These historical excerpts from one century ago were selected from the Looking Back feature of The Vidette-Messenger, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection.
October 1, 1920
This afternoon in Porter Superior Court, Judge H. L. Crumpacker sentenced Albert Batchelor, James H. Parker and Dan Trkulpa, members of a bandit gang that attempted the robbery of the Tolleston Bank on June 14, 1919, in which Herman Uecker, cashier, was killed, to the state’s prison at Michigan City. The three entered pleas of guilty. Thomas Batchelor, found guilty by a jury yesterday, was also sentenced to a life term.
Wallace Philley and wife have moved to Valparaiso to reside, Mr. Philley has been living in Chicago for a number of years. He will be associated with his brother, Vernon L. Philley, in the management of the Philley, in the management of the Philley confectionary and newsstand in the Schelling theatre.
October 2, 1920
Mark L. Dickover was elected president of the newly formed Shriner Club organized here by local Masons last night. Other officers were: Dr. H. E. Gowland, vice-president; Edmund J. Freund, secretary; John H. Ross, treasurer; O. F. Helvie, G. W. Vann and Dr. E.H. Powell, trustees.
Forty-seven cases involving condemnation proceedings against lot owners in Bartlett’s subdivision and near the Dunes Highway were filed in Porter Circuit Court Wednesday by James M. Ogden, attorney-general of Indiana. The Indiana State Highway Commission is plaintiff. The land sought is for right-of-way for the Dunes relief road.
October 3, 1920
The Grand Trunk Railroad has awarded the contract to Foster Lumber and Coal Company for the construction of a large ice house at the east end of the local yards. The house will furnish ice for the Pullman car service.
Robert M. Boone, one of Porter county’s prominent residents, and a descendant of Daniel Doone, famous Indian fighter, died today at his home in Pine township.
October 4, 1920
Playground devices are being installed at three schools in the city — Central, Gardner, and Columbia. A giant stride, teeter-totter and slide comprise the equipment. City schools have been without such equipment until now.
Attorney T. P. Galvin, district deputy of the Knights of Columbus, and the Valparaiso degree team, will go to Indianapolis next Sunday to put on the third degree on a class of ninety candidates. The Indianapolis council is one of the largest in the state.
October 5, 1920
Valparaiso taxpayers will pay more taxes next year. Last year’s tax rate was $2.35 ($35.31 in 2020). Next year the rate will be $3.06 ($39.77 in 2020). The increase is due to the fact that the City of Valparaiso raised their levies thirty and thirty-five cents respectively. Auditor B. H. Kinne received word from the state tax board announcing that it had cut its proposed tax levy twenty-two cents or twenty cents. Last year the state rate was eighteen cents.
October 6, 1920
The results of a school survey made in Porter County is being used as authoritative data by a Chicago newspaper in a series of articles by correspondent of the United States Public Health Bureau, now being run daily.
October 7, 1920
The Valparaiso University football team was given a rousing sendoff yesterday afternoon as it departed for Cambridge, Mass., to play Harvard. Classes were dismissed for the day. Headed by the university band the students escorted the team to the courthouse square where yells were given and talks made. The team was then taken to the Pennsylvania Depot. At Gary when the team arrived there, another demonstration took place. Following a dinner at the Gary hotel, the Emerson band played and a large crowd accompanied the team to the Lake Shore depot where it took a train for the east.
Valparaiso High School will play its first football game in five years when it meets Froebel here Saturday. Froebel has already played two games this year, while the locals have not encountered any team to date. Coach R. E. Schenck has his squad in good condition for the game.
October 8, 1920
According to figures compiled by Auditor B. H. Kinne from recent registrations of voters in September and October, there are 8,907 voters in Porter County. At the September registration, 3,531 men and 2,437 women registered, and at the October registration, 1,591 men and 1,438 women registered. This makes a total of 5,122 men and 3,785 women registered.
Each taxpayer in Valparaiso should have nearly $1,000 ($12,995.90 in 2020), according to figures compiled by a member of the state board of accounts. The average per capita wealth was based on the 1920 census and the 1919 assessment valuation of taxables. The actual figures for each taxpayer is $911 ($11,839.26 in 2020).
October 9, 1920
Valparaiso University was defeated this afternoon by Harvard University at Cambridge by a score of 21 to 0. During the first half neither team had a decided advantage. In the third quarter Harvard rushed the ball to the Valparaiso goal line for the first score. The second goal resulted from a fumble by Cearing, of Valparaiso, on the Valparaiso twenty-five yard line. In the final minutes of the game, Hamilton, a substitute back, got away for a sixty-eight yard run and a touchdown. Horween kicked all the goals.
Boone Grove baseball team was defeated yesterday at North Judson by the Hamlet club, 1 to 0. Jimmy Middleton, of Argos, pitcher on the Kansas City American association team, pitched for the winners. Walters was on the mound for Boone Grove. Hamlet was defeated by Boone Grove a short time ago, 5-3.
October 10, 1920
A special trail will be run from this city to South Bend, Oct. 23, on the occasion of the Valparaiso-Notre Dame football game. A committee composed of Mr. Langevin, athletic director; Dad Elliott, cheerleader; Tremaine, Torch editor, and the Nichols Toggery, has been appointed to arrange for the train. It is expected 500 persons will attend the game from here.
Dr. Gilbert Fitzpatrick, of Chicago, has been elected trustee of Valparaiso University. Dr. Fitzpatrick is a noted surgeon, fellow of the American College of Surgeons, member of numerous state and national medical associations, and major in the reserve corps of the United States army.
October 11, 1920
The Porter Bank at Porter will open on Oct. 16. C. W. Wright, of Kirklin, Ind., will be cashier, Mr. Wright has been cashier of the Farmers’ State Bank at Kirklin. The new bank building was recently completed and is now ready for occupancy.
The annual sale of the Swinebreeders’ association held yesterday at the fairgrounds was not well attended. Farmers are busy sowing wheat and doing other farm work. Out of 40 head of hogs to be sold, only about half were disposed of to buyers. A young gilt brought $105 ($1,364.57 in 2020) and a sow $85 ($1,104.65 in 2020).
October 12, 1920
J. L. Kmoch, of Cedar Rapids, Ia., has arrived here to take the place at the Lowenstine store of Loyal W. Wood. Mr. Kmoch will have charge of the window display, interior decorating and advertising for the Lowenstine store. Mr. Wood goes to Bowling Green, Ohio.
Joseph Crowe, county highway superintendent, was seriously injured east of Kouts yesterday morning. Mr. Crowe’s car struck a cable stretched across the highway which was being treated with oil. He was taken to Kouts for treatment, and later brought here.
October 13, 1920
Joseph Crowe, county highway superintendent, was seriously injured east of Kouts yesterday morning. Mr. Crowe’s car struck a cable stretched across the highway which was being treated with oil. He was taken to Kouts for treatment, and later brought here.
J. L. Kmoch, of Cedar Rapids, Ia., has arrived here to take the place at the Lowenstine store of Loyal W. Wood. Mr. Kmoch will have charge of the window display, interior decorating and advertising for the Lowenstine store. Mr. Wood goes to Bowling Green, Ohio.
October 14, 1920
William Alyea, of Hebron, has filed suit in Porter superior court against the American Railway Express company for $3,712.85 ($48,251.83 in 2020) damages. He alleges he shipped 862 muskrat furs to Rushville, Ind., on March 30, 1920, and the furs were stolen from the express office in Hebron.
Dr. A. M. Jacoby, federal cattle tuberculosis inspector, went to South Bend today, where he will test a herd of cattle. Dr. Jacoby has finished testing about one third of the cattle in Porter county.
October 15, 1920
The Pioneer Truck company yesterday received a shipment of a carload of motors from Toledo, O. This is the first car of a large number ordered by the company to arrive here. A carload of rims and a carload of axles arrived last week. The company has received about $10,000 ($129,959 in 2020) worth of starters and lighting systems, and other parts have also been received. President O. C. Freier has been working at top speed getting manufacturing operations started at the local factory, but inability to get shipment of parts has hampered the work. Mr. Bevington, traffic manager of the company, has purchased a residence of F. W. Alpen and will move here from Chicago.
The two years’ pastorate of Rev. C. G. Roadarmel at the Baptist church will close with the morning service Sunday. Rev. O. B. Sarver, of Gary, will preach at the morning service, and Rev. Roadarmel will say some farewell words. He is leaving Valparaiso on account of his health.
October 16, 1920
Mrs. D. E. Kelly returned last evening from Boston, Mass., where she attended the biennial convention of the International Federation of Catholic Churches. Mrs. Kelly also attended the Harvard-Valparaiso football game at Cambridge. She reports Harvard rooters had much praise for the fine showing of the local team.
Mrs. Edna Cullison, of Valparaiso, was granted a divorce and $60,000 ($779,754 in 2020) alimony yesterday afternoon by Judge W. C. Hanley in the Jasper circuit court at Rensselaer, in her suit against Albert T. Cullison of Danville, Ill., an East Chicago, Ind., banker. The court allowed $5,000 ($64,979.50 in 2020) for attorneys’ fees and $3,000 ($38,986.70 in 2020) for expenses. Following the divorce hearing. Cullison deeded his former wife 625 acres of land in Morgan Township, Porter County, in lieu of the alimony settlement. Attorney F. J. Lewis Meyer of South Bend, and Frank B. Parks, of Valparaiso represented Mrs. Cullison.
October 17, 1920
Sunday morning at the Baptist church, Rev. C. G. Roadarmel, who recently resigned his pastorate, was given a purse by the congregation. They were tendered a reception at the morning service before leaving for California where they will spend some time for the benefit of the pastor’s health.
The Valparaiso University football team defeated Northwestern College of Naperville, Ill., yesterday at Brown field, 57 to 0. The locals counted forty-three points in the first half and then Coach George Keogan sent in his substitutes.
October 18, 1920
By a deal completed Saturday, the Maxwell Implement Company business of Chester & Son. The Maxwell Company traded the building owned by it on Lincolnway, occupied by the Smith Barber Shop for the Chester & Son building on Washington street. The Maxwell Company will take possession of the Chester & Son business on Nov. 1.
The Boone Grove baseball team lost to the Argos team Sunday in the final game of the year 3 to 2. Les LaCount hit a home run for Boone Grove in the fourth inning. Maloney was on the mound for Boone Grove. A Fort Wayne pitcher and four Notre Dame and South Bend players were in the Argos lineup.
October 19, 1920
The Porter County Motor Club, a branch of the Hoosier State Automobile Association, was definitely launched last evening at a meeting of the Porter County Automobile Dealers’ Association. M. E. Noblett, state association, and E. M. Wells, of Indianapolis, manager of the field secretary, were guests of the dealers for an excellent dinner and later spoke at a meeting held in the chamber of commerce rooms.
At a meeting last evening of Charity Rebekah Lodge, No. 164, Eva Decrow, noble grand of the order, presented jewel pins to Mrs. Ophelia Pennock and Mrs. Anna LePell in token of having been a member of the order for the last 25 years.
October 20, 1920
The Porter County Motor Club, a branch of the Hoosier State Automobile Association, was definitely launched last evening at a meeting of the Porter County Automobile Dealers Association. M. E. Noblett, of Indianapolis, manager of the state association, and E. M. Wells, field secretary of the association, were guests of the dealers for an excellent dinner and later spoke at a meeting in the chamber of commerce rooms.
At a meeting last evening of Charity Rebekah Lodge No. 64, Eva Decrow, noble grand of the order, presented jewel pins to Mrs. Ophelia Pennock and Mrs. Anna LePell in token of having been members of the order for the last 25 years.
October 21, 1920
Coal dealers of Valparaiso have joined other dealers in the state in a suit against the state food and coal commission asking an injunction against the commission limiting the profile on coal to $2.25 ($29.24 in 2020) per ton. G. Ray King, accountant for the commission, is here checking up the books of the local dealers and also investigating the general coal situation.
Schelling’s Music Hall was crowded to capacity last night by an enthusiastic crowd that listened attentively to a forceful speech by Colonel Raymond Robbins, of Chicago. He was introduced by E. W. Agar.
October 22, 1920
According to G. Ray King, accountant for the Indiana Food and Coal Commission, who is in the city, coal dealers in Valparaiso are not profiteering. Coal here is being sold for less than elsewhere and these prices have prevailed for some time, according to Mr. King. All local dealers except one who signed to enter the suit against the commission limiting the profit on coal to $2.25 ($29.24 in 2020) per ton, did not have any intimation they were joining into a suit.
More than 200 men of the McGill-for-Congress Club met last night at Armory Hall and perfected plans for the final drive to be made in the closing days’ campaign on behalf of Jim McGill for Congress. Walter Smith was elected president, H. M. Lackey, secretary, and James L. Meagher, treasurer. L. E. Myers made a short talk outlining work to be done. Mr. McGill also spoke, telling his audience of his plans and policies in the event of his election. Headquarters of the McGill Club have been established in the building formerly occupied by the Patton Lunch Room.
October 23, 1920
Charles Link, the real estate man, reports the sale of two lots off the west end of the O. P. Kinsey property on College Avenue to William Sergeant and Harry Hodsden. They will build new homes on the lots.
The Valparaiso University special, carrying rooters to the Valparaiso-Notre Dame football game at Cartier field, South Bend, today had 775 passengers. Many Valpoites made the trip in autos. It is safe to say 1,000 local people will be in attendance at the game.
October 24, 1920
The Valparaiso University football team was defeated by Notre Dame Saturday afternoon at South Bend by a count of 28 to 3. Valparaiso scored in the first quarter when Ray Ecklund kicked a field goal from the forty yard line. Notre Dame did not score until the third quarter when Chet Wynne and George Gipp went over for touchdowns. Two more touchdowns were scored in the fourth quarter after four of the Valparaiso regulars were forced to leave the game by inquiries. Gipp was again the moving factor in the Notre Dame march.
Emerson high of Gary defeated the Valparaiso high gridders by a score of 42 to 0 Saturday at Brown field. Coyer and Riddle starred for Valparaiso, while Sibley, Sturtridge and Kelso were Emerson’s outstanding players.
October 25, 1920
Dr. A.M. Jacoby, state and federal tuberculosis cattle tester, who has been examining cattle herds in Porter County, will complete his work this week. When he leaves he will not return here for six months to retest. He has tested thirty-five herds in the county to date.
A big moose head from the body of a large Moose shot in Canada and mounted by a Canadian taxidermist, has arrived here for the Valparaiso Moose Lodge. The head cost about $100 ($1,299.59 in 2020). It will be placed in front end of the Moose Lodge rooms.
October 26, 1920
W.A. Ostrander, of the Bureau of Soils and Crops, Purdue University, is at the Pleasant Township farm of J. A. Warren, checking up a five-acre corn plot. Mr. Warren is a contender for the state championship. Estimates place the yield at from 140 to 145 bushels per acre.
Porter County has two candidates for congress in the tenth district. J.H. McGill is a candidate on the farmer-labor ticket, and B.A. Gott, of Wheeler, is a candidate on the socialist ticket.
October 27, 1920
Porter county has two candidates for congress in the tenth district. J.H. McGill is a candidate on the farmer-labor ticket, and B.A. Gott, of Wheeler, is a candidate on the socialist ticket.
October 28, 1920
Thirty-five autos loaded with McGill boosters left here this morning on a tour of the Tenth District in the interests of J.H. McGill’s candidacy for congress on the farmer-labor ticket. The tour will end at Lafayette where Mr. McGill will speak.
Snow was reported at Long Lake this morning and coupled with the precipitation was a visitation at both Long and Canada Lakes of more than 200 mallard ducks. George Benner and wife, of Gary, killed 14 and Valparaiso hunters led by Attorney P. J. Bailey killed 17.
October 29, 1920
A snow and sleet storm that was ferocious in its intensity struck the city late yesterday afternoon and continued for several hours. This morning trees and foliage were covered with snow which was so heavy that it caused the limbs to touch the ground. Many large limbs were snapped off. Valparaiso was in the path of the storm as other cities adjacent reported a light fall and some hardly any.
John Diggs, sanitary engineer for the Indiana State Board of Health, has just completed the survey of the plant of the Valparaiso Home Water Company at Flint Lake. Mr. Diggs is detailed to investigate all public water supplies in the state and ascertain the quantity of water supplied to consumers. He spent three days at the local plant, and at the close of his inspection issued a certificate to the local company approving the local water. He also reported the filtration plant in good working order. He informed Superintendent E. L. Loomis the local plant was one of the best in the state.
October 30, 1920
A patent from the United States government to an eighty-acre farm in Morgan Township dated 1834, more than eighty-six years ago, and signed by Martin Van Buren, president, has just been placed on file in the Porter County Recorder’s office. Policeman J. H. Marshall of this city, owner of the farm, recently sold it and an abstract failed to reveal the government patent recording.
The Valparaiso University football team walked off the field at Greencastle yesterday when Referee Durkey of Illinois, made a ruling in the third quarter of the Valparaiso-DePauw game. The dispute resulted when DePauw was held to five yards on three downs and Gipson, of DePauw, punted. The ball shot off his foot toward the side lines where a DePauw player picked it up and ran to the Valparaiso five-yard line. Coach George Keogan, of Valparaiso, refused to continue play after he learned the referee had ruled it an onside kick and withdrew his team from the field. A decision on the play will be sought from Walter Eckersall of Chicago. Keogan claimed the play was a legitimate punt and not an offside kick.
October 31, 1920
Mark L. Dickover, of the Valparaiso State Bank, has an official ballot of the election of 1888. It is a republican ballot with the names of Benjamin Harrison and Levi Morton as candidates. Grover Cleveland was the democratic candidate and was beaten in the election. The ballot is unique in that it was the last of its kind used before the Australian system came into use. All the voter had to do was to cast the ballot in the box without marking it. If desired to vote a split ticket, it was necessary to paste a sticker over the name of the candidate which the voter desired to scratch.
The Porter County Holstein Breeder Association’s third annual sale at the fairgrounds Saturday was attended by 500 persons. Forty-seven cattle were sold at prices from $200 to $400. A number of cattle went to out-of-town buyers.