A.M. VERMILION: This photograph was taken in front of our home at the crack of dawn (today 5-7-05). It is the road before me - today and everyday.
This is been a good week - history-wise. I, inadvertantly, found things I wasn't, necessarily looking for. My intent was to find 2 things: something about a lady named Augusta Emilie (Franzke) Kuhlen who died May 26, 1879 in Vermilion, and was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery and; the names of the boys who played for Glenn Martin's championship basketball team 1937-38. I do recognize one boy on the team. It is a guy most know as Bus Darley from Mitawanga.
I found nothing (yet) about the basketball team. There was zilch in the 1938 micro files at Ritter Library about it. The research girl at the library found some information on Mrs. Kuhlen for me. She gave me a place to start. But I found many other things of interest. Things I wish I had found prior to this time.
I found explanations for several pictures I have that didn't come with any text (of course). Some of those explanations pertain to sailboats built in Vermilion c. 1938 by a fellow from Berlin Heights named William Daniels. They were known as v25's. I found a story about an aviator named "Tony" Janus (correct sp. Jannus) - a portion of which appears in this issue of "Views". I also found a brief history of Florence (a.k.a. Jessup) Township. Lastly, I found an obituary for one Harvey E. Rodgers who lived on Joppa Road. Mr. Rodgers died on the 25th of March, 1938 of wounds he had received during the Argonne offensive in World War I. He is the grandfather of my friend Tom Rodgers who now lives in Troy, Ohio.
From this it may be easy for some to understand how easy it is for me to get lost in the history of Vermilion and its people. For me it is often like constantly winning the lottery. Everywhere I turn there is a payoff.
And that's what happens when I follow the path in the picture (above) each day. I never cease to be surprised.
TOUGH STUFF: This information (sans the picture) appeared in "Views" over a year ago. It resurfaces again - not to antagonize folks - but to touch on the finer truth/reality of the incident. Because Vermilion is such a small town - and was even much smaller when this incident occured - the truth tends to get buried or, perhaps worse, distorted over time.
This was a scandal in 1922. I can't say that it wouldn't be the same today, but there are some facts regarding this event that aren't readily known.
As I followed this story one thing became very obvious to me; Mr. Irey had a severe mental health problem. Without going into great detail let it suffice for me to say that the gentleman spent most of the remainder of his life (which was relatively substantial) in a mental health facility. This however; didn't make what happened any easier on his family. And that, friends, is the true tragedy of this story.
I knew nothing of this story until about 2 years ago when a relative of this gentleman contacted me inquiring if I knew anything about it. I did not. But, in time, I learned of the incident. And later I came across more information that, while purely incidental, afforded me an opportunity to understand just how seriously ill Mr. Irey was, and how terribly both he and his family (Mr. Irey with his daughters pictured) must have suffered because of that illness.
In brief, Mr. Irey was not a Romeo who possessed looks and position and used them to further his desires. It was never that simple. Mental illness never is. It's truly tough stuff.
AND THERE WAS LIGHT: Birmingham resident, Interurban historian, Dennis Lamont forwarded me this tidbit of Vermilion history last week. I believe it came to him from his partner historian, Lorain native, Albert Doane.
Well, there it is folks! Electric lights came to town in 1908 courtesy of F.W. Coen of the Lake Shore Electric Railway.
People who've read some about early 20th century Vermilion should be familiar with comments made by citizens of those times about the dimming of the lights in town when the electrics were climbing the hill on Liberty Avenue from the station across the street from the Maud-Elton Hotel.
There is also been mention of the electricity cutting out at the Crystal Theater at times wherein live entertainment was necessary to keep the crowd happy.
Prior to this time The Vermilion News was printing everything using a gasoline engine at the back of the printshop. Like most factories of the time a belt ran through the shop, and all the machines could be attached to it to make them run.
November 1908 was a very notable period in Vermilion's history.
SEA SCOUTS: This photograph comes to me via Vermilionite, Larry Howell, from my brother Albert. I'd not seen it before Larry showed it to me. I won't say much about it because all the names are there. It's a Paul Ludlow photograph, and I'm not sure where it was taken. Some of the people most familiar to myself in the pic are Harry Troxel (now deceased), Mike Anastas, Jimmy Greenawalt, Rich Parsons, Johnny Kudela, Bruce White, and (of course) Doug Francis (now deceased). Tom Jeavons (now gone), and Billie Lee (who later served in the Coast Guard in Vermilion) are the only other men I know/knew.
I need wonder why Vermilion still doesn't have a Sea Scout organization? Being a coastal city it would really seem appropriate.
CUB SCOUT FACES: I needed to run this pic one more week. With the help of several readers I've been able to identify all but 5 of the boys in the picture. I sure would like to get all the names. So I'll keep he pic here for a time longer.
This is Vermilion Cub Scout Pack 309. At one point in time Ralph Bard was the leader.
The photo was taken in the Firehall I'd guess in the realm of 1955-56. Here are some of the faces I can remember:
Back Row: Pete Nichols (now a minister in Portstown, PA.); Ken Risdon(Bob Risdon's brother who is a professor in Duluth, Minn.); Tommy Roberts; Bill Ream (my very good friend now living in FLA); Ray Croxford; Jerry Smith; Bob Hill; Bob Risdon; Randy Dellisanti; Paul Heffernan.
Second Row: Gary Wlodarsky;Linn Hollosy; Dan Gray; Rick Furgason; Dicky Adams; ? Sanderson; Lee Myers; Jimmy Calvey; ?; ?; Harold Burke
Sitting: ?; Tom Hauff; Tom Rodgers; ?; (looks like) Tim Peters; Vaughn Smith; Joel Hasenflue; Bobby Rhodes; Ed (Bixie) Young; Donny Reiber; Martin Bodde; and Bill Nowacki.
Ya' gotta help me here folks! This is a great picture and we need identify everyone.
TONY JANNUS: This photograph, in its entirety, has been depicted as a picture of Vermilion's Waterworks under construction. While this certainly can't be denied what it really is is a very very historic picture of the very first plane to have landed in Vermilion on August 30, 1914. The pilot's name is Anthony "Tony" Jannus, and this is not a Curtiss plane.
Jannus landed his plane on the Vermilion River at the request of the Vermilion Fire Department who were sponsoring a Firemen's Convention in town. He actually visited Vermilion several times that year. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that he was somehow a friend of local haberdashery owner Lewis Englebry. (That story I'll tell at another time.) From Vermilion Jannus flew to Cedar Point. History tells us that Jannus flew the very first commerical flight in the world between the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa in Florida. He is a very interesting character.
A GUNFIGHT ON LIBERTY STREET: A photo very similar to this is commonly held by area artifact collectors. There are, however, no others like this one. Somehow my friend Stu White found a way to step back into time (before Vermilion had paved streets) and challenge the boys on the corner opposite to a gunfight. There are no records telling us how it turned out.
YESTERYEAR: The book is published!! Some folks are well ahead of the game and have already purchased copies. The downloadable order form is below. For those who live near me this is unnecessary. However; I am the only distributor. I can be contacted at home by phone (my number is in the book), and/or I am at the Congregational Church from 7am to 11am every weekday, and I have books there.
The "PDF" form below is something new for me. You can copy it to your computer, print it, fill it out, and send it to me, or you can simply send me the information requested via email.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES:
Ray Beursken tells me that the VHS class of 1955 has scheduled their 50th class reunion on September 10, 2005 at the Boat Club. Class members of 1955 should put this date on their calendar. They're hoping for a good turnout.
Bruce Eldridge tells me that he and John Hunter just secured the Amvets hall for their 45th 60,61 & 62 class reunion. The reunion will be Sat. July 22, 2006. John Hunter, class of 1960, will be starting a web site in May or June of 2005. Bob Wolford, class of 1961, will be sending out a letter to all the classmates who attended our 40th class reunion asking them to update their E-Mail and help find other classmates.
A gal named Shelly from the Class of 1985 tells me that "the VHS class of 1985 will be having a 20 year reunion in the summer of 2005......no further details. The name of the organizer is Kim Schultz."
From Roger Boughton comes the following note: Thanks to Gail Lyon and Pat and Glenn Owen we have some additional pictures of our reunion held last October. Take a visit to our website and see what's new. Memories of this October are only a click away. Enjoy and remember.....if you send pictures we'll share with others on our website. Mary Ann is busy writing stories for her Virginia paper. You'll want to visit the site and read her thoughts on Liberty. Keep the pictures coming as classmates who were not able to attend are enjoying seeing "old" school mates. Also, you might want to send us news from and about your family and we'll include it on our web site. Our survey clearly indicated that most wanted our reunion held in Vermilion in 2009. Thus, we'll be celebrating our "special" occasion (50th Reunion) in September of 2009. Put it on your calendar and plan to join the fun. Remember our web site is located at: Class of '59 and I'll update it as as I receive enough new pictures and information from our classmates to make it worth reading. So send me any information that you would like to share with other classmates and we'll put it up for all to see and view.
I've visited Roger's website and it's fun.
Persons interested in having their VHS (and vicinity) reunion plans posted on this site are welcome to do so. I can't provide anyone with webpages to post their activities in depth, but I can provide a link to existing pages and/or post some activity items here. All anyone need do is contact me at my email address and pass along their material electronically.
I should add that some of the people who are noted in this part of the page are good resource folks for all types of information if one should be looking for some long lost friend. I won't give out contact information unless I have permission from those named, but I will contact them on your behalf if you desire.
As news regarding VHS reunion activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. There's not much going on right this moment, but stay tuned folks!!!.
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the 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 bookmarks. 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.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.3, Issue 6, May 7, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant