News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County FFA chapter recently was honored at the National FFA convention as a “Top Ten” chapter in the area of community development. The chapter earned a three-star ranking from the national judges, ranking them as one of the top 10 chapters in the country out of more than 8,000.
Erin Menchhofer, a member of the Indiana State FFA Association and a graduate of Switzerland County High School, recently earned her American FFA Degree. The degree was presented to her at the 74th National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Adam Helmers has graduated from the F-16 tactical fighter mission ready airman course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. He is assigned to the 181st Fighter Squadron in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is the son of David and Elizabeth Helmers, former residents of Searcy Ridge near Patriot.
20 YEARS AGO
Bob and Sunny Anders’ son Clint took his first deer on the gun season’s opening day in Switzerland County. He is 11 years old and lives near Quercus Grove.
Prices averaged $1.83 per pound as a new tobacco marketing season opened Monday. That’s 9 cents better than last year’s opening day average of $1.74, and it’s the best price growers have received since 1984.
Work has begun on the Town of Patriot’s new sewer system, a $600,000 project scheduled for completion in August, 1992.
30 YEARS AGO
The second annual Vevay Athletic Club Old Timers Game, featuring players from past Vevay High and Switzerland County High varsity basketball teams, brought out a large crowd Friday night. The proceeds from the game will go to the club’s Christmas party for needy children, and club officials say several hundred dollars were raised.
The VFW Auxiliary got almost 100 Senior Citizens together Friday afternoon for its annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner. There was entertainment, good food and prizes for those who attended and for those who worked on the dinner there were a lot of satisfied smiles to make the work seem worthwhile.
The Town of Vevay is being forced to cut expenses and the results have been cutbacks in some non-vital services. Recently, Town Board members decided to cut trash pickup in the town from two days to one day a week and now they have announced that the Whiskey Hollow dump will be closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
40 YEARS AGO
Dennis Brooks, 14, shot a four-point buck deer to put himself one up on his father, James Brooks, this deer season. Dennis got his first kill his second day out during the Thanksgiving holiday. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brooks of route 2, Vevay, and Mr. and Mrs. Denver Webb of Aberdeen.
Preliminary design studies for a bridge over the Ohio River at Markland Locks and Dam could get underway yet this year, Congressman Lee H. Hamilton said he has been advised. The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers reported to the Ninth District congressman that, if the project gets the expected approval from all the agencies involved the project could be completed in 1974.
Major Jerry L. McKenzie has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the U.S. Air Force for his accomplishments in directing decommissioning of the Air Force Nuclear Engineering Center (10 megawatt research reactor) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight McKenzie of 408 Tell Street, Vevay, and is a graduate of Vevay High School.
50 YEARS AGO
Investigations are being conducted locally to establish the extent of local interest in and the feasibility of the construction of a water pipeline through Switzerland County. Prospects of such an endeavor appear to be entirely up to the people with the Farm-Home Administration having funds available to assist financing such a project if the community shows interest and qualification.
A Switzerland County delegation announced plans this week to attend a Markland Dam bridge study meeting in Frankfort, Kentucky, December 8th. Invited by the Kentucky group, the local delegation includes various county redevelopment committee workers.
Work is now being conducted to form a musical band at Jefferson-Craig Consolidated School, Raymond Cole, county school superintendent, announced this week. In initial efforts to organize the group leader, Mrs. Marvel Griffith, who will act as group leader, informs Cole that 23 children are planning to join the unit and several more prospects are interested.
A 10-year-old Canaan youth died Monday evening after dashing into the path of an automobile on state road 250, west of Fairview. The boy, Rickie Lee Osborn, was the son of Chester Leon and Barbara Osborn of rural route 1, Canaan.
60 YEARS AGO
A. P. Slawson of Cincinnati, brother of R. D. Slawson of Vevay, and Mrs. Woodson Porter, of Fairview, and Mrs. Slawson will move to Vevay soon where Mr. Slawson will become the general manager of the Vevay Auto Company.
Rickie Linn Bladen, daughter of Mrs. Virginia Burton, fell from the family car Friday evening as they were going to the show. She was taken to the office of Dr. George Ellerbrook where it was found she had a deep cut on the forehead and a number of bruises on her body. Otherwise she escaped what could have been serious injuries.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Osborn will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, November 25th, at their home near Fairview. They were married November 27th, 1901 by Reverend Rufus Ferguson on Drake’s Ridge and have always lived in Switzerland County.
The Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 851, Bennington, gave a reception honoring Garnett Wolf, president of the Rebekah Assembly Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Indiana at the Clifty Inn Ball Room, November 18th with 250 friends and members attending.
70 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Van Brandon of Vevay, Route 1, is a patient in the Robert Long Hospital in Indianapolis receiving treatment for tulermia fever.
Miss Lorene Whitehead of Louisville, Kentucky and Robert Curry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Curry of Vevay, were united in marriage at the bride’s home, Wednesday, November 19th.
Mrs. Davis Scudder, lifelong resident of this county, passed away at the home of her sister, Mrs. Mattie Ballard in Rising Sun Friday following an illness that extended over a period of two years.
Word has been received of the death of Aime B. Titus of San Diego, California, on November 17th. His death occurred from a short illness of heart trouble.
80 YEARS AGO
On last Thursday morning, the gas well being drilled on the James Hankins farm in Craig Township was brought in with a flow gauged at 210,000 feet.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, prominent Vevay woman, died suddenly last week of a heart attack.
A man identified as John R. Whitehead, of Prestonville, Kentucky, died from self-inflicted bullet wounds at the sheriff’s residence here last week. The shooting occurred about two hours earlier near the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Banta near Vevay.
90 YEARS AGO
Harold Chittenden entered upon his duties as a bookkeeper at the Vevay Deposit Bank Monday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Peters and children left Tuesday for Fresno, California, where they will make their future home.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ethol Brown of Moorefield November 25th, a son.
Born, Monday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Gullion of near Moorefield.
100 YEARS AGO
A fatal accident occurred late Monday, November 27th, when Jesse, 15 year-old-son of Emmett Gullion of Steels Creek was accidentally shot and killed by his younger brother.
The repairs on the wharfboat are practically completed. The damages were done by the Steamer Louisville two weeks ago.
The amount of poultry and game shipped Monday night of last week was surprisingly large as the shippers were desirous of getting the product on the market for the Thanksgiving market in the cities.
120 YEARS AGO
During the wind storm Monday night the steamer, Dalphin, belonging to Captain Jack Graham, broke loose and was finally tied up at Brooksburg.
Peter McMakin and wife are visiting their daughter in Gallatin County, Kentucky.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan A. Brown near Spring Branch was destroyed by fire this week.
The Fairview Company for the purpose of detecting and apprehending horse and mule thieves met November 1st and elected the following officers: President, F. W. Cole; Vice President, R. R. Stout; Secretary, A. Buchanan; Treasurer, C. C. Morrison.
140 YEARS AGO
Mr. Alfred Rous, formerly clerk of this county, has been employed as a deputy clerk of Marion County.
The steamer Argosy with Captain A. J. Schenck in command left Monday for New Orleans. She had in tow three barges containing 1,200 tons of hay belonging to Schenck and Sons and 30 tons of furniture made here.
Charles Hastie of York Township grew a pumpkin this year which weighs 80 pounds.
Mr. U. H. Stow recently made a visit in Michigan.
150 YEARS AGO
Recently, the mail boat Major Anderson has been making the best time between Cincinnati and Louisville ever made by a boat of her size.
We print lengthy letter from a soldier in Captain Danglade’s company in Colonel Carter’s regiment, encamped near Indian Head on the Potomac some 35 miles below Washington, D.C. He describes rebel batteries at Budd’s Ferry, opposite their encampment and minor skirmishes.
Colonel W. D. Ward went to Green Castle, Indiana, Sunday to bring home his daughter Birda, who has been ill with typhoid fever for six weeks.
The price of hay has advanced in Vevay. Buyers offer $9.95, holders generally ask $10. Potatoes are dull at 25 cents per bushel
Our two cavalry companies have received their pay at last and they are sending money home for their families, and to pay for their horses.
The Common Pleas Court is in session this week with Judge Adkinson presiding.
General Nelson’s brigade passed down the river Sunday evening on a fleet of six steamers, the Jacob Strader being the flag boat. The same evening a company of Ohio cavalry passed down on the mail boat Superior.
Anna Lee, Secretary reports that the ladies of Fairview community furnished the following articles for men in service: comforts -19, blankets – 35, drawers – 8, undershirts – 11, quilts – 18, pairs socks – 46, and pairs gloves – 12.