Next year, when 2013 rings in, we’ll be just 10 months away from Switzerland County’s bicentennial celebration, which will run from October 4 – 13, 2013. The town of Vevay and Switzerland County were founded in 1813 by John James Dufour and his fellow countrymen of Vevey, Switzerland, and the Hoosier County became known as the Birthplace of the First Successful Commercial Winery in the United States. The
Swiss Wine Festival commemorates that event every summer.
The community is planning on celebrating the bicentennial throughout the year, planning a possible revival of the “Swiss Belles” and “Brothers of the Brush,” both of which were played during the town’s Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary). There will also be activities at Paul Ogle Riverfront Park, a play at the Historic Hoosier Theater, and many more events.
Until then, you can see some of the area’s history through the Vevay Bicentennial 2013 calendar, which had a limited run of only 500 units. The calendar was created by Ripley County resident and “Midwest Stories” website creator, Soh Fong UN, and Martha Bladen, president of the Switzerland County Historical Society. Fong first became acquainted with Switzerland County, thanks to her husband, who is a Switzerland County native. Fong donated her services for this project.
The calendar is available for $14.95 at the Switzerland County History Museum gift shop or online for $20 (includes shipping) at switzcomuseums.org. The gift shop is located at 210 East Market Street in Vevay, and is open noon-4pm daily. The money raised will go towards a 1917 old-fashioned tent Chautauqua in the museum yard during the Bicentennial event.
For more information about the bicentennial calendar, call the History Museum at 812-427-3560. For more information on Switzerland County, contact the Switzerland County Visitors Center website, or call them at 812-427-3237.
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