News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
It began with the rain – torrential, nonstop, record-setting rain, falling throughout the Ohio River Valley. For two full days and two full nights, it rained and it rained. In Switzerland County the rain started with a sudden storm late Friday night. In the next 24 hours it rained nearly seven inches, close to an all-time high. The river rose fast. By sundown Saturday evening, the river had risen 13 feet. By sundown Sunday evening, it had risen another 13 feet. Late Sunday night, the river went over the top of the Markland Dam. It is the worst flood on the Ohio River in 33 years.
Robin Turner, daughter of Randy and Donna Turner of Vevay, has graduated from Indiana State University. She earned an associate’s degree in nursing, and was among those students who finished their degree work in December. She is a 1994 graduate of Switzerland County High School.
15 YEARS AGO
Dean and Carolyn (Miller) Griffin, of Pleasant will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They were married March 1st, 1952, at minister Fred Griffith’s home in Vevay.
Tracy Miller, daughter of Norman and Karen Miller, River Road, is on the dean’s list at Ball State University.
Missy Ellegood, daughter of Wayne and Sandy Ellegood, Vevay, and Carol Tilley, daughter of Ralph and Jean Tilley, Vevay, are on the dean’s list at Indiana University, Bloomington.
Tom Stow won $800 at a Switzerland County High School basketball game February 22nd. At half-time of the Pacer-Madison game, he hit a basket from midcourt – that’s a long long-shot – to win the cash prize in an ongoing contest sponsored by the high school athletic department. At each Pacer home game, a lucky ticket holder gets to take the money shot. In five years, Tom Stow is the only one to make it.
20 YEARS AGO
Dwight and Christine McKenzie were crowned king and queen of the Switzerland Baptist Church’s love banquet Sunday, February 22nd.
The Switzerland County Chapter of Future Farmers of America have been participating in several different activities this past week. The local chapter conducted contests Wednesday, February 26th. Two distinguished winners this year were John Welch and Scott Kincaid.
30 YEARS AGO
A house of the future is being built in a tobacco patch on Popcorn Ridge. Heated by the sun, meticulously-planned for practical efficiency, it will soon be home for a young Ohio couple who plan to do some old-fashioned homesteading in their new-fangled house. They are Michael and Martha Schwarz. She’s a schoolteacher. His job right now is to build their new house. The home is futuristic in lots of ways.
Harold Vernon Robinson, 21, of route 3, Madison, was killed Saturday morning when his car went out of control on the River Road just east of Florence and plunged into the Turtle Creek embayment.
Jack Kidwell of Florence, a building contractor, suffered a double fracture of his leg Friday afternoon while working at a home near Mount Sterling. He fell about two stories when a scaffolding unit toppled.
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Griffin were pleasantly surprised Sunday afternoon at their home in Pleasant with a celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary.
40 YEARS AGO
Vevay’s Warriors got past the sectional’s two toughest teams but weren’t able to solve the shrewd defensive tactics of coach Bud Bateman’s unheralded Lawrenceburg Tigers and had to settle for second place in the Lawrenceburg tournament Saturday.
Guy S. Harris has been elected chairman of Patriot Emergency Unit’s board of directors. He replaces Fletcher N. Hufford who resigned after serving six years as chairman.
John Collier, former Vevay High School basketball coach and present Hanover College cage mentor, will be featured speaker at the annual banquet honoring VHS basketball squads.
Mr. and Mrs. A. Broadus Covington of Vevay have announced the engagement of their daughter, Loraine, to James L. Karn of Madison. A March 25th wedding is planned in West Lafayette.
Army Private Irvin E. Mountz, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merlyn Mountz of rural route 1, Patriot, completed advanced training as a combat engineer February 17th at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
50 YEARS AGO
Heart Fund volunteer workers collected a total of $171.00 in Vevay Sunday, according to chairman Mrs. Martha Truitt. Members of the Vevay Athletic Club and Delta Sigma Kappa sorority canvassed homes in the town, asking contributions to the fund.
Cleo, 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe leap of route 4, Vevay, was severely burned about her body, hair and hands Sunday afternoon when her clothing caught fire while she was toasting marshmallows over a fire in the yard of her home.
Mr. and Mrs. John McKenzie quietly observed their 65th wedding anniversary Wednesday, February 27th, at their home on Tell Street.
60 YEARS AGO
County Agent and Mrs. O. H. McNary were notified Tuesday afternoon that their daughter, Doris Anne, who is a student at Purdue University, escaped injury in the bleachers collapse disaster which occurred Monday night during the Wisconsin-Purdue basketball game at the field House.
Miss Freda Maxine Shadday became the bride of Harold Louis Coy, at the home of the officiating minister, the Reverend B. M. Winter, Saturday afternoon, February 22nd.
Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Adams of Indianapolis are the proud parents of a 7 pound, 12 ounce son born at St. Vincent Hospital February 12th. The youngster is a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Elik Adams of Bear Branch.
A 9 pound son was born Sunday morning, February 23rd, to Mr. and Mrs. Dillard Roberts at their home near Quercus Grove.
Everett Sellers of Friendship and Miss Dorothy Herin of Indianapolis were united in marriage by the Reverend L. S. Courtney at his home on West Main Street here last Saturday evening.
Mrs. Georgia Ballard and Lem Coy, both of near Bennington, were married Saturday, February 22nd, at the home of the officiating minister, the Reverend L.S. Courtney.
A 10 3/4 pound daughter was born Monday evening to Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Scudder (nee Mary Alice Knox) of Long run. The baby has been named Margaret Ann.
70 YEARS AGO
W. R. Houze of rural route 2, Vevay, has received notice of the confirmation of his appointment as permanent rural mail carrier on that route.
Last Thursday, February 25th, Mr. and Mrs. James Aldred, Sr., celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary with a 6 o’clock dinner.
Earl R. Scudder of Gallatin County, Kentucky, and Evelyn Sutton of Boone County, Kentucky, were united in marriage by the Reverend Fred S. Griffith here on March 1st.
Walter Moore of East enterprise was painfully injured at the W. E. Gaudin planing mill here Saturday when the middle finger of his left hand was almost severed by a rip saw.
Leonard Swango of Switzerland County and Miss Virginia Young of Madison were married Saturday afternoon by Justice C. B. Cotton as his home in Madison.
Miss Opel Marie Hatton, of rural route 3, Vevay, placed second in the state in the Farm Bureau Scrap Book Contest.
Charles Warner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Warner, of near Fairview, and Miss Eva McMakin, daughter of Jack McMakin of Cross Plains, were issued a marriage license here on February 27th and were married the same day by the Reverend Daes at the Methodist parsonage.
80 YEARS AGO
The home of Mrs. Ernest Rumbley (nee Eva Krummel) in South Bend was destroyed last week by fire.
Charles P. Morgan of St. Louis was in Vevay last week on business connected with the Farmers Telephone Company of this city.
Charles Burke, a former resident of this county, has rented rooms in the Chatline building near the Library on Ferry Street and on April 1st will open a modern power-equipped shoe repairing plant.
90 YEARS AGO
William O. Protsman was in Cincinnati Saturday at which time he closed a deal with the Leyman-Buick Company to represent them in Carroll County, Kentucky, the present season, and placed an order for a car load of Buicks for the earliest possible shipment.
Reverend S. V. Ward, well known Baptist minister, died at his home in Friendship Monday night. He was 83 years old and his death was due to the infirmities of age. Mr. Ward was a former resident of this county, living at Fairview, but moved to Friendship nine years ago.
100 YEARS AGO
Miss Eva Graham of this city has been entered as a contestant in the Commercial Tribune’s Jamestown Exposition contest.
Leopold Turner and Miss Cora Petit were united in marriage by the Reverend Charles Lee Tuesday at the M.E. parsonage.
Charles E. Cole and Miss Lillie R. Starks, a young couple from Bennington, were married in Warsaw, Kentucky last Wednesday.
A daughter was born last Thursday to Ol Bliss and wife of Allensville.
Percy Lyons, who carries the Patriot and Rising Sun mail, met with what might have resulted in a serious accident Wednesday morning while on his way to Rising Sun. His coal oil stove blew up, burning Mr. Lyons’ face and setting his wagon on fire, but luckily did not do any great damage.
Miss Addie See and Henry Stegemiller of Carmel Ridge were married February 23rd.
120 YEARS AGO
Walton D. Armstrong has been transferred from Lawrenceburg to Indianapolis for three months.
Joseph Ross and Miss Maggis S. Orr were married February 25th at the residence of the bride’s parents in Posey Township.
Benjamin L. Simmons has resigned his position on the wharfboat, Captain Turner’s son Charles has succeeded him.
Lawrence Taylor and Miss Emma Smith were married Wednesday, February 23rd, at the home of the bride’s parents near Moorefield.
130 YEARS AGO
Isaac M. Smith and Miss Lyda Twineham were married February 25th in the Methodist parsonage in Fairview.
Enoch Protsman has moved to a large stock farm near Eagles Station, Kentucky.
John F. Dow, Jr., has fitted up a neat room in the Kyle House on Main Street and laid in a large supply of groceries.
Honorable D. C. Branham, Senator from Jefferson County, died in Indianapolis February 26th.
140 YEARS AGO
Last week Patton & Black, Charlton & Heady, and Charles Norisez started flatboats loaded with produce south.
The enterprising citizens of Mount Sterling have established a first-class school at that place with the Reverend W. H. Gleason as superintendent.
The Vevay Business College under the management of Barlow & Wells affords a fine opportunity for the young people of Vevay to obtain a business education.
150 YEARS AGO
Married March 1st by David Lee, Esquire, Daniel Ward of Ohio County and Miss Adaline Mix of this county.
The immigration spirit is getting high in some parts of the county and several persons left Vevay for Nebraska during the last week.
The London Star of February 7th has the news that the Mississippi River was frozen over as far up as Pittsburgh.