"1904"
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: The desktop photo depicts the Guy Davis dry goods store that once occupied the northwest corner of Liberty and Grand streets in good ol’ Vermilion, O. The building was destroyed by fire sometime in the late 1940s. The building that replaced it was just recently torn down – and what currently remains is an empty lot. I’ve heard rumors that it may become a small city park. But who knows? Perhaps the Ritter Library will purchase the lot and extend their parking. What used to be downtown Vermilion is beginning to look rather barren. “America, America, God shed his grace on thee…”
SOUTH STREET SCHOOL: While I’m at it I’ll also offer an unsoilicited opinion on the now empty South Street School. Without going on and on about how that situation is flatly shameful I’ll try to move toward something positive.
I note that some school district in Ohio has worked out a deal with a local university that allows them to use one of their defunct buildings to offer free college courses to high school students who can qualify to study at the university level. This seems (at least it does to me) as a more than reasonable way to turn a negative situation into a very positive situation. While this can’t be done (at least I don’t think it can) in every school district I think it could work in Vermilion with Vermilion students as well as those from surrounding communities. I don’t know the precise details of such an arrangement, but it beats the heck out of having a perfectly good school building fall to pieces from neglect.
TO BE CONSISENTLY REDUNDANT: “Viewers” may be getting tired of my mentioning this, but if it is possible I urge all who are able to attend Monday’s (02/13/12) meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society. Vermilionites Leon Buell is slated to talk about his father Alfred’s life as one of the towns “river-rats”. I believe that includes such people as George Wakefield, Art Copeland, “Jonko” Horton, and Fritz Wakefield. I think you’ll enjoy Leon and his stories. The meeting is free and open to the public at the Ritter Public Library (7 PM). Barring any problems I was hoping to attend and see you there, but…
GRAFTED INTO THE ARMY: The music accompanying the page this week is a thing called “Grafted Into The Army”. The artist: D.C. Hall’s New Concert & Quadrille Band from the album Union and Liberty – Music From the Northern Homeland during the American Civil War. It is, of course, a light-hearted piece that originated during that conflict.
“Viewer” Molly Wakefield Milner months and months ago introduced me to the piece. She sent me a CD (I’m supposing that it was privately produced) featuring a fellow named Rick Spencer. It is called “The Days When We Were Young” – and “Grafted” is on it. I used to listen to the CD while driving, and came to like it a great deal.
I should’ve used it last week when I ran the article about J.I. Howell. (So much for my production skills.) Nonetheless, I think it will still interest some “Viewers”.
Historically,
MRS. WIDDOWSON'S CLASS C.1950
THE CLASS OF '62: My sis, Ginny Wilkes, gave me this pic on Wednesday last. Phyllis Rogers found it among her late friend (and very well known and liked Vermilionite)Carla Widdowson's effects, and passed it on to me and to the Vermilion Area Archival Society.
This wide angle photo is fair sized (18 ½" by 9 ½") and a good portion of the upper right corner has been torn off the print. (Photoshop CS5 allowed me to correct that problem.) It is a Paul Ludlow portrait - and a good one.
At this writing I can only identify perhaps three of the youngsters; Lou Kuhnle, Linda Russell, and John Hurd. I do recognize several others. But for the life of me I am unable to recall their names. But I am absolute certain that some "Viewers" will know the names of many of the others.
This pic, or at least a facsimile thereof, is worthy of a nice frame.
"...the theater was the site of many of my boyhood dreams"
EVERYTHING’S UP TO DATE (IN VERMILION, O.1921): “Everything’s up to date in...(Vermilion, O.)/They've gone about as fer as they can go/They got a big theatre they call a burleque/For fifty cents you could see a dandy show!” ,
With the exception of the price of admission this passage, from a tune in the 1943 Rogers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma”, could have very well been describing the 1921 opening of Vermilion’s Liberty Theatre. A report on the front page of The Vermilion News on June 9th of that year called it “one of the most complete and up-to-date movie theatres for its size, in this section of the State, if not in the Nation”.
Now that is an awe inspiring presentment of fact if there ever was one. If nothing else, it certainly seems to corroborate Mr. Einstein’s theory that E=MC2. Everything is, indeed, relative. But, seriously, it really was - as is obvious in the concomitant photographs - a rather remarkable edifice for a town of roughly 2000 souls.
Once upon a time the building, which The News described as being “practically fireproof”, was the home of Henry Delker’s (VPJ 5-25-06) and later Lewis Englebry’s (VPJ 7-13-06) haberdashery. It may be that it was considered to be immune from fire because it had easily survived a large-scale fire that had consumed most of the buildings in the block west of Division / Main, and South of Liberty Street(s) in December of 1903.
The new theatre featured a 30 x 60 foot auditorium with a seating capacity of nearly 300. The 9 x 12 foot projection screen is described in the aforementioned news article as being “a beeded [sic] screen, which enables those in front or at the side to see the pictures just as clearly and distinctly as those elsewhere in the house.” Beneath the screen was a small stage.
The Howard Ratcliffe Company of Toledo, Ohio designed the interior. The walls were decorated with pastel shades of pink, blue, and green fabric set on light tan panels bordered in gold. The carpet was a dark crimson. The woodwork, although quite sparse, was Italian Mahogany. Four large dome lights hung from the ceiling, and dark bronze wall fixtures hung from the walls - all furnished with various colored bulbs. Over the years the decor would, of course, change. But all in all the accouterments in the theatre always generated a rather magical effect for moviegoers.
A canopy fastened with two large chains hung over the sidewalk entrance to the building. Frosted light bulbs spaced at intervals under its front and two sides illuminated the walk during operational hours. On the right was the ticket booth, a drinking fountain, and the ladies room. On the left was the men’s room. An outside entrance, also on the left, opened to a flight of stairs leading to the projector room equipped with two large state-of-the-art movie projectors.
The movie featured in the accompanying photograph is a 1935 film called “Riff Raff” starring Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy. The inset photo (right) and the larger interior photo shows the theatre as it looked some years later.
Ah, but the theater was the site of many of my boyhood dreams: Riding the range with Roy and Dale Rodgers; having a good ol’ time with “Our Gang” and the Three Stooges; falling in love with Betty Grable, Doris Day, and, of course, Marilyn. And although those days and times are long gone – they will never ever be forgotten.
CASELTON ROSCOE - THE CARPENTER
SHOPTALK: I’ve been quite busy this week with visitors to the Newspaper Museum. It started last week with the article that appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal and snowballed from there. Reporters from the Morning (Lorain) Journal and the Elyria Chronicle Telegram came by to take some pix and do some interviewing. The Journal reporter took some video. Later I heard that the Cleveland Plain Dealer on-line was using it. These visits are a little premature. We’re not ready to do in depth tours. Nonetheless I’ve met some interesting people – and I’m beginning to understand the impact generated by the local press. It’s more potent than I realized. (And I’ve been a writer for a good deal of my life.)
THE BOARD MEETS: The museum board met Wednesday morning for a brainstorm session. The board consists of Vermilionites Franklin D.R. Adkins, Margaret Wakefield Worcester, Larry E. Howell, Ginny Tarrant Wilkes, and Georgianne Diener Tarrant. Yours truly, Rich Tarrant, is currently the Executive Director. Though Margaret was unable to attend because she was on a plane to Hawaii, and Larry had some other business they were there in spirit. Board members have some great ideas for upcoming months. But more than that all are very capable individuals. As we move ahead I’ll keep thee posted.
THE FRONT DOOR & SIGNAGE: Thanks to board members Frank Adkins and Larry Howell the entrance door no longer opens when the wind blows. Moreover it now also closes all by itself. That doesn't’ sound like much, but when the freezing winds are blasting through town from the northwest it helps to have a closed front door.
Georgi is working of the signage for the place. She’s taken one of the old signs that used to grace the outside of the building and is in the process of painting it. She’s also measured and ordered new decal lettering for it. It will hang inside a front window. The refurbished sign will read exactly the way it originally read. In large lettering:
And a smaller sign that will be attached to the bottom of the larger one will read:
CASELTON ROSCOE - THE CARPENTER : Caselton Roscoe (pictured above) built the building that housed the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP in 1905 for his son Pearl and wife Bessie to serve as their home and business. He was born in East Townsend, Huron County, OH. He was first married to Elizabeth Stowe in June 1860. They divorced October 1 1866. She died in 1867 in Milan. They had a son, Charles S. Roscoe, born November 23, 1861 in Milan Twp., Erie Co, OH. He died December 16, 1890 in Milan Twp., and is buried at North Milan, Hill Cemetery. Caselton was not the father but looked after him some. Charles lived with Caselton’s parents Levi & Eliza Roscoe. In a letter written while Caselton was away in the Civil War, he wrote that his first wife was living in Cleveland and was a whore.
Caselton later married Helen Rachel Forster, daughter of A.B. & Annie House Forster on December 25, 1868. Helen was born in Venice, Erie Co., OH on September 19, 1835 and died June 27, 1907 in Milan, Erie Co., OH. Their only child, a son, Pearl, was born November 9, 1870 in Milan.
Caselton was Worshipful Master of Erie Lodge, Milan, in 1876, and laid the cornerstone of the Milan Town Hall on July 4th, 1876. According to the minutes of Madeleine Chapter OES, Vermilion, he demitted from Queen Esther Chapter OES, Norwalk, joining the Vermilion Chapter of the Masons in 1910.
Please visit us on Facebook. As reported a few weeks back the museum has a Facebook page. I'll keep adding pix as we go along. You'll find us at VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM . Also, if you're in the area stop in. I'm usually there in the a.m. If you see a Chevy Silverado out front with the plate "MRCOOKR" come on in and see what's cooking.
AGAIN - ANOTHER NEW (NOW OLD) THING: Initially I said that "This will not take the place of the "Macabre" stuff all the time - but will supplement whilst I search for more macabre stories to tell." But methinks that it's carved out a niche for itself and the "Macabre stuff" with have to find another.
So stay tuned...
February 4, 1904 - Vol VII. No. 35.
Married - At the M.E. Parsonage on last Sunday, Jan. 31, 1904, at 12 o’clock, Mr., in the presence of their brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Leadrach, Mr. Emmanuel Leadrach and Miss Lulu Bauman both of Axtel, O. Mr. and Mrs. Leadrach left on the non car for Ragersville, Tuscarawas County, where they will spend a couple of weeks with relatives and friends. Miss Bauman has been teaching school up to within the past two weeks. Mr. Leadrach has been employed by the Diamond Cheese Manufacturing Company for the past year. They have the best wishes for their many friends for their future success and happiness.
Ernest Edwin Parker son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Parker was born in Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Dec. 3, 1886, Died Feb 1st 1904 - Age 17 years 1 mo 28 days.
He had always lived at home. On last June he was taken with a cold which finally settled on his lungs - and after a few months of lingering illness - not always confined to the house and but two days confined to the bed when death relieved him of his suffering at this early age when life would have otherwise been so hopeful.
He was a good boy and had won many friends for himself.
A short service was held at the home Wednesday morning conducted by Rev. Rupert.
Miss Merrill, formerly of the Oberlin school, has entered the High School.
Miss Sperry is still unable to return to school.
Mrs. Chas. Davis who was teaching for Miss Sperry is ill.
Miss Alice Kane is teaching Room No. 2.
An exhibition frame will be put up in room No. 3, on which the different work done by pupils will be shown.
Teachers’ examination at Sandusky Saturday.
The Endeavor social Tuesday evening at the residence of Orson Meeker was well attended notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. A good time was had.
The choir’s visit to the home of F.C. Morgan, three miles west of town Thursday evening last, was an enjoyable affair.
The Mission Society is preparing a barrel of clothing to send to Miss Lottie Goodell, Berea, Kentucky, for distribution among the poor whites. [NOTE: Lottie’s mother Anna Maria (pronounced Mariah) was married to William Goodell who drowned in a flash flood in Port Angeles, Washington when she was but a child. Her grandfather was Sylvester Pelton who was uncle to Vermilion’s famous Lester Pelton. Anna’s mother was Eunice, whose mother Charlotte was one of Vermilion’s first pioneer women.]
Mary Eliza Nuhn, nee Opfer was born on the fifteenth day of January, 1834, at Gitersdorf Hessen, German. In 1857 she entered into the hold bonds of matrimony with Asmus Nuhn. They came to America together in 1861. Their union was blessed with eight children, of whom two proceeded her into eternity. A husband, five sons, and a daughter and brother accompanied her to the last resting place. She died on the 26th day of January after a lingering illness, having reached the good old age of 70 years and 12 days. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wm. G. Klein, last Friday afternoon when all that was mortal was laid away in Maple Grove Cemetery. Requiescat in pace.
Brownhelm and Birmingham people are invited to telephone their items to the NEWS or hand them to our correspondents.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer of Feb. 3d, contains an excellent likeness of L.D. Weeks, a former Vermilion boy, son of Mrs. Weeks of this place and a brother of Mrs. W.E. Bailey, and has the following to say:
L.D. Weeks of No. 605 Franklin avenue has been appointed inspector of boilers at Manila harbor. The position is a new one and is of great importance.
Mr. Weeks began sailing at eighteen and was an engineer at twenty-one. Three years later he was chief engineer. he has been on some of the biggest boats on the lakes. For two years he was connected with the Hartford Insurance company. Mr. Weeks took the civil service examination a few months ago and won the Manila position through the showing he made when he was examined.
At the regular meeting of the Village council Monday evening the Logan Natural Gas and Fuel Company was granted a franchise in place of the one which expired last fall. it carries with it the same provisions including the for-future of $500; although the people seem to care more for the gas than the money.
Reports from Elyria and Lorain seem very favorable for the fuel and the cold weather has little or no effect on the pressure. Evidently it is giving satisfaction there..
Miss Nellie Baumhardt entertained a sleighing party, last Thursday evening from Axtel about thirty-five in all. Music and dancing were indulged in after which refreshments were served to which ample justice was done. At an early hour the parties returned home. Music for dancing was furnished by Messrs. Closson and Gegenheimer.
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Baumhardt entertained a number of sleighing parties last Friday evening there being about fifty present. Flinch and Music formed part of the amusement. A find lunch was served and a most enjoyable evening was spent.
Mr. Kishman of Iowa arrived here Saturday for an extended visit with his mother and many friends who will be happy to meet him.
Geo. Christmann of Vermilion spent Friday evening in our little town.
Kelly got a gold watch. [NOTE: No explanation was given for this report. How curious.]
Mr. Alfred Burk has sold out his business of Dry Goods and Groceries to Mr. Wm. funk. Mr. Burk is going to Fostoria. May success attend him.
Ed Burk and Ed Sanger are going to Fremont to start a Racket Store. Mr. Ed. Gibson is going to put hardware in connection with his other business, that of druggist. [NOTE: a “racket store” was the term once used to define a 5 & 10 cent / Dime store.]
A medicine show has been here the past week. They introduced a voting contest on the popularity of certain ladies.
The stork visited the home of Dr. Jacob last week and left them a fine girl to love and cherish.
Mrs. Sadie Bartholomew has bought a home on South St., having purchased a house and 5 lots of Mrs. James Mordoff.
The funeral of Mrs. Grobe was held here at the M.E. Church Sunday afternoon.
A marriage licence [sic] issued recently to Mr. John Dickle and Miss Ada Hill. They have the best wishes of their many friends.
Richard Heys has been sick with the measles.
Miss Calli Barnes called on Miss B.O. Jump Sunday.
Percy Lee has been on the sick list.
Capt. Peter Full was a Sandusky visitor Tuesday.
Married - At the Reformed Parsonage Sunday afternoon John Dickel to Miss Ada Hill.
There is a likelihood that the state tax levy will be reduced from 1;35 to 1:31 mills.
Mrs. A.H. Leimbach who has been quite sick, is reported some better.
Mr. Geo. Pawson, who has been somewhat of an invalid for some time, is confined to the house.
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Williams, Saturday, January 30, 1904, a daughter.
Born - To Capt. and Mrs. Chas. Gegenheimer Monday, Feb. 1, ‘04, a daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hauff have moved in with Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Greenoe. They will look after the farm interest this year.
Married - Feb 1st, 1904, Capt. Fred Driscoll of Vermilion and Miss E.E. Barth of Cleveland. They have the best wishes of a large circle of friends for their future happiness.
Fishermen’s Union dance tomorrow night.
The Congregational church choir took advantage of the sleighing Thursday evening and gave their organist, Mr. Fred Morgan a surprise, by calling on him at his home west of town. After the usual practice, the evening was spent in music and games. Light refreshments were served. Mr. Morgan brought out the first church organ and illustrated the mode of playing. The instrument is a cuiosity [sic]f to many. It is more like an accordion in appearance than a modern organ. At a late hour the party returned to town having had a most enjoyable sleigh ride as well as spending a pleasant evening. [NOTE: That “first church organ” still exists and can be found at today’s UCC Congregational church in Vermilion.]
Hmmmmmm....
"Local skeptics referred to Vermilion's first prefab development as the "Plywood Plaza". "
PLYWOOD PLAZA: Following W.W.II there was a severe housing shortage in America. This was because homebuilding during the years of the Great Depression through those of World War II (1929-1945) had dramatically decreased. Federal officials estimated that between 1946 and 1947 at least 3 million new houses would have to be built to effectively address the problem. Prefabricated housing was viewed as a quick solution to the difficulty, but prospective buyers were not readily inclined to agree. Their experience and knowledge of the cheesy prefabs, which had been built as emergency housing during the war, had been less than stellar. And the prospect of their owning a home built on a cold concrete slab surrounded by panels of thin plywood with visible joints between the panels helped to insure that the aforementioned goal set by the feds would not be realized. In addition to this, existing building codes and labour unions were less than receptive to the concept. Thus, when it came to building prefab homes - the community of Vermilion, O. was no different than any other place in the nation. Skeptical would have been the operative word.
Local skeptics referred to Vermilion's first prefab development as the "Plywood Plaza". The term, however innocent it may have been, was not entirely harmless. To be sure, the intent was not particularly malicious. But it was inappropriate. Especially when what it really suggested was that the houses were inferior to those in the rest of the Village. But, in fact, they were not.
Technically they were known as Gunnison homes. They were named after a lighting engineer, Foster Gunnison who did for the American home building industry what Henry Ford did for the auto industry. Working with a group of architects, engineers and plywood experts during the 1930’s he developed affordable housing using assembly-line techniques. The homes were made from 4-by-8-foot panels and thus could be expanded in 4-foot increments. The walls were a mere 2 inches thick, made with 1/4-inch plywood, wood stud framing and rock wool insulation. A resorcinol formaldehyde adhesive was applied to the plywood and the sandwich sent through a hot plate press. Some said that this resulted in a stronger bond than if it had been nailed, and that the walls, consequently, had an insulation value of 22 inches of concrete. They were attractive, well-built and, thanks to a variety of add-on features, could be custom-made to accommodate families of different sizes and means. If the foundation was set a home could quite feasibly be built and ready for occupancy in four days flat.
In Vermilion a new subdivision of Gunnison-type prefab homes began to take shape in an area just south of what was then the F.W. Wakefield LIghting Company on West River Road sometime in the early 1950’s. The aerial photograph of the development was the work of local photographer Paul Ludlow from a plane piloted by Vermilion builder “Bud” Burkhardt. Mr. Burkhardt, along with several other Vermilionites such as Lin Creel, S.E. Langfitt, and long-time Vermilion School Principal Jim Sanford, were perhaps responsible for the burgeoning development. And the naming of the first two streets in it may well have been “incidental”, but it was hardly “coincidental”.
In a relatively short time the need for, and quality of, these homes simply overwhelmed the hypothetical logic of local skeptics. And gradually the stigma associated with prefabricated homes, as well as the insalubrious nickname for the subdivision, dissipated. More homes went up, and more streets were added. Families (in no particular order) with names like Martinek, Kyle, Meese, Langfitt, Cutcher, Bricker, Diehl, Maiden, Lane, Hallet, Davis, Moeller, and Wilkes populated the neighborhoods, and actively participated in the task of helping to improve and strengthen the community.
Within a few decades the entire area visible in the accompanying photograph would become a maze of streets lined with affordable and attractive homes. The demands of a burgeoning community and a nation which then, at least seemingly, had no bounds were met in that yesteryear by persons of extreme vision who were confident enough, and brave enough to ignore both critics and nay sayers. God bless them every one.
This device was designed for use by people who swim laps in a pool. The Lapotron automatically counts laps and times and displays this data for underwater swimmers. This device is especially useful for swim team competitors.
THE FIRE-LANDS: I found the following information re: the early inhabitants of our area to be extremely informative. Methinks you will also.
I am getting better at transcribing these passages so there are fewer mistakes. But I like to read as I go - and sometimes I fill in the blanks. So tread carefully this trail through yesteryear.
The following series will take thee to the townships south of Vermilion. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
…ried, in 1842, Ann Maria, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Van Benschooten, of Berlin township, Erie county, who is still his helpmate. Four children have been born to this pair, viz: D. S., born April 8, 1843, now a prominent resident of Ripley township; S. Minerva, born March 13, 1845, who died at the age of nineteen years; Alice E., born December 14, 1849, now; and Jay,- a resident, at present, of Fitchville, born April 14, 1852.
D. S. Washburn married. January 24, 1867, Sarah J. Macomber. They have three children, viz: Anna Maud, born September 24, 1868; Earnest Linton, born August 1, 1870; and Inez, August, 1, 1871.
Alice E. Washburn married, July 10, 1878, W. E. Gaskin.
Jay Washburn married, June 20, 1873, Mary E. Brady. They have one child, Howard W., born August 11, 1874.
Henry G. Washburn is known as one of the substantial men and most worthy citizens of Greenwich, and is universally respected for the sterling qualities he possesses. He is known to be the friend of all good works, and while being of a too retiring nature to take active part in public matters, has a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the interests of the people, either locally or in a general way, and is unusually well informed upon all current issues. He has always been a hard worker—one of that class which seems to have been especially adapted to the stern, severe task of reclaiming the wilderness and bringing it into the prosperous condition of the Western Reserve of to-day. Moral example, as well as material labor, has contributed to the creation of the present prosperity and social well being of our comparatively new northern Ohio settlements, and through this means, as through the other, Mr. Washburn has brought to bear, as one among many, his proportion of influence and force.
a son of Clark and Thursa Ellis, was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, New York, October 7, 1819. He made a brief visit to Huron county, for the first time, in 1840, but returned to New York and remained there until the following season, when he removed to Greenwich township, where he has since resided. He had but two hundred and sixty dollars, money that he had earned, and yet he succeeded, after being in the township two years, in accumulating enough money, in addition to what he brought with him, to purchase fifty-five acres of land. He cleared and fenced about thirty acres, and built upon it a log house. Having thus provided himself with a home, he was ready for a wife, and he procured one in the person of Mrs. Esther Rickard, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio. The date of their marriage was April 17, 1843. There have been born to them seven children, viz.: George Washington, born December 14, 1843; Eliza Ann, July 16, 1845; Julia Aresta, May 3, 1847,—died March 20, 18G7; Irvin Henry, September 30, 1852; Ira Benson, April 1, 1856; Lillie, September 18, 1858; Emma Adelaide, June 23, 1865. The three sons and oldest daughter are married, and live near the old homestead. Mr. Ellis has bought from four to five hundred acres of land, and now manages about two hundred, having given the remainder to his children. His present residence was built in 1856.
In politics Mr. Ellis is, and has always, been a democrat. He cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren, and has ever since taken an active interest in the affairs of the country, and, though he has never sought or held office, believes it to be the duty of every citizen to exercise his right of suffrage, and to do so intelligently. He has always been a hard working, industrious man, and his success has been due to no cause but his own efforts and judicious economy.
a son of the same parents as William Benson Ellis, was born in Onondaga county. New York, August 18, 1816, and after he was twelve years of age worked out by the month, at three dollars per month, until he was nineteen, when he commenced to learn the carpenter trade. He afterward followed this calling until 1839, when he removed to Ohio, and settled in Greenwich township, upon a farm of fifty acres, which he had purchased the year before, in partnership with his brother George, of his uncle Ellis, at the rate of five dollars per acre. The same land is now in possession of his son, Sidney H.
Mr. Ellis was married about two years after coming into Ohio, to Miss Rachel, daughter of Henry Rickert, born in^ Trumbull county, Ohio, and of this union, eight children were born—four boys and four girls, of whom seven are still living, and all resident within a radius of three miles from the old homestead. The names of these descendants are: S. H., T. B., J. R. Martin, C. L., Lina and S. C. Hiram died when four years, eleven mouths and fifteen days old.
Mr. John Ellis has been long and favorably known in Greenwich, has held various offices of trust, and has carried on extensively and successfully the business of farming. To his little farm of fifty acres, he has added from time to time, through the avails of hard labor and judicious management, enough to make the total acreage of his land over five hundred and fifty acres. This large property, which his industry and enterprise have acquired, he has divided among his children, except two hundred acres, which…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
GREAT STUFF (AGAIN): Gosh, I'm so very happy when I stumble across items such as this. This is a long forgotten Vermilion High School basketball program c.1948-49. This is actually a 4-page program, but I only scanned the back and front sides.
The two players pictured are Merle Koppenhafer and Earl Tischer. I was thrilled to come across this artifact. The advertisements, alone, are precious. Some places I'd never heard of - such as the Richmond Barber Shop. And some, like Schmidt's Greenhouse and the Vermilion Transportation Company, bring a good many memories to the surface of my thoughts. And then there are the names of the Reserve team and cheerleaders. Wow! What great memories.
I don't need to wind billions in a super-lotto. When I come across items like this I feel like I've won trillions.
In the early 1900s, the wealthy children attended private academies. The schools were houses with a few rooms in them set aside for classrooms. They were small, with only about three or four pupils in each grade. One teacher taught several grades in just one room. In the private schools, girls and boys were not together. They went to separate academies.
Some of the subjects the girls learned were reading, spelling, history, arithmetic, geography and penmanship or handwriting. Sometimes they learned manners and dancing, French, drawing and how to walk and act like a young lady.
The public schools, on the other hand, were free and mostly attended by the kids who were not rich. Boys and girls were at the same school. There was a class for each grade level with about 20 to 30 kids in each class.
Most of the subjects were the same, but the teachers were harder on the children in public schools. If the kids did something wrong, the teachers would hit them with paddles or rulers, or box their ears. Not all poor kids got to go to the free public schools. Many of them had to work to help their families and did not go to school at all. In 1904, a lot of the work was just reading and memorizing and reciting. Sometimes kids got to do experiments if the teacher wanted to. Some funny things that were different were that, at the rich schools, girls did stretching and yawning exercises!
They also had lessons in archery and tennis, got to play basketball and learn how to swim. Something they learned to swim without any water or a pool by being hung from the ceiling in harnesses to practice their swimming arm movements and kicks! In 1904, children were supposed to go to school until the age of 16; however, most kids never finished the 8th grade. They went to work in factories, farms and coal mines to help their families. Some went to high school and a few went to college. In those days, very few women went to college. Even the rich girls didn't all get to go to college.
STILL ZILCH: No Podcast this week. I'm still gathering my thoughts. (Or attempting to...) Merry Christmas.
Persons interested in the history of the Lake Shore Electric Railway (which was the subject of a recent past podcast series) - "the greatest electaric railway system on the planet" may want to go to Amazon.com and purchase a book called "Images of Rail - Lake Shore Electric Railway". It was put together by Thomas J. Patton with the help of my friends Dennis Lamont and Albert Doane. It'd make a nice gift.
Also, please note that all the video (MP4 and MOV) podcasts (when used) are done in the "Quicktime MP4 / MOV" formats. If you don't have a "Quicktime" it's easy to find and free to download.
NOTE NOTE:Past podcasts are not available in the on-line archive. They just take up too much disk space. But if one really, really, really wants to acquire a copy of a past cast it can be had by contacting me and I will place it on a disc and send it to ye for a minimal fee.
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: After giving it much thought this link has been "put-down". During the last year most of the folks who used to use this page as a bulletin board have acquired their own and, consequently, no longer need this forum from "Views". I have, however, kept links (in the links section) to Larry Hohler's "Hope Homes" in Kenya - and to Bette Lou Higgins' Eden Valley Enterprises sites. They are historically and socially relevant projects. I suggest that you visit these sites on a regular basis to see "what's shakin'".
THE BEAT GOES ON: This page is generated by a dreaded Macintosh Computer and is written and designed by (me) Rich Tarrant. It will change weekly ~ usually on Saturday. Bookmark the URL (Universal Resource Locater) and come back at your own leisure. Send the page to your friends (and enemies if you wish). If you have something to share with those who visit this page, pass it on. And if you see something that is in need of correction do the same. My sister, Nancy, is a great help in that respect. It only takes me a week to get things right. And follow the links. You might find something you like. If you experience a problem with them let me know. Also, if you want to see past editions of this eZine check the new archives links below.
If you're looking for my old links section (pictured) I've replaced it with a pull-down menu (visible in the small box next to the word "Go"). If you're looking for links to more Vermilion history check that menu.
How the old links menu looked
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.9, Issue 48 - February 11, 2012
© 2011 Rich Tarrant