...AND THE GOOD CITIZEN AWARD OF THE WEEK GOES TO: It's been a very long time since I did anything like this. (And I must confess that when my sisters and I did something like this we did it for ourselves.) But this was not the case for friends Bridget Gross, and "Tiff" and Miranda Smith who set up their Lemonade Stand on Edson Street this week. Their objective was to raise a few bucks for the Vermililon Food Pantry. And not only are their efforts to be commended - the results will astound you.
They brought in some $100 clams. Wow, wow, wow!!! This is a significant contribution, and the ladies are to be highly commended for their work and their thoughts.
THE 4TH AT THE OOC: I found it impossible not to take this photograph. This is the 4th of July at the Olympic Outing Club during the "Kids Games". I'm guessing, of course, but I believe I'd be pretty safe if I told you that there were probably 200 to 250 children in attendance for the games this year. And as one can see there was also no lack of spectators.
Every year the games begin with a parade of decorated bikes led by Olympic majorette, Tina Rini Swineheart, her mother June and Larry Fogarty (dressed as Uncle Sam) in a golf cart. The parade always ends up near the flag pole where the National Anthem and God Bless America is sung, and then the games begin. After the games hotdogs and hamburgers are served, and when night falls someone usually presents a reasonably nice fireworks show.
It's a big day for the Olympic Club children and their friends.
In this particular photo I keep waiting for the three men (John Fogary, Joe Dorsey, and young Jay Dorsey) to move - even though it's a still shot.
MISS ANNIE: She was hardly my favorite person, but she definitely had a great influence on my life and the lives of many people who passed through the Vermilion School System during her 35 years as a teacher/librarian there.
Miss Annie Chadwick passed away this week at the ripe age of 90 years. And what am I to say?
Miss Annie was the librarian I loved to hate. Her choice of books inadvertantly led me to where I sit today. As a boy I was a voracious reader of biographies - and she provided them to me in the little South Street School library next to the Study Hall. I also learned to keep my mouth shut when I was in her library. It was never a matter of speaking quietly. It was always a matter of never speaking at all.
In later years I would run into her and her sister, Miss Mary, in the grocery store now and again. I once stopped to talk with them - but I don't believe they remembered me. But 35 years? I suppose you would have known thousands of students. And unless one had made some great impression on her I suppose I was just another face. Perhaps I should've been a bit louder in the library.
But seriously, there are few people I respected more than either Miss Annie and Miss Mary (note that I don't mistakedly refer to them as just "Annie" or "Mary").
This snapshot came to me from "Chief" Croll (a former student too) who happened to catch the ladies with a sour cream kuchen just across the street from Schwensen's Bakery sometime back in the late 1950's.
Yes, folks - they could smile.
And may God Bless Miss Annie.
HARVEY AND JOHN: This is not a Vermilion pic - but was a shadow captured in Michigan probably back in the 1940's. Most who knew him will easily recognize Harvey Krapp on the right of the "trout line". The gentleman on the left (as is noted on the back of the pic) is Frank Krapp. I have very vivid memories of Harvey, but none of Frank.
I got this pic from Jimmy Fischer (who, while now living in Chardon, Ohio, will be moving back to Vermilion in the fall).
Jim told me that Harvey was the "cook" at these outings as well as the fellow who usually prepared all the wild dishes when Vermilion's Fish and Game held their annual will game dinners.
I, incidently, have a cassette recording of Harvey reminiscing about his youth in Vermilion. Betty Reffner did the interview, and gave me the recording for the Vermilion Area Archival Society. I made a copy for my self because I intend to transcibe it. There are some details in his folk narrative that afford local historians a better perspective of Vermilion life at the turn of the 20th century.
I always remember Harvey to be an extremely pleasant person.
PHOEBE AND HOLDEN: I received this photograph from Mary Michaelson, Assistant Curator of the Lynden, Washington Pioneer Museum, just this week. It is a photograph of Holden and Phoebe Judson at their 50th wedding anniversary on June 20, 1899 in Lynden.
For those who don't yet know it - Phoebe was the daughter of the Rev. J.W. Goodell who presided over the dedication of Vermilion's first church in 1843. Her husband, Holden, was born in Vermilion in 1826. They were married in that church in 1849. In 1853 they took the Oregon Trail to what became Washington state, and they eventually "founded" the town of Lynden.
Phoebe's account of her life from Vermilion to Lynden can be found in a book called "A Pioneers Search of an Ideal Home".
I am in the process of writing a story about her and Holden so you'll have more detail at a later time. The story of their lives, is truly fascinating.
HURON COUNTY: This is just a very small portion of a map given me (again) by Jim Fischer this week. Note that there was not, at the time, an "Erie" county. What we know as Erie County today was then part of Huron County.
This is nothing new, but I've not seen a map like this before. The larger map is of the Western Reserve Territory. It has a signifcant amount of handwriting at the bottom (of the larger map). And while I've been able to decipher some of that writing it is rather faint, and the script is such that it doesn't make for easy reading. When I get this deciphered I'll bring it to you - because it is of interest.
I want to point out that these items are to become part of the Vermilion Area Archival Society historical collection. I also want to mention that Mr. Fischer is a veritable gold mine of historic information. He knows more about the native American people and the natural history of our area and nation than anyone I've ever known.
Jim has written one book and is now working on a new novel. Both have a substantial base in American history.
WHAT'S A FOOT: Next Saturday (7-16-05) our friends from Historic Vermilion, Inc. are sponsoring their annual Riverwalk. They'll be vintage cars to look at on Main Street, BBQ Ribs at the Main Street Beach, and later in the evening an outdoor movie in Exchange Park. It's just a nice day to enjoy some time downtown by the river and the lake.
Monday at 7pm in the Community Room at Ritter Library the Vermilion Archival Society will host a program by Lorain Co. Metroparks Ranger, Grant Thompson, who will speak on the "Great Eagles Nest" that was once located east of town. Their 2006 Historic Calendar will also be available for $5.00.
Family day at Linwood Park, when a car load is $20. is now extended to Mondays through Thursdays June through August.
Also, visit (or re-visit) the Hope Children's Home site linked below because there are some additions there that you might find interesting.
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.
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.There are some new pix on that site now (7-2-05).
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 16, July 9, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant