News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Dale and Alberta Stevens of near East Enterprise celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on Tuesday, July 6th. They were married July 6th, 1942, in Vevay by Reverend Fred Griffith.
Winners at the Area I Horse and Pony show recently included Melissa Raisor, first place in mare halter, 4 and 5 years old; and Tobie McClurg, Jr., first place in flags; Myra McClurg, first place in showmanship, 10th grade; Sydney York, senior division first place aged mare; and April Young, poles senior division. These young people have now qualified to compete at the Indiana State Fair in August.
The Fairview United Methodist Church is having its 37th annual ice cream social Saturday, July 31st. This year’s social will be held at the Bear Branch Firehouse.
Switzerland County veteran Dalbert “Dabby” Whitham was given the honor of raising the flag on the new flag pole at the Markland Dam Park for the first time. The flag poles were dedicated during a ceremony on the Fourth of July. A large group of residents attended the dedication ceremony which saw a large flag raised that was donated by the Vevay American Legion.
20 YEARS AGO
Andy Leap became the first 4-H’er in Switzerland County 4-H Fair history to show both the grand champion steer and the reserve grand champion steer.
The Switzerland County 4-H Fair was the best it has ever been with more youth involved, and more money raised at the livestock auction than has ever been raised before.
The second round of public presentations on riverboat gambling will be held this Saturday, 8:30 a.m., at the Hoosier Theater.
Katee Walcott was appointed Switzerland County treasurer in a Democrat Party caucus held Thursday. She succeeds L. J. Osborne, who resigned effective July 15th.
30 YEARS AGO
Carla Armstrong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlysle Armstrong of Bennington, was named 1984 4-H Fair Queen.
Switzerland County’s own Carol Slack represented her county well recently in the 1984 Miss Madison Regatta Pageant. Carol placed as the first runnerup for the entire competition and was also judged as the recipient of the “Miss Congeniality” award.
Michael Clerkin of Vevay was recently honored by the Farm Bureau Insurance Company for selling life insurance during the past year.
Etta L. McFarland and Melvin Webster were united in marriage on July 4th, 1984, at the Concord Wesleyan Methodist Church in Cross Plains, Indiana.
40 YEARS AGO
The little girl from Indianapolis and five famous movie stars from Hollywood are on their way to Switzerland County, where filming of 20th Century Fox’s special television feature “A Girl Named Sooner” begins Monday. Nine-year-old Susan Deer, a fourth grader whose main acting experience has been in class plays at Fall Creek Elementary School in Indianapolis, will play the title role of Sooner. And a handful of top flight, well established TV and movie stars will fill the adult lead roles. As announced in this newspaper last week, the cast of stars includes Richard Crenna, Lee Remick, Cloris Leachman, Ann Francis, and Don Murray.
Vevay native A. Craig Baird has been presented the University of Iowa’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, for his career accomplishments and service to the school. Mr. Baird is professor emeritus of speech and dramatic arts at the University of Iowa, where he taught for 44 years.
Wesley Rieman of East Enterprise was honored last week by officials at Jefferson Proving Ground on his retirement from JPG service after a career spanning more than 30 years. JPG Commander Colonel James Bishop presented Rieman with a Certificate of Retirement and Appreciation in ceremonies at JPG Friday.
Debra Sue Covington, of Vevay, daughter of Mrs. Pauline Covington, 403 Tell Street, was named to the dean’s list at Southeastern Community College in Whitesville, North arolina, for the spring quarter of the 1974-75 school year. Miss Covington is a graduate of Switzerland County High School.
50 YEARS AGO
Hiring a new corporation attorney was the initial item of business to be conducted following reorganization by the first elected school board of Switzerland County School Corporation. The board appointed Chester Callis as legal counsel over objections of three former interim board members. He would replace Mrs. Gretchen Cole. However Mrs. Cole has questioned the legality of her release as attorney.
Ralph W. Galbreath, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph T. Galbreath, route 2, Rising Sun, was promoted to Specialist 4 while serving with the 11th Transportation Company near Nellingen, Germany.
Private Roy Hopper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl J. Hopper, route 3, Vevay, completed advanced artillery training as a cannoneer at the Army Artillery and Missile Center at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, June 26th. Hopper was trained to serve in field artillery gun or howitzer crews.
60 YEARS AGO
Grim tragedy struck in the Posey hills just before 8 o’clock Tuesday morning with Dilver Paul Fisher, 67, well known farmer of Meads Ridge near Patriot, was killed when thrown from a wagon while trying to manage a runaway team. The tragedy occurred near the home of John Stevens.
Work of painting the beautiful Switzerland County Court House in Vevay was started Monday and it is progrressing steadily despite the handicap of the excessive heat.
70 YEARS AGO
Some “Deluxe” chicken thieves did their stuff in a big way early Wednesday morning of last week, when they entered the premises of Russell Scudder, east of Fairview, and crated up between 500 and 600 of his young broilers and got away with them.
Mrs. Dalbert Whitham of Vevay has been notified that her husband, Mr. Dalbert Whitham, has been wounded in Italy, but the message did not indicate the seriousness ofthe wounds suffered.
Miss Elaine Shadday of near Vevay and Lt. Philip Moore were married at the Vevay Baptist Church Sunday morning, July 9th, by Reverend G.C. Mitchell of North Vernon.
Born Monday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Darbro.
80 YEARS AGO
D.H. Bliss of Vevay has opened a new real estate office at his garage and will conduct a regular listing of Switzerland County property for sale and purchase.
Joe Dickason and Dale Weales have leased the Iddings Motor Company and will conduct a general garage, auto agency and accessory shop.
Charles Geiger and James H. Sieglitz landed a 13 and one-half pound catfish on a trotline in the Ohio River Thursday morning.
90 YEARS AGO
Robert Moore, aged 39, a young farmer of near Florence, was fatally injured Saturday evening. He had been working a team of mules in the field. It is presumed he started to ride one of the mules and was thrown off. His left foot became entangled in the harness and he was dragged head down to within 100 yards of the barn; then his foot was loosened and his body fell to the ground.
While shoeing a horse last Thursday, Edgar Graham, Switzerland County blacksmith, was painfully injured. A horseshoe nail protruding from the horse’s hoof ripped open Mr. Graham’s leg to such an extent that medical aid was required.
Miss Muriel G. Romans and Dewey Tucker were married Saturday night at the home of the bride’s parents by Reverend Paul Wheeler.
100 YEARS AGO
Fred Yancey, a colored waiter in the mess hall at Dam 39, was drowned while swimming in the river.
Andrew Downey is able to be out after his serious injuries several days ago.
The home of Mrs. Edward Strickland and family near Craig was destroyed by fire July 5th.
County Engineer Keeney estimated $359 would be required to build the Allensville bridge.
John Anderson is very ill at his home here.
Clifford Thiebaud was painfully injured when he had his arms and legs scalded while in government service at Richmond, Kentucky.
The barn of Elza Waltz near Mt. Sterling was destroyed by fire.
L.W. Dickey, an employee at Dam 39, has moved to Vevay with his family.
John W. Knox left for Florida on a business trip.
Downey Liggett of Bascom is ill with typhoid fever.
On account of low water, the steamer Indiana hired six autos to take her passengers from Gunpowder Bar to Aurora.
The 45 foot yacht Sunshine of Louisville was rammed and sunk by the stteamer Indiana July 4th opposite Patriot, Indiana.
Charles Alford and wife purchased the Riverside Hotel in Patriot from Mrs. Fanny Grandfold.
110 YEARS AGO
Harvey J. Zearing of Bennington resigned his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Trustee of Pleasant Township because he was already elected as Justice of the Peace and therefore could not be a candidate. Charles W. Smith was named as a candidate in his place.
A new boiler is being installed in the City Roller Mills on Pike Street here.
J.P. Curry was elected Sachem of the Bennington Red Men Lodge and Pleasant Lodge IOOF elected C.L. Jackson as Noble Grand.
Married at the home of the officiating pastor Reverend Silas Ward, July 3rd, Frank Land of Coles Corner and Miss Bertha Pendry of Aaron.
R.A. Jamieson is putting a new glass front in his business house on 3rd Street in Patriot.
120 YEARS AGO
Mr. Lem Pleasants who has been engaged in the clothing business with his brother, Oliver M., at Spencer, Iowa, returned home Sunday to remain.
A new post office has been established at Antioch, Posey Township.
The city council has prohibited the riding of bicycles on the sidewalks. That is right. But then why not enforce the stock law and keep cows off the sidewalks and streets?
Licensed to marry: William B. Gilbert to Hattie Cousins; William A. Price to Sarah Owens; Harry Joyce to Ophelia McKay.
James Hitchens and Eaton Cotton of Mt. Sterling have opened a dry goods and grocery store in Quercus Grove.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ira James Warner of Aaron.
140 YEARS AGO
Medney Oakley found a 10-year-old girl near the Vevay wharf who stated that she had been kidnapped from her home in Newport, Kentucky. She was later taken home by her father who came for her.
Land and McCreary of Florence are rapidly completing their new mill.
A barn belonging to A.C. Adams in Pleasant was destroyed by fire.
Last Saturday Ida Bonnell, daughter of Theodore Bonnell of Patriot, while playing, fell off the wood shed and dislocated her shoulder.
150 YEARS AGO
Vevay is improving slowly but steadily and surely.
The new court house will be completed this summer and arrangements have been made to have a town clock put on it. Messrs. U.P. Schenck and Son have completed their large warehouse on Market Street. It has a hay press in it and is 150 feet long and 100 feet wide.
Parker’s Express Company has recently established an office here. The Vevay Printing Ink factory of Messrs. Schenck and Henry have recently increased its facilities for manufacturing printer’s ink and a number of dwellings have been constructed or are under construction.
Civil War News: Reports advise of the following casualties: killed, Benjamin Bledsoe, of Florence; wounded, A.C. VanOsdol, severely; Welbern Holes, severely; prisoners, Lieutenant Thomas Lamson, David Haskell and Augustus Weaver. Patton was reported thrown from his horse and painfully but not seriously injured.
Next Monday the Dan Castello’s Circus will perform in this place.
Last Tuesday, one of the carpenters fell from the second story of the building injuring him severely but not dangerously.