News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Natasha Schroeder, the 2000 Swiss Wine Festival Edelweiss Princess will compete in the Indiana State Festivals Association Scholarship Pageant this Saturday, November 11th. The event will take place in Fort Wayne.
Ground has been broken for the new Switzerland County Medical Clinic located just west of Vevay, and at Monday’s meeting of the Switzerland County Commissioners, representatives from the project brought the commissioners up-to-date on the progress.
Republicans gained control of the county Comission when Brian Morton unseated Democrat incumbent Charlie Haskell by just 34 votes; and the GOP also gained a seat on the County Council with John Keeton’s election to a council-at-large post. Democrats maintained a majority on the council with incumbent Steve Crabtree again leading the ticket in wining a third term and a victory by first-time council candidate Darrell Hansel. Democrats also held on to the County Recorder and County Treasurer positions, as Nancy Cooper Brown and Vickie Bailey James ran unopposed. Republican Gary McAllister won yet another term as County Surveyor; and Rodney Nay was elected County Coroner in an uncontested race. Circuit Court Judge Ted Todd also ran unopposed for another term. Voter turnout was nearly 53 percent.
20 YEARS AGO
Switzerland Countians will be seeing a lot of a new face in town, that of Chuck Overbey of Carroll County, as he gets a feel for the community. He started work as the new Executive Manager of the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation on Monday. Excited about his new position, Overbey said Monday he is looking forward to getting to know the people in the community.
“Upset” was the word for the night Tuesday as election results slowly rolled into the courthouse. In the two hottest county races, incumbent Sheriff J.D. Leap lost to Lonny Harris by 373 votes, and the incumbent County Commissioner, District 3, William Christman lost to Robert Bovard by 435 votes.
Sergeant Major Paul Andrew recently received a surprise in the mail. The U.S. Army Reserve Command sent him an official coin commissioned as the 123d ARCOM Commanding General’s Award of Excellence. The limited quantity of coins have been numbered and sent to individuals whose past contributions have had a major impact on the 123d ARCOM. Andrew was in active reserves for 33 years and went on inactive status in 1971.
30 YEARS AGO
A barn fire on Drake’s Ridge Road completely destroyed the building and 2,000 sticks of tobacco stored in the barn late Monday night. According to Sheriff Garry Forwood, the blaze was reported at 11:05 p.m., however, by that time the building was in flames and firemen were only able to put out the fire and not save the barn. The barn was owned by Camp Livingston, and the tobacco that was destroyed was owned by county resident Jim Lucas.
Hundreds of strange creatures invaded downtown Vevay Friday night, however, the National Guard wasn’t called out and Orson Wells wasn’t on the scene. The costumed individuals all took part in the Harem-Scarem Parade, sponsored by the Swiss Alpine Festival Committee, and were in search of prizes and trophies for the best Halloween attire.
The burley tobacco market will open Monday, November 24th, in 30 markets throughout the eight-state burley belt, according to officials at the Burley Tobacco Growing Cooperative Association.
40 YEARS AGO
Vevay Kiwanis Club is attacking drug abuse by going to the youngest potential users with a program of education directed toward the early-teenage and the pre-teenage child. The program is being conducted either directly by the club or through support to educators by helping further drug education within the school system, according to Dillon Dorrell, Jr., Vevay club president.
Switzerland County Democrats regained two of the three major county offices they lost in 1966 but their margins of victory Tuesday were generally several hundred votes below the 700 to 800 registered majority the party holds in the county. Democrats regained sheriff and auditor offices by relatively safe margins, however, failing only to regain the clerk of the circuit court office won by incumbent Republican J. C. Ramsey in a moderate to heavy turnout of voters.
Ever want to show off in class and prove you’re better at something than your teacher? Switzerland County High School’s 1970-71 varsity basketball squad gets that opportunity Friday evening as it plays a preseason hardwood contest with the school’s faculty.
Fire destroyed the home and all household goods of the Bill Johnson family living on the former Harold Heath farm eight miles north of Vevay on State Road 56 north of Center Square.
50 YEARS AGO
With Kennedy taking the national scene, Switzerland County remained solidly Democratic in Tuesday’s election, but the choice for the new President of the United States here was only by a majority of 31 votes. Early reports Wednesday morning from a few precincts first showed signs that Republican candidate Richard Nixon might carry the county, a feat that has not been accomplished by a Republican presidential candidate since Herbert Hoover’s 812 majority here in 1928.
First, a fire that completely destroyed their home – now, an accident that completely destroyed their automobile. The Marion Benedict family continues to experience bad luck. This time it happened near Madison at the intersection of State Roads 56 and 107. Mr. Benedict and his wife, Jean, escaped serious injury Thursday evening at about 6:15 and their 1954 model auto was described by investigating officers as “a total loss.”
A proposed fourth policeman has been rejected. That is the official decision and report from the State Tax Committee in Indianapolis. Nearly three weeks ago, a total of 27 businessmen and taxpayers protested the hiring of a fourth member for the Vevay police force.
60 YEARS AGO
Charles Scott has begun reconstruction of the big dairy barn on his farm that houses the Alps Drive In Theatre and expects to have the second floor operating soon as a deluxe roller skating rink.
Corporal Joseph C. Jewell has been slightly wounded in action in Korea on October 25th. He received a wound in the head about three inches long which required eight stitches to close. Corporal Jewell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jewell of Vevay and is 21 years old.
George Krummel has brought the king of all gourds to this office. The thing, we believe, is called a cucurbitaceae, being one of a big family of melons, pumpkins, squashed and the like – but for all that a plain big gourd. It weighs 13 pounds and measures 34 inches around its middle. With Thanksgiving approaching it would be nice if some person would bring in a turkey or maybe a nice dressed hog to go with our gourd, our sweet potatoes and our hickory nuts. The persimmons and the dahlias are only a pleasant memory.
With good weather to help bring out a record vote, the Democratic Party made a clean sweep of all county offices here on Tuesday. Ora Scudder, running for reelection for a four-year term as Sheriff piled up a huge majority of 753 votes over Vernon Hambrick and Roy Manuel, running for reelection as County Treasurer followed close with a majority of 711 over Clarence Wiseman.
70 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Genevieve Oakley, a resident of upper Indian Creek, died at her home there Monday evening.
Edward Tardy, a former resident of Vevay, passed away Friday at the home of a niece in California.
Mrs. Mabel Busch, wife of Clifford Busch, passed away at her home near Lamb Saturday following a long period of ill health.
Russell Smith, young farmer of Pleasant Township, suffered the loss of all his fingers and part of the thumb on his left hand in a corn shredder Monday at the farm of Kyle Tevis on Parks Ridge.
The home of Roy Kinman situated north of Vineyard Street was totally destroyed by fire Tuesday evening when a coal-oil stove exploded.
Robert M. Simmons for many years a resident of Vevay died at his home in Aurora Sunday morning having been in poor health for some time.
Joseph Holler, native of Vevay, and the last of a family of eight children, died in a hospital in Connersville, Indiana, Monday from the effects of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mrs. Raymond Detraz will leave Saturday for Chicago where she will have an exhibit of antique dolls at the National Hobby show to be held at the Stevens hotel.
80 YEARS AGO
Floyd Scudder, 28, of Dillsboro was killed Tuesday when his automobile crashed into a truck driven by Campbell Pratt, Madison, near the home of William J. Bakes on State Road 56.
Mrs. Mary Sharp Hutchinson, aged 73 years, died Sunday at the home of her son, Warnie Hutchinson, Rushville, Indiana. Mrs. Hutchinson had been in failing health for some time and last week she was moved from Vevay to her son’s home for care.
Mrs. Hannah M. Lakeman died at the home of her son, Louis, near East Enterprise Sunday evening after an illness of about five weeks.
Miss Lela Whitton near Bennington and Thomas E. Jolly were married by Reverend H. T. Rafnel at the Baptist parsonage October 29th.
Miss Helen Schwagmeier and James Shadday were married November 1st by Reverend F. E. Hammel at his home in Vevay.
Allensville is on a boom, two new stores having been recently opened, one by Harold Cook and the other by George Armstrong.
A daughter was born Thursday to Mr. and Mrs. Ethol Andrew of Moorefield.
A daughter was born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lewis of East Enterprise.
90 YEARS AGO
Work upon the installation of a new dynamo in the city power plant is well underway and it is thought by December 1st Vevay will be supplied with all the current she can use.
Died near Markland, November 4th, Francis Marion Reeves, 84. Three sons, three daughters survive.
Married in Rising Sun November 7th, Miss Ava Lostutter and Dr. H. B. Collins.
Married in Vevay by Reverend F. E. Hammel, Mr. Rutherford Endicott and Mrs. Minerva Alderson.
Born November 7th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hastings of Covington, Kentucky.
Six marriages, 13 births, and nine deaths are recorded for October.
The Vevay basketball season opened here Friday night with Vevay defeating Lawrenceburg 41-6.
The first number of the high school Lyceum course, “The Old Fashioned Girl” will be presented November 17th, at the auditorium.
Born, a daughter Josephine to Mr. and Mrs. John Shaw of near Moorefield on October 24th.
William Herbert, 15-day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. B. N. Colen of East Enterprise died November 6th.
Born, a daughter, November 2nd, to Mr. and Mrs. William Pickett.
Born, a son, November 7th, to Mr. and Mrs. William Knox of Craig Township.
100 YEARS AGO
Ira Babcock has moved his family here from Elizabethtown, Indiana.
There are four boats now running in the river trade instead of two as formerly on account of the low water.
E. P. Danglade has sold his grocery store on lower Main Street, to George Clendenning, who has already assumed charge.
A crew of government engineers have been at work seeking a location for the dam to be built between Florence and Markland.
Charles Chandler and Miss May Egstline were married in Rising Sun by Reverend Jesse Miller.
Born November 4th to Frank Carrington and wife of Bascom, a son.
Van Brandon and Bertha Branham of Park’s Ridge were married Thursday by Reverend Ferguson.
120 YEARS AGO
Thomas Gillis is building a new house and barn on his farm above Patriot.
Died at his home on Davis Corner October 19th, Henry Beerman.
Died near Quercus Grove, October 25th, John Riley. A son and daughter survive.
Married October 26th, Jacob Glenn and Miss Sara Robbins of Quercus Grove.
Licensed to marry: John Robinson and Minnie Miller; John F. Phillips and Hettie Hutchinson; George Sadaler and Viola Fish; John F. Covington and Lennie True.
Died in Vevay November 1st, Mrs. Julia Tardy, aged 58 years.
Married in Vevay October 29th, by Reverend G. M. Anderson, Mr. John Robinson and Miss Minnie Miller.
Harry Poston, Patriot, is a student of telegraphy in the railroad station at Moores Hill.
140 YEARS AGO
Died in Vevay November 8th Clara Dalmazzo, aged 21 years.
Died in Neoga, Illinois, November 1st, Amie, year old son of John S. and Flora Norisez, former residents.
Married November 3rd by John Kerr, Esquire, William G. Holland and Miss Eliza Pierce, both of Bennington.
Married November 10th, Robe McFadden to Fannie Owens. Both are mutes.
Amie Siebenthal has purchased a house in Vevay and moved in.
George Ryan has purchased the George Anshutz property on Walnut Street and will move here from Pleasant.
Reverend Beagle has been called to the Baptist Church.
150 YEARS AGO
The Forest Queen, having been repaired and refurnished is again the river trade.
Died November 4th, Charles, year old son of T. M. and Sara Danglade.
Died at Madison of sore throat, Zelie, daughter Frederick K. and Louise Duba, aged 2 years.