News compiled by Ginny Leap
from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Deaths this week were: Sue Bailey, Ethel J. Higgins, Hilda M. Storie, Thomas Tilford, Jr., Mary Margaret Lyon and Pascal Bell.
Jon Bond has been a successful attorney and economic expert in Indianapolis, and he has been a candidate for state office. Now he’s returning home to Switzerland County as the new executive director of the Switzerland County Economic Development Corporation. He will begin his new duties on May 1st.
Nathan Crane is the new extension educator for the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service here in Switzerland County. He has been on the job only a short time, but is already busy talking with everyone from 4-H members to county farmers about how his office can assist them. He grew up on a family farm in Missouri, and is familiar with the struggles of farming in today’s economy.
Michael Jones was elected as Democrat chairman of the Switzerland County Democrat Central Committee on March 5th. He replaces Steve Crabtree who had served as chairman from 1998 until January of this year, when he submitted his resignation.
The Switzerland County Republican Party held its reorganization meeting recently. John Keeton was elected chairman, replacing Jill Hutcherson, outgoing chairman.
20 YEARS AGO
Harold C. “Red” Benedict of Vevay will be among those inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame during ceremonies this weekend. The ceremony will take place over two days, involving a dinner in Indianapolis on Friday, and a plaque presentation at the Hall of Fame in New Castle on Saturday. Unable to attend due to his health, Red Benedict will be represented at the ceremonies by his nephew, Buzz Benedict. Plans are underway to hold a special ceremony honoring Mr. Benedict early next month. Organized by former player Pete Furnish and Switzerland County High School athletic director Wayne Daugherty, a special presentation will be made in Mr. Benedict’s home on Tuesday afternoon, April 4th.
For a third time the Jefferson-Craig volunteer fire department is trying to secure grant money to build a new firehouse. The fire department is trying to obtain the grant from the state’s Community Focus Fund. They are being aided in applying for the grant by Dana Riddle of the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. Jeff-Craig is applying for $185,000 from the community Focus Fund to assist in the project.
30 YEARS AGO
Patrick Lanman, Editor of the Vevay Newspapers, has announced that Mary Anne Sheldon has joined the staff as the advertising manager. She replaces Jeff Middendorf who left the newspaper as of last Friday to pursue business opportunities in Cincinnati.
Plans for Indianapolis Power & Light company’s Patriot power plant along the Ohio River in Switzerland County are being put on hold, the utility has announced. Development of the 880-acre site for the coal-fired plant was to have begun this year.
Private First Class David A. Hall, son of Mrs. William Hall of route 1, Vevay, is now serving with the U.S. Army in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany.
40 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County School Board made two major personnel changes Monday night during its regular monthly meeting for March. The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Switzerland County High School principal Bill Roberts, and voted 5 to 1 to reassign curriculum director Roberta Cord to the position of teacher-principal at Florence School. The changes go into effect at the end of the current school year.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Post, Vevay, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Linda Nell, to Dale L. Krall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Krall, Holland, Michigan.
Andrea Henry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Henry, former Vevay resident now living in Newburgh, Indiana, was recently named to the Dean’s List at the University of Evansville, where she is a student in the School of Nursing. Miss Henry is a freshman.
Since last April 3rd, when a tornado destroyed their place of worship, the members of the Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Bear Branch have been holding services in a garage. Now, they’re looking forward to the building of a new church, with construction expected to begin early in the Spring. The devastating storms of April 3rd destroyed the church parsonage and three outbuildings along with the main church sanctuary.
50 YEARS AGO
Kenny Turner, Vevay Warrior junior guard, received the Vevay Newspapers Free Throw Award trophy as the best Warrior foul shot artist for the 1964-65 basketball season. He sank 77.9 percent of his shots.
Jim Stultz was awarded the Vevay Athletic Club Rebound Award trophy as the year’s top Warrior rebounder. The trophy was presented by Mrs. Marion Janes at a Monday night banquet honoring the 1964-65 Warrior team.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Slack of East Enterprise announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Annabell, to Mr. Kenneth L.R. Beckett of 114 Parkside Avenue, Lawrenceburg. The wedding will take place Saturday, April 3rd, at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ on Ridge Avenue in Greendale.
Top spellers, Jacqueline Johnson of Vevay Schools and Vickie Otter of Jefferson-Craig Elementary Schools will represent their respective schools in a spelling bee at Woodward High School in Cincinnati.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Afra B. Morrison, wife of Ray Morrison, Vevay funeral director, passed away Monday at noon in the Madison hospital following a heart attack.
New officers of the Vevay Kiwanis Club are: Harold Chittenden, treasurer; Denver Markland, past president; Paul Merz, vice president; Emmett Danner, president; and Keith Hand, secretary.
Avery Manford, 68, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Vevay soon after midnight Saturday night.
Funeral services were held at the Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home Sunday afternoon for Bee Clements, 62, who passed away March 10th at the Odd Fellows Home in Greensburg where he and Mrs. Clements were employed.
70 YEARS AGO
J.B. Tilley, prominent Vevay merchant, died suddenly in Holmes Hospital, Cincinnati, Thursday, March 8th, following an illness of some three months.
Following a $200,000 fire in Lawrenceburg Wednesday morning, the newspaper, the Register, has been forced to suspend publication until equipment can be obtained and housing arranged for.
Born, Sunday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Barnes of Moorefield.
Born, Friday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Adams of Florence.
80 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Esther Trafelet Herd, a native of this county, died at her home in Niagara Falls, New York, Tuesday morning.
Married in Madison Saturday, Miss Elberta Osborn and Kenneth Archer.
Married Saturday evening at the Methodist parsonage in Fairview by Reverend Canfield, Miss Pearl Trester of Lawrenceburg and Henry Seymour of East Enterprise; Miss Edith Darling and Harold Lanks of Guilford.
Thomas Carr, resident of York Township, died at his home in Florence March 7th, following a sudden illness lasting only a few hours.
90 YEARS AGO
Miss Jessie Lockland and Marion F. Gardner, both of near Bennington, were married in Shelbyville, Indiana, Tuesday by Reverend Josie Campbell.
At a Council meeting held Monday night, John Watson was elected town Marshal of Patriot.
Born, a daughter, Jean Frances, to Mr. and Mrs. William White of Posey Township.
A new automobile fire engine and other fire fighting equipment has been purchased by the town of Patriot.
Thomas Tait, 83, was found dead in his bed Thursday morning at his home in Vevay.
Clarence Peelman, 69, died Monday night at the home of his son, Jacob, near East Enterprise from the effects of a stroke of paralysis suffered earlier in the day.
100 YEARS AGO
Born, Tuesday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. E.P. Downey.
The City Council is offering a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the incendiaries who recently burned the house of James Neal, colored, and set fire to the house of Mrs. Lou Neal, colored.
Miss Julia McKay and Miss Ollie Brindley have formed a partnership in the millinery business.
Born, Wednesday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Browning.
There’s a new baker in Vevay. He is Marion Williamson Scott, and is a son of James Scott and wife, arriving in Vevay last Monday.
110 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Cemetery laid out in 1814 is among the state’s oldest official burying grounds. The first person buried there was Mrs. Nighswonger, mother of Elizabeth Dalmazzo. The first monument was erected over the grave of Otis Waldo, who died in 1831.
Carl S. Culbertson bought the coal business of the last Alfred Rous here.
Married in Farmer’s City, Illinois, Miss Hannah Twineham to Phillip Rous, both of this county.
Miss Anna Reed of the Reveille force is recovering from an attack of pneumonia.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stoops of Markland, a daughter.
T.J. Ake of Coles Corner has a very severe case of the whooping cough and the doctors are unable to discover the cause.
Ed Taylor of Long Run received a straight 11 cents per pound for his tobacco.
No ferry waiting room at Patriot so R.O. Wickman rented a room at the corner of 3rd and Front streets to take care of the passengers.
120 YEARS AGO
W.N. Seymour has succeeded Asa Newton as keeper of the toll gate on the Mt. Sterling turnpike.
W.L. Mennett has rented one half of the store room occupied by D.M. Haskell and will place in it a stock of groceries.
The steamer Longfellow, bound for New Orleans, sunk at Cincinnati Friday morning. It was originally the U.P. Schenck and was built by A.J. Schenck of Vevay.
Last Monday a lot of meat was stolen from Mr. John P. Porter above Vevay.
140 YEARS AGO
W.S. Francis is advertising new spring goods at his store in Pleasant.
John Henry, below Vevay, lost a half barrel of lard to thieves. They also stole a keg of printers’ ink from the factory there.
150 YEARS AGO
Married March 2nd by Reverend William Gleason, Mr. Hugh M. Lamb and Miss Elizabeth A. Walter, all of Switzerland County.
Lot North has been appointed postmaster at Patriot in this county. W.D. Gibson resigned and has gone into the gunboat service.
F.J. Waldo has resigned the office of postmaster at Vevay. It is possible that James Harwood will be appointed to fill the vacancy.
Colin McNutt was allowed 75 cents for being an election inspector.
Mrs. Woods is starting her select school in the White Hall in Vevay.
I. Stickley is taking daguerreotypes at the LeClerc House for 75 cents each. Likenesses taken in both cloudy and clear weather.