This week: "Meet Mr. Callaghan" by Les Paul (c.1950)
ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS: The boating season in Vermilion isn't completely done - but it's getting close. It always seems like it was just getting started.
It appears that it's been some time since Andy's Girl (seen here in the Moes Boat Yard next to the Vermilion Boat Club) was able to participate. I suppose that sooner or later we all end up in the proverbial corner of the equally proverbial boat yard.
C'est la vie
I received some interesting news from our Vermilion friends in Washington State. Mary Michaelson, who is the Assistent Cureator of the Lynden, Washington Pioneer Museum e-mailed me (in part) the following news:
September 18Good Morning, Rich! Haven't communicated with you in a long time, although I have been sending you copies of my Memory Book updates. I am about to put the finishing touches on the book and I have decided to include a page called "Beautiful, beautiful Lake Erie." It will feature the story from Phoebe's book about how homesick she was for Vermilion and Lake Erie and wrote to her friend back home, who then sent her a seashell painted with a view of the lake and the quote written below it...
The book Mary refers to is called "The Friends of Aunt Phoebe Memory Book". "Aunt Phoebe" is Phoebe Goodell Judson whose father,Jotham W. Goodell in 1843 preached the dedication sermon in Vermilion's first church. Phoebe and her family migrated to the Oregon Territory (before part of it became Washington State) where she and her husband, Vermilion born Holden Judson, founded the city of Lynden, Washington (the site of the Pioneer Museum). Mary is only going to have 100 copies of this book published. And I assume that most have already be spoken for - but it will be an important tome.
In a separate communique Mary surprised me with the following bits of info:
Thanks you for your efforts to get Bette Trinter's book(s) to us at the museum. I believe that we might be able to make a little exchange here for you and trade you one of ours for yours. Haven't asked Troy yet, but I think we can do it. I, personally, would also like to buy one of the ones you wrote, if they are still available. The memory book is shaping up beautifully as I am learning how to work well with Publisher 2000, as well as with our fancy-dancy new solid ink printer. Boy! The prints are just fantastic! Today we learned how to print the two-sided copies. Fascinating to watch how it prints one side, sucks it back into the copier and prints the other side. I shall go into Bellingham tomorrow morning to buy higher quality paper, then start to print out the stacks which we will be assembling on October 5th. Wish you were here to help us and to meet the "Goodell Cousins" and some researchers, too. Next year's "Friends of Aunt Phoebe Reunion" on Whidbey Island will be the first of our "on-the-road" adventures. We hope to have it in Vermilion, Ohio, the following year so that the family members who live "back East" can come and join in the fun. That will include Margene Goodell and Naomi Baker, who are both in their 90's, but still active and great contributers to Goodell family history over the past 30+ years. I am very excited about the possibility of visiting Vermilion and meeting you and can say that Karen Parsons, Carolyn Stone and Bette Smith all feel the same way. I'm sure you will be able to help us pick a location and coordinate the event with your own historical society when the time comes...
I don't know if I can really help, but I really would like to find some copies of Betty Trinter's books to send to them. I have them, and I know others who have them. But I really don't want to part with mine because I constantly use them. And I think that others feel the same way. But if anyone has access to some extras they don't necessarily need I'd appreciate acquiring them for the Washington people.
And one other thing. The prospect of having these folks visit Vermilion in the future is exciting. I believe it would, in fact, be an event. I have already had the pleasure of meeting Margene Goodell (she lives in Amherst) and look forward to having an opportunity to meet more of the Friends of Aunt Phoebe. Tis a link from the past to the present into the future.
PISTON PUSHERS: It seems like a million years ago. But it was only about 40 or so when the local car club called the Piston Pushers gathered in Vermilion, Ohio. I don't know if there are clubs of this nature anymore.
The club was composed of men between the ages of, perhaps, 16 to 24/25 who owned an intense interest in what else? Cars.
In the pix their cars (Chevy Impalas were obviously very popular) in front of the bus garage behind the Decatur Street High School (now VIS). Unlike the street stock cars of today these cars were not built for economy (it didn't matter). They were, in a word, HOT.
I remember most of the folks in these photographs. Pete Neiding is still about town. He's very active in Vermilion's Volunteer Fire Department. Tom Jones, the last time I spoke with him, was working at Lorain's Ford Assembly Plant and living in Lorain, Ohio. He is likely retired at this time. "Ptl." (Kenny) McDaniel passed on to a greater life a few years back. But "Ptl." (Joe) Mayer is still very visible about Vermilion. Now retired he appears to spend a great deal of time with his cars. He's got several vintage T-Birds in which I often see him cruising hither and yon.
Those were fun times. Happy Days!
KEEPING UP TO SPEED: Things are, as one can plainly see, coming along quite rapidly and nice atop Vermilion's old Post Office. This addition is, indeed, impressive. It is a great deal bigger than it would have earlier appeared either in the drawing(s) or in previous photographs that appeared in "Views". It appears that an addition was added at the rear of the structure to accomodate the upper addition.
The new floor will feature apartments and, as also previously stated, a clock-tower to the right/west front portion of the building.
Vermilion is changing fast!
ALONG THE RIVER: This snapshot of McGarvey's Restaurant underwater is undated. It came to me through local resident Jim Smith from another Vermilion resident's, Jean Kelm, collection. I would guestimate that it's a late 1950 early 1960 late winter flood. Someone who can remember how McGarvey's looked through the various time periods may know. With all the flooding through the years the restaurant was forever in a state of change or having to be changed. It may have never looked exactly the same for any period over 5 years. Here are some examples:
This is, of course, "Showalter's Boat House". The Vermilion River Bridge to the right of the pic is the old river bridge. Prior to this being Showalter's it was called the "Union Boat House" - then"Showalter's Union Boat House".
And the next thing one knows the bridge was removed, and a new one built on the opposite side of Helfrich's place. Note that the front of the place faced the road.
So what did Helfrich do? They built a new place on the other side (north) of the new bridge.
So. What happened to the old building? Here it is a few years ago:
And here it is just a few days ago:
This has to be not only one of the oldest existing structures along the banks of the Vermilion River, but must also be that with the most renovations done to it over the years.
And in the blink of an eye...
THE RIES BROTHERS: This is an extremely interesting pic even if one is not familiar with the faces in it. This photograph came to me electronically from Sharon Swanson who lives in Erie, Pennsylvania. For reference Sharon was a cousin to Roberta Ries Reed (Roberta just recently took her place among the stars in the skies).
This is a very good example of the type of things I do hope that folks are saving for themselves and for organizations like the Vermilion Area Archival Society. And in addition to this Sharon also forwarded copies of the genealogical histories of the Ries, the Bachman, and the Conrad Families. These photographs and histories are extensive, and much appreciated by both myself and the VAAS.
The men pictured are the Ries brothers. From left to right they are:
TOP: Hank and HermanBottom: Alfred, John, George, and Bill
About the only brother with which I am familiar at this time is brother Hank Ries. For some reason (that is not precisely clear in my little brain) he is familiar to me. I know that he was well known. And I know that he was a painter by trade.
I do know a bit more about the family in general - but I will hold those thought for another time.
And I do certainly thank Sharon for sharing this information.
NEW ENDEAVOR: This pic of Captain Young's house on the corner of Decatur and Ohio Streets in Vermilion is something captured yesterday because it was just a nice bright day to take a few pix. But there was another motive for it.
Having just acquired some exceptional software I've decided to try to develop a three-fold brochure that will feature all the Lake Captains (old) homes in town.
I thought it might be interesting to make a pamphlet that would allow visitors and residents of Vermilion alike an opportunity to walk around town and familiarize themselves with these sites. Vermilion was, after all, once considered to be "The Village of Lake Captains".
More than anything else I want to see if the software is as useful as it seems.
And so I shall see.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The next meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society will be held in the Community Room of Vermilion's Ritter Public Library on October 9th - program to be announced. But it most assuredly will be of interest.
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. Partially due to the horrors taking place in the Mid-East 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: The 50th Anniversary Reunion for the Class of 1956 from VHS to be held on September 23rd. That's today folks. Methinks it's a bit late to be searching for missing classmates. Here's Hoping they have a great time The class is putting out a reunion booklet and would like class members to please send Les information and any photos if they've not so.
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 27, September 23, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant