. J. R. Pagin, and will remodel the residence property she owns at the corner of Napoleon and Jefferson Streets, for her own use.

June 2, 1924

Summer playgrounds will open in this city within the next few days. The grounds are being put in shape, the equipment is ordered, and the director is ready to begin. One playground will be located at the Ball property and the other at Brown Field.

Members of the Mandarin Club banqueted their fathers last night at the Meg Shop in Valparaiso. Fathers and sons, numbering fifty, with C. W. Boucher and J. Earl Mavity as outside guests, comprised the group. Bruce Gordon, vice-president of the club, acted as toastmaster. Howard Eschell, Mavity, and Boucher spoke. Seventy-five percent of the membership of the Mandarin Club are high school students.

June 3, 1924

The Porter County Commissioners awarded a contract to William St. Clair, of Valparaiso, for the construction of the Beeler Road at a bid of $11,800. Arthur Rader, of Chesterton, was awarded the contract for a bridge over Coffee Creek at a bid of $7,000.

June 4, 1924

So far, no clue has been found that would lead to the identity of the boy killed west of Valparaiso on Decoration Day when his bicycle was struck by a Hammond motorist. Sheriff William Pennington today had a picture taken of the dead boy and will use it in an effort to learn the identity of the lad.

Ellen, five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Herron, of Malden, was burned to death when a can of gasoline exploded and set fire to the home. The little girl and three neighbor children were playing in the Herron home. The mother went across the street to a neighbor. Helen spied the kerosene can and taking it up proceeded to pour the contents into the kitchen stove. A loud explosion followed, igniting the clothing of the child. By the time the tot reached her mother’s side her clothing was burned off. Brought to Christian Hospital, she died at midnight. The home was badly damaged by the fire.

June 5, 1924

Work on the new Elks’ building will probably begin in Valparaiso next week, it was announced today. A committee from the lodge will go Friday to Chicago to confer with grand lodge officers and submit plans and other matters for the new structure. After this has been disposed of, contractors will be called in and the contracts let.

June 6, 1924

The boy killed west of Valparaiso on Decoration Day, when his bicycle was struck by a car driven by John McGuire, of Hammond, was identified last night as Michael Norvich*, 52 West 103rd Place, Roseland, Ill. Identification was made by a sister and brother of the dead boy, who came here after reading an article in a newspaper. The two stated their brother had left home after a quarrel with his father. They were unable to explain how the boy got $60 found on his person.

One hundred and thirteen seniors will receive degrees at the annual commencement exercises of Valparaiso University, to be held on Friday, June 13, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Celista Elizabeth Boucher, a graduate of the university, and prominent in state and national club circles, will give the address.

June 7, 1924 

The building code ordinance, which came up for vote before the Valparaiso City Council last night, failed to receive a unanimous vote because Councilman Louis Gast voted against it. Gast objected to the salary provisions in the ordinance. He believed the chief of the fire department could look after the enforcement of the ordinance. The ordinance will come up at the next meeting when a majority vote will pass it.

The body of Michael Norvich, the young lad killed west of Valparaiso when his bicycle was struck by an automobile on Decoration Day, was taken to the home of his parents in Roseland, Ill., this morning where the funeral and burial will be held.

June 8, 1924

A three-inch rainfall fell here Saturday and Sunday, raising the level of Flint Lake 5 ½ inches. Many basements in Valparaiso homes were flooded, and Porter County Highway Superintendent Joseph Crowe sent men over the county this morning to determine the extent done to roads and bridges.

The Frank W. Lesch Glass Factory on South Franklin in Valparaiso was badly damaged by fire early Sunday morning and will be closed down for several weeks for repairs. The fire started in the basement and was confined to that part of the building. Two pumpers played four streams of water on the fire and succeeded in holding the damage down to a minimum.

June 9, 1924

Floyd Wilson, age 32, of Peru, Ind., was fatally injured at Beatrice, in Porter Township, when a B. & O. wrecker cable broke, letting a partly raised freight car fall on him, crushing his leg, which had to be amputated. The accident occurred about six o’clock last night, and Wilson died at 6:30 o’clock this morning at Christian Hospital in Valparaiso.

A huge airplane flown by Lieutenant O. Cook, from Kelly Aviation Field, Texas, was totally wrecked several miles east of Valparaiso on the Yellowstone Trail this morning about 9 o’clock. Lt. Cook, with Pvt. Monette, enroute to Washington D. C., tried to make a landing to visit his brother, John Cook, when a cow got in the path of the machine. The aviator tried to rise, but the wheels of the plane failed to clear it. This caught the machine, tilted the wings, and they wrecked the craft into a fence.

June 10, 1924

Coroner H. O. Seipel held two afternoon inquests. The hearings were held in the death of Floyd Wilson, of Peru, Ind., who was killed when a cable on a wrecker train broke and allowed a freight car to fall on him at Beatrice, southwest of Valparaiso, and Michael Noviak*, of Roseland, Ill., who was killed on Lincolnway during Decoration Day, west of Valparaiso, when an automobile driven by John McGuire, of Hammond, collided with Noviak, who was riding a bicycle.

June 11, 1924

“Diana of the Dunes,” who lives in the sand dunes near Waverly Beach, has filed a $100,000 libel suit in the U.S. District Court at Hammond against the Chicago American. It is alleged that the newspaper implicated her, and her husband, Paul Wilson, with the slaying of an unknown hunter whose body was found burned to a crisp on the beach. Because of the statement made in the newspaper, authorities were hunting for the couple. Diana charges that a deputy constable arrested her and Wilson. She also blames a raid made on her home due to defamatory articles in the newspaper.

June 12, 1924

The $50,000 damage case of Clyde Johnson, of Porter County, against the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, which has been on trial in Porter Circuit Court, was settled today. Mr. Johnson will receive $5,000. Johnson was severely injured in an automobile wreck near LaPorte, which claimed the life of Hebron resident John Sams. At a former trial, Johnson was awarded $14,000. The verdict was appealed by the railroad and the supreme court ordered a new trial on grounds of errors in the instructions.

Charles Padgett, connected with the Smith Greater Shows, today filed suit against K. F. Smith, owner of the shows, for $2,000 in damages. He alleges that Smith represented to him that he had a big show, and that he signed a contract with Smith to run a corn game concession at $60 per week. The bill recites that Smith had no show of note and that he has been unable to take in enough money to pay his concession. As a result, he says Smith has taken his property. He charges fraud.

June 13, 1924

A farewell party for A. N. Charamuga, who is leaving next week for California, was held last night at Bachelor’s Hall, 503 Lincoln Avenue*. The guests were J. C. Seafuse, A. Alonzo, D. E. Martin, Paul Summers, R. K. White, A. N. Charamuga, Charles W. Leigh, and Pierce L. Thatcher. A dinner prepared at the hall by Mr. Thatcher was served at 7:30 o’clock. Mr. Leigh acted as toastmaster and talks were given by the boys. Mr. Leigh favored with several violin selections.

Robbers swooped down upon Wheatfield again last night, blowing one safe at the post office, the D. D. garage, and a meat market. Not much money was obtained. Some time ago, a department store at Wheatfield was robbed but the robbers were frightened away by persons returning home from a dance before they could carry out their plans to rob the bank.

June 14, 1924

Last evening at Valparaiso’s Community Hall, the annual commencement of St. Paul’s High School was held. This is the second year of the senior high school work at St. Paul’s and there were 25 in the class. Out of this number two were graduated, Ralph Kinder and Mary Cinkoski. Rev. E. J. Mungovan presented the diplomas and gave the address. A fine musical program was given.

At last night’s meeting of the Valparaiso City Council, considerable discussion ensued regarding the width of the Ridgeland Avenue improvement. Part of the Ridgeland delegation wanted a forty-foot street, while others wanted a thirty-foot street. Those favoring the thirty-foot width wanted the additional space between the sidewalk and curb to plant shrubbery and beautify the street.

June 15, 1924

The Indiana Public Service Commission has granted the Portage Home Telephone Company of Porter County permission to discontinue business. The company has not been in operation since the big sleet storm, which wrecked its lines. It was unable to finance the rebuilding.

