News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County Health Department has received a $70,000 grant from the Indiana State Department of Health that will be used to set up and run a nurse-managed clinic project here. Switzerland County is one of only seven counties in the State of Indiana to receive such a grant. The Health Department is currently seeking a nurse practitioner to run the clinic, and that is proving to be a difficult task.
The Switzerland County community will have its final chance to provide input into the new zoning laws for Switzerland County tonight (Thursday) when a meeting takes place at Switzerland County High School.
Earlier in January, talk around Switzerland County was of one of the heaviest snowfalls on record. This week, precipation is still on the minds of local people, but this time it is rain that has folks concerned.
15 YEARS AGO
A Switzerland County lady will soon reach a milestone that most of us will never reach. Isabel Sullivan of Vevay will celebrate her 100th birthday this Saturday. The house she and her husband lived in on the northwest corner of Vineyard and Market streets in Vevay, was used in the movie “Sooner” which was filmed in Vevay in 1974.
AOC George A. Meriwether, a 1964 graduate of Madison Consolidated High School has returned from the Navy after 23 years of active service. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Meriwether of Vevay.
Switzerland County has now been added to the list of Indiana counties that have been declared disaster areas due to recent flooding, bringing to 63 the counties that are now eligible for state and federal assistance.
20 YEARS AGO
Disaster struck the United States Space Shuttle program Tuesday morning when the space shuttle Challenger, carrying seven crew members including school teacher Christa McAuliffe, exploded and burned approximately one minute after liftoff. McAuliffe was the first private citizen to travel in the space shuttle, and was to have taught some school lessons from space. The Switzerland County School system was going to be participating in these lessons on an individual classroom basis.
Russell B. Weaver of route 2, Vevay, was one of five Indiana agriculturists honored for service to agriculture by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association during the annual fish fry and business meeting on January 17th at West Lafayette.
Eugene and Marguerite (Valentine) Fox celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 25th at Eastern Shores Mobile Village Club House in Edgewater, Florida. Marge was born in Bennington and attended Switzerland County schools.
30 YEARS AGO
About 1,000 acres of land in Mexico Bottom has been selected as the future site of Switzerland County’s first power plant. the Indianapolis Power & Light Company plans to build a coal-fired power plant in the bottom lands area located about two miles north of the town of Patriot.
The Kentucky Utilities power plant at Ghent across the Ohio River from Vevay is expanding currently from one power unit to two and approval is being sought for further expansion to four units.
Mr. and Mrs. Forrest McKenzie will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary February 8th with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the 4-H Community Building in Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Hughes of Madison announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Rhonda Lynn, to Larry Dale Tinker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur G. Tinker, route 1, Vevay. The wedding will take place March 27th in the Fairview United Methodist Church.
Switzerland County Democrats Saturday afternoon elected Mrs. Mildred “Millie” Coy of Vevay as their new county chairman. Mrs. Coy succeeds Ed James who was forced to resign December 29th as chairman to avoid a conflict with Indiana’s code of judicial ethics. Since January 1st, James has served as judge of the Switzerland and Ohio County court system and the state’s judicial ethics forbid judges to hold party leadership positions.
Mrs. Merriam Hammond of near Rising Sun and Mr. Edward Hammond of near Florence announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Karen Ann, to Dennis James Peters, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Peters of Bryan, Texas. Their wedding vows will be exchanged on June 5th, 1976, at the Aberdeen Methodist Church.
40 YEARS AGO
Nobody was trying to get close to the curbs Wednesday morning in Vevay as 14 inches of snow made a trap for the unwary motorist who ventured far off the middle of the highway. The snow was one of the largest in the past 50 years and brought local activity and business to a standstill.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip G. Miller of rural route 2, Rising Sun, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Violet Miller, to Lewis Kelly, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kelly, Sr., of rural route 2, Rising Sun. A June wedding is planned.
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Houze of East Enterprise have announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Janet Louise Kidwell, to Tony C. Stamper of Norwood, Ohio, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Stamper of Center Square. The wedding has been set for February 5th.
Mr. and Mrs. Walder D. Wilks of Harrison, Ohio, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia Maudeen Wilks, to Harold Lee Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Miller of rural route 2, Rising Sun. The wedding has been set for June 25th.
50 YEARS AGO
Mickey C. Jennings, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Terrance Jennings of Vevay has received his discharge from the U.S. Air Force after four years of service. He was separated in mid-December at Kelly Field, Texas.
Miss Agnes Hart has accepted a position in the school at Cross Plains, Indiana, and started on her new duties Monday. Miss Hart will act as commercial teacher and also instruct c lasses in history.
At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 14th, 1956, Miss Patricia Ann Romans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Romans of Patriot and Mr. Eugene Hunefeld, son of Mrs. Luvenia Hunefeld of Quercus Grove and Mr. Bernard Hunefeld of Cincinnati were united in marriage by Reverend Edward Miller at the Patriot Methodist parsonage with the immediate family and close friends present.
The family of Marshall Gross narrowly escaped death last Thursday in a fire that partially destroyed their home near East Enterprise. A passing motorist, George Auxier of McCreary’s Ridge, discovered the blaze and aroused the sleeping family.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Edith Chaskel of Florence and Herbert W. Spann of Marianna, Florida, were married at the Methodist parsonage in Vevay Wednesday by Reverend W. M. Winter.
Miss Leo Chase of Quercus Grove and Lincoln Thomas of Florence were married Saturday evening at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend S.E. Wells.
Pfc. Stanley Hysell, Jr., 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hysell, died in General Hospital, Cincinnati, Sunday night from a bullet wound received when he accidentally discharged a German pistol. The family formerly lived in Markland but had resided at Fernbank Dam near Cincinnati for some time.
Born, Tuesday, a son, Joseph Leroy, to Mr. and Mrs. Estal Jacobs of Egypt Bottom.
Born, January 27th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Burnett of Long Run .
70 YEARS AGO
Bill Schwake, manager of the Kroger grocery on Ferry Street, sustained a fracture just above his right ankle Wednesday when he slipped and fell while carrying a heavy bag into the store. Melvin Hammel a clerk in the grocery, sustained painful injuries to his head and arms when his automobile left the road near Lamb and turned over three times.
Dr. Elwood Mead, native of Posey Township, and for many years Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Washington, D.C., passed away at his home in that city.
Mrs. Avery Manford of near Vevay suffered a mashed foot when a cow stepped on it.
The Water Queen, well known Ohio River show boat sunk last Sunday night. Heavy ice was believed to be the cause.
80 YEARS AGO
Welby Jester, son of Fred Jester and wife of Moorefield, last week while walking along a railroad track slipped and fell under a train. One leg was broken in three places, the other leg was broken at the ankle and three fingers were cut off of one hand.
Thomas J. Lanham purchased the controlling interest in the Bogardus-McDaniel Furniture factory in Warsaw, Kentucky, last week.
Miss Avalyn Rayles of near Vevay and Eldo Moreillon of Lawrenceburg were married in Rising Sun January 16th.
The Vevay wharfboat is being dismantled after 22 years of service.
Fred Riley and family have moved to Vevay.
Miss Polly Robinson of Albany, Alabama and Andrew Schenck Mills of St. Louis, Missouri, were married January 28th. The groom is a native of Vevay.
Forrest Iddings received several new Chevrolet cars last week.
A daughter, Norma Lucille, was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. William Bowen.
Mrs. Ethel Reeves last week purchased the Emmett Jaynes dwelling on Pearl Street.
90 YEARS AGO
Clifford Scott of Shawnee, Oklahoma, is the guest of Mrs. A. V. Danner and Mrs. Flora Morrison. He was a member of Colonel Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and is just returning from a visit in New York with the Colonel.
The Demaun Moving Picture Theatre will open its doors to the public Saturday of this week.
The average temperature for the month of January was 40.6 degrees, being much above normal.
Mrs. Mary A. Mernett celebrated her 94th birthday Saturday.
Charles E. Hall of Indianapolis was in town the first of the week drawing plans for the new O’Neal and McKay garage to be built on Main Street next to the Butler Hotel.
Following the basketball game Friday evening, a Leap Year Dance was given at the Metropolitan Hall by about 25 of our young ladies.
W. T. Gentry of Wheatley, Kentucky was in Vevay Tuesday trying to buy some farm horses.
The Priscilla Club was entertained by Mrs. F. L. Haskell and Mrs. William O. Protsman at the latter’s home on last Wednesday afternoon.
Although the unprecedented rains of the last three days has caused great damage in Indiana and Kentucky but there is no danger of a flood in the Ohio.
The Philathea Class of the Baptist church met with Mrs. Robert Simmons Tuesday night.
Miss Hannah Waldenmaier and Miss Mary Kiesel returned Sunday from a visit in Cincinnati.
Wharfmaster Anschutz has been ill at his home on Market Street for several days.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith returned last night from Farmers City, Illinois. Mr. smith has accepted a position in the City Roller Mills.
Miss Lena Rayl is assisting with the work in the Treasurer’s office.
Mr. and Mrs. John Cunningham are spending a few days in Indianapolis.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Schoffner (nee Beatrice Curry) January 29th, a daughter.
Miss Justine Tandy is home from Cincinnati for a few days.
Mrs. Fred Koontz has returned to her home in Louisville having been called here by the death of her uncle Abner Dufour.
100 YEARS AGO
The Shuff saw mill, now owned by Milo Ogle who recently moved to Englewood, Mississippi, was destroyed by fire, believed to be of incendiary origin early Sunday morning. The mill had not been running for some time and kerosene had apparently been used to fire the building.
Thomas Wright, 65, died at his home near Florence Monday after a brief illness from pneumonia. He was a veteran of the Civil War.
A few automatic switches have been placed on some of the party lines leading into the Ohio River Telephone exchange in Vevay and they are proving a great success.
Fire destroyed the home of Mrs. Henry Mehrhoff near Florence Tuesday. She was an invalid and was carried to safety by her daughter, Miss Minnie Mehrhoff. Included in the contents of the house which burned was a trunk containing $4,000 — the life savings of the daughter.
110 YEARS AGO
Fashion Notes — Velvet jackets of every hue are favored by the fashionables.
A cape of pale gray, elaborately embroidered in silver spangles, was seen at a tea recently.
Peaches and cherries, natural size, are seen on some of the newest ribbons.
Green and brown is considered a stylish commingling.
the case of Edward Taylor, charged with murdering Robert A. Knox, is being tried in Jefferson County.
Married at the Christian Church last night by Reverend George W. Anderson, Durid W. Anderson of Craig Township and Frankie E. Stucy of Vevay.
Married Sunday, January 26th, at the residence of the bride’s parents John F. Ross and Cora Stoops.
Mrs. Lucy Detraz is convalescing from a serious illness.
140 YEARS AGO
The Steamer Argosy, Captain A. J. Schenck arrived safely at New Orleans last week.
Our young friend, Thomas Pleasants, has arrived in town from New Orleans.
152 YEARS AGO
The Steamer Switzerland will be up from New Orleans as soon as the river opens.
Owing to the almost entire failure of the mail, we are in receipt of no late news.