News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Indiana’s Ohio River Scenic Route, which runs through Switzerland County – highway 56 and highway 156 – has been designated as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The route, which stretches from Lawrenceburg to Mount Vernon, was one of only 14 routes in the nation to receive the honor. The route is one of only two to be chosen in the Midwest, and at 320-miles in length, is the longest route to receive designation. the Cherohola Skyway in Tennessee was also selected.
Sunny and warm, beautiful weather made a fine setting for a hugely successful Storyfest program, held Thursday and Friday of last week at the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park and the Hoosier Theater. Over 1,000 students and teachers participated in the two-day event, which brought storytelling performers to town to show the students the many different ways that a story can be created and communicated. Students learned about how musical instruments, authentic artifacts, and dance, sounds and expressive motion can be used to help tell a tale.
The town of Bennington is once again gearing up for their 23rd annual Homecoming, which will be held on Saturday, October 12th. Betty Bovard, founder and longtime organizer of the Bennington Homecoming, said that the day’s festivities will again kick off with the parade at 10:30 a.m. As always, the parade will line up at her home on the west edge of Bennington, and anyone interested in being in the parade only needs to show up that day.
15 YEARS AGO
The New Liberty Baptist Church near East Enterprise will observe the 150th anniversary of its founding on Sunday, September 29th. Members, former members, and friends are invited to attend the services planned for that special day.
The Vevay Town Council at its meeting last week decided to purchase land for the expansion of the Vevay Cemetery. About four acres across the highway from the cemetery, owned by John Andrew, were bought for $30,000.
The 18th annual Bennington Homecoming will be held Saturday, October 12th. Following the parade at 10 o’clock will be the crowning of Mayor and Ms. Bennington, and during the day there will be entertainment by local bands and singers as well as a flea market.
20 YEARS AGO
Bonnie Fancher has been nominated for 1987 Indiana Teacher of the Year. She was nominated last March for the 1986 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and the Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation District board chose her as the Conservation Teacher of the Year in February of this year.
Stacy Hocker and Mark Facemire will represent Switzerland County in the aurora Farmer’s Fair king and queen contest this evening.
Angela Mishler represented Switzerland County in the Versailles Pumpkin Show queen contest last week.
30 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County School Board will discuss a proposed $125,000 renovation program for Jefferson-Craig School at its regular meeting for October Monday night. Superintendent H. William Hall will recommend to the board that it authorize the Jefferson-Craig renovation, which was part of the proposed school building program voted down at the board’s last meeting.
Bill and Jackie Hill have won a trip to England in a nationwide contest sponsored by Western Auto. The Hills are the owners of the local Western Auto store.
Switzerland County High School’s unbeaten golf team is the new champion of the Ohio River Valley Conference. The golfing Pacers won the ORVC title Friday at Greensburg with a three-stroke victory over Madison Shawe. The victory not only gave SCHS the conference championship, but also preserved the team’s unbeaten record for the season.
Switzerland County Democrats are invited to cross the Ohio River Saturday to meet Rosalynn Carter, wife of the party’s presidential nominee, Jimmy Carter. Mrs. Carter will be guest of honor at a cookout rally to be held Saturday at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Harris.
40 YEARS AGO
Larry Curts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Curts of York Avenue, Vevay, has enlisted in the U.S. Army and will leave Monday for basic training.
Expansion and remodeling plans for Osborn’s Store on Main Street were announced this week by owner Raymond Osborn, Jr., who recently acquired the Krummel Building. Osborn said he purchased the building, located adjacent to and west of his present store, from past owner Paul Wiley, and plans to expand his entire line of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes.
A 19-year-old former Florence youth has been credited with playing a hero’s role during Hurricane Inez as he sustained personal injuries in an effort saving the life of a co-worker on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Recuperating at home is Larry Gene Wood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Wood of Florence, and an employee of Rex White Construction Company in Venice, Louisiana.