At a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council Friday evening, the council voted to improve Ridgeland Avenue with a forty-foot pavement instead of thirty feet, as asked for by some property owners. Freeman Street and Franklin, from Bush Street north, were also ordered paved. Curb and gutter will also be constructed.

June 16, 1924

World War veterans are backing a movement to make the Chesterton Highway from the Dunes Highway to the Lincoln Highway in Valparaiso a memorial highway. The veterans have the endorsement of other veterans’ organizations and businessmen. It is planned to dedicate the memorial road on July 4 with appropriate patriotic services. Temporary markers will be placed at either end of the memorial road in the shape of arches, and it is planned to have these up on time for the dedication. After the highway has been dedicated, the state highway system will be prevailed upon to take the road into the state system.

Bert McMahan today sold his interest in the McMahan and Krudup hardware store to Tom Benton. The new firm will be known as Krudup and Benton. Mr. McMahan has not yet decided what he will do but will probably engage in business in Valparaiso.

June 17, 1924

St. John’s Night will be observed by the Valparaiso Masonic Order by a banquet at the Christian church in Valparaiso on the evening of June 27. A prominent Masonic speaker from Chicago will give the address.

June 18, 1924

The Valparaiso Home Water Company was made defendant today in a contempt of court action filed by R. W. Lytle, owner of property near Flint Lake, who charges the company failed to obey an injunction issued by Judge Harry L. Crumpacker in lowering the waters of Flint Lake to the top of the concrete dam, by the interurban tracks, in the time allotted the company. Trial of the action will be held at the September term of court. The water company, through its attorney, Grant Crumpacker, has filed a condemnation case against Mr. Lytle, asking the right to maintain a dam at the southeastern end of the lake, and condemning an easement on the lands of Mr. Lytle that will be overflowed by such a dam raising the lake level.

June 19, 1924

Porter County Treasurer William O. McGinley today received a draft from the First National Bank of Gary in the sum of $224,862.52. The draft was in payment of the Burns Ditch bonds purchased by the bank. 

Franklin Mead, a resident of Valparaiso for sixty years, died last evening at the Christian Hospital following an operation for kidney trouble. He was born in New York State in 1854 but came to Porter County when he was ten years of age. He followed farming for a number of years and was one of the big stockholders of the Valparaiso Home Ice Company. A widow and two sons survive.

June 20, 1924

The new lake, which the Valparaiso Home Water Company is making west of Flint Lake, may be named Loomis Lake. The lake embodies the entire basin about Spectacle Lake and completely obliterates that small body of water. Considerable interest has been evidenced by residents of the city and water men since the company officials began building the new lake. The pumping of water into the new lake from Flint Lake was stopped a week ago when the dam at the northwest end of the lake showed signs of weakening. Steel supports are being added to the dam to make it stronger.

The congregation of the First Baptist Church of Valparaiso decided to enter upon a five-year building program last Wednesday, which will entail an outlay of $20,000. The plans call for a complete remodeling of the entire church building and erection of a new Sunday school room. Rev. W. W. Ayer, the pastor, announced that a substantial contribution to the project will be made by one of the members.

June 21, 1924

Mrs. Gertrude Ludington, of Valparaiso, was instantly killed yesterday afternoon when she was struck by a bolt of lightning at Waverly Beach, Lake Michigan, as she was walking from the lake shore to her car parked on the concrete road. Her daughter, Edith, was stunned by the bolt, as was Mrs. Dee Helmer and Mrs. Earl Vergin, who were in the party. A number of persons on the beach at the time were shocked.

Fred LePell, of Valparaiso, played in the tennis finals of the Gary district of Northern Indiana yesterday and won the championship, as well as silver medal given by the Chicago Daily News. Today he went to Chicago to play in the semifinals at the Sherwood Tennis Club. Malcolm Fyfe and Wayne Zerber accompanied him.

June 22, 1924

From 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon until midnight, Valparaiso was without electric current due to the storm, which burned up two transformers at Goodrum Station, north of Valparaiso. Churches held services with the aid of candles and lanterns. Theaters were unable to hold any shows.

The Anderson Brothers’ stores will open a new grocery in the Specht-Finney Department Store with Glen Davidson as manager. They will occupy that part of the store formerly used by the Edward Mitzner Grocery and Market.

June 23, 1924

The pumps, discharging three million gallons of water daily, from Flint into the new lake, being constructed by the water company, are again working to capacity, after a suspension while the company drove steel pilings in the dam to prevent it washing away. Heavy rains during May and June guarantees the success of the new project, according to Superintendent E. L. Loomis. Flint Lake is full and the new lake is rapidly filling up.

Rev. and Mrs. George Schutes celebrated their tin wedding anniversary last night when twenty-five members and a few friends of the Co-operative Circle gathered at the parsonage and surprised the couple. Rev. Schutes and wife were presented with a number of fine gifts, Miss Anna Mohnssen making the presentation. A program was given, followed later by a lunch in the parish hall.

June 24, 1924

The Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the verdict and sentence of the Porter County Circuit Court in the case of Harry Diamond, of Gary, convicted of the slaying of his wife and sentenced to die in the electric chair on November 24. It is believed attorneys for Diamond will file a petition for a rehearing, and in event this is denied, will appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The trial of Diamond in the local court was sensational and attracted attention throughout the country.

June 25, 1924

Thomas and William T. Brown have filed suit in the Porter Superior Court against the Cutting Advertising Company for $800 in damages. The complaint recites that the defendant company has a sign board along the Lincoln Highway. Painters hired by the company left some cans of paint, which, seven Holstein cattle belonging to the plaintiffs, ate and died.

June 26, 1924

Oliver R. Marsh, who took a temporary job fifty-five years ago as a brakeman with the Pennsylvania Lines, was retired the other day on a pension. At the beginning, he worked on a train that operated west of Valparaiso. Later, he received deserved promotions until he had passenger runs out of Chicago.

A Chicago Checker cab, which was completely burned, is reposing in a Chesterton garage, while Chicago officials of the company are endeavoring to solve the mystery. The car was stolen in Chicago and driven to Waverly Corners, north of Chesterton, where it was burned. At first, it was believed a human body was in the car, but no trace of any could be found.

June 27, 1924

Charles Durham, East Chicago, was convicted by a jury in Porter Circuit Court last night on a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of Willie Austin during a dance in East Chicago last September and was sentenced by Judge Loring to Michigan City prison for a term of 12 to 21 years.

Army worms have been found on the farms of C. H. Peters and Schuyler Hutton in Washington Township and Everett M. Carver’s farm in Pine Township, according to the county agent’s office. The worms are of the fall variety. It was also reported that Canada thistle worms have been found in other townships.

June 28, 1924

Attorney Daniel E. and Mrs. Angela Kelly, of Valparaiso, will tour Europe this summer. Kelly will attend the International Bar Association meeting in London in July. Following this, he and his wife will tour the continent, visiting the principal points of interest in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. Wednesday evening at Community Hall, the Catholic Women’s Club, of which Mrs. Kelly is president, presented her with a beautiful leather portfolio and gold fountain pen and pencil at a farewell party. The Kellys will return home in August.

A bond issue of $15,000 for the completion and equipment of a joint grade and high school building at Chesterton was sold yesterday by Trustee Charles Pearson, of Westchester Township, to the bank in Chesterton at a premium of $225. The bonds bear 5½ percent.

June 29, 1924

G. Leonard Maxwell was elected a member of the city school board at a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council Friday night. He succeeds Myron J. Draper, who has served two terms. Mr. Draper was urged by the council to accept another term, but he declined. The council also awarded the contract for improvement of Ridgeland Avenue to Gerald McGillicudy at a bid of $8,000.

The ten-millionth Ford Touring Car turned out at the Ford Manufacturing Plant at Detroit, Mich., passed through Valparaiso this morning enroute to San Francisco. It was accompanied by fifty other cars. Members of the Mark Palmer Agency here met the advance guard of the parade at Westville. The next stop is at Chicago Heights, Illinois.

June 30, 1924

The Valparaiso Durant-Stars defeated the Fort Wayne Kips at the fairgrounds here Sunday by a score of 14 to 4. Buck Weaver, old White Sox player, and Kopko, led the local batting attack with three hits each. Ray Knight pitched for Valparaiso.

One hundred candidates were given the second and third degrees in the Knights of Columbus lodge at a big meeting held Sunday in Gary. Grand Knight Edward O’Meara and his staff from the Valparaiso council exemplified the second degree and District Deputy Michael Geraty and staff from Chicago the third degree. Fifty members from Valparaiso council attended. Valparaiso and Chesterton furnished twenty of the candidates. A banquet for five hundred followed in the Gary Commercial Club rooms. Captain H. I. Norton, of Gary, and T. P. Galvin, of Hammond, were the speakers.

Looking Back • May 1924

These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.

May 1, 1924

Three sets of surveyors are now engaged in laying out the State Dunes Park, east of Waverly Beach, on Lake Michigan. Surveyors are also working surveying the lots in the Stockyards subdivision. According to reports, there are 104 houses on the beach and only one is said to be on the right lot.

Valparaiso University baseball team was defeated yesterday at the university ballpark by Columbia College of Dubuque, Iowa, by a score of 5 to 1. Errors on the part of the locals accounted for most of the visitors’ runs.

May 2, 1924

The school census of Valparaiso just completed shows a big increase over last year. There are a total of 1,737 children between 6 and 21 in the city, as compared with a total of 1,616 last year. The First Ward has the most children, 529, closely followed by the Third Ward with 526.

The Valparaiso University Club was organized last night at a meeting held at Hotel Lembke. A board of directors was elected as follows: E. D. Hodges, Fred Moltz, John Van Ness, Jack Bennett, O. F. Helvie, A. N. Worstell, Coach Shadoan, Dr. E. H. Powell, Dr. C. L. Bartholomew, and Dr. H. B. Hayward. Dr. Bartholomew was elected president; Mr. Helvie, secretary, and John Van Ness, treasurer.

May 3, 1924

By the signing of documents today, the litigation involving Valparaiso University, the Valparaiso Realty Company, and the Cook Laboratories, was settled today, and the lease from the Valparaiso Realty Company to the Cook Laboratories of the university buildings was canceled. As a result, the university will retain the use of the buildings and they will not be turned over to the Cook Laboratories for industrial uses.

The Junior-Senior prom of Valparaiso High School was held at Elks’ Hall. A Chicago orchestra furnished music. Harold Shurr, President of the Junior Class, and Dorothy Goodpaster led the grand march. Guilford Dye and Virginia Kirkpatrick handed out the programs. Virginia Fisher and Gertrude Jesse presided at the punch bowl.

May 4, 1924

Cecil Gordon, 24, an automobile salesman for the Grantham Motor Sales Company at Gary, was killed by a fast Pennsylvania flyer at a grade crossing between Crown Point and Hebron Friday afternoon. Gordon was returning to Gary from Hebron where he had called on a prospective customer. The body was taken to Crown Point by the train crew.

The Wheeler Athletic Club defeated Hobart yesterday by a score of 12 to 0. Billings and Tofte lead the Wheeler attack, the latter’s three doubles drove Carlson and Werner from the mound. William Peters pitched air tight ball for Wheeler. Bloch and Clinedinst of Valparaiso were also in the lineup for Wheeler.

May 5, 1924

Attorney Thad Fancher, Crown Point, was probably fatally injured, and Frank Cockran, a companion, also of Crown Point, was shot in the foot, and numerous other persons were beaten and robbed by a gang of holdup men, who raided the Halfway House, near Cedar Lake, late yesterday. Fancher was shot in the back as he attempted to throw his pocketbook out of a window. Three persons, members of the gang, were arrested by Lake County officers at the Beaver Dam Ditch when their automobile was wrecked. They were A. J. McCabe, John O’Malley, and Miss Anna Tulkey, all of Chicago.

Melvin J. Stinchfield, Jr., assistant engineer for the state’s department of conservation, has filed his resignation to become effective Thursday, in order to take charge of the engineering staff of the Walb Construction Company of LaGrange, Ind. The Walb Company has the contract for the Burns Ditch in Porter and Lake Counties.

