EMPTY VIEWS DESK (?): Well, the problem(s) I had with AOL for the last few weeks is gone. It just dissipated - just as quickly (or slowly) as it appeared it was gone. There was no explanation. No warning. And I am left here with only one question: What was that all about?
Yet, be all as it is I must still offer some advice to all "Viewers":
1. DO NOT depend on an email from me each week to access this page. Either use the URL(i.e.http://www.vermilionohio.org) or place "Views" under your "Favorites / Bookmarks" to access future editions. 2. Keep in mind that I developed this webpage to allow persons better and easier access to things I' ve been working on because emailing this information did not provide an adequate platform for this purpose. 3.I do not have a secretary (as is quite obvious in the pic of my messy office) nor a staff of technicians to help me research things and/or deal with technical problems. This is strictly an "OJT" (on the job training) operation. And 3. I enjoy doing this because, as things turn, it is a learning experience for me. The unfortunate part of all of this is that I am inclined to become distracted by technical things which, by and large, are of no interest to anyone other than myself. And when this happens the content (subject matter) in "Views" is less than it should be.
2. Keep in mind that I developed this webpage to allow persons better and easier access to things I' ve been working on because emailing this information did not provide an adequate platform for this purpose.
3.I do not have a secretary (as is quite obvious in the pic of my messy office) nor a staff of technicians to help me research things and/or deal with technical problems. This is strictly an "OJT" (on the job training) operation.
And 3. I enjoy doing this because, as things turn, it is a learning experience for me. The unfortunate part of all of this is that I am inclined to become distracted by technical things which, by and large, are of no interest to anyone other than myself. And when this happens the content (subject matter) in "Views" is less than it should be.
Ergo; I request that ye be patient. The Views desk may appear to be empty (at times), but in truth I'm probably crawling around on the floor checking a connection - or two.
VJHS PLAY 1954: A great pic. It really scanned and reproduced for the net quite nicely. As usual I can't remember the precise names of all 3 girls in this photograph - although I remember each quite well. The girl in the middle is Martha Harrison. The youngster on the left is Patsy Reiber. And the one on the right is Doris Huffman. (Names courtesy of Mary Wakefield Buxton)
The girls were standing on the stage at (our beloved) South Street School. The year, as best I can guesstimate is c. 1954. I didn't see the play they were practicing for when this photo was taken, but I remember what the jist of it was. It was a Hawiian production. One of my older sisters, Ellie, had some bit part in it. And for some reason I vividly recall her talking about the Hawaiin food called "poi" during that period of time.
This pic comes from the "Harbor Lights" yearbook that was, for some unknown reason, a Vermilion School photobook that was published without providing any names for the students pictured.
But the photographs (as is obvious) are wonderful.
ROTARY CENTENNIAL PARK: Forty-five years back this is how the property that is now called the "Rotary Centennial Park" (beneath and around the old Vermilion Water Tower) appeared.
Worthy of some note (and most of the reason that this pic appears here) is the propety along the river behind the oval-shaped building on the right, and the house on the left side of the pic.
The area has so changed during these years that it's difficult for persons unfamiliar with these changes to conceptualize those buildings having been where they are herein seen.,P> It doesn't seem like there would have been enough space to accomodate all those things. But it (obviously) did.
KISHMANS IN THE A.M.: This pic was scanned and adapted from a rather large framed photograph loaned "Views" by Vermilionite Fred Wetzler. It should not be confused with the artistic rendering of the same. While similar the coloring is very different. And this is, as already indicated, a photograph that was done by a company called The Camera Connection in Vermilion. Tis unclear (to me) if the company still exists.
That which is truly interesting about this particular pic is directly related to its coloring. While I didn't notice it until I scanned it this photograph was taken in the morning. And more than that - it is fairly early - perhaps 6:30 or 7 a.m. The tugs are in. Nobody appears to be stirring. So it may have been taken on a Sunday morning in mid-summer.
Methinks it's a rather substantial depiction of the Kishman operation. The buildings are well defined - complex. It makes one want to wander into, and through them.
Great stuff!
I did tamper with the original photograph some and gave it a painting-like appearance for "Views". But it sure is beautiful.
