News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Phillip Vannatter, one of Switzerland County’s newest citizens has been chosen as the grand marshal of the 1996 Swiss Wine Festival parade. Phil Vannatter served for over 27 years on the Los Angeles police department, more than 24 of those as a detective. The Vannatters decided to move to a more rural setting for their retirement – thus Switzerland County.
Stanley “Ike” and Margaret (Otter) Turner will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, August 18th. They were married on that day in 1956 at Switzerland Baptist Church in Vevay. The couple has two children, Stanley Ray Turner of Florence and Teresa Ann Smith of Vevay. Ike is retired from Joseph E. Seagram and Sons and Margaret is a homemaker. From 1961 to 1971, they operated the Florence General Store.
Amanda Browning, a 1996 graduate of Switzerland County High School, has been awarded a scholarship from the Dearborn County Hospital Foundation.
Jonathon Bond of near Patriot has been serving as an intern this summer for Indiana lieutenant governor Frank O’Bannon. The Hanover College senior has been working through the Indiana Economic Development Council, where he has been involved in evaluating Indiana’s economic performance. Jonathon is the son of Craig and Linda Bond.
15 YEARS AGO
Three local young men recently participated in the White River State Games in Indianapolis. Lowell Reynolds finished third in the 800 meter run. Dave Reynolds was 11th in the 400 meter dash. Torrey Curry participated in the 100 and 200 dash. He also competed in the long jump.
Private Mike Stamper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Stamper of Center Square graduated from basic training August 2nd. His training took place at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Jeff Thornton, son of Rick and Nancy Scott of Vevay and Daryl Thornton of Madison, graduated from Army basic training July 30th at Fort Hood, Texas. He is now in Advanced Individual Training in Virginia.
20 YEARS AGO
Sherry Rowlett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Rowlett, Route 1, Vevay, accepted a $1,500 scholarship from U.S. Shoe Corporation. Sherry plans to attend Purdue University this fall and study biology, going on to law school in the future.
Airman Melissa C. Christman, daughter of Ronald E. and Phyllis A. Christman of route 1, Bennington, has graduated from the aircraft armament systems specialist course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.
Airman Paul R. Romans, son of Patsy Romans of route 3, Vevay, has graduated from the U.S. Air Force jet engine mechanic course at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.
Michelle C. Slack, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Slack, Cincinnati, graduated from the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, Cincinnati, on May 18th. She is presently employed at St. Luke Hospital at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and plans to further her studies at Xavier University this fall. Michelle is the granddaughter of Albert Slack of East Enterprise.
30 YEARS AGO
Fletcher N. Hufford, one of Switzerland County’s most widely-known and prominent citizens for most of this century, died Tuesday night at the age of 82. A retired Army Colonel who served in both World War I and World War II, Mr. Hufford was very active all his life in many and varied civic and service activities.
Switzerland County is one of 10 American communities being planned for inclusion in a special videotape series of programs being filmed by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.
In the second triple-fatality boating accident on the local stretch of the Ohio River in one month’s time, three persons suffocated Sunday afternoon inside the cabin of a boat docked at a marina near Warsaw, Kentucky. The three victims were aboard a large houseboat-type cruiser that apparently became filled with diesel fumes leaking from the boat’s electric power plant system. A fourth person was found unconscious and was rushed to a Cincinnati hospital where she is expected to recover. All four people were from Cincinnati.
Dr. Ned Haines, a professor of American literature, author, and photographer, visited Vevay last Thursday afternoon to capture the Edward Eggleston house, on Vevay’s Main Street, for inclusion in a book of photographs he plans to publish early next year.
Albert Detmer celebrated his 90th birthday last week with a series of get togethers of family members and friends.
40 YEARS AGO
Joel H. Griffith returned home Sunday after a 72-day tour of Europe. A junior at Indiana University, he is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Harold R. Griffith of Fort Wayne and formerly of Vevay and the grandson of the Reverend and Mrs. Fred S. Griffith of Vevay.
Robert John Robinson of Vevay has been selected to assist as host for new students in their orientation program at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Robinson of rural route 4, Vevay. A 1963 graduate of Vevay High School, Robinson is a senior at the university, majoring in mathematics in the College of Arts and Science.
Holden Height Baptist Church was the setting for a candlelight wedding for Miss Doris Jean Ferguson and Paul Richard McArthur Friday night with the Reverend Clyde Spears officiating. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Ferguson of Orlando, Florida, and the granddaughter of Mrs. Esther Roeder of near Vevay and Mrs. Paul Jacobs of Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie McArthur of Forest City, Florida, are the parents of the groom.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Betty Works, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Works of Allensville and Donald Mulvany of Lawrenceburg were united in marriage Saturday evening in the Allensville Methodist Church with Reverend Leon Gardner officiating.
Sisters who left in September, 1955, to join their husbands stationed in Germany for military service, gave birth to babies the same week according to messages received by relatives here. A daughter was born on August 31st to A-1C Ross Fair and Mrs. Fair and on September 1st a daughter was born to Pfc. Paul James and Mrs. James. Both mothers are the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Stutzman of Florence. Pfc. James is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester James of Vevay.
Mrs. Irene Cheever, wife of Charles Cheever of Vevay, is in critical condition in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis from injuries received Monday evening near Greensburg, when her automobile was demolished. Her car struck a two-wheel trailer which broke loose from the automobile of Charles Hazelgrove of Greensburg and crossed into her path. Mrs. Cheever is in a semi-conscious condition from a brain contusion resulting from a fractured skull and a head puncture. She also received a fractured jaw and collarbone, a deep cut across her shoulder and chest and multiple body lacerations.
The Vevay Schools opened on a full time schedule Thursday morning with a total enrollment of 439 students. There were 162 enrolled in the elementary school and 277 in high school.
60 YEARS AGO
Charles Butters of Vevay and Miss Crystal Craig of Madison were married August 17th at the Methodist parsonage in Madison by Reverend Templin.
Lewis H. Peabody and Mrs. Mary Huston, both of Cotton Township, were united in marriage by Reverend Parker of the First Methodist Church in Aurora on Saturday, August 17th.
In a transaction which was concluded this week Mrs. Elizabeth Graham of Fairview disposed of her general store in that village to Roy Morton of this county. Mrs. Graham, in turn, purchased the general store, three-story stone residence, and filling station located in Markland, which has been owned and operated for a number of years by Mrs. Maggie VanOsdol.
Because of failing health Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Williams this week sold their furniture store on Ferry Street in Vevay to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lamkin, proprietors of a drug store adjoining their property.
Born, Sunday, August 25th, a son Michael Reed to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Olds.
The growing popularity of Lake Geneva was evidenced Sunday when a crowd estimated at 500 people visited this resort spot near Allensville.
Born Thursday, August 22nd, a son, Dennis Jay, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brown.
Miss Nelleta Mae Bennett and Donald E. Chase, both of near Florence, were married at the home of Reverend Leland S. Courtney Saturday, August 24th.
Mrs. Gertrude Parker has resigned her position at the telephone exchange at Patriot and she and her son are leaving this week for Chinook, Montana to make their home. Mrs. Marguerite Wilson and daughter of Quercus Grove have sold their home there and are now the new operators of the exchange.
70 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Town Board at its regular meeting held here last week, voted to reduce the tax rate in Vevay by 25 percent.
An unprecedented ice shortage has gripped Switzerland County and surrounding communities. Early Saturday morning the supply was entirely exhausted and more was not available until late Sunday afternoon. In order to bolster the local supply, ice was hauled from Madison, who in turn was getting it from Indianapolis, and this week Indianapolis had to get it from a huge storage plant in Covington, Kentucky. Regular customers and business houses have been provided for regularly, but the amounts have been rationed. Families with illness and small children dependent on milk are being taken care of, but hundreds of persons have been turned away empty handed.
Miss Jeanette Orem has assumed leadership of the local Girl Scout troop. Miss Virginia Sullivan, the present Captain, is leaving to make her home in California.
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed a barn on the farm of Robert Coy, northwest of Florence, Monday night.
A very mysterious fire destroyed a smoke house Friday on the farm of Clarence Wilson in Craig Township. The building was being used as a dwelling by Mr. Wilson and his family since their home burned last winter. They were absent in Madison at the time of the fire and everything in the building was consumed.
Ralph Harlow and Miss Louise Marksberry, both of Verona, Kentucky, were married at the residence of Reverend Fred S. Griffith in Vevay August 22nd.
80 YEARS AGO
Fire of incendiary origin, early Sunday morning destroyed the general store, dwelling house and barn at Fairview owned by Charles Seymour and financially ruined one of Switzerland County’s finest business men.
Mary Carolyn, three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ashby of Lamb was fatally burned while playing in the yard of her home last Wednesday. The child and a younger brother were playing with matches when her dress caught fire.
Miss Hazel Stoops and John A. Danglade were married in Seymour, Indiana last Thursday by Reverend John Asher, former pastor of the Vevay M.E. Church.
Paul Coleman, formerly of Vevay, was married last week to Miss Myla Baker of Connersville, Indiana.
Born, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McKay of Five Points.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ethol Andrew of Hopewell.
Dr. and Mrs. R. M. Copeland moved from Madison to Vevay last week and are occupying an apartment in the Waldo residence on Market Street.
90 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Jennie Lockwood, aged about 60 years, died at her home in East Enterprise last Friday after a long illness. For about 15 years she has been the Enterprise toll operator of the Green telephone system.
The McKay Brothers store at Brooksburg was robbed Sunday night of a sum of money and a quantity of shoes and overalls. Coincident with the robbery is the fact that four prisoners confined in the Carrollton jail, sawed through iron bars in the window and made their escape Sunday. Nearly opposite Brooksburg at Robinson’s Landing, a skiff was stolen and it is believed that the quartet crossed the river in it.
Born, Saturday, a daughter to Jack Schoonover and wife.
Harold Curry, rural mail carrier out of Bennington, carried the mail for his final trip Saturday and Mrs. William Richter took over the job Monday morning.
Born, August 25th, a son to Charles Boyd and wife of Tapps Ridge.
100 YEARS AGO
Zack Hankins has on display in Vevay a wooden horse collar which is probably 125 years old. It was brought from Scotland to this county in 1820 by Will Glen. It opens at the bottom and works on a pair of hinges. The hames are still attached to the collar.
David Lee, 89, one of the most widely known men in Switzerland county, died Wednesday at his farm near Sugar Branch where he was born. He was a man of market mental strength and was born in 1817. He was one of the strong figures during an era when Switzerland County needed strong men.
work on the new flour mill of A. V. Brown on upper Ferry Street is progressing rapidly.
Dr. Armand Rous, who has been practicing dentistry in Vevay and Madison, will move to Madison soon for permanent residence. Mrs. Rous is the daughter of Judge Friedley of Madison.
J.E. Brown is building a new meat market in Patriot.
110 YEARS AGO
The Old Settler’s Meeting was held August 22nd at Chittenden’s Grove near Bennington and was presided over by President Lee. The record of the original Pioneer Association which was founded in 1868 by John Dumont, F. L. Grisard, John F. Cotton, Aime Morerod, Perret Dufour, Solomon Washer, U. H. Stowe, John I. Doan and a dozen others, was presented to the association by Mr. Morerod, the only survivor.
Captain Abel Stout, a soldier of the Mexican War, told of his experiences and L. M. Hotchkiss sang a song “The Battle of New Orleans” which was popular after that historic event. A sketch of the life of Mrs. Lucy Detraz, the fifth white child to be born in Vevay (1806) was read by the secretary M. E. Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. John Pattie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 27th. They were married in Richmond, Virginia, their native state.
130 YEARS AGO
Married at the bride’s home in Posey Township August 23rd by Reverend John Mullen, Professor William H. Simms of Asbury University at Greencastle to Miss Frances Bradley.
Married at the bride’s home in Craig Township August 24th by Reverend R. L. Kinnear, Whitefield Tevis to Miss Linda Bellamy.
Married in the Presbyterian Church at Pleasant, August 29th by Reverend Kinnear, Mr. Franklin B. Cunningham to Miss Mary Voris.
150 YEARS AGO
The town of Pomeroy, Ohio, was destroyed by fire last Friday. Two men were killed by falling walls.
There was a barn raising on Friday last week at the home of Stephen Rodgers in Craig Township.
Married by Reverend Hugh Adkinson, Miss Lucinda Sedam and John Myers.