OVER 20 THOUSAND: This week the "Views" page reached a milestone of over 20 thousand hits. A-mazing! Just a-mazing.
Taking a break yesterday from smashing my brain against a proverbial wall with trying to learn what appears to be a rather easy task with Adobe Photoshop CS2 I went looking to capture a picture of something about town that I hadn't seen for a great while.
What I found was the north side of the tunnel that runs under the Conrail tracks for Edson Creek. It is just off the now virtually forgotten section of old Lake Road just south of the 4-lane road that replaced it back in the 1950's. Actually it just across the street from the very north end of Jefferson Street (that few folks realise even exists).
It doesn't look as though anyone has been near this place for a number of years. It really has been forgotten. When I was a youngster this (naturally) was one of those great places to visit in the summertime. The creek was low, and the tunnel was damp and cool.
Above the tunnel along the north side of the railroad there was a strip of sandy-soiled land with knee-high weeds that my friends, Jake and Tom Boone, used to refer to as the straits. When we wanted to explode firecrackers or CO2 cylinders this was a good place. Now the field is gone - replaced by bushes and trees.
As I walked down the vacant road I wondered at the changes that had taken place over the last 50 years. It seemed like it was only yesterday when we roved this place. That's also a-mazing!
ALL IN A SIGN: A great deal of water has passed under the old bridge since one of these signs was seen in Vermilion. Jack McKeown (mic-kew-in) was, of course, a local realtor and also an insurance man. He had an office in the Fischer Building next to the old A&P Store (on the SW Corner of Liberty and Division/Main Streets). Jack's old office may now be the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce offices (if I recall correctly).
Jack lived on Langfitt Street in what was in the 1950's a new subdivision off West River Road some locals referred to as "Plywood Plaza". (That name, by the way, is viewed as insulting by the folks who created the project. But the fact is that the homes were, indeed, made of plywood. Their rather intense anger over the nomen is a bit much. It was not entirely undeserved.) I don't know if Jack had anything to do with the development - but I'd guess that he did. I'd also guess that he didn't care what anybody called it so long as they purchased one of the homes.
Actually it was the start of a new housing boom in Vermilion, Ohio that would someday turn a village into a city. The entire Valleyview section of Vermilion has its roots there.
In time I think that Mr. Coughlin joined McKeown and would later purchase the business. But I don't think that Coughlin ever took on the realty portion of the concern.
BESSIE SHEROD: I am very greatful to my friend, Fred Wetzler, for this photograph. It is a very rare piece of "Vermilioncana". (Note: remember that word).
The Sherod family has a long long history in Vermilion, Ohio. And, incidently, the name is prononced share-id not share-rod. Those who knew the family know the proper pronounciation - and it should be honored. For heaven's sake they gave the city a park the least one can do is pronouce their name right!!
But back to the pic. The ladies pictured are: Ora Rumsey, Jennie Alheit, Laura Goetz, Lottie Lawless, Bertha Leimbach, Harriet Ball, Laura Linglebach, Mabel Powell, Mrs. Schifler(?), Bessie Sherod, Nettie Jump, Amy Gegenheimer(?), Rose Lang, Lillian Haskell, Alberta Johnson, (?). (These names are copied from handwritten notes on the back of the snapshot and may contain a few errors.)
The snapshot photograph was taken in 1955 at a gathering at Bessie Sherod's house. Her house sat on the Sherod Park property (of course) at the approximate site of the picnic shelter that sits closest to West Lake Road near the creek. There is no mention as to the reason for the gathering. It may have been - and most likely was - a church womens' group outing.
The picture was the property of Bertha [Mrs. Gus] Leimbach (Fred's mother).
Many of the names are familar to long time residents. The one that "strikes me" offhand is Laura Goetz. She is, here, as I remember - although she used to put the fear of God into me when I was a youngster. Mrs. Goetz was what folks once called "deaf and dumb". And she was always coming to our house looking for our mother when she was (or appeared to be) upset about something. She's be walking down the street muttering to herself and waving her arms - and we would run and hide if mom wasn't home.
Mom would always communicate with her by writing. Mrs. Goetz always kept a note pad with her. But she scared the bejesus out of me - although it wasn't deserved.
But seeing this photo and reading the names brings back numerous memories of long ago.
ANOTHER SCRAPBOOK PIC: From my friend, Lawrence J. Hohler of Port Jefferson, NY, comes this wonderful scrapbook photograph of his grandmother Susan "Bushia" Shafts with her sons Larry and Harry. It was taken in the livingroom of the home Larry had purchased for his mother at 315 East Ohio Street in Vermilion in July of 1959.
At the time of this picture Larry was working as a draftsman for the Wakefield Brass Company, and Harry was a welder at the Lorain Ship Yards. Larry was married to Margaret (Tansey) and they lived in a home Brownhelm Township (a pic I have for another time). Both Larry and Margeret were well known about Vermilion.
Like the Wetzler photograph I appreciate being able to record these photographs for the Vermilion Area Archival Society. While they may not seem terribly important to many - they certainly are. They help provide names to faces and places in and around the Vermilion area that can be, and are often, easily disregarded, discarded, and consequently lost. Each photograph adds another detail to a larger historical record and picture. What's even more wonderful than just having the photos is the fact that they come with a record of who's in the pix and where they were taken.
A thousand thanks for those who share these records with us. They are appreciated now, and those who follow us in time will also come to appreciate from them.
DROPPING DEAD:There is probably nothing more fun for an amateur historian than sifting through century old newspaper files. I don't suppose that this is everyone's proverbial "cup of tea", but sometimes a person finds some things that are highly amusing.
In this instance it's not this rather poor, but well known, old photograph of Miles Thompson sitting on the board sidewalk soaking his tired dogs in a wooden pail of water that is funny, but the notification of his demise that appeared in the local newspaper on March 21, 1901. It reads: Mr. Miles Thompson dropped dead Tuesday at his home..."
I don't know about anyone else but referring to one's having "dropped dead" in public, not to mention as a formal notice in a newspaper seems a bit tacky. However; as I read further it appears that it was commonplace. Look at this: the headline on the front page of the paper is Dopped Dead. The text reads as follows: While M. M. Pelton was seated at the dinner table yesterday in the presence of the family he was taken with heart failure and died in his chair. Well that's okay (I guess), but to add insult to injury it further explains: At the time of his death all were laughing and talking and supposed he was laughing with them. The funeral will take place tomorrow.
The headline should have read (at least) Dropped Dead Laughing
Very funny.
UNUSUAL: This is another piece I received from Fred Wetzler. It, obviously, reports a tragedy at Beaver Creek. The piece was clipped (I assume) from the Lorain, Ohio paper (I'm not sure if The Journal existed at the time) and is significant to me for several reasons.
The first is the tragedy itself. But other things are the name. Kane is a well known name in the region. Another is that it is a Lake Shore Electric accident. We know that the cars were capable of reasonbly high speeds, but we don't generally assume that the cars were noiseless and invisible. The girl was tying her shoe. Why didn't she heed the cries of those trying to warn her?
Another thing that interests me is the reason the article was "clipped". I don't have an answer to that question, but I can make some assumptions.
Betha Leimbach cut the article from the paper. Did Bertha know the family? Or did she clip it because her first husband (Fred's father) had been hit and killed by a New York Central train as he walked down the tracks some years earlier. Like the girl, Fred's father didn't hear, or take note of, those who saw the situation and tried to warn him.
In any case, it's an unusual piece for which I am sincerely thankful.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar is now available at several locations around Vermilion for $5.00. These are new calendars that feature Vermilion's fishing industry.
On Monday the VAAS will sponsor a program in Ritter Public Library's Community Room featuring the photographs of Vermilion Photographer Richard "Dick" Koontz at 7pm.
"Antiques and Artists" will display their wares in Exchange Park today (August 6th). Tis an interesting activity.
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. With all the bad things happening on the "dark continent" it's really nice to know that there are some places where the light does shine brightly.
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: "We are planning the 45th at the AMvets Hall on route 60 in Vermilion. The date will be July 22, 2006. Bruce Eldridge, John Hunter and Bob Wolford will serve as chairmen with the committee consisting of Buzzy Young, Shirley Mayer, Sue Opperman, Judy Gutman, Denny Owen as well as Tom and Judy Williams." Their website can be found at the following link: Classes of '60 to '62.
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.
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 20, August 6, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant