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.
January 1, 1925
J. A. Houghton will succeed T. B. Louderback as Justice of the Peace for Center Township. Mr. Houghton has been serving for some time as a deputy constable. Louderback, who has been serving as a Justice of the Peace for nearly fifty years, will retire.
January 2, 1925
Valparaiso High School defeated East Chicago High School basketeers at University Gymnasium by a score of 35 to 32. East Chicago has been undefeated in seven games this season. Both teams set a terrific pace throughout. Wilfred Smith’s bunch was unable to stop Captain Mike Shurr, who garnered fifteen points.
January 3, 1925
Among those mentioned for the federal judge appointment in Indiana as the Hickey Bill passes, is Judge Harry L. Crumpacker, judge of the Porter-LaPorte Superior Court. Porter and LaPorte County lawyers are expected to get behind his candidacy. Senator James E. Watson has indicated that he will favor a man from the northern part of the state.
January 4, 1925
The first bonus insurance given by the government to men who saw service in the World War arrived here today from Washington, D.C. Morris O’Donnell, Kay Sundeen, Louis Benham, Ray Weiler, and Harry Gustafson, of Valparaiso, were the recipients of the insurance. These men were among the first to make an application for the insurance to the department at Washington.
January 5, 1925
The office equipment of Willard Powell, head of the Polk School of Piano Tuning, is being transported via auto truck to LaPorte where the school, in all its entirety, will be located after April 1. While the office will be in LaPorte, the school is still being conducted in Valparaiso. The new $50,000 building now being erected in LaPorte will not be completed until sometime in April. The school equipment will not be moved until the new building is ready.
January 6, 1925
Marion Curtis, county commissioner from the South District, was elected president of the board of commissioners for Porter County at the board’s first meeting of the year on Monday. C. E. Fifield was named secretary. Curtis succeeds F. W. Alpen, whose term as commissioner expired.
January 7, 1925
The Valparaiso Retail Credit Association was formed last night following a banquet of merchants and professional men held at the Meg Shop in Valparaiso. The charter membership starts out with thirty. The organization of the bureau is to begin immediately and will be led by Wallace C. Sutter, manager of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Sutter outlined the workings of the system to be employed.
National silver medals awarded by the United States Lawn Tennis Association to the champions of the various tennis centers of the country were received yesterday by Phyllis Hisgen and Fred LePell, of Valparaiso. The local young people are junior champions of Northern Indiana. Miss Hisgen has won the honors in the girls’ division for the last two years, defeating opponents in South Bend and Gary. LePell was semi-finalist and runner-up in 1923, and in 1924 defeated Andy Pepa, of Gary.
January 8, 1925
John M. Tennery, proprietor of a grocery store on North Washington Street in Valparaiso, was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the county commissioners at a meeting of the board this afternoon. He succeeds the office left vacant by W. W. Bozarth, who became prosecutor on January 1. Tennery was formerly a lawyer and once held the office of prosecutor in an Illinois city.
Nine high school students, five girls and four boys, will contest on the public speaking platform at the Central School on January 15. A five-dollar prize will be given to the winner in each group. Those taking part, all members of the 1925 graduating class are: Virginia Fisher, Anita Parker, Mary Ellen Billings, Ruth Vevia, Dorothy Goodpasture, Leroy Chumley, Ralph Spindler, Earl Burns, and Sedgwick Sanford.
January 9, 1925
Valparaiso University basketball quint defeated Wheaton College last night at University Gymnasium by a score of 31 to 24. Harris, Bournquin, and Doran starred for Valparaiso, and Rosenkranze was high point man for Wheaton with 9 points.
George W. Ferguson, formerly operator of the Lincoln Theater in Valparaiso, is now engaged in the general merchandising business at Deep River. Ferguson has traded the Orpheum Theater, owned by him at Converse, Ind., to S. E. Miller, of Chicago, for the latter’s general store at Deep River.
January 10, 1925
Harry L. Crumpacker, of Michigan City, judge of Porter-LaPorte Superior Court, was endorsed for the appointment of federal judge of Indiana at a meeting of the Porter County Bar Association on Friday afternoon at the courthouse. Officers were elected as follows: Grant Crumpacker, president; William W. Bozarth, vice-president; Mark B. Rockwell, secretary, and Bruce B. Loring, treasurer.
