WELCOME SIGNS: I was out looking for pictures and inadvertantly came across this scene. It was a pleasant day, and this made a pleasant pic.
This whole week has been a technical week for me. I'm trying to catch-up with all the software I have and learn to integrate it with writing. I sometimes feel like one of those people who sings, plays drums, and harmonica in the corner of some honky-tonk bar near a steelmill. Imagine that.
This week I, with a great deal of effort, acquired the software (via the net) so that I might use a little instrument called a DocuPen. This is a 8.5"x .5" portable scanner with a 2 MG flash memory. It is battery operated, and recharges and copies the information to the computer via a BUS portal like a flash disk pen.
It's a nifty little instrument. What it does is allow me to easily scan materials without running to a copy machine. It scans text and graphics. It scans a standard page of material in 4 seconds and is capable of scanning up to 100 pages at a time. A neat little toy.
We have also been busy getting things (finally) in order at our cottage at the Olympic Club. One of the things that has been keeping me from staying there for any length of time is that I didn't have "net" access there. Last week we had Adephia install cable access. So now we're on-line at the OOC too. My email address at the cottage is mr1cooker@adelphia.net if anyone is interested. But I can also grab my Centurytel mail there too.
Last weekend I wrote my first newspaper article from the cottage. But for now I still can't do "Views" from there. For that I need a few other items not available at a remote location. But it won't be long.
DRAWING VERMILION: This feehand drawing of the old Foster Boathouse is the work of Vermilionite, and my lifelong friend, Frank Homitz. Frank gave me several of his drawings of scenes around town some time ago. We keep them under the glass on the top of an end table in our livingroom. I like to look at them.
They're fairly large pieces - 11"x 17". Beside the one pictured I've got one of the Maud-Elton Hotel, and one of the Vermilion News building.
Folks who only know Frank as an expert concrete man and gardner may very well be surprised at his artistic ability. There's just something about these historic pieces that is absolutely fascinating.
THE RINI KIDS: And from the wonderful Olympic Outing Club historical picture collection comes this beauty of Tim, Tom, and Ann Rini. It was taken on the club grounds in the summer of 1963.
This was well before Mario and June Rini moved their family to Vermilion from Lakewood.
Both Tim and Ann are well known figures around town today. Tim is on the Vermilion School Board and (I think) is a talented carpenter, and runs Mario's Landing (next to the OOC) in his spare time. Annie (now has the last name of Maiden) is Vermilion's Mayoral Assistant. But I don't know what Tommy is doing at the moment. Whatever he may be doing I know he's doing it well.
THE ROARING '30'S: In essence this is a rather mundane photograph until one looks a little closer. The site of the pic is, today, the site of Romp's Waterport just south of the Vermilion River Bridge. I won't say that the pic was taken in the 1920's - but if it was it was very late in that decade (1929?). The folks in the photo have the look of folks from the "Roaring 20's" - but some of the automobiles would date later in the decade. And that's why I refer to it as the "Roaring '30's".
Behind the cottages and the restrooms the tracks for the Lake Shore Electric railroad and the steam railroad tressel are very obvious. This would be very near the site of my favorite Vermilionite's, "Big Ed" Lampe's, Southwest Fish Co., and was probably sometime after fire destroyed the place. I've seen other views of the cottages in this location in other photographs.
There are alot of flaws in this particular picture, but I'm glad that P. Roscoe took the time to capture it for us.
MARY AS PHOEBE: From Lynden, WA. my friend, Mary Michaelson (Assistant Curator of Lynden's Pioneer Museum), sent me this picture of herself dressed as Phoebe Goodell Judson, and her brother, Dave, dressed as another Lynden pioneer, Emmett Hawley. They are costumed for a pioneer community reenactment program in which they are (obviously) involved.
This portrait came to me as part (a very small part) of material/information Mary sent me that pertains to the lives of former Vermilionites Phoebe and Holden Judson, their family, and their friends after they settled in Washington Territory during the mid 19th century.
This is a great great story. It's much more extensive than one might imagine. And I have every intention of sharing this story with all who care to know it in the very near future. It is a true piece of American history.
Stay tuned.
A MANSION: This photo is more for the benefit of folks who no longer live in Vermilion than it is for us "lifer's" who are here for the duration.
Next door to (just west of) Bluebird Beach from Lake Road to Lake Erie there is this mansion built. And these are the gates to that place. It is the Elden home. But that's not really important. Nor is it what catches me eye.
The picture does it some justice. And it is the bears that guard the gate which I find interesting. Somebody in the place has a cute sense of humor. Because as the seasons change the bears (at least the one on the right) can always be seen holding a different object. So it's always fun to drive bye and see if anything has changed since the last time.
It's a nice touch. Not stuffy. Just nice.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar featuring Vermilion's fishing industry is now available at several locations around Vermilion for $5.00.[Maryann's Beauty Salon; Brummer's Candy Store] These are new calendars that feature Vermilion's fishing industry. Anyone interested in one of the calendars can also contact me. Shipping and handling costs run about $1.35.
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.
This week I changed the URL for Roger's site as he requested. There were some minor problems with it. But now things should be okay.
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 22, August 20, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant