News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
A crowd of approximately 300 county residents attended Saturday’s official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Switzerland County YMCA. Saturday was a time when everyone could tour the facility.
The Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce honored Sarah Brichto with a Distinguished Service Award for her efforts in making the Switzerland County YMCA a reality. Chamber president John Keeton made the presentation during Saturday’s grand opening of the YMCA.
K.C. Banta was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Switzerland County Chamber of Commerce during Saturday’s grand opening of the Switzerland County YMCA. Chamber president John Keeton presented the award.
Mickie Lynn Hughes graduated from the practical nursing program at Ivy Tech State College on August 17th. She is the daughter of Mickey and Direnda Ray of East Enterprise.
Linda Leap of near Mount Sterling has been awarded the Harvey S. Poling, Jr. Scholarship at Ivy Tech State College. She is an accounting major at the Madison campus and carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is pursuing an associate of applied science degree.
20 YEARS AGO
The U.S. Shoe Company is offering a reward of $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for telephoning bomb threats to the company’s Vevay plant. “Several bomb threats in the past few months” have jeopardized workers safety and made U.S. Shoe “less competitive in the marketplace” by causing costly work stoppages, the company said in announcing the reward offer.
A festival of lights sends bright Christmas greetings to all who pass by the home of Tom and Normalene Adkins on Tell Street in Vevay. The Adkins home, and the home of Larry and Linda Jones on Main Street, are among the most elaborately decorated homes in the area this holiday season, each featuring a multitude of multi-colored lights and Yuletide displays.
They opened at $1.83 per pound, but average prices for tobacco have slipped to $1.81 since sales began at markets in the Burley Belt on November 25th.
A state grant of $21,500 has been awarded to the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation to help set up a tourist information office in Vevay – a key step toward developing “a marketing strategy” to promote tourism here, said Foundation executive director Chuck Overbey.
30 YEARS AGO
More than six inches of snow fell in Switzerland County early Thursday morning. A couple more inches fell in the next few days to make the largest snow fall so far this year. By Wednesday, however, warm temperatures and rain had all but melted the white stuff, making the forecast for a white Christmas doubtful.
One of the questions people who come into the Vevay Newspapers office ask us is, “When is the work going to begin on the Patriot power plant?” According to officials from Indianapolis Power and Light Company, on site work is currently scheduled to begin sometime in the summer of 1983. Because of a decrease in the growth of electrical demand, the power plant start up date has been delayed. Officials say however, that the plant will be built. According to George Vansickle, chief mechanical engineer, work has begun on the design of the plant.
40 YEARS AGO
Paul Eddie Caplinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Caplinger of route 3, Madison, left Monday for Ft. Polk, Louisiana, where he will complete his National Guard basic training and A.I.T. training in an anti-tanker division.
Lauretta Borgman had fresh kale picked from her garden December 27th which proves we have had unusually warm weather in southeastern Indiana.
Relatives and friends were shocked when they received word December 25th that Mr. and Mrs. Russell Tyler of Brownsburg, lost their home and the entire contents December 22nd at 12 midnight. Their television exploded, set the Christmas tree on fire, curtains, and other furnishings. Their little girl Sandy was asleep in her room and Russell was seriously burned getting her out of the house. All material possessions were lost. Nearby neighbors were kind and helpful and enough money was collected to replace the lost Christmas presents.
A son was born to Linda and James Andrew of route 1, Vevay.
Vera McSwain rolled a 531 series (195 and 179 games) to lead Tuesday ladies league bowlers December 21st at Swiss Valley Lanes.
60 YEARS AGO
Dailey Brown of East Enterprise, a member of the Switzerland County Board of Commissioners, and Chief of the East Enterprise fire department was injured critically Sunday evening about 6:30 o’clock while answering a fire alarm at the home of Henry Jones on the river road above Vevay.
Bertha Bettens DeBell passed away in Hollywood, California. She was a member of the pioneer county family.
Superintendent Harold Benedict sustained a strained left arm last Thursday when he caught his heel on the top step of the basement steps at school and fell head long down the stairway.
Telephone and power service throughout Switzerland County are being restored after lines were snapped last week by the coating of ice during Friday’s storm.
In a letter to County Agent McNary, Wilbur Wade, of Posey Township states: “I have a cow that gave birth to two calves November 18th, 1950 and gave birth to two calves on November 12th, 1951.” Four calves in less than a year is quite a record the County Agent stated.
Mrs. Mollie Haskell quietly celebrated her 89th birthday Friday at her home near Vevay.
70 YEARS AGO
Lockmaster Thomas Bennett of Dam 39 received orders last week to establish a civilian guard for protection of the locks.
Miss Charlotte Coy of Florence and Stanley Purnell were issued a marriage license here Saturday.
Charles Garvey of Craig Township, employed at the Charlestown Powder Plant, had the misfortune to lose the thumb from his left hand while at work there.
80 YEARS AGO
Wilfred L. Joyce, 22, of Vevay, was killed almost instantly in an automobile wreck December 10th near Manville in Jefferson County.
The third gas well in Switzerland County came in this week on the Wiseman farm at Long Run. The flow has developed into a capacity of nearly two million cubic feet.
90 YEARS AGO
F. A. Griffith has transferred his wife who will take charge of the yard on lower Market Street.
F. R. Hyatt, formerly of Hanover, has opened a music store at the corner of Main and Ferry streets.
100 YEARS AGO
Christmas trade in Vevay was considerably above the expectations of the merchants.
George W. Joyce of Plum Creek died December 25th of chronic asthma, aged 75 years.
Marjorie Grise, aged 21 years, died at her home in Vevay Tuesday, December 26th, of tuberculosis.
K. L. Hastings and wife received a new automobile as a Christmas present from Mrs. Hastings’ parents, C. D. Green and wife of Patriot.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Washer of Bennington December 20th, a daughter.
Born to John Farrell and wife of Scotch Settlement Thursday, a daughter.
Born, Monday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weaver of Scotch Settlement.
120 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Festus Flinn, formerly of Mount Sterling, are residing in Oxford, Kentucky.
Frank Dupraz has returned from the Oklahoma Territory.
Miss Edna Works has resigned her position as clerk in the post office.
Jacob H. Harris of Quercus Grove sustained a serious injury to his right hand when it was caught in a cutting box.
Ed Findlay has become a clerk in the post office.
Edward Lanham is employed by the Bell Telephone Company at Kokomo.
130 YEARS AGO
John Gill and associates have completed the abutments to the lower Indian Creek bridge.
Henry Morris has opened a barber shop in Patriot.
Seven new houses were erected in Markland in 1881.
Thieves stole all the meat from the smoke house of Jacob Snyder in Egypt Bottom.
A. McCulloch has purchased the stock barn of William Culbertson near Moorefield.
150 YEARS AGO
There are now 110,000 men in Kentucky under the command of such superior generals as Buell, Schoenf, Mitchell, and Thomas.
We are requested to state that Captain Rous has sent home all surplus clothing of his company which may be had by calling on Shaw, Harwood and Company.
Hay has advanced to $12 a ton in Vevay and a large amount was brought in the past week.
On Thursday, a small son of William J. Mansfield was kicked in the face by a horse and severely hurt. The accident occurred at the corner of Pike and Ferry streets where the horse was hitched on the sidewalk, in violation of the law.
The advance in burning fluid and the great decline in coal oil is causing a revolution on the subject. Coal oil, which at first sold in Vevay at $1.25 a gallon now sells for 60 cents. When a lamp is invented, so that chimneys may be dispensed with, a cheaper and better light need not be desired.
Messers Mead and Eblin, butchers, had a fine fiat bear, which was for sale, Christmas Eva and morning.
160 YEARS AGO
The steamer Rochester in attempting to land in a fog at Eagle Hollow near Madison last week struck a snag and sank in 10 minutes. Boat and heavy cargo were lost.
U. P. Schenck lost a hay boat in the ice at Shawneetown, Illinois.
Married December 21st, John F. Myers and Miss Josephine Schenck.
T. Jabers above Vevay is making vinegar out of the Chinese sugar cane.