News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Lois Rosenberger of Vevay was selected Volunteer of the Year by the Area 12 Council on Aging. She was honored at a tea held Monday in Aurora. Harold DeNoon, chairman of the Area 12 board of directors, made the presentation.
Switzerland County residents Wilma McClellan and Harry Lamson were both nominated for the honor of Older Hoosier of the Year, and although neither was the area winner, their accomplishments were well recognized by the Council on Aging and those in attendance. There were 10 nominees for the award.
National Honor Society induction was held Tuesday evening at SCHS. Those inducted include: John Clarke, Elizabeth Donnellon, Renee Hoskins, Andrea Covington, Rebecca Brown, Rose Calhoun, Scott Redmon, Clint Anders, Melissa Johns, Lesley Covington, Jerri Lynn Peters, Adam Bowling, Jordan Houze, Nathan Jones, and Jason Cooper.
15 YEARS AGO
Members of the Vevay Town Council and the Switzerland County Public Library have taken a major step in the process toward the building of a new public library for the county. They recently exchanged deeds, transferring the Town’s Market Square property and the library property to each other.
After nearly a year of hard work refurbishing Vevay’s Red Brick Inn (the former Swiss Inn), co-owners Dan and Barbara Houser and Mark McNair have opened for business. Opening day was Monday, April 1st, and by all accounts was a success.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Niccum of route 2, Dillsboro, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this month. They were married on April 18th, 1936.
Mr. and Mrs. William Wilder, route 1, Bennington announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Kathy Michelle to Stephen Allen Colen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Colen, route 2, Dillsboro. The wedding will take place on July 5th at 6 p.m. at the Aberdeen United Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Thomas, route 1, Patriot, would like to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Jennifer, to Dan Hon, son of Jerry Hon, Florence, and Anna Beckett, Rising Sun.
Kaulene Furnish Green, Indianapolis, graduated from Professional Careers Institute of Indianapolis, in an impressive capping and candle lighting ceremony on Friday, April 4th.
30 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County School Board members and school superintendent H. William Hall say thy are “encouraged” by the public response they’ve received to their tentative plans to consolidate the county’s four outlying school districts into one new school building.
Susan Deer, the Indianapolis grade schooler who made her acting debut in the title role of “A Girl Named Sooner,” will grace the nation’s television screens later this month. “Sooner,” filmed in Switzerland County in the Summer of 1974, premiered here in the Summer of 1974, premiered here in the Summer of 1975, will be re-telecast in the Summer of 1976 — from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday, April 26th, on all NBC stations.
A contract to build Switzerland County’s low-cost housing complex for senior citizens was officially awarded Tuesday afternoon to the Teton Corporation of Madison. Teton’s bid was about $463,000. the total cost of the project, including land purchase price, architects’ fees, legal fees and other costs, is $595,000.
Mrs. Hilda Simonson of Lawrenceburg announces the engagement of her daughter Debbie to James A. Rush, son of Mrs. Betty Hufford of Patriot and Mr. Lloyd Rush of Aurora.
Mr. and Mrs. Abe Alford of Fairview will observe their Golden Wedding Anniversary April 25th with an Open House at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eslie Alford of Fairview from 2 to 5 p.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Varble of near Moorefield announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Ann, to Mr. James Kenneth Riley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Riley of near Long Run.
40 YEARS AGO
Steps toward construction of a new manufacturing plant in Vevay began Tuesday as contractors surveyed and staked off a 15.6-acre site in the town’s east end. T. J. Barry, representative of A. K. Thompson Engineering Corporation, general contractor on the project, told Vevay Area chamber of Commerce Tuesday afternoon that work is beginning on The Randall Company (a division of Textron, Inc.) plant.
Electronics Technician First Class Shirley Wentworth, USN, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Wentworth of Vevay, has joined the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean as a crew member aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Sampson.
Michael Clements, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clements of rural route 1, Vevay, is participating in a Hanover College study program in Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Cutter of rural route 1, Bennington, near Fairview, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday with open house at Olive Branch Baptist Church basement from 2 to 4 p.m.
50 YEARS AGO
In observance of the 7th anniversary of the founding of her business, Mrs. Kate Young, owner of the Vevay Grill served free ice cream and cake to her customers Wednesday. Mrs. Young received several bouquets of flowers from her many friends.
Two major television studios in this area will be on hand at the Markland Dam groundbreaking ceremony next Monday although live TV coverage will not be used.
Miss Norma C. Dowdy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Dowdy of Patriot, became the bride of Donald E. Park in a double ring ceremony Saturday afternoon, April 14th, at 2:30 at the Switzerland Baptist parsonage.
60 YEARS AGO
Paul Senn, a photographer and reporter from a newspaper syndicate in Berne, Switzerland was in Vevay last week taking pictures of old Vevay homes and business establishments.
Miss Doris Jean Schipper of Patriot and Charles Kittle of Aurora were married April 13th at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Robert McNeeley.
Born, a daughter, Judy Kay, to Mr. and Mrs. Clay Park, Jr.
A flying school for Switzerland County ex-servicemen will start some time in early summer under the direction of Charles Scott, veteran aviator.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. James Reynolds of Bethel Ridge.
70 YEARS AGO
Oliver S. Johnson, retired merchant, died at his home in Vevay, Monday morning following a long period of ill health. He was 80 years of age.
For the second time, Miss Lucille Littrell defeats all competitors and earns the honor of going to Scottsburg on Saturday, May 16th, to represent Vevay in the Southern Indiana Spelling Bee.
The diesel towboat Lelia was tied up at the foot of Ferry Street during the weekend on account of a broken wheel chain. The Lelia is the same boat that was blown against an upper wing wall at Dam 39 several weeks ago.
For the second time within the past two weeks the Ohio River is falling rapidly here and is expected to be well down in its banks within a few days.
Born, April 10th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Weales.
Ralph Moore and Nellie Hess, both of Ohio County, were married here Saturday by Reverend W. F. Badgett.
Born, a daughter, Donna Lou, to Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Jester of Moorefield.
80 YEARS AGO
John A. Lackman of Cincinnati who leased the Royal Theatre recently will arrive in Vevay next week and assume management of the business May 1st.
Workmen from Madison are repairing the Baptist Church steeple this week.
Born March 8th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reed of near Brushy Fork.
Born a son to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rollands of Moorefield.
Born Tuesday a son to Mr. and Mrs. Leland Courtney.
Charles Haskell of near Mount Sterling is seriously ill with sciatic rheumatism and has been taken to a sanitarium in Martinsville for treatment.
90 YEARS AGO
Miss Martha Richter and George Furnish of Vevay were married Sunday by Reverend Wharton.
Twin daughters were born Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Uly Gray of Parks Ridge.
Miss Lounettie Shaw of Vevay was married Saturday in Carrollton to Avery Brooks of Moorefield.
Miss Mamie Warner and Joseph Allen of Tapps Ridge were married Wednesday by Reverend Frank Hammel.
A baby son who was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. North Gridley of Patriot, lived only four days.
A son was born Friday to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Works of route 2, Vevay.
The heavy wind Sunday morning was responsible for the loss of Oliver Hickman’s house on Smith’s Ridge which was destroyed by fire.
Commencing Sunday, April 30th, the Cincinnati-Louisville Packet Company will begin the summer transfer season. An effort is being made by Wharfmaster Anshutz to get officials of the company to give Vevay a 25 cent round trip rate.
Kincaid and Cole are the first Vevay businessmen to take out a license for selling oleo margarine. Their first shipment of imitation butter arrived last week and they made a number of sales Saturday.
Elmer Curry and Wilmer Jackson broke all local fishing records last week when they took more than 2,500 pounds of carp, buffalo and catfish from the backwaters on the Curry farm. Saturday afternoon Wilmer Jackson drove to Vevay with a wagon load of the fish in chicken coops and sold them out on the street corner for 8 cents per pound. the unusual sight of 50 large fish penned up in chicken coops attracted a crowd of sightseers and the fish were soon disposed of.
100 YEARS AGO
Inslee, 16-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Grisard, died Tuesday following an emergency operation which was performed at his home by Dr. Bullitt and Dr. Fred Koontz of Louisville, Kentucky. The young man had been ill for several days and was unable to withstand the shock of surgery.
Captain Samuel Pavy, 92, died this week at his home in Craig Township.
Clyde Norisey of Osgood, formerly of Vevay, was married Sunday to Miss Helen Hoover of Osgood.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Manford of Moorefield celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary Sunday.
George W. A. Cole, an employee of the Union Furniture Company lost two fingers on his left hand while operating a piece of machinery there.
At its meeting Monday night the city council failed to act upon the petition of the Civic League to shut up the cows running at large. Instead, a committee was appointed to investigate holding an election on the problem.
A horrible earthquake at San Francisco, California has killed 1,000 persons and destroyed millions of dollars worth of property. No news of former Switzerland County people living there has been received here.
The members of the Zoar Presbyterian Church in Posey Township have begun work on the foundation of their new church.
110 YEARS AGO
John Lamson of Moorefield had his leg broken last week when a log rolled on him while he was chopping wood.
Clarence, 6-year-old son of Will Thompson of Moorefield received two broken bones in his leg when he was kicked by a horse.
There is talk of organizing a string band at Markland with George Pleasants, the teacher.
Miss Bertha Lauderbaugh and Thomas Peters of Craig Township were married April 12th at the bride’s home in the presence of about 25 friends and relatives.
Mrs. T. S. Banta and her mother Mrs. Baker left Tuesday for Hanover to take charge of the dormitory at Hanover College.
George Bodey of Patriot has gone to Louisville where he has employment with the Champion Machine Company.
W. A. Downey of Antioch has gone to Clay City where he has employment.
Harley Lauderbaugh of Craig Toswnship has gone to Elwood.
T. J. Haskell of Craig Township who moved recently to Connersville has gone to Riverside, California. His son Will and wife accompanied him.
Mrs. C. V. Thiebaud has a fine collection of tropical plants which cannot be excelled by any greenhouse in the city.
Born, a son to Charles Konkle and wife of Craig Township.
130 YEARS AGO
U. P. Schenck has had the frame house on the corner of Pike and Ferry streets removed preparatory to erecting a block of brick business houses.
A severe windstorm visited the county last week. Thousands of dollars of damage was done but no lives were lost.
We offer Wallace Jackson of Vevay as the strongest man in the state. He is 31 years of age, weighs 179 pounds and has lifted 1,470 pounds by actual weight on a pair of scales. He practices daily and hopes to yet be able to lift 1,800. He is a blacksmith by trade.
Miss Amanda Way of Winchester, Indiana, delivered a temperance lecture at the Courthouse Sunday afternoon and Monday night.
Isaac Stevens is closing out his stock of groceries.
140 YEARS AGO
The First National Bank of Vevay was broken open recently and robbed of valuables not exceeding $150.00.
The barn of Eugene Tardy was consumed by fire of incendiary origin on the night of April 13th.
William Hall, cashier of the First National Bank, was recently relieved by burglars of $170.00 and his watch and chain.
150 YEARS AGO
Born April 20th, a son to John M. and Martha Holdcraft.
The Lawrenceburg Press has been purchased by E. F. Selby of the Aurora Standard and Ripley American. Henceforth the papers will be combined.
152 YEARS AGO
Thomas Vanbriggle of Felicity, Ohio and Anthony Hawkins of Craig Township have located here and are building a chair factory.
Reverend F. D. Blend and family have moved to Indianapolis.
William Barkis has located in this place and commenced store keeping.
John Woods and family have moved back to Vevay and Mr. and Mrs. Woods are teaching school.
The building of Indiana State University at Bloomington was destroyed by fire April 9th. A valuable library was lost. Professor Milligen reported that there had been no fire in the stoves since Tuesday and no candles had been lighted since Wednesday night at the close of the season and the cause of the fire is not known. Classes are being held in the laboratory and the old college building.