The fall program season kicked off with “Valparaiso University: An Unfinished Educational Trilogy, 1859----” presented by Professor James Albers. The University is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Prof. Albers told of three distinct periods in the school’s history. 1859-1871 Methodists ran the Valparaiso Male and Female College which closed partly because of the Civil War. 1873-1925 the institution was privately owned and called in succession Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute, Valparaiso College and Valparaiso University. In 1925 it was purchased by the Lutheran University Association and accreditation was achieved in 1929. Professor Albers used a power point presentation which showed pictures of campus buildings through the years and people important in the school’s history.
October
Following a delicious dinner catered by Café Elite, a large audience of members and guests enjoyed a musical program featuring songs from as far back as World War II. The Wolffgang singers, eight talented young women directed by Hobart High School teacher Mr. Dean Wolff, presented an energetic program. There were a lot of tapping toes in the audience and a standing ovation after the program climaxed with a medley of Andrews Sisters favorites such as “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy.”
Members of Hobart High School's Wolffgang Singers perform for delighted DHS members.
November
“The Lincoln Funeral Train” video produced by Bill Warrick of Ogden Dunes tells the story of the train which in 1865 carried the body of the slain president through many cities and small towns on its way from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Warrick introduced the program and told of his research and how he combined still photographs of actual events and film of re-enactments. The train came north from Indianapolis and stopped in Michigan City before continuing to Chicago. In the video a plaque is shown which commemorates the train passing through Westville.
