Vermilion Views

Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live

_{This week:

"Java"

Herb Alpert and Al Hirt
1964}

PHOTO RECOVERY, ETC : It's been some years since I took these pix of the Red Clay On The River Restaurant as it was being constructed. One of these pix shows the space where the old McGarvey's Restaurant stood not long after the debris was carried away. While I kept a pretty good running photo journal of the building of the Red Clay digital photograph was quite new to me at the time. And I had this brilliant idea that I could use the flash card on my camera indefinitely if I deleted all the pix on it after I transferred them to my computer. Unfortunately, I lost the pix I had on the computer and I ended up with a flash card that I couldn't re-use after all.

But that was a long time ago - 3 digital cameras and 3 computers ago. I had consequently abandoned hope for ever recovering any of those photographs until a few weeks ago when I came across some software that makes it possible to recover those photographs from old flash cards. And what you see (above) is the product of that software.

I grant you that the pix aren't the best. I was using an RCA 1.5 megapixal digital camera that I bought at Radio Shack (which I later destroyed when I accidently dropped it on the concrete porch of our home). However; I really wanted those photographs. I also really regret that fact that I didn't take any pix of the old restaurant as it was being razed. C'est la Vie.

In the above pix I'm playing with some additional software that allows one an opportunity to fade from one photo into another. My technique is less than perfect(ed) - but is, nonetheless, somewhat interesting. Stay tuned. Things might get better.

ETC: I need to voice my appreciation to all the folks who responded so kindly to my request for donations that will help support "VV" for another year. I thank you muchly for your financial support as well as your kind words of encouragement for this project. I hope I can live up to your expectations.

For those who may have missed that request and would like to contribute to the cause you can send whatever you would like to me at the following address or use PayPal(It's fast, free, easy, and secure):

_{Rich Tarrant
1041 Oakwood Drive
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-4459}

Merci!

VHS FROSH 1935: I find all of these old Vermilion High School class photographs interesting. I don't, however, always know all the folks in these pix. This one is exemplary of that ignorence. The only person I honestly know in this photo is A. (Albert - "Jim") Hart.

I'm going to list the names of all the folks in this photo in the body of this text to insure that future "VV" searches will lead folks to this photo. Pictured are:

_{Standing (L-R): A. Kelm, M. Grego, M. Peasely, E. Hoffman, and C. Kuhl
Kneeling (L-R): J. Kneisel, A. Hart, and D. Kishman}

The photograph was taken at the Main Entrance to South Street School not very long after it was built. I've always been positively impressed by the building. Take a good look at the detail/scrolling on the building for instance. T'aint something one finds on contemporary school buildings. This building was made to last.

But back to the folks in the pic.

As I said Jim Hart is the only person in the photo that I've known to any degree. Today he's in his mid-80's and still quite active. He's one of a kind - one of the most precise men I've ever met. Given the fact that he was a pharmacist that trait has been appreciated by, perhaps, thousands of people. He's a great guy to boot.

1956/57: This is rather a rare snapshot of what was, at the time, Vermilion's First Congregational Church. (It had not yet joing the United Church of Christ organization.) When these shadows were captured the beautiful stained-glass windows had yet to be installed in the building; there were no sidewalks, nor landscaping.

This year the church will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this building. So tis both ironic and timely that Vermilionite Larry Jeffery would bring me these photos.

Larry is the son of "Bud" Morey Jeffery. He retired from the U.S.Army with the rank of Major, and currently works as a independent contractor for the government. Larry's father,"Bud", was brother to well known Vermilionites "Doc" and "Ding" Jeffery.

This pic (above) is a (Paul) Ludlow Studio proof photograph that is marked as being taken in 1958. It's probably the best photograph I've ever seen of the early days of the church. One can almost catch the odor of drying concrete in the building.

The sidewalk's in; the yard's been planted (by Lynn Creel), the shrubbery is in the planter in front of the big stained-glass window; and the mailbox is in place. Again - an unusual photograph.

I found the photo so striking that I made the following photo-sketch from Ludlow's picture:

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Those who might be interested in learning more about the church can visit my website The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church at your leisure. The history was written by Vermilion Historian (and church member) Betty Trinter with a few updates, graphics, and additional information contributed by myself. I promise you an interesting and informative experience.

