News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Vevay Newspapers was honored Saturday as publisher of one of Indiana’s best weekly newspapers. The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise and its companion paper, The Switzerland Democrat, were named winners of a long list of awards – nine in all – for journalism excellence.
“Shocked and surprised” was how Vevay’s Kirk Works described his reaction to being named the 1996 winner of the Paul Ogle Community Service Award. The honor was presented at Thursday’s annual dinner meeting of the Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce.
Why does Tom Adkins spend a week of his vacation each year putting up Christmas lights? “I do it for the kids,” he says. “I just love to look out and see their faces when they see all of the lights.”
Adam Archer, son of Alan and Michelle Archer of near Pleasant, has joined the American Maine-Anjou Association as a junior member. The AMAA is an association of progressive cattlemen dedicated to the promotion and future growth of the Maine-Anjou breed. Adam Archer is a sophomore at Switzerland County High School.
15 YEARS AGO
Vevay friends of Irene Cheever will celebrate her 90th birthday Sunday, December 15th, at 4 p.m. in the Vevay United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Faye Hatton and Edgar “Pete” Lewis were united in marriage by Reverend Phil Ellis Saturday afternoon at the Mount Sterling Baptist church. A reception will be held for the newlyweds Sunday, December 15th, at the church.
The Paul Ogle Award for outstanding community service was presented to Bill Horton of Vevay during last Thursday night’s annual dinner meeting of the Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce. Horton was honored for his work in coordinating the popular “Always A River” celebration here last summer. Joe Ricketts presented the award.
20 YEARS AGO
A helicopter crashed and burned Wednesday, December 10th, in northwest Switzerland County taking the lives of two men. The pilot Cecil Thrasher, 54, Louisville, and his passenger, Gary D. Marlow, 32, Napoleon, were killed on impact. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. about two miles south of Cross Plains along State Road 129 on a farm owned by Agnes Christman. The farm is rented by Howard and Virginia Mallory.
The winner of this year’s Indiana Conservation Public Speaking Contest was senior Carol Tilley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Tilley. The 21st annual contest was held by the Conservation Club at Switzerland County High School on Thursday, December 11th.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Clifton will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary next week. They wee married in Vevay December 22nd, 1926, by Reverend Arthur Jean at the Methodist Church. Mr. Clifton was employed by the Switzerland County Highway Department as Highway Superintendent for a number of years. He will be starting his fourth term as York Township trustee.
30 YEARS AGO
Things are so bad on the tobacco market these days, some folks are resorting to “pinhooking” to try and make a dollar. Or so the story goes. A “pin-hooker” is a person who tries to turn a profit by buying another farmer’s tobacco and then hopefully selling it for a little more than he paid out. By any name, it’s illegal, and is never, or almost never, done anymore, but once it was a common practice in tobacco-land, given its name by its originator, who was from Pinhook, Kentucky.
Switzerland County school superintendent H. William Hall is seeking opportunities to meet with local groups and organizations to discuss the county’s school and their educational programs. He said last week that he will mail letters to a great number of our civic, social and fraternal organizations and would like to speak to any group, large or small, about the county’s schools and their programs.
Replying to an article in last week’s issue of this newspaper, the Indianapolis Power & Light Company said Wednesday morning it is studying “potential” air pollution problems concerning its plans for a power plant at Mexico Bottom. IPALCO also made a definite statement ruling out construction of a nuclear power plant at Mexico Bottom should the pollution considerations cancel its plans for a coal-fired power plant there.
A handsome bronze plaque commemorating “The Dungeon” – the plaque’s wording explains it – will soon adorn the Switzerland County Courthouse. Former Vevay resident Bob Bish, now of Houston, Texas, purchased the plaque to keep alive the memory of one of Switzerland County’s historic places. He donated it to the people of the county, and local mason Jack Kidwell will put it into place soon – a fitting climax to the local observance of the American Revolution Bicentennial.
LaDonna Reeves and James Webber were united in marriage November 26th in a double-ring ceremony performed by Reverend Robert King in the Vevay Christian Church. Mothers of the couple are Mrs. Iris Reeves of Patriot and Mrs. Jeanette Webber of Vevay.
Airman Bonetta M. Walston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Halbert L. Walston, Patriot, has been assigned to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, after completing U.S. Air Force basic training.
Harry Renyer of Posey Township was reelected chairman of the Switzerland County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (ASC) Committee by delegates to the ASC County Convention held in Vevay last Wednesday night.
Paul Curl, 15-year-old son of Francis and Georganna Curl of Greenbriar Ridge enjoyed an early Christmas gift over the weekend. A telephone call from Rob Ryder, one of the stars of Bob Braun’s 50-50 Club television show on Cincinnati station WLW, Sunday afternoon brought the good news that Paul had won a Kawasaki trail bike to be presented to him by representatives of the Ruth Lyons Christmas Children’s Fund.
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Houze of East Enterprise celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a dinner party November 24th at the Swiss Inn in Vevay. The Houzes, married in 1951, have six children.
70 YEARS AGO
A very pretty wedding was solemnized at Bethel Church at 11 o’clock Sunday morning, December 20th. The contracting parties were Miss Marjory Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clorn Phillips of Bethel Ridge and Mr. Florian Dugan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Amie Dugan of Tapps Ridge.
Sport, a 16-year-old dog owned by Robert Lewis of near Bennington, died Saturday night. A few years ago the dog saved the life of Clarence Rayls on the Ferguson farm near Bennington, when Rayls was gored by an enraged bull.
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 ever placed on the Ohio River. The electric current and service for its operation is furnished by the Southern Indiana Light and Power Corporation of this county.
The marriage of Miss Mignon Aldred and Warren Banta which was solemnized on July 4th has just been announced. The ceremony was performed in Indianapolis. the bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Aldred of near Fairview and the groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Banta of Brooksburg.
James Pettit, formerly of this county, who was the victim of an assault in Madison last week, was able to leave the hospital in that city on Monday and return to his home. His money, thought at first to be missing, was discovered in a second pair of trousers Mr. Pettit was wearing at the time.
80 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Reed celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on December 19th.
A baby daughter was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Gullion near Moorefield.
86 YEARS AGO
Married, December 15th in Madison, Miss Pauline Sigmon and Edgar Allen Archer.
Born, a son on December 6th, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rogers of near Bennington.
Born, a son on December 22nd, to Mr. and Mrs. Marion Williamson.
The Vevay Deposit Bank has installed a modern vault equipped with a time lock, the door being more than a foot in thickness.
Married December 15th, Miss Carrie Craig and Uly Justi Shaw.
93 YEARS AGO
Harry Sullivan who recently took an examination at the Indiana State Embalming School was notified that he had made an average grade of 93 percent and was issued a license to practice in Indiana.
Tobacco crops sold at Carrollton have ranged in price from 2 to 20 cents.
H. B. Dupraz, formerly of Vevay, has located in Madison and will have the agency for Studebaker automobiles.
Born, a daughter on December 11th, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hart of Moorefield.
Married in Los Angeles, December 3rd, Miss Alma Tinker and Charles Hancock.
Born on December 12th, a baby girl to Mr. and Mrs. William Oatman of Bear Branch.
Married in Pleasant Township, December 24th, McKinley Farrell and Dora Cotton.
Married on Tapps Ridge, December 24th, Miss Ethel Hastings and Roy Works.
Married near Fairview, December 24th, Pearl Pavy and Dilver Clark.
Married in Craig Township, December 24th, Anna Fagg and Clyde McKay.
Married in New Albany, December 19th, Miss Jessie Danner and Benjamin H. Dobbins.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Whitham of Enterprise.
116 YEARS AGO
Fred Dyer, watchman on the City of Vevay, is home to spend Christmas.
Marriage licenses have been issued to Ollie A. Whitham and Ruth A. Cole; Joseph H. Morgan and Nora Belle Doyle.
Walter Knox has moved his printing office, news and cigar stand to the building formerly occupied by C. I. Turner.
The new Baptist church at Markland costing $1,000 was dedicated on December 17th.
Ira Nave has secured a position on the Ghent as engineer.
120 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Roberts celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on December 13th at their home below Vevay.
Married December 14th, Miss Mary Littlejohn and Sherry Steel.
The latest style in women’s dresses is a long flowing skirt draped over a large bussel.
Colonel Phillip Golay of Vevay has been tendered the position of engineer of the new railroad between Aurora and Madison.
The new First National Bank building has just been completed and is certainly a credit to Vevay.
Tobacco is selling from 1 to 4 cents per pound.