This week: "Please DaddyDon't Get DrunkThis Christmas" John Denver ~2001~
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT: For the first time in 30 years I am ready for Christmas. I will not be out shopping on Christmas eve. My presents are wrapped. And I amaze even myself.
But you know what's really disconcerting?
Yesterday I heard this fellow on the radio who has recently published a book which traces all our Christmas traditions back to their source - and I'm telling ye that whatever you once thought to be age old traditions (or at least I did) are not.
Actually, I was aware of some of them. And it is very likely that I didnt' want to hear about them right now. I just wish people would quit bursting my yuletide bubble.
We have a little neighborhood girl who still believes in all those things and I envy her.
Just a few days ago she took her mother aside and quietly told her that some of the kids in her class at school don't believe in Santa Claus.
Her mom replied, "But you still believe don't you?
Her daughter said, "Of course," seriously adding, "but those kids are kind of slow."
I couldn't agree more.
Thanks M. I needed that. Merry Christmas!
WEISS ALL-STARS: In 1937 this pic appeared in a special centennial section of The Vermilion News under the following caption:
Miss Weiss and Her Ball Club. How Many Of the Players Can You Pick?
My question is not which of the players is Alta Weiss - but rather the identity of the other players in the photograph. I can't help but gather from the headline that more than a few folks in town knew who these folks were - but that information does not appear anywhere in that special editon of the newspaper or (to the best of my knowledge) anywhere else that is readily accessible to the public. And it is that information that I would like to find.
I cannot believe that such a formal portrait would have been taken and not published somewhere along with the names of the people in it.
So - somewhere - in someone's attic - in someone's book of memories - a copy of this pic along with the names must exist.
I found a few names of men who were evidently members of her team in the book published by Bette Lou Higgins, but I don't know whether they are among those in this photo, nor if they were Vermilion boys.
Their names are Herman Youngen, Oscar Beer, Monroe Kate, a man by the name of Derbin, Walt Andrews, and fellows by the names of Carroll, Norman, and Charles.
As I've said, somewhere someone has information that will help put names to these faces. And if you're a "Viewer", or a friend of a "Viewer, please help us out.
EXCHANGE PLACE: While scanning the Weiss pic I took a stab at also scanning this photograph of Exchange Place quite a few years before it became Exchange/Rubberneck Park. There is no date with the photo. I'd guess that it's probably c.1880.
It's hard to orient one's thinking to place this picture on the context of 2006. But, again guessing, we might be looking to the northeast from the approximate area of that which is now the Main Street Grill (old Hart's Drug Store). It's hard to tell if there is some distortion to the pic that makes the schooner in the background look nearer to the structure pictured.
The caption with the photo reads,"Rubberneck" Park in the used-to-be. The first office of Dr. Reber F. Quigley with the village jail just behind it and the schooner in the background."
I find the caption to be ambiguous. Is the jail in the back of the building pictured? Or is Dr. Quigley's office the building just to the left (the corner just pictured) and the building in the photo the jail?
Like the Weiss team photo this photo begs more questions than it provides answers.
This part of the great mystery of history
THE JOHN NAEGELE FAMILY: This is (obviously) a photograph which appeared in "Views" a few weeks ago. The reason it is reapplied here has to do with the communique I received during the last week from Eric Eyman:
Hi Rich, Back on Oct. 28th you ran a photo of John and Carrie Naegele, and friends, on the Vermilion Views. If you would I would like to have a higher resolution copy of both the front and back. I was also wondering if there is any indication of which name goes with which person? John Naegele is name #3, yet when I count people the third person from both the left or the right is female. Trying to analyze the names from the image on the web page, I'm wondering it the names that you thought might be Martin could be Mattison. It does look like a double T in the writing. This would make sense since Mattison was Carrie Naegele's maiden name. My interest in this comes from John Naegele being the brother of my grandfather George Naegele. To the best of my knowledge Carrie was born in October 1883 and died May 23, 1962.
