These century-old historical excerpts were selected from the Looking Back feature of The Vidette-Messenger newspaper, which are part of the PoCo Muse Collection.
July 1, 1922
C. A. Sager, one of the three owners of Sager’s Lake, and whose dealings for the sale of the lake property to a Chicago syndicate of colored people, has been given wide publicity, has made a proposition to the City of Valparaiso and the chamber of commerce for the acquisition of the property. Mr. Sager suggests the matter be voted upon at the November election. The Sagers ask that the city post a guarantee of $5,000 ($86,992.86 in 2022) to bind the sale. They propose an issue of $60,000 ($1,043,914.29 in 2022) in eight percent bonds.
At a meeting of the Fourth of July Committee last night, a protest was received from resort owners at the lakes north of Valparaiso in regards to holding the celebration in the city on the Fourth. The protest was not considered because it came too late to call a halt. The lake owners said the holding of a celebration in the city injures their business on one of the big days of the summer resort season.
July 2, 1922
The Valparaiso Standards, Deak Austin’s Mid-West League team, defeated Kouts, Kankakee Valley League Champions, yesterday 6 to 5. Wrobke pitched for Valparaiso, and Chief Rainer and Matty hurled for Kouts.
July 3, 1922
The Valparaiso Athletics were defeated by Boone Grove yesterday afternoon, 7 to 2. William Peters and Maloney engaged in a pitcher’s duel until the ninth inning when Boone Grove clouted Peters for six hits and six runs. One of the largest crowds of the season attended.
July 4, 1922
Valparaiso celebrated the Fourth of July in impressive style. The event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and other organizations. The day was opened with a morning street parade at 10 o’clock. The pageant depicted the growth of the United States from the time of the Indians up to the present time. Thousands witnessed the colorful demonstration. Sports events were held at Brown Field in the afternoon. This was followed by a band concert at the courthouse lawn and a mardi gras on Lincolnway in the evening.
July 5, 1922
An organization of Veterans of Foreign Wars will be formed in Valparaiso following a meeting held Friday night. Members to comprise the new organization are: Spanish-American, Philippine Campaign, Mexican Punitive Expedition and World War. National Chief of Staff Woolworth, of South Bend, will institute the local post. The South Bend degree team will confer the degrees.
July 6, 1922
Major J. J. McKenzie, who came to Valparaiso and established the Valparaiso Shelter, will leave the latter part of the month for Hammond where he will engage in the same kind of work. He made this announcement today. It is not known whether the work will be continued here.
Word was received here today that Albert Thune, of Chicago, formerly of Valparaiso, who was accidentally shot on July 4th, has died of his wounds. He was born in Valparaiso fifty-four years ago, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thune.
July 7, 1922
Sam Buchanan, of the Specht-Finney Company, has awarded the contract to the Foster Lumber and Coal Company, of the present site of the Buchanan home on Michigan Avenue in Valparaiso. The new structure will be of magnestone and fireproof. The Buchanan home has been sold to Charles Gunder, who will move it to a lot on Wood Street.
The Porter County Commissioners yesterday awarded the contract for the construction of the Mockler and Sommers Roads in Pleasant Township to Bryant and Smelser, of Plymouth, Ind., at bids of $24,900 ($433,224.43 in 2022) and $10,790 ($187,739.59 in 2022).
July 8, 1922
Lewis E. Myers and Company have received a telegram from Martin A. Gregory stating that he and Mrs. Gregory will sail for home on the Olympic on July 11 and arrive in Valparaiso on July 24. The Gregory family is now traveling in Belgium and France.
A number of farmers of the county yesterday pooled a wool shipment to the Ohio Sheep and Wool Growers’ Association at Columbus, Ohio. Nearly a carload was shipped. Shippers will be allowed an advancement of 20 cents per pound.
July 9, 1922
Kouts defeated the Boone Grove team Sunday at Kouts by a score of 12 to 11. Chaput and Erickson formed the Boone Grove battery, while Chief Rainer and Wellman were in the points for Kouts. Kouts batters clouted nineteen hits while Boone Grove led 8 to 6 up until the eighth when Kouts chased six runs across in the last two innings. Boone Grove was only able to score three in the ninth to come within one run of a tie.
The strike situation in Valparaiso remains unchanged since the railroad men went out on July 1. The Grand Trunk has eight men off duty here, the Pennsy Lines seven, and the Nickel Plate none. The Pennsylvania lines are hiring men, but the Grand Trunk has done nothing toward replacing its striking employees. A number of local men have been employed by the Pennsy Lines to protect property and employees during the trouble.
July 10, 1922
McDowell Pomeroy, who has conducted a fruit store and confectionery in the Salyer building on Washington Street in Valparaiso for the last 23 years, yesterday sold his business to Doyle & Breed. The latter firm will dispose of the stock and fixtures and will fix up the place for a modern barber shop. Mr. Pomeroy will give his attention to his farming interests north of the city.
Michael Koselke, Pine Township farmer, was stunned by a bolt of lightning yesterday afternoon and rendered unconscious for a time. He was unhitching a team of horses at the time. One of the animals was killed and the barn set on fire. The structure was burned to the ground.
July 11, 1922
Work on the automobile camping site at the university grounds will be finished a week from today. Volunteers are needed for some of the work. Already a number of men have volunteered to help prepare the camp. The grounds are cleared, but there is much equipment to be placed before the camp will be in operation, such as field ranges, water, lights and cinder road. This will be done next week.
July 12, 1922
The first shipment for the new ornamental lighting system for Valparaiso arrived today over the Grand Trunk Railroad. The contract entered into between the Valparaiso Lighting Company and an outside concern for installation of the system calls for active work to begin on the job by July 15. It is expected lights on Lincolnway and in the business district will be ready not later than October 1.
July 13, 1922
The coal situation is getting acute in Valparaiso. Railroad transportation congestion is the cause. A number of shipments due here several weeks ago have not arrived. Manager Ralph J. Cory, of the Valparaiso Lighting Company, is also anxious about coal shipments. The coal reserves of the company are being depleted daily and only a two months’ supply remains on hand.
July 14, 1922
H. Weed, who has been conducting a grocery store on North College Avenue, this week sold the business to Joseph Skinner, who owns the building. Mr. Weed will engage in the furniture and fixtures specialty business in Chicago. He and his family will continue to reside in Valparaiso.
Harold Dunn, a driver for the Black and White Taxicab Company, found $2,000 ($34,797.14 in 2022) in currency in his taxicab yesterday. The owner, an old man from Chicago, and a former resident, was ascertained to be the owner and the money was returned to him.
July 15, 1922
Fifty-four citizens have petitioned the city council to improve Kirchoff Park on the eastern edge of Valparaiso. The petitioners recite the city has ample funds on hand for the purpose by reason of Mr. Kirchoff’s bequest, and should have the grass mowed, remove an old fence; place two electric lights about the premises, and provide some benches and seats. The ladies of the Civic Association, the petition recites, are willing to place flower beds in the park and otherwise beautify it.
A mass meeting of local citizens was held at Memorial Opera House last night to consider a plan for the future of the building built as a memorial to the soldiers, sailors, and marines of the Civil War. Resolutions were adopted to be presented to the county commissioners.
July 16, 1922
Wrong plans were given to the contractor by the state highway commission for the construction of a bridge on the Lincoln Highway, near the Negoshinski farm, four miles west of Valparaiso, it was said. The bridge was completed last week. Word was received from the commission to make a number of additions to the structure, such as concrete railings to protect traffic from running off into the creek bottom. The bridge as completed according to the plans sets level with the road, with no rails.
July 17, 1922
The Portland Drain & Tile Company, Portland, Ind., was the successful bidder on the Smith Ditch at Wolff’s Corners when bids were opened Saturday at the office of Porter County Surveyor, Floyd McNiece. The Portland firm bid $10,800 ($187,904.57 in 2022). Work will begin within three weeks, Henry Holland, of Boone Grove, an expert tiler, will be in charge.
Valparaiso University will enter into a contract within a few days with the government for training soldiers under the federal vocational training act. The old contract, which ran for a year, expired on June 30, last. The new contract, which is expected to be signed shortly, will date from July 1 and run for one year. The details of the contract are being worked out between the government officials and officials of the university. No specified number of trainees is stipulated in the contract but it is believed by university officials that the present number will be decidedly increased.
July 18, 1922
Eugene T. Funk, superintendent of the Porter County Infirmary, today filed an affidavit in Justice W.W. Bozarth’s court against Major J. J. McKenzie, of the Valparaiso Shelter, charging malicious libel. The affidavit charges Major McKenzie circulated reports in the city and county that Superintendent Funk was operating a still at the county farm and manufacturing liquor, causing the commissioners to adjourn their session to investigate the same.
July 19, 1922
The huckleberry crop in Porter County was never greater than this year. No frost was experienced this spring, and the rainfall has been just right. Wauhob Lake and the sand dunes of Lake Michigan are centers of the huckleberry harvest. The price of a case of berries is $4 ($69.59 in 2022).
The body of Edward Higgins, who died by suicide on Lincolnway Monday evening, was claimed by his brother, James Higgins, who arrived here last night from Cleveland, Ohio. The latter could offer no reason for his brother’s suicide.
July 20, 1922
William Urschel, Valparaiso inventor and manufacturer, has sold two machines made by him to Sprague, Warner & Company, Chicago. The machine pulls, instead of clips, the stems from the fruit. One of the machines will pull stems of 300 baskets of cherries in an eight-hour day. The other, a currant stemming machine, will do the work of fifty persons. Mr. Urschel has spent $6,000 ($104,391.43 in 2022) on the development of these machines.
July 21, 1922
Deak Austin’s Mid-West League team, the Valparaiso Standards, defeated the Kouts Professionals yesterday at Brown Field by a score of 12 to 3. Ehrhardt, on the mound for Valparaiso, was too much for the Kouts batters. Major, Rainier, and Matty pitched for Kouts, but were unable to stop the Valpo batters. Bartell, for Valpo, hit a home run with two on.
The LaPorte Independent Oil Company has purchased the properties and business of three oil stations of the Commercial Oil Company in Valparaiso, Chesterton, and Kouts. The deal involved a consideration of $50,000 ($869,928.57 in 2022). The three companies have combined tank storage capacity of 150,000 gallons.
July 22, 1922
Miss Marie Yost, of Mendota, Ill., has been selected by five judges appointed by The Torch, Valparaiso University publication, as the Valparaiso co-ed with the sweetest smile. For the coming years she has accepted a position in the Knox, Ind., schools as supervisor of music.
Mrs. Mynne Gordon has leased rooms over the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce on Washington Street and will open up a home bakery and serve lunches.
July 23, 1922
Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Gregory returned this morning from Europe after a four months’ absence. They were met at the Pennsylvania Depot by members of the Lewis E. Myers and Company staff and their wives and were escorted to the Myers’ home where a “welcome” breakfast was served.
July 24, 1922
At a meeting of the county board of education yesterday afternoon at the office of County Supt. Fred H. Cole, Albert Z. Arehart, county agent, was re-elected for another year, beginning July 1. Mr. Arehart has been county agent for two years. Nathan H. Sheppard, of Valparaiso, was elected county attendance officer to succeed Ray Kenworthy, who resigned.
An auxiliary of the Valparaiso Country Club was organized yesterday at the home of Mrs. V. R. Despard. Mrs. Despard was elected president, and Mrs. T. L. Applegate, secretary. The board of managers consists of Mesdames H. W. Harrold, V. R. Despard, O. F. Helvie, Harlow Smith, C. W. Boucher and L. H. Trott.
July 25, 1922
The cornerstone of the new Lembke hotel building was laid yesterday. The stone is on the southeast corner of the building. Charles Barkley, stone mason, placed the stone in position without any ceremony being held. A penny found on the streets by John A. Longshore, Valparaiso mail carrier, was placed under the stone. No documents were laid to rest either inside or at the base of the marker, as is the custom. No inscription was carved on the stone such as the date and other data.
July 26, 1922
Two of the largest whiskey-making plants in Porter County were unearthed yesterday by Sheriff William Pennington and Deputy Sheriffs W. B. Forney and Jerry LaFrentz. The total of the day’s operations comprise five large stills, 42 gallons of mash, and a quantity of manufactured product. The plants were found on farms near Burdick and Furnessville.
July 27, 1922
Porter County will spend $350,000 ($6,089,500 in 2022) on school buildings this year. At Chesterton, a new junior and senior high school is being built at a cost of $175,000 ($3,044,750 in 2022). In Morgan Township, a new joint elementary and high school building is being erected at a cost of $50,000 ($869,928.57 in 2022). At Wheeler, a new high school building is being built at a cost of $50,000 ($869,928.57 in 2022), and repairs are being made on the Union Center school, costing $4,000. Crisman, in Portage Township, is getting a new addition costing $40,000 ($695,942.86 in 2022) and last March a $25,000 ($434,964.29 in 2022) school was placed in use at Garyton. Valparaiso City Schools will receive repairs this summer costing $5,000 ($86,992.86 in 2022).
July 28, 1922
Wheatfield defeated the Valparaiso Standards yesterday at Brown Field in eleven innings, 10 to 7. Pete Henning, of the South Bend Singers, was on the mound for the Standards and was found for thirteen hits. Valparaiso batters got the same number off Maynard. Errors lost the game for the locals.
Installation of the ornamental lighting system for Lincolnway and the business district is being delayed on account of the strike which is holding up shipping. The Kelly Construction Company of Chippewa Falls, Wis., will do the work for the Valparaiso Lighting Company. Shipment of materials is being held back by priority of shipments of essentials and may be delayed for some time.
July 29, 1922
John R. Palmer, of College Hill, was elected councilman for the fourth ward by the Valparaiso City Council at its meeting last night to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of W. Blaine Williams. He is a member of the firm of Palmer and Eicher, druggists.
Mrs. O. P. Kinsey died this morning at 3:30 o’clock at Catlettsburg, Ky., at the home of her sister, Mrs. B. K. Price, according to word received here. The body will be sent to Ironton, Ohio, and placed in a vault pending burial.
July 30, 1922
Miss Ann Sawyer, who recently leased the front rooms over the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce rooms on Washington Street for a studio, has moved her furniture here from Chicago. Miss Sawyer has enrolled a number of pupils both for physical culture classes and voice instruction.
The Valparaiso Athletics lost a well-contested game yesterday afternoon at the fair grounds when the Hammond Colonials defeated them, 2 to 0. The locals were weakened by the absence of four of their star players. William Peters pitched a fine game for the Athletics.
July 31, 1922
Plumbers in Valparaiso are being compelled to take out licenses. They are permitted to dig up the streets by giving a bond which is good for one year. Other persons are required to post bonds every time a street is opened. William Arnold halted several diggers last week who did not have licenses.
Robert Taylor today assumed the position of town marshal at Hebron, made vacant by the resignation of H. P. “Doc” Rice. The latter held the office for five years.