News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The countywide movement designed to envision Switzerland County’s future had a second meeting Monday night. Nearly 100 people came to the Ogle Haus for the meeting, and coordinator John Keeton welcomed everyone and reminded them of the commitment they were making. John Keeton closed the meeting by challenging those six groups to continue meeting and working on those projects that they identified as important.
Switzerland County High School will host its Homecoming celebration tomorrow (Friday) night when the Pacers entertain the New Washington Mustange. All alumni of Switzerland County High School, as well as alums from Patriot and Vevay High Schools, are invited to come back and renew acquaintances. The King and Queen will be crowned between the junior varsity and varsity ball games.
A Switzerland County farmer died Monday of a head injury suffered Sunday when he fell from a ladder in his barn off of Henry Ford Road near Fairview. Raymond Waller, 57, was preparing to feed livestock about noon on Sunday when he fell and apparently hit his head on a rock beneath some hay.
15 YEARS AGO
An expected 10 percent cut in the tobacco market quota for next season could deal a $700,000 blow to the Switzerland County economy. The county’s farmers sell about $7 million worth of tobacco per year, and a 10 percent reduction in the market quota would translate directly to a 10 percent reduction — $700,000 — in sales income, county agent John Keeton estimated.
Duke Boles, a Switzerland County native, has been named Director of Physical Therapy at King’s Daughters’ Hospital Rehabilitation Center. He is a 1982 graduate of Switzerland County High School, and earned a bachelor of health science degree in physical therapy at the University of Kentucky in 1989.
Isabel Sullivan of Vevay, Switzerland County’s most senior citizen, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Tuesday.
Zula Madison of Vevay will celebrate her 98th birthday next week on Tuesday, February 2nd.
Dessie Reed, Bennington Pike, celebrated her 90th birthday with a party given in her honor at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. David Reed, also of Bennington Pike.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hart, route 1, Canaan, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on January 24th with a family party in their honor at the home of William and Neila Hart.
Members of the Switzerland County High School Decathlon team which won numerous medals and ribbons at the recent competition at Southwestern High School are Ted Murray, Randy Cole, Paula Hickman, Travis Griffith, David Sides, Greg Bosaw, Chad Brown, and Kenny Haubner. Janet Hendricks served as proctor in the Super Quiz and varsity testing room, with assistance from Bonnie Fancher and Virginia Reeves.
Paul Ogle called to tell us the Ogle Foundation has purchased 30 acres from Ernest Konkle of hillside land located immediately north of the Switzerland County High School and the plans are to go to work and clear the brush and other impediments with bull dozers. Paul Ogle hopes to clear the land and grow grapes on that hillside.
40 YEARS AGO
Gustava Boldery was crowned 1967-68 basketball queen of Vevay High School Saturday night during activities at Vevay gym prior to the Warrior-Sunman game. Miss Boldery and Vevay were both winners as the Warriors topped Sunman, 72-53.
Vevay Town Board will put into effect water and sewer rates on water meter readings beginning with the water and sewer bill mailed to each consumer March 1st, the board announced this week.
The Federal Power Commission authorized Public Service Indiana to purchase the entire electric generating distribution system of the town of Vevay. PSI paid $400,000 for the facilities. PSI said that although Vevay’s generating facilities have been acquired, they are unusable and will not be recorded on the accounting records of PSI. Vevay had been purchasing all its electric requirements from PSI.
Vevay Athletic Club members will ring doorbells this Sunday in Vevay to collect funds for the March of Dimes’ 30th anniversary.
An invitation to all Switzerland County residents to participate in 1968’s Swiss Wine Festival was issued this week by Mike Danner, festival committee chairman. During the past month the committee has drawn up incorporation papers for the August 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th festival, making the membership include all residents of Switzerland County.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. George Krummel, who has been very ill at his home on Ferry Street, attained his 85th birthday Wednesday.
The last overnight passenger-carrying steamboat on America’s inland waterways, the Greene Line Delta Queen, has been posted for sale by the owner, Mrs. Greene. Reason for selling the famous pleasure boat was given as “lack of patronage.”
The Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow in Vevay High School is Wanda Jean Morgan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Morgan, route 4, Vevay.
W. R. Houze of Vevay was reelected president of the East Enterprise State Bank recently. A. W. Truitt is vice president, James F. Detmer is cashier, and Mary L. Archer is secretary.
Purchase of a new modern fire truck has been decided upon by the Vevay Town Board, and at Monday night’s meeting, the Board drafted an ordinance of additional appropriation to cover preliminary buying. Also included in the proposed appropriation are funds for purchase of a new dump truck for the Town, and $300 for improvements on the Town Hall.
Ray Morrison, Vevay, will be installed as Junior Vice Commander of the Ohio Valley Barracks of the Veterans of World War I, at ceremonies January 25th, at the American Legion Home in Dillsboro. Gay Gerster of Dillsboro is now Commander of the unit, and installing officer will be George Copeland.
A1c Richard Adams who is stationed at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska has been selected as the Outstanding Airman for the month of December, 1957 for Security Flight “A”. Mrs. Mable Adams of Florence is A1c Adams’ mother.
The free throw trophies given each to the basketball players at Patriot and Vevay High Schools who has earned the best average for the season will be presented again tis year by the Vevay Reveille-Enterprise and the Switzerland Democrat.
Jerry McKenzie, a student at Hanover College, was elected president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity recently. He also serves as house manager. McKenzie is a senior at Hanover, and the son of Town Councilman and Mrs. Dwight McKenzie.
70 YEARS AGO
LaVada, 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller of near Aberdeen sustained a mangled left arm in a washing machine wringer Monday morning.
County Auditor Leland Courtney has announced that Switzerland County paid out $42,571.00 last year for old age assistance and dependent children support. Federal and state reimbursements amounted to $34,261.05 leaving a balance of $8,309.95 actually paid by the county.
Mrs. Myrtle Kincaid underwent major surgery in a Cincinnati hospital Wednesday.
Mrs. Olive Scudder of Bethel Ridge received a mashed hand and arm in a washing machine wringer Monday.
80 YEARS AGO
The towboat Julius Fleishman went up last week through the ice with 12 empty barges which she was pulling in single file. This is the first time many older citizens ever saw a tow of barges in the rear of the boat.
A son J.B., was born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Tilley.
Mrs. Howard Herring of near Bennington is in critical condition in the Madison hospital where she underwent an emergency operation for appendicitis Sunday.
90 YEARS AGO
The United States Fuel administrator has ordered all places of business, except public utilities, county offices and stores handling foodstuffs closed every Monday to save fuel. Vevay stores observed the order Monday and in addition signed an agreement to close other days at 5 p.m. except Saturday which will be 6 o’clock.
Indiana’s school children will make a drive on January 30th to tag every coal shovel in each school district. An appeal will be made to the owner of the shovel to use it sparingly and save coal to aid Uncle Sam in winning the war.
Plans to reopen the Vevay schools Monday were abandoned when several new cases of scarlet fever and German measles broke out.
A daughter born January 19th to Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Harmon lived but a few hours.
The steamer Cincinnati sank at Cincinnati last week. The hull is damaged and if the ice goes out with a rush she may be lost.
The thermometer dipped to 24 degrees below zero Monday but moderated during the night and eight more inches of snow fell.
A coal oil famine has developed and after it was exhausted here many persons walked to Ghent and carried back what they could obtain there. Many persons have been using it for heat. A small quantity was secured from Carrollton Saturday.
Culbertson Brothers flour mill has suspended because of the fuel shortage and the Vevay Flour Mill is burning two wagon loads of wood each day to stretch its small stock of coal. The Riley Land bakery closed Friday because of the fuel situation. After coke was obtained in Madison it opened Monday.
Loren Hines went to Madison Wednesday in a sleigh to try to bring up the mail. After shoveling snow all day her reached Madison at 4:30 p.m. and returned next day. Friday he returned to Madison in a bobsled and brought up 100 sacks of mail.
James R. Cole, Vevay attorney, received a telegram Wednesday announcing the death of his son, Alfred Edward Cole, 36, in the Philippine Islands. It occurred suddenly November 23rd, 1917, while he was on the firing range. The remains will be interred in Baltimore, Maryland, where his wife and four children reside. Due to a mistake in her address the news was delayed several weeks.
“Shocky”, the best speller in Edward Eggleston’s “Hoosier Schoolmaster” died on Ryker’s Ridge Sunday. In real life he was Ebenezer Ledgerwood, 71.
100 YEARS AGO
Andrew V. Brown, 42, owner and manager of the Vevay Flour Mills, died unexpectedly Friday after a brief illness of typhoid fever. His death was a great shock to the community.
A mad dog which has wrought havoc among the livestock of farmers in the Quercus Grove neighborhood, was killed this week while trying to get at hogs in a pen.
Mart Rayles of Vevay is very ill with typhoid fever.
The Golden Wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Protsman was celebrated January 10th at their home near Vevay with a family dinner. Their children presented them with $50 in gold.
Clifford Jaynes, John Miles and Clarence Dodd of Center Square have gone to California to seek their fortunes.
A daughter was born January 11th to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Gregory of Goose Creek.
Mrs. Elizabeth Froman of Mount Sterling celebrated her 92nd birthday January 10th.
120 YEARS AGO
When the railroad is built the pike will be extended from Shull’s hill through Bennington to Cross Plains which will greatly benefit that region of country and add much to the trade of Vevay.
Michael Orem, who left Craig Township for Kansas last fall, writes friends that he has bought 320 acres of land with good house for $65.00.
Captain T. Livings fell on the ice Tuesday and dislocated his shoulder.
Jacob Banta, 75, died January 14th at his home near Braytown. He was a former County Commissioner.
The following ladies have been installed in the various offices in the Women’s Relief Corps: Mrs. Tamer H. Ward, Miss Emma Patton, Miss Ida Rochat, Mrs. Alice Rochat, Mrs. Belle Teats, Mrs. Mary Jayne, Miss Ella Jayne, Mrs. J.S. Girard.
Several weeks ago the G.A.R. entertained the corps with a genuine soldier’s meal of bean soup, hard tack, etc., served on tin plates and cups, sons table cloths and napkins. Thursday the ladies entertained the G.A.R. and Sons of Veterans with an elegant repast on white cloths. Following the dinner the above officers were installed and also those of the G.A.R.