News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Harold C. “Red” Benedict of Vevay was officially inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in ceremonies held last week in Indianapolis and at the Hall of Fame in New Castle. Mr. Benedict, a longtime coach, teacher, school principal and leader of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, will be presented with his Hall of Fame plaque and other honors during a ceremony at his home in Vevay on Tuesday, April 4th, at 1 p.m. Ray Craft, a member of the IHSAA staff and a star player on the legendary 1954 Milan state championship team, will be on hand to present Red Benedict with his honor. Also on hand will be other area members of the Hall of Fame, including former coaches John Collier, Gus Moorhead, and Bud Ritter.
A group of Switzerland County residents spent last Friday morning in Indianapolis, discussing with officials of the Indiana Department of Transportation the possibility of straightening and widening Highway 129 from Pleasant to Vevay. The meeting, organized by state representative Cleo Duncan, gave the county residents the opportunity to present their case face-to-face with INDOT officials.
Paul Reagan, a sixth grade student at Jefferson-Craig Elementary School, participated in the Cincinnati Post Spelling Bee on March 23rd at Raymond Walter College in Blue Ash, Ohio. He finished seventh overall out of 45 students in grades five through nine from area schools. He is the son of Doug and Debbie Reagan of Vevay and the grandson of Bob Opal Coates and Sue Reagan, all of Vevay.
On April 8th, Vevay’s Joe Roberts will retire as the Lockmaster at the Markland Dam and Locks. It will mark the end of a memorable career on the river, doing work he has always enjoyed.
20 YEARS AGO
Steve Duke of route 1, Bennington, has been honored by the Hoxworth Blood Center as a Gallon Blood Donor. Gallon Blood Donors are very special people, and the Center recognizes these people with gallon pins each month. It takes eight donations to equal one gallon. Blood can be given as often as every eight weeks.
Chad Brown, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Collier of Vevay was appointed as a page to the Indiana General Assembly currently working in Indianapolis. He was sponsored by Representative Dave Cheatham.
With the announcement that the Patriot Power Plant that was scheduled to be built by Indianapolis Power and Light in Switzerland County was being put on hold, many rumors circulated as to exactly what this meant as to future plans for the facility. The official term is indefinitely deferred for the operation. At this time the company does not have plans to build the plant at the Mexico Bottom site.
Frances Minch of route 3, Vevay, has been named as Switzerland County’s Senior Citizen Coordinator by Ninth District Congressman Lee Hamilton. She will assist Hamilton at functions for older persons in Switzerland County.
30 YEARS AGO
Marcia Coors, daughter of Roger and Ruth Coors of near Lake Geneva, did better than most in the Cincinnati Post’s 41st annual Spelling Bee held Saturday in Cincinnati. Marcia spelled 25 of 50 tough words, which was well above average.
Two Switzerland County young men and a former local resident are part of the Roane State Community College baseball team this Spring. Eddie Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robinson of Posey Township, and Bobby Osborne, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Osborne, of Vevay, are players on the Roane State team, and Larry Works, former Switzerland County High School teacher and coach, is the team’s coach.
Switzerland County’s sophomore star, Steve Sebree joined the elite ranks of Indiana’s top high school basketball players this week and he was named to the Associated Press All-State Honor Team.
Jennifer Briggs of Vevay participated in a January internship program at Franklin College. Jennifer, a freshman and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Briggs, of Vevay, worked with a first grade teacher at East Side Elementary School in Edinburgh.
40 YEARS AGO
Ralph Brown assumed duties Monday as Vevay chief of police to replace Fred Jennings, Jr., a Vevay marshal for some 23 years, including the last 13.
Stan Weber has signed a three-year contract as athletic director and head basketball and cross country coach at Southwestern High School in Hanover. The popular mentor resigned as Vevay High School coach with a run on a two year contract.
Wells are pumping, meters are ticking, water is flowing, and residents in and around Patriot are experiencing their first tastes of water from Patriot’s new water system. Ted Watters, president, Patriot Town Board, said this week that meters have been hooked up in town and in the immediate surrounding area with 70 homes enjoying ever-flowing treated water.
Mr. and Mrs. Julius B. Robinson of Bennington will observe their 50th wedding anniversary today.
Miss Kay Hanna, Indiana University student, has pledged Alpha Lambda Delta national freshman women’s scholastic honorary sorority.
50 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Minnie Weales, widow of the late Augustus C. Weales, passed away Sunday morning at her home on East Main Street following a long illness.
Injuries which Mrs. Avis North, 75, of Posey Township, received in an automobile accident on March 19th, in which her husband, Mr. Vinton North, was killed instantly, proved fatal as she passed in Norton Infirmary in Louisville, Kentucky, Thursday morning.
Oscar B. Carter, 84, died at his home near North’s Landing in Posey Township Monday afternoon following an illness of three weeks.
The Louisville-Courier, Louisville Times, and WHAS Kentuckiana Spelling Been for the Switzerland County school system was held Saturday, March 26th, in the Jefferson-Craig School building. Joy Ann Robinson, a 7th grade pupil of Jefferson-Craig was the winner, spelling all 150 words correctly. Nancy Barnes of the same school was the runner up, missing only one of the 150 words.
Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wiseman quietly celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary at their home on Seminary Street Tuesday, March 29th.
60 YEARS AGO
Technical Sergeant Elbert V. Storie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl S. Storie, of near Vevay, who has been hospitalized for some time in the Pacific area, has arrived in the United States and is now at Billings General Hospital at Fort Harrison, Indiana.
