News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers.
10 YEARS AGO
More than a week after the terrorist attacks on New York City ad Washington, D.C., the people of Switzerland County are still coping with the tragedy, and have spent the time since the attacks coming to the support of the country and local residents who have been affected by it.
Seniors Chris Peters and Kacey Wagner have been honored by their classmates by being selected to represent Switzerland County High School at next Wednesday’s Versailles Pumpkin Show King and Queen contest.
Dr. Allen W. and Eleanor J. (Wiley) Aldred of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formerly of Switzerland County, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise accompanied by their children and grandchildren.
Keli Hall, daughter of Terry and Karen Hall of Switzerland County, was named the state FFA proficiency award winner in June of this year. Keli Hall’s application was scored at the national level, where she earned a silver level certificate. Her application is a tobacco program, which is unusual for most of Indiana.
20 YEARS AGO
Two new books by Switzerland County authors, and about Switzerland County life, have just been published. They are Memories, by Willetta Washmuth, and Gumption: The Memory Stories of Naomi Blume Bliss. Both books take long, fond looks at long, lively Switzerland County lives. Willetta Washmuth has lived all of her 86 years here and Naomi Blume Bliss who is 89 years young lived here from the late 1930’s to the early 1960’s. Many will remember her as Naomi Plaskett.
Switzerland County’s newest industry is located right in the heart of downtown Vevay, on Main Street a couple of doors east of the Main and Ferry street crossing. Richardson Industries says the sign, erected last week, marking the company’s more-or-less official opening.
Marie Lauderbaugh’s many friends and the many students she taught at Vevay High School will help her celebrate her birthday Sunday afternoon. A gathering is planned from 2 to 4 o’clock at the Vevay United Methodist Church.
30 YEARS AGO
The annual Harem-Scarem Parade in Vevay will take place on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31st. The annual event this year is sponsored by Vevay Merchants, the Alpine Festival Committee and the Kiwanis Club of Vevay.
The wave of the future in farming may be no-till farming, and in Switzerland County, it means being able to use more marginal land to produce crops and bring in more money. According to Leonard Jordan, district conservationist, many farms in the area are using no-till methods for several crops, and it is working.
Two local men have joined the Marine Corps and are currently in basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Joey J. Green, son of Mr. and Mrs. Galen Green, and Joe E. McManis, son of Catherine McManis and the late Joe McManis, Sr., recently enlisted in the Corps.
40 YEARS AGO
Part I of a four-part series on Ulysses P. Schenck, written by Corinne Schenck Dahman, appears in this week’s edition of Vevay Newspapers. Mrs. Dahman, daughter of Benjamin Schenck and granddaughter of the Hay King, was born in Vevay in 1871. Her series includes her childhood memories from the late 1870’s to about 1885. The series first appeared in the June, 1935 edition of the Indiana Magazine of History.
Cheryl Janes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Janes of Woodfill Avenue in Vevay, has been appointed to the 1972 Washington Workshops National Student Advisory Committee. As a member of the advisory committee, Janes will assist in planning the format for seminars to be held at Mount Vernon College and on Capitol Hill with members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and other national leaders both in and out of government. Topics under consideration for next summer include application of the 18-year-old vote amendment, the environment, international relations, consumer affairs, and educational reform.
Misses Ruth and Susan Orem have grown a fine crop of giant squash in their kitchen garden on Pike Street this summer. The largest one weighed in at 46 pounds and measured a whopping 50 inches long.
Rocky Hollingsworth, son of Mrs. Marion Brindley of route 3, Vevay, has enlisted in the U.S. Navy for four years. He left October 4th for Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois where he will receive 10 weeks of basic training.
50 YEARS AGO
Vevay and Switzerland County received a much-needed new doctor this week, at least on a temporary basis. The new physician, Dr. Robert Carpenter, formerly of Madison, is establishing his first private practice in the Vevay Clinic in association with Dr. Noel S. Graves.
The Vevay High School band reached a new high point in its marching career Saturday, placing first in its class at the Indiana School Music Association marching band contest.
Cheerleaders elected at Vevay High School by the student body this week include Linda Roberts, Thirla Judy, Cheryl Bolden, and Cheryl Brown. The Vevay Warriors open at Milan in just three weeks with their first basketball game of the season.
A package liquor store was opened in Vevay this week by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ray. Fred Allen will manage the new establishment, located at the corner of Main and Ferry streets in a room recently vacated by Nick Kodrea, Jr., formerly prosecuting attorney for the local circuit court.
60 YEARS AGO
Jason Risk of near Franklin, husband of Mrs. Edna Belle Cotton Risk, formerly of Switzerland County, was the victim of a peculiar farm machinery accident Saturday which was described in the Indianapolis News as follows:
“Jason Risk went into his cornfield near Camp Atterbury yesterday fully clothed, including two pairs of pants, and came out rather hurriedly with only his hat and shoes. During the interim, his pants had caught in the propeller shaft of his corn picker, and his clothes were all torn off. Otherwise he escaped with only minor scratches and bruises.”
Mr. and Mrs. George Wade of Rising Sun celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary Sunday at their home there with an open house. They made their home in Patriot until 1918 when they moved to Rising Sun. Mr. Wade continued his trade there as a carpenter.
A new type of horse pulling contest, described by the sponsor as designed to make the sport more humane and more sportsmanlike, is scheduled at the Fairview Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 13th.
70 YEARS AGO
Following an annual custom, the American Legion is staging a “One Day Membership Drive” starting with a breakfast to be served at the Legion Hall at 8 a.m.
The Purol garage at the corner of Pike and Liberty streets, for several months managed by Owen Lockwood, has been leased by the Stow and Lotton garage corporation of Rising Sun.
Ira “Blue” Farrar sustained a broken collarbone and a painful cut on his hand Friday evening when he was hit by a school bus at the front of his home in Florence.
Raymond, seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Lester, was painfully injured Friday afternoon when, while crossing the street, he was struck by a road truck driven by Virgil Sexton.
80 YEARS AGO
Thieves entered the storeroom of C.S. Culbertson last week and stole several automobile tire casings to the value of about $200.
James S. Wright and Chester R. Callis, prominent lawyers of Vevay, have announced a partnership to be effective at once.
Paul Francis (Buzzy), six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Benedict, had the misfortune to break his arm this week.
The little son born to Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Byram has been named Thomas Leslie.
Dr. H. Langsdale, native of Florence, died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago September 23rd.
90 YEARS AGO
Glenn Crandell is in critical condition suffering from injuries received when his automobile left the road two miles below Brooksburg and overturned down a steep embankment, pining him beneath it.
An Athletic club is being organized by the local post of the American Legion, and full gymnasium equipment will be installed in their clubroom.
The automobile of John Siekerman, which was stolen at Friendship last week, was recovered two days later in Covington, Kentucky. No clue to the merchandise stolen from the store of Sam Siekerman has been found.
The milk wagon of John Heady was struck by an automobile last week on one of the Vevay streets. The horse was knocked down but was not injured.
100 YEARS AGO
Kiesel Cole and wife have returned from Batesville where Mr. Cole has been employed on the Batesville Herald.
James Aldred, who lives on the Vevay/Mount Sterling Pike, and who some time ago built one of the finest barns in the county, is now erecting a very fine residence.
Miss Harriet Brown sustained a broken leg and threw her hip out of place last week when she fell in the yard of her home here.
W.J. Cotton had a special attraction Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Lyric Theatre in the way of trained Esquimaux dogs.
The October Jockey Day held in Vevay on Saturday, October 14th, was a success and a large crowd was in attendance.
120 YEARS AGO
Thomas Joyce and John D. Brindley have purchased the National Hotel.
An earthquake was felt in Vevay September 26th at 10:30 p.m.
Frank Eaton of Patriot is teaching at Allensville.
The postal route between Vevay and Cross Plains has been increased to six times per week.
140 YEARS AGO
W.R. Protsman and brother placed their French stallion on exhibition at the State Fair, which won the first premium on draft stallions.
Practically all of the Chicago business district was consumed by fire last week, burning from Friday until Monday night. Loss of property amounted to $300,000 and 500 people perished in the flames. There are 150,000 who are homeless. About 30 persons found setting fire to buildings were shot or hung by infuriated people.
Mr. C.L. Turner, formerly employed on a Vevay newspaper but now an attache of the Indianapolis Journal, is in town.
Mr. Thomas Watts, a government storekeeper in Patriot, has been assigned to duty in Patoka.
Amie Golay has returned from Olney, Illinois.
150 YEARS AGO
“The company for the war raised in this county by Percy Rous and others has received orders to go to camp at Seymour, to be attached to Company C.L. Dunham’s regiment. This is an excellent company – better in some respects than any of the other companies from Switzerland County. Many of its members are middle-aged, well-to-do farmers and mechanics – men of property, influence, and family, the very men above all others who are most interested in a speedy and successful termination of this war. This class of men have something more than patriotism or love of excitement to urge them on to the conflict. We are confident that they – the 8th company from Switzerland County – will give a good account of themselves. One-tenth of the entire population of Switzerland County has volunteered in this war.”
The dwelling of Mrs. Brindley, a widow living in Craig Township, was burned out one night last week with its contents, including about 50 bushels of wheat. It is supposed that it was the work of an incendiary. The loss falls heavily upon her, as she has a large family to support.