VERMILION GOTHIC ETC: I was just looking through some old pix and came across the one seen above. I was playing with the camera one day and this is what happened. It was not intended to grace the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. It is just is what it is. There is no ulterior (or interior) motive for it. But today it caught my eye. It is a picture of comfort (to me). It is warm; lived in; comfortable - 21st century American (if ye will) gothic.
Whilst on the dark subject of Gothicism I would mention that a Granada Hills, CA televison production company called Spooked Productions is currently in the process of producing a documentary for (I believe) the SciFi channel that will include a piece about the place many people know as the Gore Orphanage that was once located in Swift's Hollow just south of Vermilion.
The producer, Christopher Saint Booth of Twintalk Entertainment and an assistant, J. Morris, contacted me and have asked to use some of the narrative/information that appears in the Gore Orphanage History page that I wrote some time ago in that program.
While I have given them permission to use some of the material I am not convinced that it was a good decision. One of the very reasons I put the story together was to dispell the nonsensical urban legends surrounding the real orphanage. And while I thought I had accomplished that objective I've received more than a few comments (mostly from youngsters) who refuse to believe the truth.
And, in truth, I find that truth to be a great deal more terrifying than the urban legendary stuff. I just hope that whatever is produced by this production company accurately reflects that truth. It's really about as Vermilion Gothic as anything could be - including the pic of our comfortable familyroom.
THE VJHS GERMAN BAND: This pic was scanned from a Vermilion Junior High School yearbook "Harbor Lights" c. 1954. I can name only 6 of the seven girls in the pic - although the first name of one also escapes me. They are L-R:
Sandy (Yeamans) Neiding, Janis Kropf, Karen Hollosy, Janet (Lindsay) Hancock, Lynn (Roberts) Hurd, Darlene (Kubishke) Liem, and Kay Peterka.
Of the group Sandy Neiding and Lynn Hurd are still familiar faces around Vermilion. While Sandy is a retired school librarian she stays true to her early muscial training, and plays the organ at Vermilion's Trinity Lutheran Church. And I do believe that Lynn can still play a tune or two with her trumpet.
Janet Lindsay passed away several years ago. Karen Hollosy was married to Vermilionite Bill Peters for a time. She may still be about town - but I've not seen nor hears of her for years. Kay Peterka is just disappeared somewhere (several folks have inquired to me about her to no avail). And I've no idea where the Kubishke girl might be either.
When this pic was taken in the old music room atop Vermilion's wonderful South Street School Mr. Hoffman was the school systems music-man.
Wonderful memories. I'm really glad someone took the time to produce these booklets. But I sure wish they had included names with all the students.
BIRMINGHAM BASKETBALL: Here is an equally interesting pic (equal to that above) of the Birmingham Girls Basketball Squad of 1930. They are L-R:
Dorothy Wilber, Rosie Gatto, Florence Shafts, Flora Schuster, Leona Raver, Mabel Hunter, Eleanor Horning, Louise Reising, Emma Taper, Doris Yates, and Ruth Krebs.
This pic just came to "Views" late yesterday afternoon with a few more pix that I've not had time to work with as of yet. But I wanted "Viewers" to see at least one of them this week. They were forwarded from Milan, Ohio resident Dale Hohler. I believe that the Florence Shafts in the photo is Dale's Aunt. She's now 93 years of age and live in Boise. Dale's uncle Larry Shafts and his wife Margaret were very well known Vermilionites.
I worked on this pic a bit to make it somewhat clearer. After I finished Dale sent me another scan that was also somewhat more legible.
But a very nice photo it is. It was taken near the Birmingham School which, very unfortunately, was razed to make room for...
THIS AIN'T BAIT: Many persons are familiar with the great sturgeon that was caught by this gentleman's son nearly 15 years after this one was snagged - but few folks know about this one.
The fellow here is William "Bill" Eberle who once captained the Harvey K of the Kishman fleet in Vermilion. It only tipped the scales at 97 pounds, and measured a mere 6 feet 2 inches.
Bill and his crew, Ellsworth "Els" Dickerhoff, and a son William R. Eberle found this one tangled in their trap net on October 2, 1940, and finally "dispatched" it with a hatchet. At the market in Sandusky they received $35.00 for the great fish.
Lester Kishman, who than owned and managed Kishman Fish noted that "Many sturgeons have been brought into port during thepast years...but this is the largest recorded at the Kishman house for many a season."
While most know that another son, Russ, would later bring in a larger fish it's hard not to wonder what Mr. Kishman may have been implying when he said that "this is the largest recorded at the Kishman house for many a season." Does this mean that there were several larger fish brought into the harbor prior to that time?
It sure seems that this is the implication. Wow!
THE VPD IN '63: This pic was among several clippings given to the Vermilion Area Archival Society (VAAS) by Delores and Frank Adkins. It appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal c.1963. And the basic essence of the pic was to show off a new Dodge Vermilion police cruiser.
One can't tell, but at the wheel is Vermilion Police Cpl Peter "Pete" Huttenlocker. I'm sure that many folks have some memory of Pete.
Another great thing about this particular clipping is the old A&W Rootbeer stand visible in the background. That, for the sake of some who are too young to recall, was a real, honest-to-goodness, drive-in restaurant. A car pulled in, parked, and a waitress came out to the car to get your order and deliver your food. Today it is the site of a Wendy's Restaurant.
Last, but hardly least, is the reason Delores and Frank saved this clipping. If you look closely to the left of the pic you can see and 1957 Ford. That was Frank's car, and I do believe he's trying to push it. He has commented more than once (to me) that it was one, if not thie worst vehicles he ever owned.
Be that as it was it's still a great pic.
PODCAST #20: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #20 features the second portion of the talk given the Vermilion Area Archival Society on April 9th by local resident Nettie Bogart Welch. There is also 5th in a series of readings from Vermilion historian Betty Trinter's wonderful book The Way It Was, and a word from the late Janis Joplin. Feel free to collect/download these readings and place them on a disc for listening at a later time. If you have the equipment it would be relatively easy to edit them (cut out the misc. stuff) and just keep what ye might find interesting.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): From "Viewer" Trudy Archer in sunny Florida comes the following question:
Here's sort of a question of Vermilion history. Grace Roberts was a great cook. Many meals were made for her family and ended up feeding the neighborhood. I recall that she ALWAYS used a recipe, whether it was new or whether she pulled out her meatloaf recipe for the 100th time. I recall that she had a recipe for a sandwich that used ground ham, chees, mayo and chili sauce (that ketchup kinda stuff). I don't know what else or the proportions. I also don't know if she got it out of one of the ladies' magazines or if it was from someone at the Congregational Church. Do you have such a recipe? I have burned up the internet looking for it and can't find anything even close.
ANSWER: Trudy. Thanks to Tom, Les, and Lynn Roberts I was able to track down this wonderful recipe for you. It can be found in this weeks Recipes From Vermilion Kitchens. Thanks for asking - and I believe I'll try it.
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 May 14th at 7 pm. Rita Howley Summers will present the history of the Vermilion Lagoons.It should prove to be a very interesting evening. So please join us.
Everyone is 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:
And I need 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.
I will attempt to keep updates on Eden Valley' programs here throughout the year. So keep coming back.
On April 17, 2007 at 7p.m. a production of THE DONAHEY FAMILY: POLITICIANS AND ARTISTS will premiere at the Kent State Tuscarawas campus. This one act play written by Jonathan Wilhelm celebrates the life of the Donahey Family which included Vic Donahey (Governor of Ohio), Hal Donahey (cartoonist for the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER), Will Donahey (creator of the "Teenie Weenies" Children's series), Mary Donahey (children's book author) and Gertrude Donahey (first elected woman official in the state of Ohio). This program will feature Rob Catalano and Kris Smith and is directed by Bette Lou Higgins. The performance is FREE and open to the public. For more information contact archives@tusc.kent.edu or call 330-330-3391 X 47494.The Theatre is located at 330 University NE in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Meet Dr. Alta Weiss on April 30, 7p.m. and find out why YOU CAN'T PLAY BALL IN A SKIRT! This first-person character program will be presented at the Renaissance Center; 26376 John Rd. in Olmsted Township. Susan Brewer will portray Ohio's Baseball Wonder, Dr. Alta Weiss, who put herself through medical school playing professional baseball on a MEN'S team in the early 1900s. This program is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call the Center at 440-232-7111.
A performance of YOU CAN'T PLAY BALL IN A SKIRT! be featured and will be held at the Freer Family Field at the corner of Park St. and Morgan Ave, June 25-30. The Chautauqua is sponsored by the Ashland Community Arts Center and this year's theme is "Sport and Society." For more information call the Ashland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877-581-2345 or e-mail: Ashland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
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. 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.
I need to strongly reiterate the fact that this is an on-going project. The need is forever continuing. Please think about these children. If not with your pocketbook - at least in your daily prayers.
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
And I just received the following from Alice Wakefield:
"...I just established a yahoo group for the VHS Class of 1957 so we can catch up on our classmates before our September reunion..." Here are the details: The Group home page can be found at: VHS CLASS OF 1957 The Group email address is: VHSClassof1957 Go to the home page and join today!!
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. 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 they are not working well. If so it is a technical problem belonging to the respective parties operating those webpages. Please address any concerns you may have about those pages to those responsible for them.
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
For Persons who would like to contribute to the cause (to keep these "Views" on-line you can send whatever you would like to me at the following address or use PayPal(It's fast, free, easy, and secure):
Vol.5, Issue 5, April 21, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant