News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Tri-Kappa sorority sponsored an old fashioned lawn fete Saturday afternoon to benefit the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, and many county residents benefited from the chance to gather on the courthouse lawn for an afternoon of games, music, crafts, and discussion.
Tuesday’s joint meeting of the Switzerland County Council and Commissioners gave the community the chance to hear about any changes in the application of Hollywood Park/Boomtown – the company hoping to develop a riverboat casino complex here. Kimberly Delany, daughter of Glen and Judy Thurman of Patriot, has earned inclusion on the dean’s list for the spring semester at Ivy Tech State College in Lawrenceburg.
Jeremy Dowd Chapman has earned the distinction of being named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at Vincennes University. He is the son of Jim and Peggy Chapman of near Moorefield.
David Lock took a 12-day trip to New Zealand and Hawaii to play basketball in the “Down Under Hoops Classic.” He will be a senior this year at Switzerland County High School. He is the son of Travis and Terry Reed of Moorefield and Bill and Nancy Lock of Vevay.
County artist Josiah Leatherbury is back working on the mural on the south wall of the historic Hoosier Theater in Vevay. Cold weather forced the artist to delay finishing the project last fall. When completed, the mural will depict a Vevay river scene from the 1800s.
15 YEARS AGO
There is no certainty that Switzerland County will be chosen by the Indiana Gaming Commission as one of five sites along the Ohio River for riverboat gambling. There is no certainty that if Switzerland County citizens voted on riverboat gambling that a majority of the voters would approve it. But there is a good possibility there might be enough votes on the Switzerland County Council to approve a riverboat docking ordinance, which will allow the citizens of the county to vote on it in a referendum, possibly in November.
Denver Markland of Vevay is the Switzerland County recipient of the Tourism Ambassador Award from the Historic Hoosier Hills Tourism and Recreation Council. He was honored for his efforts in promoting tourism in Switzerland County and southern Indiana. Mr. Markland has been active in historic preservation in Switzerland County for many years, including recent efforts toward building a model of the Mormon Hay Press and attempting to restore a hay
20 YEARS AGO
The livestock auction, traditionally the high point of the 4-H Fair, drew a big crowd of buyers and supporters again Saturday night. This year, as last, about 130 animals were sold at the auction. The grand champion steer, raised by Casie Brown, brought $1.25 per pound this year.
Indiana University Southeast head baseball coach Rick Parr has announced that Wade Hysell, who played baseball at Vincennes Junior College and Switzerland County High School, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the Grenadiers next season.
An open house in honor of Kenneth and Carolyn Miller’s 25th wedding anniversary will be held Sunday, July 24th, at the home of Bill and Virginia Roberts on State Road 56 near East Enterprise.
A 60th wedding anniversary celebration for Arthur and Nellie Romans will be held Sunday, July 24th, with open house from 1-3 p.m. at the Ohio County Historical Building in Rising Sun.
Woodie Reeves was promoted to plant manager at the Vevay Randall/Textron plant effective June 1st.
40 YEARS AGO
Jackie Johnson was crowned queen of 1968’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair Monday night in competition with nine other local lovelies at the 4-H Community Building at the fairgrounds in Vevay. The 16-year-old granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Noah Wainscott of route 1, Vevay, won the 10th annual 4-H county contest and became eligible to enter Indiana State Fair’s queen contest.
Angela Rene Tinker, Shanna Armstrong, and Kellie Michelle Sloan were judged the first prize winning babies Tuesday night at the toddler tournament of 1968’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair. Sixty-five babies were entered in the three age categories of the contest held at 4-H Community Building with some 300 persons watching the competition.
The Edelweiss Girls singing group made its first public appearance last Wednesday night at the Swiss Inn, entertaining Vevay Kiwanis Club. The singing group has been organized within the Edelweiss Girls. At the same meeting Kiwanis inducted two new members, Ervin Wilson and Dillon Dorrell, Jr.
50 YEARS AGO
Patrons of the Vevay post office are reminded by Postmaster Leslie A. Byram that the new postage rates become effective on August 1st. The changes are effective at all post offices in the county. First class letters, formerly 3 cents per ounce will now be 4 cents. The new 4 cent stamp is purple with the figure of Lincoln.
Robert Marsh, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Marsh of near Florence, dislocated his elbow Saturday evening when he fell from a pony. He was given medical attention at the office of Dr. Noel Graves and is now improving.
Vevay’s new and modern fire truck, slated for delivery the latter part of this month or early August, will be run through its final equipment tests on Friday, at the Howe Fire apparatus company in Anderson.
A son was born Sunday morning in the Madison hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Hambrick of Vevay. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and has been named Elden.
60 YEARS AGO
Reverend G. S. Sutton has assumed the pastorate of the Aberdeen Methodist Church and will preach there Sunday evening, July 25th. This work is in addition to his Vevay charge.
The body of Sergeant Edward R. Wallace, 23, son of Mrs. John Ray of near Canaan, was returned to his home Saturday after it had been interred in a cemetery in France in 1944. Sergeant Wallace was killed in action in France on July 19th, 1944.
With the death of General John J. Pershing at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D. C., on July 15th, attention of the nation was again focused upon Pershing’s own selection of the outstanding soldier of World War I, Major Samuel Woodfill of Vevay, who was summoned to Washington to serve as an honorary body bearer at burial services in Arlington Cemetery Monday afternoon. With Major Woodfill was Sergeant Alvin York, who was named by Congress as the outstanding soldier in World War I.
70 YEARS AGO
A number of F.F.A. members under the supervision of Gary Welch, left Monday for a 2,000 mile automobile tour of the eastern and middle western states. Those making the trip are Loren Lock, Thomas McKay, Fredrick Netherland, Wilbur Rieman, Paul Woodfill, Warren Works, Roger Lock, Dillman Ralston, Harold Christman, Loren Allen, Rubie Hewitt, Willford Hewitt, James Heath and Leland Wiley.
Postmaster Ernest F. Griffith has received word from Congressman Eugene Crowe to the effect that the Vevay school auditorium has been approved by authorities in Washington.
The Vevay town board announces that the new 110 volt electrical current will be available to users in a few days.
Born Sunday, July 17th, to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Meadows, a 9 1/2 pound son.
A son, Jimmy D., was born Monday to Mr. and Mrs. William Lummer of near Bennington.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliston McGuire of Dayton, Ohio, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Charles Hardin and Mr. Hardin at Florence last Sunday.
80 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Detraz have greatly improved Riverair Camp. A new stairway, bath houses and a diving board have been built.
The work of rebuilding the Schoffner bridge on Plum Creek was begun last week.
A son was born July 14th to Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Tinker of Fairview.
Automobiles belonging to Sam Stoops and Clarence McKenzie collided on Main Street in Vevay last week when the McKenzie car skidded in fresh oil.
E. R. Ferguson is installing a new soda fountain in his drug store this week.
90 YEARS AGO
George N. Reeves, son of Mr. and Mrs. George N. Reeves, Sr., of Markland has been commissioned Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and placed in charge of a destroyer for foreign service. He graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy in 1909 and has made the Navy his career.
James Frank, 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kern of near Moorefield was kicked in the head by a horse Tuesday and painfully injured.
Miss Glendora Scudder has resigned as music and art instructor in the Vevay schools and Miss Dorothy Campbell will succeed her.
Julian Culbertson of near Moorefield leaves this week for Kenville, New Jersey, where he has employment as a chemist with the Hercules Power Company which is making munitions for the government.
Wheat buyers have room for only a small portion of the crop and are buying for only a few days. The price is $2.06 per bushel.
Crawford Ralston of the Caledonia community has arrived in France with a motor truck division. Forrest Iddings is also with this division.
The Ladies Aid of the Vevay Christian Church will give a moonlight excursion to Sandy Beach on the ferry boat July 26th leaving at 7:30. Fare is 15 cents and a picnic lunch will be served on the beach.
A large barn on the farm of Tom Bliss at Center Square was struck by lightning and burned to the ground Wednesday.
100 YEARS AGO
Beginning with this issue the Reveille appears in a new dress. All of the type now being used in the printing of news in our publication is being set on our Linotype just installed.
Clifford Plew was killed Saturday when he fell from the wagon on which his household goods were being transported from Madison to Vevay. Mr. Plew, in company with Bert Brindley, Jesse Ricketts and Louie Simmons, was driving the four horse team of Mr. Brindley when the accident occurred and it is not known just what caused him to topple from the wagon.
Few people know that in Vevay lives the originator of the popular ice cream soda. But it is a fact never the less and George Davison, aged 59, and the baker at the Vevay Flour Mills claims to have originated the drink while the proprietor of a confectionery and ice cream parlor in Madison in 1870.
George F. Wall, in charge of the Linotype at the Reveille office arrived Wednesday to assume his new duties.
Dick Ridgeway caught the prize fish of the year. It was a blue cat and weighed 50 pounds.
The wind on Friday night was the cause of Pilot Charles Kirby of Warsaw losing control of the steamer Kentucky while attempting to land at the local wharfboat. The wharfboat was damaged to the extent of about $150 and had wharfmaster Benedict been in his office at the time of the accident he would probably have been killed.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ross of Florence, July 16th, a son.
Born July 18th to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hodapp of Bascom, a little girl.
The Brooksburg Creamery Company held its opening last Wednesday and began work Thursday.
110 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Frank Detraz fell down the cellar steps last Monday at her home and broke her collar bone.
Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Stevens left Monday night for a pleasure trip to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Atlantic City.
Mrs. Sallie Hall is suffering from a broken hip sustained when she fell from her doorstep. Mrs. Hall is in her 80th year.
120 YEARS AGO
Henry Todd and family last Monday removed from Cincinnati to Vevay and will occupy the house Mr. Todd recently purchased from Nat M. Fallis on Pike Street.
130 YEARS AGO
Lightning struck and burned the barn of W. J. Keeney in Posey Township last Saturday afternoon. It contained about 100 tons of pressed hay and several farming implements.
It is now a known fact that incendiaries have been at work in Vevay. Thomas Givens’ stable was burned, an attempt was made to burn J. D. Hardwood’s stable, also one in the rear of Dr. T. J. Griffith’s office.
Lightning struck the house of James W. Marsh at Markland last Saturday making almost a complete wreck of it. Strange to say none of the inmates were killed.
140 YEARS AGO
Barney Burgener, an employee of the Furniture Factory accidentally severed an artery in his left arm yesterday.
Last Thursday during a quarrel Balser Noah was killed by Noble Ross with an iron knuckle at Florence. Ross made his escape and has not been arrested yet.
152 YEARS AGO
The paper is issued one day earlier this week as the editor, F. J. Waldo, has gone to the American state political convention in Indianapolis.
The state board of education has bought 1,000 copies of Mrs. Julia L. Dumont’s new book, Life Sketches from Common Paths, for the use of township libraries in the state.