News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
It was March 17th of 1946, and 21 Switzerland County men were returning from World War II. They were encouraged to stay together and share their experiences after the war. They did just that — they met together in the old Vevay gymnasium and formed the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Now 50 years later, the organization that started in the gym with 21 members has now grown to include over 220 members in the Vevay Chapter of the VFW. They include veterans from many different battles and wars, but who all share a common thread — they all fought on foreign soil for this country.
The Switzerland County Commissioners okayed a price quote on the building of offices for the new health clinic last Friday, clearing the way for the construction to begin soon. The commissioners decided to accept quotes from contractors on building the offices, which are being added onto the county health department building.
Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce president Sherry Houze presented Swiss Wine Festival chairman Kirk Works with the state Vista award. The festival won the award recently at the Lieutenant Governor’s conference on tourism, and the accomplishments of the festival were highlighted to the audience.
15 YEARS AGO
Gary Cain of route 3, Madison, won first place in the Indiana Wild Turkey Calling Contest, in the Junior division. The Junior Division Champion competed March 9th in Indianapolis. He also won the competition last year. He is the son of Chester and Nancy Cain.
20 YEARS AGO
Eric Cole, son of James and Donna Cole, route 2, Vevay, will receive the State Farmer Degree at the FFA (Future Farmers of America) State Convention held at Purdue University during the third week of June. Eric is a junior at Switzerland County High School and has worked hard to achieve this degree. The State Farmer Degree is the highest degree that may be bestowed upon an FFA member at the state level and is awarded to only three percent of the total state membership.
Noeline Galang, daughter of Dr. Diego and Fidelia Valenzuela of Vevay, has been named the Daughters of the American Revolution State Good Citizen Winner. This is the first time in history that Switzerland County has had the state winner. Noeline was named the winner from the Swiss Vineyard Chapter and her essay was submitted to state judges, along with 371 other entries from Indiana’s other local chapters. This year’s essay topic was “Our American Heritage and my Responsibility to Preserve it.”
30 YEARS AGO
An automobile accident Saturday evening took the life of Brian Keith Tinker, 15 years old, of near Fairview. The victim, son of Wilbur and Thelma Tinker, died instantly of head injuries and internal injuries received when the car he was driving slid in loose gravel on a sharp rise in state road 250 and went off the road, striking a tree.
Switzerland County’s low-cost housing project for senior citizens is just a couple of technical steps away from entering its construction phase.
40 YEARS AGO
Vevay Kiwanis Club’s 11th annual youth talent show will be held at 8 p.m. May 6th at Vevay High School gym, Kiwanis officials announced this week.
They say it’s a man’s world but for one Switzerland County woman it’s the ladies who hold the advantage — at least in the field of elementary school principals. Mrs. Roberta Cord, as Jefferson-Craig Consolidated Elementary School principal, is the county’s first and only licensed lady principal and is fully enjoying her work.
Final arrangements to locate an automotive and appliance trim manufacturing plant in Vevay were completed Wednesday as Vevay officials met with officials of The Randall Company, a Division of Textron, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Rayls have announced the engagement of their daughter, Marilyn, to George Reed, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Reed. No date has been set for the wedding.
Mrs. James Hon of rural route 1, Florence, has been elected to serve as 10th District woman leader of Indiana Farm Bureau.
50 YEARS AGO
Officials of the Vevay factory of the U.S. Shoe Corporation have announced that the local plant will shortly begin expansion into an area adjoining the present building. According to Superintendent Tony Scherzinger, U.S. Shoe is purchasing 22,200 square feet of land from the county, just north and adjoining the present structure.
Mrs. Mary Lou Furnish, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Smith of Vevay and Mr. Charles E. Heifner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heifner of Indianapolis were married March 16th in the Forty-ninth Street Christian Church parsonage in Indianapolis.
Frank W. McKay of Brooksburg, route one, is beginning production of a new game called “Horse Tradin’,” which he recently copyrighted. The game is played with cards bearing titles of horses and imitation currency. Mr. McKay is presently completing plans to market the game nationally but has begun sales at stores in Vevay.
Miss Laverne Ballard, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Ballard of Florence and Mr. Harold D. Hayes, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes of near Aberdeen, were united in marriage Easter Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Baptist Church in Vevay by Reverend Omer Fisher.
60 YEARS AGO
A new grocery business will soon be opened in the Heady building, Ferry Street in Vevay. The establishment will be owned by Scott Furnish and will be operated by his daughter, Miss Marjorie Furnish, and son, Wilfred Furnish.
Miss Roxieanna Lewis of Rising Sun and David Scudder of route 2, Vevay, were united in marriage Tuesday evening by Reverend L. S. Courtney.
Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wiseman celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary Friday, March 29th.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Osborn, recent residents of Dayton, Ohio, on Monday purchased the general store of Ray Wolf located in Moorefield and has taken possession.
70 YEARS AGO
Judge Curtis D. Marshall Tuesday afternoon announced the appointment of the Switzerland County Welfare Board, composed of the following members: Mrs. Orville F. Shadday, Mrs. R. M. Copeland, Oscar N. Brindley, William H. Bodey and Roy C. Johnson. Eugene T. Broadwell was elected by the members as County Welfare Director.
Riley Land, retired businessman of this county, passed away at his home in Vevay Saturday, having been in poor health for several years.
Robert L. Slate, Vevay business man, died at his home here Wednesday night following an illness of some duration.
Dickason and Weals, local garage owners, have been given the Chevrolet agency for this county and will assume management sometime this week.
Born, a son, Newell D., to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Fox.
80 YEARS AGO
City Council Monday night took steps to stop bicycle riding on the sidewalks and in the future agreed to enforce an ordinance which provides a $5.00 fine for each violation.
Additional drastic orders from the state fire marshal were served on tenants and owners last Friday. The new orders provide for the tearing down of three more buildings. Riley Land, proprietor of the Royal Theatre, received word that he will not have to discontinue the operation of his theatre as he had been previously ordered to do.
Mrs. Josephine Bright of Brooksburg and George Buchanan of near Lamb were married in Vevay Saturday by Reverend F. E. Hammel.
Mrs. Martha Pavy, aged 82 years, resident of Craig Township, was burned to death Monday night in a fire that destroyed her home near Braytown.
Miss Nina Dibble and Edward Cook of Posey Township were married Saturday, March 27th, by Reverend E. E. Young of Hartsville, Indiana.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Bolden.
90 YEARS AGO
The Butler Hotel bus is being repaired and will continue to carry passengers to any point in town.
O’Neal and McKay Tuesday relet the contract for their new garage to Detraz Brothers of Vevay. Owing to the illness of Henderson Webster who had been given the contract he could not attend to the work.
Walter E. Gaudin has purchased equipment for a cleaning and pressing establishment which will be installed in his furnishings store in Vevay. Cal Curran of Versailles, Indiana will arrive in Vevay in a few days to manage the new business.
Unknown persons last Saturday night robbed several local fishermen of their catches. Seventy-five shovelnose fish in a box were stolen from Frank Day and the nets of Fred Jennings and Uly Butters were robbed. It is believed that the thieves stole at least 150 fish.
Born Monday, March 27th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rutherford of Moorefield.
Born, a son to Leslie Breeck and wife of Lamb.
Born, Thursday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Millard McFarland of Craig Township.
100 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Reveille Company has purchased a lot on Pike Street and a new home for the print shop and newspaper will be built there. Plans are being drawn by Newton Tebow, a Cincinnati architect.
A daughter was born March 26th to M. and Mrs. Will Lamson of Craig Township.
A daughter was born March 31st to Reverend and Mrs. V. B. Hargett of Sugar Branch.
110 YEARS AGO
Dr. Z. B. Hastings has moved from North Madison to the old home farm near Vevay.,
Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Adams of Aaron will leave Wednesday for Fresno, California, where the half brother of Mrs. Adams, Andrew Hotchkiss, resides.
Fred Pattie, while operating a saw in Pattie’s planing mill last Thursday had his fingers and hand badly lacerated. Doctors Wollen and Dalgleish administered chloroform and dressed the severe wounds.
The large barn of J. W. Chittenden near Bennington was burned Monday night. Lost in the blaze were two hogs, hay, grain and farming implements including a steam threshing machine. Milt Ellis, who had just moved to the Chittenden farm, lost four horses, farming tools and produce.
Commencement exercises were held at Patriot High School Friday night with the following graduates: Bessie Fletcher, Avery Huston, Mary Dibble, Hubert Broadwell, Bertha Harris, Nola Humphrey, Fred Schroeder, Daisy Dibble, Pop Corn, and George Moredock.
130 YEARS AGO
Married at the residence of the bride’s father, W. B. Lendsay, near Ghent, Kentucky, on March 28th, 1876, Richard Grigson of Augusta, Illinois, and Miss Anna Lindsay.
Married at the residence of the bride’s parents in Jefferson County, Indiana, by Reverend R. L. Klunear, Mr. Fogelman Shadday and Mrs. Mary E. Joyce.
The little Republican at the home of W. H., Adkinson will not vote this year. As the youngest child of Samuel Pleasants is a girl, it probably never will vote.
Last Saturday evening while walking along the streets, William M. Patton stumbled and fell, dislocating one of his ankles and breaking one of the small bones.
The Henry House, corner Main and Liberty streets, has just been refurnished and reopened, Henry Todd is the proprietor.
Frank L. Mennet of Salina, Kansas has been visiting his parents near Vevay.
Miss Mollie A. Dickason who has had control of the musical department of a school in Emperia, Kansas, returned to her home in Vevay last week.
John M. Torrance has gone to Cincinnati to reside.
Report of the Vevay Public Schools for the month ending March 31st, 1876. Total member enrolled, 427 ; Average daily attendance, 332; Percent of attendance, 86; Number not absent at all 102; number not tardy at all 314; number neither absent or tardy, 79.
Last Saturday evening the towboat John Dippold came down with a barge of Pittsburg coal, which she landed here for Brestow and Lock.
Amount of toll collected at the gate near Vevay, during March $205.62.
140 YEARS AGO
Married March 22nd, by Reverend Isaac N. Cole, Miss Mary E. Cole and John Landifer.
John Holler has moved his barber shop to Mrs. Dumont’s building on the corner of Ferry and Pike streets.
The Catholic ladies of Vevay will hold a fair for the purpose of raising funds to build a church in Vevay.
150 YEARS AGO
On Saturday a son of David Huckleberry of Craig Township in crossing a field where was enclosed a vicious horse was bitten and trampled to death. The mother of the boy saw the tragedy and died a few hours later from shock.
Robert Drummond is now presiding judge in the Switzerland County Court of Common Pleas.
152 YEARS AGO
Married March 30th by Reverend H. Wason, Miss Antoinette Gray of Vevay and John Q. Dickason of Peoria, Illinois.
Married also on March 30th by Reverend H. Wason, Miss Anna L. Webb and John Waltz of this county.
Miss Emma Estella Dufour will give piano lessons at the residence of Mr. James Harwood. A session of five months is advertised for $20.00 with two weekly lessons and one hour of practice each day with the use of the instrument.