News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Susan Nimersheim of Vevay has been selected as the new director of the Switzerland County Public Library. She will begin her duties on January 1st, and replaces Lois Rosenberger, who has served as county librarian for 26 years. She comes to the job already having some working knowledge of the local library. She has been involved with the library as the coordinator of the Indiana college network-distance learning program, which is based at the library.
An effort is underway to learn local feelings about what types of reclamation of the land might best be planned after Hilltop Basic Resources concludes its sand and gravel mining operation at its 683-acre Mexico Bottom site, near Patriot. A land use planner employed by Hilltop met with county officials recently to begin that effort.
A one-vehicle accident on the River Road near Plum Creek Road on December 13th claimed the life of a Switzerland County man. Bobby Hamby, 39, of Tapps Ridge Road, was proceeding west on Highway 156 when his pickup truck started sliding on the ice-covered Plum Creek bridge and struck a tree.
Employees of the Nine West plant in Vevay have been donating money as a part of the “Love Lights A Tree” fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society. The tree contains over 97 pledge cards. Organizers were Patty Chase, Donna Ballard, Rahe Jean Griffin, Linda Jones and Pat Miller.
Monica Hensley of Vevay has been admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana. She graduated from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law in May and is currently employed at the office of attorney Lisa K. Rosenberger in Vevay. She is the daughter of Edsel and Bonnie Detraz of Vevay. She and her husband, Bobby, reside on Market Street.
Jerry McKenzie, son of Dwight and Christine McKenzie of Vevay, has been named director of grant resources at the University of Findley, in Findlay, Ohio.
15 YEARS AGO
An open house will be held to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Carroll N. and Mavis I. (Cole) Scudder of Fairview. The couple was united in marriage on December 24th, 1940, at the Fairview Methodist parsonage.
Linda C. Jackson, daughter of Paul D. Jackson of Vevay, has received the Lima News scholarship at Ohio Northern University for 1990-91. She is a freshman majoring in English.
Jason Sams had a special visit with Congressman Lee Hamilton recently in Washington, D.C. Jason was in Washington as a Congressional Youth Leadership Council student.
20 YEARS AGO
Denton Bush, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Bush of route 3, Vevay, was named the winner of this year’s conservation speech contest held last Thursday, December 12th, in the library of the Switzerland County High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Sinnett Gray of route 1, Canaan will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on December 29th at the Brushy Fork Baptist Church from 2 to 4 p.m.
George Boulton of Green Valley brought in two large turnips which he grew in his garden. They weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces, and 4 pounds, 12 ounces.
30 YEARS AGO
Work on building the bridge across Markland Dam is progressing on schedule, with present plans calling for construction to proceed through the winter on the span that will connect Switzerland County, Indiana with Gallatin County, Kentucky sometime in 1978. Carl A. Minning, Jr., of Batavia, Ohio, a nephew of Mrs. Martha Cole, is a student at The College of Medicine of Ohio State University. He is the son of Dr. Carl and Evelyn (Furnish) Minning of Batavia.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora Gullion celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last Thursday with an open house at their home in Vevay. Helping them commemorate the occasion were a host of relatives and friends.
Switzerland County Emergency Unit volunteers were credited with possibly saving the life of a Switzerland County man injured Sunday Night in an auto accident. Sheriff Ralph Brown said Gary Ritch, 28, of Florence, had lost so much blood from severe facial cuts suffered in the accident that the prompt action by the Emergency Unit’s volunteers may well have prevented the victim from bleeding to death. Ritch was injured when he was thrown through the windshield of his car after it crashed on State Road 250 one mile west of Allensville Sunday night at about 9 o’clock.
40 YEARS AGO
Vevay wound up 1965 basketball competition Tuesday evening against comparatively weak Moores Hill. The Warriors were down mentally and physically and scuffed their way to a 75-50 win at Vevay gym.
A fourth quarter rally carried Moors Hill to victory and sank Patriot and Sand Creek Saturday evening in the consolation game of the Decatur Invitational Tournament.
50 YEARS AGO
In a beautiful Christmas wedding which was performed Thursday night in the Switzerland Baptist Church, Miss Betty Wiley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gayle Wiley of Vevay, became the bride of Don Grant, son of Reverend and Mrs. E.H. Grant of East St. Louis, Illinois.
As we go to press we learn of the death of C.B. DeHart, 90, of Patriot, widely known retired businessman, who died at the home of his son, Raymond, in Aurora where he had gone to spend the winter.
Official announcement was made this week that construction of the new Ohio River dam at Markland will be started early in the Spring.
60 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moreillon of near Fairview are announcing the marriage of their daughter, Lt. Helen Moreillon, to Major T. J. O’Conner of the Marine Aviation Corps. The wedding occurred Monday, December 10th, in San Diego, California.
Eugene T. Broadwell, Welfare Director of Switzerland County for the past nine years, tendered his resignation Saturday afternoon to be effective June 1, 1946. The vacancy will be filled on that date by Mrs. Ramona Pickett.
Mrs. Kate Ward passed away at her home in Vevay Wednesday morning, after a long period of ill health. She was the widow of Dr. J.P. Ward.
70 YEARS AGO
Alvin Adams, former Assessor of Craig Township, passed away at his home in Braytown Sunday morning. He had been in ill health for several years and some time ago was forced to retire from the grocery business.
Fen Taylor, aged 73 years, and a native of Switzerland County, died at his home near Columbus, Indiana, Friday. For a number of years Mr. Taylor had taught in schools both in this and Bartholomew counties.
At a meeting of the Town Board Wednesday night at a number of appointments were made. Forrest Iddings was confirmed as superintendent of the light and water plant with M. V. Burke, Harry Means, and William Louis Buschmann as assistants. Charles Seymour was chosen at Town Marshall with John Lock as night police. Louis Sauvain will take over as sexton of the cemetery with Roy Brown as assistant.
George W. Johnston, well known engineer and former superintendent of the Vevay Light and Water Works, passed away at the U.S. Marine hospital in Louisville, Kentucky Thursday evening. Mr. Johnson who was 60 years of age had been in ill health for some time and had entered the hospital a year ago for treatment.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Works of Allensville.
Lora Morgan and Ruth Taylor, both of Aurora, were married here Wednesday by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
80 YEARS AGO
Announcement has been made of the marriage of Worth P. Lyons and Miss Edith Bunger, both of Posey Township, the ceremony having been performed at Shelbyville September 9.
90 YEARS AGO
No trace has been found of Frank Emerson, aged about 56, who has been missing from his home in Patriot since last week. All indications show that he was drowned in the Ohio River, having been run down by a towboat while returning from ferrying two people to the Kentucky shore.
Robert Estes and Miss Cora Smith of Pleasant Township were married in Vevay last Friday by Reverend Frank Hammel.
Glen Crandell and Miss Maggie Storie, both of the Moorefield community, were married December 22nd at the bride’s home by Reverend F.W. Schmunk.
100 YEARS AGO
The trial of Jim Joyce in the shooting of Jesse Harper is now being heard in the Circuit Court here.
F.A. Griffith and O.S. Clendenning received 7 1/2 cents per pound for their tobacco.
J.G. Sigmon was elected Noble Grand of the Bennington Lodge of Odd Fellows.
W.E. Turner was elected W.M. of the Masonic Lodge at Sugar Branch.
Reverend I.P. Langley is the new pastor of the Baptist Church here.
James Partain was painfully injured when struck in the eye by a rock.
110 YEARS AGO
Mr. Robert Anderson Knox, one of Vevay’s oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home in Vevay Wednesday, December 11, aged 76 years.
Died in Los Angeles, California last week, of consumption, Dr. Frank Darling, aged 49 years. He formerly resided in Vevay.
Mr. Ben Cole will soon start a new store in Mt. Sterling.
130 YEARS AGO
A big meeting will be held in the Court House here to discuss the building of macamadized roads.
David Smith was appointed constable for York Township and John Gurley for Posey.
George W. Saddler of Cotton Township has a hog 9 feet long and 6 feet and 10 inches in circumference.
The Masons of Moorefield have completed their new two-story brick hall.
McCreary and Land have completed their new flour mill on the site of the Krutz warehouse in Florence.
Andrew and William Dunn have completed new cottages at Florence.
Norisez and Fisk are offering beautiful chairs of all kinds at the chair factory here.
140 YEARS AGO
We learn that some lots of freight for Vevay were lost off the steamer C.T. Dumont, at the time of the collision at Big Bone last Thursday night. F.J. Waldo, Ferry Street grocer, lost a barrel of coal oil and a barrel of molasses.
The rebels, General Sterling Price, has forwarded his application to be allowed to return to the United States and be pardoned.
At a meeting of the Agricultural Society the following officers were elected: F.L Grisard, President; E.T. Ogle, Vice President; Thomas H. Downey, Secretary; Benjamin F. Schenck, Treasurer.
152 YEARS AGO
George Rodgers, W. Price, and George Tardy were allowed 1 dollar each for guarding the jail two nights.
William Anderson and William Means were allowed 125 dollars by the commissioners for building a house on the poor farm.
Joseph Peelman was given the contract for the new county jail for a total of $8,675.
Isaac Nash has removed to Prestonville, Kentucky and Lucian Rous has removed to Peru, Indiana.
Miss Julia L. Dumont will open her school here in January, offering Latin, French, Geography, Grammar, and Algebra.