News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Chester Meisberger has been hired as the interim superintendent of the Switzerland County School Corporation. He retired as superintendent here in 1981 but when Mac Dyer resigned here last week and a call came to serve as the interim superintendent, Chester Meisberger decided to answer the call.
For some people, getting food to eat means a trip to the local supermarket. For Vevay’s Hazel Brown, it simply means a trip out her back door. It’s been that way almost all her life. Hazel Brown is 77 years old, and has been keeping a garden about as long as she can remember. Today she maintains three different gardens at her home on Arch Street in Vevay. She believes that working with the different vegetables and flowers helps keep her young.
A possible riverboat gambling complex in Switzerland County and how such a complex would be planned and built will be the subject of a public hearing by the Area Planning Commission Tuesday, July 30th, 7 p.m. in the basement of Vevay Town Hall. The meeting will include presentations on integrating the riverboat gambling complex into the county’s comprehensive zoning plan.
15 YEARS AGO
Always A River comes to Vevay next week. The huge Always A River exhibition barge — a floating museum, two stories high and 154 feet long — will be docked at Vevay’s Ferry Street landing Thursday through Sunday, July 25th-28th. About 8,000 people are expected to come here to see it.
Lowell Wayne Sullivan, for the Vevay American Legion Post 185, had the highest bid of $1,625 for the Grand Champion Beef at this year’s fair. Andy Leap raised the champ and was congratulated by 4-H Queen Michelle Moll.
Craig Lewis had this year’s Grand Champion Swine at the 4-H Fair, Floyd and Elizabeth Lowe of Lowe’s Pellets & Grain, Inc., of Greensburg purchased the animal for $900.
Stacey Minch and Jack Mathews will be married in a ceremony Saturday, July 27th, in the Truth Apostolic Church, Vevay. Parents of the couple are Ronnie and Pam Minch and Nelson and Betty Mathews.
Earl Green of Vevay is retiring after over 20 years of service in the Sheriff’s Department. Ralph Brown, the first sheriff Earl Green worked under, and present Sheriff Lonny Harris presented him with a plaque during his retirement party.
20 YEAS AGO
Betty Joann Robinson and Ralph R. Baxter were united in marriage on June 14th at the Aurora First Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Robert and Helen Brooks of Mount Sterling.
Joe Jackson, son of Ben and Judy Jackson of East Enterprise, graduated from basic training with the U.S. Navy on June 20th. He is participating in submarine training in Groton, Connecticut. Jackson is a 1986 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Gareth Furnish, Vevay, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter Tracey to John South, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert South, East Enterprise. The wedding is to take place August 8th at 6:30 p.m. slow time at the Switzerland Baptist Church.
Roger Hilligoss, 20, midshipman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, visited the Markland and McAlpine Lock and Dam facilities during June to gain insight in the inland waterways system.
30 YEARS AGO
Laying claim to the kind of Switzerland County’s cabbage crop so far this year is Marjorie Leap, who grew a monster cabbage in her garden on Vevay Hill. It’s a 10-pounder, with a “wingspread” of three and half feet. Can you top it?
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Romans, Jr., of Milton, Kentucky, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter Lynn to David Potter, son of Mrs. Esther Nelson of Ashland, Kentucky and Mr. Kenneth Potter of Flatwoods, Kentucky. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Romans, Sr., route 3, Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Dailey Brown celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday by attending the Cole family reunion in Vevay. About 200 relatives were present to help the Browns with their anniversary observance. The Browns were married at Patriot July 27th, 1926, by the Reverend William S. Lowe.
Lisa and Eddie Demaree, children of Tom and Jane Demaree of Parks Ridge, and Jeff Jones, son of Ron and Candy Jones of Vevay, went fishing Saturday and they came home with a string of no less than 82 fish! The fish were biting so much that the kids even caught some on hooks baited with blackberries. Like true fishermen, though, they aren’t saying where they caught their catch.
Miss Deborah Jean Benedict, of Indianapolis, and Mr. John Boyer Eades, also of Indianapolis, will be united in marriage August 1st in a ceremony to be performed at the North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Miss Benedict is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Paul F. Benedict. The bride-elect’s father was born and raised in Vevay, and she is the niece of H. C. Benedict and Thelma Benedict, both of Vevay.
On June 26th, Switzerland Baptist Church was the scene for the wedding of Susan Joyce May and David Lynn Brown. the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. May, Jr., of route 3, Vevay, and is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. May, Sr., of route 2, Vevay, and Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Tullis of Madison.
40 YEARS AGO
William W. Swim, 22, former Patriot resident, was shot and captured by Cincinnati police last Thursday and arrested in connection with the murder of a 35-year-old Cincinnati man.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Zielinski of Iron River, Michigan, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Cheryl Ann, to Raymon E. Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spencer of Pike Street, Vevay. A fall wedding is planned.
Miss Victoria Valentine Curry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Curry of Indianapolis, will marry John Stanley Perin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley E. Perin of Marion, September 24th in Otterbein Evangelical United Brethren Church. Miss Curry is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Curry.
50 YEARS AGO
Indiana Trails will place in service a new 35 passenger bus, according to the owner, Charles Pratt, of Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kelly of Florence are the proud parents of a daughter born at the Milan Clinic Sunday. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Chase and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kelley of Florence.
60 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. James Bennett of near Markland announce the recent marriage of their daughter, Mary L. Bennett, to Gerald R. Aishe, of Washington, Indiana.
Born Sunday evening, a daughter to Mrs. Lorraine Pickett Barker and Private Robert Barker, who is stationed in Tokoy, Japan. Mrs. Barker has been residing with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Barker of Center Square.
Miss Irene Schroeder o Patriot and Paul Smith of Cincinnati were married Saturday evening, July 27th, in the Concord Presbyterian Church by Reverend Ernest Schroeder of Flint, Michigan, uncle of the bride.
A group of five Switzerland County ex-service men left Saturday for Anchorage, Alaska, where they expect to find employment and possibly locate. Included in the group were Lindsey Graham, Charles and Richard Harsin, Ernest Lee Washmuth and Leonard Mays.
Miss Norma Lee Spencer of Mount Sterling and Leon Thomas Leep were married at the home of Reverend Frank Reed in Vevay Wednesday afternoon, July 24th.
Born Wednesday, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hansell Graves of Patriot. She has been named Diana Sue.
70 YEARS AGO
Phillip S. Markland, former County Auditor, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Markland Sunday evening.
Lewis Truesdell and Talapha May Aldred of near Center Square were married by Reverend J. Elmer Knotts last Saturday evening at his residence in Vevay.
While swimming in the river Wednesday little Burress O’Neal sustained a bad cut on the back of his head when he fell on a barge.
Alva Stoops and little Helen Jean Sheldon of Patriot narrowly escaped death or serious injury last week while they were sitting on the curb near McHuron’s store where Mr. Stoops is a clerk. A car driven by E. M. Hickman skidded on the street near the flag pole and struck Mr. Stoops.
80 YEARS AGO
Contract for the erection of a stone memorial to Switzerland County’s World War soldiers was let last week to F. W. Kassebaum and Son of Aurora. The five-foot-high granite boulder will be mounted on a concrete base near the entrance to the courthouse.
Vevay’s second annual Chautauqua will open Saturday in the big tent in the courthouse yard. Such talent as John Temple gave, “Bob” Seeds, Harold C. Kessinger, lecturers, and the Chicago Operatic Company, English Opera Singers, Wells Entertainers, the Schaumann Quintet and the Chicago Preachers’ Quartet will furnish the entertainment.
A business transaction of importance was concluded Monday whereby William P. Truitt of East Enterprise and A. O’Neal of Markland consolidated their flour mills. They will continue to operate both mills.
Miss Elizabeth Brockschlager has returned home from Indianapolis where she has been attending Madam Blaker’s School.
A 1925 model Chevrolet coach was stolen from the garage at the home of C.C. Shaw Monday night. It was found on the roadside near Lawrenceburg Tuesday, having been abandoned there when it ran out of gas.
Dailey P. Brown and Arlena Cole were married Tuesday evening at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Lowe in Patriot.
90 YEARS AGO
Robert Wiley, aged 15, drowned at Florence Sunday afternoon while bathing in the Ohio River, when he suddenly came to a step-off and was plunged into water beyond his depth. He had never been in the river before and could not swim. The lad was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wiley and resided on Pleasant Ridge.
the Vevay Flour Mills last week purchased a dough mixer for their baking department which will be installed at once.
Florence, Indiana burst into fame Sunday when one of her fair daughters, Miss Laura Bromwell, performed a feat before thousands of people in Cincinnati, which had never before been accomplished by a woman. Miss Bromwell leaped from the Suspension Bridge and dived into the Ohio River 110 feet below.
Heady Brothers have just built for Joe Trinkle a lunch wagon which will soon be a familiar sight on Vevay streets. The wagon is patterned after those used in cities and will be drawn by a horse. Mr. Trinkle plans to serve sandwiches of all kinds, popcorn and peanuts.
Born a son, Charles Elsworth, to A. L. Duplan and wife of Florence.
100 YEARS AGO
While playing ball last Saturday Dean Merrill had his thumb broken by a pitched ball.
William Jackson, the carrier on the Star Route to Madison, and T. F. Sullivan, rural carrier on Route 4, have been working on the river road in Craig Township over which they deliver mail to make it passable.
Miss Belle Turner of Vevay was one of a group of teachers who took examinations Saturday to teach in the Warsaw, Kentucky, vicinity and the examiners pronounced her papers the best ever brought before them.
Professor T. W. Bush, who has been conducting a dancing school here for the past month, will give his closing soiree Monday evening and the public has been invited to attend.
A daughter was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Mottier of Posey Township.
A daughter was born July 24th to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Johnson of Sugar Branch.
Charles M. Lee and Miss Nellie Gibbs of Sugar Branch were married July 25th by the groom’s father, Reverend C. W. Lee.
110 YEARS AGO
Joseph Peelman, 86, died last week at his home in Vevay. A native of Pennsylvania, he came to Vevay when a young man and engaged in cabinet making. He later made brick and built houses, having constructed many large buildings here. These include the Baptist Church, LeClerc House Hotel, the county jail and most of the larger houses. He is survived only by a son, Ira.
Licensed to marry: John H. Brown and Lulie Tompkins, Henry F. Strautman and Mary L. Houze.
Mrs. Pauline Brosius and daughters, Misses Irene and Blanche of Kansas City, Missouri, have come to make their home in Vevay.
The extremely wet weather for several weeks has greatly damaged oats, wheat, and hay throughout the county.
At the beginning of the season there were about 20 wheels [bicycles] in Vevay. At present there are something over a hundred, and new ones continue to come in every week. Several members of the “Ramblers” club took in the lawn fete at Markland Tuesday evening and about 20 members made a trip to Carrollton yesterday.
Married Wednesday, July 22nd, Percy C. Buschmann and Anna B. Fallis, both of Vevay. Ceremony by Reverend A.O. Protsman.
Married at Madison, July 15th, Mr. B.F. Hemphill, of Clay Center, Kansas, and Miss Mattie Stewart of Madison. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stewart who formerly resided in Moorefield.
130 YEARS AGO
Captain Charles Dufour is to pilot the government snag-boat E. A. Woodruff in her operations between Cincinnati and Louisville.
There will be a Sunday School Celebration at Chittenden’s Grove one mile north of Bennington Saturday, September 2nd.
Married at the residence of B. F. Schenck, Esq., in Vevay Wednesday, August 2nd, 1876 at 8 o’clock, by Reverend T. Warn Beagle. M. B. Cleveland, D.D.S. of Chicago, Illinois, and Miss Annette R. Bigelow of Jacksonville, Florida.
Harry Krutz of Florence has sold 21 Champion mowing machines since harvest began.
There is about $25,000 invested in the bee business in Switzerland County. About 60,000 pounds of honey is produced annually, worth about $13,000.
140 YEARS AGO
U.P. Schenck will soon erect a three-story building on Ferry Street.
Joseph Rutherford is erecting a two-story brick residence at Pike and Walnut streets.
F.L. Grisard will soon erect a two-story frame house on Walnut and Market streets.
Joshua Smithson has about completed his two-story brick residence on Market Street.