News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County continues to dig out from heavy snows during the past week, and with the National Weather Service calling for more snow today (Thursday), it looks as though the county will see a white Christmas. For the members of the Switzerland County Highway Department road crew, there’s still plenty of work to be done before any holiday break.
The Switzerland County School Corporation officially accepted $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., at Monday night’s meeting. The money is CAPE (Community Alliances to Promote Education) Grant from Lilly, and will fund a three-year period of technology upgrades in Switzerland County schools.
On Friday, December 29th, 2000, Grace Weir Aldred will be celebrating her 105th birthday. She will be honored by channel 12 of Cincinnati’s “birthday greetings”; and will also be highlighted on the nationally-televised “Today Show” as a part of Willard Scott’s report. Grace currently resides with her niece, Rose Marie Stegemiller, in Cross Plains. She enjoys visiting with friends and relatives, and some “good old home cookin’.”
20 YEARS AGO
County Auditor Kathy Kelly, current county auditor, has resigned her post as of December 31st. Current Deputy Auditor Rhonda Cutter has already been named acting auditor in the interim.
An open house will be held to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Carroll N. and Mavis I. (Cole) Scudder of Fairview. The couple was united in marriage December 24th, 1940, at the Fairview Methodist parsonage.
Linda C. Jackson, daughter of Paul D. Jackson of Vevay, has received the Lima News scholarship at Ohio Northern University for 1990-91. She is a freshman majoring in English.
30 YEARS AGO
Santa Claus will continue to receive visitors in Vevay this Saturday and Sunday and next Monday through Wednesday. An express train will deliver children through the “twinkling tunnel” and to St. Nick’s home Saturday and Sunday. The three days before Christmas, Santa will be at home from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-7 p.m. in the evening taking last minute requests.
A former Switzerland County resident was killed last Thursday when he was struck by a car on State Road 56 about one-half mile east of Sandy Beach. The accident occurred at about 5:35 a.m. Paul Chase, 47, Rising Sun, was dead at the scene according to Jefferson County Patrolman Ron Kroger.
This Sunday at 5 p.m. the Switzerland Community Cantata Choir will present its fifth cantata, entitled “An Old-Fashioned Christmas.” It is a medley of familiar and new tunes arranged and composed by John Wyrpt and creative concepts are those of Phil and Lynn Brower.
40 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Elsie J. McMackin, 62, of Fowler, died Saturday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna M. Sentman of Indianapolis. She was a native of near Moorefield in Switzerland County.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Romans of Boonville, former residents of Switzerland County, have announced the birth of a daughter, Jennifer Paige, on December 8th. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hatton of Florence and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Romans of Patriot. Great-grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Blanton Hatton of Vevay and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Slack of Bennington.
U.S. Army Specialist 4 Jeffrey K. Lothridge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Lothridge recently received the Good Conduct Medal during ceremonies near Aschaffenburg, Germany.
A group of some 54 citizens in central and northern Jefferson Township are protesting the location of a sanitary landfill operation on the Mrs. Sadie Griffith farm 2 miles northeast of Mount Sterling.
50 YEARS AGO
Fifty golden years ago a young couple was united in marriage. The couple hails near Switzerland County in Aberdeen and is known as Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Whitham. Those many years ago – to the day of December 31st – will soon be recognized as an occasion for relatives and friends to gather for the celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Cole, formerly of Vevay, and now of Waldron, Indiana, will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary Friday, December 23rd. They were married here in 1903.
A last minute basket Friday night spelled victory for the Warriors of Vevay. Nearly a forgotten formula, the local quintet jelled just at the proper times to bring home their first triumph of the season. Winning basket goes onto Bob Petty’s scoring column, but in all justice it was a team win over the Moores Hill Bobcats, 46-44.
Arthur V. Danner of Darien, Connecticut, recently was named president of a new operating division for the Mobil Oil Company. To those who find the name familiar, Mr. Danner is the brother of Mr. Emmett Danner of Vevay.
60 YEARS AGO
The Ohio River is again back within its banks and on Wednesday the stage at U.S. Lock 39, near Florence was 22.5 feet. The water continues to fall at the rate of one tenth of a foot per hour and all danger of a prolonged flood has been ended.
Mr. and Mrs. James Dickerson are the proud parents of a little baby girl born Friday morning at their home here. The little lady has been named Debra Dean and weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces.
Wilbur Allen of near Center Square narrowly escaped losing the sight of one of his eyes Tuesday when the eye ball was punctured by a thorn on a bush nearby when he stopped over while sawing wood at his Denver Markland of Vevay has purchased the grocery store which is operated by Mrs. Ella Jarvis on West Main Street. Possession will be given early in January.
Mrs. Clara Wade, 78, and Jacob Smith, 80, both well known residents of Patriot were married there December 12th. The ceremony was performed by Reverend W.S. Lowe.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Brown who reside near Canaan will quietly celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday.
70 YEARS AGO
Major Edward S. Furnish left Sunday for Ft. Knox, Kentucky, for a year’s active duty as a reserve officer.
Eight Switzerland County students are registered at Indiana University this semester.
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hyde welcomed nearly 70 friends, relatives and neighbors to their home in East Enterprise Sunday to help them celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary.
John J. Griffith died at home near Moorefield Thursday having been in ill health for several years and bedfast since May.
80 YEARS AGO
Arlington O’Neal, formerly an operator of a flour mill in Markland died in a hospital in Denver, Colorado Monday from the effects of an operation.
The citizens of Craig Township have been greatly concerned during the past few days over the number of in their community.
Charles C. Morrison, former county commissioner of this county, died at the residence of his grand nephew, H. McHinds, Elwood, Indiana, December 11th. He was 79 years of age and had only been ill three weeks prior to his death.
Switzerland County had its first taste of bank robbery last Friday when the Florence Deposit Bank was held up by two young men and robbed of $750. Within a half hour’s time they had been apprehended their Patriot and were lodged in the Vevay jail.
Henry Carrigan and Miss Mary Dickerson of the Aberdeen neighborhood were married in Covington, Kentucky December 6th.
Invitations have been issued to the marriage of Miss Nettie Bales of near Fairview to Edward Wood of Kokomo, Indiana, which will be solemnized Christmas Eve.
Neighbors, friends, and relatives numbering 65, gathered at the Clayton Bunger woods near Quercus Grove Wednesday and with two teams, two cut-off saws, and two trucks, spent the day cutting wood for Dilver Cochran, who has been ill for about two years. They hauled in 14 truckloads of firewood. Lunch was served by the ladies in the wareroom, kindly loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rochat.
90 YEARS AGO
Vevay defeated Scottsburg for the second time this season with a score of 27-17.
Clifford Lee, 25, was instantly killed in an explosion at the government quarry back of Madison. He is survived by a bride of four months, his parents, two sisters and a brother.
The condition of D. G. Manning remains unchanged and no hope is held for his recovery.
Stephen L. Rogers, a native of this county, has been appointed postmaster at Greensburg and if confirmed by the Senate will take office about January 1st.
Married in Madison by Reverend Schultz on December 9th, Miss Gertrude Brett and Clyde C. Scott.
Died in Fairview December 12th, W.N. Seymour, 76. He is survived by four sons, three daughters, brother and sister.
100 YEARS AGO
Cards have been received here announcing the marriage of Miss Effie Heath, a former resident, to Mr. Coy Barnard, December 21st, at her home in Lamar, Colorado.
Winter seems to have come to stay. Thermometers registered from near zero to 10 above Monday.
Mrs. Mary Carver, aged 78 years, died at the home of her nephew, Clem Beach, at Mount Sterling Monday, December 5th.
Born Sunday, December 18th, to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stone of Patriot, a son.
120 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel White of Center Square recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Married December 3rd, Miss Mamie Taylor and James Riley of Patriot.
Achilles Ogle, aged 81 years of Vevay, died December 15th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. C. Kirkpatrick at Center Square.
Died at the home of her grandfather, William Anderson, in Craig Township on December 1st, Mabel Clare Anderson, aged 11 years.
Aunt Polly Munger, aged about 72 years, died at her home near Center Square Saturday.
140 YEARS AGO
Bledsoe and Beymer, Krutz and son and David Wright of Florence sent flat boats of produce south last week.
Samuel Curry, William Lampkin and J. M. Froman have the contract for building the Log Lick and East Enterprise turnpike.
William Hulley residing near Moorefield has received a copy of the Scotchman, a paper printed in Edinburg, Scotland.
Married December 2nd at the home of Taylor Stepleton by John H. McHenry, Esquire, Miss Mary Louise Stepleton and Joseph Marion Leintz.
Married at the bride’s residence December 13th by Reverend M. D. Steen, Mrs. Sarah Clements to Elliot Driver of Milo, Illinois.
152 YEARS AGO
We are informed that a gentleman has been lecturing against Masonry in this county. He had a large audience in Moorefield.
We notice that a cotillion party is to be given on the steamer Kentucky today. One great objection to these steamboat parties is that too much whiskey is consumed by the young men.
Married November 25th by Wade H. Jack, Esquire, Miss Eliza Sheets and John Cushard.
Married on November 21st by Martin Higgins, Esquire, Miss Susan Hines and Noah Sharp.