News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The decision by the Vevay Town Council to award a three-year contract for trash and recyclables collection to Rumpke of Indiana has landed the matter in circuit court. Madison attorney Wil Goering filed a complaint in Switzerland County Circuit Court last week on behalf of Lee’s Hauling of Vevay and individuals Lee and Teresa Fuller – who own Lee’s Hauling – and Eddie Bright, an employee of Lee’s Hauling. The suit asks the judge to grant an injunction that would invalidate the Town of Vevay’s contract with Rumpke, citing the fact that the Lee’s Hauling bid was lower than the Rumpke bid, and therefore should have been accepted under Indiana law.
A team of educators is in the county this week to evaluate Switzerland County High School in a review of the school’s accreditation. The seven-member team represents the North Central Association, the accreditation agency for high schools in the Midwest.
Cheryle Jean Wiesmann and Jeffrey Scott Peelman were united in marriage on Saturday, September 14th, at the Mount Sterling Baptist Church. Reverend Ronald Sandidge officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Wiesmann of near Vevay. the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Peelman of near Florence.
15 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Post Office will celebrate its 175th anniversary next week. The post office moved into a new building in the summer of 1927 and it’s still the Post Office building.
The Mary Wright Log Home, one of the early pioneer residences in Switzerland County, will be rebuilt as a project of the Switzerland County Historical Society. Members of the Historical Society voted at their meeting Monday night to purchase the home, which was disassembled years ago and stored in a barn, and reassemble it in its original form. The site for the reconstruction of the home has not yet been decided.
Bill Wiley of Mount Sterling has been honored as a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was a member of the U.S. Army 97th Aircraft Artillery unit at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, when an attack by Japan prompted the entry of the United States into World War II. Mr. Wiley was presented a commemorative medal and was a guest of honor along with other Pearl Harbor survivors at ceremonies held on Veterans Day in Indianapolis.
20 YEARS AGO
At a special meeting of the Switzerland County Park Board Thursday, December 4th, Park Board President Wayne Daugherty announced that “the paper work is finished. The $150,000 Markland Dam Park project is about to become a reality.” A formal ground breaking ceremony was held at the site immediately following the breakfast meeting at the Ogle Haus in Vevay.
Mrs. Janice Waltz of Vevay announces the approaching marriage of her daughter, Rita Ann, to Frederick Joseph Ross, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Ross of Rising Sun. Miss Waltz is also the daughter of the late David W. Waltz. The wedding will take place December 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the Switzerland Baptist church in Vevay.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hartley, route 1, Canaan, were honored Sunday evening, December 7th, at the Cross Plains Baptist Church at a celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Hartley is the former Emme L. McKay.
Mr. Ora Scudder, route 3, Vevay, was appointed and commissioned a Distinguished Hoosier by Governor Robert Orr. State Senator Jim Lewis made the presentation at the Ogle Haus in Vevay on November 30th. Senator Lewis and his wife Anna Mae attended a surprise birthday dinner for Mr. Scudder who was celebrating his 90th birthday. Mr. Scudder has held several public offices and is a retired farmer. Mr. Scudder has served as sheriff, chief of police, county commissioner, road superintendent, court bailiff and precinct committeeman.
30 YEARS AGO
A Bloomington man was critically injured at about 1 p.m. Wednesday when the plane he was flying crashed into a wooded area on the Frank Gilpin farm in Posey Township. The man was Carl Clark and he was checking power transmission lines for one of two companies, Hoosier Energy or the Rural Electric Membership Corporation.
One of Kentucky’s brightest high school basketball stars this season is Tony Neal, son of two former Switzerland Countians and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. bob Brooks of Mount Sterling. Tony, who plays for Reidland High School in Paducah is the son of Harold and Kay (Brooks) Neal. Tony scored 39 points in one game recently, his best of the season.
Raymond and Hester Clifton of McCreary’s Ridge will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with an open house at their home Sunday, December 19th, to be held by their daughter, Mrs. Betty Lucas.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary Sunday, December 19th, with an open house at their residence on route 1, Florence.
It was something like a baseball game, one that goes extra innings but ends up with the scoreboard reading: no runs, no hits, no errors. Except that in this case it was: no schools, no taxes, no interest. the Switzerland County School Board voted Monday night not to build any new school facilities, and also agreed not to make any major repairs on the existing buildings.
60 YEARS AGO
Born Monday, December 16th, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lock of near Quercus Grove.
The marriage of Miss Mildred Strautman of Patriot to Ross M. Desboro was solemnized Saturday, December 7th, at the home of the groom’s parents.
Miss Melissa Davis of Vevay and Pfc. William A. Oliver of near Braytown, were married Friday evening, December 13th, at the home of Reverend Walter Peters.
Born Monday, December 16th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Lamson. She has been named Lynn Adele.
Born, a daughter, Glenda Roberta, to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Ralston.
Born December 15th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jackson of Aberdeen.
Beveridge Lock of Bennington and Miss Dorothy Long were married Sunday, December 15th, at the bride’s home in Virginia.
Born Saturday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bond of Posey Township.
Born Sunday a son to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Thacker of Posey Township.
Ora E. Nave has sold his store in Patriot to Hobert Smith who with his brother Roy will take possession in the next few days.
70 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Emza E. Slack, wife of Harry Slack of near East Enterprise, died in the Madison hospital Monday evening, having undergone surgery there last week. Mrs. Slack is survived by her husband and 14 children.
Jesse J. Riley, son of James Riley, of Vevay route 4 has developed a case of tularemia.
Born Sunday, December 6th, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wiley of Markland.
80 YEARS AGO
The Farmer’s Store, Incorporated, at Center Square was sold Saturday to Frank Weaver, of near Allensville. He will take possession about the last of January. The Farmer’s Store has been owned by a stock company.
Born, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Gullion of Moorefield.
90 YEARS AGO
According to newspaper reports the tobacco prices are on the upward trend. The Lexington, Kentucky, market one day last week averaged $17.00, Madison and Carrollton markets have been making averages of 14 to 16 cents a pound on low and medium grade tobacco.
Loren Hines has been assisting with the work in the Post Office during the illness of Miss Clara Kiesel.
Edwin Ferguson is lying seriously ill at his home near Moorefield as the result of an auto accident which occurred near Madison when the car driven by him overturned and pinned him between the top and front seat. The extent of his injuries has not been fully determined as yet.
Navigation on the Ohio River has been suspended since Sunday, December 17th, due to heavy ice and low water stage.
Fire completely destroyed the tobacco warehouse of Harry Ketchum at Carrollton on the morning of December 14th, with a loss of several thousand dollars.
The Sharp brothers are erecting a fine new barn on their farm near Moorefield.
The Tower Manufacturing Company tack factory at Madison was burned to the ground Friday night, December 15th, during the blizzard with a loss estimated at $150,000 with $50,000 insurance.
The brick residence on lower Market Street occupied by E. T. Coleman and family was completely gutted by fire from a defective flue, Thursday afternoon, December 14th, about 1:15. Furniture on the first floor was saved but practically everything on the second floor was burned.
A son, David Dwight, was born on December 9th to Dr. and Mrs. David Oak of Lacrosse, Indiana.
Millard McFarland has purchased the Knox farm on Indian Creek.
A son, Howard, Jr., was born on December 11th, to Reverend and Mrs. Howard Jamison at Riverside, California.
Married near Moorefield, December 14th, Miss Mabel Roberts and Dale Turner.
A baby girl was born on December 16th to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Pickett of near Fairview.
100 YEARS AGO
Married at Mount Sterling by Reverend C. W. Lee on December 16th, Gretchen Hall and Cogley G. Cole.
Married in Vevay, December 13th, Miss Anne Paugh and Mr. Buchanan by Reverend C. W. Lee.
Married in Vevay, December 16th, Miss Edith Weaver and George Williams, by Reverend Langley.
Married by Reverend C. W. Lee on December 20th, Miss Elsie Laswell and Cecil Brooks.
To be married on December 23rd, Miss Anna Reed and Thomas Ramseyer.
Married at Champaign, Illinois, December 11th, Miss Nettie M. Davis of that city to Wesley M. Campbell, formerly of Mount Sterling.
Born, a baby girl on December 15th, to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schroeder of Egypt Bottom.
Born, a baby girl, on December 14th, to Mr. and Mrs. Freely Sullivan of Center Square.
Married by Reverend C. W. Lee on December 24th, Miss Lillian Tinker and Raymond Jarvis.
Married in Craig Township December 25th, Miss Gertrude Banta and Bruce Clements.
Married in Vevay, December 22nd, by Reverend C. W. Lee, Miss Ruth Pettit and Harold Farrell.
Married in Vevay, December 24th, by Reverend C. W. Lee, Miss Susie M. Krall and Aime Oak.
Married in Vevay, December 21st, Miss Viola Peelman and John Lamunyon.
Married in Vevay by Reverend I. P. Langley on December 23rd, Miss Sparta O’Neal and Charles Reed.
Married, December 25th, by Squire R. N. Smith, Miss Nola Buchanan and Frank Pavy.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Fish on December 14th, an 8 1/2 pound son to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Slack, a 13 1/4 pound son on December 13th, and to Walter Holdcraft and wife, twin sons, all these families residing in the Enterprise neighborhood.
110 YEARS AGO
Born last week a son, Irvin O’Neal to Mr. and Mrs. Rodolph Siebert.
Licensed to marry: Thomas A. Kent and Martha E. Powell, James F. Asher and Julia Cole, Arthur K. Smith and Della B. Malcomson, John P. Dorrel and Mattie B. Burress, G. R. Jamieson and Adalyne Bolden, Cornelius Wheeler and Elza Miller, Sherman Whittaker and Flora Tingle.
Married December 17th, Miss Julia C. Wycoff and James M. Twineham.
Licensed to marry: Charles A. Grenat and Katie Cotton.
Born December 6th, an 8 pound boy to Mount and Eliza Richardson of upper Grants Creek.
Licensed to marry: Marion F. Rogers and Mary A. Demaree, Oliver Miller and Laura Williamson, Perry Dickason and Mollie G. Dow, Fred Scudder and Lula Martin, Henry Smith and Nettie L. Wainscott, Robert Lewis and Nettie Blackburn, John L. Morgan and Ora Bruce, M. K. Kirtley and Lula Jones, Mitchell Detraz and Mary F. Adams, Lucian Harris and Janette Jamison, Emery J. Vaughn and Delia E. Scott.
A number of ladies of Vevay have organized a literary club which they have decided to call the Eggleston Club. The club will give a banquet December 30th at the home of Mrs. A. J. Schenck.
John F. Cotton of near Moorefield, the first male child born in this county, recently visited town.
Reverend W. S. Ray and family will come next week from Howesville, Ohio, to Vevay where he will enter upon his duties as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church.
Licensed to marry: James H. Bigg, Jr., and Emma B. Snodgrass, Lewis Cole and Sarah J. Anderson, Jasper Robinson and Iva Lay, Simmie Wainscott and Esther Lay, John Martin and Laura Myers.
130 YEARS AGO
Seven men in the varnish department of the Union Furniture Factory went on a strike last week demanding 50 cents more wages per day but were refused.
The U. P. Schenck is expected to arrive here tomorrow from New Orleans with a load of molasses.
Married in Carrollton, Kentucky, December 11th, Miss Eliza Bernard and George W. Dufour, both of Vevay.
Married by Reverend E. G. Seymour on December 11th, Miss Frances Chandler to Alger M. Stewart.
Vevay markets – Butter 15 cents pound; eggs 15 cents dozen; potatoes 75 cents bushel; beans $1.00 to $1.25 bushel; old chickens $2.00 per dozen.
140 YEARS AGO
Vevay is becoming noted as the best point on the river to fix up flatboats. Lumber is abundant and very cheap.
Since last week two flatboats have left Vevay for the sunny South belonging to Nirisez and Thiebaud and Teats Brothers.
Weather prophets say there will be 42 snows this winter.