News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
The 30th Swiss Wine Festival began its festivities Saturday night with the crowning of the Edelweiss Princess. Winners were: Edelweiss Princess Chrissy Turner; First Runnerup Natasha Duke; Second Runnerup Casie Campbell; Third Runnerup Tiffany Wiechering; and Miss Congeniality Colleen O’Sullivan. The Swiss Wine Festival is set for August 23rd-26th at the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park.
The Switzerland County FFA has long been recognized as one of the most outstanding chapters in the entire country. That tradition continued this week when advisor Greg Curlin was notified that the chapter has earned another national honor. The chapter received a letter from the National FFA organization that it has eared distinction as a “Model of Innovation” National finalist in the National Chapter A ward program. Switzerland County FFA members Kodi Archer and Jeremy Armstrong will now begin to prepare to represent the chapter at a 15-minute face to face interview with the judges that will take place at the National FFA convention being held in Louisville in October.
The Switzerland County Historical Society is now the proud owner of one of the five remaining Mormon Hay Presses in this county – thanks to the help of the late Denver Markland.
20 YEARS AGO
Tom Cornell of Patriot won a silver medal at the International Summer Special Olympics and a ribbon for his team’s fourth-place finish in the 4×100 relay.
Switzerland County officials have received word that the county and the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation will receive a $22,500 grant to perform a county-wide housing study. The study, which will be done by the Foundation staff, will provide information on low- and moderate-income housing needs and determine possible resources to meet those needs.
Construction of the new Switzerland County Public Library is right on schedule as they begin to put up the interior walls, according to Librarian Lois Rosenberger. She said the construction crew has not run into any major problems and expects the job to be finished just after the first of the year. She added that the fund raising for furnishing the library is also coming along, and donations of all sizes are welcome.
30 YEARS AGO
Conservation Officer Joe Backer discovered a patch of wild marijuana growing near Lamb over the weekend. After a quick harvest job, he burned the wild pot at the U.S. Shoe Factory incinerator. Backer, who was scheduled to retire on August 31st, will now be working through September, said the pot apparently was growing in the wild. He said that during World War II hemp plants were grown in the area to manufacture rope and patches growing in the wild are occasionally found growing in areas near where the hemp plants were grown.
More than 1,000 people turned out for the Bennington Homecoming Saturday. Pansy Peters, 6, Bennington, took the top prize in the turtle race, beating out 34 other turtles with her entry. Betty Bovard, emcee, awarded Pansy the $10 first prize.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Brett, Indianapolis, formerly from this area, will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a reception Saturday, September 12th, at the Englewood Christian Church, Indianapolis.
40 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Graham Ralston, Mr. and Mrs. Rowin Hartman, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Leap, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Grimes, and Tina Allen were all Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Adams to help them celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nay were afternoon callers.
A $20 counterfeit bill was passed by an as yet unidentified source Monday at First National Bank of Vevay and was detected by bank officials with the Secret Service being called into the case. Deputy sheriff Wayne Browning said the sheriff’s office was summoned when the bill was detected and that office in turn called in the enforcement arm of the U.S. Treasury Department.
The Gross Brothers, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Gross of route 2, Rising Sun will make a guest appearance on the Nick Clooney television show Monday. The program shown on WCPO-TV, channel 9, will be an all country show.
Curtis Slack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Slack of route 1, Vevay, received his bachelor of science degree in education from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, August 21st.
50 YEARS AGO
Gayle Wiley, Vevay florist, has been appointed field representative for this southeastern Indiana area for the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners.
A county-wide CROP canvass concludes Saturday following a week’s solicitation to raise funds for construction of a $2,500 irrigation dam in Burma. The canvass opened last Monday following CROP Sunday, August 27th, and has continued through the week.
Tonight marks the conclusion of the three-month summer operation of the Vevay Youth Center. This conclusion, plus the termination of the local Little League season and the “Rally for Youth” scheduled Monday, ends an exceptional summer’s advent of an advantageous recreational program for the youth of Switzerland County.
It’ll be Little League baseball and men’s and women’s softball competition during the “Rally for Youth” at Kiwanis Park in Vevay on Labor Day. Monday’s Little League play will see all-star teams from Madison, Rising Sun, Vevay, and Milan competing in tournament play.
An entirely new farmer county committee was elected Monday for the Switzerland County Agricultural Soil Conservation Service. Newly elected committeemen include Wilford Buchanan, Craig Township, chairman’ Howard McAllister, Posey, vice chairman; and Orville O’Day, Jefferson, third member. Walter Robinson, Cotton, will serve as first alternate and Harry Renyer, Posey, as second alternate.
60 YEARS AGO
The annual Moorefield Celebration will be held Saturday, August 25th, and people from many distant points, as well as those from neighboring communities, are expected to attend. The last Saturday in August is the traditional time for the celebration and many “former residents” plan their vacations to coincide with the all day meetings.
Philip Rosenberg and Stanford Apseloff, of Cincinnati, this week bought the East End Filling Station owned and operated by Raymond Roberts and on Monday took possession of the business. The two men will operate a Chevrolet automobile agency and their firm will be known as the Phil and Stan Chevrolet Agency.
A new restaurant on Seminary Street, which is being erected by Carl Furnish for Loren Roberts, owner, is nearing completion and it is expected that it will be ready for operation early in September. Mrs. Marie Brown, manager and part owner of the B & R restaurant on Ferry Street will be in charge of the new business. Disposition of the B & R has not been determined. Thurman Roberts, partner in the latter restaurant, is also owner of the lot on which the new restaurant is being built.
Paul Bennett, who for the past year and a half has served as the minister of the Vevay Christian Church, has resigned that position to accept a call to the full time ministry of the Center Square Church of Christ.
70 YEARS AGO
The Navy Net Tender, Gum Tree, was viewed by many Vevay people Monday morning as it passed this city en route from the shipyard of the Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where it was just completed, to New Orleans where it will be put into service tending anti-submarine nets guarding American harbors.
Kirby Rayls, of near East Enterprise, was painfully injured Sunday when he jumped from a truck that he was driving, as the vehicle was running out of control down a steep embankment at Hog Run fill.
The famous triplet Jersey calves, Standard Kate, Dupli-Kate and Triple-Kate, of the LaNola Moredock stock farm at Patriot, are attracting much attention at the Ohio State Fair at Columbus, Ohio, this week. They will be exhibited at the Indiana State Fair next week.
A. J. Williams has completed repairs this week on his furniture store here on Ferry Street. For many years the upstairs of this building housed the Joe Walton Studio, which was a Mecca for all who wanted photographs.
Buddy Sheldon, second son of Norman Sheldon of Egypt Bottom, had to have one finger and thumb amputated at King’s Daughters’ Hospital, Madison, this week.
Cars driven by Dr. H. C. Collins of Vevay and Junior Frazier of near Fairview collided on State Road 56 in Center Square Sunday morning. The parked car of Walter Herndon was also struck. All three cars involved were badly damaged but none of the occupants were injured.
The 90th birthday of James W. Works was quietly celebrated last Friday at his home on Market Street.
80 YEARS AGO
One bushel of wheat will be accepted for admission to the Indiana State Fair on Wednesday which is Farmers Day.
Stacy Oliver sustained the loss of two fingernails after a car door slammed on his right hand at Riveria Gardens Friday night.
Louis Robinson Mills, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schenck Mills, while a guest of his grandmother, Mrs. George Stemmons, took first prize and sweepstake ribbon as the most perfect child at the Prairie Home, Missouri Fair.
Sheep killing dogs in the Quercus Grove neighborhood have caused much destruction and thus far the dogs have not been apprehended.
Dee Rudd has purchased the Saberton property opposite the school building.
W. H. Bodey of the Quercus Grove neighborhood lost a cow by lightning Thursday.
Thieves broke into the home of Julius Brameier at Florence last week and took several cans of fruit.
Mrs. Dorothy C. Peak will give a recital of her music pupils at the Vevay Baptist Church on September 3rd.
90 YEARS AGO
Two Vevay business houses changed hands last week when J. G. Bladen bought the grocery store stock of Charles Jaynes and Mr. Jaynes purchased the LeClerc hotel building. Mr. Bladen already operates a grocery on Main Street and will move his stock of goods into the room occupied by Mr. Jaynes. Mr. Jaynes purchased the building from the LeClerc heirs and intends to operate the hotel himself.
Mr. Elmer Curry and Mrs. John Gullion of Vevay were badly bruised and shaken up Sunday afternoon when their buggy was struck by a strange automobile and overturned.
Claude Brown left Sunday for Cincinnati where he will take charge of a gasoline boat for the Moore Oil Company, delivering their gasoline and oils up the Kentucky River towns.
Edward Furnish has been employed to teach in the Versailles high school this winter.
Captain Henry Banta of Hanover, aged 79 years, spent Monday night in Vevay, having driven here in a buggy to buy Craig Township apples.
Mrs. Belle Stepleton has opened a millinery store in Mrs. F. E. Hammel’s store.
A crew of workmen started the work of dismantling the machinery in the Lauer Tailoring Shop Monday morning, preparatory to moving it to Cincinnati.
100 YEARS AGO
County Superintendent O. M. Given will remove to Vevay in the early fall.
Edward Peters lost his pocketbook on the Allensville Pike, containing $30.
Joseph Krummel has installed a new sectional meat block in his butcher shop.
A dog belonging to James Rook had to be killed when it became infected with rabies.
Miss Isabel Webb will succeed Miss Ruth Kelso as stenographer in the auditor’s office.
Professor R. N. Tirey and family came to Vevay Monday and are occupying the Shaw residence on Market Street.
Clair Curry is clerking at G. E. Mennett’s store.
Glenn, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Freeley Sullivan, living near Vevay, was dangerously injured Saturday evening.
It may be interesting to note that August, 1911, recorded 7.50 inches of rainfall. Only twice since 1865 has this amount been exceeded; in 1879, 10.90 inches and in 1888, 8.04 inches. The average rainfall in a period of 45 years is 3.25 inches.
Mrs. E.P. Danglade is having quite a sale on her white felt hats. She has expressed three of the new styles to Montgomery, Alabama.
George Payne of Pleasant sold his last year’s tobacco crop for 5 1/2 cents per pound.
Wesley Greenwood has moved into the hotel property on the corner of Main and Liberty streets, which was vacated by Berne Jones early in the spring and will conduct a rooming house and will serve quick lunch.
120 YEARS AGO
Jack Clements of Brooksburg is planning to move his undertaking business to Avonburg.
Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Shadday celebrated their crystal wedding anniversary August 23rd.
Dr. A. G. Craig was elected cashier of the First National Bank and will begin his duties September 1st.
William H. Lamson and Harry Lyons purchased a mammoth oak tree of John Brown, Jr., which when cut up in lumber made 4,000 feet. Counting the rings its age is estimated at 30 years.
Dr. D. N. Haydon, County Auditor, was taken ill suddenly Tuesday.
Ernest, son of F. M. Griffith and wife, is ill of diphtheria.
140 YEARS AGO
Mr. George C. Kenedy has returned to Vevay from the W
est on a short visit. He has purchased a farm near Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Professor J. P. Rous, formerly of Vevay, has resigned as president of Stockwell Collegiate Institute.
Mrs. Sarah Sage and son who went to California a year ago have returned home.
Burglars hit Vevay Thursday night and stole $5 from O. S. Waldo’s grocery. They also took $5 and some tobacco from John G. Cotton’s, and clothing, cigars and liquor from the saloon of Thomas Delaney.
150 YEARS AGO
We learn from secession newspapers, published in distant states, that a large and enthusiastic secession meeting was held by residents of Ohio and Switzerland counties recently on Grant’s Creek, at which eloquent speeches were made and traitorous resolutions adopted. These secession meetings are held for the purpose of giving aid and comfort to the rebels and traitors. Switzerland County has more than 400 soldiers enlisted in this war, which is a sufficient refutation to the resolution of these traitors.