My interest in this comes from John Naegele being the brother of my grandfather George Naegele.
To the best of my knowledge Carrie was born in October 1883 and died May 23, 1962.
I appreciate the information because I would not (myself) have caught the name "Mattison" given the handwriting on the back of the pic - and I didn't know that Carrie's maiden name was Mattison.
But giving it another look with this information and knowing that Mattison was connected with Vermilion's fishing industry it all came together.
As for John being #3 in the pic I simply assumed that he was the third male from the left. I also had the benefit of having several other pix of him to compare.
As one might see from the previous photographs there can invariably be a number of questions about them that are not immediately answerable. Ergo, there is a great deal of benefit of publishing them on-line and allowing numerous folks access to them.
Another mystery that has been weighing down my small mind for a time came to the surface when I was originally researching the background of John and Carrie Naegele.
When first married they lived on East Water Street in Vermilion. Where, I ask, was East Water Street?
I encountered a similar question once before when I came across an early advertisement for J.I. Howell's (Larry Howell's great-grandfather's) blacksmith shop in The Vermilion News.
Now I know that Mr. Howells shop was on what we now call Main Street. But I also know that Water Street was the street by the "old" Vermilion water-tower that we today know as part of West River Road.
My assumption is, therefore, that at one time Water Street was a street that ran along (oddly enough) the west bank of the Vermilion River from South Street (to the south) to the lake. It may, very well, be in the previousl photo of "Exchange Place".
But again, another mystery of local history. Fun stuff!
WILBERS'CHRISTMAS: Harriette and Miller Wilber filling Christmas stockings in their home on State Street. This was their Christmas Card one year. Just after Christmas (in January of 1893) all 4 of their children died of that which folks called “black diphtheria”. Ruby, 2, died on the 13th. Jesse, 11, died on January 14th. May died on the 18th at 9 years of age. And Roy, who was also but 2 years of age, passed on January 19th.
I would like to believe that these shadows were froze in time prior to that terrible event. However; Mrs. Wilber does not look in this pic to be of an age to have had two year old twins. Thus, this must be a later photo. But it is truly a wonderful portrait. It is part of a photo collection sent to me by Bobbi Riley who now lives in Santa Maria, CA.
ANOTHER PODCAST: I use this photo here to publicize my Vermilion Views Podcast #2. To mince zero words, "I had a hell of a time" with it this week. The technology is new (i.e. the hardware and software), and I'm just learning. Consequently, I probably worked a good six or seven hours putting together a 10 minute presentation/podcast. But I succeeded. And now that I've learned a thing or two about what I'm doing it should begin to get easier and, hopefully, better.
The reason the pic of the railroad accident between Division/Main and Grand Streets (c.1905) is pertinent can only be discovered (right now) by listening to the very end of the podcast.
I hopes you enjoy it.
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 (This Tuesday) 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 #6:
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. And, incidently, I received the following communique from Roger this week. I think some will appreciate it:
Merry Christmas! I have received several Christmas letters within the past few days from our classmates and they are fun to read. I am passing on "clips" from several and sharing unfortunate news about others in our class. Much happiness is being shared this holiday season along with concerns about health. I hope that when you visit our web site (all four pages) that you'll drop a note to those who are either recovering from surgery and/or illness or are very ill and not expected to see another Christmas. Another snow storm is on its' way to Minnesota. It will be our second snow fall of the winter. For those of you who are living in the South.......don't you miss all of the ice, cold and blowing snow? JUST A REMINDER: You'll also want to place on your calendar the dates for our reunion in 2009. It will be held the weekend of September 18-20, 2009. It seems like a long way off but you'll find it will be here sooner than you anticipated.
JUST A REMINDER: You'll also want to place on your calendar the dates for our reunion in 2009. It will be held the weekend of September 18-20, 2009. It seems like a long way off but you'll find it will be here sooner than you anticipated.
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 39, December 16, 2006
© 2006 Rich Tarrant