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.
April 1, 1923
The Maxwell Implement Company sold its Hebron branch to John Lee, of Mount Ayr, Ind. The local company recently sold its branch store at LaCrosse, leaving the Valparaiso store as their only interest.
A big truck of the Porter County Highway Department was destroyed by fire on the L.C. Bay place near McCool, Saturday morning. A tractor, small truck, and automobile were saved. Bay is assistant highway superintendent.
April 2, 1923
Three gravel road contracts were awarded by the county commissioners yesterday. The Koehler Road in Boone Township, went to C. T. Eadus, of Kouts, at $23,880 (≈$425,092 in 2023); the Flynn Road in Westchester Township to Ray DeMass, of Chesterton, at $16,400 (≈$291,939 in 2023); and the Bankson Road in Westchester Township to DeMass at $8,900 (≈$158,430 in 2023).
The Indiana Public Service Commission has approved the petition of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company, of Valparaiso, for authority to issue and sell $15,000 (≈$267,017 in 2023) in common stock to be used in payment of betterments and extension of plant.
April 3, 1923
Arthur J. Bowser, owner of The Chesterton Tribune, has sold the newspaper to John G. Graessle, county treasurer. Graessle will take charge at once. He will divide his time between the treasurer’s office and the newspaper. Bowser founded the paper in 1884, where Graessle was formerly an employee.
April 4, 1923
The Indiana State Tax Board has granted the petition of the School City of Valparaiso for the issuance of bonds to build a new high school building but has withheld final consent until the construction contract has been approved.
April 5, 1923
Edward R. Armitage, former Valparaiso newspaperman, right-hand man of Mayor William Hale Thompson, in Chicago, was loser in the city council race for alderman in the 41st ward in Tuesday’s election by 475 votes.
Harry Hodsden has filed a petition with the county board of commissioners asking appointment of four men as constables for the Porter County Anti-Horse Thief Association. H. I. Barnett, Elias Cain, William McGinley, and George Vann are the names of the prospective appointees. A similar petition filed some time ago was turned down by the board after objection had been entered.
April 6, 1923
The Valparaiso school board will proceed with plans for a new school building and will obtain them before asking the state tax board for authority to float a bond issue. The question of a building site may be placed before the new planning commission soon to be named by Mayor E. W. Agar.
Dr. H. O. Seipel has been appointed medical examiner in the 84th division headquarters, Fifth Army Corps, for Porter County. The position is connected with the activities of the Citizens’ Military Training Camp, held annually at Camp Knox, Ky.
April 7, 1923
Ogden Dunes, a 500-acre tract in north Porter County, is soon to be transformed into a deluxe subdivision. About $35,000 (≈$623,041 in 2023) will be spent on roads this year. An eight-hole golf course will also be constructed.
Announcement was made that work will stop on Hotel Lembke at close of today’s operations. It is planned to issue $70,000 (≈$1.25M in 2023) in preferred stock. With each two shares of preferred stock a share of common stock will be given.
April 8, 1923
Coach Ralph E. Schenck and his Valparaiso High School basketball squad witnessed the semi-finals of the National Interscholastic basketball tourney at Bartlett Gym, University of Chicago. Rockford, Ill., won, defeating Charleston, S.C. Rockford is coached by Erickson, formerly of Gary’s Emerson.
The Nuppnau building at the corner of Washington Street and Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso, purchased by George Murken, is being razed. It will be replaced by a new building and occupied by Murken, who operates a grocery. The Nuppnau building is a relic of Civil War days.
April 9, 1923
Samuel McNaught, of the state attorney-general’s office, and T. J. Rooney, federal prohibition officer, returned to Indianapolis today after a week’s investigation of liquor law violations. According to McNaught, Porter County is practically dry.
W. W. Hinshaw, formerly head of the Valparaiso University Music Department, and now connected with the Hinshaw Opera Company of New York City, will come to Valparaiso during the presentation of the Mozart masterpiece, “Cosi Fan Tutte” at the university Saturday night.
April 10, 1923
Miss Helen Schleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Schleman, of Valparaiso, has been elected president of the Woman’s Athletic Association at Northwestern University. Miss Schleman has been accorded the honor of being one of the best three women athletes at Northwestern University.
A second addition to St. Michael’s American-Russian National Orphanage and Institution has been planned, according to a plat filed in the county’s recorder’s office. An addition opened some time ago has been sold out.
April 11, 1923
The case of Harry Diamond, of Gary, charged with the murder of his wife, has been moved here from Lake County. Joseph Conroy, of Hammond, and Frank B. Parks, of Valparaiso, will defend Diamond.
April 12, 1923
Murray J. Beach, of M. J. Beach and Sons, plumbers, Carl Black, son of former Porter County Treasurer, and Mrs. Henry F. Black, of Washington Township, narrowly escaped death by drowning in the Gulf of Mexico, off Biloxi, Miss., last Saturday. The men went out into the gulf in a submarine launch to see a whale which had been washed up on a sand bar. The boat ran out of gas and was buffeted about all night by huge waves before help arrived.
April 13, 1923
On display in the window of the James and LaForce Shoe Store on Franklin Street in Valparaiso is a pair of handmade boots made by Joseph LaForce, father of Mr. LaForce, for W. N. Anderson, of Pleasant Township, in 1879. LaForce conducted a shop over the Szold Department Store and employed ten hands. The boots were worn with full dress suits.
Abe Klein, Lincolnway clothier in Valparaiso, has leased a storeroom on Michigan Avenue, South Bend, and will open up a clothing store between May 1 and 15.
April 14, 1923
The Murken-owned Nuppnau building at the corner of Washington and Indiana may be the oldest building in Valparaiso. Controversy has been rife among the old timers since the Smiths’ Company began to raze the building to make way for a new structure. Old time photographs taken before the Civil War show the building was standing.
Fifty years ago today, April 14, 1865, the weather was considerably warmer than today, according to old timers. David Payne recalls he was driving cattle to the Kankakee River on a farm south of Lowell. While enroute to his destination he heard of the assassination of President Lincoln.
April 15, 1923
Valparaiso University defeated Notre Dame University yesterday, 9 to 8. Spurgeon’s homer and single were the single factors in the victory.
Harry Diamond, of Gary, changed with the murder of his wife, Nettie, and shooting of his Black chauffeur, William Armstrong, on a lonely road between Gary and East Chicago on February 15, 1923, is now in the Porter County Jail. His case was moved here from Lake County.
April 16, 1923
The Valparaiso planning commission appointed by Mayor E. W. Agar met last night at city hall to organize. E. S. Miller was named chairman, and J. E. Mavity, secretary. Two petitions were presented to the body. One pertained to a new grade school for Valparaiso’s First Ward.
Valparaiso University defeated the Michigan Aggies yesterday at Brown Field, 6 to 5. The locals pushed over five runs in the ninth.
April 17, 1923
Miss Mary Summerfield, of Terre Haute, Ind., has succeeded Miss Effie Weesner as assistant to Miss Mary Deegan at the Gardner School in Valparaiso. Miss Weesner recently resigned.
April 18, 1923
Claude Beach, of Valparaiso, has been named Porter County Chairman for the Citizens Military Training Camp Association. He will begin enrolling men for camp at Camp Knox, Ky., beginning July 27.
April 19, 1923
Will Brown and M. E. Dinsmoore have been appointed as members of the Hebron Library Board by Judge H. H. Loring, of the Porter Circuit Court. Miss Ora Bryant, the third member, was named by the Hebron Town Board.
Rev. Claude E. Hill, former local pastor, who has been pastor of the First Christian Church at Chattanooga, Tenn., has accepted a call to the church in Tulsa, Okla.
April 20, 1923
At a meeting of the Valparaiso Elks Lodge last night, steps were taken toward a new building by appointment of a ways and means committee headed by Charles L. Jeffrey. The lodge will sell the Dr. J. R. Pagin property and the building on West Lincolnway and build a new home.
Walter Hiltpold, Valparaiso University leftie, defeated Mt. Morris, Ill., yesterday at Mr. Morris, 10 to 2. Anderson, of the locals, made five hits.
April 21, 1923
Rev. Leigh Lawrence, of Menominee, Mich., visited here Thursday and Friday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lawrence. He has just returned from a tour of western states in the interest of the Episcopal church.
Valparaiso University defeated Columbia College at Dubuque, Iowa, yesterday, 4 to 2 in eleven innings. Columbia held a 1 to 0 lead until the ninth when Valpo tied the count. In the eleventh, Valpo pushed over three runs, while the best Columbia could do was a home run by McCauley, Columbia’s star pitcher.
April 22, 1923
John Lenden, age 64, who was known as the “King of the Sand Dunes,” was found dead in his dugout northwest of Chesterton Sunday morning by his brother. Lenden resided in the Dune region for many years and had little to do with anyone.
The Brown Supply Company, of Valparaiso, has filed articles of incorporation at Indianapolis. Incorporators are S. J. Brown, J. R. Linton, and N. E. Geiger. Capital stock is $25,000 (≈$445,029 in 2023).
April 23, 1923
Work on the deluxe addition to be built on the Lehman tract near Mineral Springs by Chester A. Wirt and a Gary syndicate was begun yesterday. Eight teams were placed on the grading work on the first 25-acre plot to be laid out. A graveled highway will be constructed from the property to the Lake Michigan beach, affording connection with a public highway. The Gary syndicate has leased the 580-acre Lehman tract for a 99-year period.
April 24, 1923
The will of Mrs. Maud Johnston, formerly of Valparaiso, was probated Monday in Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago. After bequests of $1,500 (≈$26,701 in 2023) to distant relatives, the remainder, $125,000 (≈$2.23M in 2023) was devised to three children, William and Edward Johnston, and Mrs. Charles Harvey.
The Bowlby Brothers, who have been conducting a grocery store on Haas Street, yesterday sold the business to A. Banister.
April 25, 1923
Creditors of Valparaiso University recently met at the university to discuss the financial aspects of the institution. Fully 90% of the total indebtedness was represented. The vote was unanimous to extend the time on the notes for two years. The new notes bear 5%. This will remove the heavy burden under which the local institution has been laboring for a period of at least two years. This does not include the indebtedness with the J. F. Wild & Company, of Indianapolis.
April 26, 1923
Valparaiso University defeated Loyola University yesterday, 9 to 7, for its fifth straight win. Loyola led 6 to 3, until the eighth inning, when Valpo scored two runs and came back with four in the ninth.
Carl Reichert, 27, of Cincinnati, O., federal board student at Valparaiso University, was found dead in bed at Corboy Hall this morning. He was a veteran of the First World War and had been shell shocked.
April 27, 1923
Work will be commenced next week in razing the LaForce Shoe Store building on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, owned by William Schleman, and a new building erected. The LaForce Shoe Store stock, purchased by M. Kline, of Cleveland, will be shipped to that city.
At the naturalization hearing held in Porter Circuit Court today, Mrs. Mary F. Stiles, on behalf of the Women’s Relief Corps, presented an American flag to Judge H. H. Loring. Each new citizen was also presented with an American flag.
April 28, 1923
Coach Ralph E. Schenck’s Valparaiso High School football team yesterday defeated the alumni and local ineligibles, 7 to 0. White, brilliant left half of the varsity crew, scored for the high school by a ten-yard run for a touchdown in the last quarter. Captain McCord and his mates checked the line smashes of the alumni.
A large barn, silo, and granary on the farm of John Froberg, 3.5 miles northeast of Valparaiso, burned this morning at 10 o’clock. The blaze was believed due to a backfire from an auto. Four calves and three horses were saved by Mr. Froberg. A bucket brigade saved other buildings from destruction.
April 29, 1923
Valparaiso University baseballers defeated Loyola University yesterday at Brown Field, 13 to 4. Valpo piled up a 10-1 lead in the first four innings by hitting the offerings of Dooley and Duffy consistently. In all, sixteen blows were registered, and Spurgeon and E. Johnson got three hits.
Valparaiso was represented at the meeting of the Indiana Dunes State Park Commission on Saturday at the Spaulding Hotel, Michigan City, relative to the matter of selecting the site for the new Dunes Park site. Attorneys Mark B. Rockwell and T. P. Galvin spoke for Valparaiso interests. LaPorte and Porter County interests are as a unit in believing the best location for the park-to-be is in the vicinity of Tremont.
April 30, 1923
Porter County schools will hold a track meet and general athletic contest on Wednesday, May 9, at the Porter County Fairgrounds. Schools will be closed for the day. There will be one of a series of events for the high schools, one for the grades, and one “free for all” for the girls.