A MEMORIAL DAY: A very appropriate and interesting picture for this Memorial Day Weekend. This photograph from the Pearl Roscoe photo collection was taken (I'm guessing) in about 1921 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Vermilion, Ohio. [ed. note: Anyone wondering why I use the the specific location (i.e. Vermilion, Ohio) on this page at times should understand that there is more than one Vermilion in the U.S. and Canada, and that some visitors to this site get here by browsing/searching through the net and may want to know what Vermilion they are looking at.]
The date I give for this particular photo is based on my father being in it in his WWI uniform, and the scout uniforms in the picture. My father came to Vermilion shortly after the first war and would have been involved with scouting even before his boys were born.
One might note that Vermilion scouts, to this very day, are still active in placing flags on the graves of veterans in this cemetery.
A PARADE NOT MEMORIAL: I really can't say too much about this photograph except that it was from a Fourth of July Parade in Vermilion in 1914. The car was an Overland sold by the Dall Brothers one of the very first auto dealers in town.
Their first dealership was located in the building on the very southeast tip of the intersection of South Street and West River Road by the railroad tracks near Lithonia Lighting. The bulding was later occupied by the South Shore Packing Company (the "Pickleworks" and is now used as a boating supply/sales/and bait business. I believe this is the same Dall that still operateds a Ford dealership in Elyria.
They would later occupy a building along Liberty Avenue now owned by the Moes family. That building sits along Liberty between Parsons' property and the Vermilion Boat Club.
Mr. Dall, incidently, had one of the very first gasoline motor boats on the river.
AERIAL VIEW: I doth love aerial views of Vermilion. This one of Parson's Fish House(s) and what was, at the time, Smitty's Bait (and home) is a beauty. What some folks may find unique about the photo is the absence of homes in the Vermilion Lagoons.
Here we can plainly see the building along Liberty previously mentioned as the one time home of the Dall Brothers auto dealership. T'was also a time when my favorite Lake Erie sailor, "Big Ed" Lampe built and docked his huge sandsucker, the Vermilion, at this spot.
At the bottom of the photo some parts of Frank Baker's Ford dealership, with gas pumps, is visible.
It is possible that this picture might have been taken from the newly constructed water-tower.
I need thank my good friend and electric rail historian, Dennis Lamont, for this picture.
VERMILION GIRL SCOUTS: This Paul Ludlow photo of Vermilion's Girl Scout and Brownie troops at a banquet was apparently taken in the basement of the E&R Church. Again, I have to guess, that the year is about 1954. And, again, I need help in identifying some of the people in the photograph.
Off-hand I recognize Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Bauman; her daughter Ruthie (Tanner), and Dorothy Rathbun; and her daughter, Susie. And some I recognize, but can't remember their names. So let's see what happens. Can you give name to someone else in the pic?
BACK ON THE RIVER: This is another pic I received from Dennis Lamont. It is, of course, Ryser's Bait house. Prior to Ryser's ownership of this dislocated L.S.E. car it belonged to Warren G. "Smitty" Smith. And although I have some pix of the car when Smith owned it none are as clear as this.
The car was (to my knowledge) scrapped after the Great Flood of 1969. This property is now owned by Don Parsons and his family. Don kept the bait business going until just recently. Although retired he still works the waterfront giving tourist informative cruises whilst keeping an eye on his boat repair and storage business at the same location.
OKAGI: Perhaps Vermilion's greatest restaurant, barring none, was Okagi's. It had a national reputation. And that was no mean feat for a restaurant serving American food, owned and operated by a Japanese national.
I've not a clue as to the reason he located his restaurant in Vermilion - although I know that he had other opportunities elsewhere. I am also under the impression that this location (on the south side of Liberty Avenue, just west of the Erie County Bank building) was not his original location. But the business was extremely successful.
At the outbreak of WWII the "Fed's" came in and investigated him to see if he was subversive and quickly found that he was not. But he never became a U.S. citizen.
Okagi's first name was Mamouru (I have had that name posted on my desk for 4 years). He was married to a French woman who committed suicide in their garage on Exchange Street after learning that she had inoperable cancer.
The Okagi's raised two foster children; Mary, who married Russ Vasbinder; and a boy who eventually became an airline pilot.
Sometime in the 1950's Okagi left town - giving the business over to Mr. Vasbinder and his brother-in-law. He later died in California.
Oddly enough (my being a professional cook) I never ate in the place.
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.
Shelly Clipson Shock 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 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 10, May 28, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant