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.
March 1, 1920
Two large copper stills, 9 barrels of brew and 15 quarts of pure “alky” were confiscated and two men, George Sablich and Joe Koekich, arrested following a raid by Sheriff W. B. Forney and Constable Charles Walsh in Liberty Township. Two prominent Lake County men were implicated by Sablich and Koekich as being the owners of the still.
March 2, 1920
Nelson Field, for some time linotype operator on the Messenger, has leased the room under the Lowenstine bakery in the S. C. Billings building on Lincolnway and will open up a job printing office. He will call it “The Lincolnway Press.”
March 3, 1920
The Gary and Interurban Company will ask the Indiana Public Service Company for authority to junk the Valparaiso-Chesterton line. During March the company will keep a strict account of business originating and carried by this feeder to present figures to the commission in support of its contention the line should be junked. During January and February the line was out of commission the greater part of the time due to the snow blockade and repairs.
March 4, 1920
The Valparaiso City Council last night made the first move toward buying new equipment for the fire department. The state tax board will be asked for authority to issue bonds to purchase the equipment. Pending decision of the tax board the council will decide on apparatus needed and get bids and be ready to make the buy when the bond issue ruling comes.
March 5, 1920
More than eighty farmers residing in north Porter County, from McCool to Flint Lake, have signed a contract with the Calumet Electric Company for installing an electric line. The decision was reached at a meeting held at Liberty Center School. About 11 miles of wire will be used, on poles already standing. The cost of the line will be in the neighborhood of $20,000 (≈$255,657 in 2020 dollars).
March 6, 1920
The Adams & Patton brokerage office over Meagher’s Drug Store (NW corner of Lincolnway and Washington Street in Valparaiso) quit operations today and closed up for spring and summer season. They will handle the business as usual from their Gary office.
March 7, 1920
In a raid made Sunday afternoon in Union Township by Sheriff W. B. Forney, a thirty gallon still and three gallons of mash were confiscated. Mike Relich, alleged owner, was arrested. Relich attempted to escape but was halted by the sheriff who fired three shots at Relich taking refuge behind a tree.
March 8, 1920
Mike Relich, residing near Deep River, arrested by Sheriff W. B. Forney, who raided his place and found a thirty gallon still in operation, was fined $200 (≈$2,557 in 2020 dollars) and costs by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today. A sixty-day jail sentence was also imposed.
March 9, 1920
John Hofferth, of Kouts, was found dead on the Henry Sommers farm, near Kouts, last night by a posse who went in search of him after he failed to return home. He had been cutting brush when stricken with apoplexy.
March 10, 1920
A crowded house attended the show given last night by the Elks and Vivians at Memorial Opera House for disabled service men. “The Way Back” and “Spirit of Elkdom” were the films shown. A special orchestra of ten pieces provided music. Charles Chester was chairman of the committee in charge.
March 11, 1920
Valparaiso University will play the Harvard football team in the Harvard stadium on October 9, it was announced today. The local school takes the place of Notre Dame which was scheduled for that date.
March 12, 1920
Work on remodeling the Sieb building on Franklin Avenue for a meat market and grocery by Floyd Sieb is being pushed. A second story is being added to the rear of the building. The Jim Albe pool room which now occupies the first floor will move to the second floor.
March 13, 1920
The Valparaiso City Council last night ordered the vacation of the alley south of the Valparaiso National Bank (on S. Washington Street). The bank will soon begin construction of a new banking house, using the alley in the new construction.
March 14, 1920
The Appellate Court at Indianapolis has affirmed the decision of the Porter Circuit Court awarding the estate of Dr. Wilson, of Hebron, $5,000 in suit brought against the Pan Handle Railroad. Dr. Wilson was killed when his automobile was struck by a train when he attempted to drive across the tracks in Hebron after another train had passed.
March 15, 1920
Professor H. M. Jessee, of Valparaiso High School, was speaker at meeting of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce last evening. His topic was educational week. He stressed the deplorable situation which is causing many teachers to leave the profession. The chamber named a committee to draft a resolution to be presented to the legislature at its next session on behalf of the teachers. A total of $2,221.36 was reported subscribed in the chamber’s membership campaign to date.
March 16, 1920
Porter County Holstein Breeders’ Association at a banquet at Albe’s Restaurant decided to go after the state Holstein sale for either Porter or Lake Counties. Ten breeders agreed to consign sixteen animals for the sale. A number of local breeders will exhibit at the International Show in Chicago.
March 17, 1920
By a deed placed on file in the county recorder’s office today, John McWilliams deeded 700 acres of land in Pleasant Township to William J. Dahl for a consideration of $43,810 (≈$560,017 in 2020 dollars).
March 18, 1920
The Knoll Confectionery on Franklin Avenue, south of the Lowenstine Store, will reopen tomorrow after extensive remodeling. New stocks and fixtures have been added.
The Federal Bakery on Washington Street will soon go out of business. The machinery in the place will be shipped to Davenport, Iowa.
March 19, 1920
Porter County schools are gaining fame all over the country for their efficiency and up-to-the minute methods. Yesterday a committee of eight men from Kendall County, Illinois, were here to get ideas on the county school system. They are planning consolidated school districts as has been done in Porter County.
March 20, 1920
The City of Valparaiso has decided to purchase two modern and up-to-date fire trucks. Bids for the apparatus will be received by the council Friday evening, March 26.
March 21, 1920
The silver anniversary of the Valparaiso Woman’s Club was celebrated at the Valparaiso High School building (Central School). Talks were given by Mrs. A. A. Williams, Mrs. A. R. Putnam, Mrs. P. J. Horn, and Mrs. E. D. Crumpacker. A sketch, “The Woman of It,” was presented by nine ladies. Refreshments were served at the close.
March 22, 1920
The State Bank of Valparaiso (14 Indiana Avenue), organized in 1889 by William E. Pinney, John Wark, and others, with a capital stock of $35,000, has increased its capital to $100,000. At the same time the Thrift Trust Company, affiliated with the bank, has a capital of $50,000, giving the two institutions a combined capital and surplus of $183,500 (≈ $2.35M).
March 23, 1920
Valparaiso is to have another laundry if present plans materialize. A company is being formed to operate an establishment in the John Peters second hand store, south of the Leetz Grocery (Indiana Avenue).
March 24, 1920
A home building corporation with a capitalization of $125,000 (≈ $1.6M) is being planned for Valparaiso. Action in the matter was taken at a meeting of the chamber of commerce last night. Under the plan adopted it is proposed to erect twenty-five homes within the next four months.
March 25, 1920
Mrs. Jennie Beckman Barnes, of Valparaiso, is quite a detective, according to Nashville, Tennessee, reports Mrs. Barnes is credited with catching redhanded a bunch of crooks who had been practicing fraud and robbery on widows and orphans and weak-minded people under a religious guise. Mrs. Barnes, according to the story from Nashville went there in receipt of a letter from officials of a home similar to one she had planned to establish in Valparaiso. During her investigation she discovered that the operators of the so-called home were in reality not what they claimed to be but pretenders who had robbed persons of their property entrusted to them. Mrs. Barnes was threatened with death unless she turned over her property but she managed to escape and notify authorities. The federal government is now investigating the operators of the home.
March 26, 1920
Because of the increased number of voters expected in Porter County, due to women voting, Porter County Commissioners have decided to redistrict the county, adding six new precincts. Three of the precincts will be in Center Township, and one each in Boone, Pleasant, and Westchester Townships.
March 27, 1920
The Valparaiso City Council last night accepted the gift of Fred Kirchoff of property on the northeast limits of the city and $9,000 (≈$115,046 in 2020 dollars) in cash and bonds to be used for park purposes. Kirchoff left the property to the city in his will.
March 28, 1920
Plans for a new theatre to occupy the Hotel Spindler site recently purchased by G. G. Shauer & Sons, are going forward, according to announcement made today. It is expected bids for construction of the new playhouse will be asked within a few weeks.
While the Standard Oil Company is wrecking the old hitch barn and erecting its new service station at the corner of Lincolnway and Napoleon, opposite the postoffice (Valparaiso City Hall), the sale of oils will go on. A shanty has been erected between the sidewalk and street to be used as a pumping station. The new station is not expected to be completed until late summer.
March 29, 1920
Kouts vicinity suffered severe damage Sunday when a twister hit that section. The L. Decrow home near Kouts was demolished and Mrs. Decrow injured. Mr. Decrow was coming in from the barn at the time the storm broke and saved himself by lying flat on the ground. Very little damage was caused in Valparaiso, though the wind blew and rain and hail fell.
March 30, 1920
No story for this date.
March 31, 1920
Thieves visited Kouts. At the John Benkie drug store they carried away articles valued at $200. Fountain pens comprised the loot. Several sacks of flour were taken at the Anderson store and sacks of sugar at the Erie freight house.