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.
August 1, 1922
Doyle and Breed, barbers, yesterday moved their shop from Franklin and Indiana to the building formerly occupied by McDowell Pomeroy, on Washington Street in Valparaiso. The building vacated by Doyle and Breed has been leased to Gus Pappas and brother for a pool hall.
August 2, 1922
J. H. Warner, of Boston, Mass., a steeplejack, started work painting the cross on the high tower of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Valparaiso. He will also repair the broken and loose tile in the tower.
August 3, 1922
Half of the taxes paid every year in Porter County are from corporations―railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, banks and so forth. They are assessed by the state tax board. Total local assessments returned by the assessors of the county total $31,000,000 ($539,355,714 in 2022). Corporations are assessed an equal amount.
Supt. C. W. Boucher, of the Valparaiso City Schools, has received a letter from Indiana University on the fine showing of five of his former students. They are: Laura Neet, Hazel Mutler, Ruth Blachly, Jeanette Finney and Fred Kennedy.
August 4, 1922
The Pioneer Company of Valparaiso was today incorporated by the secretary of state at Indianapolis with a capital stock of $100,000 ($1,739,857 in 2022). The purpose of the company will be to buy and sell real estate. P. L. Sisson, Effie M. Sisson, Joseph Blalock and T. L. Applegate are the incorporators.
E. L. Loomis was elected president of the Valparaiso City Board of Education at a meeting held last night. Myron J. Drapier is secretary and A. A. Hughart, treasurer.
August 5, 1922
Five original paintings by Walt S. Louderback, former Valparaiso boy, and son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Louderback, of Valparaiso, are on exhibition in this city in the Philley Confectionery. Reproductions of paintings also appear in Hearst’s and Good Housekeeping Magazines, in illustrating stories.
Two memorial trees at the courthouse yard at the north entrance to the county building planted last Armistice Day by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary are failing to survive. One has already died and was recently removed. The other is following suit. Dry weather is held responsible.
August 6, 1922
The state tax board Saturday approved the appraisement of farmlands plus improvements made this year by Porter County assessors. This year’s appraisement was $76.97 ($1,339 in 2022) per acre against $77.60 ($1,350 in 2022) last year.
Kirchoff Park, on the eastern edge of Valparaiso, bequeathed by Fred Kirchoff, together with $10,000 ($173,985 in 2022) in money, will be placed in good condition. The public improvements committee of the council, together with members of the civic association, will visit the park and outline the improvements to be made. A new fence, flower beds, and benches are among some of the projects planned.
August 7, 1922
Major J. J. McKenszie, of the Valparaiso Shelter, was found guilty yesterday by Justice T. B. Louderback on a charge of slander preferred by E. T. Funk, superintendent of Porter County Infirmary. McKenzie is said to have told persons Funk operated a still at the county farm. An appeal will be taken to the Porter Circuit Court.
Valparaiso Chief of Police Robert Felton yesterday ordered all draymen away from the corner of Lincolnway and Washington Street. The move resulted from complaints received from various persons of near accidents. The drays have taken locations at the southwest corner of the square.
August 8, 1922
Peter Jansen, of Gary, has purchased the old Burge farm, south of Wheeler, for a consideration of $30,000 ($521,957 in 2022). The property has been owned by the Dwyer family for the past three years.
August 9, 1922
Word was received here this morning from Monticello, Ind., that Rev. Thomas J. Bassett, former pastor of Valparaiso’s Methodist church, is in critical condition from a stroke of paralysis.
August 10, 1922
About 1,000 poor children of Gary enjoyed an outing yesterday at Wauhob Lake. The children and their mothers were guests of the Salvation Army. The Valparaiso-Gary Interurban furnished free transportation.
Farmers of Porter County and Valparaiso merchants will hold a big harvest picnic at Brown Field on Aug. 24. A program, including games, races, band concert, baseball game and other attractions is being planned.
August 11, 1922
Miss Mary Brad, of Porter, born without hands, has been a teacher in the Porter County schools for 25 years. She can sew, write, and do other things any person with two hands can do.
A skating rink will be made at the tennis courts at Brown Field next winter. Mr. Matthews, an engineer at Valparaiso University, is promoting the venture.
August 12, 1922
Three persons were killed and four injured, one seriously, at 8 o’clock this morning at the Kettle Crossing, of the Michigan Central Railroad, west of Porter, when a train struck an automobile. Mrs. Louis Cohen, daughter Florence, and Meyer Pinsof, of Chicago, were killed. Jerome Cohen was seriously injured. Sol Silverstein, Louis Cohen and Oscar Pinsof were injured.
L. D. Wolf, former Valparaiso man, died last night at San Diego, Calif. He was eighty and a veteran of the Civil War. Three daughters survive.
August 13, 1922
Two big real estate deals were consummated here today. Glen J. Goddard traded the old Lewis farm of 200 acres, west of Valparaiso, to Edward Mitzner, for his grocery business at Lincolnway and Michigan, and business building at 70 Washington Street. The total consideration was $60,000 ($1,043,914 in 2022). Goddard also traded 253 acres in Pulaski County to Harold J. Schenck, of Valparaiso, for a farm near Ligonier, Ind.
The Pennsylvania Railroad today settled for the deaths of Harry and Carroll Hayes, who were killed when their automobile was struck by a Pennsylvania train at the South Franklin Street crossing. Mrs. Minnie Hayes, the mother, received a check for $8,000 ($139,188 in 2022).
August 14, 1922
The August Schumacher hitch barn, former home of the Pioneer Truck Company, on West Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso, is being remodeled for a garage. Schumacher has sold the property to Andrew Beyer. Edward Ference will be in charge of the garage business.
Mayor E. W. Agar announced today that Valparaiso has leased the William Arnold farm, near the Porter County Infirmary, for a dumping ground for garbage. It is now ready for use.
August 15, 1922
Kouts citizens are considering the purchase of a twenty-acre tract of land near the town, known as Hodgins’ Driving Park, for a baseball park and recreational center. A meeting will be held to discuss the proposition.
August 16, 1922
A Gary-bound interurban car and a work car collided head-on at the Woodville Junction yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. None of the passengers were hurt.
August 17, 1922
Valparaiso citizens will pay more taxes in 1923. The rate for 1922 was $3.22 ($56.02 in 2022), but is expected to approximate the $3.50 ($60.89 in 2022) mark next year. Townships where new schools have been built will feel the increase.
Prompt discovery by Charles L. Jeffrey, of Chesterton, saved the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Bridge at Woodville from being destroyed Tuesday night at 11 o’clock. Jeffrey was returning from Chesterton. Sparks from a passing engine are believed to have set the fire. Nearby farmers helped to extinguish the blaze.
August 18, 1922
Sixty-six seniors received degrees and diplomas yesterday morning in the annual commencement exercises at Valparaiso University. The graduates comprised the second edition of the 1922 class. Robert Judson Aley, president of Butler University, and former graduate of the university, made the address.
Workmen for the Kelly Construction Company, of Chippeau Falls, Wisc., have arrived here to install the new ornamental lighting system for Lincolnway and the business district in Valparaiso. A large force of men will be employed to make up for lost time in failure of materials to arrive on time.
August 19, 1922
Mrs. C. L. Terry, of Valparaiso, has been engaged by Lowenstine and Sons to take charge of the store’s book department.
Rev. Thomas J. Bassett, former pastor of the Methodist church in Valparaiso, died yesterday at his home in Monticello, Ind. He was local pastor from 1911 to 1916. He was seventy-three years of age.
August 20, 1922
The Kouts baseball team won a tournament staged at the Porter County Fairgrounds yesterday. They defeated Lowell 8 to 5, and Boone Grove 6 to 3. Valparaiso lost to Boone Grove 4 to 3. Fiene, an old Chicago White Sox pitcher, pitched for Boone Grove.
Benjamin Barts, age 42, was fatally injured Saturday at 8:20 o’clock, when he was struck by a Grand Trunk Work Train in the local yards. Barts recently came here from Rensselaer. He has a wife and daughter.
August 21, 1922
H. C. Taylor, formerly connected with the Lowenstine and Sons’ bookstore, has opened a stationery, school, and office supply store in the room with the Electrical Sales Company, next to the Schelling Music Hall on North Franklin Street in Valparaiso.
Claus F. Specht today rounded out 50 years in the commercial life of Valparaiso. On Aug. 22, 1872, Specht entered the employ of G. Bloch, pioneer businessman of Valparaiso. Specht came to Valparaiso in 1871 and his first work was on a farm. Later he was employed at the Sager and Chartier brickyards and helped make water bricks for the Porter County Jail. Soon afterward he took employment with Bloch. In 1883, Specht, S. L. Finney and Peter Hesser founded the present Specht-Finney Company.
August 22, 1922
The Chicago Motor Club mechanical service station in Valparaiso handled more than 1,700 Chicago Motor Club members who stopped to buy gas and accessories on July 4, according to a bulletin issued by the club.
Nick Kuraski, of Gary, was instantly killed at Turkey Creek yesterday when he was hit by a Grand Trunk train. John Kowal, of Gary, escaped injury. The men had been to Crown Point after grain.
August 23, 1922
George Sheeks, of the American Laundry on South Lafayette Street in Valparaiso, has awarded a contract to Smith and Smiths Company for a new addition to his building.
August 24, 1922
On the occasion of their joint picnic at Burlington Beach, Flint Lake, Aug. 25, Hammond and Valparaiso locals on the American Federation of Musicians will give a band concert in the evening at 7:30 o’clock.
August 25, 1922
The farmers and mechanics picnic held yesterday at Brown Field was attended by more than 2,000. A free lunch was served at noon followed by a band directed by W. H. Diercks. Talks were made by F. R. Marine, of the Valparaiso Chamber, and H. I. Barnett, of the Farmers’ Association. The Farmers’ baseball team defeated the Valparaiso Firemen, 9 to 6. Field and athletic events were held.
C. W. Benton, trustee of the Frank B. Chester estate, today sold the business building at 58 Lincolnway occupied by William Smith, barber, to James L. Meagher, of the Corner Drug Store. The deal involved $18,000 ($313,174 in 2022).
August 26, 1922
Today Field R. Marine, Republican candidate for prosecutor, is mayor of Valparaiso. Mayor Edgerton W. Agar, who is leaving for a vacation in Canada, appointed him as mayor pro tem until he returns.
Kouts vicinity, on both sides of the Kankakee River, will soon see oil drilling operations. Oklahoma oil men have leased farmlands in that section and will drill wells. W. J. Henry, of Valparaiso, owns land in the territory to be drilled.
August 27, 1922
Identification of the man found incinerated on the Lake Michigan Beach at Waverly Beach, several months ago, appears unlikely, according to Porter County authorities. A Philadelphia, Pa., concern has notified Coroner H. O. Seipel that it has been unable to trace a Winchester gun found near the body.
August 28, 1922
A petition for a concrete road from the Grand Trunk in Valparaiso to the concrete road at Waverly Beach was filed yesterday with the Porter County Commissioners. It is proposed to build the road under the county unit road law.
Frank Wilson, who has been a member of the White-Myers Chautauqua Company as soloist in Missouri and Iowa, will arrive home tomorrow for a visit before joining the Ralph Dunbar Opera Company.
August 29, 1922
The greenhouse on West Indiana Avenue owned by Sheriff William Pennington, has been told to Alex Lippman and Paul Nuppnau. The Valparaiso property is presently occupied by James Sheldon, florist.
The assessed valuation of the several corporations of Porter County as fixed by the state tax board for 1922 is $29,436,090 ($512,145,914 in 2022). The total assessed valuation of the county, including the net local, is $59,600,000 ($1,036,954,857 in 2022). In 1921, the total assessed valuation was $62,376,310 ($1,085,258,684 in 2022). In 1920, it was $63,759,950 ($1,109,332,044 in 2022).
August 30, 1922
T. C. Mullen, formerly associated with his uncle, D. E. Kelly, in the practice of law in Valparaiso, has been named acting city manager of Michigan City. He has been serving as city attorney.
August 31, 1922
R. C. Breth, who has been manager of the Valparaiso Chamber, resigned yesterday and will take a position with a Chicago firm. No successor will be named. The present officers headed by E. D. Hodges, president, will be in charge.