Read about the cornerstone ceremony for Valparaiso’s “new” Elk’s Temple under the October 2 entry.
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 Valparaiso Daily Vidette and The Evening Messenger newspapers.
October 1, 1924
The advent of October in Valparaiso was marked with a heavy frost throughout the city and Porter County. The temperature took a big drop during the night and this morning the thermometer stood at 35 degrees.
The lease controversy between the Valparaiso Masonic Lodge and H. H. Loring, owner of the Academy of Music building, the third floor of which is occupied by the lodge, was settled by agreement in Porter Circuit Court today. By the terms of the settlement, the lodge will pay $2,500 from May 1, 1922, to Nov. 1, 1924, when Mr. Loring will get possession of the building.
October 2, 1924
Impressive ceremonies marked the laying of the cornerstone of the new $200,000 temple of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks this afternoon. The city was decorated in holiday attire for the event. A parade of Elks of the local lodge and visiting lodges was held prior to the ceremony. Exalted Ruler Paul E. Marks presided at the cornerstone laying. Alderman Ross A. Woodhull, of Chicago, a former Valparaiso man, made the address. This evening at Altruria Hall a banquet will be served with talks given by Mayor E. W. Agar, Rev. E. J. Mungovan, Judge H. H. Loring, and Frank M. Hogan, of Fort Wayne. P. L. Sisson will act as toastmaster and music will be furnished by the Apollo Male Quartet and Mrs. J. M. Sheldon. A dancing party at the Valparaiso University gymnasium will follow the Altruria program.
Governor Edward Morrow, of Kentucky, gave a talk at Memorial Opera House last night for the Republican ticket. Attorney Grant Crumpacker presided. Governor Morrow scored the LaFollette movement, bringing out that such movements were dangerous to the foundation upon which the government by the people functions.
October 3, 1924
Anna Tulke, of Chicago, member of the Chicago hoodlum gang which shot up the Halfway House between Crown Point and Cedar Lake in May, killing Attorney Thad S. Fancher, was charged with first degree murder in an indictment returned today by the Lake County Grand Jury. Alex McCabe and John O’Reilly, also indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury, will be tried in Porter County, their cases having been venued here.
The home of Mr. Wills, north of Valparaiso, was destroyed by fire at 6:30 o’clock this morning, together with all its contents. The property is owned by Glen Collins, of Valparaiso. Mr. Wills was not at home at the time and members of the family had gone to the orchard. When discovered, it was a mass of flames. Last winter, the Wills’ home near Wolf’s Corners was destroyed by fire, the family narrowly escaping through a window.
October 4, 1924
Judge W. C. Pentecost, of Knox, judge of the Starke County Circuit Court, who was chosen special judge in the case of Mrs. Drusilla Carr against the Phiblin estate heirs to decide title to the 100 acres of valuable land on the Lake Michigan beach near Miller, has accepted appointment. The land in question has been in litigation for 17 years. Trial will start next Monday in LaPorte Circuit Court at LaPorte.
Dr. O. W. McMichael, nationally known tuberculosis specialist, and at one time a practicing physician at Wheeler, Porter County, is dead in Chicago following an automobile accident. Funeral services were held in Chicago today.
October 5, 1924
Neither of Valparaiso’s football teams came home Sunday with the bacon. The university played Center College at Danville, Ky., and the game ended in a 0 to 0 tie. The high school dropped a 27 to 0 decision at Morocco, Ind.
The Indiana Public Service Commission today issued an order permitting the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company to issue and sell preferred stock amounting to $55,000. The company had asked permission to sell $100,000 in stock, but this was cut down to $55,000.
October 6, 1924
Miss Hazel Bielby, a former history teacher in the Valparaiso High School, died Monday in a Cincinnati, Ohio, hospital of a tumor on the brain. She taught in the local school for two years but was forced to resign her job because of illness. Students of the Valparaiso High School some time ago bought a radio and presented it to her. She will be buried in Ripley County at Sunman, Ind., her former home.
October 7, 1924
A total registration for the November election in Porter County in 1924 is 10,329, the largest registration in the history of the county. Of this number, 5,788 are men and 4,541 are women. In 1922, the total registration was 8,230, or 2,099 less than the 1924 registration.
October 8, 1924
The Masonic Lodge has signed a lease for the rental of the entire floor over the Maxwell Implement Company and the Specht Flower Shop and will remodel the place for occupancy on November 1. It will be necessary to construct a stairway between the Maxwell Company and the Specht Flower Shop. At present, all the space is occupied by the McGill Company as a storeroom. For many years, the Masonic lodge has had quarters in the Loring building over the Farmers’ State Bank in the Academy of Music Block.
October 9, 1924
The Lincoln Highway, east of Valparaiso, to LaPorte, after having been closed practically all year, will be thrown open to traffic next week. The black top from LaPorte to Westville will be completed this week, and the work between Westville and Valparaiso will be finished Monday. Officers of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce have been invited by Highway Superintendent George T. Pearce to go over the new road in the initial trip. Mr. Pearce has been in charge of the construction work.
A petition was filed at Indianapolis with Governor Emmett O. Branch yesterday by the Progressive Independent party. The petition carried only the name of Rudolph Duffy Raymond, of Valparaiso, for governor. State officials expressed themselves as doubtful whether the filling of such a petition is legal. It will be referred to the state election board for decision. The petition bore the signatures of Michigan City, Muncie, Hammond, East Chicago, Valparaiso, and other Indiana voters. The petition makes the tenth filed by political parties in Indiana.
October 10, 1924
The Maxwell Implement Company, of Valparaiso, yesterday filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the federal court at Hammond. The company lists assets of $112,995.19, and liabilities of $145,498.21, consisting mostly of real estate, stock in trade, bills, notes and securities.
Mittie Stoner was elected treasurer of the Indiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at the twenty-fourth annual state conference being held at Marion. Mrs. Stoner’s name was placed in nomination by Marie Chester.
October 11, 1924
Valparaiso property owners affected by the improvement of the alley running from Napoleon Street to Campbell Street, between Lincolnway and Jefferson Street, filed a remonstrance with the Valparaiso City Council Friday night. Attorney William Daly, who represented the remonstrators, said they were objecting to a brick paving, but would consent to concrete or macadam.
A number of Valparaiso bricklayers went to Whiting last evening and were initiated into the Masons’ Union. They were Claus Jungjohan, Thomas Lemster, Charles Lemster, Elmer Lemster, Will Lembke, Leslie Lembke, Detlef Blocker, and John Rehder.
October 12, 1924
Work was begun today tearing out the old front of the Brown building on Lincolnway, next to the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks building, preparatory to installing a new front. The front will match the style and design of the new Elks’ temple. The lower floor will be occupied by the Stinchfield and Fehrman undertaking establishment.
Valparaiso University defeated Albion College of Albion, Mich., here Saturday afternoon at Brown Field in a football game that was a nip and tuck struggle. Albion outweighed in both line and back field, held the locals even for three-quarters, and had the advantage by having the ball deep in Valpo territory. However, in the final quarter the locals, with “Buckshot” White, fullback, doing the ball carrying, swept over the final score, 14 to 3, in favor of Valparaiso.
October 13, 1924
The Valparaiso Lodge of Masons, who leased the second floor of the Sievers building, occupied by the Maxwell Implement Company on Lincolnway, has decided to exercise an option in the lease to buy the building.
A stay of execution for Harry Diamond, Gary man, convicted in Porter Circuit Court of the slaying of his wife, was asked in a petition filed with the Supreme Court yesterday. Diamond is under sentence to die on Nov. 14. The verdict of the Porter Court Jury in returning a death sentence for Diamond was upheld by the Supreme Court, but a re-hearing is pending.
October 14, 1924
Harry Diamond, of Gary, wife killer convicted by a jury in Porter Circuit Court and sentenced to die in the electric chair, lost his chance for another trial when the Supreme Court denied his petition for rehearing. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the local court on appeal, but Diamond’s attorneys petitioned for a rehearing. He is scheduled to die on Nov. 14, in Michigan City prison.
October 15, 1924
Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today ordered a new panel drawn for the John O'Reilly murder case. Defense attorneys objected to the panel because there were no women drawn on it. The old jury panel was discharged.
October 16, 1924
Eleven women were drawn in the special venire for jury service in the trial of John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, charged with the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, when the jury commissioners of the Porter Circuit Court drew a new panel at the insistence of Judge H. H. Loring, who ordered the old venire thrown out upon protest of O’Reilly’s attorneys on the ground no women had been drawn. It was the first time in the history of Porter County that women were called for jury service. Previous to the drawing, the names in the jury box were emptied and a new batch of names substituted.
The political address of United States Senator James E. Watson on Oct. 18 in Valparaiso will be broadcast from a platform on the north side of the courthouse square. The Zenith Radio Corporation, with the aid of a portable station, will send out the speech.
October 17, 1924
Attorneys for John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, charged with slaying Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, filed a motion this morning for a change of judge, and Judge H. H. Loring granted the motion. Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Superior Court, was selected as special judge.
The Indiana Board of Election Commissioners have denied the petition of R. D. Raymond, of Valparaiso, to have his name placed on the LaFollette Progressive Ticket as that party’s candidate for governor. Raymond had previously filed on another ticket. Attorneys for Raymond announced they would take legal action to force the board to place Raymond’s name on the ticket.
October 18, 1924
The capture of Earl Hurst and Sidney Purcell, confessed train robbers, now in custody of federal officers, is expected to solve a number of train robberies in Lake and Porter Counties. It is said the two men have confessed and named higher-ups who acted as tip offs for the men.
Word has been received here of the death at Grand Island, Neb., of John Hameloth, age 73 years, a former resident of Valparaiso. Mr. Hameloth was a brick mason, and while enroute to Chesterton to work on the Chesterton School Building, his wife and four children were burned to death in the family home, near Claussen’s Corners, south of Valparaiso. Mr. Hameloth later attempted suicide, but only shot his eye out. Afterward, a friend apprised him that a boyhood sweetheart of Mr. Hameloth lived at Grand Island. He went there and soon they were married. Word of his death was received by Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Specht.
October 19, 1924
United States Senator James E. Watson delivered a speech in Valparaiso Saturday afternoon from the north side of the courthouse square. Senator Watson was introduced by Mayor E. W. Agar. He pleaded for a strong productive tariff and bitterly condemned the LaFollette movement, especially the stand taken by LaFollette against the Supreme Court. The speech was broadcast over Zenith Radio Station WJAZ.
Another effort to save Harry Diamond, Gary wife slayer, from the electric chair on November 14, has been made by his attorneys, Conroey and McMahon, of Hammond. They have filed with the Supreme Court a petition setting forth that since his conviction in the Porter Circuit Court, Diamond has become insane. The petition asks the Supreme Court to order the Porter Circuit Court to hear evidence on the question of sanity and rule upon it.
October 20, 1924
A third dredge has been placed in operation on the Burns Ditch by the Walb Construction Company in an effort to construct the ditch as soon as possible. It is learned that the State Highway Commission has complete plans for the new bridge over the Dunes Highway but are awaiting the outcome of a suit in the Supreme Court to determine whether the bridge will be constructed by the State Highway Commission or the county.
John Skibbe, age 40 years, structural ironworker, of Chesterton, was killed at Buffington, Ind., yesterday. He fell 50 feet from a scaffold when he lost his balance. His skull was fractured. Surviving are a widow and three children.
October 21, 1924
Work is progressing rapidly on the new Valparaiso National Bank building on South Washington Street, and C. W. Benton, president of the bank, stated today the building will be ready for moving into inside of three weeks. The tile floors are being laid at the present time.
October 22, 1924
For the first time in the history of Porter County jurisprudence, women are today on a jury in the Porter Circuit Court. Two women were drawn on the jury to try the Newell vs. Seipial, for damages, resulting from an automobile accident on Ridge Road, Gary. The women jurors are Mrs. Martha Cowdrey and Mrs. Alice Bryarly.
October 23, 1924
The Porter Lodge of Masons, of Valparaiso, today sold a vacant lot at the southwest corner of Indiana Avenue and Franklin Street to the Independent Oil Company, of LaPorte. The lodge acquired the property some time ago intending to build a new temple, but with the recent purchase of the Sievers building on East Lincolnway, gave up the idea.
Rev. Richard Oscar, of Chicago, has accepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at Kouts and will deliver his first sermon on Sunday morning. Rev. Oscar has spoken in Kouts on several occasions.
October 24, 1924
Valparaiso radio broadcasting station WRBC, owned and operated by the Immanuel Lutheran Church, has received a letter from Winnipeg, Canada, stating that the church service broadcast Sunday evening was heard very distinctly there. This afternoon, the station broadcasted the Valparaiso-St. Viator football game direct from Brown Field.
Fire at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon damaged the Hanson Boarding House on College Hill, across from the Valparaiso University auditorium. The blaze started on the roof and gained considerable headway before discovery. The entire top floor was gutted and the lower floor damaged. Students living in the home lost much of their clothing. It is believed that the fire originated from a water heater.
October 25, 1924
The Valparaiso University football team defeated St. Viator College here yesterday at Brown Field, 12 to 0. The visitors greatly outweighed the locals. Halfback Ralph “Swede” Surface made both local touchdowns with long runs after fumbles. St. Viator smashed its way to Valpo’s two-yard line but were held for downs.
The Valparaiso City Council at its meeting last night awarded the contract for the construction of Calumet Avenue, with curb and gutter, to Gerald McGillicuddy. Samuel Richards was given the contract for the construction of the Alpen sewer.
October 26, 1924
The Indiana Attorney General’s office moved Saturday to block the final efforts of Harry Diamond, awaiting execution for the murder of his wife, to escape the electric chair. A petition has been filed with the Indiana Supreme Court asking dismissal of a petition filed by attorneys for Diamond, in which they sought an order on the Porter Circuit Court for a sanity hearing for Diamond. His attorneys claim he has become insane since his sentence to the electric chair.
Elmer Varbel, age 25, was killed Sunday afternoon at his home when a rifle was accidentally discharged. Mr. Varbel was struck in the temple. He was taken to the Methodist Hospital in Gary, but died three hours later. He was employed in the tin mills at Gary.
October 27, 1924
The murder trial of John O’Reilly, Chicago gangster, for the slaying of Attorney Thad Fancher, of Crown Point, was begun this morning in Porter Circuit Court before Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, of the Porter Circuit Court, who was selected as special judge. Yesterday Judge Crumpacker overruled a motion attacking the legality of the drawing of the jurors to try the case.
The direction of the Porter County Farm Bureau held a meeting yesterday and elected officers as follows: L. K. Wyckoff, president; E. E. Starkey, vice president; Vernon Shurr, secretary; Bruce Lantz, treasurer.
October 28, 1924
The Indiana Supreme Court is adjourned until Nov. 5, the day after election, postponing hearing on the petition for a stay of execution of Harry Diamond, convicted Gary wife slayer, sentenced to die Nov. 14. Diamond’s plea was to have been heard yesterday. He was convicted in the Porter Circuit Court.
October 29, 1924
Two jury panels drawn for the John O’Reilly murder case were exhausted today with the jury box still lacking the requisite number of jurors to try the case. Judge H. L. Crumpacker ordered a new panel drawn this afternoon and extra talesman summoned tomorrow morning for examination.
October 30, 1924
The John O’Reilly murder jury in Porter Circuit Court was selected today. The jury is as follows: A. A. Jones, Morgan Porch, George Arnold, Bert White, Henry F. Black, Swan Nilson, Ray Crisman, Charles Tannehill, M. L. Galbreath, Alice Bryarly, Martha Cowdrey, and John McRoberts.
Ed Jackson, Republican candidate for governor, spoke to a large crowd in Memorial Opera House last night. County Chairman E. L. Loomis presided, and Dr. H. M. Evans introduced the speaker. Mr. Jackson spoke mainly on taxation in Indiana. Arthur L. Gilliom, of South Bend, candidate for attorney general, also spoke.
October 31, 1924
First testimony in the John O’Reilly murder case on trial in Porter Circuit Court was given on the witness stand this morning. Witnesses were Melvin Prevo and Miss Muriel McCambridge, who were in the Halfway House, near Cedar Lake, at the time it was held up by the Chicago gangsters. Both witnesses identified O’Reilly as one of the holdup men.
While excavating for a new home in Forest Park, diggers yesterday unearthed a human foot which had become petrified. It is believed that it belonged to a Native American, possibly a member of the Potawatomi, which inhabited this region until the early 1830s.