February 1, 1922
The Valparaiso & Northern, operating from Valparaiso to Chesterton, and leasing the Gary Connecting Line from Woodville to Gary, was sold yesterday in Chicago by Stance C. Mosser, of Bolger, Mosser and Williams, Chicago bankers, chairman of the bondholders’ protection committee, to Frank J. Baker, for the sum of $32,250 ($32,250 in 2022). The Valparaiso & Northern was purchased by the bondholders at a sale four years ago. The gross earnings of the road have increased from $88,000 in 1918 (1,624,806.36 in 2022) to $132,000 in 1921 ($2,055,970.06 in 2022). The appraisal value of the property by the public service commission is $284,000 ($4,713,081.43 in 2022).
The Porter wreck cases, growing out of the Michigan Central and Lake Shore train crash on February 27, 1921, will be called for trial in Porter Circuit Court on February 7. W. S. Hart, of Lansing, Mich., engineer on the Michigan Central train, charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of thirty-seven persons, will be tried first. Prosecutor J. S. Bartholomew said the state was ready to try the case but the outcome will depend on the presence of three witnesses from Michigan.
February 2, 1922
Jack Rose, well known singer in vaudeville theatres in the United States and famous as a song writer, and Janet Lawson, whose stage name is Jeanette Odette, a Ziegfeld beauty and member of the “Follies” were united in marriage by Justice W. W. Bozarth here today. Rose is a native of London, England. Recently Miss Lawson sued Rose for $50,000 ($829,767.86 in 2022) for breach of promise, but the suit was later dropped.
R. W. Lytle has completed the filling of his huge ice houses at Flint Lake. It is estimated that about 8,000 tons were harvested. From all reports all persons storing ice this year got a good supply.
February 3, 1922
Edward A. Mitzner, of the Mitzner & Greiger Grocery, has purchased the Maxwell Implement Company building on South Washington Street in Valparaiso, occupied by the McMahan Grocery.
Valparaiso University girls’ basketball team defeated Hobart last evening at University Gym, 5 to 4. The locals’ lineup comprised Deinger, forwards; Detman and Bowman, centers; Brady, Blacher, and Pike, guards.
February 4, 1922
By a deal made last night the Mitzner & Greiger Grocery purchased the Specht-Finney Grocery and will take possession on Monday morning. The business will be conducted at the Specht-Finney building. The Mitzner-Greiger grocery will be continued and probably converted into a cash and carry store. If business does not warrant its retention it will be merged with the Specht-Finney store.
At a meeting of the Porter County Realtors Association last night a resolution was passed putting the association on record as opposed to the new federal judgeship to be created in Indiana. Copies of the resolution were sent to the United States Senators, all congressmen and Congressman Volstead, who is chairman of the committee.
February 5, 1922
St. Paul’s quint, of Valparaiso, defeated the strong Hammond All Saints’ five Saturday opening on the Hammond floor, 20-13. Bud Gannon started the scoring for the locals, and Captain Nolan and Finnegan followed with well-placed shots. Valparaiso led at half-time, 17-5. Kinder and Hall did fine work at guarding the Hammond players.
E. F. Rainer, who left here last fall with his family for California for the benefit of his wife’s health, writes to friends here from Whittier, Calif., that Mrs. Rainier has practically regained her health.
February 6, 1922
Dr. J. E. Roessler, President of Valparaiso University, and Mrs. Roessler, left today for Indianapolis to attend the inauguration of Robert Judson Aley as president of Butler University. Mr. Aley was a classmate of Prof. Roessler and was graduated from the scientific department of Valparaiso University in 1880.
Mozart’s “The Impresario,” was presented at Valparaiso University Auditorium Saturday evening under the personal direction of J. William Wade Hinshaw, of New York City, former teachers of voice at the university. Percy Hemus, one of the best baritones in America, sang the principal role, supported by an All-American cast.
February 7, 1922
John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz in Morgan Township on November 22, 1921, will go on trial February 22 in Porter Circuit Court. P. J. Bailey has been retained by relatives of the boy to defend him. A plea of insanity will probably be filed.
February 8, 1922
Albert Holloway of Yeomans, Ill., was yesterday awarded the contract on three gravel roads by the county commissioners as follows: Valentine Hahn Road, Porter Township, $64,904.74 ($1,077,117.34 in 2022); Frank Foltz Road, Porter Township, $29,100 ($482,924.89 in 2022); Jerry Garvey Road, Boone Township, $8,683 ($144,097.49 in 2022).
February 9, 1922
Parent-Teacher Associations for Central, Gardner, and Columbia Schools were organized at mass meetings held at the Central School last evening. A. A. Hughart, former school superintendent, presided. Chairmen were elected as follows: Mrs. Mynnic Gordon, Central; Mrs. J. G. Kenan, Gardner; Mrs. A. R. Putnam, Columbia.
Charles Sheffield was elected chairman and John R. Burch, secretary, of the Porter County Fair Board at a meeting held yesterday at the county clerk’s office. A committee was also named to look over the fair grounds and ascertain what repairs were needed for the fair in September.
February 10, 1922
Six big freight cars piled up across the tracks of the New York Central Railroad at the exact spot where the great Porter wreck of February 27, 1921, occurred when thirty-seven persons lost their lives. The place presented much the same sight as one of a year ago, but no lives were lost.
Another attempt was made to burn the Carver School in Pine Township. Kerosene saturated rags were placed in the building but failed to burn. Last September two men tried to burn the building after being ordered away by Miss Katheryn Maxwell, of Valparaiso, the teacher. Nearby farmers saved the building.
February 11, 1922
Valparaiso High School lost to LaPorte at University Gym last night, 18-15. Wise and Boardman did fine work for LaPorte. G. Douglas and Lembke, forwards; Seymour, center, and Scott and Leetz, guards were the local lineup.
Nearly all the loot stolen from the Three Trails Auto Service shop a month ago by five men has been recovered at Chicago Heights, Ill. Fifty-eight automobile tires, and fifty-one inner tubes, comprised the loot. Walter Davis, proprietor of the Three Trails, went to Chicago Heights today after the loot.
February 12, 1922
Walter D. Schundt has gone to East Chicago where he will give a specialty act in the annual Elks’ show. This is Mr. Schlundt’s fourth consecutive season in the East Chicago show. He will be assisted by Boyce Gumbert, pianist of the Keith and Orpheum circuit.
William Schleman, of Valparaiso, now sojourning in Florida, was a member of a party of fishermen which captured 900 pounds of fish on February 11, near St. Petersburg. He won first prize by capturing a nineteen-pound red snapper. O. H. Powers of Evanston, Ill., and W. H. Noel of Jamestown, N.D., former Valpoites, were members of the party.
February 13, 1922
The proceeds of the Hinshaw Opera Company concert given on February 4 at University Auditorium amounted to $1,320.60 ($21,915.83 in 2022). This amount goes to the university. Professor J. E. Roessler, president of the school, today extended thanks to the public and others who assisted.
Westchester Township farmers have petitioned the county commissioners for the opening of a new road fifty feet wide, between the Westchester and Pine Township line to tap Lake Michigan. Last summer trouble resulted at Waverly Beach when a landowner placed a restriction on persons camping there. The township expended a large sum in concreting the road to the beach and a landowner is claiming the land abutting the beach and is causing trouble for persons who visit the lake.
February 14, 1922
The Foster Lumber & Coal Company was yesterday awarded the contract to remodel the Ruge building on West Lincolnway occupied by the Peoples’ Lunch Room. A new copper front will be installed, and new cement sidewalk built in place of the old stone walk. James Pappas, owner of the lunch room, plans a number of improvements. The upper part of the building will be remodeled and accommodations made for fourteen rooms.
February 15, 1922
The Valparaiso Woman’s Club celebrated its twenty-seventh anniversary in the M.E. church parlors last evening. A four-course dinner was served at 7 o’clock. Members of the Literature, Home Economic Civic, Art and History Departments provided program of the evening.
February 16, 1922
The Gary and Valparaiso Interurban yesterday filed notice with the secretary of state at Indianapolis of an increase in capital stock of $140,000 ($2,323,350 in 2022).
Between 75 and 80 persons have signed up for memberships in the new country club now being formed in Valparaiso. It is expected about a dozen new members will be obtained from Chesterton.
February 17, 1922
A number of citizens of Morgan Township residing in the southeast end near the LaPorte County line are agitating for a division of the township. The movement is believed due to the fact that other citizens have petitioned John Bell, trustee, for the construction of a new high school building. The question of dividing the township is up to the county commissioners.
Mrs. Minnie Kindt and family have moved from the Kindt Farm in Washington Township to Valparaiso, and are occupying the property at 506 East Institute Street, purchased by Mrs. Sutor.
February 18, 1922
Earl Warren Sherwood, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Sherwood, of Valparaiso, and a junior in the civil engineering department of Purdue University, drowned yesterday in the Memorial Gym swimming pool at Purdue University. His body was found by Wilbur Dittrich, a Purdue freshman. Besides his parents, he is survived by four brothers and two sisters.
Valparaiso High defeated Whiting High last night at University Gym, 21-17. Ernest Lembke was high-point man for Valparaiso with nine points, while Earl Scott’s work at guard was high class. Whity Wickhorst was Whiting’s best with nine points. Seymour showed to good advantage for the locals with three baskets.
February 19, 1922
Porter Township property owners have filed a remonstrance with the county commissioners against a bond issue for Porter Township’s share of the cost of the Frank Foltz gravel road between Porter and Boone Townships. It is contended the bond issue is excessive, that the road will not serve any householders and that the building of the road should be postponed until material prices are lower and the need is more urgent.
Mrs. Lewis E. Myers was notified yesterday of her election as delegate of the Chicago Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to the continental congress at Washington, D.C., April 19-23. Mrs. Myers will attend a meeting of delegates of the Chicago Chapter in Chicago tomorrow.
February 20, 1922
The Volunteer Rescue Army is now located on the second and third floors of the building occupied by the Szold Department Store. Major James J. McKenzie, in charge of the mission, today announced that the home is open to any person who may be down and out. Since February 9, the army has assisted 55 men, 33 of them ex-soldiers.
John Bell, trustee of Morgan Township, today gave notice that he will receive bids on March 11 for the construction of a joint high and elementary school in Morgan Township. The estimated cost of the building will be $55,000 ($912,744.64 in 2022).
February 21, 1922
Rev. E. P. Westphal, who was extended a call by the Presbyterian church of Valparaiso, preached last night in the church and he and Mrs. Westphal met the members of the church following the service. Before leaving for his home in Fulton, Ill., today he did not state whether he would accept the call but said he would take it under advisement.
February 22, 1922
More than 150 local stockholders of the Co-Operative Society of America met at Armory Hall last night and heard two field men of the company tell of the affairs of the company. They said the company was solvent, despite the bankruptcy proceedings now pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals, which they claimed was started by Chicago attorneys for the purpose of getting big attorney fees. The local stockholders were informed that the reason some of the stores of the company were sold to the National Tea was that a profit was realized on stores that were not profitable. Ninety-eight were sold to the National Tea, fifty-eight were discontinued and twenty-six are now in operation. They assured the stockholders that every dollar invested by them was safe.
February 23, 1922
Miss Mary Monohan and Miss Margaret McKezie, of the National Delphian Society, are in Valparaiso to organize a local chapter. The objects of the work is personal improvement, social progress, and higher education.
All records for the warmest Washington birthday since the Valparaiso Home Water Company started to keep water records at Flint Lake was tabulated yesterday when the mercury crawled up to sixty-nine degrees. Today Valpoites are again enjoying winter.
February 24, 1922
The body of Hasan El Maghrady, an Egyptian student at Valparaiso University who died last Friday night, will be shipped to New York City by C. W. Bartholomew, local undertaker, where it will be transferred to a steamer sailing for Cairo, Egypt.
Actual work on Westchester Township’s new high school building will commence April 1, according to J. G. Johnson, trustee. Plans for the building have been completed by Herbert Erickson, of Gary, and have been submitted to state officials for approval.
February 25, 1922
Valparaiso was rocked last night when 30 tons of dynamite exploded in a stone quarry near Argo, Ill. Many homes were shaken.
East Chicago high school defeated Valparaiso High School last night at University Gym. The score was 18-13. George Douglas caged three of the four baskets for the locals.
February 26, 1922
Valparaiso University defeated Lake Forest College at University Gym last night, 20-15. The locals were minus the services of Hiltpold and Evans. Glen Thistlewaite, new football coach at Northwestern University, refereed the game.
Valparaiso is to get better street lighting. The city council at a meeting last night authorized the lighting committee to employ the services of an expert lighting engineer to make a survey of an entire lighting system of the city.
February 27, 1922
The case of John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, charged with the slaying with a shotgun of Mrs. Robert Stoltz, of Morgan Township on November 21, 1921, was called for trial today in Porter Circuit Court. The boy has been living at the Stoltz home. Otto Bruce, of Crown Point, and P. J. Bailey, of Valparaiso, are defending the youth.
Daly & Freund today received word from the secretary of state at Indianapolis that the Morgan Township Co-Operative Farmers’ Elevator Company had been given permission to increase its capital stock from $15,000 to $35,000 ($248,930.36 to $580,837.50 in 2022). The company will soon begin work on construction of its new elevator to handle the grain crop this fall.
February 28, 1922
Valparaiso University defeated Wheaton College at University Gym last night, 37 to 12. Cadawaller scored five baskets for the locals. Sawyer played a nice guarding game.
The district conference of the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church will be held in Valparaiso on March 9 and 10. Thursday morning Bishop F. D. Leete, resident bishop of Indiana, will speak.
February 29, 1922
A contract was entered into yesterday at the law office of Daly & Freund between Charles F. Lembke, local contractor, and the Valparaiso Hotel Company whereby Mr. Lembke will erect a modern fifty-room hotel on the site of the corner of Lafayette and Jefferson Streets. Louis J. Gast, president of the hotel company, and E. J. Freund, secretary, signed the document for the company. Work will be started within a few days and the building will be completed by March 1, 1923. Mr. Lembke posted a $15,000 ($248,930.36 in 2022) bond whereby he agreed to build the hotel and maintain it for a period of twenty years.
An echo of the wreck on the Michigan Central and New York Central Railroads at Porter on February 27, 1921, was heard today in Porter Circuit Court when B. D. McMahan, administrator of the estate of Mrs. Martha Goldstein, filed suit against the two railroads for $10,000 ($165,953.57 in 2022) damages. Kelly & Ryan are attorneys for the administrator.