Dr. H. T. Patrick, famous Chicago nerve and blood specialist, who took a prominent part in the Loeb and Leopold Trial in Chicago as a witness, was in Valparaiso yesterday in consultation with Dr. M. B. Fyfe in the case of B. L. Brenner, who has been confined to his home by illness.
January 11, 1925
Plymouth High School basketball team defeated Valparaiso High for the second time at Plymouth Saturday night by a score of 33 to 20. Bixell, center for Plymouth, was the main star of the evening with 15 points. Captain Shurr, of Valparaiso, scored 10 points, or half of the local’s total.
Ruth Anette, 20-months-old daughter of Lester and Ruth Manis, 506 Union Street in Valparaiso, was instantly killed Saturday night when she rolled out of her father’s arms and fell against the sharp end of a traveling trunk. The aorta in the abdomen was ruptured. Seven hours after the mishap, a little daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Manis.
January 12, 1925
In the event the establishment of a normal school in Northwestern Indiana is authorized by the state legislature, efforts to have the new institution located at either Winona College or Valparaiso University will be made by representatives of the state, it has been learned. The campaign to obtain a state normal school for this section of the state was launched in Gary last week at a Gary Commercial Club meeting with representatives from ten Northern Indiana counties.
The heating apparatus in Valparaiso’s new Elk’s Lodge building will be ready for the first heat tomorrow, and the fire will be started for the purpose of frying out the building preparatory to starting the plastering work. Al Lebrecque, of Valparaiso, will be in charge of the work. It is expected the building will be completed by May 1.
January 13, 1925
A special venire of fifty talesmen will be drawn by jury commissioners of the Porter Superior Court for the case of Alex McCabe, charged with murder. Kelly & Loomis, local attorneys for McCabe, filed the request for the special venire. When the commissioners meet on January 26, they will draw the grand and petit jurors for the February term of court, which begins February 2.
January 14, 1925
Snowplows are being used on the highways of Porter County to clear the thoroughfares of drifting snow. Joseph Crowe, county superintendent of roads, stated today that he has two plows already in operation and will have a third tomorrow. The plows are placed in front of the big trucks to give all the traction possible. The state highway commission has a force of men and plows at work making the state roads passable.
January 15, 1925
Valparaiso University’s basketball quint swamped DePaul University last night at University Gymnasium by a score of 37 to 13. “Beanie” Harris, with five baskets, and “Bourq” Bourquin, with six buckets, featured the Valpo attack. A tight defense by “Scotty” Scott, “Hippy” Hiltpold, and “Jimmie” Doran prevented DePaul from making any headway in the scoring line.
Albert Hirsth, a former Valpo boy, now a resident of Jamshedpur, India, was in Valparaiso on Wednesday visiting friends. He is an important official of the Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur, owned by Indian capital. Prior to going to India five years ago, he was connected with the Illinois Steel Company, of Gary, and the U.S. Steel Company, of Youngstown, Ohio. About twenty white men are employed in the steel mills at Jamshedpur, which is about half the size of the Gary steel mills.
January 16, 1925
Anita Parker and Sedgwick Sanford were declared winners in the annual public speaking contest of the Senior Class of the Valparaiso High School held last night at the Central School. Eight young people took part in the contest. Others taking part were Virginia Fisher, Leroy Chumley, Ruth Vevia, Dorothy Goodpasture, Mary Ellen Billings, and Ralph Spindler. Earl Burns, also scheduled to speak, was unable to do so because of illness.
Charles L. Jeffrey, chairman of the building committee of the Valparaiso Elks Lodge, was elected trustee of the lodge at a spirited meeting held to fill a vacancy caused by the death of J. A. “Bert” Wise. Two other candidates for the position, Julius Albe and W. W. Bozarth, withdrew before the balloting.
January 17, 1925
Valparaiso High School defeated Crown Point High School at University Gymnasium last night by a score of 56 to 21. The locals gathered 27 points in the first half and 29 in the second. Crown Point tallied four points in charity tosses in the first half and got 17 points in the second half when Valpo reserves were sent in. Mike Shurr scored 10 baskets and three free throws while White caged eight baskets and one free throw for Valpo. Eleven Valpo and twelve Crown Point players saw service in the game.
One divorce was granted to every twenty marriage licenses issued in Porter County during 1924, according to the annual report of Porter County Clerk Roscoe J. Jones. The report showed that 27 divorces were granted as compared with the issuance of 540 marriage licenses.
January 18, 1925
Valparaiso music lovers enjoyed a musical treat Saturday evening at the Valparaiso University auditorium when they listened to the rendition of two operas by the Hinshaw Opera Company of New York City. “Bastien and Bastienne” and “The Impresario” were the two productions by William Wade Hinshaw, head of the Hinshaw Company, who is a former graduate and teacher of music at the university.
Charles S. Pierce was elected chairman of the Republican Central Committee at a reorganization meeting held Saturday afternoon at Valparaiso City Hall. Edmund J. Freund acted as chairman of the meeting. Freund declined the office of secretary, a post which he has held for the last ten years. John P. Crumpacker was named in his place. Ernest J. Gardner was named treasurer. Freund is at present secretary of the county central committee.
January 19, 1925
A person suffers no legal detriment when his name is advertised in a list of accounts for sale according to a decision handed down by Judge H. H. Loring in Porter Circuit Court today in the case of Schrier versus the LaCrosse Elevator Company. Schrier asked for $10,000 in damages. According to evidence, Schrier paid the bill before the accounts were advertised but the company failed to take his name off the list.
Members of Charity Rebekah Lodge, of Valparaiso, will bring back the old-fashioned sleigh ride party Wednesday night when they accompany Jessie Wise, of Valparaiso, to Wheeler. Wise, in the capacity of district president of the Rebekahs in Porter and LaPorte Counties, will make tentative arrangements for holding the district meeting in Wheeler this spring.
January 20, 1925
The former L. D. Wolf property at the corner of Washington and Chicago Streets in Valparaiso, comprising two lots and two residence properties, has been sold by the Porter Lodge of Masons, owners, to Judith Smith, of Valparaiso. The lodge acquired the site a year ago with the intention of building a home. Since that time, the lodge purchased the Sievers building on East Lincolnway and is remodeling it for a home.
January 21, 1925
Bert L. Brenner, well-known local druggist, died this morning at his home on North Michigan Avenue. He had been ill for four months. Brenner came to Valparaiso in 1912 and purchased the W. H. Williams Drug Store. His wife preceded him in death four years ago. A son, Ralph, survives, as well as three brothers.
January 22, 1925
Seven-year-old Grace Thompson, of Kouts, died on the operating table in Valparaiso’s Christian Hospital last evening at 7 o’clock from injuries received when she fell between the wheels of a heavily loaded wagon in Kouts yesterday at 4 o’clock. The accident resulted when the girl climbed on the side of a coal wagon to hitch a ride. In some manner, she fell off and one of the rear wheels passed over her head and shoulders.
A petition was filed today with the Porter County Commissioners calling for the annexation of 2,000 acres of land to the Town of Chesterton. The territory sought to be annexed is situated north of the town, extending to Lake Michigan. The move is being taken by the town to provide a water supply by piping to Lake Michigan.
January 23, 1925
The Indiana Elks’ Association will hold its twenty-fourth annual meeting in Valparaiso on August 18, 19, and 20. In conjunction with the meeting, the new $250,000 lodge home of the local Elks will be dedicated. The new structure will be in readiness for the convention. Committees named by the lodge are now working to perfect the plans for the meeting, which is expected to attract several thousand out-of-town Elks here.
The B. L. Brenner Drug Store, which has been closed because of the death of Brenner, will reopen with J. L. Spooner, of the Lincoln Highway Garage, in charge. Spooner was named as administrator of the estate and given authority to conduct the business.
January 24, 1925
Members of the Valparaiso City Council and a group of Valparaiso citizens engaged in a rather heated discussion at Friday night’s session over the proposition of appointing a policewoman. The same matter has been called to the attention of the solons two weeks ago. Some of the citizens who are backing the appointment of a woman official in the police department openly charged the council with attempting to pass the buck. According to City Attorney E. G. Osborne, Mayor E. W. Agar will have the sole power of appointing the policewoman, but the council has the say on the amount of salary.
Valpoites got out their smoked glasses this morning to witness the eclipse of the sun. The phenomenon reached its greatest height at 7:59 o’clock. Clouds somewhat obscured the views of the gazers. Around 8 o’clock, darkness prevailed and electric lights were turned on in many homes and business places.
January 25, 1925
The fire loss resulting from the destruction of a large barn early Saturday morning on the Simon McGinley farm, near Beatrice, Porter Township, is estimated by McGinley at $15,000. Burned in the fire were 75 cows, two horses, and farming implements. The burned structure was 40x80 feet and was built ten years ago to replace a barn also destroyed by fire.
The Indiana legislature gave the legal sanction for the incorporation of Dunes Acres, new subdivision in Portage Township, Porter County, when a bill was passed Friday at Indianapolis. The legislature action paves the way for a great development by W. A. Wirt, Col. A. P. Melton, and others of Gary. The Gary syndicate has control of 600 acres and has already spent $25,000 developing the property.
January 26, 1925
Mayor Edgerton W. Agar’s ire was aroused by the action of Valparaiso attorneys taking changes of venue from the city court to the Porter Circuit Court. Agar declares that the police department has been given orders to go after a number of bootleggers who have been defying the law. The mayor asserted that the booze peddlers and their attorneys were afraid to take a chance in city court fearing a jail sentence will be meted out.
Loemma T. Chester, of Valparaiso, has received an appointment from the National Board of Health as a lecturer on health and hygiene topics. She leaves for Mississippi to take up her new work and later will go to Massachusetts. Mrs. Chester’s brother, James G. Strong, is a congressman from the Fifth Kansas District.
January 27, 1925
Officials of the Elks’ Lodge have received word that shipment of the new chimes clock to be installed on the new lodge building at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette Street in Valparaiso will be made from Minneapolis within two weeks. The clock will cost $5,000.
January 28, 1925
The Burchard Variety Store on Franklin Street in Valparaiso, next to the Philley Brothers’ Store, has been sold to the Charles Mack Company, operators of a string of similar stores in the Chicago vicinity. F. D. Burchard, who established the local store some time ago, will devote his time to his stories at Rensselaer and North Judson.
January 29, 1925
P. V. Davis, of Chicago, arrived here yesterday to take over the management of the local Woolworth store. He succeeds V. L. Cook, who has been local manager for the last year and a half. The latter has been assigned the company’s store in Logansport, Ind. Prior to coming here, Mr. Cook was located at Lincoln, Ill.
A bill will be introduced in the state legislature at Indianapolis within a few days for a separation of the Porter and LaPorte Superior Courts. The proposed legislation is being strongly backed by LaPorte County attorneys. If the bill goes through, the present judge of the court will be judge of the LaPorte Superior Court and a new judge will be named for the Porter Superior Court.
January 30, 1925
The Valparaiso Retail Credit Association will be in working order not later than March 1, according to an announcement made at a meeting of the Merchants’ Bureau of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce held at Lembke Hall this Noon. Fred Moltz, chairman of the Merchants’ Bureau, presided. Thirty members have been signed to date, and nearly all local businessmen are expected to be signed up within the next week.
Valparaiso Baptists will occupy their new church on Sunday, following remodeling operations which have been under way all summer and fall. The building, however, will not be ready for complete inspection until a week later. During the remodeling operations, the church has been using Odd Fellows Hall for its services.
January 31, 1925
Froebel High, of Gary, defeated Valparaiso High last night at University Gym, 45 to 25. Led by Sammy Pollizootto, who scored 13 points, and Smith, center, who bagged five fielders. The Gary team was never in danger. Captain Mike Shurr led the locals with 12 points. The Valpo reserves defeated the Froebel reserves, 30 to 29.
Valparaiso City Attorney E. Guy Osborne, one of the pioneer automobile dealers of Valparaiso, will not attend the Chicago Auto Show this year. Osborne began selling autos in 1902. He sold Plummer Currier, the first taxicab operator in Valparaiso, his first automobile. He sold cars for ten years and the prices charged in those early days would almost buy a Packard now. During 1907, despite the panic of that year, Osborne enjoyed his best sales year.