“News from Patriot/ Posey Township and Beyond”
June 12, 2025 Edition
By: Mike Jones
Congratulations to Calvin and Charity Ward as they are the new owners of the old
Universalist Church/Reeses/Bob Scudder Garage property in Patriot. I am glad that
someone local has purchased the property and will keep its tradition going!
Many thanks to Ashley McAlister, N.P. for her assistance and care she gave to my
mother, Leah Jones, after she suffered a burn on her leg. Ashley went above and
beyond to care for my mother.
Patriot History
The Farrar Family
Lieutenant Robert Farrar
Lieutenant Robert Farrar was born in Patriot in 1917. In World War II, Farrar, a member
of the United States Navy, was assigned to the USS Escolar, a submarine assigned to
the South Pacific. It is believed the submarine hit a mine in the Tsushima Strait in the
Yellow Sea. Farrar and his fellow crewmen were officially listed as missing in action or
buried at sea on November 14, 1945, after being missing since October 1944. Farrar’s
name is honored on the “Tablets of the Missing” at the Manila American Cemetery in the
Philippines.
The Escolar was a part of a coordinated “wolfpack” patrol in the Yellow Sea,
commanded by Commander William J. Millican, known as “Millican’s Marauders”. On
SEptember 30, 1944 the Escolar transmitted a message, “attacked with Deck Gun
Boat”. Two other submarines received messages from the Escolar until October 17. The
Escolar was not heard from again. The Yellow Sea area was thought to be heavily
mined by the Japanese. A Japanese Navy Destroyer reported having contact with, and sinking a U.S. Navy Submarine in the Yellow Sea in October 1944. In 1973, a six foot
tall stone memorial in Charlevoix. Michigan was dedicated to the Escolar.
Emma Frances Farrar Harris
“Aunt Frankie”
Emma Frances Farrar Harris or “Aunt Frankie” as she was known was a sister to Lt.
Farrar, and was born in Patriot circa 1919. She was a 1937 graduate of Patriot High
School, and was also a graduate of Purdue University. She received a Masters Degree
from John Hopkins University in Baltimore. She later taught Home Economics at Patriot
High School. She was a teacher of the late Dorothy Martin Burley.Emma was also a
very talented seamstress. She remembered and survived the great fires of Patriot as
well as the 1937 Flood. She and her husband, Galen Harris, lived in his maternal
grandmother’s house, which had been shattered in the 1937 Flood, and carried by the
flood to Main Street near the Baptist Church. Her then future husband, Galen and her
brother Robert worked to return the house back to its foundation and rebuilt it there. Her
husband, Galen, was also a Naval officer during World War II. Frankie passed away in
2011. Frankie and her husband, Galen, are both buried at Arlington National Cemetery
in Virginia.
Sport Shorts
The Switzerland County High School Boys Baseball team was defeated by Providence
by a score of 12-0 in the Regionals on Saturday at Floyd Central High School.
Congratulations to Madison Spilman on her success in Track this year! Madison, a
freshman at Switzerland County High School, won the Regional in the 100M Spring and
finished 8th in the 1st of 3 heats at the State Meet in Indianapolis. Her time of 12.70 in
the 100M placed 23rd in the state of Indiana. A great accomplishment for a freshman for
sure!
News from the Pews
Patriot Baptist Church
The Patriot Baptist Church will hold a baptism service on Sunday, June 15, 2025
immediately following the morning service. The Baptism will take place at the Boat
Ramp in the park just east of town. The Patriot Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School on July 15, 16 and 17 from
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. each evening. Bible School will be for ages Pre-K through Middle
School ages.
The Patriot Baptist Church will honor all fathers on Fathers Day, this Sunday. June 15,
2025. Every father will receive a special gift from the church.
The Patriot Baptist Church honored graduates with gift Bibles. Those receiving Bibles
included Jordan Renyer, Isabella Breek and Bre Bennett.
Patriot Independence Day Celebration
Ceremony in Memory of Corporal Barry Brinegar
Unveiling of the Mural on the Masonic Building
The Town of Patriot will hold its annual Independence Day Celebration on Saturday,
July 5, 2025. It will be a special day highlighted by the annual parade at 3:00 p.m.
Grand Marshalls this year will be sisters, Dolly Reese Green and Mary Lynn Reese.
Dolly is the longest continuous resident of Patriot, and a 1958 graduate of Patriot High
School. Her sister, Mary Lynn graduated from Patriot High School in 1965. There will be
food trucks, vendors, live music, a ceremony in the Flag Park with all flags exchanged,
and the evening will be topped off with fireworks. There will also be a special ceremony
designating the bridge on 156 east of town being named in memory of Posey Township
resident, Corporal Barry Brinegar, who was killed in battle in the Vietnam War. Corporal
Brinegar made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation on February 8, 1971 in Quang Ngai
Province , South Vietnam. Corporal Brinegar was in the C Battery, 6th Battalion, 11th
Artillery Brigade, American Division. Members of Corporal Brinegar’s family will be in
attendance for the special ceremony.
The Town of Patriot will also unveil the new mural on the Masonic Building which
is located at the four way stop.
A Girl Named Sooner 50th Anniversary
2025 is the 50th Anniversary of the filming of the movie, “A Girl Named Sooner” which
was filmed in and around Vevay. There will be a special celebration in Vevay on JUne
21, 2025 with special showings of the movie at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the historic
Hoosier Theater and the Swiss Inn in Vevay. Susan Deer, who played Sooner in the
movie will also be present. A reception with Susan Deer will be held at the Swiss Inn at
4:00 p.m. Limited tickets are available for each showing and the separate reception. You may pick up tickets in person at the Switzerland County Visitors Center from 10-4
Monday-Saturday or call 812-427-3237 to reserve yours.
A Girl Named Sooner premiered on NBC on June 18, 1975. Actors and actresses
who were in the movie besides Susan Deer included: Cloris Leachman, Richard
Crenna, Lee Remick, Don Murray, Anne Francis and Michael Gross. It was an exciting
time in Switzerland County and many local residents appeared as extras in the movie. I
remember there were many people spotted around town, one being former tennis great,
the late Arthur Ashe, who happened to be in Cincinnati and drove to Vevay to visit a
friend who was covering the movie filming as a photographer. The director of the movie
was Delbert Mann. Mann was a renowed director, winning an Academy Award for Best
Director for the film, “Marty” in 1955.
The Movie Fresh Horses 1988
Scenes Filmed in Posey Township (Bryants Creek)
The movie Fresh Horses hit the big screen in 1988, starring Molly Ringwald and Andrew
McCarthy. Approximately twelve hours of the movie was shot near a cabin on Bryants
Creek in Posey Township. Much of the film was shot in the Cincinnati/Boone County,
Kentucky area. The site near Bryants Creek was chosen because the area’s rolling hills
had a resemblance to the rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky where the character played
by Molly Ringwald was from.
Girls Inc Coming to Patriot!!
Thanks to the support of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, Girls Inc will
provide FREE summer programming every Thursday, JUne 12-July 24 from 11:00 a.m.
-3:00 p.m. at 2795 Main Street in Patriot. (across from the Patriot General Store)
Transportation will be available to and from the Land Development and Harris Park.
Space is limited, so registration is required. Be sure to sign up today> You can sign up
at https://tinyurl.com/y48zhrr8 .
That is all for this week. News items can be sent to me at 812-290-3088 or
mike1405@earthlink.net . Until next week, in the words of the Glen Campbell song,
remember to “try a little kindness and shine your light for everyone you meet.”