News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The possible closing of the Randall Textron plant in Vevay has drawn the attention of one of the state’s most powerful political figures, but there is still no sign that the potential shutdown is being called off. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Frank O’Bannon spoke to Randall Textron president Jane Warner by phone last week. The lieutenant governor told Jane Warner that he is committed to doing everything in the state’s power to keep the Vevay plant open. He stressed to her the importance of the plant to the local and area economy.
The Riverview Southern Baptist Church will be holding its 20th anniversary celebration this Sunday, October 1st.
Clyde Gray Culbertson, M.D., medical researcher, educator, and philanthropist passed away Wednesday, September 27th, in Columbus at the age of 89. He was raised in Vevay. He retired from Eli Lilly & Company in 1970.
Johnny Darbro has been growing some very fine sunflowers in his garden on Tapps Ridge. A youthful 92 years old, Johnny reports that he still keeps his garden every year, as he’s done for almost all his life. He grew two sunflowers this year that measured 16 1/4 inches and 15 1/2 inches across. His niece, Billie Kuhnen, had to help him bring them to the newspaper office for photos.
15 YEARS AGO
Staff Sergeant Mark E. Dunning recently received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his meritorious service for the United States Air Force from April 1989 to May 1990. Vice Admiral W.D. Studemay made the presentation at Fort Meade. He is the son of Francis and Clara Dunning of route 2, Vevay and the grandson of Mrs. Louis Swango of Vevay.
Private Jennifer L. Burnett has completed U.S. Army basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Everett J. and Lois A. Burnett of Vevay.
Michelle Moll, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moll of Vevay, represented Switzerland County High School in the Versailles Pumpkin Show queen contest last night, September 26th.
An apartment fire in Rising Sun on Friday, September 21st, has claimed the life of former Vevay resident Blanton Curlin, 69, Curlin was a native of Switzerland County and had formerly lived on Tapps Ridge Road in Jefferson Township.
20 YEARS AGO
Around the teacher’s lounge of Switzerland County High School she’s known as “Mom.” Martha Cole, English teacher at SCHS, is from the old school of teaching. In the profession for 48 years, Mrs. Cole was recently nominated by the administration of Switzerland County High School for “Teacher of the Year” in Indiana. The award, sponsored by the Department of Education, is given each year to the one teacher in the state who is chosen by an independent panel.
Mark Miles, owner of the Schenck mansion in Vevay, announced that he has purchased the Swiss Inn. Initial plans call for the roof to be replaced and then Miles hopes to get the lounge reopened. Eventually, the entire hotel will be open again and doing business.
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll B. Long of South Carolina with to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Jane, to Steve Hewitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Hewitt, route 3, Vevay. The marriage will take place at the home of the bride’s parents in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, on Saturday, October 26th.
30 YEARS AGO
With construction of a new state road 129 bridge at Long Run underway, plans are moving along for building another one on that road, less than a mile away. In the preliminary engineering stage is a project to replace the existing bridge on 129 over Indian Creek, one mile north of the 129-River Road intersection, with a new span, That bridge is a one-laner, as is the one at Long Run which will be replaced by the new bridge now being built. Both bridges are located on sharp, hazardous curves.
Saturday, October 4th, is the big day in Bennington! That’s the second annual Bennington Homecoming and things are beginning to shape up.
Valerie Roberts and Diane Copeland will carry Switzerland County’s banners in the queen contest of the 73rd annual Versailles Pumpkin Show this week. Miss Roberts is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. (Billy) Roberts, of near Mount Sterling. She’ll represent Switzerland County High School in the queen contest. Miss Copeland is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Copeland of East Enterprise. She’ll represent the Southeastern Indiana Vocational School of Versailles. The two Switzerland County girls are among eight candidates in the queen contest.
The recently renovated Market Square will get a coat of blacktop for its parking lot, if a proposed additional budget appropriation is approved next month by the Vevay Town Board. The Board has tentatively okayed an additional appropriation of $2,000 for paving Market Square, which is the home of the popular Farmers Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings during the growing season. It is also the home of a brand new park, constructed this summer by workers under a government financed project.
40 YEARS AGO
Stepping out of a hospital bed only hours prior to competition, Mary Sieglitz won the title of Miss Switzerland County Saturday night in a preliminary contest to the 1966 Indiana Sesquicentennial queen contest. The Hoosier state is celebrating its 150th birthday throughout 1966 and similar events on the county level are being held throughout the state. Ginny Martin was runner up in a field of five girls and will serve as Miss Sieglitz’s understudy should the county queen be unable to attend the state contest or related functions.
Captain James R. Landry, son of Mrs. Maurice Sullivan of Vevay, and his family have arrived in Japan where he is serving with the 1501 Support Squadron of the U.S. Air Force.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Culbertson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Tuesday, September 20th, at their home here.
All roads will lead to the riverfront at Vevay Sunday afternoon when the third invitational outboard motorboat races will be held.
The Bank at Westport, Indiana, a few miles east of Columbus, Indiana, was robbed Wednesday morning by a lone bandit who walked into the bank at 8:45 a.m. and walked out with $6,000 in currency. A silly report started that the East Enterprise Bank was robbed, which is not true.
Funeral services were held Monday morning form the Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home for Verna Jean Swango, four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Swango of Aurora, who was killed instantly Friday afternoon in an automobile collision one-fourth mile west of the Ohio-Indiana line on highway 50.
60 YEARS AGO
Born, Friday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Mason Uhlmansiek of Craig Township.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars are organizing a post of World War II Overseas Veterans in Vevay.
In a double wedding ceremony performed at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Charles McClung, Saturday morning, September 22nd, Miss Loretta Mae Shadday became the wife of William Ward McHenry and Miss Eva Mae Gullion became the bride of Howard T. Dunning.
Private Everett L. Clements of Moorefield and Miss Mary Louise Jones of Concord, Indiana were married September 19th in the chapel at Camp Rucker, Alabama, by Chaplain Rufus Higginbotham.
Thieves visited Orchard Hills Farm shortly before four o’clock Wednesday morning and succeeded in making off with about 35 bushels of packed and graded apples.
Born, September 13th, a son, Kenneth Gayle, to Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Todd, of Napoleon, formerly of Switzerland County.
Born Wednesday, September 12th, a daughter, Audrey May, to Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Neal of East Enterprise.
70 YEARS AGO
Joseph M. Protsman, one of the oldest citizens of Switzerland County and a veteran of the Civil War, passed away in his sleep at his home on Indian Creek Sunday morning, aged 93 years.
An elaborate religious pageant, “The First Commandment,” will be sponsored by the Tri Kappa sorority in Vevay on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1st and 2nd.
Patriot citizens are not to be outdone by any other community. Recently they have added street lighting as a public utility there with 17 lamps being placed on the principal streets and on the town square.
Mrs. Maude Haskell and Mrs. Roberta Banta have purchased the hat store of Mrs. Mayme Stanley on Main Street and took possession this week.
The Switzerland County quota of 100 young pheasants was received here by the local game club and were released in various communities of the county.
Several local sportsmen will attend a National Rifle shoot at the Laughery Club near Rising Sun Friday and Saturday. H.B. Webber, whose hobby is collecting antique and modern weapons, will enter the match using a special built rifle weighing about 90 pounds. The handsome and powerful gun is a muzzleloader and was manufactured entirely by hand by Mr. Webber.
80 YEARS AGO
William Martin, progressive businessman of Patriot, has just completed the installation of a 110 volt electric light plant in Patriot with capacity enough to furnish current to all residents and business houses.
Bakes and Iddings last week purchased the garage building they now occupy from Hastings and Green, the deed to the property being turned over to the new owners on Monday. Shortly afterwards Forrest Iddings purchased Minor Bakes’ half interest in the holdings of Bakes and Iddings.
Fred Jennings, Vevay riverman, last week found a beautiful pearl in a mussel, which is believed to be worth several hundred dollars. The pearl is about the size of a pea, is perfect in shape and its luster is undescribable.
Miss Learleen Jividin of Sulphur, Kentucky, and Carroll Croxton of Eminence, Kentucky were married in Vevay Friday by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
Elmer Ricketts and Miss Thelma Stopher were married at Rising Sun Saturday, September 19th.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. James Pendry was robbed of a quantity of canned fruit Saturday night.
90 YEARS AGO
Warsaw Kentucky’s new light plant is now furnishing power to the town and unlike Vevay, is giving the citizens power day and night. Vevay has a superior plant yet we get power only after dark and find it has been cut off when we arise in the morning.
The new Lyric Theatre in the Pleasants building on Ferry Street opened last night. The interior of the theatre has been redecorated, is equipped with opera chairs, and the music is furnished by an electric piano.
Miss Florida Brooks of Craig Township and Earl Sailor of Jefferson County were married Monday at the Baptist parsonage by Reverend Seeley.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Whitham of East Enterprise.
Ralph Emerson, proprietor of the Golden Rod and Cotton Blossom floating theatres, was arrested in Pittsburgh last week charged with producing copyright plays without paying a royalty on them.
Born, a daughter, Thelma, to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Broadwell of Patriot.
William H. Lukie, Patriot’s mail carrier and Mrs. Maggie VanDorin, also of Patriot, were married Sunday in Aurora.
100 YEARS AGO
L. C. Button, merchant at the southeast corner of Ferry and Pike Streets here, was charged by the grand jury with perjury and embezzlement.
Mrs. Abbie A. North and Mrs. Mary H. Espy of Rising Sun have compiled a cookbook which is having a big sale in Switzerland County.
Married September 20th by Reverend Edgar McDill in Madison, Miss Anna M. Gray and Carl S. Culbertson, both of this county.
Tom Detraz, united with the Christian Church in Craig.
Clara Rice resigned her position with the Gockel Store in Patriot and her place will be taken by Miss Lena Humphrey.
110 YEARS AGO
Mr. C. Danner of Lamb received first premium on his saddle horse at the State Fair.
Mrs. Maggie Fisher and Mr. David B. Lee of Fowler, Colorado, were united in marriage at the residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Martha Danner, in Vevay Tuesday evening, September 24th, by Reverend C.W. Lee, brother of the groom.
Mr. Frank Detraz, Jr., of Vevay and Miss Amy Lewerk, of Pendleton, Indiana, were married at the bride’s home Tuesday, September 17th.
The steamer City of Vevay last Friday morning struck on Craig’s Bar, knocked out a six foot hole in her under boiler and sunk. She was raised and went on to Cincinnati Sunday.
Licensed to marry: Henry A. Downey and Nellie Sedam; John J. Corns and Lucy Bales; Miley Bailey and Amie D. Cooton; Robert Jamieson and Martha Craig; Ernest Early and Flora Garvey; John W. Harper and Lora E. Powell; Riston Webb and Dora Scott; David B. Lee and Maggie D. Fisher; Wilmer Konkle and Lizzie Hall.
Born, a son to Frank Truesdell and wife of East Enterprise.
140 YEARS AGO
The new business building of J.K. Pleasants and Company, corner of Main and Ferry streets, is about completed. Dwellings are being built by George Tardy of Seminary Street; Major H.B. Shutts on Liberty Street, Mrs. Perry on Market Street, I.W. Barstow on Main Cross Street, and Mrs. Joshua Smithson on Main Street.
We are pleased to note the fact that during the past week our city has been very quiet and orderly. The Marshal has not made a single arrest.
Last Friday the Veterans Company E. 50 Indiana, from this county arrived home.
The Vevay wharfboat is sunk.