These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Backward feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection. Originally, these bits of information appeared as larger stories in the pages of Valparaiso’s Evening Messenger and Valparaiso Daily Vidette newspaper publications.
October 1, 1922
Coach Ralph Schenck’s Valparaiso High School football team met the Emerson High School eleven from Gary at Brown Field Saturday and was defeated, 52 to 0. The half ended 6 to 9, Gary*. The Gary team averaged over 170 pounds and their forward passing attack in the latter part of the game was perfect.
*The original 1922 source printed this, even though the verified end score was 52 to 0 in favor of Emerson High School. We have perpetuated this century-old typographical error since the original readers would have received the exact same, flawed news.
October 2, 1922
A committee of farmers of Porter and Lake Counties, representing about sixty shippers of milk, was in Chicago yesterday investigating the Quigley Dairy, which was taken over by the Jersey Dairy Company. The company was found to be in good financial condition and strong in every way, according to the committee.
October 3, 1922
A baseball tourney held Sunday at the Porter County Fairgrounds ended in a tie between the Hammond Colonials and LaCrosse. The game was called by darkness at the end of the seventh inning after both teams had scored five runs. The Colonials defeated Boone Grove, 5 to 3, to enter the finals, and LaCrosse won from the Valparaiso Standards, 4 to 1.
A crowd estimated at 2,000 assembled on the courthouse lawn Saturday evening to hear Dr. Lester A. Brown, of Atlanta, Ga., expounded the doctrines of the Ku Klux Klan. Dr. Brown blamed the newspapers for the widespread misconception of the principles of the klan and said he would depend upon the common sense and fairness of his hearers to judge whether the organization was good or bad.
October 4, 1922
Joseph Kenan and R.P. Tigar, who have been connected with P. T. Clifford and Son for a number of years, have resigned their positions. Mr. Tigar will go to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take a position with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Mr. Kenan will leave for Cleveland, O., to form a partnership in an industrial concern.
Frank Wannegar, marshal of the Town of Porter, was shot last night by John Hans, a resident of the town. Hans had been drinking and creating a disturbance in a pool room. When Wannegar attempted to quiet him, he pulled a gun and it was discharged in a scuffle between the two men. Wannegar received a flesh wound in the side.
October 5, 1922
John Edelman, a baker at the Hill Cafe at Plymouth and a former resident of Valparaiso, has been the longest employed by a single firm of any man in Indiana. Mr. Edelman commenced work for William Hill at Plymouth 57 years ago. He came there from Peru after walking all day. He expects to retire soon to the farm he owns near Valparaiso.
Joseph H. Letherman, age 74, for many years connected with the Internal Revenue Department in Texas, died today at noon at the home of his brother, Dr. A.P. Letherman. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1869.
October 6, 1922
The Sievers Drug Company today purchased two vacant lots next to the Specht-Finney Company store of A. F. Heineman and will erect a new building on the site. The property has a forty-four-foot frontage on Lincolnway.
Valparaiso was visited yesterday by two oil men who looked over a number of places near the city with a view of drilling for oil. The men were J. W. Belmont, a Frenchman, and M. W. Newman, of Alabama. They are building an eighty-four-foot rig, last at Gifford in Jasper County. In company with K. J. Wolfe and W. J. Henry, the men visited the Henry Oil Well at Woodville, drilled nineteen years ago. A visit was also made to the D. F. Donahue land west of the city, where experts have declared oil exists.
October 7, 1922
Miss Leola Bickel, of Washington Township, is representing Porter County at the laying of the cornerstone of the Riley Hospital in Indianapolis today. She will place a wreath prepared by Superintendent Fred H. Cole for the purpose.
The Presbyterian church congregation of Valparaiso tendered a reception to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Mitzner, newlyweds, last evening at the Dickover home, 401 North Franklin Avenue. About 75 persons called during the evening to extend congratulations and presented the couple with a beautiful lamp. Mrs. Mitzner was formerly Daisy Dickover.
October 8, 1922
Seven persons of a family of nine were killed Sunday morning at Yellowstone Trail Crossing of the Pennsylvania Railroad, one mile west of Louck’s Crossing. The second section of the Manhattan Limited crashed into their stalled automobile, while the father, Rene Hargot, and a friend tried to push the car from the tracks. The dead were Mrs. Hargot and six children, ranging in age from 12 years to twelve months. Mr. Hargot, a son, Rene, Jr., and Charles Mishoulan, escaped death. The party was enroute from Chicago to a farm near Plymouth, which had been rented by Hargot.
Kalamazoo College defeated Valparaiso University in the first game of the season Saturday at Brown Field by a score of 7 to 0. The field was a quagmire and both teams fumbled repeatedly. Kalamazoo scored on a pass after two fifteen-yard penalties had placed the ball on the locals’ seven-yard line. Three line bucks failed, but a pass was caught for a score. Four hundred watched the game in the rain.
October 9, 1922
Registration yesterday in Porter County was very good, according to returns made to County Auditor B. H. Kinne. Twenty-two precincts tabulated out of thirty-eight so far, showed a total of 5,016 voters. The same precincts two years ago showed a total of 5,588. Many townships showed gains over two years ago. Union township showed a gain of 70.
October 10, 1922
The Fibroc Insulation Company today received a carload of machinery for making fibroc, a new insulating material. The company occupies space and leases manufacturing facilities of the Chicago Mica Company, both industries being closely associated in the manufacture and sale of their products.
October 11, 1922
Monday’s registration for the November election brought out a total of 5,722 voters, of which 3,195 were men and 2,527 were women. Combining the September registration when 2,508 voters registered, a total of 8,320 registered at both sessions.
A reception was tendered in the church parlors last evening for the new pastor of the Baptist church, Rev. W.W. Ayer, and his wife. Rev. Guy O. Carpenter, of the Methodist church, gave the address of welcome, and response was made by Rev. Ayer. Reverends C. W. Wharton, of the Presbyterian church, C. E. Burns, of the Christian church, and E. J. Mungovan, of St. Paul’s Catholic church, also gave talks. A large crowd attended.
October 12, 1922
Funeral services for Mrs. Harriette Hargot, wife of Rene Hargot, and her six children, were held this afternoon at the Stinchfield-Fehrman Funeral Home. All were killed Sunday when the Hargot auto was struck by a fast train on the Pennsylvania Railroad, west of Valparaiso. Rev. Dr. Davis, of the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, officiated, assisted by Rev. C. W. Wharton, of the Presbyterian church. The pallbearers were T. L. Applegate, E. J. Freund, Charles L. Jeffery, E. L. Loomis, Dr. Mox Ruge, and Mayor E. W. Agar. A large crowd attended. Beautiful floral tributes were contributed by the Elks and Vivians.
Excavation was commenced yesterday for the new building on East Lincolnway next to the Specht-Finney Company, for a new building for the Sievers Drug Company, on lots purchased of A. F. Heineman. No general contract has been awarded for the construction of the building. It will be two stories instead of one as originally planned.
October 13, 1922
Through a contract entered into yesterday, Lewis E. Myers & Company purchased the Pitkin & Brooks plant, located in Valparaiso’s Chautauqua Park. The building was vacated last spring by the Pitkin & Brooks Company. The deal was negotiated with the Northern Trust Company, Chicago, which is trustee of the estate of the late E. H. Pitkin.
Herman E. Schroeder, of Valparaiso, was today admitted to the Porter County Bar by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court. He was graduated last spring from Valparaiso University with high honors but did not attain his majority until October 8, 1922. He is associated with the Frank B. Parks Law Office.
October 14, 1922
Valparaiso University football team defeated Lewis Institute of Chicago Saturday at Brown Field, 13 to 0. Beanie Harris was the star for Valparaiso, scoring both of the locals’ touchdowns. Lewis had one fine opportunity to score but Williams, Valparaiso quarterback, intercepted a Lewis pass on the Valparaiso five-yard line.
October 15, 1922
Attorneys G. L. Burns and Roscoe Powell have formed a partnership and have taken offices over the Citizens’ Savings and Trust Bank building on Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso. Both are graduates of Valparaiso University.
October 16, 1922
Property owners living in the south part of Valparaiso are lined up against the building of the South End sewer, it was revealed today. A survey showed forty-six property owners against, and ten for, the improvement.
October 17, 1922
A school for telegraph managers will be located in Valparaiso shortly by the Western Union Telegraph Company. At present, the school is being conducted at Niles, Mich., but will be moved here. Quarters have been secured in the new Valparaiso Daily Vidette building on Washington Street. The move to Valparaiso is being made because of advantages offered by this city.
The Dunes Highway between Gary and Michigan City is more than half completed, according to latest from the eastern and western sectors of the job. Eight miles of the eastern end has been finished and is open to traffic, and four miles of the west end, but the latter is not open to traffic. This makes twelve of the twenty-three miles finished.
October 18, 1922
Yesterday afternoon a delegation of Porter County citizens, headed by E. D. Hodges, president of the Valparaiso Chamber; Dr. Mox Ruge, vice president; Grant Crumpacker, county attorney; County Agent A. Z. Arehart, and H.F. Heimberg, secretary of the Porter County Farmers’ Association, made a trip to Lake County to inspect the various types of road in that county. County Engineer Ray Seeley, of Lake County, conducted the tour.
The General Construction Company, which has the contract for building the west end of the Dunes Highway between Gary and Baillytown, will suspend work Friday and no more concrete will be laid until next spring. Work on the grading through the dunes will be carried on as long as weather permits. About 11 of 23 miles of concrete is still to be laid.
October 19, 1922
The directors of the Valparaiso Chamber at a meeting yesterday decided to install signs at Louck’s Crossing and Yellowstone Trail Crossing of the Pennsylvania Railroad, west of Valparaiso. Seventeen people have met death there in the last 17 years, and where seven members of the Hargot family, of Chicago, were killed recently. Paul Mather, local artist, will make the signs.
The Valparaiso High School football team is riddled by injuries and ineligibilities for the Goshen game on Saturday. Coach R. E. Schenck will be lucky to muster up enough men to go through the contest. Harold Pulver, Wayne Miller, Capt. Charles Riddle, Frank Duncan, Harold Shurr, Fred Wittenberg, John Lowenstine, Raymond Mohnsen and Frederick LePell are the players who are out.
October 20, 1922
Mr. and Mrs. August Miller, of Franklin Avenue in Valparaiso, were pleasantly surprised last evening by their grandchildren, Verna and Clara Louise Noble. The occasion being their 46th wedding anniversary. The home was beautifully decorated in autumnal shades and a delicious supper was served.
Ray Ecklund, former member of the Valparaiso University football team, and famous as a drop kicker and punter, starred at end for the University of Minnesota against Indiana on Saturday, scoring one touchdown and two drop kicks after touchdowns.
October 21, 1922
Valparaiso officials are making improvements at Kirchhoff Park in the east part of the city. A new fence is being built and the grounds placed in first-class shape. The park was left to the city by the late Frederick Kirchhoff, together with $10,000 ($176,354 in 2022) for its upkeep.
Dr. C. A. Nixon left this morning for New York City where he will attend a meeting of the Dental Educational Council of America, which convened at the Astor Hotel. At this meeting, colleges inspected last spring will be passed upon and given proper ratings.
October 22, 1922
The new hardware store on South Washington street, established by Berte D. McMahan and William Krudup, opened Saturday. The new firm enjoyed a fine business on the opening day.
October 23, 1922
Valparaiso university gridders swamped Crane College of Chicago at Brown Field Saturday, 58 to 6. The locals outweighed the visitors. The Valparaiso High School team lost to Goshen High School yesterday, 18 to 6. Valparaiso fumbles were responsible for two of Goshen’s touchdowns.
October 24, 1922
Mrs. C. W. Boucher, of Valparaiso, who is making speeches in the west in the interest of the Republican party, has been asked to extend her itinerary another week in Missouri. She will not return here until Oct. 30.
Attorney Mark B. Rockwell of the firm of Rockwell & Stockman, today declared that in the next jury case to be filed by him he will make a written request with the court for the inclusion of women on the jury. Attorney Rockwell is of the opinion that women are eligible for jury service, and they should be considered when the juries are drawn.
October 25, 1922
The Dunbar Male Quartette and Bell Ringers pleased a capacity crowd last evening at the Memorial Opera House in the first five concerts being staged by the Valparaiso Lodge, No. 500, B.P.O. Elks. The organization has appeared here on a number of occasions and its entertainment is always high class.
Several hundred Rebekah of District Number 2, of LaPorte and Porter Counties, attended a meeting at Chesterton yesterday afternoon and evening. Charity Rebekah Lodge, of Valparaiso, carried off the honors for having the most members capable of giving the unwritten work. The memorial service for deceased members was in the charge of Mrs. Emily Wedgewood, of East Chicago, past assembly president. In the evening, the Chesterton lodge conferred the degree on two candidates. The next meeting will be held at LaPorte in April.
October 26, 1922
In ceremonies that were impressive, Rev. C. W. Wharton, recently called to the Presbyterian church in Valparaiso, was installed as pastor of the church last evening. Rev. J. Budman Fleming, of Rensselaer, pastor of the Valparaiso church from 1892 to 1899, acted as chairman of the evening and preached the sermon. The charge to the pastor was delivered by Rev. S. A. Stewart, of LaPorte. The sermon to the congregation was delivered by Rev. J. M. Gelston, of Alma, Mich., recently pastor here. A reception was tendered for Rev. and Mrs. Wharton at the close of the service. Rev. Wharton came here last June from Kentland, Ind.
Albert J. Beveridge, Republican nominee for United States Senator from Indiana, visited Valparaiso this afternoon in his state-wide speaking campaign. At the Premier Theatre, Mr. Beveridge addressed a large crowd. Attorney T. P. Galvin acted as chairman of the meeting and introduced Mr. Beveridge.
October 27, 1922
W. G. Windle and Son, who have been occupying a room in the Ben Urbahns building on West Lincolnway, will move to a building owned by the firm at 121 East Lincolnway next Monday. The firm has purchased a truck from the REO Motor Car Company for hauling fruits and vegetables from the Chicago market.
At a meeting of the city board of education, E. L. Loomis, a member of the board, announced his resignation. Mr. Loomis tendered his resignation to the Valparaiso City Council two weeks ago, but assigned no reason for his action.
October 28, 1922
The Valparaiso City Council last night did not take up the Sager Lake purchase, which was deferred two weeks ago when Mayor E. W. Agar cast the deciding vote to prefer placing the matter on the ballot in November for decision of the voters. C. A. Sager, one of the owners, is asking $50,000 ($881,773 in 2022) for the property.
A bad freight wreck occurred on the Pennsylvania Railroad at Wheeler this morning when fifteen cars piled up in a tangled mass. The wreck was due to a broken arch bar on a big gondola car loaded with coal. Tracks were torn up for a distance of 100 feet.
October 29, 1922
Valparaiso University tied DePauw University at Greencastle Saturday, 0 to 0. Valparaiso High School dropped a close game to Whiting High School, 16 to 12. Both DePauw and Valpo had chances to score but lost them. Anderson nearly booted a field goal for Valpo. Valparaiso High School outplayed Whiting, but the visitors got several lucky breaks.
The Nuppnau building at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Washington Streets in Valparaiso, owned by Mrs. Paul Nuppnau, Sr., was sold Saturday to George Murken. Murken operates a general merchandise store in the Beyer building next door.
October 30, 1922
The Indianapolis News said they gathered up the DePauw team in baskets after the game Saturday with Valparaiso University, and took it to a hospital to be sorted out and put together again. DePauw University has had hard luck this year in having an unusually large number of injuries inflicted on the team.
October 31, 1922
The entire shelving in the Linkimer store on Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso collapsed this afternoon about 1:30 o’clock and Miss Bessie Linkimer, daughter of the proprietor, was buried under the mass. The mishap occurred when Miss Linkimer endeavored to replace an article on the top shelf. Carl Dalke, battery dealer, next door, heard Miss Linkimer’s cries and extricated her from the wreckage, probably saving her life.