GOING, GOING, GONE: I caught this picture of Vermilionite Eileen Bulan's grandboys as we wandered through the Opera House atop Vermilion's Township Hall last week. They're looking over the main floor and stage from the balcony at the back of the Opera floor [which is actually the front of the building if you happen to be standing outside]. It provides one a good look at the balcony and the window behind the boys. I didn't think the pic was going to be much good until I worked with it in APS CS2. It was extremely dark.
Well the verdict's in folks. A Michigan entity outbid a Vermilion, Ohio entity for ownership of the building. What this means for the future of the building (locally) is anyone's guess.
But that's what happens when people are busy emulating guests on the Jerry Springer Show and not paying attention to that which is important.
They really deserve a great big hand.
SOMETHING POSITIVE: This just came in from local resident Jim Jones. Tis something good.
Jim and Gara's son Robb is a musician - a drummer. He's lived and performed in bands in Europe for several years. During the last year he joined a New York based band called The Jones Boys [The name is cooincidental. The band existed before Rob joined them.]
Robb has been playing in New York City for six months and continues to play in Madrid, Spain as well. Here you see them (appearing as listed) Chris, Mark, Casey, and Robbie Jones at (and I'm simply assuming this was the venue) the Merlefest Midnight Jam - 2006 in NYC.
Robb grew up in Vermilion and graduated from VHS. While I don't know him extremely well I know him well enough to know that we have one thing in common; we both collect old record albums.
I've heard some cuts on the net by the band and like them. But you can judge for yourselves by visiting (I hope this link works): The Jones Street Boys.
BEULAH BEACH 2: This is another photo I captured on Monday (5-8-06) when the Vermilion Area Archival Society and guests visited Beulah Beach. And whilst I'm about it I need point out that when this organization started on the eastside of Cleveland back in the 19th century it was known as Beulah Park and not (as I wrote last week) Beulah Beach Park.
In addition to this it is interesting to note that park historian, Walter Baughman, presented a slide show (in the room in the pic) that was produced in Texas by former Vermilion resident, summer park resident, and "Viewer" Steve Armstrong. Steve is a college professor in the "Lone Star State".
But back to this photo. This room is very impressive. While I have visited the basement of the hotel several times prior to the last I was unaware of the fact that this large, and very beautiful, conference room existed. It is my understanding that it used to be a cafeteria area, and was used for campers and other visitors.
Today there is a beautiful kitchen and eating facility across the street from the hotel that is situated right on the lake. Having had the pleasure of eating there several times (and having some notion of what cooking is about) I can tell everyone that it is a class facility.
But this conference room was really a great surprise. Beautiful!
WHEN IT WAS DIVISION STREET: This is a photograph reproduced from a slide photo captured by my Uncle, Captain Ferl Lindsay. It is one of several hundred loaned me by his immediate family.
I'm guessing (of course) but I'd give a c.1940 date. And aside from the angle parking it looks much the same today as it did 66 years ago.
While while walking across the railroad tracks last Sunday a.m. I noted that both the "Mailpouch" and "Alheit Hardware" signs that were very visibly painted on the south side of the building that is now Winterstein Realty are still, but vaguely, visible.
When I was a pup it was Miller's Hardware, and had a liquor store housed in a cage at the back of the store.
I've not seen more than a handful of color photographs of Vermilion from this period of time. But I'll bet they do exist (somewhere).
IT MAY BE GONE BUT...: Vermilion resident, Bill Lehky, surprised me with this wonderful picture of, what I assume is, a local troupe of players on stage at Vermilion's Opera House. He asked me to i.d. some of the folks in the pic - but methinks that's nearly an impossible task. Perhaps Amos Fieszli could help.
Bill purchased the photo from Millet's Auction House (the old Congregational Church next to the Town Hall) last weekend when Vermilion Township Trustees had Mrs. Millet auction off items they left in the building after they moved their offices.
It was a bear to scan because it was nearly 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. It required 9 passes with the scanner, that then had to be stitched back together 4 times. Due to my own carelessness the scanning process had to be done twice. But, finally, it worked pretty good.
Actually, I think this smaller black and white scan shows detail much better than the larger tan colored orginal.
My sister, Nancy, is they only person who's seen the pic before now. I guessed that it's c.1900. She figured about c.1920. But it's hard to tell.
Using my More Dating Old Photographs, 1840-1929 book I'm still calling it a c.1900 pic. In dating I bypass the stage costumes and try to concentrate on the few folks in the audience. The hair style (i.e. the back buns), and the flat-brimmed hat would indicate that it likely isn't the 1920's - but earlier. Sometime between 1890 and 1900. However; I could be wrong. (That does happen now and then.)
But a wonderful photograph it surely is!
RUGGLES BEACH FARM: I was very happy when I first saw this particular picture. I do remember this house. It sat on the south side of Lake Road (about) across from the old Ruggles Beach Dance Hall at (of course) Ruggles Beach, Ohio. Today the area is the site of numerous mobile homes. I would suppose that someone considered that to be an improvement.
This is another one of those places that nobody missed until it was gone.
THE M&E CHURCH: "In 1927, with the approval of state officials, the Vermilion Congregational and Methodist Churches voted to unite. The two churches joined under a Congregational policy. So 118 new members were added to the rolls, and with them came a new Sunday School class, The Modern Marthas.
The old Methodist-Episcopal Church building was then abandoned, with the exception of an occasional Boy Scout meeting or basketball practice. A few years later, the building on the comer of Grand Street and Liberty Avenue was destroyed by a spectacular nighttime fire."
This was an excerpt from Betty Trinter's History of Vermilion's Congregational Church that I introduced to the net last week.
This week I've added some addtional graphics and made an attempt to work out some of the crazy typographical errors that result when one "cuts and pastes" text from the computer desktop to a webpage.
But keep tuned to the page because I will be updating the history (that which transpired between its writing and 2006), and adding graphics.
This is an extremly interesting and important document.
WHAT'S A FOOT:The Ohio Historical Society has recently sent me the proof for the text that will appear on the marker denoting the location of the Lake Shore Electric Bridge as it passed over the Vermilion River. The marker will be placed in the new Rotary Centennial Park by Vermilion's old water-tower.
After the text is approved it will be sent back to the OHS and then go to the Sewah Studios in Marietta.It will take about 2 1/2 months to cast. So I'm hoping that it will be ready to place in the park and be dedicated by Labor Day.
The OHS will pay $750.00 (less than half the cost) toward the total cost of the marker. The rest will have to come through/from the Vermilion Area Historical Society (VAAS).
To date the VAAS has received a donation of $25.00 toward the project. I'm very sure that there are others who would like to add their donation. Those interested can contact me (via email, etc) and I will let you know how to forward it to the cause.
Also, The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar featuring Vermilion's fishing industry is always 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.
Keep an eye out here for more activities sponsored by the "Archival Society". One significant thing coming up in the near future will be another talk with Vermilion native Hank Fischer - plus many other things. So stay with us.
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 (now featuring the results of their annual USA Bi Continental Run). 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.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Here's some new items: Vermilion Class of l948 Reunion for Friday, August 25, 2006 at Vermilion Fish and Game - 6:00 p.m. For more information contact Carol Bechtel. They are looking for Richard Jenkins, Norma Czarnecki, Bob Thomas, William Judge, Robert Crampton, Rodney Gribble.
Bob Ferry, is heading up the VHS Class Reunion for 1987...20 years. (More on that at a later date).
Attention VHS Class of 1976. Your 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 44089. The Committee has been busy, busy and more busy!! They have been trying to find classmates whereabouts, and trying to confirm classmates who are deceased, (for memorial bricks) Please help as much as possible if you could. They are still looking for the following classmates: Linda Anders, Theresa Barnes, Debbie Bishop, Pam Campbell, Sharon Carrender, Mike Carrender, Robin Carte, Becky Cutlip, Pete Fisher, Sue Flage, Carolyn Griswold, Steve Green, Betty L Hardwick, Cynthia Losdon, David McFarland, Nancy Johnson, Jeff Jones, Theresa Mudrock, Doris Peters, Eddie Hunnell, Pam Roscoe, Bonnie & Bob Shank, Cindy Thomas, Mike McKnight, Jill Yousko
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.4, Issue 9, May 20, 2006
© 2005 Rich Tarrant