News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County school board is expected to make local history this Monday evening by officially approving the appointment of Joan Keller as the community’s first-ever women high school principal. School board president Bill Roeschlein and superintendent John Thomas both have confirmed that Joan Keller is the school board’s choice to succeed John Thomas as principal of Switzerland County High School. She is currently assistant principal at Shoals High School in southwestern Indiana, in Martin County, about 20 miles north of Jasper.
Harriet Peters and Carl Bovard were crowned Miss Bennington and Mayor of Bennington during Saturday’s Bennington Homecoming celebration.
Switzerland County’s cross country teams took three of four conference championships this week, with Lady Pacer Kristin Ranz winning the individual ORVC championship for the girls varsity.
15 YEARS AGO
John Thomas, principal of Switzerland County High School, will be honored as one of the state’s eight “Outstanding Principals of 1991: during the annual Indiana Fall Principals Conference this week in Indianapolis. He was nominated for the honor by his colleagues in the 16-county southeastern district of the Indiana Secondary School Administrators organization. Thomas has been principal at SCHS since 1985, and previously taught at the school.
Joyce French, daughter of Mark and Sherry Trout of Moorefield, has graduated from basic training with the U.S. Navy in Orlando, Florida. She is home on a 15-day leave and will soon go to San Diego for 22 weeks of advanced electronics schooling. She is a 1991 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
Air Force Technical Sergeant Jerry Ford has arrived for duty at Bentwaters Roy Air Force Base in England. He is the son of Marjorie Ford and Harold Ford, of Switzerland County and is a 1969 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
20 YEARS AGO
Jacquita Lanman of Vevay completed work for a degree this summer at Ball State University. She earned a master of arts in education degree with a teaching major in elementary education.
Navy Hospitalman recruit Eric J. Courtney, son of John W. and Grace M. Courtney, route 2, Rising Sun, was graduated from the Navy’s Hospital Corps School.
Airman Melissa A. Christman received her Airman stripe on September 24th. She is employed in the Air Craft Armament System. Her parents are Phyllis and Ronald Christman of Bennington.
Bill Henderson, son of John and Garnett Henderson of Bennington has graduated from the Army’s Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, basic training course. He is now stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia and is enrolled in the AIT training school.
30 YEARS AGO
Mrs. James R. Shaw, route 1, Vevay, and Mr. John O. Ralston of Madison announce the engagement of their daughter, Debra Lynn Ralston, to Mr. Leslie G. Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson of Madison. The wedding will take place at 7 p.m. November 13th in the Caledonia Presbyterian Church.
Cincinnati Reds baseball star Johnny Bench has got nothing on Debbie Keith. Bench was the Most Valuable Player in the World series – but Debbie won three Most Valuable Player awards this past season, as well as a number of other honors. It’s something of a habit for her – in four years of softball action she’s won 41 trophies. That just might make Miss Keith the best woman softball player in Switzerland County ever. She lives near Mount Sterling.
The Vevay Town Board has applied for $250,000 worth of federal grant money to finance construction of a facility to house fire trucks, the emergency life squad ambulance, and other town equipment. The application was made through the Region 12 Development Commission for funds made available through the Public Works Employment bill recently passed by Congress.
40 YEARS AGO
Edward G. Gray, assistant superintendent of Switzerland County School Corporation, was awarded the doctor of divinity degree from the College of Divine Metaphysics October 5th and was ordained a minister of the gospel October 27th. The Reverend Dr. Gray is a graduate of business and holds the following degrees: bachelor of science, master of science, doctor of psychology, doctor of metaphysics, and doctor of divinity.
The entry of Switzerland Baptist Church was awarded first place n the best float competition of Vevay’s annual Halloween parade Saturday night.
At least one Vevay Kiwanis Club member picked the Orioles to win the World Series and win a free wheelbarrow ride in Vevay’s Halloween parade Saturday night. Lloyd Farrar gained the free lift, while Kenny Clemons, a Dodge and National League fan to the bitter end, provided the horsepower. Lloyd carried a sign which read: “Frank Robinson For President” and “Kenny Clemons, Kiwanis’ Only Loser.”
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Lock are the proud parents of a 6 pound, 9 ounce, boy born at the Milan Hospital Sunday, October 28th. The baby boy was named Kenneth Elbert.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Niccum are the parents of a six and one-half pound daughter born Monday evening, October 29th. The little girl named Ruth Ann has two sisters, Karen and Kathy.
Guy S. Harris, principal of Patriot-Posey schools, and Past Grand Chancellor, Knights of Pythias, was recently appointed a member of the Grand Tribunal of Knights is the judicial department and corresponds to the highest civil court in the state.
The engagement of Miss Patricia Lee Stewart of Vevay, daughter of James Stewart of Aurora, and Private Darrell Boyer, son of Mrs. Raymond Scudder of Vevay was announced this week.
60 YEARS AGO
Water from a downspout which seeped into a freshly dug basement excavation and undetermined the foundation caused the collapse of a large section of the west wall of the Vevay Baptist Church Monday afternoon.
Born Sunday, a son, Herman, Jr., to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Willis of near Center Square.
Born October 23rd, a son to Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Frazier.
Mrs. Nancy Jane Creech, wife of James Creech, Patriot businessman, died in a Cincinnati hospital Saturday afternoon, after a prolonged illness.
70 YEARS AGO
Volney Peelman, a native and former resident of Vevay, was accidentally killed by a train near his home in Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday morning, October 22nd.
Haskell and Morrison, local funeral directors, have removed to their new funeral home on Ferry Street.
Roy Scott of Pleasant Township and Mrs. Nadine Land of North Madison were married in Louisville on October 9th.
Mrs. Fanny Copeland of Long Run and John Allen Romans of Vevay were married in Madison on October 20th.
80 YEARS AGO
Granville M. Dodd, Mayor of Vevay, was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Ophelia Smith November 2nd at the Methodist parsonage by Reverend Arthur Jean.
The monument erected in the courthouse yard, under the auspices of the Vevay Women’s Clubs, in memory of the men and women from this county who took part in the World War, will be officially dedicated November 11th.
Announcement was made last week of the secret wedding on April 2nd of Angela Farrell of Hanover and Ethol Brindley of this county.
The first serious hunting accident of the season occurred near Braytown Saturday when injuries sustained by Chester Foley, 16-year-old son of Tom Foley, resulted in amputation of his right arm near the shoulder.
C. R. Poston, Civil War veteran, died at his home in Posey Township, Saturday evening. Mr. Poston had suffered a broken hip some time ago and his health had declined since that time.
Born, a son, David, to Reverend Ernest Schroeder and wife of Posey Township.
90 YEARS AGO
Last July a glass nest egg was stolen from a hen house on the Dave Dow farm on Indian Creek. Last week the egg was recovered in a most peculiar manner. Mrs. Dow was returning home and was walking through a field when she noticed a large black snake lying in the path in front of her. She killed the snake with a stone and then discovered a large lump in the snake about a foot and a half back of its head. Procuring a hoe she cut the snake open and recovered her glass egg.
Mrs. Delia Asbury, 40, fell at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Izona Marsh, and broke the bones in her right leg between the knee and ankle.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hankins of near Moorefield on October 25th, a baby girl.
Wendell, 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Hanna of Patriot, has entirely recovered from the effects of swallowing a large nail last week.
Clarence Drake has sold his 17 acre farm near Allensville to Ed Potter for $1,000.
100 YEARS AGO
Word has been received her of the death of Julius Blach at his home in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a former men’s clothing merchant in Vevay and was one of the largest stockholders in the Union Furniture Company.
On Tuesday morning, October 29th, while Harry Beach was attempting to remove a revolver from his coat pocket the gun was accidentally discharged and he was killed instantly.
A shantyboat with one apartment for the family and one for a horse passed down the river last week.
Married October 28th, by Reverend Ward, Miss Anna Bales to Carroll S. Cole.
The Vevay Deposit Bank has bought the building on the northwest corner of Main and Ferry streets and will erect a modern banking house there.
110 YEARS AGO
The Ladies Aid Society of the Vevay Baptist Church is serving lunch on Saturday in the Taylor building on Main Street to raise money to get electric lights for the church. A ham sandwich, baked beans, salad, pie and coffee will be served for 15 cents, and oyster soup at any hour of the day for 10 cents.
Joseph Voris of Avonburg who has been taking a post graduate course at Indiana University now has charge of the school at Huntington.
Mr. Ganus of Cincinnati entertained friends at the home of J.M. Clements of Avonburg Thursday night with his phonograph. Speeches from Bryan and McKinley were among the most interesting. Selections of music and recitations could be heart from any part of the room.
There is a chicken pox epidemic in the Center Square community.
130 YEARS AGO
James Cookson of Vevay has received word of the death of his brother, Reverend H. W. Cookson, D. D. in Cambridge, England. At the time of his death he was master of St. Peters College at Cambridge and held many college degrees. The degree of D. D. was bestowed upon him by royal mandate.
Marine and Kansas Holcroft have been serenading their friends with vocal and instrumental music.
An advertisement by U. P. Schenck and son for dry goods is headed “Carry the News to Mary.”
Fashion notes: Green and red are the fashionable colors of the season. Dark green stockings flocked with red have appeared. Cock’s feather bands will be used for trimming cloaks. Fish scale brocade is very fashionable. Seal skin turbans will be worn this winter. Sky blue is a new color in merino stockings. Muffs made of dress materials will be fashionable. Very young ladies continue to wear Basques buttoned behind.
Married October 219th, by Reverend Isaac Turner at the Fairview Methodist parsonage, Miss Hattie Melick and Griffith Oaks.
L. W. Goley and John T. Schofield are visiting the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
$321.55 was collected at the toll gate near Vevay for the month of October.
While returning home from Vevay Wednesday George McCulloch, an aged citizen of Cotton Township, became unconscious and fell from his wagon. He was painfully bruised and is now confined to bed.
140 YEARS AGO
Married October 17th, Miss Caroline Keith and James H. Brown.
Died in the 80th year of life, Mrs. Elizabeth Shaw, wife of John Shaw, Sr.
Counterfeits of the new five cent coin are in circulation.
An Indian war is threatened in New Mexico.
150 YEARS AGO
Last Friday a flatboat of lime sunk near Owensboro, Kentucky, after which it took fire and burned. The boat and cargo were the property of John S. Roberts of Vevay and was valued at $2,500.
152 YEARS AGO
The old established and well known packet Vermont was recently purchased by W. A. Porter of Louisville and has been placed in the packet trade between Vevay and Louisville. Captain T. Claxon of Carrollton is the pilot.
Cholera has broken out in Louisville, Kentucky.
Teats, Schenck and Company are advertising 30 barrels of molasses received on the steamer Winfield Scott. They also received 20 barrels and half barrels of new mackerel and 50 barrels of Kanawha salt.