Looking Back • September 1921

September 1, 1921

An American Legion post has been organized at Wanatah by the Michigan City Post. Julius Richmond as commander; Frank Gruse, vice-commander; William Smith, treasurer; and Kenneth Reed, sergeant-at-arms.

September 2, 1921

Rev. John W. Newsom and son, Jack, will leave this evening for Rexford, Kansas, where Rev. Newsom will assume charge of the Union Community Church. Rev. Newsom and family have resided in Valparaiso for seven years and he has been pastor of the Baptist church for the greater part of the time.

September 3, 1921

The Premier Theatre being built by Shauer and Sons is nearing completion. Contractor Charles Lembke stated today that he is far ahead of the schedule. He said the building will be ready by November 1.

The Indiana State Highway Commission has rejected bids for the construction of an arch over Salt Creek, west of Valparaiso, on the Lincoln Highway. It will be re-advertised for next year.

September 4, 1921

Dewey Kelly, of Cambridge City, Ind., has arrived here to resume his studies at Valparaiso University. He will be associated with Frank B. Parks’ law office in the practice of law.

Miss Jeanette Finney, of Valparaiso, has just received a signal honor by being elected by the Tri Kappa chapters of Indiana for a year’s scholarship at Indiana University. She will take up her work at Indiana University the latter part of the week.

September 5, 1921

Attorneys attending the local court openings yesterday viewed for the first time the new court library in the court house. The large room, 23x37 feet, presents an imposing appearance. The new library was enlarged by the addition of the superior court chambers and the hallway between the library and superior court room. The circuit court chambers were taken over by the superior court and the stenographer’s room will be used by the circuit court judge for his chambers.

September 6, 1921

The Valparaiso High School enrollment is now 313, an increase over last year. At christmas time between 40 and 50 more students will enter, making the school rather congested. A total of 1,280 children are enrolled in the Valparaiso City Schools.

September 7, 1921

Labor Day

September 8, 1921

The Porter County Commissioners yesterday rescinded the contract awarded sometime ago to Flynn & Small, of LaPorte, for the construction of the Barnard Road in Jackson Township. The commissioners set aside the report of the viewers and engineer and referred the road back to the engineer and viewers for a less expensive road. The state tax board last week denied the petition for the issuance of $83,000 in bonds for the construction of the road.

The West Side Business Men of Kouts were hosts last evening at a chicken dinner and dance to LaCrosse merchants as a penalty for losing a baseball game two weeks ago. The Kouts merchants proved royal entertainers. The East Side Kouts Business Men will play the LaCrosse merchants next Thursday afternoon.

September 9, 1921

A charter has been received here by the local organization of Disabled American Veterans of the World War (DAVWW). Ten men, students at Valparaiso University, make up the charter list. As soon as the term at Valparaiso University commences, efforts will be made to increase the membership. Sam Houston, of the university, is state commander of the DAVWW. He was largely instrumental in getting the local post formed. Only two other posts have been formed in the state, Indianapolis and Evansville.

Pine Township, which has been the only township in Porter County without a subdivision, is now to have one. It will be called Ardendale. The tract is to be sold to persons who desire small tracts to raise garden truck (vegetables raised for market) and chickens.

September 10, 1921

The contract for erection of the New Horn building has just been awarded to Smith & Smiths Company and actual construction work will begin the forepart of the week, as the excavations are all about completed. The new building will be used for the meat market. On the second floor will be two modern flats.

September 11, 1921

Miss Margery Ellis left yesterday for a week’s visit in Washington, D. C., and New York City, after which she will sail for France for a year’s study in a girl’s Lycee at St. German, fourteen miles from Paris. Miss Ellis was awarded an exchange scholarship by the Institute of International Education while a senior at the University of Chicago.

Lombard, Kalamazoo, St. Xavier, and South Dakota have been signed for football games the coming season by Coach Harold Goheen, of Valparaiso University. Other colleges are negotiating for games with the local school.

September 12, 1921

Rev. Thomas J. Bassett, former pastor of the Methodist church here, and his wife, have decided to make Valparaiso their home. They arrived in the city yesterday and concluded the deal for the purchase of a residence. Rev. Bassett was succeeded here by the Rev. Thomas F. Williams. Since leaving here he has held pastorates at Monticello and Hammond. He owns a farming property near Wanatah.

The sale of a $300,000 bond issue of Valparaiso University is expected to get under way by next week. The bonds are a first mortgage against the school property valued at more than a million dollars.

September 13, 1921

Clyde Stratton, prison breaker, who served five years in federal prison at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary for a post office robbery at McCool, was released Monday. He was taken in charge by officers from the Ohio State Penitentiary to serve an unexpired term.

September 14, 1921

Jack Burt, formerly of Valparaiso, has returned here after a stay at Atlanta, Ga., where he was connected with the Atlanta Realty Company. He has become associated with Paul E. Marks, local builder. Mr. Burt was formerly connected with the McFetrich Lumber Company and Foster Lumber and Coal Company.

September 15, 1921

George T. Pearce, former county surveyor, who has been superintendent of construction of the Crown Point district, comprising the counties of Lake, Porter, and Jasper, for the Indiana State Highway Commission has resigned his position because of ill health. R.W. Lytle has been appointed to fill Mr. Pearce’s place temporarily.

High schools of Porter County show increased attendance for 1921, according to reports received by Superintendent Fred H. Cole. Chesterton has 109, a gain of 29. Hebron has 91, a big increase. Valparaiso has 313, an increase of 40 percent. This year, the county attendance curve is expected to show a trend upward.

September 16, 1921

The Rainbow Restaurant on College Hill, owned by Tom, Gus, and James Pappas and Mike Lambrox, was sold today to Gus Pappas, George C. Scooffakes, and John G. Pappadak.

At a meeting of the Portage Township Farming Association last evening at the home of J. S. Robbins, a resolution was adopted favoring the establishment of a milk skimming station near Chesterton.

September 17, 1921

Rolla and Arthur Specht, of Valparaiso, will establish a truck line between Valparaiso and Chicago to haul all kinds of freight. A light truck will begin making trips Monday, and later will be supplemented by a larger truck. The truck will leave here each day at 6 o’clock in the morning and return at 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon. Stops will be made at Gary and Hobart.

A large number of farmers of Porter County have filed their applications with County Agent A. Z. Arehart for the tuberculin testing of their cattle, and many others are contemplating doing so. To date, fourteen herd owners have filed applications.

September 18, 1921

The Valparaiso Tennis Club defeated the Rensselaer Tennis Club in a series of games staged yesterday at the university tennis grounds. Two double and four single matches were played. Valparaiso made a clean sweep of the contests with the exception of one of the singles.

Boone Grove lost yesterday to the Valparaiso Athletics, 3 to 2. Davidson pitched for the Athletics and although he allowed eleven hits, he permitted only two runs. Valparaiso made five hits off Jerry Maloney, but they came at the right times. Maloney struck out twelve batters.

September 19, 1921

Voluntary subscriptions to $300,000 bond issue of Valparaiso University, amounting to $17,700, have been made, the committee in charge announced today. The next week will be devoted to an intensive soliciting campaign.

Ten men of Valparaiso University met Monday night to open a chapter of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War and elected officers as follows: L. T. Maudlin, commander; Howard M. Wright, vice-commander; Harry E. Hulce, secretary; Chester Cannon, treasurer. Sam Houston, of the local post, is state commander.

September 20, 1921

Louis Holland and Ernest McBride, for several years students at Valparaiso University, who walked from Valparaiso to Washington, D.C., have arrived there and will enter George Washington University Law School. The whole trip cost the men $5 and took 20 days to complete. George Stimpson, member of university law class last year and author of “History of Valparaiso University,” will also attend Georgetown. The trio were central figures in the rebellion resulting in the ouster of Daniel Russel Hodgdon as president of the local school.

September 21, 1921

W. E. Wansbrough, of Valparaiso, who has been a salesman for the Texaco Oil Company with headquarters in Chicago has been promoted to district manager of the company with headquarters at Kansas City. Mr. Wansbrough will continue to make Valparaiso his home.

September 22, 1921

Joseph Cuncinella, Gary soft drink proprietor, was found shot to death this morning near Willow Creek, Portage Township. He was slumped behind the wheel of a Hudson super-six. Five bullet holes were found in his head. The body was brought to the Stinchfield Fehrman Funeral Home in Valparaiso.

A movement is on foot to change the routing of the National Dunes Highway. A. F. Knotts and John Bowers are backing the plan. The new routing will eliminate five railroad crossings.

September 23, 1921

Indiana has the honor of sending the oldest delegate to the mammoth convention of Odd Fellows in session at Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Telegram contains a picture and article about Col. Herman Hagen, of Valparaiso, staff officer, who is the oldest man attending the convention. He is 80 years of age and has been an Odd Fellow for 45 years.

An arrangement between officials of Valparaiso University and the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce will result in the establishment of a tourist camp site for 1922 that will meet all the requirements for taking care of a large number of tourists adjacent to Yellowstone Trail and Lincoln Highway. The ground has been donated by the university and the chamber of commerce will install the proper equipment. The site has been listed with the Chicago Motor Club for 1922.

September 24, 1921

The Franck Manufacturing Company of Kouts has filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state. The concern is capitalization for $8,000. The incorporators are A. A. Franck, George lan, Mrs. A. A. Franck, Charles H. Cannon, and Della M. Cannon, all of Kouts. The company manufactures house aprons, dresses, men’s shorts and children’s dresses and ladies’ hats.

Superintendent of Schools Fred H. Cole is in receipt of a letter from S. B. Sinclair, inspector of auxiliary class, department of education, Toronto, Canada, asking for information regarding the education of sub-normal or defective children in rural schools. Superintendent Cole will make an address at Indianapolis next month on “The Personal Equation as a Factor in Rural Education.” The Valparaiso man is receiving much recognition in educational circles in this line of work in which he has specialized for a number of years.

September 25, 1921

Despite efforts of Sheriff William Pennington and local police, the murderers of Joe Cuncinella of Gary, killed Thursday in Portage Township, are still at large. Several clues followed up by the officers failed to produce anything in the way of apprehending the killer. Officers are of the opinion that Cuncinella was killed by a Black Hand gang.

Miss Katheryn Anderson, deputy treasurer of Porter County, will be a candidate for county treasurer at the next primary election on the Republican ticket. For the last two years she has been deputy treasurer under Treasurer J. G. Graessle. She formerly taught in the Center Township schools and during the World War was in the War Risk Department in Washington.

September 26, 1921

Emerson High, of Gary, defeated Valparaiso High 19 to 0 Saturday in the first game of the season. Rain fell throughout, making the field a quagmire. Sturtridge and Monhardt, of Gary, and Fred LePell, Earl Scott and Lembke, for Valpo, were the stars.

An old time house, known as the Crow’s Nest, in Jackson Township, burned to the ground last night. The origin of the blaze is unknown. The building was one of the old landmarks of the township. For a number of years it had not been used for living quarters. It was believed moonshiners plied their art there.

September 27, 1921

Two men Monday afternoon attempted to burn the Carver School in Pine Township. Miss Katherine Maxwell, of Valparaiso, is the teacher. Shortly after she dismissed the pupils the men entered the building and ordered her to leave. Miss Maxwell left and notified Henry Glafcke, where she stays. He and others went to the school and found the building on fire. The flames were extinguished after hard work, but extensive repairs will be necessary.

September 28, 1921

The Valparaiso Lodge of Elks is considering the purchase of the Dr. J. R. Pagin property at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in downtown Valparaiso. The matter will come up at a meeting Thursday night.

September 29, 1921

Mae R. London, deputy county clerk, was admitted to the Porter County Bar this morning by Judge H. L. Crumpacker in Porter Superior Court. A committee composed of Grant Crumpacker, Mark B. Rockwell and J. S. Bartholomew examined Mrs. London upon her qualifications as to the law and she passed favorably.

Mark L. Dickover returned home this morning from Boston, Mass., where he attended a meeting of 33rd Degree Masons.

September 30, 1921

At a meeting of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks last evening, a motion was made and carried that a committee of the lodge, consisting of Frank L. Faley, W. S. Lindall and Charles H. Stinchfield, be empowered to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the Dr. J. R. Pagin property at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets. The vote on the purchase of the property was seventy-one for and thirty-two against it. It is said the consideration is to be around $30,000. The lodge will retain its property on West Lincolnway.

W. A. Stimson, who has been conducting an auto sales agency in the Sievers’ building at 113-117 Lincolnway in Valparaiso, today, sold the lease on the building to the Harvil Brothers, dealers in Dodge autos. The Harvil Brothers will move their sales room at 151 West Lincolnway to the new location. Mr. Stimson will still retain the Studebaker sales agency.