News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
Faced with a growing animal control problem here in Switzerland County, the county commissioners on Monday officially adopted an animal control ordinance that will serve as the first step toward eventually constructing and maintaining an animal shelter here.
The Switzerland County Sheriff’s office booked in 390 prisoners during 2000 and answered 1,130 emergency calls to 911. Through the first two months of 2001, the department has booked in 71 prisoners and answered 115 emergency calls. All of that activity is creating a quite heavy workload of the five dispatchers in the Switzerland County Sheriff’s office; and at Monday’s meeting of the Switzerland County Commissioners, Sheriff Wayne Browning said that he is looking for ways to increase the dispatching staff.
The Dow Corning Corporation Foundation has made a $25,000 donation to the Switzerland County YMCA. The funds will be used toward the construction of the facility, which is located at the intersection of State Roads 129 and 56. The facility is due to open this fall.
The Kiwanis Club of Vevay presented a Tablet of Honor to Jack Sullivan at the club’s Valentine’s Day party of February 14th. The award was in recognition of his many years of service and commitment to the community, Kiwanis, and the world. This recognition was made possible by the club’s contribution – in Jack Sullivan’s name – to the Kiwanis International Foundation Worldwide Service Project to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders. The Tablet of Honor is the highest honor that can be bestowed to an individual by the Kiwanis International Foundation. Past Governor Don Canaday was on hand to make the special presentation.
20 YEARS AGO
The Hoosier Theater kicks off its new season the weekend of March 22nd with the play “Who Am I This Time?” by noted Indiana author Kurt Vonnegut. Based on his bestselling book, “Welcome to the Monkey House,” the play-within-a-play seems particularly well-suited to the Hoosier.
The condition of Switzerland County’s rural road bridges is beginning to haunt the county commissioners and the county highway department alike as deadlines to repair them draw closer.
Kristal Kelly of Switzerland County received a trophy last Wednesday night for being named Most Valuable Player for the Ohio River Valley Conference.
The Jeff-Craig Volunteer Fire Company is celebrating 37 years of service to the community. In 1954, Robert Brooks, Trustee of Jefferson Township, and Edward Boggs, Trustee of Craig Township, called a meeting to organize a company of 10 men.
30 YEARS AGO
Dilver B. Oak, Vice President of Vevay Deposit Bank, retired March 1st, 1981. He was associated with the former East Enterprise State Bank as Executive Vice President and with the Vevay Deposit Bank as Vice President and Manager of the East Enterprise Branch. Mr. Oak has served the bank for 12 years in all phases of its operation. Mrs. Mary Archer has been promoted to Manager, East Enterprise Branch and Mrs. Patricia Works to Assistant Manager.
Four representatives of the Switzerland County Junior Conservation Board were on hand to present two of their projects to the adult Soil and Water Conservation District Board at the latter group’s March 3rd meeting. One of the projects built by the students was a composite topographic map of the entire county attached to a bulletin board backing to allow map pins to be used with it. The other was a sign for use by the district conservationist and the conservation technician at construction sites around the county to inform the public of what sort of project is under way.
40 YEARS AGO
Bonnie L. Crandell has been named 1971 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow for Switzerland County High School being chosen on the basis of her score in a written knowledge and aptitude examination.
Leonard Lock of Switzerland County will portray a young man in a fine arts production of Neil Simon’s “Sweet Charity” at Ottawa (Kansas) University. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lock of route 1, Vevay.
Leonard Rucker of Hope has been awarded $5,000 by Cummins Engine Company of Columbus for which Rucker works as an engine test equipment repairman. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Rucker of route 1, Vevay. The award was for his suggestion to simplify engine mounting in test cells, a method which reduces hook-up and disconnect time.
Rick Blodgett of route 1, Vevay, is among 127 students pledged to six social fraternities during formal winter rush activities at Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute.
50 YEARS AGO
Constance A. Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest E. Brown, of Vevay, is among 636 Indiana University freshmen who achieved a “B” or better grade average in their first semester of college work.
Mr. and Mrs. George Meeks have moved from the Leland Wiley farm to a trailer on the Middleton property.
Dr. and Mrs. Harold Griffith and their family will leave March 9th by jet plane for Los Angeles, California, to visit in that state and will attend a Radiologists’ convention. They will be gone until March 20th.
More deer are expected to be released in Switzerland County within the next 60 days, according to County Conservation Officer Joe Backer. Backer said present plans call for 40-50 deer to be released near the mouth of Bear Creek. He expects delivery within two months, but feels the animals will definitely arrive before summer ends.
The river’s falling, but. Slowly the Ohio River has been falling and is expected to continue to do so, unless more rain falls. However, weather forecasters feel that while some rain this weekend is entirely possible, no serious rise is expected locally in the river or surrounding tributaries.
60 YEARS AGO
Corporal Nelson Hambrick, a member of the famous Chipyoung garrison that was hemmed in for several days by four Chinese divisions, has been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, in a citation from the 23rd Infantry Headquarters dated February 12th.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Brown of Vevay quietly observed their 56th wedding anniversary Saturday at their home on Main Street.
Raymond Keith has traded his farm near East Enterprise to Morris McKee in exchange for the latter’s general store in Mount Sterling. Mr. Keith and his family and Mr. and Mrs. McKee moved to their respective new homes on Friday.
Richards and Courtney report the following real estate transactions during the past week. Mr. and Mrs. James Tague sold a 50-acre tract of land on Plum Creek to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hyde of Center Square. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Peters sold a 72-acre tract of land on the hill above the Plum Creek church to David Bliss of Vevay.
70 YEARS AGO
Leon C. Buschmann was appointed Chief of the Vevay Fire Company, by the Town Board Monday evening. The appointment was made to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Willis Jackson some time ago.
A wild deer, believed to be wounded, was seen on the farm of Loren Lamson, below Vevay Wednesday morning. The animal was seen by several persons when it cross the highway, headed toward the river.
Miss Dorothy Hall assumed her duties as County Health Nurse here Tuesday.
Fred C. Baatz, farmer of York Township, passed away at his home in Florence Monday morning.
Mrs. Mary Stoops, aged 31 years, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Fred Miller in Patriot Sunday night.
Mrs. Ernest Leap, resident of Pendleton Run, passed away at King’s Daughters’ Hospital following a period of ill health.
80 YEARS AGO
Announcement is made of the approaching marriage of Emmett Danner of Vevay and Miss Helen Cripe of Madison.
Vevay drew Central in its first game of the sectional tournament to be held in Madison March 6th and 7th.
Switzerland County’s quota of $400 in the $10 million drive being made by the National Red Cross was completed in the closing days of the campaign and a total of $416.43 was secured.
Died on February 27th in Louisville, Kentucky, Ernest Lee, the two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Higgins of near Bennington, after an illness of more than three weeks. The parents, grandparents, and a sister survive.
90 YEARS AGO
A shipment of 10 rifles for the Edwin C. Danner Post of American Legion arrived last week from Rock Island Arsenal. The rifles will be used as equipment for the firing squad, which is shortly to be organized.
William “Bill” Noble, 57, who was a river man all of his life, died Sunday at the home of his son, Shirley, in Newport, Kentucky, after a week’s illness. Noble was the first mate on the steamer Hubbard. He was the son of Oliver Noble, also a steamboat man, and was born in Vevay. A brother, Alonzo, resides at Florence.
Several farms have changed hands recently. Marion Brindley sold his farm of 63 acres at Braytown to Matthew Roeder of Jefferson County. Otis Adams bought a valuable farm in Jefferson County on Pleasant Ridge.
Fairview relatives have received word of the death of Mrs. Ollin Carlin of St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of T. W. Holmes and wife, formerly of Fairview.
100 YEARS AGO
Died suddenly at his Market Street home on February 24th, George S. Pleasants, prominent lawyer and state legislator of this city.
In the recent election, Jefferson Township voted dry and Vevay voted wet by a 15 vote majority in one precinct only.
Detraz Brothers have completed a new motor boat for Edward LeClerc.
The two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hatch is receiving rabies treatments for dog bites received two weeks ago.
The will of Dick Ridgeway, who was killed recently, was found tucked in his wallet this week while his belongings were under examination. It read, “One John bote, one sein, and all fish tackle, 2 overcoats, 1 cook stove, and everything I got, for Tude Brown. Dick Ridgeway. I have bin dun bad, Poote mee out at Zion. Bad woman cas.” It confirms the statement made by Mr. Brown at the time of the tragedy, that Ridgeway had told him of a letter which would be left for him.
120 YEARS AGO
Carroll C. Cotton of Moorefield graduated from the University of Louisville medical school. He is the son of Perry K. Cotton.
The new directors of the Vevay-Mount Sterling turnpike are A. J. Schenck, Amie Rous, David Lee, Asa Newton, David Armstrong, Philander Morrison, C. S. Tandy, W. P. Craig and Edward Shull. Asa Newton was employed to succeed Henry Hatch at the Vevay tollhouse.
The 70th birthday of Mrs. Hannah Riley was celebrated February 28th at Bennington.
Several mad dogs were killed in Vevay last week. A little girl of Frank Shaw was chased through the street by one of the dogs until she took refuge in the streets.
Fredonia Baptist Church has just concluded a revival with 52 additions. Thirty-two of them were baptized Wednesday.
Robert A. Knox left Monday for Marysville, Missouri, to attend to some civil legal business and to look after some land he owns near that city.
Mad dogs in the Aaron community have bitten a horse, cow, and hogs belonging to Elwood Turner, two sheep of Mose Osborn and several other dogs.
G. N. Reeves has sold his store in Markland to Mr. Leatherbury who will take possession in April.
140 YEARS AGO
Vevay is overrun with rats.
George W. Teats is fitting up a flat boat and will soon load it for the South.
The majority of the county schools have closed for the season.
C. W. Heath has resigned as county clerk because of poor health. Alfred Rous has been appointed by the commissioners to fill the vacancy.
At a recent meeting of the Vevay Fire Company, N. LeClerc was elected president; W. G. Shaw, vice president; George Grammer, treasurer; H. D. Banta, captain; A. M. Russell, first lieutenant; and Fred Finnup, second lieutenant.
150 YEARS AGO
We are indebted to the telegraph operator in Vevay for the following glorious news: Washington, D.C., February 27th – The peace conference yesterday passed the Franklin plan of adjustment and has adjourned, and the delegates from the border states are satisfied, except Virginia; it does not like it but says Virginia will not secede. General Scott has ordered a salute of 100 guns in honor of the compromise.
Governor Pickens has established martial law over a portion of South Carolina.