OTHER PLACES: The "Views" archives literally contain thousands of photographs of Vermilion, Ohio that have been collected from a variety of sources over, perhaps, a decade. This is one of those pix; a postcard reproduction c.1907.
This particular pic appears to have been taken by PRoscoe (the writing that identifies the pic is similar to his), and matches similar photos that are definitely Roscoe's work. However; that information is vastly overshadowed by the message that appears on the card:
There are other places besides "Canada".
How cool is that? That'd be a great promotional slogan to use for attracting tourists to Vermilion, and perhaps even Ohio.
CLOUDY'S: This too is one of those old pix that lay in the "Views" collection gather electronic dust. It is, of course, a real good view of Vermilion's Ferry Dock (Cloudy's Ferry) which used to be located (approximately) in the place where the present day Vermilion Yacht stands.
The ferry service existed years before Vermilion, Ohio was incorporated (1837). The earliest operator was Barlow Sturges and his son. And up until motor vehicles became the dominent form of transportation in the region it remained a viable service.
The well liked Canadian Lewis "Cloudy" Noel was the last of Vermilion's Ferrymen. Those are days and people that I wish I could have experienced.
Like the space now occupied by the aforementioned Vermilion Rotary Centennial Park it's difficult to envision the old ferry dock on the east-side of the stream Vermilion.
PODCAST #24: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #24Vermilion Views Podcast #24 continues with the final portion of the talk given the Vermilion Area Archival Society on April 9th by local resident Nettie Bogart Welch. Tis a bit long, but worth the listening. 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" Lorna Naegele comes the following question:
"A few days ago, I was driving along and got this weird whiff of vinegar, and thought of what we used to call the 'pickle factory.' I thought to myself "I should write Rich and ask about the pickle factory!" So imagine my surprise when I opened this week's VV and there's the story of the 'pickle works!' Thanks! Though we didn't live in that neighborhood, my frequent babysitters, the Weitzman's, lived on South St., so we ofter walked by the 'pickle factory.' I do still have a question - when was the plant in operation? "
Though we didn't live in that neighborhood, my frequent babysitters, the Weitzman's, lived on South St., so we ofter walked by the 'pickle factory.'
I do still have a question - when was the plant in operation? "
ANSWER: Lorna
My answer (this week) is that I have no answer to your question - yet. As last weeks "Views" illustrated I have been dogged by technical problems. So, I'll put your question on hold for now and try to answer it in the week next.
And while ye wait - if anyone has any other questions...
WHAT'S A FOOT: There will be no June meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society. However; during Vermilion's Festival of the Fish society members will be on hand to greet persons interested in Vermilion history at their new home in the Hull / Consumer building next to the railroad tracks on Main Street.
Everyone is welcome to stop by and talk with them and 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.
Join Eden Valley on May 21 at 7p.m. when they present ORDINARY PEOPLE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES at the Renaissance Center; 26376 John Rd. in Olmsted Township. This storytelling program spotlights stories of World War II on the front lines and on the home front and is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call the Center at 440-235-7111.
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. They appear here only as a courtesy to those parties. 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 Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix History of Linwood Park Vermilion Visitor's Advisory (Satire) Gore Orphanage History The Lester Pelton Story The Wreck of The Niles #152 The History of Crystal Beach Vermilion Views Archives Vermilion's Pioneer Woman; Charlotte Sturges Cloudy; Vermilion's Ferryman The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843 The Last Time I Saw Charlie Hope Childrens Home Kenya A Profile of Rich Tarrant Vermilion Biographies Vermilion - Village of Lake Captains Vermilion's Youngest Minstrels 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. And THANKS to everybody who has contributed to the cause. I doth sincerely appreciate it): Rich Tarrant1041 Oakwood DriveVermilion, Ohio44089Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-4459 "I saw this in a movie about a bus that had to speed around a city, keeping its speed over 50, and if its speed changed, it would explode! I think it was called, 'The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down." ~ Homer Simpson Vol.5, Issue 9, May 19, 2007 View Page StatsSee who's visiting this page. "Vermilion Views" Search powered by FreeFind
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. They appear here only as a courtesy to those parties. 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. And THANKS to everybody who has contributed to the cause. I doth sincerely appreciate it):
Vol.5, Issue 9, May 19, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant