News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The steeple of the Switzerland Baptist Church, the highest rising structure in Vevay, is back in its rightful place. Struck by lightning on the 4th of July, 1995, the steeple was taken down last October. And it was put back up last week, as many townfolks witnessed the ceremonial construction.
Irene Cheever passed away, September 3rd, 1997, at the age of 95. On December 12th, 1991, Vevay Newspapers published an article about her written by Don Wallis.
After struggling through a wet planting season and a dry growing season, Switzerland County tobacco farmers may finally be getting some help in their efforts to raise the largest burley crop in county history.
A new senior citizens center for Switzerland County moved a step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday evening when the Switzerland County Commissioners signed an option to purchase property and gave final approval to the grant application that would fund the project.
The Swiss Wine Festival Duck Race was held nearly two weeks late due to rainy weather, and when the winning duck was pulled from the water, onlookers had a big surprise. This year’s winning duck belonged to Frances Minch, longtime community resident and custodian of the courthouse. The winning duck earned its owner a 19-inch color television. The irony of the situation is that Frances Minch died unexpectedly Saturday, August 23rd. She had signed up for the duck race several days before her death. In honor of Frances Minch, her family donated the television to the Switzerland County Emergency Unit to be used either for training purposes, or to be raffled off as a fundraiser.
15 YEARS AGO
It didn’t take Lee Hamilton long to hear comments about the need for improvement on Vevay Hill. When he visited Vevay Saturday afternoon it was the first subject that Switzerland County residents talked about during the Congressman’s hour-long public meeting.
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mason of Bright announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter Christy to David Fugate, son of Mr. and Mrs. Logan Fugate of Vevay. The wedding will take place Saturday, September 19th, at Bright Christian Church.
Billy Andrew, son of John and Jeanette Andrew, Vevay, will be graduating September 3rd from the United States Army’s Advanced Individual Training school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
20 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Emery Hastie of Owensboro, Kentucky celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary September 9th. The Hasties, former residents of Switzerland County, were married in Louisa, Kentucky September 9th, 1947.
Ellyn Kern, route 1, Vevay, was elected American Sunbathing Association Woman of the Year at the annual meeting held at Willamettans in Eugene, Oregon August 10th-16th. She was elected Woman of the Year in recognition of service to the association in past years.
Mark Flood, son of Linda and Melvin Flood of route 3, Vevay, is attending the University of Utah for his Ph.D. in animal science.
Alice Kappes, daughter of Louis and Judy Kappes, of route 1, Bennington is attending Mount Saint Joseph College near Cincinnati this fall.
30 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Tilley of Vevay announce the engagement of their daughter, Claudia Jean, to Mr. Frederic J. Wendling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Wendling of Bloomington. Miss Tilley and Mr. Wendling will be united in marriage January 7th, 1978 at Sorrowful Mother of God Church in Vevay.
Lonnie Mason, extension agent for youth, has resigned effective September 14th, 1977. He has been employed in Switzerland County since February, 1969. Mason has accepted the position of extension agent with agriculture responsibilities in Ohio County.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Ricketts of Vevay announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Jennifer, to Kevin Scudder, son of Mrs. Wanda Kelly of Madison and the late Nelson Scudder. The wedding will take place Saturday, October 1st, 1977, at 6:30 p.m. in Switzerland Baptist Church, with a reception immediately following at the Community Building in Vevay.
Main Street Cafe’s ball club from Rising Sun, with Switzerland County players Wayne Ellegood and Eddie Sherman, participated in the ASSA Classic World Tourney in Petersburg, Virginia September 4th and 5th, with 110 teams entered.
40 YEARS AGO
Grover Thompson and other Vevay town workers were busy this week completing a water main from the town system to the site of a new Switzerland County high school, now under construction west of Vevay.
Elmer Johnson displayed the prize bass he caught in a Switzerland County farm pond. Caught at 7:30 p.m. August 29th, the 5 pound, 14 ounce fish measured 23 inches.
James Carter, Vevay High School teacher, has been appointed as a Switzerland County representative to the clinic committee for Southeastern Indiana Community Mental Health Clinic.
A suggestion for a new die to eliminate the sanding operation of burring has won for Garnett Bliton the Randall Company’s best of the month suggestion award. Bliton submitted his idea for the slugless die in the plant’s suggestion award program. The idea was judged best of the plant and also best of the company for the month.
Mr. and Mrs. Neeley Scudder, Sr., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home Sunday.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. James Bladen of Vevay celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary September 1st with members of their family at the home of their daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Sullivan of Vevay.
Marshal Fred Jennings, Jr., could be a candidate for the most honest police chief in the U.S. Wednesday afternoon before Justice of the Peace John Baird, the Marshal paid a $15.25 fine for running a four-way intersection. He had cited himself for the violation! “When I put up those stop signs,” Marshal Jennings continued, “I said they were meant for everybody — and that included me.”
Cegal Fields, son of Mrs. Millard Sloan, and Miss Alma Johnson, daughter of Mrs. Wainscott, all of Vevay, were married Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. They have gone to housekeeping in the Ella Means property on Silver Street.
More than 75 persons attended the annual Olive Branch Baptist Church homecoming September 8th. Reverend John Saunders of the Louisville Seminary was speaker for the morning services, and a basket dinner was served in the church basement at noon.
60 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Howard N. Humphrey announce the engagement of her daughter, Jean, to William McClure, son of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley McClure of Logan. The wedding will take place some time in November.
Miss Eleanor Burton and George E. Heady, both of Vevay, were united in marriage Saturday evening, August 30th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend Walter Peters on Main Cross Street.
“Red’s Package Store”, located on Ferry Street in Vevay, was sold this week by Paul Lamkin, the owner, to Raymond Moore of near Vevay.
A daughter was born Monday, September 1st, to Mrs. Robert Brown of Vevay (nee Margaret Lee Netherland) at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison.
Miss Juanita Scudder and Edison Leep were united in marriage Saturday afternoon, August 30th, at the home of Reverend L.S. Courtney.
Carroll Kent, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Kent of near Patriot, and Miss Doris Dunning of Streator, Illinois, were married Tuesday afternoon in Ottawa.
Miss Betty Peak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Peak of Owensboro, Kentucky, was married Thursday in Rockport, Indiana, to Lawrence David, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Davis of that city.
Miss Ada M. Koons and Hobart M. Smith, prominent businessman, and both of Patriot, were united in marriage Saturday evening, August 30th, at the home of the officiating minister, Reverend R.C. McNeeley.
Clyde Culbertson has sold his business building located at the extreme north end of Ferry Street to Charles Romans who takes possession November 1st.
An 8 pound, 7 ounce son was born Sunday, August 24th, at the Whitlatch Clinic in Milan to State Trooper and Mrs. William P. Booth, of Aberdeen. He has been named William Prentice.
70 YEARS AGO
Drs. R.M. and George M. Copeland have received word that Mrs. Mae Marquis, wife of their cousin, Clyde Marquis, had died in Rome, Italy on August 31st.
Mr. and Mrs. William Bunger, formerly of Posey Township, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Chicago with a family dinner August 29th.
Mrs. Celia Green of Tapps Ridge has sent to this office a huge set of twin tomatoes, weighing 2 1/4 pounds. Mrs. Green challenges any other 84-year-old gardener to do better.
George T. Cole, 65, passed away at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison Saturday morning, death resulting from injuries received last Sunday when he was thrown from a horse at his home near Bennington.
Dr. L.E. Vanosdol, a native of this county, died suddenly at his home in Peru at noon Tuesday following a long illness with heart trouble.
80 YEARS AGO
Finley Smith, native Vevay citizen, who has been cashier of the First National Bank of Carthage, Ohio, for a number of years, recently was made vice president of the institution after it was merged with another bank. He is a brother of L.E. Smith of Vevay.
The new Switzerland County Telephone Company established long distance service last week, the first call being made to Lawrenceburg.
Mrs. Jesse Acre of New Hope was seriously injured Sunday night near East Enterprise when a buggy in which she and her husband were riding was struck by an automobile driven by Henry Carrigan of Aberdeen.
Earl Sullivan and A.C. Park dissolved partnership last week, Mr. Park retaining charge of the garage business they conducted on Ferry Street.
Seymour Stone, 32, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was burned to death on State Road 56 near the William McKay home Saturday afternoon.
90 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Rebecca Francis, aged 78, a widow, living alone near Brushy Fork Church, fell Sunday morning while lighting a coal oil stove and fractured her hip.
Councilmen Weales, Dodd, and Holler, on Monday named William Burton as night policeman to succeed George Furnish.
O’Neal & McKay on Saturday contracted with Detraz Brothers for a $3,500 addition to their Main Street Garage and work on same was begun Monday morning.
100 YEARS AGO
Henry Moreillon, 13-year-old son of Cornelius Moreillon of near Fairview, was seriously injured last evening when he fell from a bicycle.
Miss Clara Kiesel has accepted a position as assistant bookkeeper with the Union Furniture Company.
Miss M.A. Dickason left Monday night for Pontotoc, Mississippi to take charge of the vocal department in a young woman’s college.
Ira Reed and Miss Nellie Spencer were married at the bride’s home Sunday evening.
Charles O’Bryan of Patriot fell from the towboat Monito and was drowned. The body was received Friday and was buried in Maysville, Kentucky.
120 YEARS AGO
Marriage licenses have been issued to John R. Mitchell and Ollie S. Curry; D.S. Lockwood and Nina B. Crutcher; Clarence McClellan and Orena Scudder.
Sol Wright offers for sale at a bargain, a good sawmill in Ghent.
Mrs. A.B. Manning will open up her millinery store next week with a full line of new fall millinery.
C.G. Adams, county treasurer, informs us the county now has a debt of $15,000, eight thousand of which belongs to the school fund.
130 YEARS AGO
Addison Works has located in Terre Haute where he has become a partner in an insurance company.
Indiana Soldiers Orphans Home at Knightstown was destroyed by fire last week.
George W. Tilley and Julia Waltz were married last week at the residence of Thomas B. Dow.
The Madison Star says that Captains Kirby and Morrow have sold the steamer G.W. Cheek for $5,000 to Captain R.P. Watt for the Memphis and Helena trade.
Samuel Lock, well-known farmer of near Bennington, was found dead in a field near his home. He had been in poor health for some time and death was due to heart trouble.
140 YEARS AGO
Growing crops are suffering very much for want of rain.
Our young friend, Will M. Smith, has commenced the practice of law in this place.
S.B. Miller has purchased William Archer’s stock of groceries and engaged in the business.
E.T. Ogle has retired from the treasurer’s office.
Potatoes are selling for 20 cents per bushel.