MARLIA, ETC, ETC: Tis a photo painting of local resident/insuranceman/attorney Jon Clark's home taking shape between the Vermilion River bridge and Romp's Waterport - Marilia.
And residents of our community watch and wait to see the finished product. It will most likely have one of the best views of any residence along the river when it is finished. Surely the interior of the building will be as, or more, interesting than the exterior.
In addition - it is also one of (if not the) oldest structures on the riverbank. It appears in numerous turn of the (20th) century photographs.
And now for the ETC. This week in the Vermilion Biographies section of "VV" sketches of John S. Walper (1859-1943) and C.A. Trinter (1874-1947) have been added. Last week Antony Jannus (1889-1916) was included.
Whilst Tony was not a Vermilionite his historical impact in the world of early aviation and, inadvertantly, our little community was significant. Ergo; he appears there.
Most of the sketches in this section have, to date, already appeared in print. Some will be amended from their original form where it is deemed necessary. But most of those changes will be annotated.
At present I am working (hard) on some bios pertaining to women. I don't know why I find this to be difficult - but it is. It may be because, historically, there is very little detail about their activities. One is apt to run into things like (for instance) "Mrs. Cort Simons" as opposed to just "Myrta Simons". That sort of thing detracts (I believe) from their true persona. Old records didn't really serve women well. One cannot, for instance, believe how long it took me to discover the first name of Mamoru Okagi's spouse, Marie.
I fully realise that some of this was a pure matter of decorum. But record-wise - it makes understanding much about them all the more difficult.
I have this thing about names and its real simple. People are given names so one can tell one from the other. They should be used. That's what they're there for.
And, as my favorite TV character Dominic DaVinci is wont to say, "I'll tell you that for free!"
10 GUESSES: Clear away the fog of the years that fell since these images were forever frozen in time and you may very well remember the face of at least one (if not both) of these gentlemen. It is unlikely that it will take you 10 guesses to remember either Charly or Chuck Barber. Here they stand beside the State Street School in 1927. I do not remember Charlie (the older Barber)
But I do fondly remember Chuck (the younger Barber) looking much younger than I ever knew him when attending South Street. His wife's name was "Golda". Folks always called her "Goldie". She was sister to a well known Vermilion man named Howard Bogart, and the equally well known Nettie Welch.
I also remember Chuck and Golda's daughter Cheryl (sp?), and that they lived on Perry Street (near South Street) back in the 1950's. Eventually they would build a house on the east side of State Street just one door north of what is now Sailorway street.
It is interesting to note what Vermilion students wrote about Charley the elder in the VHS Hi Times yearbook of 1921:
"...Charlie is our janitor. he is a good janitor and we all agree tha he swings a "wicked broom".He is really the best fellow in school - First to come in the morning and last to go away at night. Regular attendance and always busy. A better Charlie couldn't be found. He makes a good dad for both the students and the schoolhouse.The other day a crowd of boys rushed out of the lab and Charlie after them. He succeeded in batting Steve over the head with a 2x12 and then like and good dad he said, "This hurts me more than it does you." Charlie doesn't hesistate to "pole" you with the same broom with which he sweeps the floor. "A new broom sweeps clean," say the boys. Charlie's pretty easy on us too. He doesn't ring the bell too soon, and he don't kick about fixing the desks we smash to pieces. His rest room is haven for the fellow with wet feet on a cold and wet day. And beside that Charlie is a real sport. Every football, basket ball, and baseball game, Charlie is on deck; he's our star rooter. Never so far in the hole that Charlie can't root for us. Taking it all in all, we've got to admit, Charlie's all right."
I do believe that those comments are rich in sincerity. Especially the part where they say, "He makes a good dad for the both the students and the schoolhouse." I don't know that that's the way youngsters perceive their custodians today - but it sure is something with which most folks from the 40's on can identify.
OOPS...: During the week one reader asked if the tunes that go along with the page could be identified somewhere so that they could be found and used for their own enjoyment. That's not a real problem so from now on I'll "id" somewhere on the page. I thought to make a banner to display them and came up with what thou seeist. But with out conciously knowing it it looks suspiciously similar to the one where the "old tune of the week" appears. Oops!
So I guess I'll have to think about how to do it, and then tweek it some more.
The music, however, is only intended to be a passing amusement for those viewing the page. When the "Views" pages are archived the tunes are deleted. They do require too much computer memory to keep. And more importantly they can be annoying. That's the reason they only play through one time and are not looped. I also try to keep the sound down so it doesn't knock you out of your chair when it plays.
However; the essence of the matter is that I use the music because I can - tis but a novelty. There really is no message to it beyond that.
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS: These photographs are courtesy of Vermilion expatriot Bob Hoffman who now lives in Santa Maria, CA. He believes they portray a wreck that happened in the middle of town sometime in the mid-1940's.
Until I have time to take a stroll through old newspaper files at the Ritter Library I won't know much more than that about this event. If there is someone who remembers it I would appreciate hearing from them.
It probably would not have been something anyone who'd seen it would have forgotten. Those who grew up and/or have lived about Vermilion, Ohio for any length of time may very well have been familiar with more than a few rail mishaps. However; few of them have ever involved having a locomotive run off the rails and roll on its side as seen in these pix. This was a significant accident.
So with any luck I should know more about this event in the next week or two.
SANDUSKY STREET: We are often inclined to pass scenery everyday of our lives and never give it a thought. Offtimes I find myself driving around Vermilion thinking how unique and pretty some places are and then, just an instant later, I forget about it and go along me merry own way. And so it was last Tuesday (8-08-06) morning as I was headed to prepare for work and beyond. I saw this rail underpass in the very blush of summer and it appealed to me so much that I later returned and put it in my camera.
It's nothing really. But I know that in the next year or two that the railroad folks are going to go there and repair/rebuild it - and it will never be this way again. It's old. It's overgrown. Water seeps through the walls and makes a puddle in the road (sometimes even when it's not been raining). Thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands of cars have passed under it. And the same with the trains that have gone over it. Thousands of parades for holidays and special days have gone through it. And some folks will remember it, but for a moment, as did I - and then it will be gone. Like the end of a pretty song.
GOODBYE NEIGHBOR: Last week - a short time after I'd completed "VV" I learned that Bob Bailey had passed away. Bob, as many folks will know, was Vermilion, Ohio's hardware man. He, and before him his mother and father, owned and operated the Vermilion Hardware Store. It's the type of place where one can go in and buy 1 screw - if that's all that's needed. Or if one needs help understanding a project there was always someone there, especially Bob, who could advise a novice plumber, carpenter, or electrician. It is one of the last old Vermilion businesses left in town.
Exceptionally helpful and friendly, customers were customarily greeted with a hearty "Howdy neighbor" when entering the store. And if they don't have what you need they know where you can get it, and they will direct you to that place. You are treated right.
That's the way Bob, and his family before him, ran their business. They were good people. And Bob certainly reflected their goodness.
One of the things that Bob enjoyed immensely was spending time at the family cottage on Kelley's Island in Lake Erie. So toward the end of last week he was there sitting in his easy chair when he faded off to his final rest. He was 66 years old.
Well, speaking for myself, and I'd be willing to wager several hundreds of others, I can only say "Goodbye neighbor". It's been good to know you.
WHAT'S A FOOT: A few Vermilion Area Archival Society pix and artifacts are currently on display in the windows of the empty store next to Vermilion's Convenient Store (Near the river bridge and new Rotary Centennial Park).
And, of course, everyone is absolutely welcome to join this group. Lifetime memberships are $100. Yearly memberships are $10 a person; $18.00 a couple; and $5 for a student.
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" and elsewhere 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. For whatever reason the continued suffering of the peoples in Africa go virtually unnoticed by both our nation and the United Nations - and that should not be. Contributions to that home may be made to a Vermilion expatriot 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.
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 21, August 12, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant