News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The purchase of U.S. Shoe Corporation’s footwear division by the Nine West Group could spell potential trouble for the shoe factory here in Vevay. The sale, announced last week and expected to carry a purchase price of $600 million, means that U.S. Shoe will no longer be involved in the production of shoes. The company retained both their women’s apparel division and their LensCrafters eyeglass centers.
Vevay’s Ryan Redmon, a junior theatre major at the University of Indianapolis, is cast in the theatre department’s production of “The Nerd.” The comedy will be presented on March 31st through April 2nd, and also April 7th and 8th on the University of Indianapolis campus.
Vevay town police officer Bob Donnell received special recognition during last Wednesday night’s Vevay Town Board meeting. Officer Donnell was cited by the Indiana Fire Marshal’s office for his actions during both the fire involving the Robert Morgan residence and the fire at the WKID radio station.
20 YEARS AGO
Pfc. Joseph R. Works, son of Wilbur R. Works of Madison, and Ann M. Furnish of Vevay, has completed the electronic warfare cryptologic, interceptor-Morse course at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Micah S. Ramsey successfully completing the Automotive and Diesel Truck Technology Course at Lincoln Technical Institute.
Graduation ceremonies were held at the Indianapolis school on February 22nd. He is a 1983 graduate of Corban Ministries.
Shane Armstrong has successfully completed the Automotive and Diesel Truck Technology Course at Lincoln Technical Institute.
Graduation ceremonies were held on February 22nd at Lincoln Tech. He is a 1984 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
When the All-Conference team for the Ohio River Valley Conference was announced last week, Switzerland County placed two cagers on that elite squad. Senior Bryan Hayes was the Pacers leading scorer, hitting at just over 15 points per game. Junior Jeff Weales was the other Switzerland County honoree. Weales averaged 13 points per game for the season. The two received certificates of recognition from Head Coach Otha Smith.
30 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rucker of route 1, Canaan, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Diana Kay, to Mark Graham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Graham of Vevay. The wedding is planned for April 5th at 7:30 p.m. in the Brushy Fork Baptist Church near Pleasant.
Eight-year-old Brian Green of East Enterprise was hospitalized in satisfactory condition in Cincinnati Monday evening after suffering a fractured skull in an accident at the home of his grandparents near East Enterprise. Brian was watching his father Lowell take down a basketball goal when an iron pole supporting the goal toppled off Mr. Green’s tractor and struck the boy in the head. He is a patient in Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati and doctors said they expect him to recover fully from the injury.
Some veteran school bus drivers were honored last Wednesday night at a special recognition banquet staged by the Switzerland County School Corporation for its non-teaching employees. Five drivers with a total of 124 years of carrying students to and from Switzerland County Schools were given special recognition, along with three others who are retiring at the end of the current school year. Those with longtime driving careers for the county school system included Clifford Keith, 30 years experience; Edwin Works, 27 years; Norman McClellan, 24 years; Aldean Clements, 23 years, and Fay Hart, 20 years.
40 YEARS AGO
Julia LeClerc Knox, direct descendent for the founders of Switzerland County and long the county’s leading historian, passed away peacefully at 4:50 a.m. Tuesday at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. The 94-year-old Miss Julie, as she was known to young and old, wrote three major books plus numerous newspaper and magazine articles and some poetry in addition to her work as a school teacher and principal.
50 YEARS AGO
John McKenzie, Sr., celebrated his 87th birthday on March 17th at his home.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cook, Jr., are the proud parents of a baby boy born at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati, Saturday, March 12th. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and has been named Terry Lloyd.
The resignation of Guy S. Harris as Superintendent of the Patriot Consolidated Schools, effective July 31st, was read and accepted February 28th, 1955 when the school board held their regular meeting.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Allen quietly observed their 50th wedding anniversary Wednesday at their home in Vevay.
60 YEARS AGO
Private Karl F. Lohide of Vevay, Route 2, has been reported as slightly wounded in action in Germany as of March 1st.
Fire caused by lightning destroyed a barn and its contents on the Graham Demaree farm near Moorefield early Saturday morning.
Private Wilbur Scudder, Vevay route 2, who was reported missing since November 12th is now known to be a prisoner of the Germans.
Miss Thelma Harlow of Quercus Grove and M1C William Bosaw, formerly of this county, were married in Boston Massachusetts Thursday morning.
In a spelling contest for the county schools held Saturday morning, Harold Vernon Allen, son of Alva Allen, a Plum Creek School pupil, emerged the winner. Miss Betty Porter at pupil at Florence was runner up.
Miss Mary Katherine Morrison and Corporal James M. Wiley were married Saturday, March 17th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend L.S. Courtney.
Born March 15th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bladen of Florence.
Pfc. Freeman Noel of near Patriot is reported to have been seriously injured in action February 10th during the fighting on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines.
70 YEARS AGO
Henry Lee, about 73 years of age, was the victim of a heart attack Wednesday morning suffered while he was driving cattle to pasture after milking. Mr. Lee resided on the Tapps Ridge-Markland Pike.
Miss America Heady, native and lifelong resident of this county, died Thursday at the home of her niece, Mrs. Beryl Malcomson.
Miss Mary E. Roberts, aged 79 years, died at the home of her son, Rolland Roberts, in Craig Township Wednesday morning after a two-year period of ill health.
Walter Storie, former resident of Cotton Township, passed away in Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis on February 26th.
Born, March 17th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Knigga of Bear Branch.
80 YEARS AGO
Dilver Wiseman, aged 20 years, died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wiseman, near Bennington Saturday morning after an illness of three weeks duration.
Mrs. George W. Haskell, aged 67 years, died Monday morning at her home in Vevay after an illness of several weeks.
Fire caused by lightning destroyed a large barn at Quercus Grove belonging to W.L. Naye last Friday night.
William North, Civil War Veteran, died Thursday at the home of his niece, Mrs. Nathan Bonnell, near Antioch.
Born March 10th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Max Manuel of Bennington.
Born March 12th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Tinker of East Enterprise.
Born Sunday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Dale Benedict of Vevay.
90 YEARS AGO
The moving picture “The Hoosier Schoolmaster,” based on Vevay native Edward Eggleston’s novel, will be presented at the Lyric Theater on the nights of April 1st and 2nd and tickets for same are on sale at the Lamson Confectionery. The Riggs Brothers are paying more than double rental on the film and the public should support this enterprise.
Miss Mabel Hall and Jesse LeClerc were married Wednesday night by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
David Sieglitz is the first person in Switzerland County to take out a chauffeur’s license. He received his tag Monday morning.
Winifred Stephenson of Bryant’s Creek and Miss Coy of Florence were united in marriage at Warsaw Tuesday.
100 YEARS AGO
James Gillespie, convicted some time ago in the murder of his sister,, is now a “trusty” in the Indiana State Prison and is held in high esteem by other inmates.
John Grammer purchased the National Hotel here for $1600.
M.G. Tharp of Carrollton has set up a box-ball alley on Ferry Street here.
A Letter to the Editor from S.H. Cole, formerly of Vevay states, “I left Switzerland County in 1873 and came here to Fresno, California. It had about a dozen houses and now it has about 25,000 people.”
Harry C. Sullivan has been appointed Guard at the Indiana Reformatory in Jeffersonville.
Mrs. Will McKay and Miss Clara Bosaw have taken a lease on the Hotel Vevay and will continue its operation.
Miss Lura Tilley has a fine stenographic position in Indianapolis.
Ripley County had 28 more deaths than births in 1904.
Born to Asa Dennis and wife of Sugar Branch March 20th, a daughter.
The residence of Harry Lee on Drakes Ridge was destroyed by fire.
110 YEARS AGO
Jesse Cooper, aged 60 years, died March 12th. He had been a soldier of the 13th Regiment of Indiana.
The members of the Vevay Mandolin and Guitar Club have returned from Hanover where they furnished music for the annual Literary Contest.
Yesterday evening the barge “Williams” owned by J.E. Williams of Vevay was blown by a strong wind to the Kentucky shore near Brooksburg, striking snags and sinking. The barge was loaded with 200 tons of prairie hay. Stucy Brothers are doing an immense business in tobacco at their warehouses in Vevay and Ghent.
Yesterday, about three inches of snow fell.
Monday morning the people of Patriot were surprised to learn that the Post Office had again been visited by burglars and a large sum of money taken.
Bloodhounds were brought in and they trailed the thief to the river bank.
130 YEARS AGO
Waldo the Hatter will block your hat for 75 cents.
Coal is selling for 14 cents here.
David Lee was elected president of the county Grange.
Married here March 18th by Reverend T. Warn Beagle, Bedford P. Thiebaud and Miss Mate C. Harris.
A spelling school will be held at the Court House here and 10 cents admission will be charged.
Died in Vevay, March 20th, Loulie, daughter of W.M. and Mary D. Patton.
Died in Vevay, March 20th, Lela, infant daughter of Oliver and Susan M. Day.
140 YEARS AGO
One night last week, we had a severe wind and rain storm doing considerable damage in the vicinity. The roof of the Smithson Saw Mill was blown off and Perret Dufour’s warehouse on Ferry Street was blown down.
John W. Chittenden and William C. Neal, both of Switzerland County, have patented a machine for splitting hoops.
Jailer William Price while building a fire for he prisoners in the stone jail, was locked in when several convicts escaped.
Civil War News: Lieutenant Thomas D. Lamson, 3 Indiana Calvary, who has been a prisoner in the hands of the rebels for about nine months, has arrived home exchanged. The rebels moved him from Columbia, South Carolina, about eight hours before Sherman’s arrival. Sergeant Thomas J. Pavy, also a prisoner, has also arrived home. He belonged to Company D, 93rd Indiana.