News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The construction equipment is already in place, but the Switzerland County School Board and members of the community took time Sunday afternoon to officially break ground for the new middle school building. Superintendent Mac Dyer, and school board members Jim Phipps, Ken Briggs, Susan Nimersheim, Scott Gregory, Bill Roeschlein, and Floyd Knaus all took part in the ceremony.
It was their ritual. Every Tuesday, the ladies of the Caledonia Presbyterian Church would pack a lunch and gather at the home of one of their members. the ladies were members of the Caledonia Missionary Society, and they spent each Tuesday seated around a frame, quilting. They were the “Caledonia Quilters,” a group that Elberta Archer of Vevay has been a part of for nearly 60 years. It is also a piece of Switzerland County history that will soon disappear. Through the years, the Caledonia Quilters grew in membership, but recent years have seen the passing of several members. Today, only three remain — Elberta Archer, Shirley Hart, and Jeanette Partain.
Two previously unknown pastels by famous artist James A. McNeil Whistler have been discovered in Florida by former Switzerland County native James L. Stow. He is the son of Donald and Hazel Stow, formerly of East Enterprise. The pastels, Marble Place and The Beads-Stringers, were discovered in a private Palm Beach collection.
Although they are currently only conducting a feasibility study, officials of Plastic Moldings Corporation will meet with representatives of the Indiana Department of Commerce tomorrow (Friday) in Indianapolis about the possibility of expanding their manufacturing plant in East Enterprise.
15 YEARS AGO
Charles I. Overbey of Carroll County has been named as the new executive manager of the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation. He has been the executive director of the Carroll County Community Development Corporation.
Two Switzerland County Schools have been selected for Indiana School Incentive Awards. The Indiana State Department of Education recently notified the school corporation that the Switzerland County Junior-Senior High School and Switzerland County elementary School will receive monetary awards for their gains.
Dr. Diego Valenzuela of Vevay has been chosen as an alternate delegate to the Indiana State Medical Association’s House of Delegates.
20 YEARS AGO
The First National Bank of Vevay announces that Robert S. Dunevant has been named as the chairman of the board of the bank, replacing John Sutton. Sutton will remain on the board, as will all other members
Tonight is the night for the annual Vevay “Harem-Scarem” Halloween parade in downtown Vevay. Nicholas Pavy will be serving as the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, along with parents Greg and Shannon Pavy of Vevay .
40 YEARS AGO
Danner’s Hardware of Vevay has been honored as one of Indiana’s oldest businesses by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Sieglitz Jewelry of Vevay was also honored by the Foundation, which has recently completed judging in its “Oldest Business Contest.” Danner’s Hardware was awarded honorable mention in the category of “Oldest Business in Indiana,” and was awarded second place in the category, “Oldest Business Operating on Its Original Site.” Sieglitz Jewelry was awarded honorable mention in the category, “Oldest Continuously Operating business In Its Original Building.”
Cindy Webb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neal Webb, of Rising Sun, and Mickey Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Miller, route 3, Vevay, were united in marriage Saturday, August 30th, in Mount Sterling Baptist Church.
George Reed celebrated his 92nd birthday Monday, and the day before that event he was guest of honor at a birthday dinner party given for him at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Reed.
Former Vevay attorney Doug Leatherbury has joined a law firm in Cannelton, Indiana, and is making his home in that southwestern Indiana city, located along the Ohio river about 30 miles upriver from Evansville. Leatherbury was prosecuting attorney for Switzerland and Jefferson counties from 1970 through 1974, and served as chairman of the Switzerland County Democratic Party.
Sandy Lynn Shaw and Lonnie W. Bladen exchanged wedding vows Saturday evening, October 18th, in a ceremony performed in Caledonia United Presbyterian Church. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Betty Buchanan, route 3, Vevay, and James R. Shaw, route 1, Vevay. The groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Bladen, route 3.
Acquisition of property just west of Vevay for the site of a new 9-through-12 county high school has been approved by Switzerland County School Board. The proposed site is the Paul Ogle property immediately west of the town’s city limits.
Vevay’s bowling alley was closed Monday and remains closed today although possibilities remained at press time that the business might reopen in the near future. However, Ross Hatch and Ivan Allen, the two men to have owned and managed the business itself during its four-year operation, have definitely severed interest in the business.
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Veazey of Churubusco have announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Carolyn, of Indianapolis, to James Curry, also of Indianapolis. Curry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harland W. Curry of Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Morton Bennett observed their 67th wedding anniversary Tuesday at their home, 203 Liberty Street. The couple was married at the home of the bride’s parents on Tapps Ridge in a ceremony performed by Reverend W. S. Lowe. They have a son, Dr. Carlyle Bennett, of Golden Gate Seminary, near San Francisco, California. Another son, Walter, passed away in 1959.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Marie Culbertson of Clarksville, Indiana, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Culbertson of Vevay, began her duties Tuesday as the chief of the nursing staff at the Veterans Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
Chester Kiesel, president of the First National Bank, and Mrs. Kiesel quietly observed their 44th wedding anniversary Monday.
John Glenn, retired farmer and member of a prominent Scotch family of the Caledonia community, died in a nursing home in Madison on the evening of October 26th from the effect of a stroke he had suffered some time ago.
60 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County War Price and Rationing Board will be closed in Vevay and consolidated with the Jefferson County Board on November 10th.
The marriage of Miss Mildred Lock and George Louis Butler, both of Vevay, was solemnized Sunday, October 28th, at the home of the bridegroom on Main Street, by Reverend L. S. Courtney.
Corporal Elsworth O. Lockwood of East Enterprise and Miss Theresa Scottile of Kingston, New York, were married September 16th at Saint Joseph’s Church in Kingston by Reverend Monsignor Stephen P. Connelly.
Miss Helen Jump of this county and Glenn E. Barnes of near Madison were united in marriage Wednesday, October 24th, in the Jeffersonville Baptist Church by Reverend W. H. Morton.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dilver Cole of Center Square.
Born, Wednesday, October 24th, a son, Robert Crittenden, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hughes.
70 YEARS AGO
Great numbers of geese have been flying southward over the county.
Miss Mary Griffith of Long Run and Farrel Fisher Havey of Indianapolis were united in marriage Saturday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, with Reverend Scott of the Presbyterian ministry officiating.
The Board of Commissioners is contemplating the purchase of a hot water heating system at the new County Infirmary.
Miss Hazel Whitham and Verle Driver, both of the East Enterprise neighborhood, surprised their friends by announcing their marriage which occurred at Carrollton, Kentucky, May 13th.
Miss Jeanette Hollcroft of near Vevay and Wayne Swafford of Wirt, Indiana, were united in marriage at Madison Sunday, October 16th, by Reverend Victor Hargitt.
The Post Office at Florence has been removed to the Old Deposit Bank building. Postmaster Hardin will operate a store in connection with it.
Mrs. Rosa Cline of Vevay and Millard Shelby of Greenfield, Indiana, were married Monday noon at the home of Mrs. Clara Furnish by Reverend L. S. Courtney.
Dr. Paul Fewell, who maintains a dental office in Vevay, was married to Miss Dorothy Jones of Madison by Father George Pohn at St. Mary’s parsonage.
Miss Falba Romans of Rising Sun Route 1 and Joe Brinson of near Brooksburg were married by Reverend Daes at the Methodist parsonage October 21st.
Born, a daughter, Leona Ruth, to Mr. and Mrs. Niley McFarland of Green Valley.
80 YEARS AGO
Dr. and Mrs. R. M. Copeland are disposing of their household goods at private sale preparatory to moving away from Vevay. Dr. Copeland will close out his practice here in the next few days and give up his offices in the Vevay Deposit Bank building. Dr. Copeland feels that he can no longer fill the demands for his services, both day and night.
Alva A. “Dock” McGuire, former restaurant and hotel operator in Vevay, died at his home in Madison last week after a very brief illness.
90 YEARS AGO
Al Roberts was painfully injured last Friday while riding on a motorcycle when he was kicked by a horse. Roberts was passing a funeral procession when a colt hitched to a surrey became frightened at the machine and kicked at it.
Miss Mary Louise Burton and Frank Weales, both of this city, were married Saturday evening in Madison by Reverend Boyer.
Miss Flora Hyden of near Markland and Clarence Mitchell of Henderson, Kentucky were married Wednesday evening, October 27th, at the Methodist parsonage by Reverend Williams.
The Lyric Theatre has been bought for tonight by Pokonoket tribe of Red Men of Vevay as a part of the Red Men celebration and will show free to all persons regardless of whether or not they belong to the order.
100 YEARS AGO
George Scott sold his livery stable here to Edward Shull and C. R. Drake. Mr. Scott has purchased a farm near Florence.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Crutchfield are visiting here.
Contractor Elmer Palmer of Patriot is remodeling the Vienna Watts residence in Patriot.
110 YEARS AGO
Mr. Andy Shafer of Patriot is now wharfmaster at Rising Sun, having succeeded Mr. John W. Bush, retired.
Charles Hollcroft took a bunch of rabbits to Carrollton Monday. He waded from the Indiana shore across Craig’s Bar to the Kentucky shore, the water being only knee deep. The river is the lowest it has ever been in the memory of some of our older citizens.
James McKenzie and family have moved to Mount Sterling where Mr. McKenzie will continue to do blacksmithing.
A pleasant surprise party was given Sunday at the home of Thomas Heady to celebrate his 51st birthday.
Vevay was visited by an earthquake October 31st at 5 a.m., but no damage resulted. The tremor was reported also in upriver towns.
Married October 27th by Reverend E. G. Seymour at his residence near East Enterprise, Samuel D. Stoops and Ruth A. Wiley.
Captain Allison Scott of Madison has bought the “Jim Montgomery” and it has entered the Madison-Warsaw trade.
The Woman’s Study Club gave a reception at the new home of Mrs. G. W. VanPelt on Main Street Friday afternoon in honor of the club’s two recent brides, Mrs. Lewis Mills and Mrs. Julian Lamson.
On Thursday, October 24th, there was a meeting of old citizens at Lamb and an organization was formed to be known as the Jefferson and Switzerland County Old Citizens Association, which shall hold an annual meeting. Uncle Stephen Gerrard was the oldest citizen present at the meeting, being 84 years of age.
Licensed to marry: George Bales and Mary A. Ellis.
Twelve men are working on the first two miles of the pike being built from Plum Creek bridge to near Center Square. The stone crusher has been moved from near Plum Creek to near Center Square where a large number of men are working.
130 YEARS AGO
Mrs. E Burns has opened a new store in Vevay.
Married October 24th in Patriot by Reverend D. A. Robertson, Miss Sadie Crandell and William M. Green.
Charles Dibble purchased the Watts Corner in Patriot.
140 YEARS AGO
A pavement is being built leading from Main Street to and around the Courthouse.
On last Sunday night some persons entered the residence of Emsley Shadday in Pleasant Township and stole $1,700 in cash from him.
We believe that Vevay can boast of as many church instruments of music as any other city of its size. The Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterians and Universalist churches each have a melodeon, making four in all.
One day last week a small son of Mr. Lockriche of Pleasant Township was killed and another severely injured when they fell from a load of logs on which they were riding.