This week: "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" Vince Guaraldi
"The Endtable"
ON THE TABLE : Via several communiques received after last week's mention re: the expenses involved with producing "VV"; I have concluded that voluntary contributions (of $10 or $15) for a yearly subscription to "Views" would be an reasonable way to help fund the project. If that doesn't work I may try to go with a more formal subscription process similar to that used by Ancestry.com. If I did go with such a process all those who voluntarily contributed would automatically be included. They would not have to re-subscribe.
I rather like the open door approach that I have always used because it allows for discovery and, consequently and incidently, additional informational ebb and flow.
In addition to this I've always intended for some of the information contained in my webpages to be used as a student resource for local history. I have thought for a number of years that local schools (in Vermilion and elsewhere) should include in their course work at least one unit that considers the histories of their respective communities. Because it's not all about WW2, the Renaissance, the American/French Revolution, or Ancient Greece etc. I believe it's important for youngsters (and oldsters) to acquire a sense of just who and where they are historically.
Nearly all the school children in Vermilion, Ohio (for instance) know who George Washington was. But few to none of them know who Almon Ruggles, "Squire" H.R. Williams, George Fischer, or F.W. Wakefield were. Few know that little Vermilion, Ohio was a very productive commerical fishing port. They never heard of the Leidheisers, Captain "Big Ed" Lampe, Chet Jackson, Alva Snell, Cliff Parsons, nor Harold Neiding. They don't know about the wonderful ballroom, Crystal Gardens, or the Crystal Beach Amusement Park where, very literally, tens of thousands of folks fell in love to the music of bands like Glen Miller and Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Many youngsters likely think that the Lake Shore Electric Railway was a H.O. toy their father received for Christmas before X-Box 3...and on, and on, and on...
This is what these pages are about. And I would sincerely like to keep them freely available - even after I give it (i.e. bite the dust) up. Ergo; I need your cooperation and assistance. If you want to help you can send whatever you can to me at the following address or use PayPal(It's fast, free, easy, and secure):
Merci!
REITERATION: When I mention the "informational ebb and flow" generated by the existance of these webpages I refer to items like this (c.1904) photograph of the Rev. Gerhard/Gerhardt Kuhlen Family.
I received this photograph from Rev. Kuhlen's great-great-granddaughter, Sue Weaver, nearly two years ago. But it all began with the following communique from Ms. Weaver on 5-16-05:
Dear Sir, I noted that in Vol. 3, Issue 6, May 7th, 2005 issue of your Vermilion Views you referenced Augusta Kuhlen. Augusta Emilie Kuhlen is my great great grandmother. I have a picture of her family (husband and children) that was taken at Christmas time (several years after her death). I have other information regarding her funeral, which seems to have been according to family history, quite a large event in Vermilion. I also have a few pieces of linen that belonged to Augusta that were passed down to me through my grandmother (from her hope chest). I would love to know what other local information and history you have about Augusta. Someday I would like to visit Vermilion and to visit her gravesite at the Maple Grove cemetery.
I knew that Rev. Kuhlen had not been a minister at Vermilion's Congregational Church - which led me to believe that he was more like associated with Vermilion's Reformed Church. At the time, however, no one there either didnt' knew where to find that information or whatever. But I got no further with that pursuit. What I was able to discover (with the help of Ritter Library's reference staff) was that the good Reverend's wife "Augusta" had, indeed, died in Vermilion, and was buried at Maple Grove. But that's about as far as I got.
Shortly before Christmas of this year I did a piece pertaining to this photo for the Vermilion Photojournal. In it I made specific mention of being unable to find information on Rev. Kuhlen and or the Reform Church at Mitawanga, Ohio.
That particular article stirred things up some and I began to acquire information about the church (that I will later use elsewhere) from several different parties. But just a few days ago I received the following typewritten information via snailmail from Vermilionite Evelyn Maurer:
I havent' yet asked Evelyn where she acquired the information or who wrote it - but I will.
However; the information in this article took me (for one) by some surprise. Not only is it a great deal more informative (and, therefore, valuable) than anything I previously knew but - also the Charles Ruggles Jr, therein mentioned, is the father-in-law of my friend Barbara Ruggles who with her husband "Chuck" still live at Ruggles Beach.
All along I've been looking for information and it was so close to me it could have kicked me in the arse.
But that's the way of it.
It's the "ebb and flow" of things that run through these pages and our lives.
