News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Derrick L. McKenzie has completed the Walt Disney Feature Animation Studio Internship Program, and has accepted a position in the special effects department for the Walt Disney Feature Animation studio in Orlando, Florida. He is the son of Jerry and Brenda McKenzie of Beavercreek, Ohio, and the grandson of Dwight and Christine McKenzie of Vevay and Esther True of Indianapolis.
Vevay native James Danglade was honored as being one of the members of the inaugural class of the Continuing Education Hall of Fame, which is located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. He works in continuing education for Ball State University.
The first official task that superior court judge John Mitchell handled on Monday was the swearing in of county commissioner Jim Allison to a second term. The judge returned to work on Monday after suffering a heart attack in October.
15 YEARS AGO
A state grant of $21,500 has been awarded to the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation to help set up a tourist information office in Vevay – a key step toward developing “a marketing strategy” to promote tourism here, said Foundation executive director Chuck Overbey. Plans are to open the tourist information office this May in the lobby of the Hoosier Theater, and keep it open seven days a week during the prime tourist season, Overbey said.
Sergeant Kurt Marksberry has earned an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. He is a printer system supervisor at Misawa Air Base in Japan.
20 YEARS AGO
Johnnie and Katie Watkins, route 3, Vevay, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with an open house hosted by their children. The reception was held Sunday, December 28th, at the home of their daughter and her husband, Jean and Benny Garland, route 3, Vevay.
Perry “Butch” Watkins, formerly of Vevay, and Ida Jo Tyree, Hazard, Kentucky, were married at the Methodist Church, Shawhan, Kentucky on October 18th, 1986. Mr. Watkins is a Switzerland County High School graduate.
Mr. and Mrs. William Lay of Patriot announce the marriage of their daughter, Renda Kay, to James Lee Williams. They wee united in marriage on November 14th at Temple Baptist Church in Patriot.
35 YEARS AGO
Paul Eddie Caplinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Caplinger of route 3, Madison, left Monday for Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he will complete his National Guard basic training and A.I.T. training in an anti tanker division.
40 YEARS AGO
Marine Pfc. Floyd W. Bond, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Bond of route 1, Patriot, has attended the Aviation Electrician’s Mate School, Class A, at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Naval Air Station, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Miss Glada Haney, a Vevay High School senior, has been chosen as the 1966-67 McCall’s Teen Fashion Board member at Vevay High School. Miss Haney is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Haney of route 1, Bennington.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Valentine of route 1, Bennington, will celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary January 1st with open house from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Married December 27th, 1916, they have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
It was a merry Christmas Eve in the home of Mary Turner as the went home Saturday afternoon with $497 received in Vevay merchants’ weekly Appreciation Day program. The winner held a 50 percent ticket. This week’s program will feature a $572 total.
55 YEARS AGO
Dailey Brown of East Enterprise, a member of the Switzerland County Board of Commissioners, and Chief of the East Enterprise fire department was injured critically Sunday evening about 6:30 o’clock while answering a fire alarm at the home of Henry Jones on the river road above Vevay.
Bertha Bettens DeBell passed away in Hollywood, California. She was a member of the pioneer county family.
Superintendent Harold Benedict sustained a strained left arm last Thursday when he caught his heel on the top step of the basement steps at school and fell headlong down the stairway.
The Vevay Auto Company has purchased a new Holmes wrecker which is now in service at the local plant.
Telephone and power service throughout Switzerland County are being restored after lines were snapped last week by the coating of ice during Friday’s storm.
In a letter to County Agent McNary, Wilbur Wade of Posey Township states: “I have a cow that gave birth to two calves November 18th, 1950 and gave birth to two calves on November 12th, 1951.” Four calves in less than a year is quite a record the County Agent stated.
Mrs. Mollie Haskell quietly celebrated her 89th birthday Friday at her home near Vevay.
65 YEARS AGO
Lockmaster Thomas Bennett of Dam 39 received orders last week to establish a civilian guard for protection of the locks.
Miss Charlotte Coy of Florence and Stanley Purnell were issued a marriage license here Saturday.
Charles Garvey of Craig Township, employed at the Charlestown Powder Plant, had the misfortune to lose the thumb from his left hand while at work there.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Marjory Phillips of Bethel Ridge and Florian Dugan of Tapps Ridge were married Sunday morning, December 20th, in Bethel Church, by Reverend Thompson.
The U.S. Lighthouse tender boat, Greenbrier, has recently completed installation of a new type signal light at the Patriot Bend. The light is entirely automatic and is controlled by an “electric eye.” It is the first of its kind eve placed on the Ohio River.
Mrs. Corrinne Schenck Dahmen, native of Vevay, died in Los Angeles, California on December 18th.
The marriage of Miss Mignon Aldred of near Fairview and Warren Banta of Brooksburg which was solemnized last July 4th in Indianapolis has been announced.
Mrs. Nancy Jane Fitzgerald and William Byers were married at the home of Mr. Byers December 19th by Reverend W.S. Lowe.
75 YEARS AGO
Wilfred L. Joyce, 22, of Vevay, was killed almost instantly in an automobile wreck December 10th near Manville in Jefferson County.
The third gas well in Switzerland County came in this week on the Wiseman farm at Long Run. The flow has developed into a capacity of nearly two million cubic feet.
85 YEARS AGO
F.A. Griffith has transferred his wife who will take charge of the yard on lower Market Street.
F. R. Hyatt, formerly of Hanover, has opened a music store at the corner of Main and Ferry streets.
95 YEARS AGO
Christmas trade in Vevay was considerably above the expectations of the merchants.
K. L. Hastings and wife received a new automobile as a Christmas present from Mrs. Hastings’ parents, C.D. Green and wife of Patriot.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Washer of Bennington December 20th, a daughter.
Born to John Farrell and wife of Scotch Settlement, Thursday, a daughter.
Born, Monday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weaver of Scotch Settlement.
110 YEARS AGO
Married last Thursday at the residence of the bride’s parents near Bennington, James Twinehan and Clym Wycoff.
Married at the residence of P. H. Wallick, Esquire, near East Enterprise, Indiana, Sunday, December 20th, Charles Grenat and Katie Cotton, by Reverend E. G. Seymour.
Born, a son to Mount and Eliza Richardson, of Upper Grant’s Creek.
115 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Festus Flinn, formerly of Mount Sterling, are residing in Oxford, Kentucky.
Frank Dupraz has returned from the Oklahoma Territory.
Miss Edna Works has resigned her position as clerk in the post office.
Jacob H. Harris of Quercus Grove sustained a serious injury to his right hand when it was caught in a cutting box.
Ed Findlay has become a clerk in the post office.
Edward Lanham is employed by the Bell Telephone Company at Kokomo.
125 YEARS AGO
John Gill and associated have completed the abutments to the lower Indian Creek bridge.
Henry Morris has opened a barber shop in Patriot.
Seven new houses were erected in Markland in 1881.
Thieves stole all the meat from the smoke house of Jacob Snyder in Egypt Bottom.
A. McCulloch has purchased the stock barn of William Culbertson near Moorefield.
145 YEARS AGO
There are now 110,000 men in Kentucky under the command of such superior generals as Buell, Schoenf, Mitchell, and Thomas.
We are requested to state that Captain Rous has sent home all surplus clothing of his company which may be had by calling on Shaw, Harwood and Company.
Hay has advanced to $12 a ton in Vevay and a large amount was brought in the past week.
On Thursday, a small son of William J. Mansfield was kicked in the face by a horse and severely hurt. The accident occurred at the corner of Pike and Ferry streets where the horse was hitched on the sidewalk in violation of the law.
The advance in burning fluid and the great decline in coal oil is causing a revolution on the subject. Coal oil, which at first sold in Vevay at $1.25 a gallon now sells for 60 cents. When a lamp is invented, so that chimneys may be dispensed with, a cheaper and better light need not be desired.
Messrs. Mead and Eblin, butchers, had a fine flat bear, which was for sale, Christmas Eve and morning.
150 YEARS AGO
River navigation is closed on account of floating ice.
Cold weather is upon us and we have no coal, but hope to have a supply soon.
155 YEARS AGO
The steamer Rochester in attempting to land in a fog at Eagle Hollow near Madison last week struck a snag and sank in 10 minutes. Boat and heavy cargo were lost.
U.P. Schenck lost a hay boat in the ice at Shawneetown, Illinois.
Married December 21st, John F. Myers and Miss Josephine Schenck.
T. Jahers, above Vevay, is making vinegar out of the Chinese sugar cane.