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.
June 1, 1920
At the annual meeting of the rural route carriers of Porter County, John W. Gilburn, of Valparaiso, was named president; Herbert Foseland, of Chesterton, vice-president; E. A. Mitzner, Valparaiso, secretary-treasurer; Elmer Gay, Valparaiso, delegate to the state convention; Charles Magnuson, Valparaiso, alternate.
June 2, 1920
The Chautauqua Manufacturing Company was purchased yesterday by Lewis E. Myers, following an action of the stockholders at a meeting held in Chicago at which time it was voted to dissolve the corporation and offer its assets for sale. The deed for the real estate involved a consideration of $18,125.11. While the amount paid for the personal property was not disclosed the amount for the realty and personalty is said to be $100,000. The Chautauqua Mfg. Co. will be dissolved and a new corporation called the Lewis E. Myers Company will be formed. Factory operations will be continued without interruption under the direction of John A. Hauff.
June 3, 1920
The 29th anniversary of the dedication of Immanuel Lutheran (now Heritage Lutheran) Church of this city will be celebrated with special services Sunday. The building on North Washington Street was dedicated by Rev. W. J. B. Lange in 1891.
June 4, 1920
Albert W. Snyder, of Madison, Ind., is here and began work as official tester for the Porter County Cow Testing Association. Work in testing has been at a standstill for some time owing to the lack of a tester.
June 5, 1920
Professor Daniel Russell Hodgdon has assumed the position of Dean of the Faculty of Valparaiso University. His work is to be connected with the advancement of educational activities of the school, thus relieving Henry K. Brown and permitting him to devote his time to the business of the institution.
If plans of Frank Randolph Chandler, Chicago real estate man, are successful, “Dunes City,” a gigantic Atlantic City will arise on the sand wastes north of Chesterton. The Indiana Dunes Land Company has already been formed and will purchase land and develop it. A million-dollar bond issue will be floated.
June 6, 1920
Boone Grove baseball team strengthened its hold on the Northern Indiana Semi-Pro Championship by defeating the Valparaiso Penslars at the fair grounds 5 to 4. It was a pitcher’s battle between Maloney, of Boone Grove, and Martin, of Valparaiso. Valparaiso took the lead of 4 to 2 in the first two innings but Boone Grove kept hammering away, picked up one run in the sixth and two in the eighth to win. Maloney held Penslars runless after the second.
June 7, 1920
Charles Ohlfest and Francis Bushore have returned from St. Paul, Minn., where they attended the National Holstein Cattle Sale. They purchased for the Porter County Holstein Association, of which they are members, a Holstein bull for $7,200. The animal is 17 months of age and was one of the best shown at the sale.
A mad dog recently bit several animals in the herd of Harry Vergin, in Porter Township, and one of the cows went mad and was killed.
June 8, 1920
John T. Scott, Valparaiso Postmaster, was reappointed postmaster for another four years. Saturday his nomination by President Wilson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Postmaster Scott was gift named on February 3, 1916, succeeding M. J. Stinchfield.
June 9, 1920
Rev. J. M. Gelston tendered his resignation to the trustees and elders of the Presbyterian Church, effective October 1. Illness of his wife was given as the reason for his resignation. Dr. Gelston has been pastor of the local church for ten years.
June 10, 1920
The Jahns Bus Line Company of LaPorte will inaugurate a bus line between Valparaiso and Kouts and Wheatfield within two weeks. This was the announcement by the chamber of commerce officials today. In addition to carrying passengers the Jahns line will handle packages and express.
June 11, 1920
The first real touch of summer came yesterday and is continuing today. The high point reached by the mercury yesterday was 91 above at the government station at Flint Lake.
June 12, 1920
E. Leslie Loomis, whose school board term expires in August, was re-elected to the board for another term at a meeting of the city council last evening.
June 13, 1920
Elba Firebaugh, of near Kouts, rescued his two-year-old son yesterday from drowning in a well. The child fell into the well and was not noticed until Mrs. Firebaugh made a search and discovered it in the well. Mr. Firebaugh jumped into the well containing two feet of water and pulled the lad out.
Hebron was visited by a miniature cyclone Sunday. A heavy storm, accompanied by lightning, struck the town about 5 o’clock.
June 14, 1920
Officials of the City of Valparaiso will enforce the ordinance against fireworks. No discharge of fireworks will be permitted within the corporation limits, nor will merchants be permitted to sell fireworks.
June 15, 1920
At a meeting of the directors of the chamber of commerce it was decided to revive the Porter County Fair. J. O, Ellis, E. H. Hartwick and Rodney Ellis, fair promoters, were present. They, with the assistance of H. M. Lackey, chamber secretary, will be in charge of the fair promotion. Offices will be opened in the chamber of commerce rooms.
June 16, 1920
C. W. Beam, who has been operating the West End store, opposite the post office, has sold his merchandise and will quit business. With his wife he will leave for California to reside. He formerly conducted a store on College Hill.
June 17, 1920
The thorough bred calves obtained by County Agent S. B. Sink in New York state were distributed to members of the Boys’ Calf Club here this afternoon.
June 18, 1920
Porter County is opposed to the move by Gary and Michigan City interests to establish a state park in the sand dunes of north Porter County. Local people see it as a move to crowd out steel competition of the Gary mills. Under the proposed plans of the park advocates, it is proposed to take eight miles of lake front for the new park.
June 19, 1920
The work of placing fixtures in the new Citizens’ Savings & Trust Bank on Lincolnway is progressing rapidly. It is expected the new bank will be ready for opening within a short time.
June 20, 1920
Robert B. Ewing, former Valparaiso City Clerk and connected with Valparaiso University offices, dropped dead Saturday afternoon while working at his garden on Lincoln Avenue (now Brown Street). Apoplexy was the cause of death.
June 21, 1920
Members of the Service Club of Specht-Finney Company Store were entertained last evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Herrick, the occasion being their 20th wedding anniversary. Miss Ida Bloom read an original poem.
Jack, the peeper and grabber, has created considerable consternation among young ladies of the city during last week. Jack has been molesting girls returning to their homes from the theatres. Police are on the lookout for the fellow.
June 22, 1920
Several hundred Valparaiso and Porter County women will receive Red Cross certificates in recognition of services faithfully performed in behalf of the nation during the World War.
June 23, 1920
The Valparaiso City Band will give concerts and dances Sunday at Burlington Beach at Flint Lake. Charles Specht, proprietor of Burlington Beach, has offered the band use of his place free of charge.
June 24, 1920
The Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury was ordered to report at the court house yesterday. The session is expected to be short. A report will probably be made tomorrow.
June 25, 1920
The dreaded army worm has invaded Porter County, according to reports. Farmers living near Westville state that traces of the worm have been observed in the fields.
June 26, 1920
Valparaiso will remain on Central Standard Time as at present. The Valparaiso City Council last night did not take any action on the ordinance presented asking that daylight savings time be adopted.
June 27, 1920
The Jahns Bus Line from Valparaiso to Wheatfield began its operation this morning. The bus leaves Wheatfield every morning at 7:30 p.m., and makes two trips daily between the two places.
June 28, 1920
At a meeting of the Fourth of July committee yesterday plans were made for a monster celebration to be staged in this city on July 5. A pageant parade in the morning will be a feature. More than 100 floats are already entered.
June 29, 1920
Reports come to Valparaiso that the new Clearly Hotel proposition wherein a four-story modern hotel is to be erected on the Hotel Spindler (Central Park Plaza) site is progressing rapidly as possible. Illness of the principal members of the concern is responsible for the delay.
June 30, 1920
At a meeting of the chamber of commerce today an agreement signed by 65 business men to operate on daylight savings time beginning at midnight on next Monday was presented. The signers claimed they are going on the new time to obtain uniformity with surrounding cities.