News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Tobacco markets opened Monday to a record price, but growers cautioned that the high price could be misleading. At burley markets all around the area, nearly all of the tobacco was bringing $1.92 per pound – up from last year’s average price of $1.83. the change is tempered by the fact that most experts feel that this year’s crop will be under the projected amount – possibly by as much as 20 percent. With less tobacco going to market, buyers are paying a higher price.
Jack Ranz of Switzerland County is the new controller/human resources director for the Clifty Engineering and Tool Company in Madison. He is a 1980 graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
Switzerland County Special Olympians participated in bowling competition held in New Albany recently. They are: Brandon Burke, third place; Jon Covington, first place; Luke Earls, fourth place; Joe Gilbert, first place; Steve Turner, second place; and Maggie Mullins, third place; Ruby Earls, fourth place; Darrell Yocum, fourth place; and David Wentworth, fifth place.
Super spellers from Switzerland County Elementary School won their division at last Thursday’s district Spell Bowl competition. They will now await word as to whether their district-winning score qualifies them for state honors. They are: Amanda Dennis, Carrie Jones, Becky Phipps, Amber Fisk, Megan Wesley, Rachel Bailey, Missy Rider, Tara Romans, Emily Helmers, and Kristy Hoyt. Coaches are Missy Morris and Sharon Barbour.
15 YEARS AGO
Prices averaged $1.83 per pound as a new tobacco marketing season opened Monday. That’s 9 cents better than last year’s opening day average of $1.74, and it’s the best price growers have received since 1984.
Work has begun on the Town of Patriot’s new sewer system, a $600,000 project scheduled for completion in August 1992.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Halbert Walston, route 1, Patriot, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Amy Darleen, to Richard Alton Lay, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Lay, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Lay, route 1, Patriot. The wedding will be held on June 27th at Temple Baptist Church in Patriot.
Arthur and Florence Holdcroft will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary December 14th at Spring Branch Baptist Church on Spring Branch Road. The couple was married December 19th, 1936, in Switzerland County.
The East Enterprise Wesleyan Church announces its new minister, the Reverend John Kinsey, wife Joy and daughter Jessica. The family is from Purcell, Oklahoma and will arrive for the church service on January 4th, 1987..
Dale E. Johnson, son of Perry W. and Carolyn S. Johnson of Bedford, has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. His wife Diane is the daughter of Virginia M. Heath of route 2, Vevay.
30 YEARS AGO
At high noon on the 30th day of July, a car is going to cross the Ohio River at Markland atop the new bridge being built over the dam. That’s the word from the chief engineer on the bridge project, O. G. Newman. If his promise holds true, Mr. Newman’s river crossing will mean the bridge project will be finished sometime in August or September – well over a half-year ahead of schedule, since the bridge completion date is officially May of 1978.
The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise and The Switzerland Democrat were honored with three first-place journalism awards, presented Saturday in Indianapolis by the Hoosier State Press Association. The papers were judged to have the best editorial page content, the best front page design and the best regular column (the “Switzerland County Notebook”) of Indiana’s weekly newspapers.
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cord, route 4, Vevay, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Kathleen, to Richard Jay Houghton, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Houghton, of Plymouth, Indiana. The wedding will be held in Beck Chapel, on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, on Saturday, December 18th.
40 YEARS AGO
Judy Lueking, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lueking of Main Street, Vevay, is on the list of 2,213 graduates who received September degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington. A 1962 graduate of Vevay High School, Miss Lueking earned a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in German.
Four Switzerland Countians joined National Farmers Organization members from 25 states last week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the organization unanimously endorsed initiating a holding action on milk. County farmers at the convention were Norris Works, Amos Hastings, H.C. Collins, and Lewis Coy.
Bernard H. “Bernie” Vernon, formerly of Vevay, has been promoted to airman second class in the U.S. Air Force. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Browning of Vevay.
Garry Forwood left Vevay last Wednesday morning for Louisville, Kentucky, where he was inducted into the U.S. Army.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Glenda Sullivan, a senior student at Vevay High School, has been named “Good Citizen” of the school by the John Paul chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Madison.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lohide of East Enterprise became grandparents twice last week. On December 9th, a son, Curtis Dale, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Karl Lohide (Wilma Washmuth) at the Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville. The baby weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and has a 2 1/2-year-old brother, Paul. The maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Harry Washmuth. A son was also born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lohide (Carolyn Facemire) on December 14th at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati. He weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces, and has been named Mark Allen. The Lohides also have a five-year-old daughter, Georgia Lee.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bruce Clements of Vevay will observe their 50th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day.
Mr. and Mrs. Clair Andrew entertained with a family dinner Sunday observing their 45th wedding anniversary.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Prudie Brown and Joshua Poore, both of the Moorefield community, were united in marriage Thursday, December 5th, in Uniontown, Indiana, by Reverend Mosley.
Dr. Clyde F. Finch, 58, native of Vevay, died at his home near New Albany, Indiana, Friday following a heart attack.
Ray “Pete” Leap has taken over the duties of Deputy Town Marshal for night duty here in place of Squire John Baird who has filled the position temporarily since the resignation of Cecil Peters some time ago.
William S. Humphrey, retired Switzerland County funeral director, passed away in his room at the Galbreath Inn, in Rising Sun, Saturday morning after a three-day illness.
Born, December 4th, a son to Reverend and Mrs. William Sims of Fairview.
Born, December 7th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Breeck.
70 YEARS AGO
Dr. Thomas J. Griffith, who was born near Moorefield July 21st, 1851, died at his home in the capitol city on Friday.
Born, a daughter, Anna May, to Mr. and Mrs. John Bright of Greenbriar Ridge.
Born, a son, Gayle, to Mr. and Mrs. Alva Marlman of near Center Square.
Earl Grimes of near Markland and Miss Anna Marie Burch of Elizabethtown, Illinois, were married on October 31st.
Reverend W. F. Badgett, pastor of the Vevay Baptist Church, has resigned to accept the pastorate of the Calvary Baptist Church in South Bend effective January 1st.
Frank Hartman, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fay Hartman of near Moorefield, was shot in the little finger of his left hand Sunday when the cylinder fell from his gun and struck a rock, discharging a shell.
Mrs. Mary Philips Fox of Los Angeles, California, a native of Switzerland County, celebrated her 100th birthday recently.
80 YEARS AGO
Stanley Ray of near East Enterprise had his right arm broken in two places Sunday while cranking a car.
Monday, the 20th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. K. L. Hastings and the 50th wedding anniversary of Mrs. Hastings’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Green of Rising Sun was observed with a turkey dinner at the Green home.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Miles of Bennington held a sale last week and will go to Cincinnati where Mr. Miles will take a course in barbering.
The children of Mrs. Lizzie Smith of Five Points gathered at her home Thursday for an all-day wood sawing.
Attorney James R. Cole, well known Vevay man, resigned as pension attorney December 4th, after 40 years of continuous service.
Miss Marjorie Smith and Gerald Bell, both of Patriot, were married Saturday at the Methodist parsonage in Rising Sun.
Born December 4th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Stewart of Egypt Bottom, Posey Township.
Born, Friday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moreillon of Fairview.
Lewis Wolf and Bessie O’Neal of Moorefield were married last Wednesday.
90 YEARS AGO
Isaac Froman, 76, Civil War veteran, died suddenly at his home in Vevay Tuesday night, having suffered a stroke of apoplexy just a few hours before his death.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William F. Shaw of Craig Township.
John Suter of near Worthville, Kentucky, and Mrs. Jane Hiles of near Vevay were married by Reverend F.E. Hammel Monday afternoon.
A man who knocked at the kitchen door of Mrs. E. T. Coleman Monday turned down the offer of roast beef, bread, butter and hot coffee and informed Mrs. Coleman that it was simply unreasonable that on Monday, the first day after Sunday, there was no pie or cake in the house.
Dr. Hooten has resigned his position as postmaster of Bennington but it is not known who will take his place.
Born, Monday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Avery Brooks.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Casper Clendenning of Posey Township, a son.
A daughter was born on December 9th to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gaudin.
100 YEARS AGO
Married at Carrollton December 5th, Miss Eula Donaldson and Joseph E. Robertson.
Frank Pavy, 18, is confined to his home with three broken ribs and a mangled foot after having been run over by a coal car at the Vevay Coal Company elevator.
Twin boys were born December 5th to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Holdcraft of Carmel Ridge.
Married November 29th, Miss Jennie Collins to Ike Dorrell.
110 YEARS AGO
J. P. Carter has succeeded John F. Patton as the new editor of the Switzerland Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. George McIntyre of Parks Ridge, three of their six children and Mrs. McIntyre’s mother, Mrs. Amanda Webb, narrowly escaped death Tuesday when they ate food which in some manner is believed to have been contaminated by arsenic poison. the other children were absent from home. Dr. Scott Culbertson of Moorefield and close neighbors who assisted him, labored for many hours over the six victims and succeeded in saving them from death.
George Melick of East Enterprise painfully injured his leg last week while loading hogs in a wagon when the member became caught between the wheel of the wagon and the hog pen.
The Union Furniture Company is running full time and is selling its products.
Mr. James M. Scott, trustee, will sell the Cunningham and Brown flouring mill in Vevay Monday, December 28th. It is a splendid modern mill and affords an opportunity for some one to engage in the milling business – the only flour mill in Vevay.
130 YEARS AGO
Married in Pleasant Township by Reverend Gleason, Henry D. Lock and Miss Mary A. Rutherford.
Married near Rising Sun December 6th by Reverend J. F. McClain, Miss Cynthia Harris and Frank Loring.
Married December 3rd by Reverend Samuel Adkinson, Frank Higgins and Miss Catherine Jones.
Married December 7th by Reverend Adkinson, Wesley Anderson and Miss Maggie Heath.
Died in Vevay December 12th, Josiah Jackman, 70, former justice of the peace and former town trustee. He was of unusual mechanical ability. There was no piece of machinery which he did not understand. He was fond of chemical experiments, was an amateur astronomer and he made several telescopes. He was a charter member of the Indiana Lodge of Odd Fellows and served several times as treasurer of the Masonic lodge.
A son was born December 1st to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Briggs of Bennington.
Cornelius Green and Miss Rebecca Pate of Patriot wee married December 6th.
Ice in the river has resulted from 7 degrees below zero temperature and river traffic has been halted.
At the President Hayes election jollification held at Moorefield Monday night, James Stewart and Charles Manford, Jr., were seriously burned about the face, neck and hands by the premature discharge of the cannon they were firing. Doctors Van Pelt and Christie dressed their injuries.
About 25 young men and women of Moorefield have raised a fun d to organize the Moorefield circulating library of 30 volumes.
Robert Scott of Moorefield, leading apiarist, produced 3,100 pounds of honey last season.
140 YEARS AGO
Slight damage resulted from a fire in Dumont and Dupraz’s tin shop last Friday.
The musical young men of Florence have organized a string and brass band.
J. G. Anderson has been appointed as census taker by the town council.
Potatoes are selling for 25 cents to 30 cents per bushel.
The wharf collector reports to the Town Council the amount of $12.75 collected the past month.
Married December 5th, Miss Martha V. Hitchens to Smith B. Worstell.
The barge Ghent, loaded with hay for the New Orleans market, sprung a leak and sank. Barge and hay belonged to Schenck and Sons, was a total loss and was valued at $4,000.
Thiebaud and Norisez started a flatboat load of hay, potatoes, corn, lumber, apples, and meat for the South last week.