News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
The Community Foundation of Switzerland County is proud to announce the recipients of the three 2001 Switzerland County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships. This year Switzerland County’s three scholarship winners are Clint May, Jeff Theetge, and Carrie Wiley.
Charles and Norma (Ricketts) Campbell of Madison will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary on March 23rd.
The old town barn on Jackson Street in Vevay is currently used by the town for storage; but the controversy over whether or not the barn will be torn down has caused several members of the community to look at different uses for the structure in order to save it from demolition. At Monday night’s meeting of the Vevay Town Council, resident Pete Furrnish spoke with the council about saving the barn. At its last meeting, the town council voted to have the barn demolished if Pete Furnish had not found needed funding to dismantle and relocate the barn by a deadline day of March 15th – today.
20 YEARS AGO
Several of Switzerland County’s elected officials, Jefferson Township resident John Shackleford, and office representatives of both the state and national levels of government met Friday of last week with the Indiana State Department of Transportation (INDOT) to discuss the future of State Highway 101. The group met in Indianapolis with INDOT’s Deputy Commissioner of Highway Development, Kathy Lyon, who told the group that INDOT lacks the funds to proceed with the proposed construction.
Gary Cain of route 3, Madison, won first place in the Indiana Wild Turkey Calling Contest, in the Junior division. The Junior Champion competed March 9th in Indianapolis. He also won the competition last year. He is the son of Chester and Nancy Cain.
30 YEARS AGO
Jenny Waters, 10th grade student at Switzerland County High School, placed fifth in a group of 11 participants in the AREA VII Conservation Public Speaking Contest. The Contest was held on the evening of March 6th at the Methodist Fellowship Hall in Versailles. She was the first county participant ever to place in this contest.
The Jim Cole family was presented with a plaque for their cooperation during the Raymond McClellan hostage crisis on Cogley Cole Road at the beginning of January. The Coles’ home was used as a command center by the police while they negotiated with McClellan. Presenting the award were Kenny Greves, public information officer and First Sergeant John Scudder, Versailles Post Commander.
Brian McSwain is one of the returning lettermen at Switzerland County High School in track this year. He is the school record holder in the 300 meter hurdles and Coach Scott Kegley says that McSwain has an excellent chance at the conference title in his event.
40 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Mary E. Branham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Means of Vevay, received an outstanding and sustained superior performance award for her work as a budget analyst in the Directorate of Requirements and Procurement in Washington, D.C. Brigadier General Frank A. Hinrichs, Director of Requirements and Procurement, presented the award.
Master Sergeant Clair G. Shaw, originally from Vevay and a former noncommissioned officer in charge at White Sands (New Mexico) Missile Electronic Warfare Technical Area of the Army Electronics Command, received the Army Commendation Medal from Lieutenant Richard T. Johnson, chief of the technical area, prior to his departure for his new assignment with the U.S. Forces Support District, Rheinland Pfalz, West Germany. Master Sergeant Shaw was cited for meritorious service at White Sands. He, his wife Jane, and daughter Nancy, 25, maintain a residence in El Paso, Texas.
Switzerland County High School’s music department will present its annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Swiss High gym. A special feature will be the all-county fifth grade and sixth grade bands in addition to the junior and senior high bands. The concert will mark the end of a winter-long tutoring program for the grade schoolers.
50 YEARS AGO
A 50th anniversary dinner was held in honor of George W. Reed and his wife, Bertha Reed, at the home of the couple’s son, Roger H. Reed.
Vevay Elementary School cagers blasted Rising Sun, 41-26, Saturday night at the Vevay gym to win the local junior high tournament championship.
A total of $1,281.75 was received by county workers in this year’s Heart Association fund drive in Switzerland County, according to Campaign Chairman Mrs. Cogley Cole, Jr.
The championship game of the local independent basketball tournament is scheduled for tonight at the Vevay High School gym.
60 YEARS AGO
Ivan and Doris Turner Allen are the proud parents of a new daughter born February 21st at the Milan Hospital. The little lady has been named Vickie Ann and weighed 7 pounds, 13 1/2 ounces on arrival.
Mrs. Mildred Peters of near Bear Branch last week received a telegram from the War Department notifying her that her son, Pfc. Leonard L. Peters had been wounded in action in Korea.
Miss Martha Hulley is convalescing from a severe attack of measles at her home near Bennington. Mrs. Sarah Mullen of near Moorefield has been employed in the office of Attorney C. R. Callis during her illness.
Flames, which are believed to have been caused by a spark from a trash fire, destroyed a century old barn at the home of Miss Josephine Lamson and her sister, Mrs. Mary Stevens on Main Street Friday afternoon.
Little Nicky Williamson, four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Williamson, miraculously escaped serious injury Monday when his hand and arm were pulled into the washing machine wringer at his home near Vevay.
70 YEARS AGO
William F. Krutz, retired merchant of Florence, passed away at home Monday evening. He had been in ill health for some time.
Wayne Clifford Speckman, 20 year old garage operator in Rising Sun, was killed outright Sunday when his car left the highway near that town and crashed into a tree.
The 13 Home Economics Clubs of Switzerland County are ordering tulip trees as a part of their State Home Economics Extension program which endeavors to familiarize the public with the knowledge that the tulip tree is our state tree.
Miss Doris Maxine Wood of Bennington and Melvin Pettit of Bennington were married Monday, March 10th, by Reverend Leland Courtney.
80 YEARS AGO
For the second time in basketball history the Vevay High School net team has brought to Vevay a sectional tournament victory. Vevay defeated Madison by a score of 19-12 in the final game after eliminating Central 35-25, Dupont 32-16 and Hanover 26-16.
By an act of the Indiana Legislature, Switzerland County has been made a part of the ninth congressional district.
The Cincinnati and Louisville Packet Company organized in 1807, the oldest boat line on the river, has filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in the Federal Court in Cincinnati.
Died near Aaron, March 6th, Isaac M. Goodner, 76. He is survived by the widow, son and daughter, a brother and two sisters.
90 YEARS AGO
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the Methodist parsonage at Moorefield Sunday noon while Reverend C. P. Hurt and his family were attending church at Ebenezer of which he is pastor.
Due to the failure of the last congress to pass an appropriation bill for river and harbor work all construction work at Dam 38 has been closed down. All men have been discharged and property installed will be taken care of by Mr. Prell at Dam 39. Dock McGuire of Vevay had been awarded a five year contract as steward and had already made quite an investment in supplies, including $100 worth of fresh meat.
Adronijah “Nige” Day, 72, died Sunday at his home near Fairview.
Frank Malcomson, 39, died Monday at his home in Craig Township after an illness diagnosed as typhoid fever.
100 YEARS AGO
The Vevay Commercial Club has been conducting a contest for a slogan. Roy Bunger of Florence has been declared the winner with “Vevay Bids You Welcome.”
The Vevay Creamery recently purchased by Henry Beckman, County Recorder, will open for business April 3rd in charge of Stephen McKay now with the Madison Creamery.
A barn belonging to John Bray in Craig Township was recently destroyed by fire.
A spelling contest was held at Vevay High School Friday afternoon to determine the ownership of a flag presented by Mr. E. V. Hawkins of Connersville. The seniors and juniors tied and were declared joint winners.
Fred Gurley of Posey Township who went west several weeks ago has taken up a claim in Arkansas of 160 acres. It adjoins the claim of Douglas North, also a Patriot boy.
120 YEARS AGO
Addison Works has moved his law office to C. V. Thiebaud’s building opposite the Courthouse.
Last week while the steamer, “Buckeye State” was passing Patriot one of her steam pipes gave way filling the boat with steam and badly scalding two firemen and an engineer. The men are not expected to recover.
Misses Flora and Allie Livings of Allensville have gone to Manhattan, Kansas to live.
There was a meeting of Pioneers of Harriman, Tennessee, last week including the following Vevay men, listed as such, O. S. Clendenning, W. D. Armstrong and C. G. Adams, Ed Detraz, Silas Told, John Anderson and others who have gone there were a few months too late to be there when the place was not a town one year ago.
Edward Park, Jr., of Craig Township went west a few weeks ago and has returned with a bride.
140 YEARS AGO
John S. Green has been appointed a constable for Posey Township.
John Banta who has been in Arkansas all winter, returned home last week.
Charley Thiebaud who has been attending a medical school in Philadelphia, returned to Vevay Friday.
William Pate and John S. Green have returned to the county after an absence of three years in Missouri.
There are 4,751 children in this county between the ages of 6 and 21 years. There are 72 school houses and their total value is $52,570. There are 55 Negro children.
The Vevay Furniture Factory employs 28 persons.
John Armstrong is building a blacksmith shop.