The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 4, Page 17.
Marks Supply Company Has Background of Over Eighty Years Under Dickover
Family
Although Marks
Supply Company has been known as such since 1913, its history dates back for
more than eighty years, when C. W. Dickover first came to Valparaiso in 1854.
Not long afterwards, he returned to Pennsylvania for his bride, then established
a permanent home in this city.
Mr. Dickover was identified with the early growth of the city, being responsible
for many of the older buildings which still stand today. The first building he
erected in Valparaiso was the brick Methodist parsonage, formerly situated north
of the church and moved, a few years ago, to Jefferson street west of the Mavity
building. Between 1860 and 1865 he built a small brick house for himself on Haas
street which is still there, the original Mica factory building which was then a
woolen mill, the old Pennsylvania Round House which was razed a few years ago,
the Pennsylvania Round House at Plymouth, Ind., and other buildings.
It was while Mr. Dickover was building the round house in Plymouth, leaving his
wife and small son alone at home, that a severe snow storm arose, making it
impossible for people to get into or out of their homes for several days. Mrs.
Dickover kept her son, C. H. Dickover, wrapped in blankets near the stove in an
effort to make her supply of fuel last until her husband's return from Plymouth.
Finally becoming anxious about her isolation, she hoisted a brook out the door
to make known her distress. A neighbor saw it, and after shoveling his way to
her house, replenished her fuel supply. When Mr. Dickover returned from Plymouth
shortly after, he found the food supply almost extinguished.
Subsequently many brick buildings were erected, not only in Valparaiso, but in
the surrounding country and Chicago. The Odd Fellows building was put up in 1878
for a Mr. Fisk, for whom an addition to Valparaiso was named. Mr. Dickover built
many school building in Porter county, back in the days when the howling of
wolves at night was real enough to keep one awake.
When C. H. Dickover grew older, he helped in his father's business, eventually
building up an independent one of his own. He held the contract for all the
brick work done on the Court House, built in 1883-84. In 1888 he built the
Christian church, and four years later erected the University Auditorium. Among
many other buildings for which he was responsible are Keene's Tire Shop, the
present Vidette-Messenger building, Houle's Baker, and the Meagher building. The
Block hotel was built for Mr. Conrad Block. Mr. Dickover also built the present
Harry Harrold residence, and the Hubbard Hunt house, later the first Valparaiso
Public library; as well as a ward school which is now the Mennonite church.
The cement block business was started in the old Harrold building at the corner
of Indiana and Washington. Here, in the basement, C. H. Dickover made all the
cement blocks, by hand, for the foundation of Dr. Loring's home, now familiar to
all as the Women's Club building.
Paul E. Marks became associated with G. H. Dickover in 1913, when they rented
two lots at North Washington and the Grand Trunk railroad of C. W. Dickover.
Here they set up and automatic cement block machine under a temporary roof,
around which a cement block building was erected as fast as blocks were made.
As the business grew into a building supply yard, the cement block building was
extended to the alley line following the curve of the sidetrack. Several years
later, the property was bought of the older Mr. Dickover.
C. W. Dickover discontinued his activity in the business when he was eighty-two
years old, but his daily visits to various store-keepers occupying buildings he
had erected many years before, continued until his ninetieth year. Three of his
children are still living, and three grandchildren, all well known in the
community. Charles Dickover, son of C. H. Dickover, is now identified with the
business also, being associated with Mr. Marks.
The business of the Marks Supply company grew steadily, soon necessitating the
erection of the first unit of another block building, two stories in height, on
the south part of the property, which provided for an office, and a driveway
between the two buildings. The first building was made wider and two stories
high as the second was gradually extended to the alley line, thus completing the
two buildings, each one hundred and thirty-two feet long. The driveway between
was concreted, and weighing scales of twenty-five-ton capacity were placed near
the front of the office building.
The adjoining property south of the original plant was acquired when the owner,
A. J. Louderback, moved to Texas. Four lots on Lafayette street directly west
were bought of the Harry Smith estate several years ago.
At the present time, the Marks Supply company owns and occupies a city block,
this providing ample space for the various kinds of buildings as well as the
coal business, and bulk tanks for the gasoline, kerosene, fuel oils and greases
of which the company is the territorial distributor for the Socony Vacuum Oil
Company.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook