News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
With a record number of Switzerland County residents registering for Tuesday’s primary election, it was expected that there would be a large turnout. Although the numbers were somewhat less than expected, 2,364 voters did cast their b allots — 48 percent of those eligible to vote — and the results in some races were unexpected.
Switzerland County High School senior Natalie Gray is the winner of a $1,000 scholarship in the 1996 National Honor Society scholarship program. She is the first student from Switzerland County ever to win one of these prestigious scholarships. Over 12,000 students, all members of National Honor Society chapters throughout the United States, applied for the scholarship, with only 250 national winners being chosen.
Amy Jessup and Max Blodgett were crowned by prom goers as the Queen and King of this year’s prom. The event was held Saturday night in a beautifully decorated cafeteria, which included a fountain, bridges, and an array of flowers.
15 YEARS AGO
Well over 300 persons attended the “For Love of Family” quilt show held in Vevay over the past weekend, attracting viewers from the surrounding tri-state region. Sponsored by the Switzerland County Historical Society, the exhibit featured heirloom and contemporary quilts made right here at home, with the emphasis on quilts that have been given as gifts within a family, or handed down to members of the same family over several generations. Quilts dated from the early 1800s to the present.
Anderson University Head Basketball Coach Barrett Bates announced recently that Morris Alford, 6’6” standout from Switzerland County High School, will play basketball for the Ravens next year.
20 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Jeannette Parvis of Vevay was the local winner of the Hoosier Homestead Award. The award recognizes farms in our state which have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more and have contributed to the economic, cultural and social advancement of Indiana.
The town of Vevay has purchased materials to have five picnic tables built on the riverfront and the construction was finished this week. Kenny Craig, Vevay town board president, stated that the cost of the five tables was approximately $65 each and a similar table out of a business catalog would cost over $900! The tables are constructed of two-inch oak and donated telephone poles used to hold up the individual shelter above each table.
Alfred Protsman was born in Vevay on May 11th, 1886, and celebrated his 100th birthday Sunday. His father was the Reverend Louis C. Protsman, a Baptist minister for many years in Switzerland and surrounding counties. His mother was Dora Ann Rice Protsman. Mr. Protsman’s grandparents, dating back to Samuel Reckner, who was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill, were residents of Switzerland County.
30 YEARS AGO
Paul V. “Jackie” Peters, 40, of Florence, was killed Tuesday evening when the tractor he was operating overturned. Mr. Peters was checking fences on the farm owned by his father, Lewis Peters, on Florence Road when the accident occurred.
Harold C. “Red” Benedict of Vevay was one of 16 senior citizens in Indiana nominated for the state’s 1976 Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
David Paugh, a Switzerland Countian in his senior year at Ball State University, has been named to the Registrar’s Roll of Honor in recognition of outstanding academic achievement during BSU’s Winter quarter. He is the son of Mrs. Claude Paugh, route 3, Vevay.
Mark Leslie Shinkle of Aurora was initiated recently into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prominent academic honor society, at Indiana University in Bloomington where he is a senior. Mr. Shinkle is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Higgins of Bennington.
Mr. and Mrs. Harley Leap of near Moorefield, will observe their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday, May 30th.
40 YEARS AGO
Henry Chase, Vevay High School’s state track meet-bound miler, finished second in the regional mile run Friday and will compete against 11 other runners in Indianapolis Saturday in the state meet.
Gerald F. Ramseyer of Switzerland County has been awarded the Purple Heart for a wound received during combat while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. the private first class is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ramseyer of rural route 4, Vevay, and is a 1965 graduate of Vevay High School.
Davis Jones and Nancy Williamson received the 1966 graduating class valedictorian and Salutatorian awards respectively Friday during Senior Day at Vevay High School.
Mrs. Roberta Cord, principal, Jefferson-Craig Elementary School, has been named supervisor of a four-county area in which 18 Operation Headstart classes will be conducted this summer.
Fletcher Hufford, chairman of the board of supervisors of Switzerland County Soil Conservation Service, presented an award to Larry Treadway for the best essay in the SCS conservation essay contest.
A Posey Township farm woman shot and killed a half-grown canine, believed to be either a timber wolf or coyote, Friday morning on a farm one mile east of Patriot on State Road 250. Mrs. Donald Thomas shot the animal at a distance of 250 yards, using a .22 magnum rifle with a four-power scope.
50 YEARS AGO
Word has been received that Galen Harris has been promoted from train master at Baltimore, Maryland, for the B and O Railroad to divisional assistant superintendent and has been transferred to Grafton, West Virginia. The young man is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Harris of Patriot.
Official dedication of the new St. Peter’s Lutheran Church parish hall at Bear Branch, will take place next Sunday, making the completion of the new structure, and the 100th anniversary of the congregation.
Governor George N. Craig visited in Vevay and Switzerland County Wednesday, stopping here for a brief rest from a busy schedule of speechmaking in the area. The Governor, accompanied by his father, stayed Tuesday night at the Swiss Inn, and Wednesday toured the U.S. Shoe Corporation factory here.
60 YEARS AGO
The Peddie Dry Cleaning Shop in Madison was the scene of a robbery Tuesday morning in which clothing of undetermined value was removed from the building by a trio of thieves. Hugh E. Cole, local agent for the Peddie establishment, stated that a large amount of clothing from this area was in the dry cleaning shop at the time of the robbery, but that he had not been notified yet whether any of it was included in the thieves’ loot.
William Brindley of Vevay and Miss Hazel B. Davis of Adams, Indiana were married Sunday, May 12th, at the home of the bride.
Miss Norma Lou Chase of Florence and Freeman Noel of Patriot were married Tuesday, May 12th, by Reverend Leland Courtney at the Clerk’s office in Vevay.
At the small pox clinic held at the school house Tuesday, 333 vaccinations were given.
70 YEARS AGO
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the Carrollton-Lamb ferry boat, Ohio, Saturday night about 10 o’clock at its mooring place on the Kentucky shore. It was owned by Captain C.D. Wilhoite.
Mr. and Mrs. John Montayne are quietly celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary today at their home in Vevay. Mr. Montayne is one of the three remaining Civil War veterans in Vevay and is 88 years old. Mrs. Montayne is 86.
Estal Draut of Rising Sun is having a room in the Klein building redecorated and will establish a confectionery there in the near future.
Dr. and Mrs. R. M. Copeland are in the Madison hospital convalescing from injuries which they received when their automobile skidded and left the road near the farm of Bryan Curry.
80 YEARS AGO
George W. Haskell, 83, retired undertaker and Civil War veteran, died at his home in Vevay Thursday afternoon after a long illness.
Fire early Sunday morning gutted the First National Bank building in Vevay. The Ohio River Telephone Company’s exchange and offices were destroyed, although the switch board was not materially damaged. The blaze is supposed to have started from the crossing of an electric light and telephone wire.
Edward M. Martin, aged 83 years, died Monday at his home in Vevay after an illness of several months. Mr. Martin was a carriage maker by profession and followed his trade until about eight years ago. He was also a Civil War veteran having served four years and five months.
Miss Mary Lanham and L.P. Rous, both of Vevay, were married in Madison Monday by Reverend Stout of the Trinity Methodist Church.
John Harper of Pleasant had his car stolen Friday night and it was found in Friendship Saturday morning.
Born Wednesday, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Cotton of route 1, Vevay.
Born, May 20th, a son, Beveridge Lamar, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lock, Jr., of Bennington.
90 YEARS AGO
Burglars last Wednesday night forced an entrance to the Florence post office and stole $150 worth of one and two cent stamps. Following the robbery they made their escape in an automobile.
Farmers in all parts of the county are losing their cattle, death being caused by clover bloat.
Born, May 20th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Foster Hyde of East Enterprise.
Squire A. Fletcher died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ed Carpenter of Posey Township last Wednesday. He was one of the oldest citizens of the county being 94 years and nine days old.
100 YEARS AGO
Judge John D. Works and wife of Los Angeles, California are back in Vevay for their first visit with home folks for 16 years.
Thomas J. Gordon of Vevay has been awarded the contract to build the new Reveille building.
110 YEARS AGO
Licensed to marry: Hazel Crawford and Curtis Tharp; Rebecca Williams and Archie Jones; Nellie Nanson and W. R. Sale; Mabel Griffen and James Taylor.
John K. Lewis has contracted for the erection of a fine new residence at Main and Silver streets. Charles Hall will have charge of the building work and Thomas Gordon the store work. The fine house is expected to cost about $7,500.
Married in Vevay May 20th, Mrs. Tellie Grisard Bowman and Andrew R. Porter of Peru, Indiana.
130 YEARS AGO
Dr. J. C. Henry and Edward Henry of New Albany have been visiting their father, David Henry, in Pleasant Township.
Richard Pleasants of Noble, Illinois, is in town.
The bodies of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin who were drowned near Vevay last Sunday were found last week.
Thomas Adams who resides in Pleasant Township was painfully hurt when he fell from the wagon on which he was hauling logs and the wheels passed over him.
140 YEARS AGO
Last Tuesday morning a son of A. J. McHenry, residing in Pleasant Township, was thrown from a saw log on which he was riding, injuring him so severely that he died within a few minutes.
Pat Carr has opened a grocery store on Main Street in Vevay.
An inquest was held May 3rd over the dead body of a man found at John Lamson’s landing in Craig Township. The victim had come to his death by gunshot wounds.
Married May 6th, by Reverend W. Brown Chamberlain, Miss Mattie E. Welch and J. B. Voris.
152 YEARS AGO
A son of the widow Redd of near Vevay was drowned in Indian Creek. He suddenly came to life again about 15 minutes after he had been pronounced dead.
The new Salem Church on Tapps Ridge was dedicated May 21st by Reverend Gillmore of Madison.
G.G. Knox is receiving wool for his carding machine in Vevay.