ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS: Between historical things and technical things it's real easy for me to get lost. Two new items I'm attempting to bring to "Viewers" are a webpage about Lake Erie Legend Captain "Big Ed" Lampe, and a PDF (true image) document of the dedication sermon the Rev. Jotham Weeks Goodell gave when the first church constructed in Vermilion, Ohio was dedicated in December of 1843.
I've no idea as to the reason that I'm having trouble with the sermon document - but it seems to work everywhere but on-line. It won't load to the net for me. It's just some very simple technical thing that I'm missing. But I'll get it.
I realise that not everybody on earth is, or will be, interested in Goodell's sermon. But I am interested in mastering a way of making historic documents available to the public-at-large on the net without typing my fingers off. Thus Rev. Goodell's sermon is a trial of sorts.
The page giving Vermilion's Pioneer Woman; Charlotte Sturges' account of her early days in Vermilion is a similar item. And that still needs some work.
The "Big Ed" story isn't quite as technically difficult. But, historically, there are some snares.
In either case it is time that is really problematic. I am a slow learner - also a work in progress.
TAFT'S POND: Last week I wrote that, "I've had this photograph for months, and have wanted to use it - but don't know much about it. It is from the collection of Erie County Commissioner, Sparky Weilnau, loaned to me through my friend Dale Hohler. And folks, I don't have a clue.'
And then my Birmingham friend Dennis Lamont responded with this:
"Hi Rich,
As far as we can determine, Tafts pond is one of the two small ponds (probably the southernmost one) remaining on Ottos place over at the Metro Park[Schoepfle Gardens]. This seems to line up pretty close to where Tafts had their property.
Dennis"
Dennis also sent me an old map of the area:
VHS 1953: I don't honestly recall if I used this pic before (or not). But that's okay. It's still of some interest.
Some folks may remember many of these faces. (I do). Phyliss Jackson is Chet and Esther Jackson's daughter. She looks a great deal like her father. Nancy Lee-Fulper looks much the same today. And were it not for this pic I might have forgotten Pam Knittle. Jeanie Lindsley-Miller I see with some regularity. And with the help of Alice Wakefield (I would have forgotten many names) Marilyn Kukes. I do remember Karen LaFollette. It was always attached to a pretty girl.
And there, lo' and behold is "Biff" Langfitt. His mom was my 4th grade teacher. Langfitt Street in Vermilion is named after his family. When I knew the family (when I was a youngster) they lived on Ohio Street - between Perry and Decatur in a house that, later, Gladys Risdon owned. The home burned during the 1960's. It was a rooming house at that time. My uncle, Phil, was terribly burned, and Frank Adkin's father perished in that fire.
But who calls their kid "Biff"? It sounds like a name from "Leave It To Beaver".
And then there's Jimmy Kidd. Who would'a thunk? Jim became the head of Lorain County Bank. His brother, Kenny, recently passed away. They were/are really great guys.
Walter Harris I don't have any memory of; Doug Keith is still around town; and then there's everybody's friend, Larry Howell. I see Larry nearly every day. Rolly "Slug" Harris is still about Vermilion. Rolly is a guy with a terrific sense of humor. Dana Hamrick is a name I recall, but I don't recall him in particular. Don Gregg, and Dave Guthrie I remember quite vividly. These are people that I really looked up to - and still (to some measure) do.
Their faces bring back many memories.
TOWNHALL: My grandpa, Pearl Roscoe, didn't take many color pix. Had he lived a few years more that would not likely have been the case - but that was not to be. He died in 1945. This color photo of Vermilion's Township Hall is c. 1943. In some respects it mirrors a black and white photo he took of the same building at the turn of the last century (c.1900) that is in wide circulation.
My guess is that he was experimenting with a new camera using color film when he took this pic. I say that because it, in its raw state, is somewhat blurry. Using some filtering I didn't make the photo sharper, but did make the blurring less obvious. (i.e. It doesn't look like the mistake that it apparently was.)
At the time Roscoe took this photo the activity advertised in the poster (he probably printed) below was a distant memory.
I still have hopes of salvaging this building by forming a for profit historic development stock company, and making renovations that will allow it to be used for community activities; profit and non-profit alike. If anyone is game let me know.
KISHMAN FISH: I am mesmerized by this photograph [from Brownhelm historian Bill Cutcher] of fisherman, William LaCourse, amid this trapnet in the "twine house" at the Kishman Fish Company. I just can't imagine what it took/takes for anyone to sew one of these nets by hand. They're so - darn - big.
I'll bet I passed this place no less than 1000 times whilst I was a youngster and I never knew what was taking place inside this building.
In the two photographs below the outside of the building is pictured. The high windows along the wall (on the indoor pic) were probably on the riverside.
I am truly sorry that I missed all this stuff. I was likely sitting on one of the cannons in Exchange/Rubberneck Park watching traffic when all this was taking place.
Like the song says, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've lost til it's gone?"
MERRY XMAS: Moving along with things I've designed a series of Vermilion Christmas greeting cards. This is one. It's quite nice. The cards are printed on a textured heavyweight paper.
This scan doesn't do them justice.
Aside from this scene there is one with a sleigh on a Vermilion Street, and another of Tom Ball's "Iona" near Vermilion's Water-works.
Folks who are beginning to look for Christmas items might like to consider these cards, my book, "Yesteryear", and/or the Vermilion Area Archival Society's calendars.
The cards are $2.00 each/12 for $20.00. They will be printed (and personalized if one chooses) on demand. None of the cards will be produced without specific order(s). All portray old-time Vermilion scenes. They are 5.5"x 8.5" cards and envelopes printed on a textured, heavyweight paper. All are quality products. Or as I am wont to say, "Nice Stuff!!"
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; Vermilion YMCA] 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 there 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.
Take note that this Monday, October 10, Jimmy Fischer, co-author of Custer's Horses, will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Archival Society. All are invited to attend - and we will suspend all admission fees. This is not a meeting that anyone interested in American history should miss.
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. Please keep in mind that the needs of Hope Children's Home are on-going. Contributions to that home may be made to Larry Hohler in New York.
Also note that this weeks "New Views" came to me from Larry. Larry is also a retired New York teacher.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: 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.Please note that I'll be placing the VHS Class of 1959's webpage into the links section of this page shortly. It's looks as though it is going to be a permanent connection for interested parties.
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.
Right now things in this area are (as is obvious) rather slow...
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 29, October 8, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant