News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Dwight and Christine McKenzie of Tell Street in Vevay are well known around Switzerland County as longtime residents. But for hundreds of county children – many now grown and moved away – they are simply known as “Papaw and Mamaw.” The McKenzies have welcomed county children into their home for over 25 years, caring for them like they were the couple’s own children. It is a love that the McKenzies hold dear, and that the children they kept remember fondly. The McKenzies have been married for 62 years.
On Friday, September 6th – eight days from now – the Indiana Gaming Commission will meet in Indianapolis to award the state’s fifth and final license to operate a riverboat casino on the Ohio River. With Switzerland County and Crawford County vying for that final license, Switzerland County Council president Mike Jones recently assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the two proposals.
The Olive Branch Baptist Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary with special programs on Sunday, September 8th.
The Switzerland County Historical Society is planning a program this fall featuring local author Don Wallis and his book “Harlan Hubbard and the River.”
15 YEARS AGO
Tom Cornell of Patriot on a silver medal at the international Summer Olympics and his team received a ribbon for its fourth-place finish in the 4×100 relay.
Elmer Johnson of Vevay caught a 22-pound flat head catfish in the Ohio River.
Angela Harlow completed her degree requirements in June at Indiana University in Bloomington. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education.
20 YEARS AGO
Renee Copeland, daughter of Bill and Mary Jewell, received a plaque at the Indiana State Fair for having the dog that came in 19th place out of 674 entered. Only 20 dogs placed. Renee’s dog was the Grand Champion at the Switzerland County 4-H Fair.
Bruce Hutcherson, Patriot, took second place honors in three divisions – 5,200-pound modified, 7,200-pound modified and 9,200-pound modified – at the 20th Annual National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The progress of the Markland Dam Park is being temporarily held up, but park board president Wayne Daugherty hopes that no one becomes discouraged. He is pleased with the support that the county residents have given and encourages everyone to continue with an optimistic attitude.
Charles and Mary Davenport, Markland, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on September 6th. Their children are having a dinner party on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Markland Baptist Church.
30 YEARS AGO
Tom Warner, son of Rosalie and Charles Warner of near Markland, brought a very odd looking potato to the newspaper office. It weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces and Tom thinks it looks like “Woodstock,” the bird in the “Peanuts” comic strip. Other suggestions were a ray gun, a shoe, a stubbed toe, a boat.
Mickey Mathews, son of Cecil and Louise Mathews of Vevay, will graduate from the U.S. Army’s basic training program at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri September 23rd.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ralston of Pleasant will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday, September 12th.
Plans are being made for the third annual Bennington Homecoming celebration to be held October 16th this year in the middle of that pleasant Pleasant Township village.
Union Baptist Church was host on Sunday, August 22nd, to the churches of Craig Township for a Bicentennial church service, pitch-in basket dinner, and some old-fashioned fun. Most of the attending ladies donned their old-fashioned long dresses or a Bicentennial-flavored costume. Several people even walked to church or rode horses or in a carriage to carry out the celebration in a real Bicentennial style.
40 YEARS AGO
Lloyd K. Noel, 25, of Turnpike Street, Vevay, died Saturday from injuries received in a two-car automobile accident in Hartford, a north-central Ohio County community.
A former Switzerland County man, Harold Scudder, has been appointed commanding officer of the United States Navy’s USS Sproston. He is the son of the late Everett and Helen Scudder. The change of command ceremony took place September 6th at Pearl Harbor Naval Station.
Albert Allen Detmer, Bonita Froman, Jean Ann Markland, Ann Pommerehn, and Gala Simmons have been awarded 4-H Key Club awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to club work.
The doctor of philosophy degree was formally conferred upon Roger D. Iddings September 2nd at Ohio State University. He is the son of Mrs. Clara Iddings of Market Street, Vevay.
Patriot’s Bruce Hutcherson received the championship trophy and ribbons after winning Indiana State Championship Horse Pull (3,200-pounds-and-under division) Saturday night. The team co-owned by Hutcherson won the pull hosted by Switzerland County Saddle Club at its Fairview club grounds.
50 YEARS AGO
James Allen Maddox, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Maddox of Madison route 12, and Alma Cottey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Cottey of Florence, were united in marriage Saturday evening, September 15th, by Reverend H. G. Ramsey at the Methodist parsonage.
Weekend rains and hail storms damaged thousands of dollars worth of tobacco in this county, catching a number of local farmers with the crop standing uncut in fields.
Miss Bonnie Carol Ashcraft, 19-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ashcraft, has been chosen as “Miss Vevay” to represent this town in the annual Madison Regatta.
Nearly 2,000 persons watched the fourth annual running of the Vevay Regatta Sunday afternoon as approximately 63 boats roared around the half-mile course. Weekend rains were blamed for the small number of boats taking part in the races as 180 boat drivers had signified intention to race at Vevay, but the rains and threat of drift-clogged waters kept many at home.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Jeanne Griswold of near Bennington and Daniel O. Nichoson of Grand Rapids, Michigan were united in marriage Friday night, September 6th, at the Baptist Church in Vevay by Reverend Walter Mosley of Uniontown, Indiana.
Miss Mary Lou Bovard and Private Robert Furnish of Vevay were married September 10th at the home of the bride’s parents near East Enterprise by Reverend Frank M. Reed.