Abbie Rosenberger, Switzerland County sheriff, has agreed to resign that post, effective October 27th. He was requested to do so by the county commissioners. The county commissioners have not appointed a replacement as yet. Unsubstantiated reports have pointed to Cecil Peters as a possible choice.
50 YEARS AGO
The 94th birthday of Mrs. Jeanetta Furnish was observed Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Blanche furnish, in Vevay. Relatives and friends gathered for a pitch-in dinner.
In a transaction which was completed this week, Mrs. Mae Chambers sold her property on Main Street, known as the Woodfill Apartments, to the Gulf Oil Company for construction of a service station. The historic old home, which was built in the 1870s by Al Thiebaud, will be torn down. Mrs. Chambers, sister of the late Major Sam Woodfill, has made no definite plans for the immediate future.
Francis Miller will celebrate his 105th birthday on Friday, October 19th, at his farm home near Pleasant in Jefferson County. His wife attained her 100th birthday on August 19th, and they are believed to be the oldest living couple in the United States. On August 25th, they celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary.
60 YEARS AGO
James David Heath, overseas veteran and well known stock farmer of Jefferson Township, has received a fine registered southdown ram which he purchased in England last spring while he was on furlough from Germany.
Born October 3rd, a daughter, Brenda Pearl, to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Werner of near Cross Plains.
Miss Hazel M. Knigga and Paul L. Dorsey were united in marriage Tuesday afternoon, October 8th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Fred S. Griffith in Vevay.
Born October 7th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott of near Moorefield.
Born Saturday, October 5th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Norvin Littrell of Vevay.
Born Friday, October 4th, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Rayls of Vevay.
A marriage license was issued by County Clerk Melchoir Duplan to Mary Louise Brooks and Ben Connell Abbott, both of Brooksburg.
70 YEARS AGO
A large barn on the farm of H.N. Humphrey near Quercus Grove was struck by lightning Tuesday morning and burned to the ground.
Miss Eileen Aldred of near Bennington, and Lawrence A. Lester of Kentucky, were married here Monday evening by Reverend Elmer Knotts.
Vevay carried off first honors at the muzzleloading rifle shooting contest at Dillsboro last week when Leon Buschmann received first prize on the 100-yard match.
Everyone in Vevay owning a dog is being ordered to tie up or muzzle the animal for a period of 90 days under the order of the County Board of Health and the Vevay Town Board. The drastic action was taken after officials had been notified by the State Board of Health that rabies had been found in the head of a dog owned by Herbert Brown of Vevay. Several animals are said to have been bitten by the dog before it was killed.
Born, a son, Jerry Lee, to Mr. and Mrs. Dwight McKenzie of Long Run.
80 YEARS AGO
Clemens and Potter of Carrollton, Kentucky, have leased the Vevay Bakery from Gaudin and Sieglitz and the plant is again in operation.
The third incendiary fire in the northern part of Switzerland County in less than three months destroyed a barn and its contents of the Lucevia Orem farm near Bennington last Wednesday night. Thursday bloodhounds were brought in and the dogs took up the incendiary’s trail and followed it in a wide circle which led back to the barn. The first fire believed to have been of incendiary origin was the H. W. Sample fire on July 17th, which caused a loss of about $12,000. The second was the Seymour fire at Fairview, August 29th, which caused a loss of $25,000.
The Moorefield Bank played for the Fall Festival at Versailles last Saturday.
Born Wednesday, October 6th, a daughter, Mary Jane, to Mr. and Mrs. Seaver Sheldon of Posey Township.
The new toll gate at Sugar Branch is completed and Hugh Pickett has taken charge of it.
Born October 3rd, a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Madison of East Enterprise.
90 YEARS AGO
More voters registered in Switzerland County Tuesday than had ever voted in an election held in this county. The total number was 2863, surpassing the total vote cast in the November election by 288.
