News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Saturday was a perfect fall day for the 24th annual Bennington Homecoming, and a large crowd turned out in the small Switzerland County community for a day of reunions and fun. Wanda Christman was named as this year’s Miss Bennington and Bob Tinker, longtime businessman in the Bennington area, was honored as this year’s Mayor of the Bennington Homecoming.
Norman and Mary Earls will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, October 25th. The couple will honor the occasion with an open house at their home between Vevay and Mount Sterling.
Elwood and Vera Jean (Lester) Green will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, October 25th.
15 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Devers of Quercus Grove announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Marla, to Michael Edwards, son of Reverend and Mrs. Wayne Edwards, Sr., of Brownstown. The wedding will take place November 28th at New Liberty Baptist Church.
Shirley Fultz of Smith’s Ridge has a giant mushroom that was found by her husband Paul when he was mowing grass. The mushroom weighed over six pounds and was 42 inches around.
Phyllis Hambrick, managerial secretary at the Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation’s Clifty Creek Plant at Madison, received her anniversary award for 35 years of service to the company, as announced by plant manager Ray Wilson.
Teri Lock, wife of Vevay native Kenny Lock, has recently accepted the position of business science instructor at Ivy Tech Southeast in Madison.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. Earls will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Saturday, October 24th, with an open house at their home on route 2, Vevay at 3 p.m. The open house is hosted by their children and grandchildren.
Norman Dale Earls of Versailles was recently promoted to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance and Line Construction for Southeastern Indiana R.E.M.C.
An open house will be held Sunday, November 1st, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Moreillon on Little Rest Road, Commiskey in honor of their Golden Wedding anniversary. Mrs. Moreillon is the former Lucy Florence Brandon.
Mrs. Everett Scudder of Vevay celebrated her 91st birthday Monday, October 19th. She is the former Volette Rogers.
30 YEARS AGO
Joyce M. Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Cole of Patriot, has enlisted in the U.S. Army’s Delayed Entry Program, and will go on active duty July 18th. The 1976 graduate of Switzerland County High School has chosen training as an administration specialist as her guaranteed option. She will take both basic and advanced individual training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.
Due to a delay in receiving a final Federal Communications Commission app-roval to resume broadcast activities, radio station WAVV, FM 96, will not begin broadcasting until Sunday, October 23rd. WAVV is the former WMGH, which is now licensed to serve both Vevay and Switzerland County, Indiana along with Warsaw, Kentucky.
The Vevay-Ghent Ferry, Inc., will meet Saturday, October 29th at 1 p.m. to discuss a possible alternative offer for the purchase of the Martha A. Graham.
A family dinner was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Romerill of Lamb in honor of the 70th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Blanton Hatton of Vevay.
On August 21st the first graduating class of Switzerland County High School celebrated their fifth year anniversary of high school graduation.
40 YEARS AGO
Private Raymon E. Spencer, 25, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spencer, live at 510 Pike Street, Vevay, completed a radio course at the Army Training Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Terry D. Criswell, of Switzerland County, son of Mrs. Beulah B. Criswell, 722 West Third Street, Madison, has been promoted to Army specialist four in Vietnam where he is serving with the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command.
The foundation construction for the new Switzerland County high school building has been completed and work has begun on brick laying for the walls of the plant’s eastern academic wing.
Hoosiers were urged to “look on mental illness as they would on any other illness” by Lee H. Hamilton, Ninth District congressman, speaking Sunday at dedication ceremonies for a new Community Mental Health Clinic in Lawrenceburg.
Mrs. Evelyn Rayles, who served as state officer at Rebekah Assembly of Indiana last week in Indianapolis, was honored at a reception at the Moose Club in Madison with Mrs. Russell Wolf, Mrs. Milton Rowlett, and Mrs. Mary DeVeary as hostesses.
Mr. and Mrs. William McPherson of Rising Sun have announced the engagement of their daughter, Janet Lee, to Stephen S. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Allen Jr., of Patriot.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Delcenia Lorene Cochran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Cochran of Rising Sun, and Larry Thomas Courter, son of Mrs. Hazel Courter of Star Route, Rising Sun, were united in marriage Sunday, October 20th, at the home of Reverend Frank Rhodes of Warsaw, Kentucky.
Miss Eileen Furnish, a junior student at Vevay High School, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Furnish of route 1, Bennington, was chosen Queen of the 1957 Jaycee Halloween parade in Vevay and will reign over the holiday activities.
The nationwide epidemic of influenza swept into Switzerland County this week with some 200 plus cases being reported to County Health Officer Dr. Noel Graves.
George E. Moredock, a Mason for 50 years, received the appropriate award from Worshipful Master Howard Brameier of the Belle River Lodge No. 327 at Patriot, in ceremonies October 10th. A dinner was served at the Patriot school gym prior to the presentation.
Twins, a boy and girl, were born October 17th at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde R. Poling (nee Mary Ruth Brett) of Vevay. Jeffrey weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces, and Jennifer weighed 3 pounds, 13 ounces.
A 7 pound, 11 1/2 ounce baby daughter was born Saturday afternoon in Margaret-Mary Hospital in Batesville to Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Chittenden of near Pleasant. The little girl has been named Angela Beth.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Stella Rousch, former resident of Switzerland County, died early Wednesday morning at her home in Madison.
John W. Lee, 69, well-known farmer and resident of the Fairview neighborhood passed away Sunday afternoon, October 12th, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison after a brief illness of tetanus.
Glen Burke Craig, 78, aged resident of the Lamb community, passed away at the home of Captain and Mrs. Leon Ash in Lamb Saturday, October 11th, after an illness of 11 months.
A 9 pound, 15 ounce son was born Friday at the Margaret-Mary Hospital in Batesville to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Adkins of Versailles. Mrs. Adkins is the former Miss Jean O’Day, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett O’Day.
Switzerland County friends of Albert J. Williams, retired furniture dealer, were shocked to learn of his death which occurred Sunday morning after an illness of only a few hours.
A 6 pound, 6 ounce baby daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Don Pound (nee Velma Lee Bolden) of Lawrenceburg at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati Monday, October 13th.
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Claghorn celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary last Thursday, October 9th, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. John Ross, with whom they reside in Madison.
Fletcher Murphy, 68, native of the Fairview community, died Thursday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he underwent an operation two months ago.
Mrs. Chella Williams of Madison and Shelby M. Rowlett of rural route 1, Brooksburg were married Wednesday afternoon, October 8th, by Reverend B. T. Vincent at his home in Madison.
70 YEARS AGO
Dorothy Lois Koons, aged 22, a fine young wife and mother of the Antioch neighborhood died at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison early Friday morning, October 15th, of complications following the birth of a baby daughter, Janice Lee, three weeks ago at her home.
James Courter, aged 78, a native of this county, died at his home in Lawrenceburg October 11th.
Miss Marian Dalmazzo, native of Vevay, was instantly killed when an automobile in which she and a woman companion were riding collided with a truck near Hollywood, California Friday, October 8th.
Charles Edward Cole, aged 62, a respected farmer of Pleasant Township, died suddenly of a heart attack Friday, October 15th, at his home near Bennington.
Mrs. Lydia O. Shadday, aged 82, passed away Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Reed, in Jefferson County, after a lingering illness.
80 YEARS AGO
The funeral of Jesse Bright who died at the Soldier’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho October 9th was held at Mount Sterling Baptist Church Saturday morning.
Tobacco prices stiffened on the local warehouse floors today when 866,096 pounds were sold at an average of $16.78 per hundred pounds, $2.39 per hundred above the highest average of last week.
Thieves stole a pocketbook containing $23 from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Minor Bakes, between the hours of seven and nine o’clock last Friday morning.
Edward Romans, aged 20 years, died at the home of his parents near Markland Saturday morning.
The home of Turner Olds on Tell Street was considerably damaged by fire Wednesday morning.
90 YEARS AGO
Word has been received by relatives here of the death of William Platt, a former Switzerland County resident, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Guy Walden at Oakland, California.
John Cunningham, former County Treasurer, made announcement of his wedding to Vevay people this week. The bride was formerly Miss Gertrude Elsrod, daughter of John Elsrod, living on McCreary’s Ridge and the ceremony took place September 30th in Ohio County.
Funeral services for Mrs. Oma Mead Williamson, who was burned to death in Chinook, Montana, were held at the home of Mrs. Julia Wickman at Patriot Sunday.
100 YEARS AGO
Cards are out announcing the wedding of Miss Eli Brindley of Moorefield to Richard Briggs, which will occur October 23rd at Moorefield.
Albert Reeves and Miss Pearl Mead, both of the Allensville neighborhood, were married last Saturday by Reverend Charles Lee.
Mrs. Ed Gilbert died October 3rd at her home above Markland.
Forrest Rogers left Thursday for Chicago where he will enter the Bush Temple School of Music and Dramatic Art.
Banhart Schoffner, aged 63 years, one of the best known and respected men in his community, committed suicide yesterday morning at his home on Plum Creek.
Thomas Ethrington of Allensville died at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Louisville last Thursday evening, October 10th, after an operation.
Bert Woollen left Sunday for a two-week business trip to his father’s farm in Tennessee.
F. M. Griffith, wife and daughter, Grace, left Tuesday for Berkeley, California, where they will spend a month as the guest of their son, Ernest F., who occupies a responsible position in the government employ.
A girl was born October 13th to M. V. Turner and wife of Quercus Grove.
120 YEARS AGO
Last Sunday afternoon the residence of Samuel Peters in Craig Township was destroyed by fire.
Ulysses P. Craig and Miss Mollie Davis were married yesterday afternoon at the home of the bride’s parents near Eagle Station, Kentucky. After a trip east they will reside in Vevay.
Jesse V. Oakley, aged 27 years, died at his home in Vevay October 22nd. For seven years he was a clerk in the drug store of C. O. Thiebaud. He was twice elected City Clerk and filled the office honorably.
A son was born yesterday to Will Hastie and wife of Markland.
J. E. Richmond has opened a wagon shop in East Enterprise.
George Dickason and Miss Emily Barrett, both of this county, were married October 21st by David Lee, Esquire.
James K. Reid and Martha A. Banta were married October 21st.
W. Scott Reamer and Miss Josie Lemen, both of this county, were married October 11th.
Frank Espey of Rising Sun and Miss C. Cunningham were married October 18th at the home of the bride’s parents in this county.
120 YEARS AGO
John J. Griffith, son of the Reverend Griffith, died in Vevay October 23rd after an illness of typhoid fever.
Dr. Albert Craig has sold his property to Dr. William Lindsay for $2,000. Dr. Craig has gone to New York City to attend medical lectures.
David Scott, farmer of near Center Square, died October 20th.
140 YEARS AGO
F. R. Dupraz is pushing forward the work on his wharfboat.
John S. Roberts has contracted to build the Vevay and Moorefield turnpike. The price to be paid is $2,000 per mile with the company furnishing the materials.
Last Saturday a son of E. E. Heady was severely injured about the head when a team of horses he was driving became frightened and threw him from the wagon.
Last week two horses were stolen from a public hitching rack in Patriot belonging to Messrs. Munger and Tait.