Spring 2020 Valparaiso Magazine

>> A LOOK BACK
100 years ago, Valparaiso was just as busy as it is today.
Here are some interesting tidbits taken directly from the newspaper during
this time in 1920, provided by Kevin Pazour at the Porter County Museum.
April 5, 1920
A forty-mile gale blew into
Valparaiso early yesterday,
accompanied by a heavy fall
of snow which obstructed
traffic. Thirteen inches of
snow was recorded. Taxicabs
and automobiles were stalled
in the streets and street car
service put out of commission.
Despite the storm large crowds
attended the Easter services at
various churches.
April 7, 1920
Since March 15, John Gunther,
of Valparaiso, has been
standing daily from 2 to 6
p. m. at the corner of Sixth
and Spring Streets in Los
Angeles, Calif., looking for
two men who took $15,000
of his money in a bunko deal
through fake stock speculation.
According to Gunther, he met
the two men last February.
They worked the old game of
winning on the stock market
and finally told him it would
take $15,000 to take down the
winnings. Gunther returned
to Valparaiso, mortgaged his
farm and borrowed $5,000
of his daughter. The money
was turned over to the men
who reported that the entire
investment had
been lost. They
gave Gunther
$100 and a ticket
to New Orleans.
Gunther said
he surmised he
was a victim of
a “skin” game
and returned
to hunt the
fleecers.
April 22, 1920
Valparaiso University baseball
team swamped Armour
Institute of Chicago at Brown
Field yesterday. The score was
12 to 2. Several persons were
injured when a temporary
bleacher holding 150 collapsed.
The spectators were thrown
into a mud puddle.
April 8, 1920
A special county election to
decide the question of building
a show and sales barn at the
April 25, 1920
fairgrounds will be held on
The Schleman-Morton
May 4 in conjunction with the
Company filed incorporation
primary election. The county
papers in the county recorder’s
commissioners, at a meeting
office here today with a capital
yesterday, resolved the plan.
stock of $50,000. William
Schleman is president; F. W.
April 11, 1920
Morton, secretary, and A.
The City of Valparaiso is now R. Hardesty, treasurer. The
in control of Kirchoff Park, left company will have offices in the
in the will of Fred Kirchoff. In Farmers’ State Bank building
addition to two acres of ground, (SW corner of Lincolnway and
east of the city, a $10,000 cash Washington) until lease of
fund is available.
the LaForce Shoe Store (East
Lincolnway) expires.
April 16, 1920
C. W. Bartholomew has
May 7, 1920
purchased the Mrs. J.
Stone for maintenance of
W. McLellan building on
Lincoln Highway through
Washington Street now
Porter County will soon be
occupied by S. C. Billings, the received here, according to
baker. He will remodel it into a announcement made today.
funeral home. Mr. Bartholomew The state department will
will move into the new location maintain the highway until the
as soon as the changes have
road is hard-surfaced.
been completed.
34 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | SPRING 2020192