News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Mike Danner was honored last Thursday night as the 1997 winner of the Paul Ogle Community Service – the highest honor that the county can bestow. A longtime volunteer in a variety of community activities, Mike Danner has served on the Vevay Park Board, was the first chairman of the Swiss Wine Festival, and is very active in the Vevay Kiwanis Club. Tonya Archer, the 1995 Paul Ogle Award winner, made the presentation.
Vevay Newspapers was honored Saturday as publisher of one of Indiana’s best weekly newspapers. The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise and its companion paper, The Switzerland Democrat, were named winners of a total of six awards – including four first place finishes – for journalism excellence.
Switzerland County now stands five days away from the biggest decision in its history when the Indiana Gaming Commission meets next Monday to reach a decision on the final Ohio River casino license. Three busloads of Switzerland Countians will make their way to the state capital Monday to attend the hearings, which a re scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the auditorium of the Government Center South. The Indiana Gaming Commission will meet for a business meeting, and then will reconvene its deliberations of the final license. Where it goes from there is anyone’s guess.
15 YEARS AGO
Martha Cole was presented the Paul Ogle Community Service Award by Dr. Robert Findley, president of the Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce, at its annual meeting last Thursday.
The possibility of a power plant near Patriot is gradually beginning to appear more like a probability. At least it appears the Indianapolis Power and Light Company is drawing near to making an official decision to build a power plant on its 1,000-acre property in Mexico Bottom. IPALCO won’t make the final decision. That will be up to the state and federal governments’ regulatory agencies. But IPALCO’s decision to seek governmental approval of its project would be the first big step toward a power plant at Patriot. Representatives of IPALCO met with the Switzerland County Commissioners at their meeting Monday morning to outline where the company is on the project. The Commissioners support the power plant project because they regard it as a major boost to the county’s economy, by creating jobs and increasing the tax base.
20 YEARS AGO
Jean Humphreys has joined the Switzerland County Health Department as County Nurse. She assumed her duties on December 1st.
The winter storm that has been plaguing the midwest for the past few days hit Switzerland County Tuesday with high winds and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. The storm blew the roofs and doors off of barns and other buildings and downed electrical power lines across the county.
Travis Griffith was the first place winner of the district conservation speech contest held at the high school Thursday, December 10th.
A deer hunter from Ohio died late Wednesday after apparently falling from a deer stand near East Enterprise. According to state police, Joseph L. Campbell, 41, of Hamilton, Ohio was killed when he fell 15 to 18 feet from a deer stand while hunting.
30 YEARS AGO
When The Vevay-Ghent Ferry, Inc., voted to enter an option to purchase the Martha A. Graham early in November, there has been quite a bit of discussion on how to raise enough money to cover the $60,000 price tag attached to the ferryboat. Several members of the incorporated group, while hoping to increase the number of paid memberships in the organization, are hoping that the boat or the landing site will merit a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
President-elect of the Fourth District of Indiana Federation of Clubs, Mrs. William H. (Roberta) Cord will take office in July. The Fourth District consists of Dearborn, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson, Jennings, Ripley and Switzerland counties with 14 clubs and 312 active members.
Madison State Hospital will celebrate the completion of a $749,079 maintenance building with an open house and dedication on December 13th and 14th. Community residents are invited to visit the large new facility during the December 13th open house. State legislators and other officials are expected to attend the dedication event on December 14th.
40 YEARS AGO
Seaman Recruit Kenneth J. Lavelle, USN, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon H. Lavelle of rural route 1, Patriot, has been graduated from nine weeks of Navy basic training at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Pfc. Christopher J. Rusch is stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany. He is a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Green of Vevay and he attended Vevay High School.
A 4-year-old Vevay boy was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday afternoon in a Louisville, Kentucky hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the side late Tuesday afternoon. Recovering after 4 1/2 hours in surgery Tuesday night was Mark Bailey, one of four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Bailey of near Vevay.
50 YEARS AGO
Wilbur Poling, 23, postmaster at Florence had a narrow escape from injury or death Monday night when his car caught fire after it was struck from the rear by another automobile. The force of the car which struck his bursted the gasoline tank and it was quickly enveloped in flames.
Victor Pesce sustained first and third degree burns on his hands and arms last week when a gas hot water heater burner which he was attempting to light exploded in his face. His hair was also singed. The accident occurred at the new Gulf Oil Station on Main Street.
Lowest tobacco averages for the season were paid Tuesday on markets throughout the burley belt. General average was down $1.88 to $57.07 Sales were also down more than 3,250,000 pounds from Monday, totaling 12,270,820 in Kentucky. At Madison on Tuesday the average was $58.03 per hundred pounds.
Greene Elmo Hansford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Hansford, Sr., of Cincinnati and Miss Mary Evelyn Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Woods of Florence were married by the Justice of the Peace, John Baird, Saturday morning in a double ring ceremony.
Mr. and Mrs. Cogley Cole, Sr., and Mr. and Mrs. Cogley Cole, Jr., spent Monday in Louisville where the former couple celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Haskell, Jr., are the proud parents of a son who was born December 17th in King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and has been named John Douglas.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Anna Marie Stepleton, 76, wife of Jess Stepleton of Fairview, passed away at her home there Friday evening after a long period of ill health.
The body of Clayton E. Smith, first Switzerland County boy to be returned to his native soil, arrived at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Smith on Searcy Ridge Wednesday, December 10th. Funeral services will be held Saturday from Patriot Baptist Church.
In a business transaction completed this week, Mrs. Marie Brown and Thurmen Roberts purchased the Vevay Bakery from Emerson Williamson.
Word was received here Tuesday morning of the death of Mrs. Minnie Ellis which occurred Monday night at the home of her son, Clyde Bowman in Connersville.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Seymour of Dillsboro announce the marriage of their daughter, Thelma, to James Lakeman of East Enterprise on Thanksgiving Day.
Mrs. Mary McKay Lockwood, daughter of Mrs. Stella McKay, and William Demaree, both of near Vevay, were united in marriage Saturday afternoon, December 6th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Walter Peters.
Mrs. Martha Rittenour has purchased the home of her late mother, Mrs. Fannie Pangburn, from the other heirs of the estate.
Citizens of our county were shocked and saddened last Saturday morning to learn that Dr. Jack King, 41, for the past 10 years a prominent physician of Vevay, had passed away in a hospital at Algiers, near Lima, Ohio, about midnight the evening before.
Mrs. Ariel D. Houze, 81, one of Switzerland County’s finest ladies passed away Sunday evening, December 7th, at the home of her son, Dr. Carroll Houze in Louisville.
70 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Louella Reed, 61, wife of Wesley Reed passed away Wednesday morning after an illness of several weeks duration at her home below Lamb.
O. H. McNary, Switzerland County’s new County Agent, assumed his duties here December 3rd, relieving H. G. Kolb.
Death claimed one of Switzerland County’s finest ladies when Mrs. Eliza Willis Cotton, 80, passed away Thursday, December 2nd, at the home of Miss Louella Vandever in Fairview.
Jacob Harris, aged 81, a former resident of Posey Township, died in Christ Hospital in Cincinnati last Saturday evening as a result of injuries received near his home in Rising Sun when struck by a truck driven by Gene Holder of that city.
Mrs. Armand Rous, wife of Dr. Armand Rous, formerly of Vevay, passed away November 3rd at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mrs. George Bowman, 67, passed away at her home in Enterprise last Tuesday after a lingering illness.
Isaac J. Hart, a prominent and greatly respected farmer of Pleasant Township, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Vanosdol there in the evening of December 1st.
80 YEARS AGO
Harry Smith of Vevay is recovering in Christ Hospital in Cincinnati from serious injuries sustained early last Thursday morning in an accident one mile east of Rising Sun.
Frank Gleason, aged 60 years, died Saturday at his home on Plum Creek after an illness of many months duration.
A garage at the home of Raymond Jarvis, Pleasant Grove, was broken into one night last week and 20 gallons of gasoline was taken. Mr. Jarvis’ car was stripped of all tools and a new tire and tube.
Dan Brindley, 68, died Saturday morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. Andrew Sigmon on Parks Ridge.
100 YEARS AGO
The ice plant, owned by the Vevay Ice Company, burned to the ground Sunday night. The tanks of ammonia stored in the building exploded one after the other when the flames were the hottest.
Milton R. Cole, of route 1 was painfully injured when a team of horses he was driving ran away. Mr. Cole was unconscious for some time but he is now recovering.
A daughter was born Sunday, December 8th, to Carl Culbertson and wife.
Clinton Thompson and Miss Anne Wiechart of Florence were married Sunday, December 9th, in Vevay.
A son was born December 3rd to Dennis Craig and wife of Patriot.
Gustav Schrumpf, aged 70 years, died December 6th at his home in Florence.
Mr. and Mrs. K. L. Hastings celebrated their first wedding anniversary last Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Green of Rising Sun were present and celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.
Representatives are in the county for the purpose of organizing a company to own and operate a canning factory in this city. The company can be organized without difficulty if any considerable percent of our farmers and business men will cooperate.
115 YEARS AGO
One of the most disastrous fires in the history of Vevay, occurred last Sunday forenoon, when the large warehouse belonging to Carl S. Culbertson, was totally destroyed entailing an estimated loss of about $38,000.
Jefferson Curry passed away December 9th at Richmond.
Basil Oliver, son of Mrs. Emma Oliver, died at his home two miles above Lamb Thursday evening after a lingering illness of tuberculosis.
Mrs. Joseph Duvall of this city was called to Lower Whites Run, Kentucky, Monday by the death of her father, Henry Davis.
Leslie Kern, of Pleasant was chosen last Thursday by the School Board to fill the vacancy caused by Professor Gray’s resignation as Grade Principal.
Owing to lack of revenue, the post office at Pleasant will be discontinued December 15th. The patrons of this office will be served by route 1, Vevay and route 12, Madison.
120 YEARS AGO
William Vauter’s fine brick residence in Posey Township together with its contents including $75 in money, was destroyed by fire recently. The fire occurred in the night and members of the family barely escaped with their lives.
Born to Augustus and Amelia Dunning of East Enterprise December 9th, a son.
Simeon Hicks and Doris Morris were married in Vevay last week at the LeClerc House.
Elhanan Cole of East Enterprise is suffering from some broken ribs the result of a fall from a shed roof.
130 YEARS AGO
There are now better prospects than ever before for a railroad through Vevay. The company is already organized. The capital stock is $1,500,000 divided into shares of $100 each.
C. J. Robenstein and Miss Mary A. Anderson of Craig Township were married Sunday at the home of the bride’s mother. The groom is Switzerland County’s young and popular treasurer.
The Journal says Osgood is to be incorporated.
County Commissioners agreed to donate $1,500 toward building a bridge across Grants Creek and to advertise for proposals to build same, provided it can be built for $1,800.
140 YEARS AGO
Vevay Markets: Wheat $2.40 per bushel; rye $1.25 per bushel; corn 80 cents per bushel; flour $12 per pound; eggs 20 cents per dozen; butter 30 cents per pound; chickens $2 and $3 per dozen.
Charles Hedges of Kansas and Miss Mary L. Krutz of Switzerland County were married December 3rd at the home of the bride’s father by Reverend John Mullen.
Dan Rice, the showman, has retired from the business.
There are 290 newspapers published in this state.