Miss Mildred Chamberlain of Tapps Ridge was married Tuesday to Roy Acre of Sanders, Kentucky, the ceremony being performed in Madison.
Sixty-five soldiers registered at the reunion held in Vevay last Thursday and Friday.
Charlie Cox and Miss Louise Godman, both from Sanders, Kentucky, were married in Vevay Friday afternoon at the home of Reverend Frank Hammel.
Carl Thieman of near Bennington and Miss Mabel Selmeyer of Bear Branch wee married last week.
Born, a daughter to John Otter, Jr., and wife.
100 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Flour Mills, A. V. Brown manager, is nearing completion.
George W. A. Cole who for 27 years has been the engineer at the Union Furniture Company, has resigned his position and will be employed at the Vevay Flour Mills.
Mr. and Mrs. James F. Simpson of Lamb celebrated their golden wedding anniversary October 5th.
Captain Isarael Fowler, who built the clock on the courthouse in 1864 is still living in Madison.
Married in Carrollton, October 7th, Ernest Jaynes to Miss Mary Moll.
110 YEARS AGO
Professor Max Genter, leader of the Vevay brass band, celebrated his 50th birthday October 5th at his home in Madison.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Madison of near East Enterprise a son on October 3rd.
Dale Van Pelt is quite ill with malaria fever.
the Republican Glee Club of Vevay has over 70 members, including some of the best vocalists in the city. Milton Boerner is the president; E.B. Cunningham, leader of music; Miss Freda Boerner, organist; Miss Lou Protsman, assistant organist; Julius Waltz, cornet; George Pleasants, Jr., violin; Miss Mary Dickason, general director.
Volney Peelman, aged 66, died at his home in Vevay October 1st. He was a soldier in Company E. 146 Indiana Infantry, later engaging in flat boating, and made 22 trips to New Orleans.
130 YEARS AGO
Married at the bride’s home October 5th, by Esquire Thomas B. Dow, Miss Sarah Golay and Robert M. LeClerc, all of this county.
Married in Vevay October 11th, by Reverend T. Warn Beagle, Miss Jennie M. Langwell and Benjamin F. Keeney, both of York Township.
The election in Switzerland County last Tuesday was hotly contested. The Republicans elected all their candidates for county office with the exception of one commissioner and coroner. William Smith was elected coroner and Philander Morrison, commissioner from the third district. Republicans elected James C. Long, sheriff; Charles J. Robenstein, treasurer; William Walker, surveyor; Jacob Banta, commissioner of first district. The Democrats elected four township trustees as follows: Benjamin F. Davis, Jefferson; J. H. Daubenhyer, York; James Cowan, Craig; J. N. Searcy, Posey. Republicans elected Aaron B. Vannater, Cotton and C. W. Johnson, Pleasant. Benjamin Harrison was elected Governor on the Republican ticket and all other state officers. John G. Berkshire, Republican, was elected judge of the Circuit Court and John O. Cravens, prosecuting attorney. Leonidas Sexton, Republican, was elected to congress from the Fourth District.
140 YEARS AGO
Friends of Fillore and Donelson will have a public speaking and pole raising in Vevay the first Saturday in October.
J. Newkirk has leased the hotel on Market and Ferry streets. The place will be known as the Indiana Hotel.
152 YEARS AGO
Married October 5th, by Reverend H. Wason, Miss Margaret Brown and Joseph Rutherford.
Married on August 23rd, by Reverend Amos S. Downey, Miss Mary Jane Shafer and Owen Richmond.
Married July 21st, by Reverend Downey, Miss Susan Silvers and Johnson Brown.
The Indiana State Board of Education, W. C. Larabee, Superintendent, has approved the following textbooks for common schools: McGuffey’s Electric Spelling book, Indiana Readers, butlers English Grammar, Mitchell’s Geographies, Ray’s Arithmetic and Webster’s Dictionaries.
Dr. R. R. Ruter has opened an office on Main Street. He is a surgeon and general practitioner.