News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
The newly-formed United Way of Switzerland County has been very successful in its fund raising efforts for its first year, and as the fund drive heads to a conclusion, more than $55,000 has already been pledged. Along with those funds, the group will receive a matching grant from the Lilly Endowment Corporation of $25,000; meaning that more than $80,000 will be available this year to help and assist county groups and organizations.
Belterra Casino Resort and its employees have been a big supporter of the new United Way of Switzerland County. Belterra has made a $25,000 corporate donation to the organization; and Belterra employees have pledged another $20,000 in funds. Recently, Belterra presented a $45,000 check symbolizing both those donations.
Ed and Carolyn Lohide of East Enterprise will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house hosted by their family this Sunday, February 18th.
20 YEARS AGO
Several individuals from Switzerland County joined Madison’s parade held last Saturday to show support for the troops in the Middle East. The parade, which was down Main Street, brought several thousand people together on the chilly day.
Angela Heath of Vevay was one of 90 students named to the Dean’s List at the University of Indianapolis for the Fall 1990 semester.
30 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County School Corporation Transportation Director Roy W. “Pete” Gray, 56, died Friday at King’s Daughters’ Hospital of cancer. He had served as transportation director for the last year and a half and had been on sick leave because of health problems since the middle of December. He also owned and operated the Swiss Inn for several years.
40 YEARS AGO
Pfc. Barry Lynn Brinegar, 19, of route 1, Patriot, was killed while on a military mission in Vietnam February 8th. He was serving with C Battery, 611th Artillery, Americal Division, U.S. Army. He is the son of Mrs. Douglas McNeely of route 1, Patriot.
Cliff Robinson of route 3, Vevay, is among 239 Georgetown (Kentucky) College students qualifying for the B honor roll during the first semester of the current academic year. The honoree’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Robinson of route 3, Vevay. A 1967 graduate of Vevay High School, Robinson is a senior at Georgetown.
Colin Leatherbury, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Leatherbury of route 2, Vevay, has been selected to serve as a page during the 97th Indiana General Assembly in Indianapolis. He was appointed by Ed Goble and Gary Butler, joint state representatives for this area.
50 YEARS AGO
Public Service Company of Indiana today announced plans for extensive additions to the utilities service, with work to begin in May or June. Foremost among the new facilities will be an increased substation in Vevay.
The hoped-for happened! Vevay Warrior fans, still smarting from a dismal 4-17 won-lost record for the season got their wish yesterday when their team drew Patriot in the opening round of the sectional tournament.
Switzerland County’s burley tobacco acreage allotment for 1961 has been raised approximately 92 acres due to the recent 6 percent allotment increase. Harrison Adams, office manager of Switzerland County’s Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation office, said the 92-acre figure is pending consideration of allotments of less than .09 acres.
Switzerland County elementary schools have been distributed $60,717.40 by the State of Indiana under the Minimum Foundation Program for Education for the 1960-61 school year.
Airman Dorman G. Hysell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hysell of route 1, Florence, has completed his initial course of Air Force basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas. He has been selected to attend the technical training course for Communications Center Specialist at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
The promotion of Ralph W. Tilley of Vevay to captain in the Air Force Reserve was announced this week. Tilley, an employee of the Vevay Deposit Bank, serves with Flight B, Air Reserve Squadron 9595, at Madison.
Charles Thomas, 51, truck driver for Charles Pratt’s Service Express has recently completed 25 years of driving without a chargeable accident.
60 YEARS AGO
The Karl Bennett truck struck a light pole last Friday evening while traversing an alley between Greeley Avenue and Pearl Street.
At the regular meeting of the board of directors of the First National Bank in Vevay, which was held Tuesday, E. S. Furnish was elected to fill the vacancy on the board created by the recent death of James S. Wright. Mr. Furnish resides in Vevay where he owns a shoe store and where he is a G. I. education instructor.
Louis F. Cole, a well known shoe merchant of Vevay, died suddenly at his home on West Pike Street here Tuesday evening, from the effect of a heart attack.
70 YEARS AGO
Garland Auxier of Corydon assumed his duties here last week as Farm Security Administrator, replacing A. T. Mace, who recently resigned.
Circuit Court convened here Monday with Judge Harry E. Nichols of Madison occupying the bench for the first time.
Dr. L. H. Bear moved his office this week from the Thiebaud property on Main Street, purchased recently by Dr. G. E. Ellerbrook, into rooms in the Wiseman building on Main Street. Dr. Bear had occupied his former office for 45 years.
Little Aaron Leroy Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Scott of Markland was taken to an Indianapolis hospital last week where a bean, which he was thought to have swallowed a month ago, was removed from his lungs. He is getting along nicely.
Vevay readers of Look magazine recognized a familiar face when a large picture of James Gridley, playing on the Indiana University varsity basketball squad, was prominently displayed. Gridley, now a senior, has made outstanding advancement with the team the past two years.
80 YEARS AGO
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Raisor in Mount Sterling, Monday evening, February 10th. The family was absent at the time and all the contents of the house were lost.
The first rain for many weeks fell in Switzerland County over the weekend. A rainfall of 1.03 was recorded.
Miss Claribel Turner of the Florence school was declared the winner in the county spelling contest sponsored by the Louisville Courier Journal and Times. She was one of 16 contestants.
Hubert, Jr., the two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Emery of near Patriot, died at his home there from burns received when his clothing became ignited while playing with matches. The parents and a sister survive.
90 YEARS AGO
Harry Scudder of near East Enterprise broke his hip Thursday when he was thrown from his wagon while hauling tobacco to Carrollton.
The wagon skidded when it struck a railroad track there. Mr. Scudder was placed on the mail boat after medical aid and was brought to Markland, later being taken to his home.
A son of Tom Smith of Craig Township received a broken arm Thursday when the horse which Mrs. Smith was driving ran away and the boy was thrown from the buggy.
The Moorefield band was organized recently and appeared at a banquet at the Ebenezer Church Saturday night.
Miss Elizabeth Brockschlager and Miss Mary Miller were hostesses to a dinner party given at the Brockschlager home Tuesday evening in honor of the high school basketball team. Guests were coach, Lloyd Allen, Russell Pickett, Robert Archer, Edwin Pangburn, Emerson Hickman, Harold Benedict, Claude Dunwoodie, Eldo Scudder and Alfred Day.
100 YEARS AGO
Dick Ridgeway, who resided on a shanty boat near the mouth of Indian Creek shot and killed Mrs. Rebecca Chard, shot and injured her husband, L. W. Chard, and then killed himself.
Miss Shirley Lamson of Craig Township won the county spelling contest which was held at Markland. Miss Ruth Bellamy of Craig Township and Miss Helen McHuron of Patriot tied for second place.
Little Perle North of Posey Township broke two bones in her arm Saturday while playing.
William Rea of Patriot has entered his sidewheel boat in the Patriot and Aurora Trade. He leaves Patriot every morning at 6, returning at 6 p.m.
The alumni of Patriot High School will present the play entitled “The Hoosier Schoolmaster” next week.
120 YEARS AGO
John Farrell, 14-year-old son of Hannibal Farrell, of near Bennington, fell while coming down a barn ladder and fractured his arm.
Patriot is becoming quite a port, as two vessels lay there each evening – the Ghent, running to Carrollton, and the Sandy, which recently entered the Patriot-Lawrenceburg trade.
William Gockel has bought the sawmill of Hiram Elliott at Patriot and the dwelling and land belonging to it.
Born February 11th, a son Chester Earl, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sieglitz.
A daughter was born this week to Mr. and Mrs. Charley Markland, Jr., of Markland.
140 YEARS AGO
Will W. Long has been appointed agent for the Weed Sewing Machine in Switzerland and Ohio counties.
G. E. Pleasants, 71, died Wednesday at his home here. He was born in Philadelphia but came to Vevay when 20 years old and opened a dry goods and grocery business in a brick building standing where the LeClerc House now is. Later he built a brick building on Main Street. When he retired he was succeeded by his sons, Samuel and James. He was married to Miss Ann Kirby of Cincinnati and is survived by nine children.
The heirs of Daniel McCreary of York Township have received from the “Masonic Mutual Benefit Society” the sum of $2,383.35.
Reverend T. W. Beagle of the Baptist church baptized three persons in the river Sunday.
150 YEARS AGO
Special dispatches to the Cincinnati Gazette state that the whole plan of attacking Fort Sumter has been arranged. The secessionists will plant their guns at Mount Pleasant in a place not commanded by any guns mounted at Fort Sumter. They thus expect to make a breach in the walls of the fortress in less than 24 hours. The assault will then be made in boats under cover of the night. The regular dispatches yesterday afternoon mention a rumor that the attack had been made.
The rapid equipment of several light vessels of the navy is carried on in order that a useful coast guard may be at hand in case of necessity.