News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County has a new zoning code, but whether the money will be there to enforce the new laws is another matter. At Monday night’s meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Area Planning Commission, members discussed what direction they would take in the face of a budget that was greatly reduced by the Switzerland County Council. The County Council approved a budget of $15,125 for the coming year. In the eyes of the planning and zoning boards, not only are they getting no help from county government, the council is also taking about $6,000 in building permit fee revenues for their own use.
Jefferson-Craig Elementary School fifth grader Noel Gray won the Indiana State Troopers Benevolent Association’s essay contest. As the school’s first place winner, Noel Gray received a $500 savings bond. He is the son of Jeff and Vickie Gray of near Pleasant.
Alicia Brogan has been selected to spend a week in Washington, D.C., as a part of the Presidential Classroom program. The daughter of James and Rita Brogan of near Florence, Alicia will join about 100 other high school students from around the country who will take part in seminars presented by leaders representing each branch government, as well as the military, media, lobbying organizations, and business.
15 YEARS AGO
Monica Detraz, daughter of Edsel and Bonnie Detraz of Vevay is on the dean’s list at Franklin College in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. She is a senior at Franklin and a graduate of Switzerland County High School.
Valerie Ann Chambers of Switzerland County was recognized for outstanding academic achievement at Purdue University during the first semester of 1991-92. She is a junior at Purdue, majoring in consumer and family science.
Janet Phillips has graduated from Northern Kentucky Health Occupations Center as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She is employed at the Gallatin County Health Care Center in Warsaw, Kentucky. A 1984 graduate of Switzerland County High School, she is the daughter of Cherry and Lucille Phillips of Popcorn Ridge.,,
20 YEARS AGO
Don Allen, soil technician, was honored at the Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting Thursday night. He was presented with a plaque in appreciation of his 15 years of service to the county. He is assuming those same duties with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District on March 1st. He and his wife Thelma will continue to reside in Vevay.
Mrs. Leona Bruestle of East Enterprise remembers that as a child there was always a gourd hanging in the spring house for the farmers to get a drink of water. The gourd she brought to our office is 29 inches long. Leona started out with one seed last year and grew six gourds. This year she had over 40 of them.
Tina McClellan has been named a United States National Award winner in English. The Academy recognizes less than 10 percent of all American High School students. Tina was nominated for the award by Janet Hendricks, English instructor at the Switzerland County High School.
40 YEARS AGO
Vincent Janes of Vevay attended the 16th Annual Convention and Trade Show of the Agricultural Ammonia Institute January 17th-19th at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotels in St. Louis, Missouri.
Private Eddie C. Purnell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Purnell of Vevay, is stationed in Pleiker, Vietnam, and is serving as a cook in the U.S. Army.
Sp-4 Robert N. Hall, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Hall, Sr., of route 3, Vevay, is now stationed in England, assisting in the withdrawal of American military installations from France.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Van Hook will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday at their home near Pleasant. Friends and neighbors may call after 2 o’clock that afternoon.
50 YEARS AGO
A son was born Tuesday in the Madison hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Eddie)
Smith of near East Enterprise. The baby weighed 7 pounds but to date has not been named.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Warner of Patriot are parents of a baby girl, Deborah Kay, born January 18th at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce.
Curtis R. Marshall, 89, of Madison, attorney and former judge of the Switzerland-Jefferson circuit court died at home Tuesday after a long illness. At one time he was associated with the late Judge F. M. Griffith of Vevay in the practice of law.
Mrs. Fanny Lamson of Craig Township, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. Griffith Hufford near Rising Sun, will observe her 90th birthday on Friday, January 25th.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mellen of Markland announce the engagement of their daughter, Yvonne June, to William E. Waller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Waller of near Fairview.
Miss Edith Shaw, who is retiring as a teacher in Vevay High School, was the guest of honor at a luncheon which was given Friday at the Swiss Inn by the faculty members. A center piece of red roses was the gift to Miss Shaw from the Senior Class and the teachers presented her with a lamp and two television tables.
60 YEARS AGO
William A. McKay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray McKay of near Lamb, has accepted a position as Athletic Coach and instructor in the English Department in the High School at Harlan, Kentucky.
Mrs. Charles Cheever of Vevay who underwent a major operation at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis about 10 days ago is now convalescing nicely.
County Superintendent Charles B. Noble has announced that the Phillips School on Tapps Ridge has been closed for a period of a week or 10 days as a precautionary measure to lessen the danger of a scarlet fever epidemic in the school.
Charles Edward Carpenter, for several years manager of the Patriot telephone exchange, died at the home of his niece, Mrs. Lee Gregory, Monday evening following a long period of ill health.
Miss Mildred Pangburn escaped serious injury last Tuesday night when she fell down a flight of steps leading to the club room of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the Gaudin Building on Main Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Linville Osborn of Spring Branch are the parents of a daughter born Tuesday evening. She weighed 9 1/2 pounds.
70 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County, for the most part, is just beginning to catch its breath after being visited with the greatest flood in the history of the Ohio River Valley. The river crested at 80 feet Monday night in Cincinnati.
Vevay has been able to stand the flood far better than any of its smaller neighbors, and only a few homes here, all situated in the bottoms, have been lost down the river.
Florence residents were forced to flee to buildings on the hill back of their town and are being helped by the Red Cross. Markland was almost completely inundated.
Lee Corns, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Corns, former residents of Vevay, was drowned at Lawrenceburg when the levee broke. It is said Corns refused to leave his home when warned. His wife was saved.
About 200 families in Madison were forced to flee their homes in lowlands and gas service was disabled.
Patriot has been devastated by the water, only a few homes escaping inundation. The Red Cross has set up a food kitchen there last week and is doing valiant service to the many who are homeless.
Officials at U.S. Lock 39, near here, stated that this county received a rainfall of 15.60 inches, which fell from January 1st to January 26th, the highest ever recorded here.
A report from Patriot indicates that 273 of the 287 citizens are affected by the high water, only 14 residing beyond reach of the present crest. Only seven dwellings, the M.E. Church, and the school house have no water on their floors.
This flood has proved that Vevay is the ideal place for factories wishing to locate near the river. At the flood crest it would have required several feet more to have inundated our business district.
According to a Cincinnati report, it will take from two weeks to a month for the water to recede to a point that Road 56 below Vevay and Road 156 above Vevay can be used.
Cries for help, apparently coming from a person clinging to a roof top were heard at Dam 39 late Sunday afternoon. Leon Buschman, on duty there, started to the rescue in a skiff, but was prevented from locating the person by a heavy fog. It is presumed that the person drowned.
80 YEARS AGO
The Ohio River went on a rampage last week. When the crest of the rise was reached late Wednesday a state of 59 feet was registered in Cincinnati. The stage at Vevay was higher than at any time since the 1913 floor.
Reverend F., D. Wharton has been called to the pastorate of the First Christian Church of Vevay. This is his second pastorate here.
John Grimes, 67, died Thursday from injuries received in an auto wreck several months ago.
A painting by Will Stevens, formerly of Vevay, was reproduced in the photo gravure section of the Cincinnati Enquirer Sunday.
90 YEARS AGO
A deal has been closed by which the Bear Brothers Lumber company of Madison has purchased all the machinery and stock of lumber in the Union Furniture Company’s plant here and has taken a lease on the plant for a year.
George Clendenning, 66, owner and manager of the Peoples Coal Company and one of the members of City Council, died suddenly at his home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The new North Madison State Bank of which Milton C. Boerner of this city is vice president and Charles G. Boerner of Carrollton is cashier, opened its doors for business Monday, January 22nd.
100 YEARS AGO
A loss of more than $6,000 was suffered by various property owners during the flood.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Orville Shadday Friday, January 18th.
The City Council at its meeting Monday night issued an order forbidding any and all of its employees from frequenting saloons.
120 YEARS AGO
Archie Shaw has been appointed agent of Adams Express Company at Lawrenceburg.
A son was born to Charles Tyler and wife of Allensville January 24th.
William James of Gallatin County, Kentucky, and Miss Lydia Richardson of Patriot were married January 25th.
Harvey Buchanan and Miss Mary Smith, both of this county, were married January 23rd at the home of the bride.
Addison Works now has two young ladies employed in his office, Jessie Worstell and Eloine Patton. He also has five gentlemen in his employ as traveling solicitors.
Oscar Webb has almost completed a brick cottage on Greeley Avenue.
130 YEARS AGO
Dr. T.J. Griffith and Dr. F. S. Kohler have formed a partnership. Dr. Griffith has been practicing medicine here for several years and Dr. Kohler has been practicing at Mount Sterling.
Ben Davis, trustee of Jefferson Township, informs us that there will be six months of free school in this township.
The Vevay Chair Factory has a new smokestack.
The Vevay Reveille has changed its form and size again. It is now a neat eight column folio.
140 YEARS AGO
The Rising Sun Recorder comes this week enlarged and otherwise improved.
Thomas Pleasants arrived in town Saturday night from New Orleans.
The Steamer Argosy, Captain A.J. Schenck in command, arrived in New Orleans January 23rd.
150 YEARS AGO
Last Saturday the Baptist church in Craig Township was destroyed by fire. The fire originated in the flue and was not discovered until the building was almost consumed.
The Odd Fellows building, a three story brick at Franklin, was burned Saturday morning.
Caleb Alexander and Miss Angeline Keffer were married January 1st.
152 YEARS AGO
Married on December 17th, Mr. Marion Graham and Elizabeth Heenel.
The 456 ton steamer, Switzerland, which was built last year, was very unfortunate last week. When nearing Vevay with the barge, Swan, in tow she met the steamer Fremont ascending the river and a collision resulted. The Swan was damaged considerably by water and a portion of her cargo of pork, flour, and other freight was removed. Leaving Vevay with the Swan and the Winfield Scott she reached Madison where she left the Swan for repairs. Near Bethlehem below Madison, the Scott is believed to have struck some object and it became impossible to keep her afloat. She was run on a bar and much freight was damaged and lost. The Scott is owned by U. P. Schenck and Teats and Schenck.
A flatboat laden with hay and belonging to H. McMakin of Vevay was sunk at Grand Chain, near Cairo, last week and 100 tons of hay were lost. During the season about 500 tons of hay from this place have been lost in accidents.