This week: "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" Bill Haley and the Comets 1954
SUMMER PACKS IT UP : Well, it happens every year. So why the surprise? Autumn's here, and there's not a darn thing we can do about it. All hallows'een is almost upon us, and November's on the horizon. So let's give it up - enjoy the bright colors of the trees, sweep our leaves into the neighbors' yard when they're out Christmas shopping at WalMart, grab a Macintosh Apple, put out feet up, and watch Ohio State win their way toward a national football championship.
In truth, this photograph (however modified) was taken last Autumn. But it doesn't really matter. That particular tree looks exactly the same every year at this time. It is that which we see from our livingroom window.
It's a Maple. But I don't know what type. We have one in our yard, but its leaves turn a dull yellow color. Ken's tree (Ken is the tree's caretaker) requires sunglasses to observe - it's so bright.
I do suppose that there'll be a few days of Indian Summer to come. But, by and large, this is it for Vermilion's Summer of 2006. I don't believe I'll ever forget it. (Until next year).
And whilst we're upon the subject of "forgetting" I would remind folks to visit some of the new pages linked to "VV". Some might find the Vermilion Biographies collection interesting.
And then there is always The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church that was written (mostly) by Vermilion historian Betty Trinter. Therein I've added a few photographs and some lists of events and people that folks may find of some interest. This page, like many I've produced is not completely finished (if that could ever happen). Incidentally, this church will be celebrating its 50th year in their building at 990 State Street next year.
A companion piece to it is the Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843. This is an historic document. It has both local and national significance. Jotham Weeks Goodell was a very interesting person.
A popular site this time of year is the Gore Orphanage History site. Thrill seekers often visit the site in search of ghosts. That is they expect to have the urban legends they've always heard about the orphanage substantiated. What they find is the truth. Ironically, the truth is both in deed, and fact, much more horrible than they probably realise. Orphanages of the late 19th and early 20th century were not Disneyland/Cedar Point amusement rides. Not by a long shot.
And last, but never least, is the newest site: Vermilion - Village of Lake Captains. I urge you to take this tour - while the weather's still nice.
RECAPPING THEM HATS: Between Nuggie Cook, Nettie Welch, Leslie Ennis, and Nancy Emery I've come up with the following names for the ladies in this photograph:
Backrow L-R:Nettie Welch, Zella English, Ruth DeVault, Rae Fitzgerald, and Dora Nichols.Kneeling L-R: Yvonne Smith Boyd, Grace Roberts, and (Possibly) Rachel Karchin.
I've no idea as to the reason Rachel Karchin would have appeared in a photo of women at the Congregational Church (she was, to my knowledge, Jewish by birth). And I've no idea why Yvonne Boyd would have been their either. It was never my experience to know her about that church. But this doesn't mean that either of these woman aren't in the pic. Here I must rely on those who knew these women at the time.
But I sure do wish that these folks would have made some note of exactly who appeared in the photograph. I'm annoyed by the fact that it was not done.
HISTORIC INQUIRY: This old ticket/handbill came to me twice this week. Both Mary Lynn Homitz and Bill Hlavin passed it on to me. Tis a reproduction of an item being sold on eBay. It's actually a very curious item.
The Northern Hotel? What/where was this place?
My basic thought would be that this actually referes to the place most folks familiarly call the "Maudeltion Hotel". But according to my research:
"...The Lake House...was built by a contractor named Maurice Diehl of Sandusky in 1876. In 1903 local lumber company entrepreneur George Fischer purchased it and moved it down the hill to the location seen in this photo. At that time he renamed it after his two children Maude and Elton." -from Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix
So, it may very well be that the construction date I found is incorrect or that there was another hotel in Vermilion prior to the building of the Lake House. I wouldn't rule out the place folks knew as the "Steamboat Hotel", but I've not heard it referred to as the "Northern".
One thing I do know is that W.S. Irish (the Proprietor) was at one time the proprietor of the Lake House. But somewhere in the dusty attic of my memories I believe I read of another Vermilion hotel that, to the very best of my recollection(s), was located on the west side of Division/Main Street just south of Liberty Avenue.
This historical inquiry is much on the order of that which surrounded the phantom-like Loyala Institute on the Lake. Did it exist - or not?
JUST BEAUTIFUL: My friend Alice P. Wakefield forwarded me these beauties some time ago. They are; Alice's grandmother, Alice Parsons Baldridge, on the left; and her Aunt, Grace Parsons Ming, on the right.
These are great period pieces. The photo of Grace clearly indicates that it was taken in 1910 when she was 21 years old. Alice's grandmother, Alice, was 21 years older. Both pix appear to have been taken during the same time period.
Alice (Wakefield) wrote that she found the photos "...at my mother's relatives house in Santa Barbara."
(A Technical Note: Some folks might like to know that this reproduction is of two separtate photographs - and not one as it here appears. In addtion to this the photograph colors were matched in an attempt to make them more capatible.
I don't know a great deal about these two women (yet). But as time passes I'm sure that I'll have more to say about them.
But, for sure, these are beautiful photographs of two beautiful 20th Centry American women.
VERMILION FOOD PANTRY: This photograph was taken last Thursday morning just after workers had packed bags of food for Vermilion Ohio's Food Pantry in the basement of the United Church of Christ, Congregational church.
For those who are unfamiliar with the project the food pantry is a local facility wherein food, clean used clothing, and other materials are distributed to less fortunate families who live in the City of Vermilion and parts of Vermilion and Brownhelm Townships.
These items are distributed on the third Friday of every month between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (except in December - when the distribution date is the 2nd Friday). Food is normally made available on an emergency basis in between official distribution dates - 5 days a week between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Visible in the photograph above are 50 sets of bags set for the next days distribution. Each family gets 2 bags of non-perishable foods along with 2 fresh meats, baked goods, and produce (when available).
During yesterdays distribution 70 families benefitted by this project. The numbers of folks in need of this subsidy has increased dramatically during the last three years.
The project requires the services of nearly 25 volunteers. At least 3 persons volunteer their time nearly everyday during each month to keep things in order.
The program is almost entirely funded through private donations. Very few government funds support it. The project speaks well of the people in the community of Vermilion, Ohio.
The short movie below will give thee some idea of what the distribution day is like. It's not harried, because all the workers enjoy their work. But it is busy.
I believe you will find this to be of interest.
Nice Stuff!
VIETNAM 1968: I know none of the men in this pic. But there is a story behind it.
A friend named Jimmy Moran served as a Navy Corpsman/Medic in Vietnam in 1968. While there he captured over 100 images of his experience on color slide photographs. He loaned them to me. I scanned them. And this, obviously, is one.
It's a great picture. The color is bad. Some of it is blurry. But it's a great pic.
These fellows were sitting in the middle of a "bulls-eye" just south of that which folks referred to as the "DMZ" in the most northern part of South Vietnam. In essence, these are Navy nurses. Their task was to take care of wounded Marines during some of the most bloody battles of that war.
Some 40 years after the fact one can't help but wonder where all these guys are today - how many have sons and/or daughters in Iraq (?) doing the same thing they were then doing.
It never ends, folks. It never ends. Forty years later we're still doing the same damn things.
JUST CALL ME RAY: Local resident Dawn Full has given me a handfull (no pun intended) of pictures during the last 12 months, and this is one. Again, the snap is not marked. But fortunately Dawn was kind enough to tell me that the boy on the left is her late husband Ray. The boy next to him is unknown. However; because I've other photos of Ray with his childhood friends I'm going to assume that it is one of the Horton boys. Being the dolt that I am I never asked anyone where Ray lived when he was a child. But I assume he lived in the area of Huron, Ferry, and Washington Streets.
What strikes me here, in this pic, are his shoes. I know that they look a tad feminine, but somewhere in (again my dusty attic of) my memories I seem to recall that I, too, owned a similar pair of shoes in the summer.
I've had this pic for a time. But I never scanned it until I needed something quick to scan to check my scanner. It's actually quite a neat photo.
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. Brownhelm 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 31, October 21, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant