News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team captured their second straight Lawrenceburg sectional title Saturday night with a victory over Rising Sun.
Residents throughout the 9th Congressional District in Indiana were stunned on Monday by Congressman Lee Hamilton’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in 1998. He has been in Congress since 1965 and is a living political legend in Southern Indiana.
The cold and flu season has struck a hard blow on Switzerland County in recent weeks, and local health officials are advising sufferers to get plenty of rest and let the virus run its course.
Plans by the Nine West Group, announced Wednesday, to close three of its production plants will have little effect on the Nine West plant in Vevay, according to company officials. The three plants that will be closed include Nine West’s Madison plant, and plants in Crothersville, Indiana, and Flemingsburg, Kentucky.
15 YEARS AGO
Nathan Christman, a fifth grader at Switzerland County Elementary School, won the Knights of Columbus Basketball Free Throw Shooting Contest in Madison recently, hitting 12 of 15 shots from the 12-foot line. He went to win district competition in Seymour last Saturday, hitting 21 of 25 shots, best in the 10-year-old division. He is the son of Kevin Christman and Debbie Christman, of Switzerland County.
Kenny Roberts, son of Bill and Virginia Roberts of Switzerland County, is on the dean’s list at the graduate school of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He is studying for a master’s degree in business administration and is also majoring in industrial engineering.
Amy Haskell was crowned Homecoming Queen at Switzerland County High School last Friday evening. Gary Cain was her escort.
20 YEARS AGO
Local 13573 of the United Steel Workers is still on strike at the Hilltop Basic Resources aggregate plant located near Patriot. According to George Miller, the company has not yet returned a proposal to the union.
Stacy Hocker was crowned 1987 Homecoming Queen. Molli Arvin was first runner up and Stacie Wilson was second runner up.
Midshipman Roger D. Hilligoss, route 1, Florence, was recently selected as 2nd Battalion honor board vice-chairman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He will graduate from the Academy in June, 1987, with a bachelor of science degree, a deck merchant marine license, and a U.S. Naval Reserve commission.
Vince A. Roberts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe A. Roberts, Vevay, received his B.S. degree in civil engineering (structures) from Purdue University at graduation ceremonies held Sunday, December 21st.
40 YEARS AGO
Miss DeVona Ann Kelley was among 31 student nurses receiving caps during ceremonies Friday evening at Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, Kentucky. Miss Kelley is a 1966 graduate of Vevay High School and is the daughter of Mrs. Nellie Kelley of Florence.
Seaman Apprentice Emery C. Finch, III, U.S. Coast Guard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Finch of 201 Market Street, Vevay, has completed eight weeks of Coast Guard basic training at the Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey.
Boilerman Technician Fireman Hobart W. Carver, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carver of rural route 1, Patriot, is in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet Attack Carrier Striking Group as a crew member aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Lawrence.
A highway bridge over Markland Dam has been designated by Vevay Kiwanis Club as the number one economic need for Switzerland County to avert a predicted 24 percent decline in county population in the next 20 years.
50 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Thelma Clark of Vevay announces the engagement of her daughter, Edna Pearl, to Mr. Jack Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spencer of Vevay. The bride elect is an employee at the U.S. Shoe Company. Mr. Spencer is a sophomore in the school of electrical engineering at Purdue University.
William “Bill” Olds has opened an auto body shop in Vevay located on Seminary Street. Advertised as “Bill’s Body Shop,” the new concern will do all repair and refinishing work.
Marvin Keller of Madison has bought the Kincaid Dairy business and took charge February 1st. Mr. Kincaid who operated the business for the past 11 years has no plans for the immediate future.
the proposed hydro-electric plant at Markland came a step nearer to reality Wednesday when it was released by the Federal Power Commission in Washington that the Public Service Company of Indiana has been granted a 10 month “preliminary permit” to study construction problems.
Elbert Lock has been appointed as the rural mail carrier for route four out of the Vevay post office, it has been announced. Former route four carrier Ben Welch retired last summer and since that time the position has been filled on a temporary basis by Don Allen of Vevay.
60 YEARS AGO
A 5 pound, 12 ounce baby girl was born early Monday morning to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Tapp at their home near Mount Sterling. She has been named Ella May.
A son was born Friday night, January 31st, to Mr. and Mrs. John Homola of near Braytown at King’s Daughters’ Hospital.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Everett Lewis of rural route 1, Brooksburg, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison Friday night.
Jack Burke, a lifelong resident of York Township, is critically ill at his home in Florence.
Three members in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Browning of Plum Creek were married when their daughter, Miss Beatrice Browning; son Robert Browning; and granddaughter, Miss Velma Lee Caseltine; all entered the bonds of wedlock.
The near hurricane winds of last week resulted in the unroofing of barns and similar damage in Switzerland County.
Mrs. Thelma Ogle of Vevay was guest soloist at the regular monthly meeting of the Orpheus Club in Aurora last Thursday night.
70 YEARS AGO
Following abandonment of the Light and Water Plant on lower Market Street, members of the Town Board are making arrangements to meet the emergency by installing a temporary electric service station in the rear part of the Dickason & Weales garage on Main Street.
The Ohio River has fallen to a gauge of approximately 25 feet. On Monday a half inch rain falling throughout the Ohio Valley caused a rise but following cold weather has resulted in a continuance of the fall.
The Patriot-Posey Schools are issuing an appeal for fourth and fifth grade books to replace those lost in the flood.
The County Commissioners at their regular session held on February 1st received a petition from Beecher Weaver and others for a road beginning on the Greenbriar Ridge Road and running 78.25 rods to the Dry Fork Road, over the lands of Weaver, Lizzie Higgins, John Orr, and the heirs of Flora Schenck.
Hog Run fill, east of Vevay, which was covered by flood waters, has been dangerous to travel since the waters receded.
The farm home of Elmer Krall on Tapps Ridge was completely destroyed by fire about 5 o’clock last Friday morning.
One of the strangest looking newspapers issued during the hardships imposed by the flood was a “hybrid” edition of the Madison newspapers, the Courier and the Herald.
80 YEARS AGO
Commissioner E. H. Brindley is recovering from a painful injury sustained January 8th.
A Ford coupe left at the LeClerc Garage in Mount Sterling Saturday, January 29th, was stolen in Indianapolis January 25th according to word received Monday by Sheriff William Cook.
90 YEARS AGO
A frame residence of the farm of Albert E. Dry, at Jay, occupied by Clifford Cole and family, was burned to the ground at 11 o’clock Monday morning.
The month of January was four degrees warmer than normal, the average daily temperature for the month being 35.5.
Announcement has just been made of the marriage of Miss Nettie Pelsor and Howard Nemier of Rising Sun.
William Jackson, one of the county’s best known and respected citizens, is lying seriously ill at his home on Indian Creek.
Mrs. Emma Ogle, living on Plum Creek, is recovering from a severe attack with her heart and a deep cut in the back of her head, which she received as the result of a fall last Saturday afternoon.
The home of Otis O’Neal, living southwest of Fairview, was destroyed by fire Friday morning at 4 o’clock, together with most of its contents, entailing a loss of about $1,500 upon which there was $835 insurance.
100 YEARS AGO
Announcement has been made of the approaching marriage of Miss Josie Drake of this city and Dale Orem of Kokomo. The wedding will occur in this city Tuesday morning, February 19th, immediately afterwhich they will leave for Kokomo where they will make their home.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clint Cole of Drakes Ridge, a son on January 27th.
Harvey Ferguson is very ill with appendicitis. His condition is such that he has given up his school and his brother Edwin will finish out the term.
J. B. Rochat has sold his property in Bennington to Carl Miles of Aaron who will occupy it the first of April.
Floyd Burroughs and Miss Grace Worstell, both of Mount Sterling, were married at the M.E. parsonage in this city last night at 8 o’clock, Reverend C. W. Lee officiating. They left for Cincinnati for a short wedding trip afterwhich they will be at home in Mount Sterling.
Miss Josephine Lamson entertained with a 6 o’clock dinner Saturday in honor of Miss Adah Hall, whose approaching marriage to Henri Rabb of Patriot was announced last week.
Miss Grace Griffith began her duties as teacher in the Ghent school Monday morning to fill the unexpired term of Miss Josie Drake.
120 YEARS AGO
Miss Anna Dow, daughter of Justi Dow of Craig Township, is very sick.
The barge “Vevay” belonging to Harwood & Shaw has been loaded with 1860 carrels of potatoes belonging to J. K. Pleasants and yesterday at noon was started for Louisville.
George Cotton who had a barber shop in Vevay and who removed to Madison has started a shop there.
130 YEARS AGO
Isaac Stevens has removed his grocery store into the corner room of Schenck’s new three-story brick building on Ferry and Pike streets.
Eli T. Ogle is engaged in the lumber business and has already made several heavy shipments.
Robert A. Knox has sold one of his farms in Craig Township to James W. Garner. It contains about 190 acres and brought $8,000.
Robert G. Langford and Miss Adeline Ross were married in Vevay January 25th.
James Shelley and Miss Margaret Durney, both of this county, were married January 31st by Esquire David Lee.
140 YEARS AGO
Our fellow townsmen E. T. Lindsey has gone into business with C. S. Weatherby in Cincinnati.
Last Monday while C. B. Lamson of Craig Township was crossing Indian Creek the ice broke and he fell into the water but was able to pull himself out without much difficulty.
Married February 3rd by Reverend J. K. Rye, Samuel W. Ferguson and Miss Sarah Muret.
150 YEARS AGO
John W. Wright, Esquire, State Representative from Switzerland County, has been very sick in Indianapolis.
Five thousand barrels of flour shipped from Lawrenceburg on a barge, towed by the steamer Switzerland, sunk in the Mississippi River a few days ago.
The Catholic convent at Oldenburg was consumed by fire a short time ago.
The citizens of Rockport propose to have a shipyard at their flourishing place.
152 YEARS AGO
Miss Roseanna Moore and F. J. Heath were married on December 24th.
“Some of the shippers at this place have just received returns from their recent shipments of hay to New Orleans. It sold for $17 per ton, which after paying charges is $6 per ton for hay that they paid about $12 for. Money making business, that!”
A coal boat sank on the head of the Vevay island Saturday and another below town.
Philip Golay is advertising that he is prepared to set Osage orange plants for hedges this Spring. He also has several thousand of the plants for sale.