News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County High School held its commencement exercises for the Class of 1996 on Sunday, June 2nd, and the day was marked with the 104 graduates gaining their diplomas — and leaving behind confetti and plastic golf balls. Erin Swango was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1996 and Natalie Gray was the Salutatorian.
The County Commissioners’ main item on the agenda at their Monday meeting was the Florence Sewer District and plans for this project. There will be 55 hookups on the line when it is completed.
Brenda Sue Wright and Michael Wayne Cole have announced their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride to be is the daughter of Ralph Wright of Vevay and the late Mildred Wright. The groom-to-be is the son of Wilfred and Wilma Cole of near Bennington.
Today is a day that Switzerland County’s Seth Jones will never forget. At about 2:30 p.m. (slow time) he will participate in the official relay of the Olympic torch as it makes its way toward Atlanta.
15 YEARS AGO
Jennifer Leap, a 1990 graduate of Switzerland County High School, is one of the first five contestants signed up for the 1991 Miss Madison Regatta beauty pageant. The pageant is scheduled for Monday, July 1st, on the stage at the Ohio Theater in Madison. She is the daughter of Larry Leap of route 4, Vevay, and Gloria Hosler of Madison.
Several area residents gathered Tuesday evening for the ground breaking ceremony for the new Switzerland County Public Library. Lois Rosenberger, librarian; Sundra Penick, library board president; Martha Cole, Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation secretary; and Dee Brindley, president of the Vevay Town Council, had the honor of digging the first shovels of dirt. The construction is due to begin by June 15th, and the project should be complete in 270 days.
20 YEAS AGO
The 10th Annual Horse Pull in Vevay at the 4-H Fairgrounds was held Saturday night, June 7th. It was the second largest pull ever at Vevay with 30 teams participating in the contest, and approximately $1,000 raised for 4-H. The winning team was driven by Dale Benham of Osgood whose horses pulled 7,750 pounds a distance of 25’4”. Butch Konkle of Vevay won second place with a distance of 16’3”.
The eighth Swiss Alpine Festival will begin on July 31st and last through August 3rd.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Ralston of route 1, Versailles, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with an open house Sunday, June 22nd, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Olean.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Chase, Jr., of Attica, Indiana announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Dianna to Jerry South, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert South of Bennington. The wedding will take place Friday, June 27th, at St. Mary’s Church in Aurora.
30 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Theo Ralston is a well-known Switzerland County native who last month retired after 30 years of teaching — two of them in Switzerland County, one of them in Ripley County and 27 of them in Jefferson County. The last 26 years her educational career was spent at the Canaan School, just a few miles across the Switzerland County line in Jefferson County.
Martin Heath of near Vevay was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll at the University of Wyoming for the recently-completed Spring semester. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James David Heath. Dean’s Honor Roll students must compile at least a 3.4 grade point average out of a possible perfect 4.0.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford White, Patriot residents for many years now living on route 1, Madison, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with an open house at the Jefferson County 4-H Building, Madison, Indiana, on Sunday, June 27th, from 2 to 4 p.m. The couple was married April 24th, 1926, at Patriot, Indiana, by the Reverend Robert McNeely. Mrs. White is the former Ada Ascherman of Patriot.
Emerson and Marcella Cole of near Fairview celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary June 1st. The Coles were married June 1st, 1951, at the Fairview Methodist Church parsonage, and have resided in Switzerland County since then.
Teresa Koons and David Yates were united in marriage in a double-ring ceremony performed in Green Chapel Baptist Church April 4th with Reverend Braxton Baker officiating. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Koons of near Fairview and Mr. and Mrs. Arlin Yates of Ringold, Georgia.
Mr. and Mrs. David Kelly were honored with an open house at the home of their grandson Sunday afternoon, June 6th, in observance of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Jay Farrar of Vevay received a Concert Choir Silver Service Award given recently by the School of Music at Ball State University. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Farrar, of near Vevay.
40 YEARS AGO
Lynn Bear, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bear of rural route 4, Vevay, is reported in fair condition this week after suffering multiple injuries in a traffic accident last Wednesday. The youth was critically injured when he fell from his bicycle and was run over by a tractor on state road 56 two miles west of Vevay.
