Time certainly flies while running the Porter County Museum. I feel terribly that I have totally neglected my blog for the last month. So many interesting, fun things have taken place between my last blog post and as I sit and lovingly type to you now.
For example, I have been speaking about the Museum’s restoration project at several different groups within the community—most recently the Valparaiso Women’s Club. Barbara Gramlick and Joan Lane asked me to come speak to the club about all of the wonderful changes within our Museum. Helen Arvidson accompanied me to the Women’s Club and spoke about our local cowboy celebrity—“Broncho” John Sullivan. Lucie Whitlow also attended the event and helped iron out the logistics of our presentation. Overall, the women seemed very interested and entertained by the things Helen and I had to say. I hope to have the whole club in to see the Museum very soon.
Pazour Point—The Valparaiso Women’s Club has been around for quite some time. In fact, the club was organized in February 1895 (my great-grandmother was a one-year-old at the time) by some of the same founding members of the Historical Society.
Speaking is not my only specialty. Last Monday I took our Henry Cross painting of Murray Beach and his 495 pound Goliath Grouper (a gigantic, endangered fish) to the Baumgartner’s in Chicago with Gregg Hertzlieb from the Brauer Museum of Art. Why did I take our beloved painting on a road trip? Well, Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration specializes in meticulous restoration work and has examined our beautiful “fish-man” painting. With the right amount of TLC and money, we will be able to restore Murray Beach and his whopper catch to their original, vibrant glory.
Pazour Point—I want to reiterate my thanks to Gregg Hertzlieb and Ed Melendez for their help in getting the painting to Chicago. Ed Melendez, Superintendent of County Parks & Recreation, provided a van to transport the painting to and from Chicago. This was no easy feat considering the painting is roughly 5’ by 7’. Gregg Hertzlieb, the Director/ Curator of the Brauer Museum of Art gave up several hours of his day to drive the painting to the Baumgartner’s studio in downtown Chicago. Without them, this project would not have been possible.
Yesterday was the opening of Treasures from the Porter County Museum at the Westchester Township History Museum in Chesterton. This is another fine instance of how time has completely gotten away from me. Jane Walsh-Brown, the curator of the Westchester Township History Museum, and I have been putting together a sampling of the Porter County Museum’s outstanding artifacts. I was even a guest on Jane’s show Historically Speaking last month and spoke about this special exhibit.
Go visit the Westchester Township History Museum. You really need to see this special exhibit if you get the chance. The Treasures of the Porter County Museum exhibit runs all the way through May 31 and truly is a gem of a display. No pun intended. Okay, maybe it was intended. Either way, you should make time for a tour of the Westchester Township History Museum.
These brief stories are only a sampling of what has been going on in my life at the Porter County Museum. In order to better document my experiences—and keep you mildly entertained—I will begin blogging regularly on Mondays and Fridays throughout the week. In addition to keeping you updated on all things Porter County Museum, I will begin a special feature with my Monday edition of blogs.
Starting today, I am going to be looking back in old newspapers and re-keying some of the things I find interesting (and hopefully you will, too). Today’s selection is from The Vidette-Messenger from Monday, March 16, 1959—exactly 50 years ago to the day.
The national headline from the paper reads: MIDWEST IS LASHED BY STORMS. The article goes on to say, “A savage winter curtain call of fierce wind, snow and rain storms howled across the Midwest during the weekend and swept eastward with undiminished fury.” Fast forward five decades. Hopefully we are done with snow for this season. Right?
A story about theft and vandalism made the main local headline for the day. This is of particular interest to me because I attended Washington Township High School.
Vandals Loot, Damage School
Two Sunday night break-ins, one at the Washington Township school and the other at Dommer’s service station, intersection of Ind. 49 and U.S. 30, are being investigated today by Sheriff’s police.
Loot obtained at the school included a small portable radio, a new 1959 Royal typewriter, valued at $180, and approximately $7.50 in cash. Taken from the service station were four new tires valued at $172.
The thieves caused a considerable amount of damage in the school break-in. However, Trustee Harland Beach stated that he has been unable to make an estimate as of yet.
Oren Reeder, janitor at Wasington, discovered the break-in at 6:30 a.m. He notified the sheriff’s office and Trustee Beach.
The investigation was made by Sheriff Edward Buchanan.
Buchanan said the thieves entered by breaking a door on the northeast side of the new section of the school. After entering the school, they attempted to break open two candy machines but were unsuccessful.
Thieves Destructive
They broke through a door in the school show but apparently did not take anything from this room. The thieves then went to the office of Principal James Dold where they smashed the glass in the door.
In this office they obtained the radio, typewriter and cash. Several file cabinets were badly damaged with a crowbar, police said. The thieves also broke another door in the building as they left.
The break-in at the service station was investigated by Deputy Ewalt Jahnz. Station is operated by Carl E. Dommer, who discovered the entry at 7 a.m. today.
Jahnz stated that there was no sign of forced entry to the building and that the thieves apparently used a key to open the front door. Nothing except tires appeared to be missing.
Prof Gets Fulbright Award
Dr. Ferencz P. Kallay, assistant professor of geography and geology at Valparaiso University, has received a Fulbright Scholarship for study of the population problem on the island of Sardinia.
Dr. Kallay specializes in the geography of Mediterranean Europe and he is one of only two Americans who have done field work in Sardinia during the past five years.
He received his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1955 on a similar study undertaken on this second-largest island in the Mediterranean.
While in Sardinia on the grant which is effective this fall, Dr. Kallay also will be studying the effects of the Flumendosa irrigation project on the island’s economy.
Plans Field Probe
He will conduct field investigations in the fall and spring and will spend the winter interviewing government officials and representatives of private enterprise in addition to doing library research.
While on the Italian island, the VU professor will be associated with the geography departments of the Universities of Rome and Cagliani and he will lecture in Italian at these schools in spring, 1960.
Upon completion of his Fulbright grant in June 1960, Dr. Kallay will take summer courses in political geography at either University of Paris or Oxford.
He plans to present a paper at the International Geographical Union which will meet in Stockholm in August. He will then return to Valparaiso where he has taught since 1957.
Born in West Virginia, Dr. Kallay lived and studied in Hungary until 1947. He received his BA and MA degrees from Wayne State University, Detroit, and earned his Ph.D at the University of Michigan. He is listed in “American Men of Science.”
I do have to say the most amusing aspect of this issue of the paper has to be the advertisements. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s day, I have to say that the ad for Calvert Reserve whiskey is my favorite. It starts by saying, “Only Calvert’s Hand of Skill blends the whiskey with more power to please!” The tag line underneath a giant hand holding a shot glass situated next to a variety of stereotypical Irish items says, “Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? Let Calvert Reserve add its own festive note to the occasion.” At $4.85 for a 4/5 quart or $1.55 for a ½ pint, I am going to assume many people chose to celebrate fifty years ago.
Looking Backward
Do You Recall These Reports?
TWENTY YEARS AGO (Now seventy years ago)
March 16, 1939
Valparaiso’s water supply was imperiled Wednesday night when a plug in a street connection of the sixteen-inch supply line from this city to Flint Lake blew out. The break occurred in the vicinity of McKinley street on State Road 49.
Charles Kern, Valparaiso High school senior, and winner of the Porter County oratorical contest sponsored by the American Legion posts of the county, is at Lafayette, Ind., today competing in the Second congressional district contest.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO (Now sixty-five years ago)
March 16, 1944
Portage township, Porter County, entered the casualty lists for the third time this week when another serviceman, Clyde E. Hewitt, Jr., technical sergeant, was reported lost in action in the European area.
Mrs. Martha Jane Griswold, 92, for 64 years a resident of Valparaiso, died today at the home of her son, Clarence Griswold, 104 Napoleon street.
TEN YEARS AGO (Now sixty years ago)
March 16, 1949
The Sheriff’s department continued an investigation today on the series of recent break-ins east of the Valparaiso City limits. Latest incidents were reported Monday and Tuesday mornings this week.
The public works committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a petition for re-opening government investigation or the Burns ditch harbor project, The Vidette-Messenger learned today in a telephone conversation with Rep. Charles A. Halleck.
I have learned quite a bit going through the old newspapers this morning. Check back here Friday for my next blog post. In the meantime, plan a visit to the Porter County Museum. Or better yet—join the Historical Society as a member! Until next time…
Best,
KMP
Executive Director
Porter County Museum