News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
This year’s general election has been the subject of discussion all around Switzerland County for weeks, and that interest translated to a high voter turnout at the polls on Tuesday as 56 percent of eligible Switzerland Countians voted in the election. County clerk Darlene Haskell reported that 3,030 voters from a total registration of 5,334 chose to vote in Tuesday’s election. She estimated that it may be one of the highest voter turnouts in Indiana.
Deputy sheriff Wayne Browning swept all 12 county voting precincts Tuesday to score a convincing win over incumbent Republican John Johnson and win a four-year term as County Sheriff.
Diesel mechanic Jack Smith purchased a Cummins engine from the county located at the City Roller Mill. At one time it had powered the mill for about 60 years. After purchasing the engine Jack Smith donated it to the Switzerland County Historical Society, and also gave 40 hours of his labor in restoring the engine on behalf of “Friends of the Roller Mill.” He hopes to get the engine in operating order with the help of Bob Anderson, retired Cummins engineer.
15 YEARS AGO
Darin C. Christman has graduated from U.S. Navy boot camp at the Naval Training Center/Recruit Training Command in San Diego, California. He is the son of Sharon Bear of Vevay and Eric Christman of Pleasant.
Janie Stutzman, daughter of Bob and Lois Stutzman of Rising Sun, and Donald Craig, son of Ernie and Linda Richards of Markland, were married July 10th at Bethel Unity Baptist Church in Rising Sun.
Dr. Edward Gray of Patriot, an educator in Switzerland and Ohio counties, has retired from teaching. He was a full-time teacher and school administrator for 35 years, with 28 years in the Switzerland County school system.
Harris and Leona Stegemiller of Rising Sun are celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary Sunday, November 7th, in the basement at First United Church of Church in Rising Sun.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Furnish of Moorefield will be the guests of honor at an open house on Sunday, November 13th, in celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary. The reception will be held at their home near Moorefield from 2-4 p.m. and will be hosted by their children, Robert, Roger, Connie, and Raymond.
Commander Darrel McKenzie, son of Dwight and Christine McKenzie of Vevay, and a 1962 graduate of Vevay High School retired from the U.S. Navy October 1st after 20 years of service as a Navy pharmacist.
Lisa Demaree, daughter of Tom and Mary Jane Demaree has completed requirements at Ball State University for a bachelor of science degree in dietetics. She is a 1984 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
40 YEARS AGO
Two Switzerland County young people – Miss Linda L. Morris, 18, and Robert W. Brown, 17 – were killed the past weekend in separate area highway accidents. Miss Morris, daughter of Oral and Eleanor Disbro Morris of route 2, Vevay, was killed at 9 p.m. Sunday in a U.S. 421 accident. Brown was killed Saturday on State Road 56 near Mount Sterling.
A committee for extension of State Road 129 from Vevay to Brookville has met both candidates for Indiana governor in an attempt to have some extension made during the next state administration.
Aviation Structural Mechanic Third Class Larry D. McAlister, U.S. Navy, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester McAlister of Vevay, is serving with Attack Squadron 215 at the Naval Air Station in LeMoore, California.
Mrs. Effie Wiant Burley of Urbana, Ohio, was recently named “queen for a day” during a dinner held in her honor. The 84-year-old retired school teacher is the mother of Nelson Burley of Patriot.
Over 60 friends from East Enterprise Wesleyan Church gathered at East Enterprise State Bank hall Thursday night for a surprise birthday supper for Roy H. Manuel.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Anna Olcott, fondly known as “Aunt Anna”, the surviving member of a prominent pioneer family of Posey Township, quietly celebrated her 101st birthday November 6th, at the home of her niece, Mrs. Dorothy Olcott Lowe, of Patriot. Aunt Anna, a retired school teacher, followed the profession for over 40 years, having taught at Patriot, Lawrenceburg and Evansville, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Shadday near Vevay are parents of a baby girl who was born Sunday afternoon in the Madison hospital. The little girl weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and has been named Karen Ann.
Lewis Walston of Vevay has received announcement of the birth of his great-grandson, Randall Lee Williams to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williams of St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 28th. The baby’s mother is the former Joy Dean Walston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Walston of Switzerland County.
Miss Glenda Brameier, reigned at festivities at Patriot school last week. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Brameier and a sophomore.
60 YEARS AGO
Due to the critical shortage of scrap metal needed for steel, a scrap metal drive has been organized with the F.F.A. Chapters and 4-H Clubs of the states of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. This drive is sponsored locally by the Vevay F.F.A. Chapter.
Honor and recognition of market ability have come to another Switzerland County boy with the appointment of Dr. John D. Stepleton, son of Mrs. Belle Stepleton of Vevay, as pathologist at the Reed Memorial Hospital in Richmond, Indiana.
The new Vevay shoe factory would open the eyes of any of the many hundreds who have not lived here for years but who take this paper for the sentiment of old names and associations. The building is nearing completion and the company is making elaborate plans for a grand opening and ball on Friday evening, December 3rd.
The Democratic Party in Switzerland County was continued in office Tuesday by majorities that averaged around 200 more votes than was given the county slate four years ago.
A 9 pound, 4 ounce baby son was born early Wednesday morning at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Furnish of Vevay.
The Indiana State Highway Commission is receiving bids for a new bridge which it proposed to build to replace the one now over Indian Kentucky creek at Brooksburg.
70 YEARS AGO
A shocking tragedy occurred near Vevay early last Friday morning when Mrs. Effie Smith was burned to death in a fire which destroyed her home on the Clair Andrew farm north of Mount Sterling. Her husband, Leonard Smith, and Mrs. Lula Wilson and three children succeeded in escaping from the burning building although Mr. Smith was seriously burned on his face and hands.
Postmaster Ernest Griffith has announced that Mrs. Florence Bennett has been selected for the position in the Vevay post office which will be vacated in January by Mrs. Burroughs O’Neal.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Cutter of Drakes Ridge are the proud parents of a new baby.
80 YEARS AGO
Wilbur Turner, member of the senior class of the Vevay High School was painfully burned about the face Friday when a chemical with which he was working in a chemistry class exploded.
Graham Bondurant, lockmaster at Dam 39, was a passenger in the Continental Airlines mail plane from Louisville to Cincinnati Monday and has the distinction of being the first Switzerland County citizen to travel between the two cities by air.
The new government airplane beacon located on top of a hill near Ghent was wired last week by Robert Riggs and Howard Allen and was put in use Thursday night.
Switzerland County was well represented in the reception which was tendered Herbert Hoover when his special train halted in North Vernon Friday en route from Louisville to St. Louis. Among those who drove out were Mrs. Cogley G. Cole, Republican District Secretary and Mrs. Robert Banta, County Secretary.
90 YEARS AGO
Vevay turned out en masse Monday evening to celebrate the news that the war has ended. A monster parade was held. Notice of the jubilee had been flashed over the telephone wire and practically every family in Switzerland County was represented in the celebration. The Jaynes drum corps led the parade and every sort of a noise maker was in use.
Switzerland County paid the price for victory with 17 lives of her young men.
Camp conditions of Warsaw, where two Switzerland County boys died of influenza, are under investigation by the government.
The local draft board has received notice that all draft calls have been canceled and no more men will be inducted into service.
Mort Kelley of near Aaron has received word that his son John lost an arm when it was blown off in action.
Robert E. Smith of Patriot is in a hospital suffering from shell shock. On August 31st with four other scouts he was sent out and all but Smith were killed by enemy guns.
George Bennett of near Markland lost a finger Saturday while operating a hay press.
Ralph Calvert, 22, of near Florence, was shot in the thigh Sunday when a gun carried by his companion, William Heath, was accidentally discharged. He is recovering satisfactorily.
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brindley have bought the Butler Hotel business and Mrs. Viola Butler has bought the Brindley home on Main Street.
The barn and its contents, owned by Leslie Scott near Lamb was destroyed by fire Friday morning. A lantern on a nail under the hay mow fell off and ignited the barn. The barn contained 2,000 sticks of tobacco, 15 tons of hay, grain and a hog. The only things saved were three horses and three mules.
100 YEARS AGO
An attempt was made at 3:30 o’clock last Saturday morning to burn the house occupied by William Sanders, colored, and had the old man not been sitting up at the time, he doubtless would have been cremated in the blaze.
Births: Elizabeth, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Smith of Vevay, October 28th; Eloise, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Culbertson, Pleasant Township, on October 25th; Margaret Anna, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Martin, of York Township on October 30th.
Lon Peelman who has been filling a position as foreman in a Connersville Furniture Factory returned home Sunday to accept a position with the Vevay Furniture Factory.
A son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. John W. Knox at their home here.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones of Florence, a fine girl.
Born to John Cole and wife of East Enterprise October 31st, a boy; and to Elmer Seymour and wife, a girl.
110 YEARS AGO
Last Thursday evening fire broke out in the home of Lemual Stow near Center Square. The house was destroyed and only a part of the household goods were saved.
Bersot & Wright of Long Run are building an addition to their blacksmith shop.
120 YEARS AGO
The election is over and Harrison and Morton have been elected. Early Wednesday morning the Republicans formed a torch light procession, obtained a band and serenaded the Republican workers until breakfast time.
E. J. Bennett, the operator at the Vevay telegraph office has been fair, impartial and prompt in giving the public the election returns.
Born to Harvey Voris and wife of Avonburg, a boy.
130 YEARS AGO
Last Friday night about 11 o’clock the residence of Charles Gray near Brooksburg was destroyed by fire. The family barely escaped with their lives.
A daughter was born to G. W. Simpson and wife of Markland last week.
The grade at the foot of Ferry Street is being widened 50 feet by the city authorities.
A son of E. Hafford in Craig Township, accidentally shot himself with a shotgun one day last week. The shot took effect in the fleshy part of one of his hands.