NAILING IT DOWN: All of his began some months back when a "Viewer" (I can't immediately recall who) e-mailed me some pix of a train mishap that was thought to have occurred in Vermilion sometime during the 1950's.

I looked for information about such a wreck (there have been more than a few in and around Vermilion over the years) but couldn't find any information that would match the pix. The closest I came to discovering anything was through my Milanite friend, Dale Hohler, who found a fellow who thought that it was a Huron, Ohio wreck. However; the steam engine numbers didn't match the one (pictured) and the engine in the wreck to which that genleman referred.

Then, a few weeks ago, Birmingham historian, Dennis Lamont sent me some very unusual color pix of a wreck he thought might have taken place in Vermilion. (All of these photographs appeared in past editions of "Views".)

From Dennis' color pix I began to suspect that the wreck took place in Huron (given the background details). And then Dennis found the clipping (above) that let us determine that this was exactly where the wreck took place.

Sometimes these digital collaborations are productive. Now what we need is a specific date. This, as is obvious, was a substantial calamity. While I don't believe anyone lost their life (although it would seem impossible) the fact that a steam engine was de-railed and over-turned in the middle of the town was no trivial matter.

I'll stay with this until the whole story can be told.

SOUTHERN WIND: This pic is compliments of my good friend "Tootie" Mary Louise Reisinger. I've wanted to use this snap before but I've always had trouble with the blurring in the photo. I thought I'd find some software that would help me make it clearer - but this is as good as I can get it for the time being.

Most folks who've spent time around Vermilion, Ohio will recall times when the waters along the southern shore of the lake were blown back baring the bed of the lake. But few of us have ever seen a photograph taken from that waterless lake bed looing back to the shore.

This, of course, was taken just east of Vermilion's Main Street beach - perhaps in the mid-1940's or early '50's of just such an occasion. The big old house in the background is now Tootie's house (t'was her mother's - Louise Gidding's before). The house to the left (east) of Tootie's is now Lil Stack's home.

Part of the reason I really wanted to be able to put this picture into better focus has to do with the house to the right (west) of the big old house in the pic. I don't believe there are any photographs of that house. At the time these shadows were froze in time it was the Balogh home. And, if I remember correctly, it was the closest thing to being a tar-paper shack as I've ever seen. Later on Tootie's mom would replace that house with a tidy little ranch house.

While the old shack (mentioned) is visible in this photo, it's not clearly visible. It's not really important - it's just something I keep in a trunk of memories I keep in the dusty attic I call my brain.

But a neat photo all the same.

PODCAST #7: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #7 surrounds a well known figure about Vermilion and many other places in our world; Lawrence Erskin Tetzlaff - a.k.a. Jungle Larry. This story also appears in the Vermilion Biographies section of these pages. But I thought it would be nice to record it.

There's a story behind this story that's probably as interesting as it - but I'll let that go until another time.

I know there are bunches of "Viewers' who knew this fellow. I've had people come up to me (after reading my short bio about him) and tell me that they idolized this guy. I do not think that this was hard to do. For if you ever met him you would never ever forget him.

HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): Do you have some questions about the history of Vermilion, Ohio - or some answers to questions about the same? If so you can use the link to a form below to enter your information. I will analyze your request and look to give you an answer as quickly as possible.

When I was a lad, and delivered daily newspapers, I recall a feature in one of the papers that was called "Ask Andy". In it one could send in a question to "Andy" (whomever "Andy" was) and he would answer it. Ergo; I thought I'd try a similar thing (here) and see if it might be productive.

Ask Rich a History Question

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. This will be the Hank Fischer Part 2 Program. Hank (93 years of age) will reminisce about the Vermilion, Ohio of his youth. He's an extraordinary person with some extraordinary stories. So make plans to be there.

Everyone should understand that you are absolutely welcome to attend these 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:

VAAS
P.O. Box 14
Vermilion, Ohio 44089.

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. *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 #11:

_{Larry Hohler with one of the Hope children.

Visit The Hope Webpage

to see more...}

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

_{Shirley Lehky
13909 Mason Road
Vermilion OH 44089
Telephone:440-967-6536
or e-mail: realtor@hbr.net}

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