News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
One of Switzerland County’s great community leaders, a prominent educator and citizen, Harold C. “Red” Benedict, died Monday in Indianapolis. Mr. Benedict would have celebrated his 92nd birthday on June 28th. A Vevay native, legendary here for his career as a school teacher, coach, principal and superintendent.
When Switzerland County Council president Mike Jones begins his remarks to the Indiana Gaming Commission in Indianapolis today (Thursday), he hopes that — for once — Switzerland County is in the right place at t he right time. Mike Jones’ remarks will open a 30-minute presentation to the Gamin Commission on what the county plans to do with the anticipated vast increase in tax revenue if a riverboat gambling license is awarded here.
Wilson and Hilda L. Wentworth Meriwether of Vevay will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this Saturday, June 24th, with a reception.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Furnish had not planned any special activity to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. They were pleasantly surprised Sunday afternoon when their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren came bringing cake, punch, cards and gifts to mark the occasion and honor their father on Father’s Day.
Annie Link, who has been competing on the Indiana High School Rodeo circuit, will be riding in the Indiana State Championship Finals this weekend. The three-day event begins tomorrow (Friday), and is being held at the Hamilton County fairgrounds in Noblesville, Indiana.
20 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County pitcher Wade Hysell was congratulated on receiving his notification of receiving a baseball scholarship by his high school coach Rick Weales. He was a four-year letterman for the Pacers and will now take his pitching talents on to Vincennes University where he will begin workouts with his college team this coming fall. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewayne Hysell of Seminary Street in Vevay.
Twyla Scudder, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Scudder, was recently named the outstanding senior female at the University of Kentucky. The award was presented to Miss Scudder in recognition of her outstanding initiative in leadership activities and superlative contributions to the University. Miss Scudder was also named outstanding Greek woman of the year at UK’s annual Greek banquet.
John Archer of near Pleasant is the Farmer of the Month for this month. John farms about 170 acres with his sons, and most of the Archers’ time goes into tobacco and dairy cattle. John also raises Belgian horses as a hobby. John has lived and farmed in Switzerland County for pretty much his whole life, and his son, Mike, currently lives on the farm once owned by John’s parents.
30 YEARS AGO
It’s a sure thing. All the decisions have been officially made. All the necessary money is committed. And the building of Markland bridge will begin next month. Only a couple of pieces of paper need to be signed before the long-awaited, much-anticipated — and lately, much-delayed — Markland bridge project moves into its construction phase, say the officials involved.
Miss Wilma Sue Dickerson, daughter of Mrs. Janet Dickerson and Clarence Dickerson, both of Vevay, became the bride of Timothy Louis Swango in a garden ceremony performed Saturday afternoon, June 7th, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Max Rosenberger, Vevay, uncle and aunt of the groom.
Miss Nancy Williamson, Vevay native and former resident, was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church by the North Indiana Methodist Conference in an impressive ceremony held May 31st at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
40 YEARS AGO
A 6-pound, 14-ounce baby girl was born last Tuesday at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Banta of Vevay.
The Reverend Donald K. Goben, pastor of Vevay Methodist Church, has been assigned to Trinity Methodist Church in Vincennes by Bishop Richard C. Raines in the closing session Sunday on the 134th Session of Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church.
Rising Sun has adopted a new name, “ The Blue Jeans Town.” Residents are busily engaged in preparing activities for the first “Blue Jeans Festival” to be held July 4th-10th. The unusual name was adopted by members of the committee from the play “Blue Jeans” which was written about Rising Sun.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Barbara Gaudin and James Stringfield were married Friday evening in the Vevay Methodist Church. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Gaudin and Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Stringfield.
Miss Alice McKay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dyer McKay of Vevay, route 4, became the bride of Perry Wheeler, son of Mrs. Fanny Wheeler of Vevay, in a double ring ceremony performed June 17th, at the home of Reverend B. T. Vincent in Madison.
60 YEARS AGO
World War II news: Leslie Reed of the Greenbriar community has been notified by the War Department that his son, Staff Sergeant Richmond C. Reed, Army Air Corps, previously reported as missing in action since June 11th, was killed on that date.
The work of completing the frozen food locker plant in Vevay is now underway.
70 YEARS AGO
Reverend J. Vellenga, pastor of the Caledonia Presbyterian Church, and Miss Marcella Ralston were married in the church Saturday afternoon by Reverend A. W. Jamieson of Rushville, Indiana.
Thieves boldly visited the farm of F. A. Griffith near Mt. Sterling Sunday and stole a calf, rope and all.
Vevay’s new 5 and 10 cent store will have its grand opening on Main Street in Vevay on Saturday.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Hart of Moorefield.
A marriage license was issued Saturday in Madison to Paul E. Chase of Rising Sun and Kathleen J. Bladen of Florence.
Oliver Furnish and Miss Marjorie Dunning were married in Patriot Saturday by Reverend W. S. Lowe.
80 YEARS AGO
Miss Grace Pavy of near Fairview and Raymond Osborn of near Bennington were married in Cincinnati June 9th. Their wedding was kept as a secret for several days and then sprung on their friends as a surprise.
Dan Joyce, Craig Township farmer, suffered a heart attack while in the L. S. Courtney grocery. For several days his condition was serious but he is now improving.
Miss Marion Turner, formerly of Vevay, and A. C. Field were married June 2nd at Lohrville, Iowa.
Robert Detraz, young son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Detraz, was bitten Sunday by a dog belonging to Otto Oxley but the wound is not considered dangerous.
90 YEARS AGO
Twig blight, a disease which has been ruining orchards throughout Ohio and Indiana, has caused heavy loss to Switzerland County farmers.
The horse occupied by Alva Hess and wife on the Jesse Curry farm was totally destroyed by fire yesterday morning.
While Joe Danner, Vevay rural route carrier, was delivering the mail on his route last week, an automobile driven by Thomas O’Neal of Jeffersonville, Indiana crashed into his buggy, demolishing the front wheels.
Reverend F. D. Wharton, pastor of the Vevay Christian Church, and Miss Minerva Taylor of this city were married in Louisville on Tuesday.
100 YEARS AGO
Professor Oliver E. Glenn, a native of Switzerland County, has recently had conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Pennsylvania. He now occupies the chair of mathematics in Drury College, Springfield, Missouri.
The Ivory Wood trading boat is at the river.
The Sunny South, a floating palace show boat, will be here about August 15th. This boat comfortably seats 1,200 people. It will be lighted by 600 electric lights and cooled by 24 fans.
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Protsman are announcing the marriage of their daughter, Nellie Adelia, to Ben C. Waldenmaier, which will be solemnized on July 6th.
Born to Everett Shadday and wife of Bennington, a boy, on Monday night.
Charlie Johnson of Vevay and Miss Grace B. Coy of Switzerland County were married in the clerk’s office in Carrollton, Kentucky, Sunday evening by Ed Lawrence Williams.
110 YEARS AGO
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Riggs of Vevay.
130 YEARS AGO
Married at the residence of the bride near Vevay June 24th by Reverend Thomas Whallon, Joseph Gibson and Miss Rosetta Morisez.
The distillery at Patriot closed Tuesday with about 800 barrels of whisky in bond J. K. Pleasants is loading a model barge with hay from his warehouse in Vevay. It will contain about 500 tons and will be towed to New Orleans by steamboat.
Dr. W.A. Olcott has commenced work on his new drug store in Patriot. It will be 56 by 22 feet and two stories high. It will be built of bricks.
The Catholics of Vevay will commence the erection of a Church building on the corner of Ferry and Jackson streets. It will be built of brick, one story high, 65 feet long and 36 feet wide.
140 YEARS AGO
On next Wednesday the Mammoth Circus and Menagerie of Thayer and Noye will exhibit in this place.
Haley’s Cornet Band, attached to the 55th Kentucky, at New Liberty, Kentucky, paid a couple of visits to Vevay last week and dispensed to our citizens a concert of lively strains of music.
Civil War News: Captain B. R. Gilbert; Lieutenant Eugene Myers, 3rd Indiana Cavalry; Captain H. D. Banta, Company E, 146th Indiana; and Sergeant John LeClerc, Company D, 10th Indiana Cavalry, are home on furlough. Lieutenant John Lauderbaugh, Company B, 140th Indiana and George Oakley, Company E, 146th Indiana, have been discharged and are at home.
151 YEARS AGO
Married in Patriot on the 15th of June by Bela Hericks, Esquire, Carter Gazley and Miss Elizabeth B. Emerson. Accompanying the wedding notice was some very nice wedding cake and a bottle of Catawba.
Married on the 9th of June, by John McCullough, Esquire, William Pickett and Miss Christine Gropengniser, all of this county.
Married June 18th by Reverend J.W. Locke, Fredrick H. Harris and Miss Lucretia Cunningham, both of this county.
Married in Jefferson County, June 9th by Reverend Hiram Wason, Robert Culbertson and Miss Mary Francis.
Married in Vevay June 14th by Reverend H. Wason, George C. Patton and Miss Eliza Gerrard.
Harvest has already started in this county: the hot weather and drought has ripened the crops much easier than usual.