News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The annual “Sleepy Hollow” fall celebration held in Vevay on Saturday saw beautiful fall, sunny weather as crowds came downtown for craft shopping, demonstration workshops, and tasty treats. The entire event went down to the wire in the offices of the Switzerland County Welcome Center, as heavy rains were forecast for the area on Friday night and through Saturday. Welcome Center staffers Ann Mulligan and Rhonda Griffin vowed that the event would go on regardless of weather, and after rain on Friday night; Saturday turned into a truly glorious autumn day.
The Ohio River Valley Conference has announced its weekly honors for last week, and Switzerland County junior Leslie Green has been honored as the girls cross country Runner of the Week. In boys soccer, Tanner Briggs was honored as a “Top Performer” with his two goal effort versus Rising Sun; and in volleyball Lady Pacer Lindsay Stultz was named a “Top Performer” for her 11 kills, 19-for-20 serving, and two blocks in two matches.
20 YEARS AGO
Bev Lock and Bertie Detraz won top honors at the Bennington Homecoming. Mr. Lock was named the Bennington Mayor and Mrs. Detraz was named Mrs. Bennington.
Hearing a steamboat whistle in the distance, a couple dozen Vevay people rushed to the riverfront Monday evening – folks gathering at the river, just like old times – and watched the Mississippi Queen, the Quad City Queen, port of Dubuque, Iowa, passed by Vevay, and the Belle of St. Louis passed by too – a parade of steamboats on the Ohio these days, the river like it used to be in the good old days.
The major reorganization of the U.S. Shoe Corporation manufacturing operations, which means the closing of one of its Ohio plants and elimination of 400 jobs, will mean no loss of jobs at the company’s factory in Vevay. U.S. Shoe officials said Tuesday. The Vevay plant employs about 350 persons, more than any other employers in Switzerland County. None of those jobs will be lost, company officials said, and it’s possible that some more jobs might be created at the Vevay plant.
30 YEARS AGO
Making musical instruments by using discarded materials is the theme for the 6th Grade project at the Switzerland County Elementary School. The 6th Grade class was instructed to make any kind of instrument they wish, but using only scraps of trash, or other things like rubber bands, boxes and string. One of the items, a drum, was made from an old pickle barrel and a piece of vinyl stapled tightly down over one end to make that hollow sound.
Jeannie Mathews, daughter of Nelson and Betty Mathews, held up a 114 pound pumpkin which was nearly as tall as she was for our camera. It was grown by Jeannie’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Riley who live near Vevay on State Road 129.
Carol Slack, 20, an Indiana State University junior and Rob Daugherty, 21, an Indiana University senior, were selected as the winners of the Tri Kappa Society and First National Bank of Vevay scholarship winners.
40 YEARS AGO
A storied antebellum house termed by a neighbor “the most beautiful home in Switzerland County” was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. Sometimes referred to as the “old Pastor McNeeley house,” the two-story yellow brick structure stood on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River at the west end of Patriot. Mr. and Mrs. Marris Hutchison, Muncie furniture store owners and interior decorators, have been owners of the home for the past 11 years and during that time had restored the house to its original Civil War vintage. Hutchison’s extensive collection of antique furnishings was totally destroyed in the blaze Sunday. Its source was not determined.
Raymond P. Osborn, Jr., of Vevay, has been elected to the board of directors of the Vevay Deposit Bank. He succeeds the late Charles Geiger, Jr., on the board.
Poking around a farm they’d just bought, Wilbur and Wilma Allen discovered a veritable treasure cache of antique and historic items dating back to the early years of Switzerland County. That was in 1933, and the farm was the old Nelson place near Jacksonville. Nine years later they bought the adjoining farm – including a house built sometime between 128126 and 1820 – and discovered some more antiques. Now residents of Vevay, the Allens have put together a fascinating collection of Switzerland County relics. They’ll display them Monday night at a meeting of the Switzerland County Historical Society.
A tranquil 65 years of married life will be celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. Blanton Hatton of 502 East Main Street, Vevay, on Sunday. The Hattons were married October 15th, 1907, and since then they have enjoyed a life together free of – as Mr. Hatton put it – “all the fussing and feuding that so many people have to go through.”
50 YEARS AGO
Harry Tapp, Vevay High School star athlete, capture a trophy last week by winning first place in Ohio River Valley Conference cross country meet in Milan.
Market enthusiasm and interest was evident Monday evening as 33 county residents met to discuss the proposed 1963 Sesquicentennial. Chief results included setting celebration dates, agreeing to form a corporation to provide finances, naming the corporation, and appointing new officers.
60 YEARS AGO
Clair Andrew, prominent farmer living east of Vevay, sustained a broken right arm, broken right leg and crushed ankle on Thursday of last week when a grain drill which was attached to a tractor passed over his body. Despite his injuries he completed sowing the grain, drove his truck back to the house, ate lunch and then drove his automobile to the office of Dr. G. E. Ellerbrook in Vevay for medical attention.
Paul Andrew sustained a bruised bone in his left ankle last week when a belt on a saw, which he was using to cut wood, broke and struck his leg. Three weeks ago Mrs. Andrew fell and fractured her right leg, which remains in a cast.
The U.S. government announced last week that burley tobacco price support has been set at $49.50 for the current season. This is the second highest support ever set and is only 30 cents below last year’s record price.
70 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Romans of Osgood have purchased the Louis Savin property o Seminary Street and will move here in the near future.
A son, Ronald Wayne, was born Thursday, October 1st, to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peelman of Vevay.
The Mount Sterling Baptist Church will celebrate its 10th anniversary October 11th, with an all day meeting at the church.
Mrs. Alice Douglas North, citizen of Posey Township, passed away suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Elkins of Kokomo, Indiana, on Monday.
Robert Bruce Huston died at his home near Patriot Sunday evening after an acute illness of several weeks.
80 YEARS AGO
John F. McCreary, Civil War veteran, died Friday at the hoe of his daughter, Mrs. Lucy Bales of Vevay route 2. Mr. McCreary, who was 84 years of age, had been sick the past six weeks.
The Vevay-Cincinnati Bus Company, which is operated by H. D. Green of Rising Sun and Mort Kelly of Vevay, has put a new safety coach in the trade on its route from Vevay to Cincinnati. The bus has an all steel body with shatter proof glass and air cushions.
Born Sunday, a daughter, Mary Lou to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Tapp of Tapps Ridge.
Howard Romans of Vevay and Miss Kathleen Copeland of near Vevay were married Wednesday at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Leland Courtney.
Mrs. Jennie Tevis Scott, aged 72, widow of Bruce D. Scott, who until a few years ago was a resident of this county, died at her home in Madison Friday night after an illness of several months.
Charles Francis, native of this county, died at his home in Indianapolis Wednesday following an illness of more than a year. Mr. Francis was blinded in an explosion which occurred while he was helping build the Tanglewood school house south of Versailles in 1904.
90 YEARS AGO
While the ruins of the M.E. Church at Allensville still smoldered last week, energetic members of the congregation already had begun plans for the erection of a new structure. In order to help the cause along the Reveille-Enterprise is going to sponsor a drive for funds.
Henry Lauderbaugh, aged 74, died Saturday at his home near Brooksburg. He was a native of Vevay and had spent the greater part of his life in this county.
Lewis J. Adams, former Switzerland County man, died October 1st at Christman, Illinois.
James Gilbert, formerly of the Fairview commiunity, died recently in Colorado.
Born, October 5th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Pavy of Fairview.
Born, October 1st, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Uhlmansiek of Posey Township.
Relatives at Patriot have been advised of the death of Harry Bradley, who was about 37 years of age, was born and reared in Patriot.
100 YEARS AGO
Miss Eva Lanham died at her home in Vevay Wednesday evening after an illness of four weeks.
David H. Jaynes died at his home in this city Tuesday night, following a lingering illness of consumption. He was a Civil War veteran and was 80 years of age.
Arrangements are practically completed by which a motor bus line will be established between Vevay and Madison. William Heady of the firm, Heady and Myer’s will operate the line.
Beefsteak at 30 cents per pound, as soon as winter arrives, is predicted by Chicago retail meat dealers.
Mrs. Josephine Poston, a native of the Allensville community, died October 2nd at her home in Mason, Illinois.
Mr. William Jack, aged citizen of Posey Township, was found dead on the floor of his home near Patriot Sunday morning. Mr. Jack lived alone and had evidently expired several days ago.
120 YEARS AGO
Married at the National Hotel in Vevay, October 9th, John J. Blackburn and Iva F. Webster, both of Grant Coumty, Kentucky.
Reverend Thompson is the new pastor of the Vevay M.E. Church.
Born, September 27th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hazelet of Center Square.
Born, October 4th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Clevenger of Center Square.
150 YEARS AGO
“The U.S. Ram Switzerland has bee lying at Cairo for the past two or three weeks undergoing repairs and alterations. We learn that a gun deck has been built upon her, and that she is to be armed with six guns, 12 and 24 pounders. Heavy bulwarks will also be built around her for the protection of sharpshooters. It was the Switzerland, which was the immediate cause of the destruction of the rebel ram, Arkansas. She ran into her at Vicksburg and so damaged the machinery of the rebel ram that it could never again be worked effectively. This is why she could not steam away from the Essex when she attacked her. The Switzerland will hereafter prove a most formidable vessel.” (Editor’s note: The steamer, Switzeralnd, was sold to the government by U.P. Schenck, Vevay owner).
F. J. Waldo has been appointed postmaster to succeed Lieutenant E. L. Courvoisier, who enlisted in the Army.