Looking Back • March 1922

March 1, 1922

Valparaiso University defeated Wheaton College at University Gym last night, 37-12. The locals’ played without the services of Andrew Evans and Walter Hiltpold. Cadwallader with five baskets was high point getter for the locals. Sawyer played a fine guarding game and also scored a long shot from center of the floor.

The district conference of the Northwest Indiana Conference of the M. E. Church will be held in Valparaiso on March 9 and 10. On Thursday morning Bishop F. D. Leete, resident bishop of Indiana, will address the conference.

March 2, 1922

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz, in Morgan Township last November, was found guilty by a jury in Porter Circuit Court yesterday afternoon and sent to prison for life. Mollick lived at the Stoltz home. Attorney P. J. Bailey, counsel for Mollick, filed a motion for a new trial and Judge H. H. Loring will rule on it tomorrow.

The Pitkin and Brooks Glass Factory will discontinue operation on May 1 and Frank W. Lesch will continue the industry in a new location. He will manufacture under a contract for Pitkin and Brooks. He will employ the same working force which calls for an annual payroll of $23,300. Machinery now in the factory at the Joliet Bridge will be moved to the White Church on South Franklin Avenue, where manufacturing will be carried on.

March 3, 1922

In the opening games played in the sectional basketball tourney at University Gym today, Valparaiso defeated Hammond, 19-14; Lowell nosed out Hebron, 9-8; Rensselaer upset East Chicago, 15-14; Crown Point disposed of Lowell, 25-12, and Brook ran rings around Remington, 34-5.

R. D. Ross, aged 68, for many years engaged in the hardware – and later the automobile business – in Valparaiso for many years, died last night at St. Petersburg, Fla. He was the first Ford agent in Valpo.

March 4, 1922

Rensselaer and either Froebel or Whiting will meet tonight in the final game at the sectional basketball tourney at University Gym. Valparaiso, which defeated Lowell 19-9, lost to Rensselaer 7 to 5, and failed to reach the finals. Other scores were: Whiting 12, Emerson 11: Kentland 28, Boone Grove 2; Froebel 34, Goodland 5; Rensselaer 19, Crown Point 16; Froebel 14, Kentland 8.

The site and building of the old Clifford School west of Valparaiso was sold today by Charles H. Crisman, Center Township Trustee, to John A. Prentiss. The school was abandoned a number of years ago.

March 5, 1922

Whiting won the sectional basketball tourney held at University Gym by defeating Rensselaer, 25-9. Whiting won its way to the finals by defeating Froebel 18-14, in a game in which many thought the refereeing favored Whiting to a marked degree. Whickhorst of Whiting scored twelve of his team’s points with free throws. The tourney was a financial success, the proceeds amounting to $2,500 ($41,837.50 in 2022).

Charles F. Lembke, local contractor, will soon begin work on the new Valparaiso hotel building at the corner of Lafayette and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso. Some equipment has already been moved to the site.

March 6, 1922

Frank W. Morton, of the Schleman-Morton Company, suffered severe injuries to the right arm this morning when he fell down cellar stairs into the basement of the old Salyer residence, corner Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso. The elbow bone was fractured.

March 7, 1922

The spring term of Valparaiso University opened this morning. The enrollment promises to be unusually large for the term. The faculty will hold its regular weekly meeting this evening.

March 8, 1922

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, sentenced to life imprisonment at Michigan City Prison for the slaying of his stepmother, Mrs. Bertha Stoltz, on November 21, 1921, entered the prison yesterday. Mollick appeared at the prison in knee pants, being the first life prisoner to enter the institution in short pants. A number of editorials have appeared in newspapers in this section scorning the Porter County court for its action in dealing out a life sentence.

Valparaiso University girls’ basketball team defeated the Hammond Nets girls team last night, 13 to 3. The result was a surprise as the Netz team is one of the strongest in this section.

March 9, 1922

The Schleman-Morton Company today announced it would erect a business building at the corner of Jefferson and Washington Streets on the old Salyer property purchased some time ago. The building will be two stories with business room below and offices above. Chas. F. Lembke, local architect, is drawing plans.

March 10, 1922

Otis Sanford, of Valparaiso, and student at DePauw University, tied for second place in scholastic honors in the freshman class of 500 students the last semester. He is an Edward Rector student and is working his way through school.

The conference of the South Bend District of the M.E. Sunday School which was convened in session here yesterday, closed at noon today. The attendance was the largest of any conference in this district in many years. The church was crowded to capacity to hear Bishop F.D. Leete, of Indianapolis, who spoke Thursday night.

March 11, 1922

The Foster Lumber and Coal Company, of Valparaiso, was awarded the general contract for the construction of the new Morgan Township School today when bids were opened by Trustee John W. Bell at the office of Porter County Superintendent Fred H. Cole. The local firm’s bid was $39,000 ($652,665 in 2022). The cost of the building will be $55,000 ($920,425 in 2022). The building will be two stories, 65 by 86 feet, and situated on the Joseph Crowe Farm, between the Adams Church and Malden, on the Valparaiso-Kouts Road.

A delegation of farmers living near Valparaiso appeared before the Valparaiso City Council last night to protest against charging a fee for the privilege of selling milk and milk products in Valparaiso. A set of resolutions passed Saturday at a meeting of the directors of the Porter County Farmers’ Association was presented to the council. The farmers claim the ordinance will cause them to go elsewhere to sell their products and do their trading.

March 12, 1922

Dr. A. P. Letherman has received word from his brother, Lawrence L. Letherman, at Boston, Mass., announcing that he has been appointed special agent in charge of the New England Bureau of the U. S. Department of Justice. Mr. Letherman has been in government work for 33 years.

Whiting, representing this section in the basketball tourney at Lafayette last Saturday won an easy victory from Decatur team, 26-6. Wickhorst, of Whiting, caged six field goals and six charity tosses.

March 13, 1922

The new school at Garyton, in Portage Township, was opened yesterday. Only part of the structure is available at the present time. The building cost $30,000 ($502,050 in 2022). It is a two-story school with auxiliary rooms. Trustee Herman W. Swanson had charge of the building plans and the work was done by a Gary firm.

March 14, 1922

Harry and Carroll Hayes, of Valparaiso, were instantly killed Sunday evening when their automobile was struck by a Pennsylvania Passenger Train at the Franklin Street crossing. Both were World War veterans.

March 15, 1922

Through efforts of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, an office of the Hoosier State Automobile Association, will be established in Valparaiso. The new office will give an up-to-date touring department for accommodation of the public, membership in the American Automobile Association and a state automobile licensing department. At present time automobile owners must go to either Lake or Laporte Counties for licenses.

Joseph Montgomery has purchased a new residence in the Alpen Subdivision on North Franklin Street of F. W. Alpen.

March 16, 1922

Twelve operators of hotel experience have made overtures to Charles F. Lembke, who will build Valparaiso’s new hotel. When a selection is made of a man to conduct the hotel, Mr. Lembke will begin excavation for the building.

Miss Mayme Salisbury, who has been engaged in concert work with the Keith Sisters, has returned to Valparaiso to remain with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Salisbury.

March 17, 1922

The School of Sanitary Engineering was started at Valparaiso University this week. The Indiana Sanitary Engineering Society has been urging the government to approve a course in sanitary engineering at the university for the vocational training of students under federal jurisdiction. The Indiana Society this week at its meeting at Indianapolis contributed $1,100 ($18,408.50 in 2022) for the aid of Valparaiso University students in plumbing.

A new traffic signal was installed yesterday at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette Street by the Valparaiso Lighting Company. The signal is different from others in that there is no post and it is only six inches above the pavement. A red light glows in the signal at all times. Another signal will be installed at Morgan Boulevard and Lincolnway.

March 18, 1922

Excavation work for Valparaiso's new hotel will be commenced Monday, according to an announcement today by Charles F. Lembke, architect and builder of the hotel. A large force of men will be employed. By the time the excavation is finished, Mr. Lembke hopes to have selected an operator for the hotel.

J. H. Allen, of Chicago, lighting engineer, was in Valparaiso yesterday and made a trip for a preliminary survey of the lighting system. Later a more comprehensive survey will be made to determine a plan for better lighting facilities.

March 19, 1922

Maurice E. Crumpacker, former Valparaiso boy, and son of ex-Congressman E. D. Crumpacker, of Valparaiso, is a candidate for the congressional nomination on the Republican ticket in the Third Oregon District, which includes Portland. Mr. Crumpacker is connected with the district attorney’s office at Portland as assistant district attorney. American Legion and ex-service men are backing his candidacy.

Kouts citizens and business men are planning to have a baseball team this year. Attorney T. E. Crowe was selected by the citizens to manage the team, and $600 ($10,041 in 2022) has been raised. Mr. Crowe has signed up Chief Rainier, pitcher, and Waite, shortstop, of Michigan City; Carter, outfielder, of Michigan City; Frank Maloney, second baseman, of Boone Grove. Arrangements are being made to form a five-club league with Kouts, Lacrosse, Wanatah, San Pierre, and Boone Grove as members.

March 20, 1922

News was received here of the death at Bakersfield, Calif., of Otto F. Brandt, formerly of Valparaiso, and first agent of the Nickel Plate Railroad in Valparaiso. Mr. Brandt died in a court room at Bakersfield after giving testimony in an auto collision case. A heart attack caused death. He was vice-president of the Title Trust and Insurance Company at Los Angeles.

March 21, 1922

The contract for the construction of the new high school building in Morgan Township, awarded to the Foster Lumber & Coal Company, of Valparaiso, for the general contract; Deal & Company, of Sturgis, Michigan, for heating and ventilating; and Wyman Electric Company, Valparaiso, for lighting, is one of the four lowest to come before the state board of accounts for some time. The construction cost of each room figured $5,906 ($98,836.91 in 2022).

March 22, 1922

Plans for a new high school building for Valparaiso took on serious aspects today when it was announced that the school board had taken options on two parcels of ground owned by P. L. Sisson lying south of the Grand Trunk Railroad, east of Washington, west of Franklin and north of Park, in the north part of the city. Some time ago the board took an option on the L. D. Wolf property at the corner of Washington and Chicago Streets. This site will probably be sold.

Dr. Brunson, of Indianapolis, representing the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Husbandry, and Livestock Sanitary Board of Indiana, is in Porter County making retests of herds for tuberculosis. Thirty-three herds are due for retests, but Dr. Brunson will not be able to complete one half of them. More than 200 applications are pending in the county for tests.

March 23, 1922

At a meeting of the board of trustees of Valparaiso University yesterday it was announced the school would soon receive $25,000 ($418,375 in 2022) of machinery for the training of federal board men at the school. The government will also send a large number of new students here for training.

Joseph F. Crowe, Porter County Road Superintendent, has been appointed by Governor McCray to represent Indiana at the U. S. Good Roads Association’s tenth annual convention at Phoenix, Arizona, April 24-29.

March 24, 1922

Mrs. Gennis Hillard, who has been matron at Altruria Hall for two and one-half years, resigned this week. Miss Brown, who has been acting as assistant matron, will have charge until a successor to Mrs. Hillard is named. Mrs. Hilliard expects to go to California.

March 25, 1922

Last evening at the Lincolnway school building, the Junior class of Valparaiso High School entertained the members of the basketball squad. A program was given. Margaret Timmons and Clarissa Ely gave readings. The Sedgwick twins played two numbers on pianos and drums. Coach R. E. Schenck made a talk.

The City of Valparaiso will handle its own garbage collection. The street committee was authorized last night to buy a team for the work. Recently bids were asked but only a few informal ones were received. These were declared too high.

March 26, 1922

Nick Sudovich, convicted of manslaughter by a Porter Circuit Court jury in connection with the slaying of Uron Marovich, rival beer lord, at Indiana Harbor, is enroute to Yugoslovia. He left Chicago with 135 aliens deported by the government. He got out of prison last summer after serving two years.

The recent sleet and snow storm early this week wreaked havoc with Porter County’s road system. Shoulders and berms on a number of roads were washed away by melting action of snow and ice. Culverts were frozen up and this prevented the surplus water from making a get-away.

March 27, 1922

Craig Church, of Valparaiso, who was shot by a holdup man in Gary, is slowly improving in Mercy Hospital, Gary. A metal clip carried into his liver by a bullet from the robber’s gun is causing trouble.

Flint Lake is still rising from recent rains. Since last fall, the lake has risen eight feet. At present, the lake is at 170 datum plane.

March 28, 1922

William E. Urschel, of Valapraiso, has just received three patents on fruit steaming machines. Two interferences were fought with California interests. The applications have been in the patent office for four years. N. S. Amstutz conducted all the proceedings for Mr. Urschel.

C. H. DeCook, who recently purchased the Andreas Crawford Store in Hebron, has disposed of his interests to his brother, John DeCook.

March 29, 1922

Lewis E. Myers and Company is completing this week the removal of its Canadian factory from Woodstock to Toronto. The company has taken a lease on a large manufacturing building in Toronto. The chief reason for moving from Woodstock to Toronto is to combine the executive offices with the factory. Charles E. Eveleth, formerly of Seattle, Wash., is general manager for Canada, and George Hauff, of Valparaiso, is superintendent of the new factory at Toronto.

Auditor B. H. Kinne received word today from Indianapolis that the state tax board had approved an issue of bonds in the Foltz Road in Porter Township. A remonstrance was filed by taxpayers of the township and a hearing was held before a tax board representative in this city recently.

March 30, 1922

Charles Edward Conley, of Chicago, arrested here by Chief of Police J. A. Jones and Sheriff William Pennington for the theft of the J. O. Cox automobile, is wanted by federal authorities. Conley violated his parole from Leavenworth prison where he was serving time for cracking a government safe. Fingerprints of Conley were sent by local authorities to various parts of the county.

Last evening at University Auditorium, the Valparaiso University band gave its second concert of the year. William Diercks and Robert Davidson favored with a delightful clarinet duet. Miss Tama Lyke was vocal soloist. Adam Lesinsky directed the band.

March 31, 1922

A flat building at 303 North Washington Street, owned by Ralph Humphrey, of Malden, was purchased yesterday by William H. Nuppnau, who with his family has been occupying one of the flats. Mr. Nuppnau will remodel the structure.

Valparaiso is in the midst of a building boom. A new fifty-room hotel, a new business building on Lincolnway, across from the post office; the Schleman-Morton building on Washington Street; the remodeling of the Ruge building on Lincolnway; the Longshore grocery building at Franklin and Chicago Streets and contracts for a number of residences are a few of the numerous projects now in process of construction.

Looking Back • February 1922

February 1, 1922

The Valparaiso & Northern, operating from Valparaiso to Chesterton, and leasing the Gary Connecting Line from Woodville to Gary, was sold yesterday in Chicago by Stance C. Mosser, of Bolger, Mosser and Williams, Chicago bankers, chairman of the bondholders’ protection committee, to Frank J. Baker, for the sum of $32,250 ($32,250 in 2022). The Valparaiso & Northern was purchased by the bondholders at a sale four years ago. The gross earnings of the road have increased from $88,000 in 1918 (1,624,806.36 in 2022) to $132,000 in 1921 ($2,055,970.06 in 2022). The appraisal value of the property by the public service commission is $284,000 ($4,713,081.43 in 2022).

The Porter wreck cases, growing out of the Michigan Central and Lake Shore train crash on February 27, 1921, will be called for trial in Porter Circuit Court on February 7. W. S. Hart, of Lansing, Mich., engineer on the Michigan Central train, charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of thirty-seven persons, will be tried first. Prosecutor J. S. Bartholomew said the state was ready to try the case but the outcome will depend on the presence of three witnesses from Michigan.

February 2, 1922

Jack Rose, well known singer in vaudeville theatres in the United States and famous as a song writer, and Janet Lawson, whose stage name is Jeanette Odette, a Ziegfeld beauty and member of the “Follies” were united in marriage by Justice W. W. Bozarth here today. Rose is a native of London, England. Recently Miss Lawson sued Rose for $50,000 ($829,767.86 in 2022) for breach of promise, but the suit was later dropped.

R. W. Lytle has completed the filling of his huge ice houses at Flint Lake. It is estimated that about 8,000 tons were harvested. From all reports all persons storing ice this year got a good supply.

February 3, 1922

Edward A. Mitzner, of the Mitzner & Greiger Grocery, has purchased the Maxwell Implement Company building on South Washington Street in Valparaiso, occupied by the McMahan Grocery.

Valparaiso University girls’ basketball team defeated Hobart last evening at University Gym, 5 to 4. The locals’ lineup comprised Deinger, forwards; Detman and Bowman, centers; Brady, Blacher, and Pike, guards.

February 4, 1922

By a deal made last night the Mitzner & Greiger Grocery purchased the Specht-Finney Grocery and will take possession on Monday morning. The business will be conducted at the Specht-Finney building. The Mitzner-Greiger grocery will be continued and probably converted into a cash and carry store. If business does not warrant its retention it will be merged with the Specht-Finney store.

At a meeting of the Porter County Realtors Association last night a resolution was passed putting the association on record as opposed to the new federal judgeship to be created in Indiana. Copies of the resolution were sent to the United States Senators, all congressmen and Congressman Volstead, who is chairman of the committee.

February 5, 1922

St. Paul’s quint, of Valparaiso, defeated the strong Hammond All Saints’ five Saturday opening on the Hammond floor, 20-13. Bud Gannon started the scoring for the locals, and Captain Nolan and Finnegan followed with well-placed shots. Valparaiso led at half-time, 17-5. Kinder and Hall did fine work at guarding the Hammond players.

E. F. Rainer, who left here last fall with his family for California for the benefit of his wife’s health, writes to friends here from Whittier, Calif., that Mrs. Rainier has practically regained her health.

February 6, 1922

Dr. J. E. Roessler, President of Valparaiso University, and Mrs. Roessler, left today for Indianapolis to attend the inauguration of Robert Judson Aley as president of Butler University. Mr. Aley was a classmate of Prof. Roessler and was graduated from the scientific department of Valparaiso University in 1880.

Mozart’s “The Impresario,” was presented at Valparaiso University Auditorium Saturday evening under the personal direction of J. William Wade Hinshaw, of New York City, former teachers of voice at the university. Percy Hemus, one of the best baritones in America, sang the principal role, supported by an All-American cast.

February 7, 1922

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz in Morgan Township on November 22, 1921, will go on trial February 22 in Porter Circuit Court. P. J. Bailey has been retained by relatives of the boy to defend him. A plea of insanity will probably be filed.

February 8, 1922

Albert Holloway of Yeomans, Ill., was yesterday awarded the contract on three gravel roads by the county commissioners as follows: Valentine Hahn Road, Porter Township, $64,904.74 ($1,077,117.34 in 2022); Frank Foltz Road, Porter Township, $29,100 ($482,924.89 in 2022); Jerry Garvey Road, Boone Township, $8,683 ($144,097.49 in 2022).

February 9, 1922

Parent-Teacher Associations for Central, Gardner, and Columbia Schools were organized at mass meetings held at the Central School last evening. A. A. Hughart, former school superintendent, presided. Chairmen were elected as follows: Mrs. Mynnic Gordon, Central; Mrs. J. G. Kenan, Gardner; Mrs. A. R. Putnam, Columbia.

Charles Sheffield was elected chairman and John R. Burch, secretary, of the Porter County Fair Board at a meeting held yesterday at the county clerk’s office. A committee was also named to look over the fair grounds and ascertain what repairs were needed for the fair in September.

February 10, 1922

Six big freight cars piled up across the tracks of the New York Central Railroad at the exact spot where the great Porter wreck of February 27, 1921, occurred when thirty-seven persons lost their lives. The place presented much the same sight as one of a year ago, but no lives were lost.

Another attempt was made to burn the Carver School in Pine Township. Kerosene saturated rags were placed in the building but failed to burn. Last September two men tried to burn the building after being ordered away by Miss Katheryn Maxwell, of Valparaiso, the teacher. Nearby farmers saved the building.

February 11, 1922

Valparaiso High School lost to LaPorte at University Gym last night, 18-15. Wise and Boardman did fine work for LaPorte. G. Douglas and Lembke, forwards; Seymour, center, and Scott and Leetz, guards were the local lineup.

Nearly all the loot stolen from the Three Trails Auto Service shop a month ago by five men has been recovered at Chicago Heights, Ill. Fifty-eight automobile tires, and fifty-one inner tubes, comprised the loot. Walter Davis, proprietor of the Three Trails, went to Chicago Heights today after the loot.

February 12, 1922

Walter D. Schundt has gone to East Chicago where he will give a specialty act in the annual Elks’ show. This is Mr. Schlundt’s fourth consecutive season in the East Chicago show. He will be assisted by Boyce Gumbert, pianist of the Keith and Orpheum circuit.

William Schleman, of Valparaiso, now sojourning in Florida, was a member of a party of fishermen which captured 900 pounds of fish on February 11, near St. Petersburg. He won first prize by capturing a nineteen-pound red snapper. O. H. Powers of Evanston, Ill., and W. H. Noel of Jamestown, N.D., former Valpoites, were members of the party.

February 13, 1922

The proceeds of the Hinshaw Opera Company concert given on February 4 at University Auditorium amounted to $1,320.60 ($21,915.83 in 2022). This amount goes to the university. Professor J. E. Roessler, president of the school, today extended thanks to the public and others who assisted.

Westchester Township farmers have petitioned the county commissioners for the opening of a new road fifty feet wide, between the Westchester and Pine Township line to tap Lake Michigan. Last summer trouble resulted at Waverly Beach when a landowner placed a restriction on persons camping there. The township expended a large sum in concreting the road to the beach and a landowner is claiming the land abutting the beach and is causing trouble for persons who visit the lake.

February 14, 1922

The Foster Lumber & Coal Company was yesterday awarded the contract to remodel the Ruge building on West Lincolnway occupied by the Peoples’ Lunch Room. A new copper front will be installed, and new cement sidewalk built in place of the old stone walk. James Pappas, owner of the lunch room, plans a number of improvements. The upper part of the building will be remodeled and accommodations made for fourteen rooms.

February 15, 1922

The Valparaiso Woman’s Club celebrated its twenty-seventh anniversary in the M.E. church parlors last evening. A four-course dinner was served at 7 o’clock. Members of the Literature, Home Economic Civic, Art and History Departments provided program of the evening.

February 16, 1922

The Gary and Valparaiso Interurban yesterday filed notice with the secretary of state at Indianapolis of an increase in capital stock of $140,000 ($2,323,350 in 2022).

Between 75 and 80 persons have signed up for memberships in the new country club now being formed in Valparaiso. It is expected about a dozen new members will be obtained from Chesterton.

February 17, 1922

A number of citizens of Morgan Township residing in the southeast end near the LaPorte County line are agitating for a division of the township. The movement is believed due to the fact that other citizens have petitioned John Bell, trustee, for the construction of a new high school building. The question of dividing the township is up to the county commissioners.

Mrs. Minnie Kindt and family have moved from the Kindt Farm in Washington Township to Valparaiso, and are occupying the property at 506 East Institute Street, purchased by Mrs. Sutor.

February 18, 1922

Earl Warren Sherwood, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Sherwood, of Valparaiso, and a junior in the civil engineering department of Purdue University, drowned yesterday in the Memorial Gym swimming pool at Purdue University. His body was found by Wilbur Dittrich, a Purdue freshman. Besides his parents, he is survived by four brothers and two sisters.

Valparaiso High defeated Whiting High last night at University Gym, 21-17. Ernest Lembke was high-point man for Valparaiso with nine points, while Earl Scott’s work at guard was high class. Whity Wickhorst was Whiting’s best with nine points. Seymour showed to good advantage for the locals with three baskets.

February 19, 1922

Porter Township property owners have filed a remonstrance with the county commissioners against a bond issue for Porter Township’s share of the cost of the Frank Foltz gravel road between Porter and Boone Townships. It is contended the bond issue is excessive, that the road will not serve any householders and that the building of the road should be postponed until material prices are lower and the need is more urgent.

Mrs. Lewis E. Myers was notified yesterday of her election as delegate of the Chicago Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to the continental congress at Washington, D.C., April 19-23. Mrs. Myers will attend a meeting of delegates of the Chicago Chapter in Chicago tomorrow.

February 20, 1922

The Volunteer Rescue Army is now located on the second and third floors of the building occupied by the Szold Department Store. Major James J. McKenzie, in charge of the mission, today announced that the home is open to any person who may be down and out. Since February 9, the army has assisted 55 men, 33 of them ex-soldiers.

John Bell, trustee of Morgan Township, today gave notice that he will receive bids on March 11 for the construction of a joint high and elementary school in Morgan Township. The estimated cost of the building will be $55,000 ($912,744.64 in 2022).

February 21, 1922

Rev. E. P. Westphal, who was extended a call by the Presbyterian church of Valparaiso, preached last night in the church and he and Mrs. Westphal met the members of the church following the service. Before leaving for his home in Fulton, Ill., today he did not state whether he would accept the call but said he would take it under advisement.

February 22, 1922

More than 150 local stockholders of the Co-Operative Society of America met at Armory Hall last night and heard two field men of the company tell of the affairs of the company. They said the company was solvent, despite the bankruptcy proceedings now pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals, which they claimed was started by Chicago attorneys for the purpose of getting big attorney fees. The local stockholders were informed that the reason some of the stores of the company were sold to the National Tea was that a profit was realized on stores that were not profitable. Ninety-eight were sold to the National Tea, fifty-eight were discontinued and twenty-six are now in operation. They assured the stockholders that every dollar invested by them was safe. 

