News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County YMCA has been open for approximately a month, but this Saturday the county’s newest recreational facility will officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours for interested residents. The grand opening will be held this Saturday from 2-5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting set for 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and look over the building and ask any questions of the staff that they might have. The featured speaker for the opening will be Nancy Reece. She worked for the national YMCA organization when the idea of constructing a YMCA started to pick up steam here; and served as a consultant to the local volunteer committee until February of this year, when Bob Randall came to Switzerland County as the executive director.
Tomorrow (Friday) signals the arrival of the holiday season in Switzerland County, and late word from the North Pole is that Santa has scheduled a 6 p.m. stop for the annual community Christmas tree lighting at the Switzerland County Courthouse. The Switzerland County Elementary School children will be on hand along with Santa to lead the community in Christmas caroling.
An open house will be held on Sunday, December 9th, in honor of Nellie Romans’ 90th birthday at Dillsboro Manor. She is a former resident of Patriot.
20 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Post Office celebrated its 175th anniversary last week – it has been in continuous service since December 11th, 1816. Members of the staff threw a party for themselves and the community. With a big birthday cake were postal clerk Rocky McKenzie, postmaster Gerri Lynn Dickerson, and postal clerk Kathy Bear.
Alvin and Elma Rayls of Vevay celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary on Tuesday of this week. They were married December 17th, 1949.
30 YEARS AGO
More than $1,300 was raised during the recent Cystic Fibrosis Bowl for Breath event at Swiss Valley Lanes. Dianna Chase was the top fund raiser in the local event, with 104 sponsors and also had the high series of all bowlers who participated. Other winners were Rhonda Otter, second, Andy Truitt, third, Micah Ramsey, fourth and Mark Chase, fifth.
Richard Wolf, well known Switzerland County farmer, was named to the County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation (ASC) Committee by delegates to the county convention held December 18th. Leon Johnson was elected for a two-year term to fill the vacancy created by a resignation of Johnny Andrew. Andrew resigned to accept a position as appraiser for Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. The delegates also elected Harry Renyer and Benny Garland as first and second alternates to the Committee.
40 YEARS AGO
Wilford Buchanan has been reelected to Switzerland County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (ASC) Committee by delegates to the ASC county conventions held December 15th at ASCS offices in Vevay. Delegates also selected Raymond Barnes and Harry Renyer as vice chairman and regular member of the three-member county committee with Buchanan continuing as chairman.
Norton G. Roberson, 45, of route 3, Vevay, died early Sunday morning when his pickup truck slipped off the shoulder of state road 56, flipped, and struck several objects 1 1/2 miles east of Madison at Bee Camp.
Miss Bonnie Debra Leep, 19, has enlisted in the U.S. Women’s Marine Corps and is taking basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, where she will graduate June 19th. She is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. Leep of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Leep of 407 Union Street, Vevay. During the Korean Conflict, Miss Leep’s mother served with the WAVES and her father was in the U.S. Army.
The Mardi Gras fund reached $1,500 Monday for Switzerland County High School band’s trip to the New Orleans parade February 13th with major contributors the past week including Paul W. Ogle of Silgas, $100, and Ralph Lewis, $110.
50 YEARS AGO
Davis Jones led all Switzerland County farmers this year in corn production to win the junior five-acre corn contest, Don Jennings, county agricultural agent, announced this week. The senior five-acre contest was topped by James R. Shaw and Lawrence Shaw. The Shaws won grand champion honors with 176 bushels per acre.
Benita, five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Coy of route 1, Florence, is recovering in King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison from second and third degree burns on her body received last week when her clothing caught fire from an electric range.
Switzerland County Public Library board met Tuesday evening, and regretfully accepted the resignation of Wilbur Houze, who has been president of the board for the past 11 years.
Harold A. Brown, 56, one of Vevay’s most popular and respected citizens, died in King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison early Monday morning. At the time of his last illness he was employed as a lineman for the Ohio River Telephone Company. He was also an expert tree trimmer and for many years had been a farmer.
Vevay’s B Team won its second straight decision Tuesday night by defeating Shawe’s reserves, 55-42, to even its season record at 5-5.
Patriot-Posey B. Team lost its final two games of 1961 Friday and Saturday nights to run its season record to 2-7, dropping 49-23 and 54-28 decisions to Sandusky and Burney respectively.
60 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Seavers of Vevay were notified December 7th by the War Department that their son, Norman, had been wounded in action in Korea November 25th. Later in the day they received a letter from their son, dated November 30th, which gave them details of his injuries.
In a letter dated November 9th, 1951, from the 1st Cavalry Division, it was announced that Private Albert Powers of route 1, Florence, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Young Powers is a member of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment.
An abandoned house on a farm owned by Garvey Robinson, located on the old detour below Vevay, was destroyed by fire of undetermined origin on December 2nd. The house which had been used for the storage of hay was vacant at the time. A portion of the building was a very old log structure.
William “Billie” Reed, son of Gaylord G. Reed, of Crestwood, Kentucky, formerly of Switzerland County, joined the U.S. Navy, June 20th, 1951. After his boot training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he was assigned to duty on the battle ship USS Wisconsin which is now in combat in Korea.
70 YEARS AGO
Chester Callis, Vevay attorney, has been appointed Switzerland County Civil Defense Director by Governor Henry F. Schricker and the Indiana Defense Council.
Lockmaster Thomas Bennett of Dam 39 received orders last week to establish a civilian guard for protection of the locks.
The annual Community Christmas Tree party will be held in the courtroom here December 23rd.
Merrie Webster of Long Run has had the third cow in his herd to go mad.
The Switzerland County Rural Youth Club held a box social at the Moorefield Academy December 12th.
Charles Garvey of Craig Township had the misfortune to lose the thumb from his left hand while at work at the Charlestown Powder Plant.
80 YEARS AGO
At the close of the November term of the Switzerland Circuit Court last week many testimonials to retiring County Clerk, Eugene T. Broadwell, were given by members of the court, members of the bar and officials.
A wheel was torn from the automobile of County Treasurer, C. E. Pangburn, Saturday evening when it was struck by the auto of Fred Todd, Sr., of Norwood, Ohio, near the Mennett home on State Road 56.
Success again crowned the venture of a local group of men in their effort to determine the gas possibilities in Switzerland County, when their third well on the Wiseman farm at Long Run came in this week with a flow, which has since developed into a capacity of nearly two million cubic feet.
100 YEARS AGO
Clarence Otter and Eugene Broadwell have signed pitching contracts with the Indianapolis American Association baseball team for 1912.
Last Monday night petty thieves entered a number of business establishments in Patriot making off with considerable loot.
120 YEARS AGO
A meeting was held in Vevay this week for the purpose of considering the matter of starting a Bank of Deposit and Discount under the state law.
Licensed to marry: James H. Bibb, Jr., and Emma B. Snodgrass; Lewis Cole and Sarah J. Anderson; Jasper Robinson and Iva Lay; Simmie Wainscott and Esther Lay; John Martin and Laura Myers; Elmer E. Protsman and Vestra Clevenger; Taylor Swango and Matilda Swango; Homer McDavid and Ella Webster; John A. Robinson and Liddie Smith; Thomas M. Lanham and Afra A. Tilley; J. E. Tilley and Eva Haynes; Oscar Smith and Susie Scroggins.
130 YEARS AGO
Died December 14th, Marie, wife of Benjamin Miller, aged 49 years.
Died in Vevay, December 14th, Mrs. Charlotte Huston, aged 78 years.
William Patton is able to be out after a severe illness.
Married November 29th, Miss Catherine Howard to Joseph B. Ramseyer. At the same time Miss Sarah Howard was married to Fleming B. Siebenthal. Reverend J. D. Griffith performed the ceremony at the home of the father, John W. Howard.
Married December 14th, by Reverend M. D. Steen, Mr. Victor Norisez and Miss Julia A. Stow, both of Vevay.
150 YEARS AGO
Captain Klein’s cavalry company, recruited principally in Switzerland County, has gone to Kentucky to join in the grand march for Nashville. This company belongs to the 3rd cavalry, 45th Indiana, the headquarters of which are at Washington.
Four companies of Wallick’s German Indiana regiment were attacked on December 17th on the south side of Green River, opposite Munfordsville, Kentucky, by Colonel Terry’s regiment of Texas Rangers. Wallick was reinforced and drove the rebels back with a loss of 33 killed, including Colonel Terry, and 50 wounded. We lost 8 privates, 1 lieutenant and 16 wounded. We are in receipt of a soldier of the 39th Indiana camped at Camp Wood on the banks of Green River. At the time they had not yet engaged in combat.
We have the news of the destruction of much of the city of Charleston, South Carolina, by fire. Thousands of persons were turned into the streets and the Charleston Courier states the loss at from five to seven millions of dollars.
Ten thousand soldiers have left Indiana for Kentucky.
The post office address of Captains Ruter and Stepleton’s companies now is Otterville, Cooper County, Missouri.
Trade is reviving in Vevay and Switzerland County. Heavy sales of produce and the continued receipts of money from the army gives a decided activity to business. From now on, during the continuance of war, from $5,000 to $8,000 a month will come to this county from the army.
On Saturday price of hay advanced to $71 a ton in Vevay. Potatoes are selling to dealers at 25 cents per bushel, hogs $3 per cwt., chickens $1.00 per dozen, butter at 12 1/2 cents pound, eggs scarce at 10 cents dozen.
In contracting for the erection of the new school house the trustees F. L. Grisard, S. B. Miller and I. Stevens, did not include the building of a cupola. As the building progressed they wisely concluded that a bell would be needed on the building and consequently a place to put the bell. In view of these facts they have just contracted for a suitable cupola. The new school house is now ready for its roof and carpenters are busily engaged putting it on. In order to secure means to pay this extra outlay for the cupola the ladies of Vevay and vicinity will give a supper at Odd Fellows Hall on New Year’s Eve. The attractions will be similar to those heretofore displayed on such occasions. Admittance at the door will be one dime.
On Saturday the steamboat, Dr. Kane was at Vevay taking on hay all day. She took aboard 36 bales. It was bought for the government at $12 per ton. It goes up the Kanawha River.
Notwithstanding the times, some building has been going on in Vevay this fall. B. F. Schenck has a dwelling underway on the corner of Pike and Main Cross streets. J. K. Pleasants is building a dwelling in “the orchard”, or more properly in P. Dufour’s addition to Vevay.