Looking Back • November 1921

November 1, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club was organized last night at the chamber of commerce rooms with the election of the following officers: J. H. McGill, president; John M. Oldham, vice-president; R. C. Breth, secretary; C. W. Boucher, treasurer. Directors are J. H. McGill, J. M. Oldham, C. E. Foster, L. M. Pierce, V. R. Despard and Harlow Smith. The club has taken an option on the John H. Kuehl property, east of Bull’s Eye Lake.

November 2, 1921

Last evening at Hebron a new council of the North American Union Lodge, to be known as Welfare Council No. 353, was instituted with fifty-four members. A Chicago degree team put on the degree and C. A. Gillespie of the supreme council of the order acted as installing officer. Delegations were present from Kouts, Chesterton, and Valparaiso. Arthur Hiatt is president of the Hebron council and Robert Taylor, vice-president. A dinner was served by Mrs. Gordon of the Hebron hotel. William Mohnssen, of Valparaiso, organized the council.

November 3, 1921

Berte D. McMahan qualified this morning in the Porter Circuit Court before Judge H. H. Loring as administrator of the estate of Martin Bernstein Goldstein, one of the thirty-seven victims of the Porter wreck on February 27, 1921. Kohy and Galvin are attorneys for the estate.

On the face of returns, Joseph A. Kitchen, former graduate of Valparaiso University, has been elected to the post of commissioner of agriculture and labor on the Independent ticket in the recall election last Friday in North Dakota. Mr. Kitchen obtained his L. L. D. and M. A. degrees at the local school.

November 4, 1921

Thirty years is not such a long time to be in a profession or trade, but it is a goodly span of years when one has worked at his trade without a letup. Lawrence Lauer, of the Louis Raymond Blacksmith Shop, has followed the farrier’s trade for that length of time. He commenced work for David Barry in a partnership and after several years sold out and took employment with Mr. Raymond where he is still actively engaged.

Homer Londonberg has resigned his position with the Commercial Oil and Supply Company and with his family will leave soon for Tampa, Fla., to reside. Mr. and Mrs. A. Londonberg, parents of Mr. Londonberg, reside near Tampa. Roy Gossett will succeed Mr. Londonberg with the Commercial Oil and Supply Company.

November 5, 1921

The Hanrahan Road, commencing at the Liberty Township line, north of Valparaiso, and extending through the hills of Liberty Township to the south precincts of Chesterton, is nearing completion. Work on the highway was commenced in June by P. T. Clifford & Son, railroad contractors, of Valparaiso. Thirty-five thousand yards of cut and fill was necessary in the construction of the road.

Valparaiso University gridders yesterday defeated the Milwaukee Tech at Brown Field 14 to 0. Rossenthal and Stepp scored touchdowns for Valparaiso and Anderson kicked both goals.

November 6, 1921

The church bells of Valparaiso will be ringing each day at noon until Friday. This is to call all the people to pause in their work and offer prayer for divine guidance in the disarmament conference which is to convene Friday in Washington.

The American Legion football team of Valparaiso defeated the Hammond Maroons Sunday at the fairgrounds, 13 to 2. Chartier and Gilliland made touchdowns and Ed Cowdrey kicked one goal. Hammond scored its only points on a safety by Chartier.

November 7, 1921

R. D. Ross, of Valparaiso, has been a member of the Old Fellows Lodge for 47 years. He joined the order at Largo, Wabash County, in 1874. In 1880 he came to Valparaiso and established himself in the hardware business. After several years he erected buildings on the site of the present federal post office building and remained there 25 years. He then sold out to enter the automobile business. Colonel Herman Hagem has been an Odd Fellow 45 years.

Ross McLellan, former Valparaiso man, who has been in Valparaiso, Chile, for the last six months, in the interests of the Westinghouse Electric Company, has just closed a contract with the Chilean railroad for the electrification of the Chilean railroad at an outlay of $7,000,000.

November 8, 1921

E. W. Agar was elected mayor, and Grace Blachly, city clerk, at yesterday’s Valparaiso city election. Agar defeated John D. Stoner 1,374 to 1,133, and Mrs. Blachly was winner over Mrs. Mary Shaw 1,568 to 714. John R. Burch and B. D. McMahan defeated Mrs. Bessie Parker and Harry Hodsden for councilman-at-large; E. S. Miller defeated Samuel Wallace for councilman first ward; S. E. Collins defeated L. T. Campbell in the second ward; Louis Gast won from Fred Wittenberg in the third ward, and W. Blaine Williams defeated Herman Ealing in the fourth ward. All the successful candidates are republicans.

November 9, 1921

Valparaiso and vicinity was visited by the first snowstorm of the season last evening. The snow was preceded by rain. Drivers of automobiles found the going difficult. The snow turned to slush soon after it fell.

November 10, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club has filed its articles of incorporation with the secretary of state at Indianapolis. The club has no capital stock and its object of organization is for social purposes. The directors are: James H. McGill, C. W. Boucher, C. E. Foster, L. M. Pierce, V. R. Despard and Harlow Smith.

The Valparaiso city election Tuesday will cost taxpayers of Valparaiso about $1,000, or about 40 cents for each vote cast for mayor. Each inspector received $12 each; each judge, clerk, or assistant clerk, $9 each, and each sheriff, $6 each.

November 11, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club has received its charter from the secretary of state and the organization is now ready to proceed with plans for next season. The membership committee reports that the 100 membership will soon be reached.

A fairly heavy snowfall which turned into a slush marked the weather for the third observance of Armistice Day. As a result the celebration arranged for 1 o’clock at the courthouse yard was transferred to the M. E. church. Valparaiso schools closed at noon for the day as well as business houses. Banks, the post office, and blacksmith shops enjoyed a full holiday.

November 12, 1921

Kalamazoo College defeated Valparaiso University yesterday at Brown field, 12 to 0. The game was played in a field of mud. Kalamazoo scored both its touchdowns on long runs. Captain Malcosmson and Spurgeon were best for the winners, and Evans, Rosenthal, and Hiltpold were Valpo’s stars.

Samuel E. Collins was elected councilman of the second ward by the city council last night to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. James R. Pagin. Mr. Collins was elected to the position at the November election but would not have taken office until January first.

November 13, 1921

John B. Perrine, formerly of Valparaiso, is dead at Valparaiso, Florida, a town which he founded five years ago. He served as the first mayor of the town and was acting at the time of his death. He also founded the Valparaiso Messenger, a newspaper in Florida. Mr. Perrine was formerly the head of the Monarch Publishing Company of Valparaiso and Wheeler.

The Lacrosse branch of the Maxwell Implement Company of Valparaiso has been sold to Otto C. Wobith, of San Pierre, Ind. Mr. Wobith was formerly engaged in the hardware business at San Pierre.

November 14, 1921

A new carpet is being placed in the Porter Circuit Courtroom. The work is in charge of E. M. Burns, the court bailiff. Two hundred and twenty-five yards of carpet was required to cover the room. The old carpet was put down about twenty years ago.

The Valparaiso Home Water Company on Saturday completed the extension of a new main in Chautauqua Park, beginning at Campbell Street, running west on Bond Avenue to Madison, north on Madison Avenue to the city limits. Today the water company started work on an extension in the Alpen Subdivision.

November 15, 1921

The Valparaiso Lodge of Elks is moving into its new quarters in Dr. J. R. Pagin’s residence, corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso, recently purchased by the lodge. The lodge will initiate the new meeting on November 23 with a game supper and entertainment.

November 16, 1921

Dr. John E. Roessler, president of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, is at Indianapolis attending the annual convention of the Savings and Loan Association League at Hotel Severin.

November 17, 1921

The new school at Garyton being built by Trustee Herman W. Swanson is nearing completion. The building is 44 x 64 feet and will cost $30,000. It will be one story with a 10 foot basement and the walls will be built with double strength to carry two stories.

The murder case of Leon Cole, of Gary, has been venued here to Porter Circuit Court from Lake County. Cole is charged with the murder of Julius Gunther, a Gary policeman, on Sept. 26, 1921. Gunter was called to South Washington Street, Gary, by a report that a negro had been shot. When he entered the building Cole fired and Gunther fell mortally wounded.

November 18, 1921

That thousands of acres of reclaimed land in the Kankakee Valley may become the property of the State of Indiana and turned over to the state conservation department loomed yesterday with the visit of State Auditor Oliver to the region on a tour of inspection. If Mr. Oliver makes a favorable report it is considered probable that much of the glory of the Kankakee country as a hunting resort of Indiana and Illinois sportsmen may be restored. The state is claiming title to large tracts of reclaimed land, and if title is asserted and established old time game preserves will become the property of the state, and accessible to hunters during the non-prohibitive seasons.

Mr. and Mrs. Myron J. Draper went to Chicago today to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. On November 18, 1896, Mr. Drapier and Mrs. Hattie Eason were married at the home of Miss Eason’s brother, Seth Eason, on North Franklin Avenue by Rev. J. Budman Fleming, of the Presbyterian church in the presence of 175 guests. A wedding supper was served at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. A. D. Bartholomew.

November 19, 1921

Valparaiso University and St. Viator College staged a scoreless tie yesterday at Bourbonnais, Ill. Both teams were handicapped by bad playing conditions, and the team work of both teams was affected. Valparaiso was also handicapped by the absence of four regulars, but played snappy ball.

The chop suey restaurant at 119 East Lincolnway, owned by J. Buck, who came here from Gary, was damaged by fire at 1:30 o’clock in the morning today. The Vesta Battery Company on the first floor owned by Vernon Barnhizer was damaged $1,500. The Buck loss was $3,000, and John Sievers, owner of the building, suffered a $1,500 loss.

November 20, 1921

Farmers of Porter County will help in the appeal for grain for the Near East relief being made by Purdue agriculture committee, headed by G. I. Christiem, which is cooperating with the relief organization. Last year Porter County was the first to ship a carload of corn to Europe.

R. D. Raymond has sold the old Jacob Chartier property on South Street to Amandus Doelling, of Dupage County, Illinois. Mr. Doelling and family will move to Valparaiso.

November 21, 1921

The new Bloch Restaurant on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, which has been undergoing repairs for the last four months, will open this evening for inspection. The formal opening is scheduled for tomorrow. The arrangements are after the style of the Child’s and Thompson Restaurants in Chicago. The improvements cost $15,000.

November 22, 1921

Attorney T. P. Galvin, of Valparaiso, and John Horn and Francis Gast, of Indiana Harbor, formerly of Valparaiso, were members of a class of 125 to receive the fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus at Hammond yesterday. A banquet was served at the Hotel Lyndora.

November 23, 1921

Mrs. Bertha Stoltz, of Morgan Township, was murdered yesterday by John Nollick, 16-year-old orphan boy who lived at the Stoltz home. Mrs. Stoltz, before she died, was able to give an account of the shooting to authorities.

Rev. Clarence Mitchell, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Valparaiso, has resigned his pastorate here and will go to Cincinnati, O., January 1, 1922, to assume charge of a church there.

November 24, 1921

The new home of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso was dedicated last night with a game supper and exercises. More than 400 members attended. J. S. Bartholomew, past exalted ruler and charter member of the lodge, addressed the gathering. Mr. Bartholomew told of how the membership, numbering 60, purchased the building on West Lincolnway, went into debt to the extent of $12,000 after paying for the building which is worth $25,000. In closing his talk he drew forth a document, the mortgage on the old building and burned the instrument.

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz at her home in Morgan Township Monday night, was captured last night when he returned to the Stoltz barn in the daytime. Mollick shot Mrs. Stoltz with a shotgun without any apparent reason. He was living with the Stoltz family. The boy was unable to explain why he shot Mrs. Stoltz.

November 25, 1921

Valparaiso’s newest and most up-to-date theatre, the Premier, was thrown open to the public Wednesday evening. T. P. Galvin, speaking for the Shauer interests, builders, and owners of the theatre, spoke of the difficulties connected with its construction. Mayor E. W. Agar was introduced and dedicated the theatre to the people of Valparaiso. A showing of “The Great Moment,” featuring Gloria Swanson, was shown. A six-piece orchestra provided music.

November 26, 1921

The muster roll of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 2, of Valparaiso, has been completed with a membership of 100. R. E. (Sam) Huston, a member of the local post, is state commander of the organization. Harry Hulce is commander of the new post; Edward F. Boyle vice-commander; Leon Cashdollar, adjutant; Herman Bauer, assistant adjutant; Emil Petrach, treasurer; Everett Fulton, George W. Carr, John W. Vogt, Charles Hall, Lauren (Bud) Maudlin, executive committee.

November 27, 1921

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, was held to the Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury by Coroner H. O. Seipel today following a coroner’s inquest into the death of Mrs. Bertha Stoltz, of Morgan Township, shot by Mollick last Monday night.

Thirty-six persons were granted final naturalization papers yesterday in Judge H. H. Loring’s Porter Circuit Court. J. E. Riley, of Chicago, naturalization examiner, conducted examination of applicants.

November 28, 1921

The M. S. Sunday school, which is waging a camp for 1,000 members by Easter, yesterday surpassed the goal of 600 set by the school for that day. Six hundred and ten persons were in attendance. Dr. Bert E. Smith, superintendent of the adult department of the Sunday school of the state, was a guest.

William Flanagan, age 30 years, an instructor for the last six months in the vulcanizing department, Valparaiso University, under the federal vocational board training, was found asphyxiated this morning in a rooming house at Baltimore. Mr. Flannagan left Valparaiso last Friday for Baltimore according to Harold Sturdy, in charge of the vocational training department here.

November 29, 1921

An attempt is being made by people living in the north end of Union Township and the south part of Portage Township to create a new school district for the purpose of building a new school at Wheeler. If successful, three schools, Cherry Glen, Peck, and Gordon, will be abandoned.

November 30, 1921

Boone Grove turned on its electric lights last evening. The current is obtained from the Hebron Electric Company, which also supplies Kouts. Nearly every business and many residences are equipped. Only a part of the lights were turned on last night.