This week: "Buddy Can You Spare A Dime?" by the Weaver Brothers
FINALLY : It may be that when all is said and done the story of how this marker came to be in Vermilion's Rotary Centennial Park in 2006 will be longer than the story of the Lake Shore Electric Railway's history that it, in part, celebrates.
The idea was spawned from a photo that appeared on this website earlier this year. It was a suggestion from "Viewer" (and electric historian) Dennis Lamont of Birmingham, Ohio. The idea was tossed around some of the folks in the Vermilion Area Archival Society. All agreed that it was a good idea.
Margaret Worcester Wakefield acquired the initial application forms and information from the Ohio Historical Society via the net. Information and historic photographs were gathered from Mr. Lamont, Al Doane (fellow historian from Lorain, Ohio), and from the book; The Lake Shore Electric Railway Story (by Herbert H. Harwood, Jr. and Robert S. Korach)- and application for the marker was made using that info.
The Ohio Historical Association accepted the application and awarded the VAAS $750 toward the marker. The total cost was going to be (roughly) $1700.
Former Vermilionite Dr. Norman Dean, who now lives in Maryland, contributed another $750 toward the marker. The remainder of the funds were contributed by VAAS members and the organization itself.
Local resident Frank Homitz dug the hole in the park and set the pole in concrete. Vermilionites George Spreng, Frank Adkins set, and fastened, the marker on the pole. (The marker weighs 112#. Tis a bit unwieldly.)
But that was the first sign!
The first sign was a mistake. The graphic that was supposed to appear on it was missing. So the foundry that cast it cast a new sign (pictured) with the graphic and forwarded it to the VAAS a few weeks later.
Consequently Frank Adkins and Larry Howell removed the first sign and replaced it with the new one. (Was it mentioned that this sign is unwieldly?)
The other sign was given to Bill Romp to be placed at the site of that which is left of the eastern LSE bridge abutment in his marina. That sign will be removed during the winter months to insure that it is not damaged by ice if it should flood.
And so, that is the story of how this marker came to be in this park in 2006.
Amen.
HOW ABOUT THEM HATS(?): This photograph comes from Vermilion expatriate David Lindsay who now calls Texas his home. Dave is the son of the late Captain Ferl and Alice Roscoe Lindsay of Vermilion/Florida. (He is my only cousin.)
The photo was taken in the basement of the new Congregational Church(now officially known as the UCC Congregational Church) sometime after it was built in 1957. It many be c.1960.
While the names of all the women in the pic have not been clearly determined (I knew only two) I did get some help with them from Nettie Welch and my younger sister Nancy Emery.
Backrow L-R:Nettie Welch, Zella English, Ruth DeVault, Fay/Rae Fitzgerald, and Mabel Musselman.Kneeling L-R:?????(Guesses; Yvonne Smith Boyd, Marie Tansey?), Jayne Lutz, and first name not recalled; Hasenpflug.
That's about the best I can do for now.
But the hats? I surmise that this was one of the women's circle groups and they were having a contest to see who could make the most absurd hat (or at least I hope that was the case). I note that three of them are holding trophies. I can't tell whether they were the winners or the losers.
The photo is a snap and was slightly blurred (likely because the "snapper" moved the camera). But it's a great pic.
And as always I can't tell folks too often that it is important that they put the names (and dates) on their pix so that future generations have some idea of who and what they are looking at. Do not assume that those generations will easily recognize anyone nor anyplace. And do not assume that they won't be interested.
Amen (again).
A MCMENUE: This neat picture of what is now become a genuine Vermilion artifact came to me electronically from Vermilion resident Mary Lynn Homitz. I don't know who owns it, but I hopes they take good care of it. Tis probably not rare. But it will be.
To many of us (over the age of 50 or so) McGarvey's Restaurant is rather clear in our minds. But it is fast fading. I would like to see the items (on the menu) inside this document. In comparison to today's menus - such as that of the "Red Clay" - the prices may appear to be very Mc-enomic.
When the Red Clay was being built I kept a pictoral record of it evolving. One of the things I captured on a flash disk was their first menu. I don't know that they even used that particular bill-of-fare when they opened. It may have very well been just a proof. But my point is that that photo like this scan of McGarvey's menu may interest folks a hundred years hence when folks are eating tofu shrimp in garlic.
Who knows?
JUST CALL ME "SCOOP": Those who are interested in TV 8 Weatherman Dick Goddard's Vermilion Wooly Bear Fesitival slated for Sunday (10-15-06), wherein the weather for the winter of 2006-07 is to be announced, might find this interesting:
While talking with my friend Bill "Sunny Skies" Summers (Goddard's Weather Predicter Extrodinaire) on Monday last he told me what type of winter we were about to experience. So without further adieu - here's the news; IT'S GOING TO BE A BAD ONE!
Bill told me that Goddard wasn't likely to agree with his assessment, but that's the way he sees it. Having known Bill for some years I can honestly say that he is one who, unabashedly, speaks his mind. That's not always an endearing quality (for some), but who cares?
From now on just call me "Scoop".
MORE ARCHIVAL STUFF: There is a plethora of people in Vermilion and elsewhere who know more about John Horton and his Vermilion family. I know, briefly, that his grandparents had some hand in building the breakwalls along the mouth of the Vermilion River; and were also involved in building Vermilion's former Township Hall building. I knew his uncle Charles, his aunt Helen (who recently passed), and I know his cousins LuAnn (Ashtabula) and June (N. Carolina - and not June anymore). I have learned that Horton's are relative to the Wakefield family. And I've learned that John's father was (until his death earlier this year) the oldest licensed sea captain in these United States of America. But I don't, at this time know much more than this.
Last Monday John presented a DVD of his father's collected 16mm films before an audience at Vermilion's Ritter Public Libary. There is some interesting (to me), but brief, footage of a parade down Liberty Avenue, the old water-tower in Hanover Square, the South Shore Regatta(s), and some ice skating parties in the Vermilion Lagoons that was captured - probably in the 1930's - plus a great deal more. I've seen the DVD twice, and take note that it requires watching several times to acquire an understanding of the entire footage collection.
Mr. Horton didn't talk a great deal, but let the film run, and was looking more for comments from the audience to help identify people and places in the presentation. However; prior to this he introduced a lady named Anna Richey.
Ms. Richey is, as you will see, a lady well into her golden years who now lives in (I think) Toledo, Ohio. (She is the daughter of one Doctor Emil and Clara Heinig. Dr. Heinig was the fellow who introduced me to this world back in November of 1944.) In any case, Ms. Richey had with her a book of narratives she has written about her father's experiences as a doctor in Vermilion.
She read just a few of them to the audience. The movie below is a very brief segment of her reading from that book:
I believe you will find this to be of interest.
Nice Stuff!
BILL CUTCHER: Whilst I'm on the subject of these VAAS meetings I should announce that on November 13th @ 7pm Brownhelm historian, Bill Cutcher, will be presenting a powerpoint presentation on the subject of the fishing industries in Vermilion and Huron, Ohio. The meeting will take place in the Ritter Annex and is open to the public.
Bill sent me this picture of him that was captured in 1955. I believe he mentioned that it was taken in Port Clinton.
Bill has helped me acquire some understanding of this industry that was always around me when I was growing up in Vermilion - but of which I know nearly nothing at all. Bill is related to the LaCourse family who had a long history on the Erie fish fields. And I do believe that he did some fishing himself.
Between men like Bill and Don Parsons I may someday come to understand this industry before I'm 80.
This should be a real interesting evening.
Village of Lake Captains: I've been working for some time on a 3-fold brochure that will feature all the Captain's homes that caused Vermilion to become known as "the Village of Lake Captains". The brochure wasn't commisssioned by anyone - it just seems like something that visitors, and also residents, might be interested in seeing.
In the process I got the idea that it might be nice to also have a webpage that would allow folks to take a virtual tour of these places. So - I put one together. It is called, of course, Vermilion - Village of Lake Captains. I urge you to take the tour. Their are 15 homes presented in living color. I hope that I have identified them correctly. If this is not the case I respectfully ask that I be informed so I can make changes.
In the near future I believe I'll do another page that will feature notable homes in Vermilion and Brownhelm Townships. There's just a great deal of history in the area - and it seems a nice idea to showcase it somewhere.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The next meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society will be held in the Annex Room of Vermilion's Ritter Public Library on November 13th at 7 p.m. Birmingham resident, Bill Cutcher, will be the featured speaker. He will present a powerpoint program surround the areas fishing industry. Everyone is absolutely welcome to attend this meeting and to join this group.
Lifetime memberships are $100. Yearly memberships are $10 a person; $18.00 a couple; and $5 for a student.Our address is:
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: Everything's been fairly quiet on this front. But stay tuned.
To reiterate: 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 30, October 14, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant