January 1, 1922
Porter County Treasurer John G. Graessle entered upon a two-year term today, being the only county official to be affected by the New Year.
January 2, 1922
No new faces greeted visitors at the county building (courthouse) this year as is generally the custom when the New Year is ushered in.
The Sisson city council held its last meeting yesterday evening and the Agar council came into power today. James A. Jones, for a number of years with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, has been appointed chief of police.
January 3, 1922
Four hundred and fifty-two persons were housed at the Porter County Jail during 1921, according to Sheriff William Pennington. A large number of tramps, housed for the night, were not included in the figures. During the year twenty-three automobiles were stolen and twenty of these were recovered by the sheriff’s office.
January 4, 1922
Sheriff William Pennington and Valparaiso Chief of Police James A. Jones returned early today from Chicago Heights where one of the three men implicated in the robbery of the Three Trails Auto Service Shop at the Joliet Bridge last Thursday night was apprehended. A quantity of stolen automobile tires were recovered.
January 5, 1922
Valparaiso University was defeated at Kankakee, Ill., Saturday night by St. Viator College, 30 to 18. The winners staged a basket shooting spree in the last five minutes and hit from all parts of the floor.
January 6, 1922
Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar yesterday appointed Dr. C. H. DeWitt as city health officer to take the place of Dr. G. R. Douglas, who refused re-election. Dr. DeWitt’s appointment was in line with the county commissioners who also named him county health officer. Mayor Agar did not name a city engineer. The council will probably hire a man on a per diem basis.
C. Ross Gay, of Morgan Township, today announced his candidacy for the nomination of county commissioner in the south district on the Republican ticket. The term of Marion Curtis in the south district, expires on January 1, 1923. F. W. Alpen in the center district entered upon his new term of three years on January 1, 1922, and Herman Pollentzke, representative from the north district, will serve until January 1, 1924.
January 7, 1922
John Pillman is the new president of the Chesterton Town Board. He was selected at an organization meeting held January 2. The board is composed of Mr. Pillman, John E. Hjelm and Charles S. Kline. Carl Nelson has taken over the office of town clerk and treasurer. Al Tillapaugh is town marshal; C. W. Jensen, town attorney; Dan Cole, street commissioner, and Jerry Marquart, fire chief.
The Express Company, which has been located on Indiana Avenue, will be moved February 1, 1922, to the Pennsylvania Freight House where quarters will be fitted up for an office. Harry Johnson will retain the agency of the company.
January 8, 1922
N. H. Sheppard, of Valparaiso, today announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for joint senator of Porter, Jasper, Newton and Pulaski Counties. Mr. Sheppard will announce his platform later.
By a deal consummated yesterday, Frank L. Longshore disposed of his interest in the grocery store on Washington Street to his partner, Zenas McMahan. Mr. Longshore will engage in business elsewhere.
January 9, 1922
Valparaiso was one of thirty-two cities awarded sectional basketball tourney centers in the playoff on March 3 and 4, according to word received by Prof. H. M. Jessee, from Arthur Trester, permanent secretary of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). Teams from Lake, Jasper, Newton, and Porter Counties will compete.
According to the Indianapolis News, Senator Will Brown, of Hebron, and Dr. J. E. Roessler, President of Valparaiso University, called on Governor McCray Saturday. Senator Brown is interested in filling the vacancy on the state board of education. Fred H. Cole, Porter County school head, has been mentioned for the appointment.
January 10, 1922
Valparaiso High School five defeated Washington of East Chicago at Boucher Gym, 24 to 21. Long shots by Gray and Powell won for Valpo.
Valparaiso City Police will soon be equipped to hear police reports from other large cities. A short-wave radio has been presented to the department by the VanNess Electric Company.
January 11, 1922
Dr. L. L. Weiss, a graduate of Northwestern University, has associated himself with Dr. J. R. Pagin in the practice of dentistry in Valparaiso. Growth of Dr. Pagin’s business was given for the addition of Dr. Weiss to the firm.
The Chatfield Grain Company, of Chatfield, Ohio, which recently bought the Pennsylvania Elevator, has purchased the William Harbeck flour and feed store, corner of Indiana Avenue and Washington Street. Mr. Harbeck will retire Saturday from business which he has conducted for twenty-five years.
January 12, 1922
The old wooden tower at the Valparaiso Fire Station, built a number of years ago to dry hose following a fire, is being dismantled. The tower has not been in use for some time as firemen are employing a new method of drying hose.
The big snowstorm which tied up traffic for a week occurred four years ago last night. The snow began falling in the evening and continued until noon the next day. Trains were halted for three days and no Chicago papers were received during that time. Factories and industries were hard hit by the failure to receive materials, coal, and by irregular attendance of workmen.
January 13, 1922
The widespread controversy over the building of a school at Wheeler is not settled. The north and south factions of Union Township had almost reconciled their differences at a meeting held in Valparaiso recently. At the time it was virtually agreed that suit pending in the courts against Trustee Dobbins enjoining that official from building a school at Wheeler would be dropped. However, the suit has not been dropped, but simply continued. Portage Township was about to combine with Wheeler to build a school and a remonstrance was circulated putting a deadlock to the proposition. Portage Township wants a two-room school in the south part of the township. Garyton School will be ready February 1. Remodeling of the Crisman school will be begin in the spring.
The Public Service Commission has authorized an issuance of $35,000 (≈ $576,227 in 2022) common stock of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company at par for the purpose of reimbursing the treasury of the company for money expended in betterments of the plant and paying various notes and trade acceptances due given for making capital additions and betterments. The company petitioned for an increase of $50,000 (≈ $823,181 in 2022) in common stock.
January 14, 1922
Valparaiso University defeated Loyola University of Chicago last night at university gym, 33 to 11. Loyola started strong but soon wilted under the strong play of the locals. Valparaiso used two teams during the game.
The following teams will take part in the sectional basketball tourney to be held in Valparaiso on March 3 and 4: East Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, Lowell, Hobart, Crown Point, Emerson and Froebel of Gary, Rensselaer, Wheatfield, Fair Oaks, Remington, Valparaiso, Hebron, Kentland and Brook.
January 15, 1922
Emerson of Gary defeated Valparaiso High at university gymnasium Saturday evening, 28 to 18. The score at half time was 12 to 7, Emerson. The second half was a nip and tuck affair with Emerson having a slight lead.
Representatives of the Federal Board for Vocational Training visited Valparaiso today for the purpose of conferring with Valparaiso University President J. E. Roessler in regard to installing a number of trades for federal board students. A course in watchmaking will be among the trades to be placed in operation. A two-year course in agriculture added to the university curriculum. The first of the year has increased the enrollment 400 percent. The course is under the direction of Professor G. J. Borum, a graduate of Purdue.
January 16, 1922
Valparaiso University Gym, in which university and high school basketball games are played, was imperiled by a fire today at 4:20 in the morning. A furnace was the cause of the fire. Firemen chopped holes in the floor and fought the flames with two lines of hose. The damage was not large.
The improvement of Lincoln Highway through Porter and LaPorte Counties will be urged by the joint action of Valparaiso and LaPorte Chambers of Commerce. Late this afternoon the Roads Committee of the two bodies were conferring here relative to the improvement of the highway.
January 17, 1922
George W. Ferguson, former owner of the Lincoln Theatre in Valparaiso, who sold his interests to Walter Bush, is now at Fairmount, Ind., where he owns and operates the Royal Theatre. His family has moved there.
January 18, 1922
Prosecutor J. S. Bartholomew has returned from Hot Springs, Ark., where he has been taking treatment, and is partially assuming his duties in connection with the prosecutor’s office. He is feeling improved in health.
January 19, 1922
Kalamazoo College defeated the Valparaiso University basketball team at Kalamazoo last night, 21-14. Walter Hiltpold caged three baskets for the locals, and Anderson scored one and four foul casts.
E. D. Hodges was elected president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of directors this noon. E. L. Loomis and Dr. Mox Ruge were named vice-presidents; E. J. Freund, secretary, and L. T. Applegate, treasurer.
January 20, 1922
During the night the thermometer dipped low enough to touch the zero mark. Some gauges showed as low as five below. On January 14, the thermometer at the Valparaiso pumping station showed one below.
Valparaiso University basketball team lost at Kalamazoo to Kalamazoo College last night, 30-21. Andrew “Andy” Evans, star of the locals, was out of the game on account of injuries. Millard Anderson and Walter “Hippy” Hiltpold played well for Valparaiso.
January 21, 1922
Liberty Township is at peace again. A black family from Gary moved in and purchased land in a proposed colonization scheme has sold out to Ira M. Biggs and returned to Gary.
R. E. (Sam) Huston, state commander of Disabled American Veterans of the World War, will leave Valparaiso next week for Toledo, Ohio, where he will take placement training with a large firm.
January 22, 1922
Country roads in many places throughout the county are drifted full of snow as the result of the last few days of precipitation. The roads, which are graded, are said to be worse than the hollows.
A. W. Coplin, of Valparaiso, Saturday announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Porter County Treasurer at the May primary. William L. Maxwell and Miss Kathryn Anderson announced some time ago.
January 23, 1922
The Grassmere Land Company ditch bonds, totaling $20,062 (≈ $330,293 in 2022), were delivered today to the Valparaiso State Bank, which purchased the issue some time ago from Porter County Treasurer J. G. Graessle.
Andrew Bickle, ex-county commissioner, died Saturday evening of a heart attack. He served as commissioner from 1904-1910. In 1911, he was elected president of the Porter County Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company.
January 24, 1922
Valparaiso University defeated Arkansas Agricultural College 30 to 17 at the university gym last night. Millard “Andy” Anderson and Robert “Caddy” Cadwallader scored four baskets each.
January 25, 1922
Frank Cowdrey, of Valparaiso, engineer with a record of forty-eight years of service on the Pennsylvania Lines, is included in the list of eighty-two men retired by the Pennsylvania Lines since December 1, 1921.
January 26, 1922
Hearing of remonstrances against the petition for construction of the McDonald Ditch in Pine Township is being held today in the Porter Circuit Court before Special Judge A. D. Bartholomew. The ditch was petitioned for two years ago by Henry R. McDonald. Fifteen farmers affected by the improvement filed the remonstrance.
The Catholic Ladies’ Club was hostess to their husbands and friends last evening at the Catholic Community Hall. Bunco and cards were the chief diversion and prizes were awarded to Roy Beckwith and Mrs. Joseph Murphy. Fred Hartig and Miss Emma Mungovan won the booby prizes.
January 27, 1922
The Indiana Public Service Commission yesterday denied the petition of Etta Des Elms and others for authority to construct a highway across the right-of-way of the Pan Handle Railroad in Boone Township, Porter County. The commission found that the dangerous character of the grade crossing overshadowed the public necessity.
The Spring Water Ice Company today completed work filling the ice houses at Sager’s Lake. The ice measurers from eight to eleven inches in thickness.
January 28, 1922
Officer Charles Chester figured in a gun battle about 3 o’clock this morning on Indiana Avenue with two men. The officer was enroute to the Valparaiso Police Station when he noticed two men in the alley between the State Bank of Valparaiso and the Charles Martin Pool Room. One of the men shot at him when he decided to investigate. He returned the fire. It is believed the men planned a robbery.
Valparaiso High School reserves basketball team was defeated at Wanatah last night, 20 to 5. Larson bagged Valparaiso’s only field goal. Larson, LePell, Ellis, Spooner, Seymour, Gordon, Simon and Shurr made up the Valparaiso seconds.
January 29, 1922
Valparaiso High defeated Froebel High of Gary at university gym Saturday night, 27 to 16. Froebel led at half time, 10 to 8. In the second half, DeForest Seymour, Ernest Lembke and team captain Earl Scott staged a basket barrage. Lukats and Rukivana were Froebel’s stars.
Valparaiso will not entertain the Indiana Association of Elks this summer. The main drawback to bringing 2,000 visitors here is the cost of $5,000 (≈ $82,318 in 2022) for the convention, lack of suitable place for a meeting, and inadequacy of hotel accommodations.
January 30, 1922
G. Leonard Maxwell, of Valparaiso, was elected a director of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce for 1922 at a meeting of that organization held last week. He has accepted the election and plans to participate fully in the plans of the state organization. Up until a few weeks ago, Mr. Maxwell was president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.
Misses Elizabeth Patton and Nellie White, teachers at Valparaiso’s Central School, have resigned their positions. Robert H. Walker, of Oklahoma, and Miss Gladys Barker, of Chesterton, have been employed by Superintendent C. W. Boucher as their successors.
January 31, 1922
The Valparaiso & Northern, operating from Valparaiso to Chesterton, and leasing the Gary Connecting Line from Woodville to Gary, was sold today in Chicago by Stacey 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 (≈ $533,560 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 (≈ $1.62M in 2022) in 1918 to $132,000 (≈ $2.05M in 2022) in 1921. The appraisal value of the property by the public service commission is $284,000 (≈ $4.7M in 2022).