News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
For the 22nd consecutive year, the Bennington Homecoming will kick off this Saturday — making the small community the busiest place in the county that day. Coordinated by Betty Bovard, the Bennington Homecoming attracts people from all over the area, and is known for its friendly, easy-going atmosphere.
Speculation as to the future of the Randall Textron plant in Vevay ended Wednesday afternoon when Randall president Jane Warner returned to Vevay to tell the workers that the plant is officially closing.
Charles and Lorraine (Pickett) Barker, both former Switzerland County residents, will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary Friday, October 20th.
Jeremy Scott Curlin has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Paul and Beverly Curlin of Tapps Ridge.
Concerns over a proposed power line that would stretch across the northern part of Switzerland County brought some residents out last Thursday evening to meet with officials from Cinergy, the power company that is planning the project.
15 YEARS AGO
Jesse and Mavis (Brandon) Edwards well celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on October 14th at Ruter Chapel United Methodist Church in Vevay. They were married October 12th, 1940 in Carrollton.
Danna Jackson of Florence and Bobbi Ramsey of Vevay recently passed their National Registry Examinations. They graduated from the King’s Daughters’ Hospital School of Radiologic Technology.
Dr. James “Larry” Miller, son of Carrie Miller of Switzer Square, spent 17 day during August treating dental patients in remote parts of Guatemala. Miller is a dentist in Tullahoma, Tennessee and is a lieutenant commander and dental officer for a U. S. Navy Seabee battalion headquartered in Huntsville.
20 YEARS AGO
James C. “Petey” and Louise Mathews will be the honored guests at an open house celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, October 20th at the Community Building in Vevay.
William R. “Bill” and Dorothy Ray celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on September 21st at a party given by their children.
Airman Peggy J. Henderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Henderson route 1, Bennington, has graduated from the U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. She is a 1984 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
30 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County’s senior citizens housing project got the official go-ahead sign from the federal government this week. The head of the U.S. Farmers Home Administration (FHA) in Indianapolis notified local members of non-profit Switzerland County Housing, Inc., that a loan of $578,000 has been approved to finance construction on a 32-unit apartment complex in Vevay. The apartments will be made available to senior citizens at a rent schedule adjusted to their ability to pay.
Bobby Coates, representing Switzerland County High School, was selected King of the Aurora Farmers Fair Thursday night. The son of Bob and Opal Coates of Bennington Pike near Mount Sterling. Bobby was chosen from a field of candidates representing all area schools to reign over the festivities at Aurora Thursday through Saturday.
Susan Renne Dunn, a 1975 graduate of Switzerland County High School in Vevay, has received a $500 scholarship from the U.S. Shoe Corporation. Miss Dunn is attending Indiana University this fall. Her mother, Mrs. Velma Ricketts, is an employee in the packing room of the U.S. Shoe Corporation’s Madison Factory.
Mrs. Betty Buchanan of route 3, Vevay and Mr. James R. Shaw of route 1, Vevay, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Sandra Lynn, to Mr. Lonnie W. Bladen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bladen, of route 3 Madison. The ceremony will be performed Saturday evening, October 18th, in the Caledonia Presbyterian Church at Moorefield.
40 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Jeanetta Furnish, Switzerland County’s oldest citizen, will celebrate her 103rd birthday Monday. She has two living children, Mrs. Blanche Johnson, with whom she lives at 110 Market Street, Vevay, and Hubbard Furnish of Covington, Kentucky.
Jefferson-Craig Elementary School was closed Tuesday due to an increasing epidemic of measles. Of 364 students enrolled, 105 were absent for roll call Tuesday morning.
The last survivor of the children of James Kirby and Charlotte Singer Pleasants, pioneer Switzerland County settlers, died in her Cincinnati home last Monday. She was Mrs. Ann Tebow, 98.
Vevay High School’s sterling cross country runners made it three out of four last Wednesday afternoon, romping to an easy victory in the Ohio River Valley Conference meet in Milan.
50 YEARS AGO
Francis L. Miller of near Pleasant will probably set another record in Indiana when he observes his 104th birthday on Wednesday, October 19th.
The Switzerland County A.S.C., formerly known as the “Triple A”, has moved its office from the National Bank Building to rooms at the home of Mrs. Minnie Downey on the corner of Liberty and Seminary streets, one block north of the Courthouse.
The Fredonia Baptist Church on Tapps Ridge will commemorate its first one hundred years in the present building on October 23rd, 1955. The church was organized in 1842 in a small log cabin which burned a few years later. The congregation responded by constructing the stone building which still stands.
Reverend Betty P. Thompson, resident pastor of the United Pentecostal Church here, announces that dedication services for the new church building at Pike and Silver streets will be held on Friday evening, October 21st.
Miss Jean McKay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dyer McKay and Norman Romans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Romans of near Lamb, were married Sunday at the home of Reverend B.T. Vincent in Madison.
60 YEARS AGO
Vevayites for many months have watched various types of war craft going down the river enroute to diverse war fronts, but on last Sunday were treated to a sight which had never before been their privilege to witness – for the first time in all these many months of war, an LST going Upstream. The LST was loaded with trucks and tanks and still bore its camouflage markings.
Harry Torrance, ages 90 years, retired merchant and farmer of the East Enterprise community, passed away at the home of his son, Howard, Wednesday morning, October 10th.
Miss Margaret Mock of Indianapolis and Raymond Romans of Vevay were married Sunday morning at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Walter Peters.
Corporal Victor Flinn has received his discharge from military service and arrived in Vevay to take up his new position in the Vevay schools. Mr. Flinn will be in charge of athletics and social studies and will coach the Vevay High School basketball team.
The marriage of Miss Grace Andrews of this county to Frank Jourdan of Raleigh, Illinois, was solemnized at the First Baptist Church in Anderson, Indiana on Saturday, October 6th by Reverend Smith.
Miss Hilda Wentworth of Craig Township and Wilson Merewether of Kentucky were married by Reverend John Mosier Friday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ohney Peelman in Vevay.
Born Monday, October 8th a son to Mr. and Mrs. Leland Gurley of Posey Township.
Born, a daughter, Marilyn Kay to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Myers.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Clara Gibbs of Vevay and Dormond R. Schoolcraft of Seymour were married Sunday evening by Reverend George Wessing, pastor of the Madison United Evangelical Church, at his home in Madison.
Everett Jackson of Vevay and Miss Phamie Phillips of near Markland were married Friday evening at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Ellis Holt near Florence.
Charter Presentation Night for the Vevay Kiwanis Club will be held at the high school auditorium on Wednesday night, October 16th.
The Town Board has made arrangements for the test of a new fire siren which will be delivered to them within a few days and placed on the Court House by permission of the Commissioners. If the machine performs in a satisfactory manner it will be purchased.
During the past few weeks much valuable property has been stolen from churches in this and adjoining counties. Rugs have been stolen from the Center Square Christian Church, the Allensville Methodist Church, the Mt. Carmel Church and the Mt. Pleasant Church. A stove was taken from the Olive Branch Church, this being he second time thieves have entered this church within the past year.
Carlyle Branham has returned home from a stay in Chicago where after standing in line for 26 hours he obtained tickets for the World Series.
90 YEARS AGO
Among the exhibits in the Palace of Varied Industries at the San Francisco Exposition, the work of two Vevay ladies is attracting considerable attention. Mrs. Jacob Wahl and Miss Hannah Waldenmaier have exhibits of needlework and hand painted china which have been examined and favorably commented upon by thousands of people.
Miss Helen Rook and Hollie Glass were married at the home of Reverend Frank Hammel in Vevay last Friday afternoon.
Merle Adams Graham is this week announcing that she is closing her Ferry Street Music Store and will devote all her time to selling musical instruments throughout the county.
During the recent rise in the Ohio River, 200 feet of the cofferdam at Dam 39 was broken loose and part of it swept away. The damage was done in two separate breaks, occurring one day apart. Since work was begun on the first cofferdam, disastrous breaks have occurred on four different occasions.
Born, a daughter to Byron Tevis and wife of Bennington.
Dr. William Boyle, formerly of Patriot, was married to Miss Alma Hunter of Indianapolis last Tuesday.
The lady teachers of the Patriot town schools have recently adopted a plan of wearing uniforms. Their costumes are made of blue percale with white collars and cuffs.
The Rice and Dore Water Circus, which exhibited in Vevay several months ago, is no more. In the lower Ohio River, following a streak of bad weather, which resulted in poor business, the company was forced to disband.
100 YEARS AGO
Married in Richmond, Indiana, September 21st, Mrs. Maud J. Oakley of this county and Mr. Baldwin of that city.
Married in Aurora, Mary T. Downey to Edward Rous Shaw.
John W. Land made the grade of 99.5 for rural mail carrier at Florence, the highest grade ever noted in the county.
George Gaudin and Sam Stucy are spending some time in Michigan for a relief from hay fever.
110 YEARS AGO
What is the Council going to do with the cow nuisance? Has the Council the nerve to do right? Not one person in ten in Vevay owns a cow. The other nine want them put up and want no delay about it. We do not want our wives and daughters to wade through filth any longer. Vevay is the only town in the United States where cows run at large so far as the writer has been able to learn. No man will serve as councilman after the next election who favors cow filth on our pavements.
Joseph Gilbert had added steam power and other machinery to his laundry and is now ready to turn out the very best class of work.
The finest saddle horse in Indiana is in Switzerland County, “Robert Denmark” is its name and it is owned by C.E. Danner, of Lamb. It took first premium at the state fair.
The steamer B.S. Rhea grounded at Cullom’s landing below Cincinnati last Monday evening and her wheel tore to pieces. The steamer Lizzie Bay is running in her place.
140 YEARS AGO
On Sunday, October 1st, the residence of Jacob Leatherbury in Cotton Township was consumed by fire.
Notice is hereby given that the Market House in the town of Vevay will be ready for occupation on Monday, the 16th.
Joseph Peelman took the first premium for the best mule at the New Liberty fair last week.