February 1, 1921
Valparaiso University defeated Northwestern Dentals of Chicago last night by a score of 28 to 21. The locals entered the second half six points behind but a barrage of baskets by McLennon, Anderson, Bradley, Harris and Ecklund put Valparaiso into the lead.
February 2, 1921
The Pioneer Truck Company of Valparaiso has four machines with different types of bodies on display at the Auto Show in Chicago. Rollie Hitesman is in charge of the exhibit.
February 3, 1921
A.F. Heineman today retired from the firm of Heineman & Sievers. The change became effective February 1. His interests have been taken over by John H. and Robert Sievers. The partnership of Heineman & Sievers was formed October 1, 1900. Mr. Heineman entered the drug business in April, 1879, when he took employment with Willis P. Wilcox. He was a member of the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy for a number of years.
Valparaiso will have a chautauqua this year. Arrangements were made yesterday by the Valparaiso Chautauqua Association with the Morgan Bureau of Chicago for a program to be put on in this city the latter part of August, to continue six days. It will be the first chautauqua since 1913.
February 4, 1921
Ralph Hindenberg, who has been assistant carrier at the Valparaiso Post Office for some time, started today as an auxiliary carrier. Mr. Hindenburg will relieve somewhat the burden now being borne by two of the city carriers.
February 5, 1921
Valparaiso University basketball team defeated the A.G.U. Normal of Indianapolis yesterday at Indianapolis, 56 to 33. Harris with nine baskets and Ecklund with six led the locals’ attack.
Valparaiso High School lost to Culver High School last night at Culver by a score of 23 to 5. Culver led at half time, 13 to 5. Valparaiso was unable to penetrate Culver’s defense in the second half and failed to score a point.
February 6, 1921
Ora J. Davies, of Kokomo, Ind., state treasurer-elect, announced Saturday that he would retain Ben H. Urbahns, of Valparaiso, as deputy in the state treasurer’s office Mr. Urbahns has been deputy to Uz McMurtrie, present treasurer. Previous to going to Indianapolis, Mr. Urbahns was Porter County treasurer.
Local workers in the Million Dollar Endowment drive for Valparaiso University have already raised $174,000 (≈$2.52M in 2021) of the $250,000 (≈$3.61M in 2021) quota for Porter County, according to an announcement made today. It is expected that when the soliciting period ends next Thursday night that the quota will be exceeded.
February 7, 1921
The Shrine Club of Valparaiso, composed of Masonic members, which intended to purchase the residence and furnishings of Dr. J.R. Pagin at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets, will not exercise its option on the property. At a meeting held Sunday, the club decided to await an official ruling of the grand lodge regarding the status of such an organization.
Gerald McGillicuddy, of this city, a gravel road contractor, attended the automobile show in Chicago last week and contracted for the purchase of six White trucks for gravel road work. Mr. McGillicuddy has contracts for the construction of the Williams and Galbreath roads and will soon begin work on them as the weather moderates.
February 8, 1921
Ford Moe, who has been stationed at Minneapolis, Minn., where he has been doing recruiting work for the U.S. Navy, is here visiting his parents. He has been ordered to report to Philadelphia, to join the crew of the new government hospital ship, Relief, an electrically operated boat. The vessel is due for a long cruise.
February 9, 1921
A.D. and L.F. Keene, local young men, returned today from Akron, Ohio where they have been connected with the vulcanizing department of the Goodyear Tire Company. They will open a tire shop here sometime in March.
February 10, 1921
The Flint Lake Mothers Club was organized yesterday with twenty-two members. Mrs. Louise C. Shauer was named president; Mrs. Theodore Purdy, secretary, and Mrs. Thomas Bradley, treasurer. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Charles Specht.
The organization of the Rotary Club under way for some time was completed yesterday when the Michigan City Rotary officials came here and organized the local club. The following directors were named: George Leonard Maxwell, William Schleman, Lewis E. Myers, Milo Jesse Bowman, and O. Frank Helvie.
February 11, 1921
Pledges and cash totaling $244,000 (≈$3.53M in 2021) have been raised by Porter County workers in the endowment campaign of Valparaiso University. The quota is $250,000 (≈$3.61M in 2021). In addition to the $244,000, the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce announced at a workers’ supper last night with a pledge of $100,000 (≈$1.45M in 2021) to be raised within the next 30 days.
February 12, 1921
John W. Sieb was renamed president; William J. Morris, vice-president, and Stanley B. Sink, secretary, of the Graceland Cemetery Association, at a meeting held last night. Mr. Sieb retired as manager after 23 years of service. A program will be launched to increase the perpetual care fund from $20,000 (≈$289,174 in 2021) to $200,000 (≈$2.89M in 2021), and the laying out and development of the new section to the north with trees and shrubbery and new roads and lanes.
More than 2,200 persons attended Sunday school in Porter County last Sunday. Valparaiso M.E. Sunday school had the largest attendance with 377. The totals by districts were: Valparaiso, 1,171; Chesterton-Porter, 514; Hebron, 400; Kouts, 181.
February 13, 1921
Valparaiso University defeated Indiana Normal college at Indianapolis Saturday evening, 28 to 8. The Normal team was held to three baskets.
The Kouts Gun Club has a membership of 52. Since the first of the year it has used 10,000 shells in its meetings. Members of the Valpo Gun Club attended a meet yesterday in Kouts. Dr. Robley D. Blount had the highest score with 45.
February 14, 1921
Joseph L. Doyle today purchased a half interest in the James Breed Barber Shop on South Franklin Street in Valparaiso. The Knoll Confectionery, which occupies the front part of the store room, will be moved to the rear.
Valparaiso University cagers defeated St. Louis University 30 to 17. In the middle of the second half the north side bleachers fell, several persons being slightly injured.
February 15, 1921
Milton J. Take, formerly of Valparaiso, has been appointed by Jay F. Grantham as manager of the Gary branch of the Grantham Auto Sales company which maintains four salesrooms in surrounding cities for the sale of Nash and Chevrolet cars. Mr. Take has been in Gary since the early days of the auto business.
February 16, 1921
Dr. A.M. Jacoby, state and federal cattle herds of the county for tuberculosis. Almost forty herds were tested by Dr. Jacoby some time ago, and retests are to be made of many of these herds.
February 17, 1921
Word was received here today from Indianapolis that the state appellate court has reversed the LaPorte Superior Court in the case of Rosa B. Hitt and others versus Drusilla Carr, involving title to 80 acres of land on Lake Michigan near Miller Station. The case was tried twice at Michigan City and Mrs. Carr won. The case will be sent back to Michigan City for retrial.
The Smith and Smiths Company, recently organized, yesterday took possession of the McFetrich Lumber and Coal Company, purchased several weeks ago. The directors are: Harry E. Smith, E. V. Smith, Byron Smith, Paul Nuppnau, and Grant Crumpacker. Harry E. Smith is president; Byron Smith, vice-president and treasurer; E. V. Smith, secretary, and Charles Whitehead, mill superintendent.
February 18, 1921
Harvey Varner, Valparaiso’s crack wrestler, lost his match last night at the American Legion show at LaPorte to Eugene Graubowsky, of Trenton, New Jersey. Varner succumbed to Graubowsky’s aggressiveness after twenty-seven minutes of fancy grappling. Varner was handicapped by a weak shoulder suffered last week at Kouts when he threw Graubowsky two out of three falls.
Last night at the M.E. church, the Sphinx Club held its first banquet, attended by forty-two of its fifty charter members. The club is composed of young women of the community, who are employed in office work. Miss Marie Harrington of the Farmers’ State Bank, read a paper on “Possibilities,” which ably expressed the sentiment of the club.
February 19, 1921
Porter County will be accorded the honor of sending the first car of corn to starving Europe. John G. Brown, president of the Indiana Farmers’ Federation, notified County Agent A. Z. Arehart by telephone today from Chicago that a car would be ready at the Pennsylvania siding to receive the corn. Porter County was among the first to take steps to collect corn and the honor of making the first shipment was given the county. James O. Cox, county chairman of European relief, was largely instrumental in inducing the Porter County Farmers’ Association to ship the corn.
February 20, 1921
Valparaiso University defeated the American College of Physical Education here last night by a score of 74 to 10. Harris with nine baskets, and Bradley and Anderson with eight each, were the local high scorers.
Valparaiso’s Central Fire Station is undergoing improvements. New sleeping quarters are being added on the lower floor for three firemen. The interior has been redecorated and two windows put in the front folding doors.
February 21, 1921
Emerson High of Gary defeated Valparaiso High at the Valparaiso University gym Saturday night by a score of 36 to 12. Sturtridge was high point getter for Emerson with seven baskets and five free throws. Sibley also contributed five baskets for Gary. Light for Valparaiso, made six free throws.
Kouts held its election for town board members yesterday. William Denzine defeated A. L. Arnold in the first ward; Henry Herring won over William P. Betterton in the second ward; Ira J. Dye was victor over Gust Rueger in the third ward, and R.S. Berlin nosed out John G. Benkie in the fourth ward. Albert Hofferth was unopposed for clerk-treasurer.
February 22, 1921
Farmers from every section of Porter County were here today with gifts of corn for the starving children of Europe. The car at the Pennsylvania siding was filled with shelled corn. The car was the first given in the United States for European relief. Corn shelling machines shelled all the corn brought in on the cob. O. N. Peck had charge of the loading. The city schools paraded to the car and watched the proceedings. Representatives of movie companies took pictures.
February 23, 1921
City and county taxes for 1921 will be higher than in 1920, Treasurer J. G. Graessle announced today. In Valparaiso, the rate for the year will be $3.06 as against $2.35 in 1920. Other taxing units also show increases.
February 24, 1921
Valparaiso University basketball team defeated Notre Dame at South Bend yesterday, 32 to 26. Bradley with six baskets and Ecklund with four baskets and four free throws paved the way for the locals' win. The game was rough throughout.
February 25, 1921
The Lincoln Highway Garage on East Lincolnway was sold today by Harry Pagin to a company composed of Tom Benton, Harlow Smith, and J. L. Spooner. They will take possession March 1.
February 26, 1921
Postmaster J. T. Scott of the Valparaiso Post Office has received an order from Washington not to take checks in payment of money orders. The reason is that the post office cashes more money orders than it issues and consequently there is a dearth of money on hand to cash checks.
February 27, 1921
A new grocery store will soon open up in the third ward. Fred Bowlby, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Bowlby, has awarded the contract to Smith and Smiths Company for a new frame building to be started immediately. Mr. Bowlby has been employed in the steel mills at Gary.
February 28, 1921
Forty-one bodies have been recovered from the wreckage up to 2 o’clock this afternoon in the disastrous railroad wreck between two passenger trains on the Michigan Central and New York Central Railroads at Porter Sunday night. It is estimated that many bodies are still in the wreckage. Searchers are digging in the mass for signs of human fragments. The wreck was due to the failure of the engineer and fireman of the Michigan Central train to heed a derailment signal. Coroner H. O. Seipel immediately launched an investigation into the wreck cause.
James Harden, age 54, dropped dead in the R. P. Wolfe Clothing Store on South Washington Street in Valparaiso this morning from a heart attack. He was talking of the railroad wreck at Porter yesterday which claimed 42 lives when stricken.