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.
May 1, 1920
Fire threatened to destroy the College Pharmacy on College Hill early today, causing considerable damage. The fire started in the studding in the second floor and ran up the joists to the roof. One university student occupying a room upstairs was awakened when plaster fell on him. The fire department did good work in saving the building.
May 2, 1920
The Indiana Public Service Commission has granted an increase of rates to the Hebron Telephone Company, effective May 1. A tentative valuation of $21,583 was placed on the property. The new rates will yield a return of 7 per cent on the valuation of the property. The new rates range from $1.50 to $2.00.
May 3, 1920
The Schleman-Morton Company opened for business today in the present William Schleman offices over the Farmers’ State Bank. The company will deal in city property and farm lands. It was recently incorporated by the secretary of state.
May 4, 1920
George W. Wyman was elected president of Immanuel Lutheran Men’s Club at a meeting held in the church assembly room. Other officers named were: John Wheeler, secretary; Chris Bliss, treasurer; Charles Ohlfest and John Sievers, directors; C. F. Specht, Louis Kull and H. E. Sievers, entertainment committee.
May 5, 1920
Hiram Johnson, of California, led the presidential candidates in Porter County’s primary election. The vote was: Johnson, 1,820; General Leonard Wood, 510; Frank Lowden, 232; Warren Harding, 190. The vote on the building of a livestock pavilion at the fair grounds was lost by a vote of 1,599 to 1,529. J. S. Bartholomew, for prosecutor, and William Pennington, for sheriff, were the successful county nominees in the only contests held.
May 6, 1920
Since the first of October the city jail has housed 1,368 wayfarers, according to statistics compiled at city hall police station.
May 7, 1920
Stone for maintenance of Lincoln Highway through Porter County will soon be received here, according to announcement made today. The state department will maintain the highway until the road is hard-surfaced.
May 8, 1920
Washington Township High School won the Porter County track meet held yesterday at the fair grounds with 34.5 points. Wheeler was second with 33, Kouts third with 20.5, Chesterton fourth with 7, and Jackson Center, fifth with 1. Valparaiso High did not compete.
May 9, 1920
The New York-New England and Eastern divisions of the Lewis E. Myers & Company are now in process of incorporation into a single unit with headquarters in New York City. Offices were opened in the Flatiron building May 1. Robert B. Wise and Christopher Ruess will become the executive heads of the business centered in New York.
May 10, 1920
A big truck carrying a load of seven tons of steel crashed through the bridge over Crooked Creek in Washington Township on Wanatah Road yesterday afternoon. The cost of replacing the bridge will be $7,500.
May 11, 1920
W. F. Spooner was elected treasurer of the tenth district democratic central committee at a meeting held in Rensselaer. Edward Simon, of Hammond, was elected chairman.
May 12, 1920
Captain Walter Hiltpold, Werner Hiltpold, Roy Stansell, John Fabing, and Carroll Sievers, of this year’s VHS basketball team, were awarded sweaters at the annual presentation at the high school. V letters were given to Earl Scott, captain-elect; Charles Coyer, Arthur Mains, and Lowell Dowdell, and monograms to Tom and Bartlett Marimon, Otis Sanford, and Kenneth Lawrence.
May 13, 1920
The several carloads of sugar that have been in the Grand Trunk yards for the past month, were sent to the Corn Products Company at Granite City, Ill. The sugar on the tracks here ranged from four to twenty cars. It had been sold and consigned to many persons, each time showing a profit. Valparaiso stores which tried to buy some of it were unable to make a deal. The sugar was bought at twelve cents and thirty cents was asked a pound.
May 14, 1920
The Phoenix Club of Valparaiso is endeavoring to bring Ted Lewis and his jazz band to this city to play for a dance to be given by the club in the near future. Lewis and his band are headliners in the Greenwich Village Follies now playing at the Studebaker in Chicago.
May 15, 1920
The Valparaiso City Council last night was deadlocked on the proposition of buying two new auto fire trucks. Aldermen George F. Beach, J. R. Pagin, and J. W. DeWitt voted to buy the trucks, but Alderman A. J. Worstell, Z. J. McMahan, and Louis Gast voted no. Mayor Sisson cast the deciding vote against the purchase on the grounds that be believed purchase of the equipment was up to the council. The council is desirous of buying the equipment but are unable to agree on the kind. Some want to buy one big truck, others one big and one small, and others two of the same size.
May 16, 1920
Last evening teachers of the Gardner School gave a farewell party to Miss Margaret Cameron Beer at the home of Miss Clara Crosby. Miss Beer has been principal at Gardner for the last ten years. A musical program was given by Miss Adeline Amstutz, accompanied by her sister, Mrs. H. R. Roberts. Mrs. C. W. Boucher presented Miss Beer with a beautiful pocketbook.
Boone Grove defeated the Valparaiso Penslars at Boone Grove yesterday 2 to 0. Maloney pitched for Boone Grove and Pettsner for Valparaiso. Both Boone Grove runs were result of errors.
May 17, 1920
A branch of the Friends of Irish Freedom may be organized in Valparaiso, as a result of an address here yesterday by David O’Connor, Irish Sinn Fein editor. The meeting was held in Community Hall on Indiana Avenue. Rev. E. J. Mungovan presided. P. T. O’Sullivan of South Chicago, spoke briefly and introduced Mr. O’Connor.
May 18, 1920
Bert Annis, former manager of the South Bend and Grand Rapids baseball teams, and Mrs. Katherine McFannon, both of South Bend were killed when their automobile truck was struck by a Pennsylvania train near Louck’s Crossing. A $2,000 bank draft and diamonds valued at $8,000 were found on Annis. South Bend advises were that Annis left South Bend with $13,000. Local authorities are investigating.
May 19, 1920
The Porter County Council at a meeting today appropriated the sum of $28,450 of which all was for new bridges in the county, with exception of $100 for repair of the fair grounds fence. Two bridges, one over the Reeves ditch, and one on the Wanatah Road, east of Valparaiso, were wrecked recently by automobile trucks going through them.
May 20, 1920
Charles Wark was elected chairman of the newly organized merchant section of the Chamber at a get-to-gether smoker and gathering held last night. The new section will meet again Friday to outline a program of work.
Edgar D. Crumpacker, former congressman from the Tenth District, and former judge of the Indiana Appellate Court, died last night at his home in this city. He had been in failing health for some time. He retired from congress on March 4, 1913, after serving nine terms.
May 21, 1920
At a meeting of the merchants’ branch of the chamber of commerce last night it was voted to close Thursday afternoons during the months of June, July, and August. Holding of a July Fourth celebration was also discussed.
May 22, 1920
Much of the corn that was killed in Porter County several weeks ago has been replanted and conditions for a bumper crop are said to be excellent, according to reports received here by County Agent S. B. Sink.
May 23, 1920
John M. Tennery will address the republican women at a meeting in the home of Mrs. C. A. Nixon. He will talk on “Workings of the State Convention.” Several other talks will be made on various topics.
May 24, 1920
A class of 13 was confirmed in a beautiful and impressive service held at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Rev. C. W. Baer preached the sermon. The church was well filled. The class comprised: Huldah Wiemuth, Margaret Erler, Luella Goodrich, Flora Baer, Bernice Ahlgrim, Laura Nehring, Geneva Lutz, Bertha Fritz, Helen Dinse, Dorothy Kindt, Ernest Barneko, Paul Domke, and Vernon Dinse.
May 25, 1920
Valparaiso’s Chamber drafted plans for an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration. The entire county will be asked to join. A big parade will be a feature. Fireworks and a band concert will be other attractions.
May 26, 1920
Three years ago today (1917) the fatal and destructive cyclone hit the south part of Porter County, wrecking buildings and doing much damage to property in Kouts and Hebron, and surrounding territory.
May 27, 1920
Governor W. L. Harding of Iowa was the speaker at the annual commencement exercises of Valparaiso University held in Elocution Hall this morning. Two degrees were conferred by President Henry Kinsey Brown on Daniel R. Hogsdon for services in the educational world and accomplishments in authorship, and to Frank B. Morten for services in engineering and science.
May 28, 1920
Sheridan Beach, at Flint Lake, will begin its season’s activities tomorrow with fine prospects. Cottages at the lake have been in great demand, according to S. Freund, proprietor at Sheridan Beach. The demand has been greater this year for cottages than ever before, resort owners state.
May 29, 1920
The Valparaiso City Council last night purchased a new Service fire truck, manufactured at Wabash, Ind., at a price of $6,372.25.
May 30, 1920
Mrs. A. M. McKenzie, age 66 years, mother of Mrs. H. M. Jessee, is in critical condition at Christian Hospital from a bullet wound in the head received while she was sitting in the rear yard at the Jessee home in McIntyre Court. The bullet is believed to have been fired by small boys shooting in the neighborhood at targets.
May 31, 1920
Charles Ohlfest, B. B. Morgan, and Francis Bushore have gone to St. Paul, Minn., to attend the national Holstein cattle sale. They have authority to purchase a Holstein bull for the local association at a price not to exceed $5,000.