The 32nd General Hospital of the U.S. Army, recruited and sponsored by the Indiana Medical Center in Indianapolis, is the first major American Army Medical installation to be established in Germany. Lieutenant Colonel Carl S. Culbertson of Vevay is one of the department heads of the unit. His daughter, Captain Marie E. Culbertson, is at the same hospital.
Oscar Cushard, aged 81 years, well known resident of Patriot, passed away at the County Infirmary Tuesday evening, March 27th.
Mrs. Dena Shadday has been advised by the War Department that her son, Private Frederick Shadday, had been killed in action on Luzon Island on February 26th.
Principal John A. Danglade and Miss Frances Culbertson, two valued members of the high school faculty, have resigned their positions effective August 1st.
Mrs. Zora Cole of Vevay and Clem Ambrose of near Pleasant were united in marriage at the home of Reverend S.E. Wells Saturday evening.
Miss Dorothy Eichler of Posey Township and Sam LeHue of Marengo, Indiana were married in Vevay Saturday by Reverend L.S. Courtney.
Born, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Byron Hardin.
70 YEARS AGO
Charles Horton, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Ralph Horton, and a pupil of Miss Ruth Osborn at the Long Run School, will represent Switzerland County in the Southeastern Indiana Spelling Bee to be held at Mitchell, Indiana, Saturday afternoon, having won the county competition last Saturday.
Elizabeth Jane Bills, aged 86 years, died Monday morning at her home in Vevay after a long period of intense suffering.
Miss Frances Jackson and Elbert Clemons, both of this county, were united in marriage by Reverend W.A. Badgett at the parsonage Saturday morning.
Miss Gertie Baker passed away on March 14th at the home of her sister, Mrs. W.T. Stewart in Patriot.
Mrs. Mayme Bledsoe is moving her hat shop from Ferry Street to Main Street.
80 YEARS AGO
Scott’s Confectionery had a Frigidaire cabinet installed last week which will do away with the necessity of packing ice cream in ice.
A committee representing the Julia L. Dumont Club met the city council men at their regular meeting last week to formerly present the Receiving Vault to the city of Vevay.
Born, a son, Edward William, to Mr. and Mrs. Everett Owings of Bennington.
At a clothing roundup Thursday it was announced that 234 women of the county had taken part in the Extension work. They have made 442 adult dresses, 8 coats, 364 children’s dresses and coats, 419 undergarments, and 371 made over garments.
The Board of County Commissioners have lowered the tax on dogs to less than half the former rate.
90 YEARS AGO
Jesse Tague is suffering from a serious wound inflicted in one of his eyes when he was accidentally struck by a stick in his own hands. The injury is of such nature that he may lose the sight in his eye.
Mrs. Robert McCreary, aged 16 years, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arch Jones, Thursday after a lingering illness.
The steamboat built recently at Jeffersonville to replace the Hattie Brown in the Warsaw-Madison trade will be named Vim. She will make her inaugural trip in about two weeks.
Born, March 22nd, a son, Benjamin Creighton, to Mr. and Mrs. Rollie Furnish of Goose Creek.
A well being driven by H..J. Harris in the yard at his home in Patriot is progressing slowly. It is now about 85 feet deep but quicksand has been struck and it is probable that it will be necessary to go several feet deeper before gravel and water will be reached.
100 YEARS AGO
The Union Furniture Company is making shipments to Mexico and Pittsburgh.
Died at her home here Mrs. Ann Strain, a native of Ireland.
Died in Anderson, William B. Owens, formerly of Vevay.
Mrs. George McCulloch, 87, of Center Square, was dangerously injured in a fall.
Hiram C. Gordon, formerly of Switzerland County, was reelected Mayor of Huntington, West Virginia.
“Uncle Tommy” Thompson of near Bennington observed his 95th birthday. He is a native of Glasgow, Scotland.
Josie Pavy closed her term of school at Pickett’s Corner.
Reverend John Roger and F.M. Long, Jr., of Sugar Branch, are in Cincinnati buying new stained glass windows for the church.
120 YEARS AGO
Licensed to marry: Eddie Mottier and Emma Dunning; Fred Riley and Ida Leap; Wesley W. Romans and Alice Brayton; David H. Park and Julia A. Leap; John W. Haskell and Mary A. Harper; Charles Medary and Cora Brindley.
David Cotton, aged about 22 years, died near Moorefield on the 22nd.
Born, a daughter to Mrs. M.F. Gardner, of Aaron.
Dr. Benedict has taken up residence in the Butler property in Patriot.
130 YEARS AGO
Bert Alling, 13-year-old boy of Madison, is issuing a paper there called Madison Times.
W.H. Wallick is leading news dealer and stationery dealer here.
Scarlet fever is prevalent over the county.
The Patriot Town Council placed a gasoline lamp on Front Street for the convenience of wharf passengers.
Died at East Enterprise, Mortimer Dunning.
Died in Cross Plains, March 25th, Mrs. Elizabeth Rayburn.
140 YEARS AGO
George Harper from Switzerland County died March 21st of pneumonia in Hospital No. 2 at Nashville, Tennessee. He was a member of Company H, 35th Indiana.
The citizens of Vevay are requested to meet at the Court House in Vevay next Saturday evening for the purpose of consulting together as to the interest of Vevay in regard to the railroad in contemplation between Cincinnati and New Albany.
Twenty barrels of eggs were sold at Cincinnati at 8 cents per dozen.
A new “cent” of white metal is to be issued by the government.