THE OLD/NEW POST OFFICE BLDG: Another work in progress is the old Vermilion Post Office now owned by the Weld-Master window company. The ground floor (as is obvious) is the showroom and factory for the company. That which will, shortly, be the 2nd floor of the building will be apartments.
A few months ago an architectural drawing of the new building appeared (here). The design will blend in with the Harbortown theme of the downtown area. At the top right front of the building there will be a clocktower of sorts.
So - like Vermilion's new Rotary Park and the Jon Clark residence being built in the old Snell Fishery along the river I will keep a photo diary of the evolution of these properties.
I should mention that when I was taking these pix a fellow working on the top of the building inquired as to my identity. I assume that he thought that I might be a reporter. I told him that I was "nobody". But that didn't seem to assuage his obvious displeasure with my presence, and he moved quickly away from view.
It may be that he is just camera shy. I really didn't care if he was in the pic or not. But I found his displeasure, to some minor degree, unsettling. I've done several photo shoots like this before and nobody paid any attention to my presence.
Future pix of this building will be from across the street.
A DARK HANDSOME MAN: One summer afternoon, about 1953, Vermilionite Russ Eberle brought in this gigantic lake sturgeon into port at the Kishman Fish Company. This particular photo has been published numerous times in numerous publications.
Eberle was an extraordinary person. He was, of course, a fisherman. But I remember him as a barber. And how one goes from fishing to cutting hair is anyone's guess - except he was (even in this photograph) always extremely well groomed. He was the epitome of what folks might call "a dark and handsome man".
His shop was next to what used to be the Liberty Tavern on Liberty Avenue across the street from what is now the Ritter Library Annex. At the moment Abigal's Antiques is using part of that store front.
One thing I am curious about (in this pic) are the lady and boy behind Russ. I'm fairly certain that it's not his wife and son. His son, Rick, looks a great deal like him. Ergo; I doubt that he is boy in the pic. Perhaples there is some soul in the "Viewing" audience who can enlighten us on the subject.
MORE SKETCHES: This week several new sketches have been added to the Vermilion Biographies collection - "Jungle Larry" Tetzlaff is among them.
Jungle Larry was not a Vermilion native. But his presence in town was significant. If you ever met him you never forgot him. Stories from locals who knew him abound. And all are good for a smile or two. I have a story about him that I can tell to friends but I can't write because it would appear to be politically incorrect. And I am not in the business of besmirching characters - even if they did wear panama hats, safari fatigues, keep snakes in the closet, and large cats in the garage.
Aviator Tony Jannus also appears in these sketches. And he is definitely not a Vermilionite. Although he only spent but a few hours in Vermilion (at best) his impact on our town and aviation history was such that his place among these bios was earned. The pic of Jannus flanked by local residents C.A. Trinter and Lewis Englebry is, like the above photo of Russ Eberle, a widely published and well known photograph.
But I find all of these sketches interesting. I hope that interest is shared.
RUGGLES: Electric Interurban historian Dennis Lamont forwarded me this great look at the dance floor of the Ruggles Dance Hall a few weeks ago. I have a like pic of the floor that I snagged off the net a few years ago - but this particular copy was of a finer resolution allowing me (and you) a better/clearer look at the inside of the hall.
Here's a real nice shot of the exterior from the P. Roscoe collection. This one often surfaces as a tinted postcard on eBay and garage sales:
I like this pic because I just feel the warmth of the day it was taken, and smell the dust of the lot before it. Very nice. Oddly comforting.
EASTERN STARS: Working the aforementioned "bios" requires that I work between 2 or 3 computers (back and forth). I, consequently, run across pictures that I've almost completely forgotten. This is one.
This photo was taken in Vermilion's Masonic Temple above the stores on Main Street. It is the 1953 Officers of Madeleine Chapter No. 204, Order of the Eastern Star.
Front Row (or heads showing): Eleanor Orth, Bernice (Fischer) Koachway, Wilda June (Tischer) Stebbins Wieder, Lola Owen, Worthy Matron Alice Fazey, Worthy Patron Lloyd Owen, Norma Greenawalt, Zenobia Krapp, Louise Ludlow, Genevieve (Smith) Clark, Esther Friday. Back Row: Nancy (Tarrant) Emery, Betty Pretzer, Louise Moats, Violet Fischer, Henry Fischer, Betty (Coen) Hornig, Hattie Fischer.
I need thank my little sister Nancy for all the names. Once she gave them to me I recognize most of them.
All I can say is "OH".
ROTARY PARK UPDATE: This photo of Vermilion's new Rotary Centennial Park was taken Thursday afternoon (8-24-06). The flagpoles have been installed, and the stone that will apparently have a plaque noting how the park came to be is set among them.
The park is set to be dedicated on Wednesday September 13th at 6 p.m.
With a great deal of luck the historical plaque dedicating the spot where the old Lake Shore Electric Bridge touched the western shore of the Vermilion River will also be dedicated at that time.
The history plaque was scheduled to arrive on August 18th but did not because of a work overload at the foundry where it is being cast. The foundry owner promised that it would be in Vermilion by September 8th (at the latest). And that's cutting it mighty close.
It may be that an invisible plaque will have to be dedicated; a hole in the ground where it will someday stand.
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.
Understand that these recipes are as they appeared in the old cookbooks. Because of that it may be the better part of wisdom to apply common sense when preparing any of them. If something doesn't seem quite right it may very well be the case. Just as they are today - some of these recipes were submitted by non-cooking persons. I just can't say which ones they were. Besides that it would take the fun out of it. CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Here's some new items: 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 Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix History of Linwood Park Vermilion Visitor's Advisory (Satire) Gore Orphanage History The Lester Pelton Story The Wreck of The Niles #152 The History of Crystal Beach Vermilion Views Archives Vermilion's Pioneer Woman; Charlotte Sturges Cloudy; Vermilion's Ferryman The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843 The Last Time I Saw Charlie Hope Childrens Home Kenya A Profile of Rich Tarrant Vermilion Biographies "Step aside everyone! Sensitive love letters are my specialty.'Dear Baby, Welcome to Dumpsville. Population: you." ~ "Chalkboard" Bart's dad - Homer Simpson Vol.4, Issue 23, August 26, 2006 View Page StatsSee who's visiting this page. "Vermilion Views" Search powered by FreeFind © 2006 Rich Tarrant
Understand that these recipes are as they appeared in the old cookbooks. Because of that it may be the better part of wisdom to apply common sense when preparing any of them. If something doesn't seem quite right it may very well be the case. Just as they are today - some of these recipes were submitted by non-cooking persons. I just can't say which ones they were. Besides that it would take the fun out of it.
Just as they are today - some of these recipes were submitted by non-cooking persons. I just can't say which ones they were. Besides that it would take the fun out of it.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Here's some new items: 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 23, August 26, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant