News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Nearly 20 years of serving her community came to an end last week when Marjorie Brown retired from writing the Bennington news for Vevay Newspapers. She plans to retire as postmaster from the Bennington post office in March of next year.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Blodgett celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, September 30th. The Blodgetts live at 390 Bennington Pike and celebrated in Lexington, Kentucky along with their immediate family: Jo Anne, Donald, Richard, Martha, Max, and Carrie Blodgett. The couple was married on September 29th, 1945, in a private ceremony in Indianapolis at the home of Reverend Edna Robbins. Pearl Blodgett and Anna Cox attended the ceremony.
Jeremy Springer and Laura Jackson will represent Switzerland County High School tonight (Thursday) at the King and queen competition of the Aurora Farmers Fair. Jeremy is the son of Tim and Kathy Springer of Tapps Ridge, and Laura is the daughter of Earl and Diane Jackson of near Patriot. The competition gets underway at 6:45 p.m. (slow time).
15 YEARS AGO
Michelle Moll of Switzerland County was crowned Queen of the 1990 Versailles Pumpkin Show Wednesday, September 26th. She followed in the footsteps of last year’s queen, Switzerland County’s Tina Chase. Michelle attends Switzerland County High School and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moll of Vevay. Tina is the daughter of Jack and Jill Chase of route 1, Bennington.
Mr. and Mrs. John I. Higgins of route 2, Madison will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception on Sunday, October 7th, at Madison Presbyterian Church. It will be hosted by their children.
John R. and Pearl Herring of Pleasant will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, October 7th, at the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. Their daughter Marlene invites all friends and relatives to attend.
Tina McClellan of Vevay is one of over 200 students nationwide to receive a Two/Ten Scholarship. The Two/Ten International Footwear Foundation is the philanthropic organization which provides the scholarships. Tina is attending Georgetown College and intends to graduate in June of 1992.
20 YEARS AGO
Jill Demaree, daughter of Carole Ann and Bob Swinney of Cross Plains, was presented with the Wilma P. Benedict Memorial Scholarship recently at Switzerland County High School. The award, given by the Tri Kappa sorority, is given in memory of Mrs. Benedict, who was a teacher in the Switzerland County system for many years.
Betty Bovard, organizer of the Bennington Homecoming, hopes that everyone inn the county turns out for the big event.
Dr. Clyde Culbertson, a native of Vevay, is one of three men who have been chosen to receive the first annual Tony and Mary Hulman Health Achievement Awards. Dr. Culbertson, 79, is a retired biological research scientist at Eli Lilly and Company. He can be found three days a week in his office at Wishard Memorial Hospital where he continues his work as a research consultant with Eli Lilly and Company.
30 YEARS AGO
Flying over the Bennington Homecoming celebration Saturday will be the official Bennington Flag brought home by Bennington minister Charles Farr. He purchased it in the local town’s namesake village of Bennington, Vermont. the flag’s original was carried by Revolutionary soldiers in the famous Battle of Bennington, the first time the “stars and stripes” were ever carried into battle. Betsy Ross is thought to have adapted this flag’s design when she designed the American Flag. The Bennington Flag’s 13 stars symbolize the original American colonies. Helping Reverend Farr display the flag was Betty Bovard, chief organizer of the Bennington Homecoming, which has its second annual run Saturday.
A birthday and anniversary celebration was enjoyed at the home of Dot Taylor on Big Doe Run September 14th for Mrs. Cassie Napier, who was 80 years old that day, and for Ralph and Pauline McKay, who observed the 40th anniversary of their wedding. Mrs. Napier is Mrs. Taylor’s mother.
Two Switzerland County young people are in the running for the titles of “King” and “Queen” of the Aurora Farmers Fair to be held tonight through Saturday in the upriver town. Bobby Coates, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Coates of near Mount Sterling, is in the running for the title of King, and Rita Kay Osborne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Osborne, is among the contestants for the title of Queen. Both are students at Switzerland County High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Lock of Vevay announce the engagement of their daughter, Dinah Lynn, to Myron Lee Beckman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Beryl E. Beckman of Bringhurst, Indiana. A wedding is planned during the summer of 1976.
40 YEARS AGO
Complications developing during surgery proved fatal Sunday evening for Charles R. Scott, 54-year-old owner-operator of Alps Auto Theatre in Vevay.
Glenna Riley led all local bowlers last week with a 587 series (204 and 197 games) in Wednesday night ladies competition.
Marine Private Gerald F. Ramseyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ramseyer of rural route 4, Vevay, was graduated September 22nd from Marine recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
Mrs. Mary Lou Furnish and Eugene Spencer were honored Monday night for their many contributions in fighting polio and other crippling diseases through work with the National Foundation.
50 YEARS AGO
John Collier, coach at Vevay High School, was elected president of the Southeastern Indiana Coaches Officials and Principals Association, at a meeting of the organization which was held Monday night at the Milan High School gym.
Mr. and Mrs. Hallie Armstrong of Mooresville are parents of a new baby daughter born on Thursday morning, September 29th, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Her name is Pamela Rose and she weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces.
The running of Vevay’s third annual powerboat races on Sunday afternoon was well attended and a gratifying sum of money was cleared for additional improvement of the riverfront recreational area.
60 YEARS AGO
The Ben Banta Package Store on Ferry Street was sold Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Lock. they took possession on Monday.
Captain Fred Everett Moody, Ohio River pilot, formerly of Vevay, was drowned near Ashland, Kentucky, last Thursday afternoon when he fell from the towboat R. W. Turner. Moody had complained of feeling ill and it is believed that he either became dizzy or suffered a heart attack and fell overboard.
Mrs. Martha Ann Stetson of Patriot is advertising the opening of a taxi service from that town to surrounding communities on call. Mrs. Stetson will use her own automobile for the service and is an experienced driver.
The marriage of Miss Nettie Lafvina Cox and Corporal Clarence V. Blodgett, was solemnized Saturday morning, September 29th, at the LaSalle Street Church in Indianapolis.
Marshall Alford and Miss Mary Hubbard of Dillsboro were married Monday, October 11st, here at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Fred S. Griffith.
70 YEARS AGO
Reverend Ralph Blodgett of this county was united in marriage to Miss June Ballard at Wilmore, Kentucky on September 25th.
The Detraz Planing Mill on Arch Street, formerly owned by the late Clarence Detraz, was purchased form the heirs Monday by Walter Gaudin.
Patriot and Vevay were honored Sunday morning by a short visit on more than 100 members of the State Pioneer and Historical Societies.
Sam Huff is suffering from a severe case of blood poisoning contracted from the bite of crawfish he had been using for bait while fishing in the river. It is thought the infection came from the river water.
An open house and dedication of the new County Infirmary will be held here on October 10th.
80 YEARS AGO
Raymond L. Detraz of Vevay was elected Attendance Officer of Switzerland County Saturday.
Merchants of Vevay has purchased a Chevrolet touring car and will give it away to the holder of the winning ticket to be drawn from a box on December 24th.
Earl Furnish and Miss Hazel Osborn of Fairview were married Saturday in Madison.
Born Tuesday, a son, Robert Lee, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Runion of Posey Township.
90 YEARS AGO
Charles Manuel of near Bennington is Switzerland County’s champion 1915 squirrel hunter. On a hunt last week in the woods near his home he killed 16 squirrels out of one hickory tree and bagged them all in less than an hour’s time.
At a meeting of the directors of the First National Bank Monday Chester Kiesel was elected bookkeeper of that institution, taking the place of E.E. Scudder.
Two records were set in this county for the month of September, there being but two deaths and 21 births. Five marriages were also recorded.
Miss Ivy Chittenden and Whit Turner, both of Markland, were married in the parlors of the Gebest Hotel in Madison yesterday afternoon.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Tevis of Santa Fe Bottom.
It is a striking coincidence that 13 colonies should have participated in the organization of the United States of America and that the same number of counties organized the State of Indiana. Several of the original counties were located along the Ohio River and exercised great influence in the early history of the state. The 13 counties that were in existence when the state was organized were: Knox, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Perry, Washington, Harrison, Jefferson, Clark, Switzerland, Franklin, Dearborn and Wayne.
Born September 30th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ward McAllister of East Enterprise.
Born, September 19th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kibbe Bliss of East enterprise.
100 YEARS AGO
With the new improvements he is making in his store’s appearance, A. V. Danner will have one of the best and most modern up-to-date hardware stores in the Ohio Valley.
Miss Addie Waltz is seriously ill at her country home with appendicitis.
An enjoyable reception was given October 7th by Mrs. Scott Culbertson honoring her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Carl Culbertson, a recent bride. More than 100 guests enjoyed the affair.
Sam Huff is home from the regular army on a 30-day furlough.
R. I. White of Patriot claims the record for raising pumpkins. On one volunteer vine there are 12 large ones, some weighing as much as 60 pounds and 12 smaller ones, making a total of 24 on the one vine.
110 YEARS AGO
Miss Ann Blodgett of near Bennington died at the residence of William Mercer last Tuesday morning from injuries received when a wagon in which she was riding overturned. The horses hitched to the wagon became unmanageable when a neck strap broke and overturned the vehicle. Other occupants were severely but not seriously injured.
Mr. Charles Ohne, formerly of Ghent and Miss Mayme Hawkins, formerly of Vevay, were married in Connersville, Indiana September 17th by Reverend Elleld.
Licensed to marry: Harvey St. Clair Seaver and Clara McDaniel; John Farrell and Sarah E. Brown; Charles E. Ricketts and Ida M. Bliss.
Miss Zora Powell and John Stopher were married September 25th at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Powell.
Captain T. Livings of Washington, D.C., who is employed in the U.S. pension department, has been retained to revise “McDonald’s Treatise” for the 1896 edition. He practiced law in Vevay and Chicago.
140 YEARS AGO
Dr. Baxter has his dental office next to the steam mill (now Truitt’s) on West Pike Street.
Frank Martin is making saddles on Ferry Street here.
The Northcott-Given Company are offering beef, mutton, pork, veal, lard, sausage, pies and cakes at their butcher shop in the market here.
Joseph Peelman has started on the brick work of the Catholic Church here.
Captain Timothy Danglade is completing a new home on Washington Street here.
The home of Dr. Christie in Moorefield was entered and $63 stolen, including a gold watch that was valued highly.
The F. P. Dupraz building on Ferry Street burned. George McAdams tin shop was destroyed and also the apartment of Sam Fallis on the second floor.
The brick work on Dr. Olcott’s store in Patriot is now completed.
William Coffin of Patriot has a calidium (elephant ear) that is 3 foot, 9 inches long and 31 inches wide.
John Bassett’s running a thriving shoe business in Patriot.
John Melcher advertised a raft of pine and hemlock lumber at the river here which he will sell at a low price.
The foundation of the new church at Cross Plains is now completed.
Reverend Joseph Tarkington is agent for Asbury College in Indiana and James B. Lathrop has been assigned to the Methodist charge here.
Butter is selling at 12 1/2 cents here, flour at $5.00 per barrel and chickens at $1.25 per dozen.
The Van Amburgs Circus will be at the river next week with “Forest Beasts and Desert Monsters.”