News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Chad Hart of near Pleasant earned National Champion honors in his FFA proficiency area. The announcement of the award was made last week at the FFA National Convention being held in Kansas City, Missouri.
This week’s issues of the Vevay Reveille-Enterprise and The Switzerland Democrat feature a special 12-page section that salutes Switzerland County veterans, past and present. The newspaper project was organized in conjunction with the Vevay American Legion and Vevay Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
15 YEARS AGO
Eric Cole of Vevay recently received the highest degree awarded by the National FFA organization, the American FFA Degree. The honor is based on outstanding achievements in agriculture production, processing and service programs and on demonstrated leadership abilities. Cole was one of the 1,056 members who received the award at the 63rd National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri last week. He is the son of James and Donna Cole and is currently attending Purdue University, majoring in agricultural economics.
The U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service recognized a number of Indiana Weather Station workers at a special luncheon held in Columbus on November 2nd. The centennial celebration was a special reward for two local observers who attended the program, Bob Riggs and Mrs. Carl Brown. The Vevay weather station has a long, historical record of keeping data on the local level. The Browns served as Weather Station workers from 1974-88. Bob Riggs’ service was from 1960-62 and 1988 to the present. Also attending the special event was Pete Furnish, who represented the Town of Vevay, which was recognized as one of the very oldest operational weather stations in the state.
Jean Ann Brady and Keith Allen Little will take their wedding vows this Saturday, November 17th, at 1 p.m. in Florence at Keith’s mother’s home. Jean Ann is the daughter of Harold E. Brady of route 1, Patriot. Keith is the son of Elizabeth Little of route 1, Florence.
20 YEARS AGO
When Lieutenant Colonel Bryan O’Conner of the U.S. Marine Corps goes into space as a member of the next space shuttle mission, he’ll be taking a bit of Switzerland County with him. O’Conner, whose Grandmother is Gladys Moreillon of Vevay, is scheduled to be one of the shuttle inhabitants when it lifts off from Cape Kennedy shortly after Thanksgiving.
Eric Ray and Renee See were crowned prince and princess of the Junior High Fall Festival Saturday evening at the school. The two seventh graders were chosen on a penny-per-vote basis, and their crowning was the highlight of the evening.
Three ladies were honored by the Eggleston Club last Thursday evening for having been members of the organization for 50 years. The three were honored at a surprise gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cole. The are Hazel Danglade, Thelma Slawson, and Sarah Cole. The Eggleston Club is one of the oldest literary clubs in the State of Indiana.
Martha Cole, English teacher in the Switzerland County system, has been chosen as one of seven semi-finalists in Indiana’s 1986 Teacher of the Year competition. Mrs. Cole was the only teacher from this area honored by the Indiana Department of Education.
30 YEARS AGO
Using a little 8-pound test line, fishing in a Ripley County farm pond, a Switzerland County man Sunday morning landed a rare species of fish called a Spoonbill that was almost four and a half feel long, almost three feet around its middle, and weighed exactly 62 pounds. The man who landed this monstrous fish is Tim Christman, 23-year-old son of Ernie and Beryl Christman, of Pleasant, a Switzerland County native and lifelong resident who just recently moved to Osgood.
Larry Wayne Wentworth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Wentworth of route 1, Bennington, has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He will go on active duty in February at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas.
The wedding of Miss Deborah Sue Olds and James A. Hackman took place October 18th at Ruter Chapel United Methodist Church in Vevay. Miss Olds is t he daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Olds of Vevay. Mr. Hackman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard P. Hackman of Seymour.
40 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Heath of route 2, Vevay will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary November 25th with a family dinner at the Central Hotel in Madison where the couple had their wedding dinner 50 years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Cummins of route 2, Vevay, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lana, to Ronald Chase, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Chase of route 1, Florence.
Charles Frazier has purchased the Vevay Frozen Food Locker from John and Mae Bray, assuming operation of the Main Street, Vevay business Monday.
Emmett Danner of Vevay caught a 6 1/4 pound large mouth bass Sunday in a local farm pond. The 22-inch catch was hooked on a spinning lure.
50 YEARS AGO
Jimmy Meadows, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Meadows of Madison, former residents of Vevay, has enlisted in the U.S. Navy and he is undergoing “boot training” at Great Lakes Naval Station.
Miss Joy Strausbaugh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strausbaugh of Vevay, who is majoring in the piano and harp in the music department of Oberlin (Ohio) College, was one in an ensemble of six harps which played a concert before the New Jersey Association convention at Atlantic City last week.
60 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Ice Plant changed ownership this week when it was sold by Dale Hastings of Vevay to Charles Stivers, recently discharged U.S. Navy veteran.
James Demaree, owner of the frozen food locker plant being built in Vevay, announces that he expects the concern to be ready for business in a few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Marion Ackerman have this week opened to the public their new restaurant on the corner of Main and Ferry streets in Vevay. The new business will go under the name of the “Vevay Grill.”
County Treasurer-elect Leslie Byram and wife have sold their Clover Farm Grocery to Gayle Wiley, present Treasurer, who is now in charge and will continue to operate the business after his term expires on December 31st.
Born, a daughter, Georgeanna, to George Lee White. The baby’s father is in the U.S. Army and is stationed at present in the South Pacific.
70 YEARS AGO
A troop of local Girl Scouts completed their organization here Tuesday evening with Miss Virginia Sullivan and Mrs. Richard Henry as leaders. Misses Mabel Rix, Virginia Stewart, Doris Pangburn and Anna Margaret Rosenberger were elected patrol leaders.
The new fire siren, ordered several weeks ago by the Town Board, was received this week and is being installed on the Court House roof.
The federal sanitation project which opened for a time in Switzerland County last spring will reopen within a short time and John F. Butters will be placed in charge of the entire project.
The new school building at Moorefield was completed by the contractors Saturday and on Monday the first classes were held in the rooms.
Born, November 11th, a daughter, Phyllis, to Mr. and Mrs. Parker Smith of Patriot.
80 YEARS AGO
The U.S. steamer Ottawa and dredge, C.B. Harris, have completed the work of dredging the channel in the Ohio River at Vevay and Craig’s bar.
The confectionery of Henry Peters at East Enterprise was burglarized last Wednesday night, the thief helping himself to money, jewelry, cigarettes and smoking tobacco.
Miss Dorothy Slawson and Thomas Manuel, both of the Bennington community, were married Saturday, November 7th, in Lawrenceburg by Reverend Roe.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, of Posey Township.
90 YEARS AGO
Vevay grocers are complaining that a number of their butter makers are molding their butter into short-weight pounds. One merchant discovered that a lot he had purchased last week weighed but 12 ounces, 4 ounces short of a pound.
William E. Floyd, proprietor of a grocery store in Vevay, was robbed in Cincinnati last Wednesday night and so badly beaten by his assailants that he has been bedfast since the attack. The assault took place while Mr. Floyd was walking on Vine Street, and he was relieved of about $30 in money, his watch and chain, notebook, pencils, knife, and even the cuff buttons had been taken out of his shirt.
The New Sales Company of Cincinnati has rented the store room on Ferry Street recently vacated by the Adams Music Store and arrangements are now underway for establishing a five and ten cent store in the building.
Miss Lillie Belle Irons and William Wiechert, both of Switzerland County, were married in Carrollton, Kentucky, November 10th.
Born, November 10th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bodey of Patriot.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gurley of Posey Township.
100 YEARS AGO
Wallace J. Cotton, Democrat, was elected Mayor of Vevay by a majority of 79.
The members of Spring Branch Church brought three wagon loads of good things to Reverend W.S. Lowe as a present to their pastor.
Wickmans new coal elevator was completed in Patriot.
The Florence Deposit Bank has assets of $50,910.88.
110 YEARS AGO
Born, a daughter, November 4th, to Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Porter of Vevay.
Mrs. Edward Eggleston of New York City is visiting her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Goode, in Madison. Dr. Eggleston has been called to Europe to see an invalid daughter.
Licensed to marry: William Martin and Mary Holbrook, both of Owen County, Kentucky.
130 YEARS AGO
Victor Kessler here has a Bible published in Basel, Switzerland in 1744.
Thirteen peach blow potatoes filled a peck basket in this office.
Dr. T.M. Danglade is improving in health in San Jose, California.
James Riley resigned his position as toll gate keeper on the Vevay-Mount Sterling Turnpike and has removed to Bennington, Captain Percy Rous will take his place.
Butler Manville, editor of the “Madison Progress,” died in Milton Township in Jefferson County.
John I. O’Neal has leased the Russell House at the corner of Ferry and Market Streets.
The Catholic Society met at the home of Joe Jockell here and were all served with oysters and other refreshments.
Selar Mead, federal gauger, and George Keeney, federal store keeper, have been assigned to the Pate Distillery in Patriot.
Married November 10th in Vevay by Reverend I. C. Smith, Miss Jeanie B. Phillips and Joseph D. Froman.
Married in Vevay November 3rd, by Reverend Whallon, Anna Evitt and Frederick Straum.
The church at Cross Plains is nearing completion.
B.J. Stoops has taken over the Kincaid Grocery and meat shop here.
A bell has been ordered for the new school in Cross Plains.
140 YEARS AGO
There are eleven buildings now being built in this place, besides several others that have just been completed. Who will say that Vevay is not improving?
Last Wednesday a woman and a man sold two rolls of what was supposed to be butter to William Owens. Upon examination it was found that the rolls were composed of old lard, covered with about an inch of butter. Later: Since the above was in type, we have learned the names of the swindlers and unless they go to Mr. Owens and pay damages we will publish the name of the man next week.
Married on the sixth day of November at the residence of the bride’s father by John H. McHenry, Esquire, Mr. David Stout of Ohio County and Miss Sarah E. Richards of this county.