This week: "Lockwood's Boogie" Robert Lockwood Jr
TRUE BLUES AND OTHER THINGS : If you're familiar with the blues you probably know the name Robert Lockwood Jr. Lockwood died last week in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 91.
Mr. Lockwood considered himself the stepson of Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson. Johnson had a decade-long romance with Lockwood's mother. And for long stretches in his career, he called himself Robert Jr. Lockwood to acknowledge Johnson's influence on his music.
The piece accompanying this weeks "Views" is pure Lockwood working alone. It's not the Cleveland Orchestra. It's not his best. It's just pure - genius.
And changing gears for the moment (while I'm talking music) it might be helpful to know that during the last few weeks I've been remixing the music herein used. The format is that which is known as mp4. This may be the reason that some folks aren't hearing it.
In addition to this my venture into videoland seems to have also complicated things for some. Because of this some folks are asked if they'd like to download a "real player" to access these items. Because of this I've cut-out using that format for now. But it should be understood that those "players" are usually free downloads - so don't be altogether afraid of them.
I am inclined to forget that not everyone is working/surfing the net at the same pace as myself. DSL/Broadband access, and the quaility/power of a person's computer does make a significant difference in the way one goes about their business on the internet. For myself - it makes my work easier. But for others it makes viewing "Views" difficult.
Ergo; I will make a real effort to keep that in mind. And thank you for your patience as I experiment with this absolutely wonderous technology.
MISS SOUTH SHORE: Vermilionite Fred Wetzler dropped by the other day and gave me the Official Program for the 44th Annual South Shore Regatta (August 16-17 1958). It is full of some very interesting reading - many, many advertisements from businesses longtime Vermilion residents will remember.
Paul's Snack Shop - "The Best Coffee in Town"; Basic Food Materials - "If it's used for seasoning food, We have it!"; Fisher's Department Store - (Formerly Englebry's); Parson's Fish Company - Dry - Sail Your Outboard or Runabout; Rhodes Jewelry - "Expert Watch and Jewelry Repairs"; Miller Hardware - "full Line of Pittsburgh Paints"; Boat House Inn Restaurant - "Open Day and Night - Good Food - Prices Right".
Great Stuff. The things memories are made on.
And there near the back of the book was the above pic. Vermilion's Fish Festival was not yet invented. Do you remember these girls?
Standing - left to right: Barbara Hayes (Ruggles), Lynne Roberts (Hurd). Seated - left to right: The Regatta Queen, Kay Peterka, Judy Fisher. The Queen's Court: Sandra Pratt, Joyce Jones (Dickerhoff).
Barb Ruggles, Lynne Hurd, and Joyce Dickerhoff are stil about Vermilion. But I've lost track of Kay Peterka and Judy Fisher. And, sadly, Sandy Pratt was taken from us - probably not too long after these shadows were froze in time. All the girls we still see about our pretty city remain as pretty as they appeared in this pic taken (can you believe?) 48 years ago. It is also interesting to note the name of the judges who were in charge of the arrangements for the beauty contest:
Mr. Jack Armstrong, Rev. James Bidle, Mrs. Sarah Welker, and Linda Widdowson.
I do believe that all of them are still with us. And Sarah, along with Harold, appear to be doing just fine in their 90's.
Wonderful memories of Vermilion's past.
V.O.L BB: This pic also appeared in the 11-23-06 edition of the Vermilion Photojournal. I'm using it here to afford interested persons an opportunity to get a better view of the area where it was taken. This is, of course, looking east down Lake Road/Liberty just west of that which later became the village of Vermilion-On-The-Lake. It is V.O.L. c. 1926 (before the bridge = "BB").
The bridge most locals are familiar with today wasn't constructed until 1937. At the time this pic was taken the area was referred to as the "Diagonal Crossing" of the Nickle Plate and Lake Shore Electric Railroads at Elberta Beach.
You will note the angle (i.e. diagonal) with which both rail systems crossed the highway. It was particularly difficult for motorists to spot on-coming trains at this spot. Ergo many folks were either injured or killed at this spot.
In my PJ article I make a special point of the fact that it took politicians 10 years to conclude that a bridge was necessary for this area.
And what else is new?
Electric Historian, Dennis Lamont, sent me this photo and led me to the story about the overt stupidity of politicians that's as accurate today as it was yesterday.
A.D.: I received the following communique last evening:
Enjoy your pix. In 1948-49, I worked in Baumhart's Drug Store and A.D. Baumhart used to tell me about that theatre that he claimed he built and operated. He claimed that to run the projector he used a wooden rain barrel full of water as a "step-down" transformer. He said the theatre was destroyed by fire when the adjoining furniture store caught fire and burned to the ground. A.D. also made ice cream in a shed behind his drugstore until the Esmond Company bought out his recipe and in return gave him sole distribution rites to Vermilion. He told about how he operated the first telephone switchboard for Vermilion in the back of his store until it was absorbed into the Lorain Telephone Company. He was a very interesting person for a young person to work for. Dick Farrell Sandusky, OH
Dick Farrell Sandusky, OH
I found this communique interesting for several reasons. One surrounds the basic information he afforded me about the Crystal Theater Mr. Baumhart "...claimed he built and operated.". Another is that "...he operated the first telephone switchboard for Vermilion in the back of his store until it was absorbed into the Lorain Telephone Company."
These comments reinforce the story I wrote about him which appears in my book:
Whilst that may seem odd - it really isn't. Although I make an effort to get the facts right when I put things into print is doesn't necessarily follow that I always succeed. And, further, there are those who like to argue about such matters. Ergo; it helps to have someone reinforce the facts I committed to print. I really appreciate knowing that I have not been in error.
There is one thing that I wish I had known, however, before I wrote the story. And that is that Mr. Baumhart sold his ice cream recipe to the Esmond Dairy in exchange for the "sole distribution rights" for their products.
Knowing what I knew about Mr. B. I am not totally surprised - but I am, nonetheless, somewhat in awe.
A.D. was a shrewd businessman to say the very least.
As an aside I would mention that (if ye havent' already guessed) the druggest in my fictional history of Vermilion The Last Time I Saw Charlie is modeled after A.D. - but it was not at all intentional.
In any case, there are perhaps a half dozen people that in my view were directly responsible for the positive development of Vermilion, Ohio during the 20th century. A.D. Baumhart is one of them.
CHANGES, CHANGES: This is a part of an on-going photo record of some of the changes that have taken place in Vermilion over the last few months. It doesn't seem significant right now - but in years hence it may be so.
These are the before and after pix of the new auto parts store that was built on the north side of Liberty Avenue just west of the Elberta Beach area in town. The construction really moved along quickly.
It's not a business I have a great deal of interest in - but the change is, in itself, significant. Time will tell the story. I never dreamed that the service station that this building replaced would ever fold - but it did.
And then there is this 12-01-06 pic of that which was once Vermilion's Post Office. When this building is completed I will also show you the before and after pix of it. Here I believe you will find the change to be outstanding.
THE WHIRLiGIG: If you're out Christmas shopping you might want to pick up one of these high-tech beauties for your children/grandchildren. Would you believe that this patent was issued on November 20, 1866? It just isn't something that one thinks as having been a patented toy. Like the coat hanger and/or the paper clip it's been around so long the fact that someone probably invented and patented it never occurs to many people.
Tis just a bit of historical trivia with which you can astound your friends, and family.
THE NEW VAAS CALENDAR: It's out, and it's a keeper. From the Clubhouse at Vermilion-On-The-Lake to the hotel at Beulah Beach Vermilion's "Vacationland" Communities are there.
If you would like to purchase a calendar you can purchase one from myself or any member of the VAAS. They are $5.00. If they have to be posted an even $7.00 should handle the cost of postage and handling. The address for the VAAS is available below (in the "What's Afoot" section). Please make all checks/money orders, etc. payable to the Vermilion Area Archival Society.
If you want a calendar for Christmas I would suggest ordering/purchasing one soon.
They're great keepsakes.
You better hurry if you want one of these documents. They're going fast.
WHAT'S A FOOT: There will be no meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society until the 2nd Monday in January of 2007. But in the mean folks should understand that everyone is absolutely welcome to attend meetings and/or to become a member of the VAAS.
Lifetime memberships are $100. Yearly memberships are $10 a person; $18.00 a couple; and $5 for a student.Our address is:
And I keep on forgetting to mention the projects of my friend Bette Lou Higgins, Artistic Director, of Eden Valley Enterprises. Everyone is welcome to join them on December 12th at 2p.m. at Ritter Library, 5680 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion to experience their program STORIES FROM A CHRISTMAS PAST. The program features holiday stories from history. The performance is free and open to the public. For more information call the Ritter Library at 440-967-3798.
To arrange for this or any of their programs for your group, contact Eden Valley directly with your request (and/or to view a complete schedule of Eden Valley Events) visit their web page at www.edenvalleyenterprises.org.
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.
A few weeks back I received the following communique from Larry:
"We're thinking about organizing an "Eco Cultural" Safari to Meru Kenya next February, that will include tours of our Home and the schools our kids attend, an SOS World Children's Village, an AIDS treatment Center, Meru Methodist University, and even a visit to nearby Game Park to view some wildlife. We think the cost for a 9 day visit will be about $3,000. (we can keep the cost low because we won't be viewed as typical tourists and will have the support of the Merian Community) Let me know if you know of anyone intersted in making such a trip."
So there you are folks. If you'd like to take the Safari let me know and I'll put you in touch with Larry. It's an opportunity of a lifetime.
Larry Hohler Hope Children's Fund, Ltd.
In relation to Larry's work with the Hope Children's Home I have recently received some very interesting biographies of some of the children who have come to benefit by participating in this project. I'd like to share one of them with you each week. The following is #4:
CLASS REUNION UPDATES:This just in from Shirley Williams Gleason: The CLASS of '58 is planning on hosting the reunion on the weekend of July 17, 18, 19, 2008....The Committee will be sending out information this spring in regard to the plans.
The VHS Class of 1957 are planning their Class Reunion for September 15, 2007. They cannot find addresses for the following classmates: William A. Brown, Carol L. Burkle, Eddie L. Davis, Robert W. DeLong, Jim B. Henry, Alexander J. Lutz, or Neil M. Marcussen. If anyone has that information please forward it to
Bob Ferry, is heading up the VHS Class Reunion for 1987...20 years. Bob Ferry, is heading up the VHS Class Reunion for 1987...20 years. Hither is their website: Class of 1987
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 37, December 2, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant