INSIDE TOWNHALL: The octagonal Florence Township Hall (seen in this old photo from the collection of Erie County Commisioner Sparky Weilnau) is still standing. We visited the standstone structure last Sunday. It is located across from the Florence Congregational Church on the Edison Highway (State Route 113) near Florence Corners. The inside of the building (as one can see) is rather sparsely furnished. It does have heat. An oil stove stands on one side. It really is a rather remarkable structure.
According to the inscription etched above the entrance it was built in 1854. It is made of sandstone quarried from one of the townships quarries.
A gentleman apparently on his way home from the church across the street stopped to talk as we inspected the place. He told me that it was still used as a polling place until about 12 or 13 years ago. Today there are some township buildings (garages and storage sheds) behind it. I took more pix of the structure but lost them while playing around with my computer. (Sorry about that.)
I need wonder why the building was octagonal. Was there some practical reason for this? Or was it just because...?
KYLES': This, of course, is the Kyle & Son garage and Pontiac-Buick Dealership building on the Decatur Street curve/turn of Routes 6 & 2 in Vermilion [c. 1950]. This photo is more for the benefit of folks who were born sometime in the late 1950's and after who would have no memory of Kyle's being located in this spot. To clarify matters for those folk this is now the home of Vermilion's Municipal Court; and where Vermilion Council Meetings are now held.
One of the reasons I remember this place so well is because our family lived just across the tracks (on Perry Street) south of the building.
I used to enjoy going into the showroom when the new car models were on display. The Kyle's were/are always very friendly people. The family lived in the house just barely visible (in this pic) to the left of the garage.
One of the most intriquing things about the establishment to a youngster my age surrounds the fact that just out of the photo (to the right) next to the railroad tracks sat recently wrecked automobiles. I had some morbid fascination with looking through them and find dark blood stains on the seat covers, dashboards, and broken windows of the vehicles. It was a morbid kid thing to do.
One of the most important things in this picture is the sign with the arrow pointing left between the two concrete posts. I don't know what the count is (but it's significant) - but many, many vehicles failed to heed that sign and slow to make the turn to the left coming up the hill into town and smashed into the gas pumps and the front door and windows of Kyle's showroom.
While I have some pix of such mishaps I opted not to use them at this time. It's occassionally nice to see the building without a severely damaged car or truck plowed into it.
One thing that should not be forgot is that this happened to unwary motorists going in both directions. The saving grace of missing the turn when headed in the opposite direction was that there wasn't anything quite so solid (as Kyles') to stop them.
THE MAUD-ELTON: This is not a terribly old photograph. It was taken by Vermilionite Jim Smith from atop one of Hull's silos in August of 1965. I'm very glad that Jim took the picture.
Again, for the sake of young folks born after that time, this is a great picture of the Maud-Elton hotel sometime before the upper two floors were removed. Although the old Roscoe portraits of the building certainly show the hotel in it's prime this affords one a better idea of just how large the building actually was. At the time of this picture only the basement part of the structure was being used as a saloon.
To the lower right, at the back of the old L.S.E. Station building, lately used as a bank (now empty), there was an electric booster station (filled with electrical equipment). Many folks have forgotten about it.
But a great picture of the old hotel - whole - but in it's last days.
GIRL SCOUTS: I can't yet this photograph of Vermilion's Girl Scouts; but I'd guess it's about 1955. This photo was taken on a visit to Washington D.C. Congressman A.D. Baumhart Jr. is in the pic that was apparently taken in the Capitol beneath a large mural of our forefathers.
I recognize a few girls in the picture:Diane Fleming; Maryann Thompson (now Corcino); Mary Rapprich (leader); Janice Kropf; Janet Lindsay; my sisters Ellie and Butch (Zella) with Mrs. Ed Fisher between them; Shirley Malone; Darlene Neiding; Eleanor Hollosy (Chaparone); Linda Russell; Evelyn Todd; Ada Greenhoe; Meridith Rapprich; Karen Hollosy; Barb Mey; Janet Watson; Janice Barthel; Linda Calvey; Cheryl Fisher; Marylou Homitz; Eva Thompson; and Marylee Russell.
It seems like only yesterday!
Larry Howell loaned me the picture that was given him by my brother Al.
SMITTY: Local resident Jim Smith has loaned me some wonderful photographs (including those of the Maud-Elton) during the last few weeks. This is one, of many, he has of his uncle, Warren G. "Smitty" Smith at his bait and tackle business along the Vermilion River.
Smitty's place was located where Don Parsons ran his bait place until he retired. Along with his brother, Alfred, Smitty built his business - essentially from the bottom of the river up. I've pictures of him as a young man driving in the pilings with a sledge hammer, and building the dock walk along the stream with Alfred. Pictures of Alfred are exceptionally rare. He did not like to have it taken.
I've copied the pictures Jim loaned me and will place them on disc(s) to become the property of the Vermilion Area Archival Society. They are an important part of Vermilion history.
For reproducing some photographs for him he is going to give me a old Vermilion area telephone directory that will also become the property of the society.
This picture shows Smitty with his ever present pipe in hand talking with a friend along the waterfront. I've a later photo taken of him at the place he kept on Darrow Road when he was in his late 70's. The pipe is also in that pic. He was truly one of Vermilion's great characters.
SILENT VIEWS: I don't really know what happened. For some reason (unknown to me) my music won't play right now. I can't determine whether it's just my browser or what. It just ain't working. I suspect that it's something to do with my page provider. For some weeks there was a mysterious letter in the upper left corner of each of my pages and I couldn't figure out where it came from. It wasn't in the file editor. I didn't put it there so???
I'll just continue tweaking and I suppose I'll find the answer. It's those little bugs that bug me. I'll most likely wake up from a sound sleep some night and have the answer. Until then - silence.
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 S. from the Class of 1985 tells me that "the VHS class of 1985 20th reunion will be held on Saturday, June 25th at the Vermilion Boat Club, 7:00 PM to ? Cost is 30 dollars per person, includes meal and bar. Please contact Karen Williams-Rossi to submit money. Family picnic will be held on Sunday, June 26th at Mill Hollow Park. Cost is 5 dollars per family. Please bring a side dish or dessert. The main dish and beverages will be provided.. 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 8, May 14, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant