VERMILION SHORES: These shadows were captured by Nikon D70 last Monday (1-16-06) at the Vermilion Shores Condominiums. This condo complex is located north of Lake Road just east of Sunnyside Road (across from the Farm Market) in Vermilion. They are very nice.
Due to the fact that they are located just across the northern set of ConRail tracks that run along the lake into Lorain and Cleveland it could be surmised that this is not a great spot to live. But, in reality, the trains aren't much of a problem (noise-wise). Since the closing of the Ford Motor Company's Assembly plant just east of this area, and the slow-down of heavy industrial manufacturing in the area rail traffic is negligible. This is a very nice location.(Just a tech note about this pic in particular. I simply found the scene agreeable. There was a van parked at the end of the lot that was eliminated with the use of Photoshop CS2. But other than that the pic is natural.)
The picture was taken from a balcony of a second story condo looking west over Lake Erie. Each unit has a balcony from both the livingroom and master bedroom that overlook (obviously) the lake.
As is also obvious it was quite windy. The breeze, however, had absolutely no effect on the climate inside the home.
They are impressive places with or without the view.
There is a Clubhouse near the entrance to the complex that will, when finished, feature a large outdoor swimming pool. Across the street - where for years an unsightly honky-tonk was located - a comely new restaurant is being fashioned. And it is my understanding that in the future more condominiums will be constructed in the area behind the restaurant.
What this means for Vermilion's future is a matter of pure speculation. But if nothing else it is a tremendous visual improvement to the area.
ELTON: I do remember Elton Fischer. But my memories of him are those through the eyes a little boy - perhaps I was 8 or 10 years old - and they are clouded by all the people and years that have passed since (50?). This Elton I do not remember. Nor would it be possible.
This photo of Mr. Fischer is c. 1916-17. He would have been in his mid-20's when these shadows were froze in time. And as his granddaughter, Bobbi Riley, remarked to me, "He was a rather handsome man."
Hither he stands in front of his new garage and showroom for his Chevrolet-Buick dealership. It was a major part of the building his father constructed on the southeast corner of Liberty and Division/Main Street in 1915. Today the showroom is part of what locals know as the Encore Shop. Elton is standing by a gas-pump. Behind him one can just see the reflection of part of a sign pointing to the entrance of a roller-rink that was on the second floor of the building. If one looks even more closely at the reflection part of the old Fischer Lumber Company across the street is visible.
And now a bit about Elton: Elton Lieberman Fischer (Lieberman was his mother's maiden name) was born February 23, 1893 in Vermilion. He was the only son of George and Elizabeth Fischer. They also had a girl they named Maude (Priest). Elton was the grandson of Nicholas Fischer.
Both Nicholas and George were lumbermen. Nicholas was a wholesale lumberman who worked the virgin forests of Ohio and Kentucky. And whilst son George followed in his footsteps he was well educated (a lawyer and businessman) and started a retail lumber company on the shores of the Vermilion River. He was, in a word, successful.
I've no idea (yet) as to how long Elton kept his automobile dealership, but eventually he apparently sold his share of the business to his partner, a Mr. Stone, and the concern was moved from the location in this pic to a new building up the street beside "Bunny" Bond's tavern and renamed Stone's Garage. This is the brick structure now being partially used as an insurance office across the street from the Ritter Library Annex (formerly Dick Baker's Doge-Plymouth Dealership). I have been told that before Stone built the existing building that the old Andy Marks' home on Perry Street occupied the site. Stone's business, incidently, eventually evolved into Sharpnack's Chevrolet Dealership.
In any case Elton eventually assumed the responsiblities inherent in operating his father's lumber company. In 1938 a fire consumed the business along the river and Elton rebuilt the busines. This time it was on the opposite side of the road. At the beginning of WW2 he sold the company and it became known as the Crow Lumber Company.
Mr. Fischer owned and managed a considerable amount of property during his lifetime. He sold one of his properties to the federal government to erect Vermilion's first free-standing Post Office during the 1950's.
He was a Vermilion Volunteer Fireman, and like many other men in the village was a member of the local post of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge. He was also an active member of the Sandusky Elk's Club.
He and his wife, Ruth, had a daughter, Virginia Ohler who just recently (1-11-06) passed away in California, and a granddaughter, Roberta/Bobbi.
During WW1 Elton served in both the U.S. Army (as seen in picture) and the Merchant Marines. The patch on his uniform in the photo has the intials U.S.C.T.. After searching through numerous sources in an attempt to discover the meaning of the initials I (at this time) conclude that he was part of a special training unit that was created during the first war specifically concentrating on training businessmen to be officers in the Army. If anyone knows better, or more, about such matters I'd appreciate hearing from them.
But however you cut it, Elton L. Fischer was a very special person. He went to his final rest in 1960 at the rather young age of 67 years.
CLOUDY'S: This is a pic of Cloudy's Ferry dock that I've not seen before. There are others, of course, but none so clear as this. The shot will soon be added to the Cloudy; Vermilion's Ferryman site. One, among the many, great things about working webpages is that as information becomes available it can be added to enhance existing pages. Cloudy Noel is, beyond the shadown of any doubt, one of the most interesting persons who ever worked along the Vermilion River.
And, now, as I'm about talking webpages it should be known that the Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843 page is now finished.
That is to say that the text of the sermon is finished. However; the page itself stands in need of some tweeking. In addition to this folks who are interested in such things might like to know that it is my intent to make the sermon available in PDF format (perhaps this week). This will allow a person an opportunity to make a hard copy of the text that can be read/studied that leisure.
One of the benefits of transcribing things is that it forces one to take some note of that which they're transcibing and ergo; begin to better understand both the document and the author. After having read a number of things written by Rev. Goodell I begin to better understand his manner of thinking/logic. It adds a great deal of dimension to his character.
Ironically, there is a letter he wrote that very insightfully observes the bridge that written words make in time.
It's great stuff! (as I am wont to put it). I would urge those who have some interest in history (and early American theology) to take some time and read the words of Jotham Weeks Goodell.
THE WESTERN SHORE: And here's another great great pic I picked-up this week affording all yet another perspective/view of the old Vermilion Lighthouse and walkway.
This taken from the Lake Erie Shore on the west side of the breakwall that I'd wager to say is been under the lake for some time.
Very good sources have told me that Mrs. Wakefield (Dr. Ruth) who now lives in this vicinity very likely (still) has to pay property tax on that which is now subterranian landscape. (Sound absurd? Well, yes. But what else is new?)
But this is a wonderful view of that area that is, perhaps, c.1900.
Again, great stuff!
AND ALONG THE RIVER: I doth think that this is an old P. Roscoe photograph. There is another that is quite similar.
And here we get a good view of the river at work. The pic was probably taken from the swampy shore now part of the Vermilion Lagoons at about an area across that now occupied by Parsons Marina looking south and west.
Not being a boater nor a person real familiar with the fishing industry I can't say what the nature of the large boomed craft in the sights of the camera lens was about.
A guess would be that it could be Captain "Big Ed" Lampe's sandsucker Vermilion unloading. But I am unsure about that. In yet another photo there are other boats pictured of similar design. It may have something to do with the nets of fishing boats.
In the background one can see the Maud-Elton Hotel and the big store (that once was Hart's Corner Drugstore - now the Main Street Grill) on the northeast corner of Liberty and Main Streets, and also the water-tower in Hanover Square.
I've only had this photo for a few hours and have not looked at it intently so I've missed a great deal. In addition to this - when I compose this page I seldom have a visual of anything I'm writing about. This is, therefore, often done by rote and I am nearsighted.
THE BRIDGES OF YORE: The photographs of the new park by the old water-tower last week induced a reader (Dennis Lamont) to submit that there should probably be a marker placed in the park that makes note, essentially, of that which one sees in the above picture. It is where the Lake Shore Electric Railroad bridge touched the western shore of the Vermilion River from the late 19th century until approximately 1938. And as one can see it is also the place where the electric road met the "Shore" road (Liberty Street). Foundations for both these bridges on this side of the river still exist and are visible. Only the foundation for the old "Shore Road" bridge exist on the eastern bank.
It seems that Bob Kyle is one of the folks representing Vermilion's Rotary Club who is responsible for overseeing the construction of the this park. Bob agrees that it would be reasonable to request that a marker be placed in the park by one of Vermilion's several historical agencies commemorating this place. Hopefully, the Vermilion Area Archival Society (VAAS) will be able to arrange for this marker.
As an example Dennis forwarded me the following photo of the plaque that one can find at the old Beach Park Station in Avon Lake. I believe you will find it to be very interesting.
My initial research into having one of these markers made by the Ohio Historical Society is that they run from about $1500 to $1900. But I believe the markers can be made for somewhat less than that.
In any case, if anyone is interested in helping with the project feel free to donate either some knowledge or funding to the VAAS. Hopefully this can be accomplished by summer.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar featuring Vermilion's fishing industry is now only available from myself and Sandy Neiding. While noting that these are calendars - please also note that they are collectors' items. This means that they're good for 100 years. 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. There only a few left. So get on it folks!
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.
I also have a few historica calendars from 2000. However; they're numbered and cost a great deal more than the VAAS calendars.
Please take the time to 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.
Please note in addition to the above that Larry's organization is actively looking for used text books to send to children in Kenya. Yo! Yo! You school teachers and officials out there! Don't toss those books. Get them to Larry so they can be applied to good use in Africa. For more info e-mail me and I'll get you in contact with Larry or someone else involved in this project.
Also Larry sent me some pix taken in Kenya a few weeks back. I don't know if they're on their webpage yet - but they've got chickens!!now. And that's a big deal when you don't have much of anything.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: There is absolutely, and unconditionally nothing different in this area that hasn't appeared here for the last six weeks. If something changes you'll see it here.
Since last week I did note that some folks use this page to access the Classes of '60 to '62 webpage I'm placing the link back here. But it would be a very wise move if folks involved with that page made a note of its URL and posted it in their notes as well as those contacting their classmates.
I was unaware of it but more than just a few folks do use this site as a link to their respective class sites - so - here's the VHS Class of 1959's site back for your convenience too: Remember that site is located at: Class of '59 and it'll be updated it as Roger (Boughton) receives enough new pictures and information from classmates to make it worth reading. So send him any information that you would like to share with other classmates and he'll put it up for all to see and view.
It is my understanding that some of these links are not working, or not working well. If so it is a technical problem belonging to the respective parties operating those webpages.
If you're waiting for changes here - a piece of advice: Don't hold your breath. But stay close anyway.
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 44, January 21, 2006
© 2005 Rich Tarrant