THE DOCTOR IS IN: This is the editorial handywork of former Vermilionite, Dr. Norman "Jack" Dean of Fallston, Maryland. Doc (VHS Class of 1951) is an engineering instructor at (I think) the University of Maryland. His brothers, Jimmy and Danny, are familiar figures around the city of Vermilion.
The cartoon reaches back to 1994 when things weren't going too well about town. The water-tower had sprung a leak and some thought it would eventually topple onto the Crow Lumber Company. Fisher's Big Wheel had closed. The ice breaker was broke. Several rail crossings were closing. The old "Pickleworks" was empty. And the public comfort station was in need of funds for renovation.
Well, we now know how things worked (or didn't work) out, and now we're on to other problems and challenges. But Doc's work is a true piece of Vermicana. It is, in brief, a keeper. It will become a part of Vermilion's archival collection.
For folks who might be interested in obtaining a color, full-size copy of the cartoon - pay attention.
I scanned the piece with a resolution of 600 ppi and then reduced it so that it could be shown clearly yet easily appear on this webpage. Knowing this you should be very able to copy the cartoon to your computer, enlarge it to whatever size you desire, and print out a very nice copy for yourself.
It really is an interesting and well done piece suitable for framing.
ANONYMOUS: This is an extremely curious photograph that my friend, Jennifer Smith, found at a garage sale. She intends for me to use the frame in which it was contained to place a nice photo of her 3 daughters.
Initially, this pic could have easily been overlooked and discounted as just something that was in a frame for display/show purposes. But closer instpection shows that it is signed in pencil by local photog Rudy Moc, and is dated (19)"41".
In some respects this reminds me of the photograph someone once loaned me of the anonymous little girl who we later discovered to be the movie star Dorothy Granger. Again, we don't have a clue as to the identity of this little girl. But it is probably safe to assume that she is a local child (12-13), and that her shadow was captured on the occasion of her First Communion. Her communion prayer book and a folder with her rosary sit on the table next to her. The candle celebrates Easter - so we might assume that the photo was taken very near that holy day.
Because Moc's signature is in pencil on top of the picture my further assumption is that Moc may have reproduced and/or colored/tinted it. Both the girls clothing and the furniture seem to indicate that the actual pic was take more than a few years prior to 1941 - perhaps in the 1920's.
I guess my intent in publishing it here (aside from the fact that it's a pleasant photo) is to see if anyone might know the identity of the girl. If so, it would be nice if the picture was reunited with the family from which it came.
I cannot say enough how I am annoyed by folks who toss out old pictures of their family members. The Vermilion Area Archival Society would be more than happy to take such items off someone's hands before they are destroyed for their trapping(s).
Amen.
ALFRED: This, friends, believe it or not is a very, very, very rare Vermilion historical photograph. There are not but, perhaps, a handful of persons alive who have - or have access to - something like this. And I know only 2 other persons on this planet who have a copy of this particular picture.
Warren, Alfred, and Sterling Smith were all well known persons/brothers in and around Vermilion, Ohio. Of the three Alfred was particularly camera shy. And that is the reason this is a rare photograph. There are few to no pictures of him anywhere.
In this particular picture he was helping his brother, Warren, drive in posts to make a dock along the river (where Parsons Marine located today) where he opened his old LSE car bait store, and had his boat livery. I'm guessing (of course) but this was probably during the very late 30's or early '40's.
Interurban historian Dennis Lamont indicated to me that sometime in 1938 Warren G. Smith purchased several discarded LSE cars (both have been pictured here at different times) - and the purpose (of course) was that he intended to use them for his business. That's how I project the date of this photo.
I would like to point out that the Smith Family actually goes back in the earliest pioneer days in Vermilion. Charlotte Tuttle Sturges Austin (about whom I have a separate webpage linked below) was an ancestor of this family. Somewhere 'mongst the books and papers surrounding me I have a history sent to me by Bob Smith (Warren's son) who now lives in (I think) St. Louis.
In any case, this wonderful snapshoot of Warren and Alfred was loaned to me by their nephew, Jim. Vermilion entrpreneurs they were for certain.
JIM'S BOOK: I'm always thrilled when someone from Vermilion is responsible for writing a book. And I'm exceptionally thrilled when the book written is a history book.
I've mentioned Jimmy Fischer before, and I'll most like mention him again as the months pass. This book, Custer's Horses is a must read for students of American history and students of American life itself.
Jim co-authored the book with Gary Paul Johnston and Harold A. Geer five years ago. It is, obviously, the result of a great deal of research and thought.
Not until I read this work did I actually realize the importance of the role of the horse in the development of our nation. Beyond that I found out just how much I didn't know - and perhaps took for granted - about horses in particular.
Just how the physical condition of the horses played a crucial role in the outcome of the last great Indian battle for the west is very enlightening. While there are no subjective theories about Custer's Last Stand set forth in this essay there are conclusions to be drawn from the facts presented that I will leave up to those who read the book.
It is printed by the Wolfe Publishing Company (6471 Airpark Drive) in Prescott, Arizona (86301), and should be available through Amazon. You may also find it at your local library. It's truly a great piece of the puzzle of American history.
In addition, this is not the last you'll hear of Jim. At the moment he's busy writing a novel that has some ties to the lake shore in Vermilion. Incidently, Jim is the person in calling card reproduction above. Stay tuned.
LEST WE FORGET: This week, for whatever reason, has been a week of looking at the old diesel-steam train industry for me. In searching for some other information I happened upon pictures of the interior(s) of some of the old passenger trains. The one above is a c. 1955 photo. One reason for my using it here is that there are undoubtedly many people around us who have no idea as to what rail transporation was like - and most likely never will.
I never travelled by train a great deal, but I did some train travel. And it was not at all uncomfortable.
The longest ride I ever took by rail was from Cleveland's Terminal Tower to Fort Knox, Kentucky. It took all night so I had a sleeper car to myself.
One of the things about that trip that sticks in my memory is riding down the middle of the street in some town in southern Ohio or northern Kentucky. This wasn't beside a road. It was right in the middle of a main street. It was akin to what riding one of the old interurbans might have been like. I found it to be real odd.
But as I've mentioned there may come a day when all of the passenger rail lines cease to exist. And someone, somewhere, may wonder what the interior of these old cars was like. I, myself, wonder about the interior(s) of the interurban cars. Some, according to descriptions I've read, were quite ornate.
VERMILION BOTTLING: I've had some of these pix of the Vermilion Bottling Works for a bit of time. This photo predates the time when oft mentioned Vermilionite Larry Shafts purchased the concern. When these shadows were banked the Feldcamp family owned the pop factory.
I do recall drinking some of the pop produced at this place, and being forever glad and mystified by the fact that Vermilion had its own popworks. The only thing more one could have asked for was a free candy factory.
Those are wonderful memories to have.
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.
Also note that their are (unfortunately) some mistakes on the calendar. The name of Sue Backus under the "Business and Corporate Sponsors" heading is spelled incorrectly. And the month of March is listed incorrectly as being "2005". The days of the actual month, however, are correct for 2006.
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 23, August 27, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant