News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County Auditor Ronald Lock announced at Monday’s meeting of the Switzerland County Commissioners that he is resigning from office. The resignation takes effect on December 31st, and has been brought on by some minor health problems. Ronald Lock was elected county auditor in 1994.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has set a tentative timeline for the road rehabilitation on State Road 129 between Highway 250 and Highway 56. If all goes according to plan, the project would be ready for bid letting in April of 2001, and is estimated to cost about $15,000,000.
The Bennington Homecoming celebration will be held in the little community for the 24th year this Saturday, and plans are gearing up for it to be one of the biggest and the best ever.
A new road that would connect Highway 42 near the Markland Dam on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River to Interstate 71 has been on the “wish list” of governmental officials both here in Switzerland County and in Gallatin and Carroll counties for some time. Now it appears that such a road might yet be built.
15 YEARS AGO
Joey Dean Markland and Allison Melissa Schilling, both of Rising Sun, will be married Saturday, October 24th, at the Switzerland Baptist Church. Allison is the daughter of Sharon K. Ward of Vevay and Kurtis P. Schilling of Indianapolis. Joey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Markland of Rising Sun.
Connie Cutter, daughter of former Vevay residents Otto and Vera Cutter of Madison, and Russ Brink, son of Morris and Polly Brink of Casey, Illinois will be married Saturday, November 7th, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.
Dallas and Rachel Althoff of Fairview will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Saturday with their family.
Chester Middleton of Bennington took supplies to Florida residents who lost their homes in Hurricane Andrew. Local residents raised $500 for fuel expenses. Bobby Bovard presented the fuel money to Chester.
20 YEARS AGO
Betty Bovard kept the festivities going at the Bennington Homecoming despite a steady drizzle all day. Quite a few folks stayed for the better part of the day, enjoying good company, food and entertainment. Betty and Jerry Brown held umbrellas for Billy Madison as he entertained the crowd with his harmonica playing.
Phyllis Hambrick, managerial secretary at the Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation’s Clifty Creek Plant in Madison, recently received her anniversary award for 30 years of service to the company, as announced by William J. Mayberry, plant manager.
30 YEARS AGO
An expanded community service program during the next two years is just one of the goals of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association. H. C. “Red” Benedict of Vevay, the new president of the association, will take office at the first fall meeting of the IRTA board in Indianapolis, and he has already proposed an action program for his 13,500-member organization which has local chapters in all but four of the state’s 92 counties.
Osborn’s Clothing and Shoes on Vevay’s Main Street has become a landmark for Switzerland County shoppers. Soon, Raymond Osborn may provide the same quality merchandise and personal service to the residents of Madison that have become his trademark in Vevay. Osborn has purchased a pair of buildings at 128 and 130 East Main Street in Madison.
Cole’s Restaurant in East Enterprise was broken into sometime during the night of Tuesday, October 11th, between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Miss Jennifer Jo Ricketts became the bride of Kevin Scudder Saturday evening, October 1st, in a candlelight ceremony performed at Switzerland Baptist Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ricketts of route 3, Vevay and the groom’s parents are Mrs. Wanda Kelly of Madison and the late Nelson Scudder.
40 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County Red Cross has mailed five cartons of bags filled with Christmas gifts for United States servicemen in Vietnam, it was announced by Mrs. Isabelle Chittenden, chapter executive secretary. Each bag was marked by a label “Switzerland County Red Cross Chapter `Not to be sold’ Vevay, Indiana” and contained a Christmas card with individual names or names of organizations contributing the items.
Miss Ann Pommerehn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Pommerehn of route 1, Vevay, has been selected to represent Indiana State University on the women’s cross country team. Miss Pommerehn is a 1967 graduate of Vevay High School and is majoring in physical education at the Terre Haute campus, attending on a scholarship.
Mr. and Mrs. Dilver Ford will celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary with open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. October 22nd at their home.
Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Scudder of route 3, Madison, have announced the approaching marriage of their daughter, Margaret Ann, to Gary Lee Rowlett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rowlett of route 1, Vevay.
50 YEARS AGO
Corporal Allen Leatherbury, who makes his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Leatherbury in Posey Township, is one of the honor guard soldiers who were picked to participate in the ceremonies in connection with the visit of England’s Queen Elizabeth to the United States this week.
A birthday dinner was held at the home of Bud Ballard near Florence Sunday honoring Mr. Ballard on his 58th birthday.
Thomas Gullion of near Fairview and James Tague of Mount Sterling have opened a variety store in a room on Ferry Street recently vacated by the Otter Dry Goods Company. Mrs. Tague will be the manager of the new business.
John Barnhill, 48, of near Florence sustained a crushed and mangled right hand Friday when the member was caught in a mechanical corn picker.
60 YEARS AGO
A son was born October 1st to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Webber of near Center Square at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and has been named Ralph Sandifer.
Evaleen Dance, daughter of Mrs. Rollie Dance of Falmouth and Thomas O’Neal of route 1, Vevay, were united in marriage at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend L.S. Courtney.
Mrs. Martha Reed Mathis, 93, well known and highly respected old lady of the Bennington community, passed away at the home of her nephew, Ira Reed, near Pleasant, Thursday morning, October 2nd, of the infirmities of old age.
Relatives have received word of the death of Mrs. Fannie Morrison Friday, October 3rd, at Humboldt, Iowa. Ray Morrison of Vevay is a brother-in-law.
70 YEARS AGO
Miss Marie Smith and Roy Spencer of Posey Township were united in marriage Saturday night in Aurora.
Miss Lorraine Thomas and James W. Skirvin were united in marriage Saturday, October 9th.
Grant Johnson has accepted a position as manager of the Kroger Store in Vevay relieving Bill Baglan, who has been appointed to the managership of a Kroger store in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Archer are observing their Golden Wedding anniversary at the Archer homestead three miles north of Moorefield Wednesday, October 20th.
Mrs. Marinda Roberts, widow of Warren Roberts, and one of Switzerland County’s oldest and finest ladies, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Irvin Peters, here Sunday.
80 YEARS AGO
Alex Green, well known Tapps Ridge farmer, died suddenly while in Vevay Saturday afternoon.
Rollin Curry of Vevay while playing ball at East Enterprise Sunday was hit in the eye with a ball and received very painful injuries.
George Cook, age 44 years old, of Ghent, Kentucky, died suddenly Tuesday night while on his way home from the Carrollton fair.
The warm weather of the last few weeks has been the cause of many fruit trees to be in bloom in this county.
The explosion of a coal oil stove at the home of Mrs. Roy Richardson, over Bladen’s grocery, caused quite a blaze Monday night but it was extinguished without the necessity of turning in an alarm.
90 YEARS AGO
John Bondurant of Markland was hurt at Dam 39 Saturday afternoon when a beam under which he was standing fell.
Mrs. P. E. Kennedy, sister of Mrs. Jacob Wahl, died in Chicago. She had been suffering from a complication of diseases.
Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Oma Williamson, wife of Ephriam Williamson, a former resident of Patriot, but whose home of late years has been in Indianapolis.
Stewart Riley, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Riley, was painfully bruised Friday morning while playing on the school grounds at recess.
Mrs. Angie Wagner, aged 41 years, wife of William Wagner, died at her home in Markland Tuesday afternoon.
100 YEARS AGO
The contract has been left to the National Concrete Company of Indianapolis for a 50-foot concrete arch over Plum Creek for a contract price of $7,515.
Culbertson Brothers have received 35 western ponies, only one of which has been broken.
Mrs. William Brindley died Sunday morning after a four-week illness.
Sol Fancher and wife have opened up a restaurant on Ferry Street in the Pleasant building.
Roy Johnson began his duties as teacher of the Mount Sterling school Monday morning. He has 60 pupils.
John Riley died October 2nd at his home near Florence after a long illness.
Roy Danner and Anna Tower were married at the bride’s residence near Osgood last Sunday. They will reside in Madison.
Thomas Etherington of Allensville has gone to a Louisville hospital where he will undergo an operation for a growth in his head.
120 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County sent 12 criminals to the penitentiary at its last term of court.
The Versailles Republican has cut itself in two and is published every Wednesday and Saturday. It has a steam engine to run its press.
Miss Julia L. Knox left Sunday morning to teach school near Worthville, Kentucky.
Sammie, eight-year-old son of Thomas and Delilah Carr, died October 10th at the parents’ home in Florence.
Coal has been found on the farm owned by John Porter about two miles above Vevay. It is what is known as “brown coal” such as is usually found above bituminous coal.
Vevay now has a good flour mill owned by A. J. and Amie Siebenthal.
130 YEARS AGO
George Krutz of Florence was shot last week in an affray with a man named Keith.
Robert McHatton has purchased the stock of goods of J. D. Harwood and will continue in the business.
Amie Rous who is farming near Mount Sterling recently sold 20 hogs that averaged 140 pounds each at five cents per pound.
Albert Jack and Miss Ida Humphrey of Patriot were married October 16th.
The Methodist church at Bennington will be dedicated October 28th.
William Scott and bride have returned to Quercus Grove after a bridal tour to several eastern cities.
The reading room of the Blue Ribbon Club over Thiebaud & Teat’s store on Main Street is now open every evening.
140 YEARS AGO
J. W. Gray is now representing the Rising Sun Woolen Factory.
Henry McMakin, Esquire, died recently in Memphis, Tennessee of yellow fever. He was a former Switzerland County resident having served as county sheriff.
Julius Blach has removed his clothing store from the Odd Fellows hall to the new Schenck building on Ferry Street.
150 YEARS AGO
Married on September 19th, Robert White and Elizabeth Mott by James H. Patterson, Esquire.
Married September 20th by Elder J. D. Griffith, Charles W. Pavy and Henrietta Sigmond.
Married September 25th by Reverend F. E. Sheldon, William Fish and Anna E. Sears.
Married September 30th by H. Littlefield, Esquire, Peter H. Lostutter and Arvilla Robinson.
Married October 8th by Reverend F. M. Symes; Robert Scott of this county and Miss Margaret Ralston of Jefferson County.