News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County High School’s academic team was crowned State Champion in the Hoosier Academic Super Bowl competition held Saturday in Indianapolis. The championship team — the SCHS social studies team — is made up of senior Michael Gault and juniors Andy Brown and Alice Wood. They not only won their division for schools of comparable size, but also were the overall winners in the Super Bowl state finals competition, outscoring all other 23 teams regardless of size. John Thomas, SCHS principal was the coach of the social studies team.
For those who want a riverboat gambling casino to be located in Switzerland County, it was a chance to present their case to the state government officials who will make that decision. For those who oppose such a plan, it was one last chance to encourage the officials to put riverboat gambling elsewhere. No matter which side of the issue citizens in Switzerland, Ohio and Dearborn counties have taken, last Thursday’s public hearings in front of the Indiana Gaming Commission provided an opportunity to present their cases. The three counties vie for the four remaining licenses to be awarded along the Ohio River.
Seniors Brack Rayles and Jennifer Brindley were crowned King and Queen of the 1995 Switzerland County High School Prom Saturday evening.
20 YEARS AGO
The Reverend John Willis of the Truth Apostolic Church in Vevay, and his wife, Sheila, have left for Washington, D.C., where they have been invited to the White House for a briefing for the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and other Apostolic leaders. The briefing will cover both domestic and foreign policies, and was held May 1st in the briefing room of the Old Executive Office Building. Reverend Willis said that he was very honored and thrilled to be attending the briefing, and promised to report on his trip upon his return.
U.S. Senators Dan Quayle and Richard G. Lugar announced Thursday they have appointed Hoosier native Harold Gutzwiller to serve as director of their joint southeast Indiana regional office in Jeffersonville.
30 YEARS AGO
A deluge of nearly five inches of rain flooded Switzerland County last Thursday, knocking out several tobacco beds and washing away a bridge or two, filling up basements of homes and drowning out hundreds of acres of low-lying farmland in all areas of the county. It was the worst bit of rain storming and flash flooding in Switzerland County since the notorious 4th of July, 1957.
Switzerland County High School students Joyce Hamilton and Cindy Courter will compete Saturday at Indianapolis in the state finals of an all-Indiana skills contest sponsored by the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America national organization. Miss Hamilton and Miss Courter were among 23 students enrolled at the Southeastern Indiana Vocational School who qualified for the state finals by placing high in regional competition earlier this month.
Harold “Jug” Raisor has decided to end a long and prominent law enforcement career. He will resign May 9th as Switzerland County deputy Sheriff, after more than 20 years in police work, including four terms as sheriff of Jefferson County. Earl Green, former Switzerland County deputy sheriff and Town of Vevay police officer, will succeed Raisor as deputy.
Glen Imel, of Moorefield was taking a walk the other day when he made a startling discovery of a huge, giant, massive, monster-sized mushroom. The monster, measuring 17 inches in diameter, was brought to our office by Betty Hime of Moorefield, a neighbor of Mr. Imel’s. It’s of the “Honeycomb” variety, and says Mrs. Hime, it makes “really good” eating — and a lot of it too.
The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise was honored for “editorial excellence” last weekend in Indianapolis by the Indiana Republican Editorial Association.
40 YEARS AGO
Gary Kemper, former Vevay High School and Hanover College basketball star, has accepted a position as assistant basketball coach, head track coach, and teacher at Southwestern High School. Kemper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth (Kelly) Kemper off rural route 4, Vevay, joins Stan Weber, 1963-65 Vevay coach, on the Southwestern coaching staff.
Four Switzerland County students have been singled out for scholastic achievement by being named to the dean’s list at Indiana University one or both of the last two semesters. They are Kay Hanna of route 1, Florence, Constance Brown, Judy Lucking, and Linda Roberts all of Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Roberts of Vevay have announced the engagements and approaching marriages of their two eldest daughters, Linda Lou and Judy Kay. Linda Lou is engaged to Robert Samuel Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boyd of St. Joseph, Illinois. The wedding has been set July 11th in Beck Chapel on the campus of Indiana University. Judy Kay is engaged to marry Thomas A. Ellegood, son of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Ellegood of route 1, Vevay. The wedding will take place June 12th in Vevay Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rayles of 309 Ohio Street, Vevay, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary May 9th with open house from 2 to 4 p.m.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Julie LeClerc Knox has recently been notified by Miss Olive Inez Downing, President of Poet’s Corner Inc., that she has again won a prize in the annual contest of that organization in the division in which she entered.
The Swiss Hotel in Vevay is undergoing a coat of paint, the color of which is in keeping with the trend toward “Easter-egg” shades in automobiles and home accessories.
60 YEARS AGO
A number of people made the trip to Madison Monday and Tuesday to donate blood to the blood bank. Mrs. Schenck Ricketts holds the record for donating the most number of times. This trip made her eighth and she is now a member of the “Gallon Club.” Her husband, Private Schenck Ricketts, is with the armed forces in France.
Sergeant Warren W. Turner of near Florence and Miss Marion Swan, were married at Camp Croft, South Carolina, April 4th.
70 YEARS AGO
At a meeting of the newly organized Boy Scout Troop Tuesday evening, Edwin F. Downey was unanimously chosen as Scout Master and Reverend W. F. Badgett as assistant.
Mrs. Kathleen Jester, living near Jacksonville, passed away Tuesday afternoon following an illness of several days.
The home of Clifford Turner of Tapps Ridge was destroyed by fire early Friday evening.
Alexander Lock passed away at his home on Parks Ridge Friday evening from the effect of a cerebral hemorrhage.
John P. Carter, native son of Vevay, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, California April 24th after only a one-week illness.
Hurley Vickery has resigned his position as truck driver for H. W. Sample of Bennington and has been succeed by Claude Roland.
80 YEARS AGO
Henry Lientz, aged about 68 years, died Saturday at his home in Perry, Iowa, of influenza.
A former Vevay woman, Mrs. George Stemmons (nee Miss Lena Mills) recently was elected mayor of Prairie Home, Missouri. At the election all women candidates were swept into office on a ticket headed by Mrs. Stemmons.
Miss Mary Johnson and Tilley Pickett were married in Vevay Monday evening by Reverend J. Elmer Knotts.
Several Vevay people felt the earthquake which caused the Ohio Valley to tremble Sunday night.
After an illness of eight and one half months Zack Long passed away at his home in Patriot Friday night at the age of 63 years.
90 YEARS AGO
John McMinds and wife and Neal had a narrow escape from death Tuesday night when their home in East Enterprise was destroyed by fire.
The body of Ernest E. Smith, 21, an employee at Dam 39, was found floating in the river at Markland last Wednesday night by Lem Bosaw. Smith was drowned on the night of November 20th, 1914.
Harry Peters of near Braytown and Miss Maude Brindley were married Saturday afternoon in Vevay by Reverend Frank Hammel.
Harry Case, formerly a resident of Switzerland County, died at Elwood, Indiana last week after a short illness.
William Benedict, local agent for the Standard Oil Company, received orders from private individuals in Vevay Saturday for two carloads of street oil which will be placed on Vevay streets.
John Boggs, mussel fisher and shell gatherer, found a pearl of enormous size. It weighs 32 grains and is about the size of a dime, although it is not round or of good color and it is probably not high in value.
David Culbertson, aged 83 years, died suddenly Tuesday night at his home near Avonburg, death resulting from a ruptured blood vessel, caused by a paroxysm of coughing.
Harry Burke, aged 80 years, died suddenly at his home in Markland, Tuesday night from an attack of heart trouble.
Born, a daughter, Edith Elizabeth, to Mr. and Mrs. Vinton North of Egypt Bottom.
The gasoline boat “White Dove” which will run between Patriot and Cincinnati made her first trip Monday morning.
100 YEARS AGO
Died in Vevay April 29th, Mrs. Adelaide Demann, native of Berge, Hanover, Germany — a prominent lady.
Died at Blandville, Kentucky, Captain Benjamin Gilbert, formerly of this county.
Edward C. Shull has purchased a half interest in the Vevay wharf and has employed William Benedict to look after his interests there.
The Moorefield Brass Band played at the I.0.0.F. annual celebration here.
C. B. Poston was appointed Postmaster at Patriot.
Charles L. Kincaid has severed his connection with the Reveille.
John Montanye was honored on his 57th birthday at Mt. Sterling.
Mr. and Mrs. George Moredock were given many fine presents at their wedding last week.
110 YEARS AGO
Died in Vevay last Monday, April 25th, of diphtheria, Walter Bair, son of Christian Bair, aged 11 years.
Died in Madison Saturday, April 27th, Judge Charles Walker, in the 79th year of his age.
Licenses to marry: Theodore Moss and Pearl Wormock: William M. Stapes and Anna B. Goodrich.
Miss Lizzie Kelly has just returned from the city with a large stock of the latest styles in millinery goods. She has secured the services of Miss Mabel Wayne of Cincinnati, an expert trimmer.
Married May 1st at the residence of the bride’s sister, Mrs. J. E. Crawford, Indianapolis, by Reverend G. W. Murphy, Mr. John B. Lamson and Mrs. Susan Margaret Golay, both residence of Switzerland County.
130 YEARS AGO
J. C. Kirkpatrick of Center Square is the King Bee man in the county with 31 stands.
Reverend Edward Eggleston was installed as pastor of the “Church of Christian Endeavor” at Brooklyn, New York. Reverend Eggleston was a Methodist but the church rules were altered to permit him to assume the pastorate.
The following were elected as Trustees of the Town of Vevay: C. G. Boerner, Isaac Stevens, B. Waldenmaier, John Chatelin, Wm. M. Patton, W. F. Goldenburg and William Hall who was elected President. John M. Hollcroft was appointed Marshal.
One hundred and sixty-four votes were registered as for a city charter and 38 against.
The Vevay Lodge of Good Templars elected W. J. Baird as President.
About 1,000 rails and 15 cords of wood belonging to John Morrison and Woodson Long of Cotton Township, were destroyed by fire.
The Indian Creek Mill, run by Belden Bakes, has converted from water to steam power.
Died in Henderson, Kentucky, Harry Marsh, formerly of Vevay.
Died in Hamilton, Kentucky, May 1st, Mrs. John Green, formerly of Posey Township.
Pate’s Distillery at Patriot mashed 11,292 bushels of grain in April to make whiskey. He paid a tax of $38,663.10.
Died near Vevay, Mrs. Martha Oakley, wife of James Oakley.
Francis A. Jackson is a Notary Public at Aaron.
140 YEARS AGO
Some documents picked up in the Custom House at Richmond by a correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer show that Jeff Davis sent large sums of the rebel secret service fund to Europe, but whether for the benefit of the confederacy or his own is a question.
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln: Our dispatches report that the government is busily ferreting out the plot in which Booth was a leader. Already 200 arrests have been made. It is now know that it was designed to not only murder the President and Secretary Seward but all the chief officers of the government, so as to plunge the nation into anarchy. The conspiracy had the approval of the rebel officials at Richmond and its details were concocted in Canada.