AN AMAZING WORK: Without knowing a single thing about the wood carving photographed in this glass case it is amazing enough. But you might be floored to understand that is was "All carved out of one piece of wood, with the exception of the laurels held in the hand. Everything else is carved in place...chains, balls, etc." This carving was the work of Vermilion, Ohio artesian George Stumpp and was accomplished ,as one source told me using Mr. Stumpp's words, "... before breakfast. But it took forty years of breakfasts."
By vocation Mr. Stumpp was a tool and die maker for the F.W. Wakefield Company. He lived in a very nice home (built in 1955) just east of Riddle's Funeral Home on South Street. His grandson Jared (who sent along this pic) now lives there.
I have some foggy memories of this man. But I knew several other folks who have very vivd memories of him.
They referred to him as "Stumppy", and their relationship/friendship with him had a great deal to do with guns. He was a gifted gunsmith/craftsman. Mr. Stumpp fashioned numerous gunstocks to fit sportsmen throughout the area. Several have been described to me in graphic detail.
Jared told me that this carving was actually done when Mr. Stumpp was a teenager and took him a decade to complete. The family lived in Brownhelm Township since about the beginning of the 20th century. They are related to the Herchler Family (still prominent in the area too).
Several years ago the Great Lakes Historical Soceity Museum was very interested in obtaining the carving, but Jared wanted to keep it. And I don't blame him. It is an amazing work.
VHS 19 AND 35: Things come to me in some rather circuitous ways somethimes. This photo of the VHS Class of 1935 standing in front of Vermilion's South Street School came to me from my Milan, Ohio friend Dale Hohler. It came to him from my 2nd cousin Nettie Welch. This is odd because I see Nettie with some regularity. She brought me a bag of apples just a few days ago. C'est la vie
Nettie identified everyone in the photo, noting that "10 are deceased", and that "at least 4 or 5 (are) not in the picture." The man who would be her husband, Norris Welch, for instance is missing from the pic. She opined that (he) "Norris must have been absent..."
In any case here are those she named (L-R):
Willard Smith, Mike Sopko, Norman Smith, Earl Klucas, (Seated girls in front) Marie Williams, Dora Krapp, Eunice Louks, (then past them) Lois Wohlever, Russell Darley, Orville Hite, Virginia Welch, Robert Lafferty, Werner Kishman, Else Rommen, Clara DeLeonardis, Lily Krincick, Warren Lee, Loren Utter, Carl Fichtel, Fred Fischer, (Seated) Betty Shimansky, Nettie Bogart, and Betty Becker.
If you've been about Vermilion for any time some of these folks you will readily recognize. As fate has it I have one of Betty Shimansky's (Trinter's) books right next to me.
Stay close because Dale also loaned me a copy of the 1935 (VHS) "Hi-Times". There are some additional pix that you will likely find some interest in seeing.
THE FISCHER MANSE: Regular visitors to this page know that during the last few months a Santa Maria CA lady by the name of Roberta "Bobbi" Riley has been forwarding me (electronically) some wonderful pix from her family collection. Without going into repetitive detail let it suffice for it to be said that she is the granddaughter of Elton L. Fischer whose name formed part of the Maudelton Hotel.
This particular photo is not the best pic of the home (sent me), but it is likely the oldest. Moreover; it is never before been published. At the very moment I've no good idea as to the year this home was constructed. However; Bobbi's late mother, Virginia, made a notation on the pic that guestimates that it was taken shortly after it was constructed, and that it was probably about 1895.
Without some more study on the subject (of the home) it is difficult for me to make any clear-cut comments about the year. But it is very tempting. These pix are an exciting addition to the archives of Vermilion's pictoral history - and I am inclined to gush sans thinking. So I won't give into the temptation to "gush". At least not right now.
THE MAUDELTON, ETC: In the business of collecting historic items and information I never cease to be astounded. This pic of the beautiful Maudelton Hotel that appears to have been taken about 1915 is neither rare nor astounding. But in relation to this hotel there is a bit of information (given me by Bobbi Riley) that I found extremely interesting.
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Lieberman Fischer's mother, Catherine, was married 3 times. Her first husband (Lizzie's father) was Lieberman. Her second husband's last name was Beeckel (Lizzie's half-brother was Andrew Beeckle - the undertaker), and her last husband was J.W. Krapp (the proprietor of the Lake House Hotel which her husband eventually purchased, moved down the hill, and renamed the Maudelton).
I do realise, of course, that Vermilion was a very small village - but relationships between families and people in general are not always known and/or obvious.
But they do make sense. Great, great stuff!!
ANOTHER RARITY: One of the wonderful things about the Fischer photo collection is that few to none of the photographs are professional and are not, therefore, to be found on postcards being peddled on eBay for absurd amounts of money. This beauty of the Kishman Fish House c.1900 is one such photo.
There's a reality check that goes with pix of this genre. That reality surrounds the fact that life in Vermilion (and I assume many other small towns in America) at the turn of the century is often very romanticised. The reality exposed in this photo is that the scene is not very pretty. This is that which folks actually saw and experienced from day to day: An overgrown hillside, a less that quaint fish shanty, and a vast swamp beyond.
The change in view from a century ago is miraculous.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE: Some will remember what the George Fischer home looked like from the riverside. I am one. But for those who've forgot, and for those who never knew it, this affords one a reasonbly good idea as to the size of this manse. (The ladies in the pic are Lizzie and her daughter Maude.)
This house was, in my experience, one of the most pleasant sights in town. From this house I became partial to tile-roofed homes forever. And when I was in Saigon, Vietnam (back in the mid 1960's) one of the things that always reminded me of home were found along the street between Ton Son Nhut airport and downtown Saigon. Here the great villas with their sprawling yards and tile topped roofs sat quietly (for a war) in the shade.
It is really a shame that this place was razed. I know not the circumstance of it - but it is too bad.
I should mention that Mrs. Riley forwarded me approximately 10 separate photographs of the home taken over a period of years, and I really wanted folks to get a chance to see some of them as soon as possible. Ergo; they pleasantly dominate this issue of "Views".
WHAT'S A FOOT: The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar featuring Vermilion's fishing industry is now available from myself, Sandy Neiding and Brummer's Candy Shop. 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.
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.
In the next week or so Larry will be heading for Kenya for a visit.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Here's a new item: Attention HVS Class of 1976. Youur 30th Reunion is upon near! It will be on June 17th, 2006@the Vermilion Boat Club 7:30 pm to Midnight.Pass the word. You can call Janet@967-4915 with addresses of fellow classmates or Email:jantanze@aol.com. The mailing address is:VHS Class of 1976 PO Box #872 Vermilion, OH 4089.
If something changes you'll see it here.
Some folks use this page as a portal to 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 47, February 11, 2006
© 2005 Rich Tarrant