Historical Images of Porter County

Dodge's Institute of Telegraphy
Valparaiso, Indiana

Date: 1909
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Elmer E. Starr (#09 4743)
Postmark: April 17, 1909, Valparaiso, Indiana
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: DODGE'S INSTITUTE OF TELEGRAPHY, VALPARAISO, INDIANA owns and maintains this modern and magnificent building for the instruction of telegraphy, typewriting and drill-penmanship exclusively. The only school of the kind in the country owning its building and the only institution in which a student may become entirely qualified for a position as telegraph operator. The Grand Trunk Western Railroad train wire is installed in the school for instruction of advanced students. All teachers are practical telegraph operators, with years of varied experience and trained for teaching and are also in daily touch with the practical telegraph. Expenses low. Catalogue free. The above illustration shows building with its recent addition, and is heated with steam and electric lighted throughout. Building contains 8260 square feet.

The Dodge Institute of Telegraphy was initially established as a department of the Northern Indiana Normal School in 1874 by G. A. Dodge. At that time, Dodge was employed as telegrapher of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad and saw opportunity in better educating future telegraphers. Reorganized by Dodge and F. R. Lunbeck in 1891, the school flourished and became the largest telegraph and railway instruction institution in the United States. As radio entered the scene, training in "wireless" communication was added to the curriculum of the institute. Dr. J. B. Hershman purchased the Dodge Institute in 1939 and moved the campus to the site formerly occupied by Pitkin-Brooks and L. E. Myers companies at Center Street and West Lincolnway. Following World War II, the Dodge Institute was renamed the Valparaiso Technical Institute. Valparaiso Technical Institute went defunct in April of 1991, ending 117 years of operation.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook