News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County High School librarian Ginny Reeves has been honored with a fellowship from the Lilly Endowment. She will spend eight weeks this summer compiling a study of ferry boats that operated on this part of the Ohio River. Only 80 teachers from around the State of Indiana — out of more than 500 applicants — were named as Teacher Creativity Fellowship winners. They will receive $4,500 each to pursue self-designed plans for personal and professional growth. To qualify, instructors must have at least three years experience, and have pledged to continue teaching in the state of Indiana for at least one year.
The Switzerland County High School band arrived home from their trip to Washington, D.C. early Sunday to learn that they had earned fifth place overall among 34 bands in the Firefighters parade that was a part of the Apple Blossom Festival.
Elizabeth Ann Simon, daughter of Dale and Mary Ann Simon of near Bennington, has been elected secretary of the student congress at Franklin College.
Jeanne Mathews, daughter of Nelson and Betty Mathews of near Vevay, has earned recognition as an All-American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy.
20 YEARS AGO
Seen any good track meets lately? Not if you live in Switzerland County, Indiana. Switzerland County High School has more participation in their track program from grade seven through 12 than it does in any other sport. It also has the poorest facility. The present track that is in back of the high school is of the cinder variety, packed earth covered with black cinders to give the runners something to dig into as they run. Back when the track was built, it was a good facility and there were many home meets. Now most schools have gone to all-weather tracks and it is hoped that Switzerland County will be able to build a new track in order to be more competitive and to host some of the meets in the future.
The Vevay Town Hall was filled to capacity and then some last Wednesday evening as town residents showed up to express their outrage at the terrible odor that has been present, particularly on the west side of town since the weather has warmed. The Town Board has pledged that they will follow all state guidelines that concern this problem and will closely monitor the situation.
Plans for the building of the new Vevay Hotel-Lodge were finalized in a preconstruction meeting held earlier this week with all of the subcontractors who will be working on the project. the hotel is being built through the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation and its benefactor, Mr. Paul Ogle. Mr. Ogle is a native of Switzerland County who now resides in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he is the owner of Silgas, Incorporated.
30 YEARS AGO
Vevay Town policeman Gary Forwood has been appointed Switzerland County deputy sheriff, succeeding J.C. Warner, who resigned the position this week.
Wilma P. Benedict, 69, of 406 Walnut Street, Vevay passed away Tuesday evening at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. She retired from teaching school in 19712, having taught in Switzerland County schools for 48 years. She was the wife of Harold C. Benedict.
Mrs. Janet Dickerson of 610 Main Cross Street, Vevay, and Mr. Clarence Dickerson of 121 West Main Street, Vevay, announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Wilma Sue, to Timothy Louis Swango, son of Mrs. Betty Swango, 105 South Ferry Street, Vevay, and Mr. Robert Swango, of Anderson, Indiana. The garden ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. June 7th at 306 West Main Street, Vevay.
St. Mary Catholic Church in Madison was the scene at noon Saturday for the wedding of Miss Mary Ellen Hoffman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman E. Hoffman of Madison, and John M. Truitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Truitt of Vevay.
Switzerland County’s Soil and Water District Conservationist for nearly five years, Bob Eddleman, will end his stay of duty here Friday, and a new District Conservationist should be named for the local office by July 1st. Eddleman has been transferred to Sullivan County, Indiana, south of Terre Haute, where he will serve as Sullivan County District Conservationist.
40 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Blodgett of route 1, Vevay, have announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Donna Darlene, to Lawrence R. Higgins, son of Mr. and Mrs. John I. Higgins of route 2, Madison.
Mr. and Mrs. Gail Scott of Florence have announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their eldest daughter, Amanda Fay, to Gene E. Ballard. The groom-to-be is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hollan Ballard of Patriot and Cincinnati, Ohio.
A 10-to-12 period of ill health ended late Thursday night for Perle E. Hatton, 74, born near Center Square as she passed away at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison.
Marine Lance Corporal Gordan G. Scudder, son of Mrs. Agnes K. Scudder of route 1 Patriot, is serving with the Third Battalion, Third Marine Regiment of the Third Marine Division on Okinawa.
Sp4 Larry Leap is serving with the 82nd Airborne Division of Paratroopers with the organization of American States peace force in the Dominican Republic where fighting broke out two weeks ago. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Leap of Park’s Ridge and is a Vevay High School graduate.
50 YEARS AGO
Nelson Haskell of Vevay, partner in the Haskell and Morrison Funeral Directors firm, who was recently elected district president of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, will be installed as a member of the new board of directors of the state organization during its annual convention in Indianapolis May 18th-20th.
Ephriam Smith, 82, one of the country’s oldest residents, passed away at his home in Patriot last Thursday afternoon, May 5th, following a long illness.
A baby daughter was born May 5th to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas May, Jr., at their home near Mt. Sterling. She weighed 7 1/2 pounds and was named Kathy Marie.
Chester C. Cotton, 63, prominent farmer of the Bennington community passed away in the Madison hospital Saturday morning after an illness of only a few hours following a heart attack.
Residents of Vevay were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Mrs. Anna E. Cole, 65, wife of Curtis Cole, who passed away suddenly in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon while Mr. and Mrs. Cole were visiting their son, Andrew, there.
60 YEARS AGO
George Higgins, Sr., aged 70 years, was found dead in his home on the farm of his son, Hubert Higgins, near Mt. Zion May 2nd. Mr. Higgins, who lived alone, had been ill in health for some time.
Corporal Walter Unwiller, serving with the armed forces in France, has by chance, been issued one of the Red Cross kits packed by the volunteer women workers in Vevay.
Mrs. Alice E. Phillips, wife of Deputy Perry Phillips, passed away at her home in Vevay Monday evening, May 7th, after a long illness.
James E. Davis, aged 38 years, son of James F. Davis of Vevay, previously reported as missing has been officially listed as killed in action.
Staff Sergeant David L. Leap, has for the third time, been listed as missing in action. The latest telegram from the War Department stated that he had been missing in action over Austria since April 25th.
Eugene Stoops, prominent farmer of near Allensville and president of the East Enterprise State Bank, passed away in the Madison hospital Tuesday night after an illness of several weeks.
Pfc. James Daniel Roberts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Roberts, rural route 1, Vevay, has been reported as killed in action in Germany on April 24th.
The marriage of Mrs. Sarah Harsin of Vevay and Staff Sergeant Harold E. Campbell of Green Fork, was solemnized at the home of the bride’s parents Tuesday evening, May 8th.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Robert W. Stout announce the arrival of a son, Robert Carlyle, on Thursday, May 3rd.
Frank Schnaitter, native of Canada, but for some years a resident of this county, died at his home in Madison Friday from the effects of a heart attack.
Born, May 6th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James Sides of Vevay.
70 YEARS AGO
The Edwin C. Danner Post, American Legion, will sponsor a moonlight excursion out of Vevay on Tuesday night, May 21st, on the new all steel hull steamer, “Idle wild”.
Mrs. Dubis Amick died at her home near Fairview Tuesday after an illness of only a few days.
Mrs. Rosa Combs, aged 41 years, wife of Allen Combs, died Saturday at her home on Tapps Ridge after a lingering illness of tuberculosis.
Mrs. Sarah E. Farrell passed away at her home near Pleasant Wednesday morning after a prolonged illness.
Nelson Edington, aged 95 years, died at the county farm May 2nd from the infirmities of old age.
Ray Wolf and Miss Margaret Culbertson of Moorefield were married in Vevay Friday by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
Born May 5th a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James Gullion of Posey Township.
A barn belonging to Clyde McAllister on Log Lick just back of Florence was struck by lightning Thursday morning and completely burned.
The Truitt Mills in Vevay have discarded their steam power equipment and have installed a diesel engine.
Robert D. Jackson, aged 67 years, native of Vevay, died in a Louisville, Kentucky hospital April 30th after an illness of cancer.
80 YEARS AGO
James K.P. Reed, aged 79 years, died at his home near Moorefield Monday night, April 27th, after an illness of heart trouble dating back for two years.
Mrs. Lolita L. Frank, a former resident of Vevay, died at her home in Washington, D.C., last week.
An accumulation of gas caused an explosion in the furnace in the basement of the First National Bank building Monday morning. The explosion rocked the entire building and cracked the chimney in the banking room.
Durard Anderson and Miss Norah Brown of Five Points were married Sunday.
90 YEARS AGO
While Louie Baatz and wife were attending the ball game at Florence last Sunday afternoon their house was broken into and ransacked.
Moses Allen, aged 77 years, was found dead in bed at his home on Plum Creek yesterday morning.
Leslie Smith of Mexico Bottom and Miss Jeanette Bosaw of Plum Creek were married Sunday at the bride’s home by Reverend Ferguson.
While the steamer “Vim” was discharging freight at the Vevay wharf boat Thursday evening at a basket of laundry was accidentally dumped overboard and went floating down the river, bobbing up and down like a cork.
Freeman Cheetum, colored, of Vevay and Miss Flora Bolden of Madison were married here Saturday by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
Cincinnati capitalists have subscribed $25,000 for the erection of resort hotel in Sanders, Kentucky.
100 YEARS AGO
The 39th Vevay commencement was held in the Metropolitan Hall here with the following graduates: Nora Buchanan, Savilla A. Cole, Earl Golay, Viola E. McClanahan, Alfred Protsman, Jeanette Tandy, Wilk H. Works, Bell Turner, Lewis Ward, Nona Weales, and Carl C. Weaver.
Died near Center Square May 8th Mrs. Louisa McCulloch, aged 87.
Charles L. Kincaid has purchased the Thiebaud Drug Store on Main Street here.
Henry Foster was appointed Justice of the Peace in York Township to fill the place of the late M.L. DuPlan and B. Dale Keeney was appointed County Surveyor.
Ed Findley received the rank of Knight at the District Conclave held in Vevay.
Miss Jennie Demann was elected President of the Women’s Study Club (Julia L. Dumont now) here.
110 YEARS AGO
Preaching services in the Vevay churches Sunday morning have been canceled because of the dedication of the new Universalist church.
Miss Mary A. Dickason has been returned from Florida where she spent the winter and will reorganize her class in vocal music.
Misses Minnie Lampson and Lulu LeClerc of Shelbyville were called here by the death of the little son of Mr. and Mrs. George LeClerc.
The Orphans Friend Society will meet at the home Monday afternoon to have a sewing of rags for a carpet.
Records of the Vevay, Mt. Sterling and Versailles Turnpike Company for the last 10 years show that the sum of $52,858.19.
Died in Vevay Sunday, May 4th, of brain fever, Walter, 2-year-old son of George and Emma LeClerc.
130 YEARS AGO
It is reported that Dr. G.W. Hewitt is going to practice medicine in Soapville.
B. Rochat, a young man employed at the Vevay Woolen Mill had his hand badly mashed by a carding machine.
B. Stoops, residing near Bethel church in York Township, had his collar bone broken while trying to mount a horse.
Married at the Western Hotel in Madison May 9th, Oliver P. Burns of Vevay and Lillie D. Minor of Boyle County, Kentucky.
Married at Fairview May 12th by Reverend Kinnear, “Miss Anna” to Thomas J. Cotton, all of Mt. Sterling.
Died in Vevay May 11th Samuel Eavet.
Hall & Lewis are advertising “nice silk hats.”
O.S. Waldo is advertising the new “box toe shoes.”
Died in Florence May 7th, Alice, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bushner.
Reverend Flemming is preaching in Florence.