THE THRILL(ER) IS GONE: This is a bit more "ebb and flow" material contributed by a fellow named Dean Walker who once lived near the retiring Crystal Beach amusement park.
They're great snaps of the old wooden coaster, The Thriller apparently taken whilst Mr. Dean (who purchased the coaster) was in the process of tearing it down. They're actually the first reasonbly good photos I've ever been able to locate.
The History of Crystal Beach is one of the aforementioned webpages that I'd like to keep accessible for all interested parties. While I don't operate under the delusion that this particular story is as comprehensive as it should be it was the best that could be done with all the information that was available. It was, and remains, my serreptitious way of trying to coax Vermilionite Marlene Feldcamp to publish a more comprehensive and accurate history of the park. Thus far it has not been effective.
AN HISTORIC EVENT: This, Mes Ami is an example of that which happens when a young Vermilion boy is allowed to go to what used to be "Pete & Judds" Barbershop on Liberty Avenue for the first time - alone.
This pic was captured about 1930. It is popular Vermilionite Larry Shafts come home fresh from his first solo outing to the barbershop.
Speaking for myself - it could have been anyone of my friends or myself. I do recall those days; the days when I had hair to cut.
It's a wondeful photo supplied by my Milanite friend Dale Hohler (Larry's nephew). Great stuff!
TRAINWRECK C.1950: These pix are compliments of local electric hisotrian Dennis Lamont. They are likely from the 1950's - but the locale of the mishap is not currently known. They were thought to be in Vermilion, but I don't believe that to be the case. After asking around, and looking some more at the pix I'd venture to say that they are more than likely pix taken in Huron, Ohio. The mill in the background of one of the photos may be that of the one in Huron. And the building/garage which appears to be very near the tracks and the accident is one that I readily recognize.
I know, having listened closely to Dorothy Koontz (who was married to the professional photographer Dick Koontz), that there was a big trainwreck in Huron during that period. Ergo; I assume that this is that accident.
And aside from them being great photos they are even greater (to me) because they're color photographs. That's unusual.
Perhaps someone (in the "ebb and flow" of these pages) will enlighten us.
NEW STUFF AGAIN: I don't know where I originally found this but I thought it interesting. It is a pic of a boy named Ram Bahadur Banjan, 15, as he meditates in a niche among the roots of a tree in the jungle of Bara, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005. He is being touted as the reincarnation of Buddha. I don't have all the facts of the boy at my fingertips, but it surely is a fascinating concept. Quite poetic.
And whilst I am waxing poetic I need lead thee to the Vermilion Views Podcast #6 which is very poetic this week.
ASK RICH: Below ye will find a new and very special link that will allow you to ask any question(s) you might have about Vermilion history. I will analyze your request and look to give you an answer as quickly as possible.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The next meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society will be held at the Community Room of the Ritter Public Library on Monday February 12, 2007 at 7 pm. There will be a program - to be announced at a later date. In the meantime everyone should understand that they are 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. For those unfamiliar with her work - they stage historical people/events from (and) around the State of Ohio.
A great deal of research and practice goes into these productions to make them as accurate as possible. *January 15, 2007 at 2:30p.m.: ORDINARY PEOPLE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIME -- STORIES FROM WORLD WAR II will be presented at the Golden Acres Nursing Home; 45999 N. Ridge Rd in Amherst, OH. This storytelling program that looks at the war through the eyes of its unsung heroes will be presented by Bette Lou Higgins. The performance is FREE and open to the public. For further information, call the home at 440-988-2322.
*February 15, 2007 at 2p.m.: Take a trip back to 1899 and meet Sarah Comstock when she presents NEXT STOP, FREEDOM! at the North Ridgeville Library; 35700 Bainbridge Rd in North Ridgeville, OH. This first person character program tells the story of the underground railroad through the eyes of Sarah whose family helped the runaways who came through Sandusky. This program is FREE and open to the public. For further information, call the library at 440-327-8326 or visit them at www.lorain.lib.oh.us.
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.
Larry, his wife Yvette, and his mother stopped by to visit me for a few minutes in the kitchen of the Congregational Church (where I work) just a week or so ago. He read me a letter from Kenya pertaining to the Hope project - and everything seems to be going well (at the moment). However; I need to strongly reiterate the fact that this is an on-going project. The need is forever continuing. Please keep that in mind.
In relation to Larry's work with the Hope Children's Home I have 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 #10:
CLASS REUNION UPDATES:This 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 recently. It said in part:
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 43, January 13, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant