News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
Jim and Betty Shannon of Vevay will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 22nd.
Denny Markland of Vevay passed away Saturday, July 7th, at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. He will be remembered as a teacher in the Switzerland County School System for 38 years, teaching chemistry, biology, physics and general science. As a historian, Denver Markland will be remembered here in Switzerland County as a man who worked hard to preserve history. He was the acknowledged expert on the creation and workings of the hay press, which was invented here in Switzerland County during the prime of river traffic.
Sue Armstrong and Aldean Wiley were honored as Mrs. Switzerland County at the 4-H Fair. Their long time contributions to the county fair, 4-H, and youth in general are traits they both share.
A total of 114 different buyers – one more than last year – spent $108,720 – $16,505 less than last year – at Saturday’s livestock auction at the Switzerland County 4-H Fair.
20 YEARS AGO
The Always A River barge, a floating museum of Ohio River history and culture, arrived in Vevay at 11 o’clock Wednesday morning – right on time. The barge will be open to the public Thursday from noon to 9, and from 9 to 9 Friday through Sunday. The barge tied up at the Vevay ferry landing, with the assistance of Vevayites Denver Markland, Matt Schmitt and Randy Sloan.
Michelle Green has graduated from Hanover College. She is the daughter of Galen and Billie Green of Tapps Ridge.
Marla Devers of Switzerland County has graduated from Hanover College. She is the daughter of Owen and Marilyn Devers of near East Enterprise.
30 YEARS AGO
Carla Armstrong raised the Grand Champion Steer at this year’s 4-H Fair. The Reserve Champion Steer was raised by Shanna Armstrong.
The murder trial of Switzerland County resident Raymond McClellan has been moved to December 14th in Louisville. McClellan, 49, is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Martin Heath, son of Mrs. Virginia Heath of Mount Sterling, and the late James D. Heath, has been promoted to Captain in the U.S. Army, Armored Division, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
40 YEARS AGO
Winning achievement trophies as the top 4-H Club boy and girl of 1971 in Switzerland County were Mike Archer and Carla Harsin. Archer won four sweepstakes trophies in addition to the achievement trophy. Miss Harsin had two sweepstakes trophies in addition to her outstanding girl award.
The summer reading program at Switzerland County Public Library in Vevay and the library’s stations will end Friday with children to have their books in by that date in order to have them counted in the program. A party for participants having read 10 or more books will be held at the library at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Miss Joanne Scudder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Scudder of route 1, Florence, is among 872 students achieving academic distinction by being named to the honor roll at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
Switzerland County High School cheerleaders Beverly Kelley, Dinah Lock, Diana Rucker, Diane Konkle and Debbie Morton recently attended a cheerleader workshop at Vincennes University.
50 YEARS AGO
J. C. Warner of the USS Bennington is spending a leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Warner of Bethel Ridge, and other relatives here. The young man has reenlisted in the Navy for six years after serving for 10 years in that service. He is attached to the Bennington in a helicopter anti-submarine unit and will return to California for further assignment to duty on August 14th.
Heavy rains in the Vevay vicinity continued during the past week with 2.03 inches precipitation being recorded by Robert Riggs, official U. S. climatological weather observer.
Tragedy and near tragedy marred the local weekend with an automobile collision and an electrical storm administering the primary punishment. The death-dealing collision occurred at 2:30 o’clock Saturday morning as two youths were killed and three other persons injured on state road 56 near Lamb. Killed instantly in the Lamb accident were Freddie Scudder, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julian Scudder, route 4, Vevay, and Charles Wilson, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, route 1, Vevay.
Lack of public interest and support was cited as the major explanation for failure of proposed expenditures for a concrete ramp to the ferry landing to be included in the 1962 Vevay town budget. The item was included in the first draft of the Vevay Town Board’s proposed budget, but was dropped last Monday night when representatives of the original proposal failed to appear to back the proposal.
Linda Heath, 16-year-old Patriot beauty, will reign as queen during the three-day Switzerland County 4-H Fair, opening today in Vevay. In addition to county royalty, Linda will be eligible to enter beauty competition in the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis next month.
Buddy L. Burton of Petersburg has been hired to serve as coach of Patriot High School athletic teams during the 1961-62 school year, Edward Gray, Patriot superintendent, announced this week.
60 YEARS AGO
Lieutenant Ralph Tilley left Wednesday for Wright-Patterson Air Base near Dayton, Ohio, where he will be stationed with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Lieutenant Tilley who graduated in June from Indiana University, received his military training in the ROTC there and has been assigned to the headquarters of the Air Material Command.
The Vevay fire department was called to the home of Mrs. Martha Truitt Sunday afternoon to extinguish a blaze which resulted when a bucket of cleaning fluid, in which some paint brushes were soaking, ignited and was turned over on the floor when an attempt was made to carry it out of doors. Mrs. Truitt succeeded in extinguishing the flames before the fire company arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lamkin have sold their property in Patriot to James Creech. Possession to be given in 15 days. The sale was made by the Earnest Courtney Real Estate Agency.
Mr. and Mrs. Clem Ambrose and Mrs. Clarence Brown and children escaped with minor cuts and bruises Tuesday afternoon when a tire on the Ambrose automobile blew out and it turned over several times. The accident occurred a short distance west of Vevay as the party was en route to Spring Branch. The car was considerably damaged and a wrecker was summoned to pull it into town.
70 YEARS AGO
The terrific thunderstorm that swept over the county Friday, left a path strewn with property and other damages. The worst damage was done by lightning at the Walker farm near Quercus Grove. A large tree at the County Infirmary blew over and crashed into the rear of the building.
Evidently having found more conveniences in town that the county affords, a pair of opossums have taken up their abode in an unused cupboard in a spare basement room at the home of Mrs. Emma Turner of Market Street. Mrs. Turner noted the pair in their spacious nest of leaves about a year ago. Upon visiting the basement room last week she found Mrs. Opossum had installed three baby opossums in her home.
Max Searcy, a former resident of Patriot, was drowned in the Cumberland River at Cumberland Gap Friday evening.
80 YEARS AGO
Percie Merritt, aged 24 years, of New Albany was killed instantly and his companion, William Davis, who lived in Jeffersonville, was severely injured when their car left the road and crashed near the home of Earl Shaw early Sunday morning.
Miss Lela Trafelet was appointed county attendance officer to succeed Mrs. Mary Scott, whose term expires August 1st, by the county board of education, at their meeting Friday night.
Joseph Trinkle of Vevay was almost fatally injured while working on the U.S. towboat Sciolo, near Coney Island, Ohio.
One hundred and twenty-five Baptist Hymnals, plus a pulpit edition have been given to the church by Miss Fannie Shadday.
The governor of Kentucky has named Dr. C. E. Palmer of Louisville, son of Ezra Palmer of Posey Township, as a member of the Kentucky Board of Veterinarians.
The wheat crop in Indiana was reported on July 1st as the highest figures since crop report were begun in 1866, with a yield of 22 bushels for the entire state.
90 YEARS AGO
The dramatic society of Moorefield will give a play at the auditorium Wednesday, July 27th, entitled the “Valley Home.”
Charles Fisher and Pilot Pearson of Cincinnati spent Thursday and Friday in Vevay, having come by airplane to advertise a brand of automobile tires. Persons desiring to make a trip into the air in the machine were given an opportunity for a stated sum, but only tow, Leon Buschman and Noble Butler, ventured up.
The village of Center Square was almost wiped out Tuesday afternoon by at $20,000 fire caused by lightning, when the general store, cream station and home of Artemus Scudder were consumed. A barn belonging to Cotton Webb, about a mile distance was struck at the same time and with its contents including a horse and three hogs were also destroyed.
Mr. William Bennett, who recently moved here from Craig Township, last week purchased the meat shop of Sam Lock on Main Street and opened it for business Friday.
Price’s Columbia Showboat will be in Vevay August 3rd where it will present a comedy “Bringing Up A Husband.”
Two attempts to rob the home of Earl Brown on Main Street were made Saturday night but were frightened away by Mr. Brown.
100 YEARS AGO
Fernbank Dam has been completed and the gates were opened on Saturday morning to receive the first river craft.
E. A. Findley, formerly of the Reveille-Enterprise, was elected president of the Middletown, Ohio Typographical Union.
The George Clendenning grocery on lower Main Street has been purchased by Grant E. Mennett.
The old Deposit Bank Building was sold to Avery Graham who will open a modern confectionery.
Ten barrels of road oil were put on the city streets.
Thomas Gordon and a crew are tearing down and rebuilding the north end of the kitchen of the Williams hotel.
A fine set of harness was stolen from a barn on the Brindley farm above Vevay.
The river being so low, the streamer Lizzie Bay, was in the trade in place of the Louisville Sunday.
In ten more days watermelons will be ripe.
Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Griffith have recently installed an acetylene lightning plant in their country home and also in their barns. The time is near at hand when modern lighting plants will be installed in many of the homes in the country.
120 YEARS AGO
Joseph Hart is very ill at his home near Vineyard.
Will Manning, while extracting a cartridge from a revolver was accidentally shot in the finger.
Sam Acre has moved his blacksmith shop from Aaron to Dewberry.
Joe Waldenmaier and Fred Deman are visiting at Niagara Falls.
Mr. W. J.Baird, editor of the Reveille, left Monday night for a visit in the east.
Thomas Lincoln, aged 18 years, universally known at “Tad”, youngest son of the late President Abraham Lincoln, died in Chicago July 15th, shortly after his return from Europe with his mother.
150 YEARS AGO
“The news of the disaster to the Federal army at Bull Run caused a deep gloom to come over the hearts of the loyal citizens.”
“A portion of the federal army advanced toward Manassas, Virginia, causing the enemy to flee before it until they were driven to within a few miles of the place where a desperate battle was fought, lasting about nine hours.
Finally our forces retreated to Centreville. At 2 o’clock in the morning the retreat from Centreville was commenced and was maintained in good order to Arlington Heights and Alexandria. The army, in its retreat left behind a large amount of provisions and ammunition and about 40 army wagons fell into the possession of the rebels. As far as our troops retreated their positions were occupied by the rebels, until after Fairfax court house was passed, after which the pursuit was not continued.”
“General McClellan has been summoned by the government from Western Virginia to repair to Washington to take command the army of the Potomac. General Rosecrans taken his place in command of the army is Western Virginia.”
“Switzerland County now has three companies of volunteers, one in camp at Madison, one in camp at Indianapolis, and a cavalry company here, raised for the war. In addition Switzerland County has enough volunteers scattered in different companies to make a company. As there are probably not more than 2,000 men liable to military duty in the county one of every four has volunteered. Perhaps no county in the state has done as well in furnishing volunteers.”
“The 7th Indiana regiment, Colonel Dumont’s, has returned to Indiana. The regiment is to be reorganized immediately. We hope all our Switzerland County boys will come home and go into a home company, if they desire to return to the conflict.”