May 6, 1924

W. B. Forney, sheriff; W. W. Bozarth, prosecutor; A. J. Fehrman, treasurer; Dr. A. O. Dobbins, coroner; William Morthland, surveyor; W. E. Atwell, south district commissioner, and Elias D. Cain, center district commissioner, were the republicans successful in today’s primary election. Democrats who were successful were Ira C. Tilton, prosecuting attorney; William O. McGinley, treasurer; William Black, sheriff; Isaac Jones, south district commissioner; and William Domke, center district commissioner. The closest race was between William Morthland and Floyd McNiece for the republican nomination for surveyor, Morthland, winning by three votes.

May 7, 1924 

William Morthland defeated Floyd McNiece for the republican nomination for surveyor at Tuesday’s primary election by five votes, according to figures compiled by the canvassing board. Morthland was ahead of McNiece on the face of the returns by three votes.

Charges of murdering Attorney Thaddeus Fancher, who died last night in Mercy hospital, Gary, from the gunshot wound inflicted during the daring holdup of the Halfway House, near Cedar Lake, Sunday night, will be placed against the three alleged members of the bandit gang, who were arrested shortly after their auto was wrecked at the Beaver Dame ditch. Two of the men are members of the famous McErlane gang from Chicago. They are Alex McCabe and John O’Malley. The woman arrested with the two men is Mrs. Ann Tulke, of Chicago.

May 8, 1924

Will R. Wood, of Lafayette, won the republican nomination for congress at Tuesday’s election over William F. Hodges, of Gary, by a majority of 5,000 in the district. Hodges carried most of the other counties in the district.

May 9, 1924

Valparaiso University has opened up a night school course in shorthand and typewriting for the convenience of students who are unable to go to school during the day. Prof. Myers E. Zimmerman, head of the stenography department, is in charge.

May 10, 1924

At a meeting of the Valparaiso City Council last night, an ordinance was adopted taking the Alpen Subdivision into the city. The building code ordinance was discussed at great length and a clause inserted providing for the appointment of a building inspector.

In Porter Superior Court yesterday, Judge Harry L. Crumpacker issued a mandatory injunction against the Valparaiso Home Water Company in the action brought by R. W. Lytle. By order of the court, the company is given twenty-eight days in which to lower the level of the lake seven inches, which will bring it to the level of the dam. At the present time, the water company is pumping water into Spectacle Lake at the rate of four million gallons per day.

May 11, 1924

Morell Ford, prominent farmer residing near Boone Grove, was perhaps fatally injured Saturday night when his car was wrecked near Graceland Cemetery on the Valparaiso-Kouts Road. He was brought to the Christian Hospital.

Republicans and democrats named new officers at the annual reorganization meeting held Saturday. E. L. Loomis was named county chairman of the republican central committee; Mrs. C. W. Boucher, vice chairman; E. J. Freund, secretary, and E. J. Gardner, treasurer. Democrats named E. M. Passow, chairman; Mrs. Raymond Sherburne, vice-chairman, and John D. Stoner, secretary-treasurer.

May 12, 1924

Morell Ford, Boone Grove farmer, injured in an automobile crash near Graceland cemetery Saturday evening died at Christian hospital this morning of his injuries. Surviving are a widow, Mayme, and sons Kenneth and Harold.

Approximately 100,000 copies of the summer bulletin of Valparaiso University have gone into the mail addressed to students in the central states. President H. M. Evans said the many inquiries received by the school each day indicates the attendance will be larger than in previous years.

May 13, 1924

Twenty-one purebred Porter County Holsteins were inspected for the state Holstein sale to be held at Crown Point on June 26. The committee consisted of Tom Grant and Lake County Agent Barnes, C. W. Newman, state Holstein association president, and John Newman, of Marshall County. The Porter County consignors are Harry Pierce, Warren Dillingham, Edward Ohlfest, Frank Bushore, Tom Keene, and Arthur Hanrahan.

May 14, 1924

A. L. Barker, residing in the Kankakee River region, claims to have killed sixty wolves since last fall. Mr. Barker avers the wolves have killed many dogs in the Kankakee section and have done considerable damage to livestock and poultry as well as game life. He declares that his kills have appeared to have diminished the wolf hordes that infest the region.

May 15, 1924

Floyd R. McNiece, present county surveyor, who was defeated on the face of the returns in the primary election by William E. Morthland, by five votes, today filed a petition in the Porter Circuit Court for a recount of the ballots cast for surveyor. Kelly and Loomis represent Mr. McNiece.

The broadcasting station at Immanuel Lutheran Church has been assigned the call letters WRBC, World Redeemed by Christ, by the Department of Commerce at Washington, D. C. The New York Herald-Tribune has written to the local station requesting that the newspaper be supplied with an advance program to be given over the local station.

May 16, 1924

Sixty-eight boys and girls will receive diplomas in the annual graduation exercises to be held at Memorial Opera House on May 22. Harry G. Hill, of Indianapolis, will deliver the address. The annual baccalaureate address will be held at the Baptist church on May 18 with Rev. W. W. Ayer giving the sermon.

Fifty thousand dollars in Sandy Hook Ditch bonds were sold today by Porter County Treasurer William McGinley to Fletcher American Bank, of Indianapolis, at a premium of $1,235. The bonds bear six percent.

May 17, 1924

A nine-run rally in the seventh inning enabled Columbia College to defeat Valparaiso University baseball team, 12 to 6, in a game played at Dubuque, Iowa, yesterday. Columbia batters made eight hits in the inning, including a home run.

The Epworth League of the Valparaiso group held its annual spring rally in the Methodist Episcopal Church parlors. Delegations were present from LeRoy, Chesterton, Michigan City and Wanatah. Supper was served at 7 o’clock. Speakers included Rev. Elmer Jones, of Michigan City; Rev. R. S. McCutcheon, of Griffith; Esther Kirkpatrick and Harvey R. Klockow, of South Bend.

May 18, 1924

The Valparaiso Durant-Stars baseball team defeated the Chicago Red Sox Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds by a score of 3 to 0. Knight pitched for Valpo and allowed three hits. Buck Weaver played third for Valpo and accepted six chances without an error but failed to get a hit. Knight’s single accounted for two of the locals’ tallies.

The fate of Harry Diamond, sentenced to the electric chair for the slaying of his wife on Feb. 14, 1923, near Hammond, was in the hands of the supreme court today. His attorneys filed replies to briefs by the state in the appeal to the supreme court. Diamond, on trial said his chauffeur shot his wife. The state brought out evidence that Mrs. Diamond bequeathed her husband $20,000 in a will made out a few days before her death. Diamond has been in Michigan City prison following his conviction in Porter Circuit Court, to which court the case was venued from Lake County.

May 19, 1924

A truck owned by the Merchants Dispatch Company, of Valparaiso, stolen in Chicago yesterday, was found by Chicago police while the thieves were in the act of unloading the cargo of merchandise. George Lambert and Rolla Hitesman were in charge of the truck at the time of the theft. They had gone into a business house for additional merchandise, and when they came, out the truck was gone.

May 20, 1924

Stanley Turkoski, residing on Valparaiso R.F.D. 2, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Gary yesterday after suffering from serious injuries as a result of a tumble from a motorcycle at the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks at Gary’s 15th Street. He was said to have fallen twice from his motorcycle.

May 21, 1924

Miss Alma Nehring, of Valparaiso, is among the graduates of the Lutheran Hospital Training School at Fort Wayne. Commencement for the school is to be held this evening. Mrs. Hattie Quinn and Miss Berniece Collins left today for Fort Wayne to attend the exercises.

Valparaiso High School football players were presented with letters and monograms this morning at exercises held in the high school auditorium. Coach Shadoan, of Valparaiso University, spoke. Those receiving letters were Fred LePell, Harold Pulver, Arthur Shinabarger, Fred Wittenberg, Herbert Douglas, George Douglas, John Lowenstine, Harold Gustafson, Hubert Miller, and Russell Dillingham. Monograms were presented to Harold Shurr, Allan Brown, Fred White, Harry Lytle, Wilford Ebersold, Dayton Stanton, Harry Tousley, John Erler, Robert Hart, and Reuben Henson.

May 22, 1924

Ben H. Urbahns, of Valparaiso, former treasurer of Porter County, was nominated for treasurer of state on the republican ticket today at Indianapolis. Urbahns’ nomination came on the first ballot. Ed Jackson was nominated for governor. Former senator A. J. Beveridge addressed the convention.

Miss Ruby Wood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Wood, of Hebron, was united in marriage on Wednesday at Hebron, to Rev. A. T. Moore in the presence of thirty guests. Rev. J. T. Alken, of the U. P. church, officiated. The couple will live at Coulterville, Ill.

May 23, 1924

The last stumbling block for the Burns Ditch, which will drain a large area of land in Lake and Porter Counties, was removed today when Porter County Treasurer William O. McGinley sold the bonds for the construction of the drain. The First National Bank of Gary, the only bidder, bid the face value of the bonds, $224,862.52. The Walb Construction Company, of LaGrange, which has the contract, will begin work at once.

Sixty-eight seniors received diplomas in the annual graduating exercises of the Valparaiso High School held at Memorial Opera House last night. Harry G. Hill, of Indianapolis, made the address. Superintendent C. W. Boucher presented the diplomas.

May 24, 1924

The Valparaiso City Council, at a meeting last night, adopted an ordinance annexing the part of the Forest Park addition as recommended by the city planning commission. The council also passed an ordinance making it a violation to keep goats within the city limits. A penalty of $50 is provided in the ordinance.

Lincoln Highway, east of Valparaiso, from the Malone Turn to the school, has been closed to permit the state highway commission to apply an asphaltic penetration top. Motorists detour down Hungry Hollow Road to Flint Lake Road.

May 25, 1924

Valparaiso University defeated St. Viator College at University Park on Saturday, 4 to 0. Hiltpold pitched a wonderful game for Valparaiso, holding the Kankakee boys to one hit. Harris, of Valparaiso, clouted two doubles and a triple and scored three runs.

The trial of James O. Malley, alias Johnny O’Reilly, charged with the slaying of Attorney Thaddeus Fancher in the holdup of the Halfway House, between Crown Point and Cedar Lake, has been venued to Porter County from Lake County. Fancher was wounded on May 4, 1924, and died the following day.

May 26, 1924

A lad about fourteen years of age was killed sometime Sunday night when he fell from a Chicago & Erie Railroad passenger train between Boone Grove and Kouts. Another train stopped and picked up the body and carried it to Huntington. Coroner H. O. Siepel was notified and ordered the body brought back to Porter County. An inquest was then held, and an attempt made to learn his identity.

Chris Bliss will open his new Valparaiso establishment on North Valparaiso Street this Wednesday. He has remodeled the old bakery building and has installed a modern grocery and delicatessen.

May 27, 1924

The Indiana Supreme Court has set June 12 to hear oral arguments in the case of Harry Diamond, under sentence of death for the murder of his wife. Diamond is now in prison at Michigan City following his conviction in Porter Circuit Court.

May 28, 1924

Three Porter County high schools have been rated as first-class schools by the state board, according to word received today by Porter County Superintendent of Schools, Fred H. Cole. The schools are Liberty Center, Wheeler, and Chesterton.

May 29, 1924

Howard Fishburn, of Valparaiso, democrat, and William Lidke, of Chesterton, republican, have been named civilian members of the Porter County Board of Review by Judge H. H. Loring. Porter County Assessor Fred Marquart, Treasurer William O. McGinley, and Auditor B. H. Kinne are other members of the board. The court will meet on June 2 at the courthouse to review the assessments.

The Valpo Durant-Stars defeated the Chicago Webers at the fairground yesterday by a score of 7 to 6. Knight pitched for Valpo but was handicapped by the fact that his teammates made eight errors behind him.

May 30, 1924

Two Valparaiso University students, returning home from a visit at Maywood, Ill., were assaulted and robbed by a gang. The robbers blocked the highway, and when the students investigated, they were ambushed and beaten. After taking $27 from the students, the assailants left them lying on the highway, where they were discovered by passing motorists and brought to Valparaiso. They roomed at the Allendorf.

May 31, 1924

An unknown boy, about sixteen years of age, was killed Friday morning on the Lincoln Highway, near the Leonard School, when he was struck by an automobile. The boy was riding on a bicycle headed east when a man named John McGuire, of Hammond, also headed east, turned out for a car coming from the east. McGuire and the boy steered for the ditch, the car striking the boy and cutting a deep hole in the lad’s abdomen. It is believed the boy was bound for a lake resort.