Raymond Osborn, Jr., has been reelected president of Vevay Area Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s June meeting last week.
Airman Apprentice Larry D. McAlister, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester McAlister of 514 Ferry Street, Vevay, has completed the Aviation Mechanical Fundamentals School at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Richards of rural route 2, Vevay, have announced the marriage of their daughter, Miss Joanne Richards, to William Allen Gates of Columbus on June 17th in Hope.
The Reverend Victor E. Pesce of Vevay was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Church Sunday during ordination ceremonies at the 135th annual session of Methodist Indiana Conference. The Reverend Pesce is pastor of Dupont Methodist Church.
50 YEARS AGO
Kay Haskell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson W. Haskell of Vevay, recently won her wings as an American airlines stewardess, after completing a five-week course at the airlines’ training center at Chicago Midway Airport. Formerly assigned to flight duty out of LaGuardia Field in New York, she is now based in Los Angeles.
Miss Irma Courtner, daughter of Mrs. Mabel Courtner, of Patriot and Donald Diltz, son of Mr. and Ois Diltz, also of Patriot were united in marriage Friday evening, June 15th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Fred S. Griffith.
Lieutenant junior grade Allen Wayne Aldred, who is presently stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital, San Leandro, California, has indicated to the people of Rising Sun that he will not return to his practice there after his military duty terminates, but will join the staff of the Milan clinic.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Lois Works became the bride of Samuel McMurray of Lawrenceburg Saturday in a ceremony performed at the residence of the officiating minister, Reverend Parker of Aurora.
On Monday, July 1st, Mrs. Olive Poston will celebrate her 100th birthday at the home of her son, William E. Poston and Mrs. Poston, with whom she makes her home in Vevay.
Miss Joanne Trinkle and Wilfred Pavy were married Saturday, June 15th,, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Frank Reed.
The wedding of Miss Jane Sheldon of Patriot and Louis W. Distel of Kennedy Heights, Cincinnati, was solemnized Saturday, June 15th.
Marion Anderson of the Spring Branch neighborhood and Rosie Wright of Carrollton, Kentucky, were married by Reverend Leland Courtney at his home here Friday afternoon.
Miss Ruby Riley of Paducah, Kentucky, and Howard Markland were married Monday, June 10th, at the Baptist Church in Paducah.
Miss Joan Henkel and Orville William Elsrod were married Friday, June 14th, in the rectory of St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Connersville, Indiana, by Reverend Ambrose Schneider.
Miss Helen Marie Briggs and Alfred Grosz were married in Louisville, Kentucky, June 15th, at the Deerpark Baptist Church.
Emerson Williamson of Vevay this week leased the Vevay Grill from Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Krall of Tapps Ridge and has taken immediate possession.
Miss Doris Marie Brindley of rural route 4, Vevay, and Mr. Merideth Donald Hysell of East Enterprise were married June 29th. Mr. and Mrs. Basiel Drake attended the wedding.
70 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Wegener are this week advertising a closing out sale of the Wegener Dry Goods Store. Mr. and Mrs. Wegener expect to locate in Aurora this fall where Mr. Wegener is principal of the Aurora schools and there they bought a home.
Local listeners of the Major Bowes amateur program Sunday night were interested to hear him announce that the Golden Rod Showboat, with one of his units aboard, had started on a tour of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers.
Bonus bonds got a late start coming into Switzerland County, the first and only one being received here Monday morning being for George McKay. James Storie, of Pleasant Township, got his that afternoon. On Tuesday morning only a few were received but in the afternoon mail Estelle F. Miller, Army Nurse, of Vevay, was the first lady to make application for a bonus here.
the Switzerland County News suspended publication here last Thursday. Lack of advertising revenue was given as the reason for the suspension.
Harold Kolb, Jr., son of County Agent and Mrs. Harold Kolb, was notified Saturday that he had been awarded a four-year merit scholarship to Purdue University. The young man graduated from Vevay High School this spring with a straight A average.
Aiji Tashiro and Miss Isabel Hess of Cincinnati were married Monday evening, June 15th, by Reverend Fred F. Griffith.
80 YEARS AGO
Miss Helen McHuron of Patriot and William Morand of Aurora were married Sunday afternoon at the home of the bride’s parents by Reverend McNeeley.
Gaudin and Sieglitz last week purchased the Vevay Bakery and took possession of the business on Monday.
At a meeting of the county board of education Friday, Mrs. Nancy Scott of Vevay was elected attendance officer.
By the order of the Indiana fire marshal, the Vevay Opera House was closed indefinitely.
Because of a recent act passed by the Kentucky legislature, Indiana mussel fishers will practically be prohibited from gathering mussels from the Ohio River this year. To do so, the Indiana resident must pay to Kentucky a fee of $50.50 per year for each boat used while a Kentucky mussel fisher need pay only $10.25.
Mrs. Sim Gerrard and Frank Huffman, both of Mount Sterling, were married Saturday in Madison.
90 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Mary Rous, the county’s oldest citizen, will celebrate her 90th birthday Tuesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ben Davis.
Miss Mary E. Campbell of Blue Ridge, Georgia and Rankin Cadwell of Harrisburg, Kentucky were married in the Clerk’s office by Reverend F.E. Hammel Thursday.
Miss Olive Shaw of Vevay and Charles Poling of Craig Township were married Monday morning at the Presbyterian parsonage by Reverend Joseph Lindsey.
While working at the old Morerod place at the west end of Vevay, William Pavy last week found a piece of Spanish money, date 1789.
Mrs. Madge Day of Vevay and William Heatisimel of Miami, Ohio, were married in Vevay Sunday afternoon by Esquire A. V. Banta.
The Moorefield post office will be discontinued on June 30th, according to instructions received last week from the postal department.
William W. Brindley of Vevay last week purchased the livery and hitch stable of C. W. Jessup in Madison and took possession at once.
Fred Baatz of Florence who was injured last week at Dam 39 when a piece of steel from a fellow workman’s hammer penetrated his eye, will lose the sight of his left eye according to a Cincinnati eye specialist.
A pure white carrier pigeon came to the home of Harry Torrance of East Enterprise June 14th. On its leg was a band with the number 6666 and a note which read: “J. M. B., Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Kentucky, June 13th, 1916.” the bird was fed and given water and then it resumed its journey.
100 YEARS AGO
The Vevay News, which was established a year ago by D. V. Seavers and which more recently was managed by C. W. and E. H. Mead, experienced newspapermen, has suspended publication. E. H. Mead has accepted a position as foreman of the Ripley Journal at Osgood.
David N. Haydon and Dwight Smith have been given the contract by the County Commissioners to audit and investigate all county books and records.
Last week the Ogle and Gaudin farm on Parks Ridge known as the “old Hobson” tract was sold to Uly G. Sigmon and John L. Muret.
Reverend Verman, pastor of the Vevay Methodist Church, who has his right leg in a plaster cast, was given a “pound party” by his congregation.
The new floating palace “Wonderland” will visit Vevay next week. The Kinodrom, showing the latest in motion picture, “The Green Goods Man,” will be a feature of the show. The boat carries a 16-piece orchestra and band.
The “Sunny South” played here Wednesday night to about 800 people. Illustrated songs were sung by Harry Western and the performance concluded with a moving picture “The Train Wreckers.”
110 YEARS AGO
A daughter was born June 15th to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Scudder of Center Square.
Joseph E. Hart, Auditor, has appointed John F. Benne as assessor of Pleasant Township.
Mrs. Thomas Banta and son Clarence have returned home from Hanover where Clarence attended college.
Augustus Hatton and family have returned from Franklin to their farm in Craig Township. The children attend Franklin College during the winter.
Miss Eva Williamson and Lewis R. Romerill were married June 10th at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Williamson.
A free gravel road will eventually be built from Indian Creek down the river through Lamb to the Jefferson County line. As there is already a pike from Vevay
130 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Barbee of Ghent College will give a musical entertainment at the Courthouse in Vevay Thursday night, June 22nd.
Married in Vevay June 11th by Reverend R.L. Kinnear, Mr. George W. Kincaid and Miss Nettie Hollcroft.
William Shaw of Craig Township has our thanks for a box of Yellow Spanish Cherries.