Loren Roberts last week purchased the Vevay Grill from Emerson Williamson and has placed it under the management of Thurmen Roberts who began his new duties Monday morning.
Harry M. Stow, 84, retired farmer and former resident of East Enterprise died at the Whitlatch Clinic in Milan September 6th from the effects of injuries received in a fall several days ago.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Mary Waldenmaier, aged 76 years, died unexpectedly at her home in Vevay Thursday evening. Miss Waldenmaier was emerging from the Ideal ice cream store when she was stricken with a stroke of paralysis. She was removed to her home where she expired that evening.
Miss Mary Ethel Owens has resumed her position as Public Health Nurse of Switzerland County and has opened her office on the third floor of the Courthouse.
James W. Bliss has received his appointment as the regular carrier at Bennington and Bryan Curry has been permanently appointed to route 1, Vevay.
80 YEARS AGO
Born Saturday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Teats.
Jacob Wahl and family moved Friday from Madison to Vevay and are occupying their former home on Washington Street.
The new shaft for the ferry Robert T. Graham arrived last Thursday and has now been installed. The old reliable ferry is now making her regular trips between Vevay and Ghent.
Born, a daughter, Margaret Lee, to Mr. and Mrs. Norval Netherland of Craig Township.
90 YEARS AGO
Miss Carrie Andres of Lamb was united in marriage Sunday evening at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Andres, to Harry Netherland of Carrollton, Kentucky.
The Vevay Flour Mills bakery is now making bread by machinery, using their new dough mixer last Friday night for the first time.
John P. White, aged 73 years, died at his home in York township near Florence Tuesday night. Mr. White, who was a veteran of the Civil War, served his county both as recorder and sheriff.
The Lyric Theatre, owned by Horace B. Riggs, will close its doors the last week in September on account of poor patronage.
Miss Hazel Richards and Loren Hines were married at the home of the bride’s mother at Mount Sterling Sunday at noon by Reverend Seburn.
Born to Thomas Patterson and wife of Florence, a son.
110 YEARS AGO
Died in Patriot Sunday afternoon, September 6th, Samuel W. Wade in the 63rd year of his age. Mr. Wade, who was a carpenter by trade, had served as a Justice of the Peace and at the time of his death was a Jury Commissioner of Switzerland County.
Born, August 31st, a daughter to Newt Ward and wife of Sugar Branch.
Licensed to marry: Otis A. White and Prudence Sheldon; John T. White and Eliza J. Beatty; Tunis V. Archer and Jeanette S. Culbertson; Thomas Jacobs and Artie Shafer; Edward Jackson and Emma T. Carleton.
Ignorance may be bliss, but only to the ignorant.
130 YEARS AGO
Married at the bride’s home August 31st by Reverend A. McBride, Robert W. Glen of Jefferson County and Miss Alice Hart of this county.
Switzerland, Jefferson and Jennings counties have been joined to the fourth collection district and the revenue taxes in those counties will now be collected by Will Cumback. William F. North of Patriot has been reappointed deputy collector.
Honorable John W. Wright and wife are visiting the centennial exposition in Philadelphia.
James K. Pleasants has purchased the hull of the steamer H. S. Turner and will use it for freighting hay and other produce to New Orleans.
F. E. Mennet is having a two-story brick residence built on his farm below Vevay. Thomas Slatter of Vevay has the contract for the brick work.
The Vevay and Rising Sun telegraph line is now under the superintendency of L. A. Clark of Vevay.
John W. Banta has resigned as manager of Levi B. Christie’s store. Mr. Christie and Bayard Beagle now conduct the business.
B. Strack is building a fine residence on his farm below Patriot.
A. C. Cotton, formerly of this county, is now Chief of Police in Indianapolis.
Recently the steamer Champion No. 9 brought a boat load of 600 people on an excursion from Cincinnati to Patriot and intermediate points.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry K. Cotton, Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Boerner and the Misses LeClerc are among the local people attending the Philadelphia expositions.
Married September 6th in Aurora, William Z. Yonge of Vevay and Miss Liva Bush.
Harry Weales is building a new home in the Armstrong addition.
Henry Wallick of Posey Township has bought the farm of William Daily near Center Square.
140 YEARS AGO
Married September 2nd, by Reverend Robert Stevenson, Miss Alice Charlton to William J. Baird.
The Cincinnati packet, Ravenue, Captain Wash Kerr in command, was snagged and sunk Friday night near Buena Vista. No lives were lost.
Colonel M. C. Garber, having been discharged from the Union army, has again taken charge of the editorial columns of The Madison Courier.
152 YEARS AGO
Jackson’s Collegiate Institute will for a time be moved from Patriot to Rising Sun “for the purpose of securing to the students better religious and social privileges and a more extended sphere of labor.” Courses in primary branches, English, piano and vocal music, Latin, Greek and French, mathematics and natural sciences will be given.
Among the political advertisements are the following: Philander S. Sage, Eliphalet Case for state senator; Ulysses P. Schenck, David Cain, George W. Harriman, joint representative of Switzerland and Ohio counties; George H. Kyle, reelection for county treasurer; J. R. Morerod, county treasurer; Samuel W. Howard, county treasurer; C. A. Garey, county commissioner; Eri G. Carington, assessor of Jefferson Township.
The subject of a telegraph line from Rising Sun to Vevay, through Patriot and Florence, is now being agitated. It is estimated that for the sum of $100 per mile, a distance of 25 miles, the line would cost $2,500.