PRE-SPRING DISCLAIMATION: It is truly easy (for me) to get lost in the technology of the digital world. Ergo; often the text fails to shed much light upon the photograph.
Case in Point: Last week some mistook the photos and text of the Vermilion Shores condominiums as being a realty advertisement.
Whilst that may very well be how some perceived it - it was not the intent. My interest in the development is because it illustrates how Vermilion, Ohio is evolving as a community.
At the same time I have an intense interest in computer hardware (i.e. the camera/computer), software (i.e. Adobe Photoshop CS2), and their operation and techniques.
The above photo is a graphic representation of my interest in these matters. I am not selling dock-space, Nikon or Canon cameras, Adobe software, nor cleaning fish. What I am selling (if anyone wants to call it that) is my hometown - Vermilion, Ohio.
It is my home. The place is my place and the people are my people. It is my main interest.
Folks looking for some covert and/or insidious motive for this website and/or others designed and maintained by myself are chasing moonbeams.
Financially, this is a non-profit venture. Intellectually/historically, it is an extremely profitable one.
And that's the truth!
WOW!: Numerous people liked the pic (some weeks back) of one of Vermilion's Street Dances. Even my good friend, Don Morgan (a retired engineer of Wales, UK) offered a comment or two about it.
This pic of Vermilion's beauties c.1950 was, evidently, a part of that particular era.
I don't recall any contests of this nature during my tenure as a Vermilion youngster, but it is clear that they were part and parcel of those events.
Off-hand I'd say that they were probably related to the regatta activities more than just the street dances themselves. As previously mentioned (somewhere) the dances were normally part of any Vermilion Boat Club Regatta, but that was not always the case. There were times when the dances were simply fund-raising activities sponsored by Vermilion's Volunteer Firemen and/or the American Legion.
One interesting aspect of these old contests is the fact that each of the girls represented one of the various parts of mid-20th century Vermilion, Ohio: Elberta Beach, Linwood, Nokomis, Ruggles Beach, Bluebird Beach etc. And although those localities still exist they are slowly, but surely, disappearing as commonly known locales about the city. T'was a time when such things were of some import because the afforded one some idea as to the identity of a given family. That is no longer true.
An addtional feature of the '50's bathing beauty contest is inherent in the fact that it was very obviously just that; a "bathing beauty contest". I'm not a follower of pageants of this nature but I don't believe the girls who participate in them sit around in bathing suits now. Most times the girls are wearing beautiful gowns. And, I believe, their respective personalities have a great deal to do with how they place in the contests.
In some respects pseudo-sophistication has replaced the fun of it all. Today it's serious business.
I am sad to say that I don't know a person in this photo - man or woman. Nonetheless, tis a real blast from the past.
NOKOMIS MANOR: The place known as Nokomis Park is one of those locales about Vermilion previously mentioned. The "Manor" still exists - though I don't know what it is being used for today.
At the time of this photo it was being used as a hotel/motel. Crystal Beach was just a stones throw two cottages and a tall hedge away. So the place was likely frequented by visitors to that park and, of course, the great beach that lay just over the cliff to the north.
During the 1950's and '60's a family named Amsbaugh (Sp?) owned and operated the manor. I seem to recall that the familiy consisted of a father and his unusually pretty daughter who was (if I also remember correctly) musically talented. I never recall a mother or another sibling. But there may have very well been both.
During the mid to late 1960's the building was used as a smally boarding house renting reasonably priced rooms and efficiency apartments by the week and month.
I've got some very vivid memories of the beach and the park. Our family had a 2nd cousin (I called an aunt) named Clara Houseman who had a home there. And I do remember afternoons there as a very young boy, sitting on her front porch during the summer, and listening to all the wonderful activities taking place at Crystal Beach.
In later years I would spend a great deal of time at Crystal and on the wonderful beach (that is no more) at Nokomis.
NICKLE PLATE STATION: This is a great pic of the old Nickle Plate RR Station before it was moved from the side of the tracks just east of State Street to where it idly sits today behind Vermilion's old State Street School a few hundred feet to north and east. I'm think that I received this pic from Vermilionite Jim Dean some time back. It's a pic that I am certainly glad to have. Time passes and it's easy to forget exactly where some of these buildings were originally located (if they exist at all).
Actually this particular building remained was used by the railroad until just shortly before it was moved. They used it for storage. It was set for demolition and a group of Harbourtown 1837 folk raised funds to save it.
These old rail stations have fallen by the wayside - especially since passenger rail service is become a rarity. Once upon a time people used rail transport with some regularity from nearly every town in the area.
These buildings were, in my poor knowledge of such matters, rather well built. I've never been inside this particular building (only looked inside), but I've been in the old New York Central Station along the ConRail Tracks north of this site that is now owned by St. Mary's Catholic Church. They, of course, are not insulated structures but the paneling is all tongue-and-groove hardwood, and the doorways, rooms and windows are just interesting to look at.
This is a beautiful picture.
THE PARAGON: This building is no more. It was located just across the street from what is now Vermilion Hardware on Grand Street. Today the site is occupied by part of Glen Fulper's old garage and an empty parking lot. At the time it was the Paragon Laundry and Hattie Whitmore's seamstress shop c.1900.
This is where Vermilion's weekly paper, The Vermilion News, was born during the latter part of the 19th century (June 27, 1897).
The newspaper was located on the 2nd floor of this building that was known as the "Wells building". The paper, itself, consisted of a five column 8 page sheet. Four of the pages were printed in Cleveland, and the other four were printed on a "Gorden Jobber" one page at a time.
On February 17, 1903 the office was moved downstairs in the north room of the building. And on September 17th of the same year a Taylor drum press was purchased and it became a 6 column 8 page newspaper.
In September of 1904 Pearl and Elizabeth Roscoe purchased a property further south on Grand Street, and in November moved the business to a new building on that lot.
The Whitmore Family, who originally owned and operated the newspaper came from Greensprings, Ohio. George, the father of the family, appears to have been a talented entrepreneur. As one can see from the pic the family had what appears to have been a rather productive laundry and tailoring business. It was not, however, the scope of his business expertise - only a part.
THE SHORE INN: In the past I was under the impression that the place known as The Shore Inn was the place many folks knew as "Cisco's" restaurant on the north side of West Lake Road just east of Volunteer Bay. I am mistaken.
The building that housed the inn still stands, but it stands just to the east of what was Cisco's (a home later owned and remodeled by a Dr. Adams). Today the inn is a private home with, at least, one apartment.
I was sincerely unaware of this until a few months ago when the present owners of the inn spoke to me after a meeting. And then (duh!) it made sense to me.
One reason it makes sense to me (aside from what one sees in the above advertisement) is that Lake Road (originally knowns as West Shore Road) fronted the old hotel. That roadway was, of course, long ago taken by Lake Erie.
I was aware of this because of some historical writing I did re: Volunteer Bay and old Captain Johnson who lived with his son on the farm that became the "bay" development. But I still missed the point until the current property owners made me aware of it.
The inn is noted in several histories of the area and is important. During the very early years of regional development there were very few stopovers available to travelers - whether by horse or stage - and the Shore Inn was one of them. The history here (with this particular facility) goes back a long long way.
I hope to get to visit the place in the near future.
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. They cost $5.00. Shipping and handling for out-of-town mailing is 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.
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.
He will, shortly, be heading for Kenya for a visit.
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.
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 45, January 28, 2006
© 2005 Rich Tarrant