February 23, 1922

Miss Mary Monohan and Miss Margaret McKezie, of the National Delphian Society, are in Valparaiso to organize a local chapter. The objects of the work is personal improvement, social progress, and higher education.

All records for the warmest Washington birthday since the Valparaiso Home Water Company started to keep water records at Flint Lake was tabulated yesterday when the mercury crawled up to sixty-nine degrees. Today Valpoites are again enjoying winter.

February 24, 1922

The body of Hasan El Maghrady, an Egyptian student at Valparaiso University who died last Friday night, will be shipped to New York City by C. W. Bartholomew, local undertaker, where it will be transferred to a steamer sailing for Cairo, Egypt.

Actual work on Westchester Township’s new high school building will commence April 1, according to J. G. Johnson, trustee. Plans for the building have been completed by Herbert Erickson, of Gary, and have been submitted to state officials for approval.

February 25, 1922

Valparaiso was rocked last night when 30 tons of dynamite exploded in a stone quarry near Argo, Ill. Many homes were shaken.

East Chicago high school defeated Valparaiso High School last night at University Gym. The score was 18-13. George Douglas caged three of the four baskets for the locals.

February 26, 1922

Valparaiso University defeated Lake Forest College at University Gym last night, 20-15. The locals were minus the services of Hiltpold and Evans. Glen Thistlewaite, new football coach at Northwestern University, refereed the game.

Valparaiso is to get better street lighting. The city council at a meeting last night authorized the lighting committee to employ the services of an expert lighting engineer to make a survey of an entire lighting system of the city. 

February 27, 1922

The case of John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, charged with the slaying with a shotgun of Mrs. Robert Stoltz, of Morgan Township on November 21, 1921, was called for trial today in Porter Circuit Court. The boy has been living at the Stoltz home. Otto Bruce, of Crown Point, and P. J. Bailey, of Valparaiso, are defending the youth.

Daly & Freund today received word from the secretary of state at Indianapolis that the Morgan Township Co-Operative Farmers’ Elevator Company had been given permission to increase its capital stock from $15,000 to $35,000 ($248,930.36 to $580,837.50 in 2022). The company will soon begin work on construction of its new elevator to handle the grain crop this fall.

February 28, 1922

Valparaiso University defeated Wheaton College at University Gym last night, 37 to 12. Cadawaller scored five baskets for the locals. Sawyer played a nice guarding game.

The district conference of the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church will be held in Valparaiso on March 9 and 10. Thursday morning Bishop F. D. Leete, resident bishop of Indiana, will speak.

February 29, 1922

A contract was entered into yesterday at the law office of Daly & Freund between Charles F. Lembke, local contractor, and the Valparaiso Hotel Company whereby Mr. Lembke will erect a modern fifty-room hotel on the site of the corner of Lafayette and Jefferson Streets. Louis J. Gast, president of the hotel company, and E. J. Freund, secretary, signed the document for the company. Work will be started within a few days and the building will be completed by March 1, 1923. Mr. Lembke posted a $15,000 ($248,930.36 in 2022) bond whereby he agreed to build the hotel and maintain it for a period of twenty years.

An echo of the wreck on the Michigan Central and New York Central Railroads at Porter on February 27, 1921, was heard today in Porter Circuit Court when B. D. McMahan, administrator of the estate of Mrs. Martha Goldstein, filed suit against the two railroads for $10,000 ($165,953.57 in 2022) damages. Kelly & Ryan are attorneys for the administrator.

Looking Back • January 1922

January 1, 1922

Porter County Treasurer John G. Graessle entered upon a two-year term today, being the only county official to be affected by the New Year.

January 2, 1922

No new faces greeted visitors at the county building (courthouse) this year as is generally the custom when the New Year is ushered in.

The Sisson city council held its last meeting yesterday evening and the Agar council came into power today. James A. Jones, for a number of years with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department, has been appointed chief of police.

January 3, 1922

Four hundred and fifty-two persons were housed at the Porter County Jail during 1921, according to Sheriff William Pennington. A large number of tramps, housed for the night, were not included in the figures. During the year twenty-three automobiles were stolen and twenty of these were recovered by the sheriff’s office.

January 4, 1922

Sheriff William Pennington and Valparaiso Chief of Police James A. Jones returned early today from Chicago Heights where one of the three men implicated in the robbery of the Three Trails Auto Service Shop at the Joliet Bridge last Thursday night was apprehended. A quantity of stolen automobile tires were recovered.

January 5, 1922

Valparaiso University was defeated at Kankakee, Ill., Saturday night by St. Viator College, 30 to 18. The winners staged a basket shooting spree in the last five minutes and hit from all parts of the floor.

January 6, 1922

Valparaiso Mayor E. W. Agar yesterday appointed Dr. C. H. DeWitt as city health officer to take the place of Dr. G. R. Douglas, who refused re-election. Dr. DeWitt’s appointment was in line with the county commissioners who also named him county health officer. Mayor Agar did not name a city engineer. The council will probably hire a man on a per diem basis.

C. Ross Gay, of Morgan Township, today announced his candidacy for the nomination of county commissioner in the south district on the Republican ticket. The term of Marion Curtis in the south district, expires on January 1, 1923. F. W. Alpen in the center district entered upon his new term of three years on January 1, 1922, and Herman Pollentzke, representative from the north district, will serve until January 1, 1924.

January 7, 1922

John Pillman is the new president of the Chesterton Town Board. He was selected at an organization meeting held January 2. The board is composed of Mr. Pillman, John E. Hjelm and Charles S. Kline. Carl Nelson has taken over the office of town clerk and treasurer. Al Tillapaugh is town marshal; C. W. Jensen, town attorney; Dan Cole, street commissioner, and Jerry Marquart, fire chief.

The Express Company, which has been located on Indiana Avenue, will be moved February 1, 1922, to the Pennsylvania Freight House where quarters will be fitted up for an office. Harry Johnson will retain the agency of the company.

January 8, 1922

N. H. Sheppard, of Valparaiso, today announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for joint senator of Porter, Jasper, Newton and Pulaski Counties. Mr. Sheppard will announce his platform later.

By a deal consummated yesterday, Frank L. Longshore disposed of his interest in the grocery store on Washington Street to his partner, Zenas McMahan. Mr. Longshore will engage in business elsewhere.

January 9, 1922

Valparaiso was one of thirty-two cities awarded sectional basketball tourney centers in the playoff on March 3 and 4, according to word received by Prof. H. M. Jessee, from Arthur Trester, permanent secretary of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). Teams from Lake, Jasper, Newton, and Porter Counties will compete.

According to the Indianapolis News, Senator Will Brown, of Hebron, and Dr. J. E. Roessler, President of Valparaiso University, called on Governor McCray Saturday. Senator Brown is interested in filling the vacancy on the state board of education. Fred H. Cole, Porter County school head, has been mentioned for the appointment.

January 10, 1922

Valparaiso High School five defeated Washington of East Chicago at Boucher Gym, 24 to 21. Long shots by Gray and Powell won for Valpo.

Valparaiso City Police will soon be equipped to hear police reports from other large cities. A short-wave radio has been presented to the department by the VanNess Electric Company.

January 11, 1922

Dr. L. L. Weiss, a graduate of Northwestern University, has associated himself with Dr. J. R. Pagin in the practice of dentistry in Valparaiso. Growth of Dr. Pagin’s business was given for the addition of Dr. Weiss to the firm.

The Chatfield Grain Company, of Chatfield, Ohio, which recently bought the Pennsylvania Elevator, has purchased the William Harbeck flour and feed store, corner of Indiana Avenue and Washington Street. Mr. Harbeck will retire Saturday from business which he has conducted for twenty-five years.

January 12, 1922

The old wooden tower at the Valparaiso Fire Station, built a number of years ago to dry hose following a fire, is being dismantled. The tower has not been in use for some time as firemen are employing a new method of drying hose.

The big snowstorm which tied up traffic for a week occurred four years ago last night. The snow began falling in the evening and continued until noon the next day. Trains were halted for three days and no Chicago papers were received during that time. Factories and industries were hard hit by the failure to receive materials, coal, and by irregular attendance of workmen.

January 13, 1922

The widespread controversy over the building of a school at Wheeler is not settled. The north and south factions of Union Township had almost reconciled their differences at a meeting held in Valparaiso recently. At the time it was virtually agreed that suit pending in the courts against Trustee Dobbins enjoining that official from building a school at Wheeler would be dropped. However, the suit has not been dropped, but simply continued. Portage Township was about to combine with Wheeler to build a school and a remonstrance was circulated putting a deadlock to the proposition. Portage Township wants a two-room school in the south part of the township. Garyton School will be ready February 1. Remodeling of the Crisman school will be begin in the spring.

The Public Service Commission has authorized an issuance of $35,000 (≈ $576,227 in 2022) common stock of the Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company at par for the purpose of reimbursing the treasury of the company for money expended in betterments of the plant and paying various notes and trade acceptances due given for making capital additions and betterments. The company petitioned for an increase of $50,000 (≈ $823,181 in 2022) in common stock.

January 14, 1922

Valparaiso University defeated Loyola University of Chicago last night at university gym, 33 to 11. Loyola started strong but soon wilted under the strong play of the locals. Valparaiso used two teams during the game.

The following teams will take part in the sectional basketball tourney to be held in Valparaiso on March 3 and 4: East Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, Lowell, Hobart, Crown Point, Emerson and Froebel of Gary, Rensselaer, Wheatfield, Fair Oaks, Remington, Valparaiso, Hebron, Kentland and Brook.

January 15, 1922

Emerson of Gary defeated Valparaiso High at university gymnasium Saturday evening, 28 to 18. The score at half time was 12 to 7, Emerson. The second half was a nip and tuck affair with Emerson having a slight lead.

Representatives of the Federal Board for Vocational Training visited Valparaiso today for the purpose of conferring with Valparaiso University President J. E. Roessler in regard to installing a number of trades for federal board students. A course in watchmaking will be among the trades to be placed in operation. A two-year course in agriculture added to the university curriculum. The first of the year has increased the enrollment 400 percent. The course is under the direction of Professor G. J. Borum, a graduate of Purdue.

January 16, 1922

Valparaiso University Gym, in which university and high school basketball games are played, was imperiled by a fire today at 4:20 in the morning. A furnace was the cause of the fire. Firemen chopped holes in the floor and fought the flames with two lines of hose. The damage was not large.

The improvement of Lincoln Highway through Porter and LaPorte Counties will be urged by the joint action of Valparaiso and LaPorte Chambers of Commerce. Late this afternoon the Roads Committee of the two bodies were conferring here relative to the improvement of the highway.

January 17, 1922

George W. Ferguson, former owner of the Lincoln Theatre in Valparaiso, who sold his interests to Walter Bush, is now at Fairmount, Ind., where he owns and operates the Royal Theatre. His family has moved there.

January 18, 1922

Prosecutor J. S. Bartholomew has returned from Hot Springs, Ark., where he has been taking treatment, and is partially assuming his duties in connection with the prosecutor’s office. He is feeling improved in health.

January 19, 1922

Kalamazoo College defeated the Valparaiso University basketball team at Kalamazoo last night, 21-14. Walter Hiltpold caged three baskets for the locals, and Anderson scored one and four foul casts.

E. D. Hodges was elected president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of directors this noon. E. L. Loomis and Dr. Mox Ruge were named vice-presidents; E. J. Freund, secretary, and L. T. Applegate, treasurer.

January 20, 1922

During the night the thermometer dipped low enough to touch the zero mark. Some gauges showed as low as five below. On January 14, the thermometer at the Valparaiso pumping station showed one below.

Valparaiso University basketball team lost at Kalamazoo to Kalamazoo College last night, 30-21. Andrew “Andy” Evans, star of the locals, was out of the game on account of injuries. Millard Anderson and Walter “Hippy” Hiltpold played well for Valparaiso.

January 21, 1922

Liberty Township is at peace again. A black family from Gary moved in and purchased land in a proposed colonization scheme has sold out to Ira M. Biggs and returned to Gary.

R. E. (Sam) Huston, state commander of Disabled American Veterans of the World War, will leave Valparaiso next week for Toledo, Ohio, where he will take placement training with a large firm.

January 22, 1922

Country roads in many places throughout the county are drifted full of snow as the result of the last few days of precipitation. The roads, which are graded, are said to be worse than the hollows.

A. W. Coplin, of Valparaiso, Saturday announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Porter County Treasurer at the May primary. William L. Maxwell and Miss Kathryn Anderson announced some time ago.

January 23, 1922

The Grassmere Land Company ditch bonds, totaling $20,062 (≈ $330,293 in 2022), were delivered today to the Valparaiso State Bank, which purchased the issue some time ago from Porter County Treasurer J. G. Graessle.

Andrew Bickle, ex-county commissioner, died Saturday evening of a heart attack. He served as commissioner from 1904-1910. In 1911, he was elected president of the Porter County Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company.

January 24, 1922

Valparaiso University defeated Arkansas Agricultural College 30 to 17 at the university gym last night. Millard “Andy” Anderson and Robert “Caddy” Cadwallader scored four baskets each.

January 25, 1922

Frank Cowdrey, of Valparaiso, engineer with a record of forty-eight years of service on the Pennsylvania Lines, is included in the list of eighty-two men retired by the Pennsylvania Lines since December 1, 1921.

January 26, 1922

Hearing of remonstrances against the petition for construction of the McDonald Ditch in Pine Township is being held today in the Porter Circuit Court before Special Judge A. D. Bartholomew. The ditch was petitioned for two years ago by Henry R. McDonald. Fifteen farmers affected by the improvement filed the remonstrance.

The Catholic Ladies’ Club was hostess to their husbands and friends last evening at the Catholic Community Hall. Bunco and cards were the chief diversion and prizes were awarded to Roy Beckwith and Mrs. Joseph Murphy. Fred Hartig and Miss Emma Mungovan won the booby prizes.

January 27, 1922

The Indiana Public Service Commission yesterday denied the petition of Etta Des Elms and others for authority to construct a highway across the right-of-way of the Pan Handle Railroad in Boone Township, Porter County. The commission found that the dangerous character of the grade crossing overshadowed the public necessity.

The Spring Water Ice Company today completed work filling the ice houses at Sager’s Lake. The ice measurers from eight to eleven inches in thickness.

January 28, 1922

Officer Charles Chester figured in a gun battle about 3 o’clock this morning on Indiana Avenue with two men. The officer was enroute to the Valparaiso Police Station when he noticed two men in the alley between the State Bank of Valparaiso and the Charles Martin Pool Room. One of the men shot at him when he decided to investigate. He returned the fire. It is believed the men planned a robbery.

Valparaiso High School reserves basketball team was defeated at Wanatah last night, 20 to 5. Larson bagged Valparaiso’s only field goal. Larson, LePell, Ellis, Spooner, Seymour, Gordon, Simon and Shurr made up the Valparaiso seconds.

January 29, 1922

Valparaiso High defeated Froebel High of Gary at university gym Saturday night, 27 to 16. Froebel led at half time, 10 to 8. In the second half, DeForest Seymour, Ernest Lembke and team captain Earl Scott staged a basket barrage. Lukats and Rukivana were Froebel’s stars.

Valparaiso will not entertain the Indiana Association of Elks this summer. The main drawback to bringing 2,000 visitors here is the cost of $5,000 (≈ $82,318 in 2022) for the convention, lack of suitable place for a meeting, and inadequacy of hotel accommodations.

January 30, 1922

G. Leonard Maxwell, of Valparaiso, was elected a director of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce for 1922 at a meeting of that organization held last week. He has accepted the election and plans to participate fully in the plans of the state organization. Up until a few weeks ago, Mr. Maxwell was president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce.

Misses Elizabeth Patton and Nellie White, teachers at Valparaiso’s Central School, have resigned their positions. Robert H. Walker, of Oklahoma, and Miss Gladys Barker, of Chesterton, have been employed by Superintendent C. W. Boucher as their successors.

January 31, 1922

The Valparaiso & Northern, operating from Valparaiso to Chesterton, and leasing the Gary Connecting Line from Woodville to Gary, was sold today in Chicago by Stacey C. Mosser, of Bolger, Mosser, and Williams, Chicago bankers, chairman of the bondholders’ protection committee, to Frank J. Baker, for the sum of $32,250 (≈ $533,560 in 2022). The Valparaiso & Northern was purchased by the bondholders at a sale four years ago. The gross earnings of the road have increased from $88,000 (≈ $1.62M in 2022) in 1918 to $132,000 (≈ $2.05M in 2022) in 1921. The appraisal value of the property by the public service commission is $284,000 (≈ $4.7M in 2022).

Looking Back • December 1921

December 1, 1921

The Valparaiso School Board has leased the upper floor of the Elks’ Lodge building on West Lincolnway for school purposes. Congestion at the Central School was given as the reason for the step. The fourth and fifth grades of Central will be placed in the lodge building, giving two rooms for the high and junior high schools.

The Reveille, official paper of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter Number 2, of Valparaiso, is being circulated today for the first time. The publication consists of a 26-page booklet and contains news of many local organizations. Edward Boyle is editor; F. A. Piasecki, managing editor; John W. Ray, business manager; Frank Baines, treasurer; Miss Lucas, city reporter; Peggy Brady, campus.

December 2, 1921

Professor Meyers E. Zimmerman, of Valparaiso University, has again scored with another musical composition. His latest is a waltz ballad, “You’re Still My Most Wonderful Pal.” Mr. Zimmerman’s latest fox trot, “LaVon,” has been a favorite with local dance orchestras for the last two months.

The old Uncle Al Brown farm, four and one-half miles east of Valparaiso, on the Lincoln Highway, consisting of 158.5 acres, was sold yesterday by Charles Link, commissioner, to Niles L. Fisher.

December 3, 1921

The foundation for the community building being erected at Boone Grove by citizens living there was completed yesterday. The Smith and Smiths Company of Valparaiso will begin erection of the building proper next week. A gymnasium, meeting place, opera house, dining hall, etc., will be included in the building.

The American Restaurant at 18 Washington Street was sold today by Mrs. Anna Williams Christian to J. F. Lininger. For the last four years Mr. Lininger has been in charge of the lunch and confectionery business at Sheridan Beach, Flint Lake.

December 4, 1921

Judge H. L. Crumpacker in the Porter Superior Court today granted a continuance in the case of William S. Long, of Jackson, Mich., Michigan Central trainman, charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of thirty-seven persons in the Porter wreck on February 27 last. Grant Crumpacker, special counsel to Prosecutor J. S. Bartholomew, filed a motion for continuance on account of the illness of Mr. Bartholomew. The court continued the case until February 8, 1922. Ralph N. Smith, attorney for Long, objected to delay.

Forty-six reactors were found last week in the seventeen herds tested for tuberculosis by Dr. C. T. Howard, state and federal examiner. Three hundred and eighty-two cattle were examined for the initial test. This makes thirty-seven herds tested so far.

December 5, 1921

Thirty-nine head of reacting tubercular cattle examined last week by Dr. C. T. Howard of the state veterinarian’s office, were shipped today to Chicago where the animals will be slaughtered. The owners will be compensated by the state and government.

Farmers of Porter County have been asked to contribute two-and-a-half carloads of corn to meet the appeal for grain for the destitute peoples of Russia, Armenia, and other bible lands. The corn will be gathered during the week of December 19 to 24.

December 6, 1921

Fully two hundred people, chiefly parents of school children in the Valparaiso City Schools, attended the mass meeting held last evening at the high school auditorium in honor of educational week. Speakers included C. W. Boucher, Judge H. H. Loring, Porter County Superintendent Fred Cole, and Mrs. A. R. Putnam. Musical numbers were provided by Robert Wilson, Charles Coyer, and Carroll Schneider.

December 7, 1921

The Joliet Bridge over the Pennsylvania Railroad on Lincoln Highway will be rebuilt by the railroad. The contract has been let to Smith and Smiths Company. The timber construction is to be reinforced to twice its present carrying capacity.

December 8, 1921

Herman Ealing, of Valparaiso, has been appointed district grandmaster of Odd Fellows, by George Hershman, of Crown Point, grandmaster of Indiana Odd Fellows. At a meeting of the Valparaiso Lodge Monday night, Mr. Ealing presented buttons to members of thirty-five years or more standing. Brayton L. Keene received a thirty-five year button, and Herman Fromuth, Charles Ludolph and G. G. Sherwood twenty-five year buttons.

The H. B. Brown residence at the corner of Jefferson, Morgan and Chicago Streets, has been leased to the Sigma Delta Kappa Chapter of Valparaiso University. The organization is a legal fraternity and has about thirty-five members. Mrs. Nellie Meagher, of Valparaiso, will act as chef of the society.

December 9, 1921

Word has been received here by local railway agents that beginning Jan. 1, 1922, all war taxes on freight and passenger traffic will be discontinued. All taxes on telegraph, telephone, and steamship lines will not be lifted.

Arthur W. Marks was host to the Valparaiso Fire Department at a raccoon supper served in the men’s quarters in the rear of the Valparaiso City Council chambers last night. A sixteen-pound coon was served.

December 10, 1921

Valparaiso University basketball team opened the season at university gym last evening by defeating Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, 29 to 3. The score at half time was 10 to 3, Valpo. The visitors failed to score a point in the second half.

Valparaiso High School lost to Froebel High of Gary last night 19 to 8 at Gary. Valparaiso lost many opportunities to score baskets by missing easy shots. Froebel, on the other hand, was able to cage some long ones. The score at half time was 5 to 3, Valpo.

December 11, 1921

The Lincoln Theatre on Franklin Avenue was sold Saturday by George Ferguson, owner, to Walter S. Bush. Mr. Bush recently came here from Kouts, where he conducted a hardware store for many years. Mr. Ferguson has been owner of the Lincoln Theatre for two years, coming here from Wheatfield.

J. A. Warren, of Pleasant Township, won the Porter County five-acre corn contest, with a yield of 114.5 bushels per acre. Seral Warren was second with 111.4, and A. C. Tuesburg third with 107.3 bushels.

December 12, 1921

Robert Winslow, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Winslow, of Valparaiso, is a member of the University of Michigan Opera Company that is scheduled to give performances in Chicago at the Grotto Theatre next Saturday and Monday. Mr. Winslow has a leading part in the production. He was a member of the troupe last year.

About thirty-five men, mostly engineers, and interested in gas and electric plants in various parts of the country, visited Valparaiso today to inspect the experimental process in manufacturing gas now being conducted at the Valparaiso Lighting Company plant on South Napoleon Street. The men backing the experiment have spent $50,000 (≈$772,594.97 in 2021) in erecting a plant to demonstrate their theory of making gas out of garbage and wood.

December 13, 1921

Chesterton will build a fine new high school building next year. J. G. Johnson and architect Herbert Erickson, of Gary, have agreed upon plans for a new structure 140 by 180 feet. The building will be two stories and basement, and cost $150,000 (≈$2,317,784.92 in 2021). It will be equipped with a large auditorium and gym. A five and one-half acre site has been secured.

December 14, 1921

Letters and sweaters were presented at chapel exercises at Valparaiso University this morning to sixteen members of the football team. Dean M. J. Bowman, chairman of the athletic board of control, made the presentation. Mayor P. L. Sisson donated the sweaters. Those receiving letters and sweaters were: Hiltpold, Payne, Hunt, Stepp, Bauerly, Lane, Lindgren, Evans, Smith, Rosenthal, Anderson, Cook and Sawyer.

December 15, 1921

S. C. Bouzeans, of Chicago, is here today to let the contract for the remodeling of the Horn Brothers building on West Lincolnway. Mr. Bouzeans has leased the building for a confectionery store. As soon as Horn Brothers move to their new building, work will begin. A new front, tile floor, new ceiling and other improvements will be made, together with fixtures. The cost will be $25,000 (≈$386,297.49 in 2021). Mr. Bouzeans formerly owned the Palace Confectionery at LaPorte.

Valparaiso University basketball team defeated the American College of Physical Education 23 to 19 at university gym last night. Evans, Cadwallader, Anderson and Sawyer played well for Valparaiso, while Johnson, forward for the visitors, scored thirteen of his team’s nineteen points.

December 16, 1921

The Valparaiso Standards have signed Dave Black, formerly Chicago Federal League pitcher, and catcher Ernest Dennis, of the Chicago Logan Squares, as battery for the coming season. Two other men whose names are being kept under cover have also been signed. In event the locals do not join the Northern Indiana League, games will be played with Fort Wayne and other fast teams.

The Smith and Smiths Company was today awarded the contract for remodeling the Horn Brothers’ building on West Lincolnway to be occupied by S. C. Bouzeans, of Chicago, as a confectionery and ice cream parlor.

December 17, 1921

Valparaiso High was defeated by LaPorte High School last night at LaPorte, 22 to 16. The game was fast throughout and was featured by the fine work of Earl Scott, floor guard of the locals. Scott accounted for ten of the sixteen points scored by his team.

At a meeting of the Charles Pratt Post, American Legion, last evening, a resolution was passed by the post condemning the distribution of pamphlets reflecting against the Greek citizens of Valparaiso regarding their patriotism and in a business way.

December 18, 1921

Valparaiso University defeated DePaul University here last night, 27 to 14. DePaul was held to one field goal. Captain Anderson and Cadwallader were Valpo stars. In the curtain raiser, Valparaiso high defeated Lowell, 30 to 18. The visitors held the locals to a tie count, 11 to 11, at half time. In the second half, Valpo pulled away from the highly touted Lowellites and scored at will.

Ben Hirschland, manager of the ladies’ ready-to-wear department at Lowenstein’s, has resigned his position and will go to Bloomington, Ill., to take a similar position with a large department store there.

December 19, 1921

The LaPorte Argus praised the work of Earl Scott in the LaPorte-Valparaiso game last Friday as follows: “The star of the evening was Captain Scott, of the Valparaiso quintet. He played on every part of the floor and was the mainstay of the university city’s machine. Scott caged only three field goals for his side but broke up the LaPorte offensive time and time again. In fact, Scott was too fast for his teammates, who could not keep pace with his speedy dribbling.

The Horn Brothers’ Quality Meat Market today shipped a carload of wool to Philadelphia. The carload weighed 20,000 pounds and contained wool of this and last year’s crops.

December 20, 1921

Professor W. A. Hoffman, for more than twenty years in charge of the penmanship department at Valparaiso University, has tendered his resignation to become effective within thirty days. The trustees of the school have elected Myers E. Zimmerman, head of stenography and typewriting department, to take Professor Hoffman’s place. The later has accepted a similar position at Bowling Green, Ky.

December 21, 1921

Coach Earl Goheen’s Valparaiso University five defeated Lewis Institute last night, 27 to 6. Cadwallader and Anderson led the locals’ attack with four and five baskets respectively.

December 22, 1921

The remodeling of the Joliet bridge on Lincoln Highway over the Pennsylvania Railroad in the west part of Valparaiso is completed. The structure was reinforced to twice its former capacity. The work was performed by the Smith and Smiths Company and required eight days. During the work the bridge was closed to traffic.

Thomas Clifford, former Valparaiso man, has just received another promotion from the Standard Oil Company. For several years, Mr. Clifford has been assistant manager for the company of the South Bend division, and now has been given the managership of the Decatur, Ill., division, embracing one-third of Illinois.

December 23, 1921

The Pitkin and Brooks Glass Factory closed down today until January 7, for the purpose of taking the annual inventory. The company has enjoyed a good business the past year and is looking forward to an increased activity next year.

Leo W. Friday, a Porter County boy who gave up his life in France during the World War, was buried with military honors from St. John’s Evangelical Church in Chesterton this afternoon. He died at Bordeau, France, October 5, 1919. Services were in the charge of Chesterton Post, American Legion.

December 24, 1921

The City of Valparaiso and Porter County Commissioners have come to an agreement regarding the settlement of a bill for asphaltic oil furnished by the county for a number of streets about the city. The bill rendered by the county was $7,500 (≈$115,889.25 in 2021), but the settlement figure was $4,500 (≈$69,533.55 in 2021). Last spring, the city and county entered into an agreement whereby the county was to oil and put stone on certain approaches to the city. Later the city ordered oil on Chicago Street and Indiana Avenue. Two coats of oil were applied instead of one originally planned. The city council was divided on the payment of the entire bill.

The Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury was empaneled yesterday afternoon by Judge H. H. Loring to investigate the case of John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz of Morgan Township. Members of the jury include Ross M. Crisman, John W. Rigg, William D. Schmell, Andrew W. Shurr, John T. Kuehl and Norman Eggleston.

December 25, 1921

Valparaiso Street Commissioner William Arnold has closed the East Indiana Avenue hill against traffic so that the thoroughfare can be used by the kids for coasting. Thursday evening the police were forced to stop the children from using the old Main Street (Lincolnway) hill because of the danger of collision with automobiles.

December 26, 1921

A. W. Reynolds and Son have received a report from the thirty-one reacting tuberculosis cattle shipped by them to the Chicago Livestock Exchange for slaughter. Only five were tanked as unfit for food. The cattle were condemned recently during tuberculosis testing in the county.

December 27, 1921

Wheeler and Union Center School patrons held a meeting at the office of Superintendent Fred H. Cole on Monday evening and settled their differences in regard to a new building program at Wheeler. It was decided to go ahead with remodeling plans on the building instead of building a new structure. Dr. A. O. Dobbins, township trustee, called the meeting of the two factions.

December 28, 1921

County Agent A. Z. Arehart and a representative of the Near East Organization from Indianapolis went to Kouts and Hebron this morning to make arrangements with farmers and elevators for gathering of corn for the Near East Relief Fund. Other parts of the county will be visited this week.

December 29, 1921

Twenty couples attended a dancing party given last night by the Valparaiso Dancing Club at N. A. U. Hall. Music was furnished by Miss Bess Dickover, Harry Albe and Wallace Philley. A lunch was served.

Members of the Valparaiso High School basketball team have been invited by the management of the Premier Theatre to be guests of the Premier Theatre on January 4. The members are also privileged to bring their lady friends.

December 30, 1921

A gang of five men held up Walter Davis at the Three Trails Auto Service Station at the Joliet Bridge last night and escaped with $3,000 (≈$46,355.70 in 2021) in loot. Mr. Davis was just closing the place when the robbers entered. He was gagged and bound to a chair. Most of the loot consisted of automobile tires.

Yesterday afternoon in Porter Circuit Court, Ora L. Wildermuth, special judge, found for the defendants in a petition to dissolve a lien for attorney fees in the sum of $15,000 (≈$231,778.49 in 2021) in the case of W. J. Whinnery and John D. Kennedy against twelve bankers and stockholders of Hammond banks. The defendant bankers’ holdings were tied up by the plaintiffs for fees claimed in the case of the Manhattan Lumber Company versus Peter Crumpacker and others growing out of the old Mineral Springs Race Course at Porter.

December 31, 1921

Miss Jessie Philley, employed in the office of M. J. Drapier, abstracter, has announced her withdrawal as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Porter County Recorder. Miss Philley has accepted a position as stenographer with Porter County Clerk R. C. Jones, succeeding Miss Kathryn Kirkpatrick.

Valparaiso University defeated the Indiana University Law School at the home gym last night, 28 to 11. Valpo led at half time, 20 to 4.

Looking Back • November 1921

November 1, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club was organized last night at the chamber of commerce rooms with the election of the following officers: J. H. McGill, president; John M. Oldham, vice-president; R. C. Breth, secretary; C. W. Boucher, treasurer. Directors are J. H. McGill, J. M. Oldham, C. E. Foster, L. M. Pierce, V. R. Despard and Harlow Smith. The club has taken an option on the John H. Kuehl property, east of Bull’s Eye Lake.

November 2, 1921

Last evening at Hebron a new council of the North American Union Lodge, to be known as Welfare Council No. 353, was instituted with fifty-four members. A Chicago degree team put on the degree and C. A. Gillespie of the supreme council of the order acted as installing officer. Delegations were present from Kouts, Chesterton, and Valparaiso. Arthur Hiatt is president of the Hebron council and Robert Taylor, vice-president. A dinner was served by Mrs. Gordon of the Hebron hotel. William Mohnssen, of Valparaiso, organized the council.

November 3, 1921

Berte D. McMahan qualified this morning in the Porter Circuit Court before Judge H. H. Loring as administrator of the estate of Martin Bernstein Goldstein, one of the thirty-seven victims of the Porter wreck on February 27, 1921. Kohy and Galvin are attorneys for the estate.

On the face of returns, Joseph A. Kitchen, former graduate of Valparaiso University, has been elected to the post of commissioner of agriculture and labor on the Independent ticket in the recall election last Friday in North Dakota. Mr. Kitchen obtained his L. L. D. and M. A. degrees at the local school.

November 4, 1921

Thirty years is not such a long time to be in a profession or trade, but it is a goodly span of years when one has worked at his trade without a letup. Lawrence Lauer, of the Louis Raymond Blacksmith Shop, has followed the farrier’s trade for that length of time. He commenced work for David Barry in a partnership and after several years sold out and took employment with Mr. Raymond where he is still actively engaged.

Homer Londonberg has resigned his position with the Commercial Oil and Supply Company and with his family will leave soon for Tampa, Fla., to reside. Mr. and Mrs. A. Londonberg, parents of Mr. Londonberg, reside near Tampa. Roy Gossett will succeed Mr. Londonberg with the Commercial Oil and Supply Company.

November 5, 1921

The Hanrahan Road, commencing at the Liberty Township line, north of Valparaiso, and extending through the hills of Liberty Township to the south precincts of Chesterton, is nearing completion. Work on the highway was commenced in June by P. T. Clifford & Son, railroad contractors, of Valparaiso. Thirty-five thousand yards of cut and fill was necessary in the construction of the road.

Valparaiso University gridders yesterday defeated the Milwaukee Tech at Brown Field 14 to 0. Rossenthal and Stepp scored touchdowns for Valparaiso and Anderson kicked both goals.

November 6, 1921

The church bells of Valparaiso will be ringing each day at noon until Friday. This is to call all the people to pause in their work and offer prayer for divine guidance in the disarmament conference which is to convene Friday in Washington.

The American Legion football team of Valparaiso defeated the Hammond Maroons Sunday at the fairgrounds, 13 to 2. Chartier and Gilliland made touchdowns and Ed Cowdrey kicked one goal. Hammond scored its only points on a safety by Chartier.

November 7, 1921

R. D. Ross, of Valparaiso, has been a member of the Old Fellows Lodge for 47 years. He joined the order at Largo, Wabash County, in 1874. In 1880 he came to Valparaiso and established himself in the hardware business. After several years he erected buildings on the site of the present federal post office building and remained there 25 years. He then sold out to enter the automobile business. Colonel Herman Hagem has been an Odd Fellow 45 years.

Ross McLellan, former Valparaiso man, who has been in Valparaiso, Chile, for the last six months, in the interests of the Westinghouse Electric Company, has just closed a contract with the Chilean railroad for the electrification of the Chilean railroad at an outlay of $7,000,000.

November 8, 1921

E. W. Agar was elected mayor, and Grace Blachly, city clerk, at yesterday’s Valparaiso city election. Agar defeated John D. Stoner 1,374 to 1,133, and Mrs. Blachly was winner over Mrs. Mary Shaw 1,568 to 714. John R. Burch and B. D. McMahan defeated Mrs. Bessie Parker and Harry Hodsden for councilman-at-large; E. S. Miller defeated Samuel Wallace for councilman first ward; S. E. Collins defeated L. T. Campbell in the second ward; Louis Gast won from Fred Wittenberg in the third ward, and W. Blaine Williams defeated Herman Ealing in the fourth ward. All the successful candidates are republicans.

November 9, 1921

Valparaiso and vicinity was visited by the first snowstorm of the season last evening. The snow was preceded by rain. Drivers of automobiles found the going difficult. The snow turned to slush soon after it fell.

November 10, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club has filed its articles of incorporation with the secretary of state at Indianapolis. The club has no capital stock and its object of organization is for social purposes. The directors are: James H. McGill, C. W. Boucher, C. E. Foster, L. M. Pierce, V. R. Despard and Harlow Smith.

The Valparaiso city election Tuesday will cost taxpayers of Valparaiso about $1,000, or about 40 cents for each vote cast for mayor. Each inspector received $12 each; each judge, clerk, or assistant clerk, $9 each, and each sheriff, $6 each.

November 11, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club has received its charter from the secretary of state and the organization is now ready to proceed with plans for next season. The membership committee reports that the 100 membership will soon be reached.

A fairly heavy snowfall which turned into a slush marked the weather for the third observance of Armistice Day. As a result the celebration arranged for 1 o’clock at the courthouse yard was transferred to the M. E. church. Valparaiso schools closed at noon for the day as well as business houses. Banks, the post office, and blacksmith shops enjoyed a full holiday.

November 12, 1921

Kalamazoo College defeated Valparaiso University yesterday at Brown field, 12 to 0. The game was played in a field of mud. Kalamazoo scored both its touchdowns on long runs. Captain Malcosmson and Spurgeon were best for the winners, and Evans, Rosenthal, and Hiltpold were Valpo’s stars.

Samuel E. Collins was elected councilman of the second ward by the city council last night to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. James R. Pagin. Mr. Collins was elected to the position at the November election but would not have taken office until January first.

November 13, 1921

John B. Perrine, formerly of Valparaiso, is dead at Valparaiso, Florida, a town which he founded five years ago. He served as the first mayor of the town and was acting at the time of his death. He also founded the Valparaiso Messenger, a newspaper in Florida. Mr. Perrine was formerly the head of the Monarch Publishing Company of Valparaiso and Wheeler.

The Lacrosse branch of the Maxwell Implement Company of Valparaiso has been sold to Otto C. Wobith, of San Pierre, Ind. Mr. Wobith was formerly engaged in the hardware business at San Pierre.

November 14, 1921

A new carpet is being placed in the Porter Circuit Courtroom. The work is in charge of E. M. Burns, the court bailiff. Two hundred and twenty-five yards of carpet was required to cover the room. The old carpet was put down about twenty years ago.

The Valparaiso Home Water Company on Saturday completed the extension of a new main in Chautauqua Park, beginning at Campbell Street, running west on Bond Avenue to Madison, north on Madison Avenue to the city limits. Today the water company started work on an extension in the Alpen Subdivision.

November 15, 1921

The Valparaiso Lodge of Elks is moving into its new quarters in Dr. J. R. Pagin’s residence, corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso, recently purchased by the lodge. The lodge will initiate the new meeting on November 23 with a game supper and entertainment.

November 16, 1921

Dr. John E. Roessler, president of the Valparaiso Building and Loan Association, is at Indianapolis attending the annual convention of the Savings and Loan Association League at Hotel Severin.

November 17, 1921

The new school at Garyton being built by Trustee Herman W. Swanson is nearing completion. The building is 44 x 64 feet and will cost $30,000. It will be one story with a 10 foot basement and the walls will be built with double strength to carry two stories.

The murder case of Leon Cole, of Gary, has been venued here to Porter Circuit Court from Lake County. Cole is charged with the murder of Julius Gunther, a Gary policeman, on Sept. 26, 1921. Gunter was called to South Washington Street, Gary, by a report that a negro had been shot. When he entered the building Cole fired and Gunther fell mortally wounded.

November 18, 1921

That thousands of acres of reclaimed land in the Kankakee Valley may become the property of the State of Indiana and turned over to the state conservation department loomed yesterday with the visit of State Auditor Oliver to the region on a tour of inspection. If Mr. Oliver makes a favorable report it is considered probable that much of the glory of the Kankakee country as a hunting resort of Indiana and Illinois sportsmen may be restored. The state is claiming title to large tracts of reclaimed land, and if title is asserted and established old time game preserves will become the property of the state, and accessible to hunters during the non-prohibitive seasons.

Mr. and Mrs. Myron J. Draper went to Chicago today to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. On November 18, 1896, Mr. Drapier and Mrs. Hattie Eason were married at the home of Miss Eason’s brother, Seth Eason, on North Franklin Avenue by Rev. J. Budman Fleming, of the Presbyterian church in the presence of 175 guests. A wedding supper was served at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. A. D. Bartholomew.

November 19, 1921

Valparaiso University and St. Viator College staged a scoreless tie yesterday at Bourbonnais, Ill. Both teams were handicapped by bad playing conditions, and the team work of both teams was affected. Valparaiso was also handicapped by the absence of four regulars, but played snappy ball.

The chop suey restaurant at 119 East Lincolnway, owned by J. Buck, who came here from Gary, was damaged by fire at 1:30 o’clock in the morning today. The Vesta Battery Company on the first floor owned by Vernon Barnhizer was damaged $1,500. The Buck loss was $3,000, and John Sievers, owner of the building, suffered a $1,500 loss.

November 20, 1921

Farmers of Porter County will help in the appeal for grain for the Near East relief being made by Purdue agriculture committee, headed by G. I. Christiem, which is cooperating with the relief organization. Last year Porter County was the first to ship a carload of corn to Europe.

R. D. Raymond has sold the old Jacob Chartier property on South Street to Amandus Doelling, of Dupage County, Illinois. Mr. Doelling and family will move to Valparaiso.

November 21, 1921

The new Bloch Restaurant on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, which has been undergoing repairs for the last four months, will open this evening for inspection. The formal opening is scheduled for tomorrow. The arrangements are after the style of the Child’s and Thompson Restaurants in Chicago. The improvements cost $15,000.

November 22, 1921

Attorney T. P. Galvin, of Valparaiso, and John Horn and Francis Gast, of Indiana Harbor, formerly of Valparaiso, were members of a class of 125 to receive the fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus at Hammond yesterday. A banquet was served at the Hotel Lyndora.

November 23, 1921

Mrs. Bertha Stoltz, of Morgan Township, was murdered yesterday by John Nollick, 16-year-old orphan boy who lived at the Stoltz home. Mrs. Stoltz, before she died, was able to give an account of the shooting to authorities.

Rev. Clarence Mitchell, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Valparaiso, has resigned his pastorate here and will go to Cincinnati, O., January 1, 1922, to assume charge of a church there.

November 24, 1921

The new home of the Valparaiso Lodge of Elks at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso was dedicated last night with a game supper and exercises. More than 400 members attended. J. S. Bartholomew, past exalted ruler and charter member of the lodge, addressed the gathering. Mr. Bartholomew told of how the membership, numbering 60, purchased the building on West Lincolnway, went into debt to the extent of $12,000 after paying for the building which is worth $25,000. In closing his talk he drew forth a document, the mortgage on the old building and burned the instrument.

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, who shot and killed Mrs. Robert Stoltz at her home in Morgan Township Monday night, was captured last night when he returned to the Stoltz barn in the daytime. Mollick shot Mrs. Stoltz with a shotgun without any apparent reason. He was living with the Stoltz family. The boy was unable to explain why he shot Mrs. Stoltz.

November 25, 1921

Valparaiso’s newest and most up-to-date theatre, the Premier, was thrown open to the public Wednesday evening. T. P. Galvin, speaking for the Shauer interests, builders, and owners of the theatre, spoke of the difficulties connected with its construction. Mayor E. W. Agar was introduced and dedicated the theatre to the people of Valparaiso. A showing of “The Great Moment,” featuring Gloria Swanson, was shown. A six-piece orchestra provided music.

November 26, 1921

The muster roll of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 2, of Valparaiso, has been completed with a membership of 100. R. E. (Sam) Huston, a member of the local post, is state commander of the organization. Harry Hulce is commander of the new post; Edward F. Boyle vice-commander; Leon Cashdollar, adjutant; Herman Bauer, assistant adjutant; Emil Petrach, treasurer; Everett Fulton, George W. Carr, John W. Vogt, Charles Hall, Lauren (Bud) Maudlin, executive committee.

November 27, 1921

John Mollick, 16-year-old orphan boy, was held to the Porter Circuit Court Grand Jury by Coroner H. O. Seipel today following a coroner’s inquest into the death of Mrs. Bertha Stoltz, of Morgan Township, shot by Mollick last Monday night.

Thirty-six persons were granted final naturalization papers yesterday in Judge H. H. Loring’s Porter Circuit Court. J. E. Riley, of Chicago, naturalization examiner, conducted examination of applicants.

November 28, 1921

The M. S. Sunday school, which is waging a camp for 1,000 members by Easter, yesterday surpassed the goal of 600 set by the school for that day. Six hundred and ten persons were in attendance. Dr. Bert E. Smith, superintendent of the adult department of the Sunday school of the state, was a guest.

William Flanagan, age 30 years, an instructor for the last six months in the vulcanizing department, Valparaiso University, under the federal vocational board training, was found asphyxiated this morning in a rooming house at Baltimore. Mr. Flannagan left Valparaiso last Friday for Baltimore according to Harold Sturdy, in charge of the vocational training department here.

November 29, 1921

An attempt is being made by people living in the north end of Union Township and the south part of Portage Township to create a new school district for the purpose of building a new school at Wheeler. If successful, three schools, Cherry Glen, Peck, and Gordon, will be abandoned.

November 30, 1921

Boone Grove turned on its electric lights last evening. The current is obtained from the Hebron Electric Company, which also supplies Kouts. Nearly every business and many residences are equipped. Only a part of the lights were turned on last night.

Looking Back • October 1921

October 1, 1921

Frank Fabing has resigned his position in the offices of the superintendent of the rail mill in Gary steel mills and today took over the messenger service between Valparaiso and Chicago. He will make his first trip Monday.

The committee of the Milk Producers' Co-operative company today announced that the price of milk for the month of October would be $1.75 per hundred (≅$26.75 in 2021). The price was fixed by the committee after a conference with the buyers and acting on instructions of the farmers represented by them. The price of $1.75 is for county plants with the usual difference for milk f. o.b. Chicago. The September spread has been ten percent.

October 2, 1921

Valparaiso High School gridders defeated the Hammond High School football team 6 to 2 Saturday at University Park. Valpo scored its only touchdown in the first seven minutes of play when Fred LePell ran 30 yards and plunges by Scott, Seymour, and Lembke carried the ball over. Hammond came near scoring a touchdown in the last few minutes of play, but was stopped near the goal line.

Boone Grove’s crack baseball team was defeated Sunday at Kouts by LaCrosse by a score of 3 to 1. LaCrosse was strengthened by a battery from South Bend. Walter pitched for Boone Grove.

October 3, 1921

Attorney Joseph DeMarti, of Gary, came here Saturday in company with the administrator of the estate of Joseph Cuncinello, shot to death by unknown persons several weeks ago in Portage Township, and took the big Hudson Super-Six belonging to Cuncinello back to Gary. Coroner H. O. Seipel will hold an inquest tomorrow. Mrs. Cuncinello will be the only witness.

An echo of the Tolleston bank robbery in 1919 in which cashier Herman Uecker, cashier of the First State Bank of Tolleston, was killed by bandits during the holdup, was heard Saturday at Indianapolis where the bank is suing the Ocean Accident and Guaranty Corporation of London for $10,000 (≅$152,830.73 in 2021) on a police guaranteeing protection against infidelity of employees. Large sums were obtained from 1916 to 1919 by Uecker and Charles Phillips by forging the names of patrons of the bank to loans and failing to credit deposits, it is charged.

October 4, 1921

Frank Cowdrey, engineer on the Valparaiso-Chicago accommodation of the Pennsylvania Railroad, has just received word he has been placed on the retired list of employees with a pension. Mr. Cowdrey was forced to give up his work several months ago on account of ill health. Next January he would have rounded out fifty years of service.

October 5, 1921

From nearly every part of Porter County have come reports of damage done in clover and alfalfa by the fall army worms. Every new field is infested with the pest. County Agent A. Z. Arehart has advised farmers to use poisoned bran to kill them, or else draw a heavy roller across the fields and crush them.

October 6, 1921

The personal property of the Hess-Mercury Carburetor Company of Valparaiso, now bankrupt, has been sold by the Farmers’ Trust and Savings’ Bank of Kokomo, Ind., receiver, to a Mr. Lindsey, of Chicago, for $1,365 (≅$20,861.39 in 2021). The building on Union Street has not been sold. Daly & Freund, local attorneys of the bank, received word of the sale today.

Miss May Heller, of Indianapolis, has been employed by Superintendent C. W. Boucher of the Valparaiso City Schools to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Lillian Dinius, who has been in ill health. Miss Heller was recommended by Oscar Williams, state high school inspector.

October 7, 1921

Lawrence F. Letherman, of Boston, Mass., formerly of Valparaiso, has been appointed Assistant Chief Agent of the Department of Justice for New England states. Mr. Letherman has been connected with the government in the postal and revenue service for a number of years, he was formerly a post office inspector in Indiana.

Terry’s Tea Room, located at 69 S. Franklin Street, over Doyle and Breed’s Barber Shop, opened for business today. Mr. Terry was formerly engaged in the restaurant business in Chicago.

October 8, 1921

A movement has been started to organize a golf club in Valparaiso. There are a number of people who play but have to go elsewhere. Years ago a flourishing club existed here and the sport gained great headway. A meeting will be held at the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce to discuss the plan of organization.

Frank K. Bumstead, publisher of the Valparaiso and Porter County Directory, died Thursday at his home in Evanston, Ill. Mr. Bumstead published six directories in this city and county over a period of twenty years. The distribution of his latest book had not been completed when he was stricken.

October 9, 1921

For the third time this year, the Valparaiso Athletics defeated the strong Boone Grove baseball team at the fairgrounds Sunday, 2 to 1. William Peters, for Valparaiso, struck out twelve men. Ed Tofte’s steal of home in the eighth produced the winning run. Jerry Maloney and Walter Hiltpold pitched for Boone Grove.

Dr. T. C. Howard, of the state veterinarian’s office, tested 398 cows in Porter County last week for tuberculosis. Twenty-six reactors were found in the number. These animals were shipped to the Chicago stockyards for slaughter.

October 10, 1921

The Schleman-Morton Company today purchased the Fidelia Salyer one-quarter block at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso for a reported consideration of $25,000 (≅$382,076 in 2021). The property consists of six twenty-two-foot lots. Two of the lots are occupied by the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and B. & S. Tire Shop buildings. On the rear of one of the lots is located a residential property, offices of Dr. C. R. Wickham, chiropractor.

Dr. C. F. Rickard, who engaged in the practice of chiropractics in Valparaiso for seven years and who recently returned from Pittsburgh, Pa., will open up his new parlors over Wark Hardware tomorrow.

October 11, 1921

Three Porter County men will average over 100 bushels per acre in the five-acre corn contest conducted by Purdue University. The three are J. A. Warren, Arthur Tuesburg and Seral Warren. The yield this year will not approximate the 127½ bushels per acre by Mr. Warren last year when he won second in the state.

October 12, 1921

Mrs. Emma G. Dorsey, of Chautauqua Park, left this morning for Delaware, Ohio, where she has been engaged by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church as a special soloist and organist at the centennial anniversary services commemorating the founding of the church. The annual conference of the Ohio Synod will be held at the same time.

October 13, 1921

Soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of the U. S. Army, marching from Camp Perry, O., to Camp Sheridan, Ill., and Camp Snelling, Minn., were entertained Tuesday when they pitched camp near McCool. Housewives in the vicinity baked cakes for the men. The soldiers gave a band concert in the evening and a large crowd attended.

While enroute from his home in Hobart to Valparaiso last evening, William Laube, a deputy sheriff of Lake County, was fired upon by unknown persons three miles west of Valparaiso. Laube did not stop to ascertain who fired the shots, but drove on. His wife and two friends were with him.

October 14, 1921

The Garyton School in Portage Township will be built. The bonds for the construction have been sold by Trustee Herman W. Swanson to the Thomas S. Sheerin Company of Indianapolis. The issue is $30,000 (≅$458,492.18 in 2021), and a premium of $181 (≅$2,755.24 in 2021) was paid. Charles W. Jensen, of Chesterton, handled the legal end of the business.

H. Edward Skinner, former Valparaiso resident, was recently honored by the motion picture theater owners of Utah in session at Salt Lake City, Utah, when he was elected president of the state association. Mr. Skinner is manager of the Alhambra Theater at Ogden.

October 15, 1921

The owners of the Palace Confectionery at LaPorte have leased the Horn Brothers’ building on West Lincolnway, now occupied by the latter firm as a meat market. As soon as the Horn Brothers move into their new building the old building will be remodeled at a total cost of $20,000 (≅$305,551.24 in 2021).

Rev. B. Wilson Smith, former resident of Valparaiso, and at one time president of the Valparaiso Male and Female College, died on October 13 at Indianapolis at the age of ninety-one years. Besides being an educator, he was a minister of the gospel, and served in the Indiana legislature and was postmaster at Lafayette during Benjamin Harrison's administration as President of the United States.

October 16, 1921

Valparaiso University gridders lost to DePauw University yesterday at Greencastle by a score of 41 to 0. The veteran DePauw outfit had little trouble throughout the game and the team’s superior weight and skill proved factors that the locals could not surmount.

The Valparaiso American Legion football team was defeated at Lowell yesterday, 6 to 0. Valparaiso took the ball the entire length of the field but fumbled on the three-yard line and Lowell recovered.

October 17, 1921

A stolen airplane was recovered last night in Morgan Township by Sheriff William Pennington. The plane was owned by the Johnson Airplane and Supply Company of Dayton, Ohio, and was stolen in West Virginia, while in the charge of Marvin Headley, of LaCrosse, Ind.

The Valparaiso Standards won a silver loving cup at North Judson Friday and Saturday at Wheatfield by defeating Wheatfield 3 to 1 and North Judson 6 to 4. Wheatfield had stars from Boone Grove, Union Mills, Wanatah, and other places. North Judson had Pug Cavet, from the Indianapolis American Association team, Nespo, from Michigan City, and other stars. Sides, for Valparaiso, struck out 16 North Judson batters and allowed only four hits.

October 18, 1921

Two frame buildings, housing the Poncher Brothers auto accessories shop and a quantity of merchandise of the Bryant, Dowd Company at Hebron, was destroyed by fire this morning at 3:30 o’clock, entertaining a loss of $8,000 (≅$122,264.58 in 2021). Meyer Poncher, who lived in the rear of the store, narrowly escaped with his life. Valparaiso and Kouts fire departments sent assistance.

October 19, 1921

Sale of the Clifford School, west of Valparaiso, scheduled for October 22, has been called off by Trustee Charles Crisman, because the law requires that two-thirds of the voters of the school district sign a petition for the sale. The Clifford School was abandoned a number of years ago, and the pupils now attend the school at Cook’s Corners.

October 20, 1921

James A. Jones, of Valparaiso, member of the police department of the Pennsylvania Railroad, today received a copy of the fingerprints of President Warren G. Harding. The prints were taken when the president was an honored guest at the convention of the International Association for Identification held last month in Washington, D.C. Copies were mailed to all members of the association as souvenirs.

R. E. (Sam) Houston, of Valparaiso, state commander of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, has received word from Raymond A. Lasance, of Cincinnati, Ohio, national adjutant of the organization, that the proposal to cut pay of federal board trustees would not be made at this time. The government has been discussing the matter for the last three months, cutting pay from $100 (≅$1,528.31 in 2021) to $80 (≅$1,222.65 in 2021) per month. A survey was made and it was claimed the cost of living had been materially reduced.

October 21, 1921

At a meeting of the Portage Township Farmers’ Association at McCool Methodist Episcopal Church last night, the members voted favorably on holding a county fair. Seventy-five people attended. A committee, composed of H. T. Lenburg, Ross Crisman and Glen Robbins were named to attend the regular meeting of the Porter County Farmers’ Association in Valparaiso on October 29. The fair proposition was introduced by County Agent A. Z. Arehart.

Julius Schultz has conveyed 146½ acres of land in Morgan Township to John Schultz for $15,025 (≅$229,628.17 in 2021), according to a deed filed in the office of the Porter County Recorder.

October 22, 1921

Valparaiso taxpayers will pay at the rate of $3.32 per $100 in 1922 (≅ $50.74 in 2021), according to a compilation made by Porter County Auditor C. A. Blachly. This year the rate was $3.06 (≅$46.77 in 2021). The increase is due to a lower property assessment for next year.

Ben H. Urbahns, formerly of Valparaiso, deputy state treasurer, was given an increase of $1,500 (≅$22,924.61 in 2021) by Governor McCray in a readjustment of salaries of officers in the statehouse at Indianapolis. Mr. Urbahn’s former salary was $2,500 (≅$38,207.68 in 2021).

October 23, 1921

The Valparaiso Country Club, the result of a meeting held two weeks ago to form a golf club, has obtained an option on a piece of ground near the city and will build a course this fall so that it may be in shape for play next July. The location of the property purchased will be announced shortly.

A ninth inning rally in which two runs were scored enabled LaCrosse to defeat the Valparaiso Standards at Kouts Sunday 4 to 3. Kellar, of South Bend, and Jimmy Middleton, of the Detroit Americans, pitched for LaCrosse. Carter, of Chesterton, starred for Valparaiso, with a homer and triple.

October 24, 1921

A class of twenty-seven men were taken into the Disabled American Veterans of the World War at a meeting held last evening. The post will hold a dance at Armory Hall on November 4.

The Valparaiso Lodge of Elks, which recently purchased the Dr. James R. Pagin property, corner of Jefferson and Washington Streets, will move in a short time to the new quarters. The Pagins will move into the William Krudup property which they recently purchased.

October 25, 1921

Contractor Gerald McGillicuddy started work today on grading the Charles W. Hall Road in the north part of Valparaiso. The road continues Lafayette Street to Evans Avenue, and then runs westerly to Campbell Street.

October 26, 1921

Rev. Guy O. Carpenter was elected president of the Valparaiso Ministerial Association last evening. Rev. C. E. Burns was named secretary. It was planned to hold special services on Armistice Day and Students’ Day. It was decided to ring the church bells at noon beginning November 6 to remind the people to offer prayers for the success of the disarmament conference which meets November 13.

October 27, 1921

The tower of the Valparaiso Baptist Church was struck by a bolt of lightning yesterday afternoon during a storm. A big wooden beam in the top of the tower was splintered and set on fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the blaze. This makes the third time the tower has been stuck. In 1896, the tower was stuck and burned to the top of the building. Four years later in 1900 it was struck again.

The Delta Theta Tau sorority sprang into the limelight of public discussion yesterday when the posters advertising their Halloween dance were issued, containing the phrase, “Sh-h-h-h- Antique Cider.” Anxious mothers conferred with anxious mothers. Mr. Stoner, lessee of Armory Hall, where the dance was to be held, made inquiries. President John E. Roessler of Valparaiso University, issued an order against the students attending the dance. The officers of the Deltas declared the anxiety of all concerned was unnecessary. Delta dances are always adequately chaperoned, they say. They have cancelled the cider order and will substitute lemonade to set at rest certain minds who have worried over the affair.

October 28, 1921

The Hillcrest Association at the west side of Flint Lake is making a number of improvements in the bathing facilities at that place. Sand is being brought from the south side of the lake. At present time there are fifty buildings at Hillcrest with more contemplated. W. J. Henry is president of the association.

Hebron will soon have a North American Union Lodge. William Mohnssen, local organizer, has been working in Hebron for some time. He has secured about fifty applicants for membership. Next Tuesday night, James Downey of Chicago, and a degree team from Chicago, will confer the initiatory work on the new class.

October 29, 1921

Among the interesting things to come before the Valparaiso City Council last night was a petition presented by representatives of the Mothers’ Club requesting the curfew law be enforced. The petition was endorsed by clubs, societies, church organizations, the general public, and other organizations. Mayor P. L. Sisson seemed to favor the move and said the court house bell would be rung. The curfew law was passed in 1898 and for a number of years was enforced. No persons under 16 years of age will be allowed on the streets, alleys, of public places of Valparaiso between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. from April 1 to November 1, and from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. from November 1 to April 1, unless accompanied by parents or guardians, or holding a written order, or engaged in any business requiring their presence on the streets.

The town board of Kouts last night ordered all public places, including public gatherings, churches, and schools, closed beginning Monday on account of the scarlet fever epidemic raging there. The ban will remain in force indefinitely. Dr. P. D. Noland, deputy county health officer, ordered the closing. There are twenty cases of scarlet fever in Kouts.

October 30, 1921

The old Salyer house at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets in Valparaiso, purchased by the Schleman-Morton Company, has been sold to A. H. Reading, who will move it to North Washington Street to be used as a photographic studio. The Salyer home was one of the original landmarks of Valparaiso and half of it was moved to Chautauqua Park for a home.

Rev. C. B. Cromwell, former pastor of St. Andrew Episcopal Church of Valparaiso, and who since leaving here, has been pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Logansport, has resigned his pastorate there and will leave this week for New York where he will assume charge of a large Episcopal church.

October 31, 1921

Valparaiso will have a modern fifty-room hotel of six stories. Charles F. Lembke, well known Valparaiso architect, has submitted a proposal to the Valparaiso Hotel Association to build a hotel. Construction of the building will begin March 1, 1922, and will be completed by March 1, 1923. Mr. Lembke proposes to erect the building without issuing bonds or stock.

William Sergeant, who was formerly with the Specht-Finney Company and later went to Lincoln, Ill., to take charge of the ladies ready-to-wear department of a big store there, is now connected with a store at Hammond, Ind.

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.

Looking Back • August 1921

August 1, 1921

Ray Kenworthy of Porter Township, was named county attendance officer at a meeting of the county board of education this afternoon at the office of Superintendent Fred H. Cole. He is a World War veteran. The office pays a salary of $1,200 per year ($18,214.26 in 2021).

J. W. Brummitt and Glen J. Goddard, local real estate men, have consummated a big deal for Chicago and Knox parties. The total value of the property figuring in the deal involved $170,000 ($2,580,353.07 in 2021), and consisted of 157 acres of Porter County land, near Beatrice; 200 acres near Amber, Ind.; 640 acres near Francesville, and a hardware store near Amboy, Ind.

August 2, 1921

The Hour Committee has been appointed by the president of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce to expand the membership of the chamber. It consists of twenty men who are pledged to give one hour’s work to the chamber each month.

August 3, 1921

Earl Goheen, graduate of the Valparaiso University law school, and left tackle on the football team for two years, has been appointed athletic director of Valparaiso University for the coming year. No provision has yet been made for forming an athletic association, but this is expected to be done at the opening of the fall term.

August 4, 1921

The Town of Kouts will soon have electric lights. The poles are all in from Hebron where the town will receive current. Stringing of wires will be commenced the first of the week, and it is expected current will be available the latter part of the month. The Main Street of Kouts will be lighted with ornamental lights.

The Porter County Commissioners yesterday ruled in favor of the town of Chesterton on its amended petition for annexation of land to the town. The original petition filed sometime ago called for annexation of a large amount of acreage. Before the annexation, Chesterton had 5,000 lots or considerably more than Valparaiso. A large amount of land was cut out in the amended petition.

August 5, 1921

Lieutenant Arthur T. Johnson, Chesterton aviator, shot down during the St. Mihiel Drive, September 12, 1918, will be buried from the Augsburg Lutheran Church at Porter Sunday afternoon with the American Legion in charge. Johnson was born north of Chesterton on March 21, 1896. He graduated from St. Augustana College at Rock Island, Ill.

Although the Porter wreck in which thirty-seven persons lost their lives occurred on February 27 last, Coroner H. O. Seipel is still receiving inquiries from people over the country asking about relatives believed killed in the wreck. Two inquiries were received this week from Los Angeles and New Orleans.

August 6, 1921

A remonstrance signed by fifty-five farmers of Jackson Township was filed with County Auditor B. H. Kinne yesterday against the bond issue in the Barnard Road in Jackson Township. The contract was recently let to Flynn and Small, of Laporte, for $83,625 ($1,269,290.85 in 2021), or at the rate of $30,000 ($455,356.42 in 2021) per mile for penetration asphalt. The objectors declare the price is exorbitant.

Yesterday a deal was consummated by the O. C. Fredericks Agency whereby Harold J. Schenck traded his property on Linwood Avenue under lease to the Phi Delta Psi fraternity of Valparaiso University to S. C. Wilson for a farm property three miles east of Westville.

August 7, 1921

Captain John F. Zajicek, of the United States Army, who was a major in the World War, has written friends here of his transfer from Washington, D. C., to the Philippine Islands. Captain Zajicek graduated from the engineering department of Valparaiso University and lived here before entering service.

A number of Valparaiso young men have formed an athletic club and have obtained rooms over the Szold Department Store on East Lincolnway. Gymnasium equipment has been installed for use of the members.

August 8, 1921

Mrs. Minnie Robinson, of Valparaiso, widow of Harvey W. Robinson, Civil War veteran, has obtained a pension after seventeen years of waiting. Due to inaccurate data furnished, the pension department was unable to act.

Miss Anna Mohnssen, of the county agent’s office has been notified of her appointment to a home economics course at the state fair at Indianapolis. Miss Mohnssen’s appointment has been confirmed by State Senator Thomas Grant, of Lowell, president of the Indiana Agriculture board. The Porter County Farming Association is sending Miss Mohnssen to the school as a reward for her efficiency.

August 9, 1921

Valparaiso University will push the half-million endowment for the institution. The fund now amounts to $200,000 ($3,035,709.50 in 2021) in cash and pledges. The work of raising additional money will be pushed forward by the school through the committee composed of the faculty. No attempt will be made to commercialize it, according to Dr. G. H. Stoner, a trustee of the university, said at a talk given at chapel exercises this morning. O. P. Kinsey also gave a talk.

August 10, 1921

Everything is coming earlier this year. The same applies to auction sales, according to Colonel George Wyman, veteran auctioneer. Mr. Wyman has eight sales booked for August and September. Many families are becoming disgusted with the poor return and are anxious to sell. Mr. Wyman believes the number of sales this fall will eclipse any year.

August 11, 1921

Porter County is one of the few counties in the state not to feel the horizontal increase order of the state tax board. Porter’s assessment is that property assessments increased by $6,540,490 ($99,275,139.05 in 2021), an increase of 5.8% over last year.

Rev. John W. Newsom and family will leave the latter part of the month for Rexford, Kansas, where Mr. Newsom will take a position with the Rexford Chamber of Commerce. His activities will be confined to the religious field. The town has two churches, the M. E. and Christian, but no pastor. Rev. Newsom spent several months in Rexford last year and was asked to return.

August 12, 1921

Roscoe Pool, of Wheatfield, formerly of Valparaiso, has sold his 180-acre farm north of Wheatfield to William Brandt, residing east of Sheridan Beach, Flint Lake. Mr. Pool took, in part, payment of eighty acres of land owned by Mr. Brandt near Flint Lake. The deal involved a total of $42,000 ($637,498.99 in 2021).

The Indiana Sanitary Engineering Association will establish a school for the training of students at Valparaiso University. An agreement has been entered between the trustees of the university and officials of the state sanitary engineering association where a school will be opened in September. The association will send an instructor here to take charge of the work and will guarantee a starting attendance of thirty students. The two campus buildings will be remodeled by the school.

August 13, 1921

A referendum vote by members of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce of two propositions was as follows: For $1,200 ($18,214.26 in 2021) appropriation for city band, 72 for, 68 against; to permit street carnivals, for 34, against 106. Out of 496 ballots sent out, only 142 were returned.

The Inland Steel Company will soon begin the survey of its 640-acre tract of land in Portage Township. A large gang of surveyors will go over the property to establish boundaries of the area. The land to be surveyed fronts on the lake for nearly a mile and includes acreage around Lake Longius. Title to land around this lake has been in dispute for a number of years.

August 14, 1921

County Clerk Roscoe C. Jones left this afternoon for Indianapolis where he will receive the ballots from the secretary of state for the special election to be held on September 6, when the constitutional amendments will be voted upon.

Today R. C. Breth, manager of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, left for Madison, Wis., where he will attend the summer school of Community of Wisconsin. He will be absent until September 1. The chamber will be in the charge of Miss Irene Thompason, office secretary.

August 15, 1921

Fred H. Cole, county superintendent of schools, was recently elected for a new term of four years, began his new term today. Mr. Cole was elected in 1908 to fill the unexpired term of S. C. Ferrell, who took a position with the state superintendent of public instruction.

When he returned Saturday morning from San Francisco, Calif., where he went to attend the International Convention of Knights of Columbus, Rev. Father E. J. Mungovan, pastor of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, was presented with a new Buick Touring Car by the parishioners of the church.

August 16, 1921

E. F. Rainier has resigned his position as instructor at the Dodge Institute of Telegraphy, and with his family, will leave Nov. 1 for Los Angeles, Calif., to reside. The change is being made for the benefit of Mrs. Rainier’s health.

August 17, 1921

Lewis E. Myers was elected president; H. R. Ball, vice-president; T. L. Applegate, treasurer, and Edmund J. Freund, secretary, of the Valparaiso Hotel Company at a meeting of the stockholders at the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce rooms last night. About fifty persons, representing seventy percent of the membership, attended the meeting.

August 18, 1921

About 10,000 ballots will arrive here today or tomorrow from Indianapolis for the special election to be held September 6 when amendments to the state constitution will be voted upon. Three boxes will be received containing 9,820 ballots made up as follows: Voters in thirty-eight precincts, 7,670; absent voters, 150; reserve, 2,000.

Farmers in Porter County are coming to realize the value of alfalfa as a crop and this year more land is being planted with the crop. The assessors’ books this spring gave the county 922 acres, but it is estimated the amount is closer to 1,200 acres.

August 19, 1921

While enroute to the Farmers State Bank on Wednesday, A. A. Williams, vice-president of Valparaiso University, was robbed of $539 ($8,181.24 in 2021). Mr. Williams was carrying the money in a sack and was stopped by several students enroute. When he arrived at the bank the money was missing. Mr. Williams made good on the loss.

Word has been received here by Attorney Owen Crumpacker announcing the appointment of Walter H. Evans, formerly of Valparaiso, by the governor of Oregon, to a vacancy in the office of judge of the circuit court of Multnomah County, Oregon, in which Portland is located. Mr. Evans was re-elected district attorney of Multnomah County at the last fall election. He is a brother of Dr. H. M. Evans, and married a daughter of Erasmus Ball, of Valparaiso.

August 20, 1921

Boone Grove was defeated by Hamlet on Sunday, 5 to 4, in twelve innings. Boone Grove scored a run in the twelfth, but Hamlet pushed across two by the aid of errors. Maloney pitched a fine game for Boone Grove and deserved to win.

W. C. Sergeant, special policeman on College Hill, equipped with a motorcycle, Saturday arrested six speeders on West Lincolnway. All were fined in Justice T. B. Louderback’s court. Sergeant was to have worked Sunday, but his motorcycle refused to work and speeders escaped as a result.

August 21, 1921

A. E. Starr has taken a position at the Longshore and McMahan Grocery Store during the absence of F. L. Longshore, who is on a vacation. Clerking at the Longshore and McMahan store brought back recollections to Mr. Starr that he worked in the same building for Frank Hunt from 1866 to 1878 and later from 1911 to 1920 for Fred Joel.

Dr. Charles Gregory, of the plant disease department of Purdue University, will come to Porter County Thursday to demonstrate the hot weather method of treating wheat for disease and also to inspect seed potato fields using certified seed. Charles Keoppen, of Union Township, has had extra good success with certified seed.

August 22, 1921

An educational campaign to acquaint local citizens with what is manufactured in Valparaiso is being planned by the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Newspaper publicity and an industrial exhibit will comprise the campaign. At the present time there are eighteen plants in Valparaiso manufacturing sixteen different lines. It is the intention of the chamber to put the display before the public about September 1.

Last evening at the Rose Room of the Philley Confectionery, a farewell party was tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wright, who will soon leave for Texas to reside. Fifteen couples were in attendance, and following a banquet, the crowd enjoyed the evening in dancing.

August 23, 1921

Thirty-seven new houses were built in Valparaiso this year, providing housing facilities for forty families. In addition to the new homes there was considerable remodeling.

August 24, 1921

Mrs. W. H. Gardner, wife of William H. Gardner, former president of the Farmers’ State Bank of Valparaiso, has brought suit in Chicago against the brokerage firm of Babcock, Rushton and Company, for $300,000 ($4,553,564.25 in 2021). It is alleged W. H. Gardner, her husband, lost his entire fortune of $138,082.50 ($2,095,891.78 in 2021) in speculation and that the bank passed from his hands when he lost his holdings of capital stock.

August 25, 1921

William M. Sergeant, who has been manager of the Ladies’ Ready-to-Wear Department at Specht-Finney Company, has resigned to take a position with the Landauer Clothing Store at Lincoln, Ill. He will assume his new position on Monday.

E. F. Rainer yesterday sold his residence property at the corner of Calumet Avenue and Institute Street to county treasurer J. G. Graessle. Mr. Rainier and family will leave November 3 for California to reside.

August 26, 1921

In the preliminary handicap shoot, one of the events of the Grand American Handicap held in Chicago yesterday, Dr. Robley D. Blount, of Valparaiso, broke 97 out of 100 targets. The event was won by M. L. Fox of Emery, S. D., with ninety-nine.

A movement has been started by W. A. Briggs, of Crisman, for the staging next year of a celebration in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the settling of Baillytown in 1822. Mr. Briggs has lived in the Baillytown vicinity many years and is interested in the early history of the county. Baillytown was settled by French trader Joseph Bailly. For many years it was an important trading post and gathering place for holding religious rites.

August 27, 1921

Dr. R. S. McElwee, of Washington, D. C., was speaker last night at the forum meeting of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. He spoke on the subject, “Bringing Ocean Ships to the Heart of America.” The speaker during the war had charge of much navigation for the government.

H. V. Deopker, of Kouts, yesterday purchased the Maxwell Implement Company and a stock of merchandise at Hamlet, Ind., of which he gave in trade an 80 acre farm in Morgan Township and town property in Kouts. He also purchased the Edward W. Trowell general store at Mill Creek, LaPorte County.

August 28, 1921

An Indian mound on the Charles LaCount farm in Morgan Township, excavated by the LaCount Brothers, has given up four skeletons believed to be Indians. The bones crumbled upon being exposed to the air, but the teeth were well preserved. The skeletons are large in stature. Tomahawks, pottery, and pipes were found near the bodies. The mound is twenty feet high and seventy-five feet across. The earth comprising the mound is clay texture, and proof against weathering. There are three other mounds on the LaCount Farm.

The Valparaiso Plumbing Company, owned by Lyman Dean and Sons, is moving to the Fitzwilliam building on West Lincolnway, recently purchased by the company. For thirty years the company has been located in the basement under the Meagher Drug Store.

August 29, 1921

Horn Brothers’ Quality Meat Market will have a new home. Work was commenced today by Cash Jones on the excavation of the lot just east of the present Horn building on Lincolnway for a new building. It is planned to have the building ready by December 1. It will be two stories.

Cottagers at Summitt, between Flint and Long Lakes, will have a water supply. J. D. Price, owner of many lots in the addition between Long and Flint has erected a building for housing the biler and pumping station with a pressure capacity of 1,800 gallons. It will supply 75 homes.

August 30, 1921

An American Legion post, to be known as Valparaiso University Training Post, will be established by federal vocational members attending the local school. A number of men attending the university obtained the services of Edmund J. Freund, officer of Valparaiso’s Charles Pratt Post, and through his efforts the necessary papers were sent here for establishing the post. Between 400 and 500 men are attending the local school.

August 31, 1921

The A. N. Worstell Real Estate Agency yesterday negotiated a big farm deal in which Valparaiso City Councilman A. J. Worstell sold his farm of 175 acres in Porter Township to John Rhoda, of near Flint Lake. Mr. Worstell took, in part payment, the Lake View Farm of thirty-four acres owned by Mr. Rhoda. The deal involved $45,000 ($683,034.64 in 2021).