EVERYONE HAS A STORY: Last week I hurried through the production of "Views" because I was pressed for time - and the hour was late. I was tired because I don't normally stay awake after 10 p.m. And, ironically, I received a number of neat comments about some of the pix which appeared.
It's funny (not "ha-ha" funny - but unexpected funny). Because sometimes - when I think I've really produced something of merit it flops. And when I think I've done just a terrible job - it strikes a very positive note.
Go figure.
This week I've made some changes in "Views" that may, or may not, prove to be satisfactory to some folks. While it was not, initially, my intent to use this forum as a bulletin board for persons interested in Vermilion related activities and projects - at least part of the page is become dedicated to that purpose. And due to the fact that this is become a growing part of the project I have designed a page for that purpose alone. For lack of a more creative name for that page I am, for now, calling it the Vermilion Locals page.
One this page ye will find VHS Class Reunion Info (all I have - anyway); and other things like activities at the Vermilion Area Archival Society (VAAS); my favorite mission project at Hope Home in Uganda; and the very latest Eden Valley Enterprises (EVE) historic productions around Ohio.
I believe you'll learn to like the page as time passes because I'll be able to dedicate a little more time to those projects - at least in the way of photos. I don't believe I was affording these items - presenting them - as best as they might be when I've posted them on this (home) page. Presenting them in this fashion will allow me an opportunity to work on them without altering the face of the "home" page that is archived each week. I like to keep this page (mistakes and all) as original as possible.
Now - having said all that I want to temporarily contradict my express intent and post some information here that will likely interest many "Viewers".
THE LINWOOD TREES: From my net-met friend and "Viewer" Janet Waggoner of Westerville, Ohio I have learned that she and another friend, Jack Seith (also of Westerville) are in the process of putting together a book "The Linwood Trees" to celebrate the years since Linwood Park celebrated their 125th birthday - and the book "Through These Gates" was published.
In essence they are looking for your personal stories about your experiences and photographs as a resident or visitor to the park during the last 25 years. A more detailed "PDF" description of what they're looking for can be obtained by contacting Janet or Jack.
OR if you already have a story and a few pix prepared you can submit them to Linwood Trees Book.
This should be fun.
CRYSTAL MEMORIES: A freelance writer, Michelle Tackla, for "Lake Erie Living" magazine contacted me and told me (in part):
"...We are planning to put an ad in the magazine asking for people to contact us about their memories of Crystal Beach and we wanted to see if any people met their spouses or had love stories they associate with that magical place. Do you know people/couples who have love stories associated with Crystal Beach that I could interview? I am hoping to rekindle the memories and tell these stories and I wanted to include photos of couples today as well as historical photos of the park. Can you offer advice on this? I want to make sure we are sensitive to any copyright issues. Not sure where to go at this stage..."
I am hoping to rekindle the memories and tell these stories and I wanted to include photos of couples today as well as historical photos of the park. Can you offer advice on this? I want to make sure we are sensitive to any copyright issues. Not sure where to go at this stage..."
I did direct Michelle and her publisher to Marlene Feldcamp (granddaughter of the park's creator George Blanchatt - but I think that what she's really looking for is a few great love stories - and there should be more that "a few" available. So - I am directing "Viewers" to contact Michelle with your stories and pix.
This should make for an interesting issue of the mag.
VERMILION STORIES: And, finally, from me. I'm asking for stories and pix of your life "Growing Up In Vermilion, Ohio".
Each story should contain no more than 500 or 600 words. The intent, like that of the Linwood request, is to gather a collection of stories that might be placed and published in book form. Whether enough stories can be collected, edited (and the funds found for a publisher) remains to be seen.
Barbara Hayes Ruggles thought it might make for a great read. I'm inclined to agree.
One can email the programs to Me or send them to my address that appears at the bottom of this page.
THE PISTON PUSHERS: This is something I really didn't expect. After this particular pic was published in "Views" last week "Viewer" Alice Wakefield went to work, contacted John Klingensmith, and John tentively identified all but 4 fellows in the photo:
Row 1- Lee Kress, Don Parsons, Blank, Bob Hunter, Blank Row 2- Dave Dickerhoff, Doug Kieth, Dave Guthrie, Allen Thompson, John Klingensmith Row 3- Blank, Henry Schiesselman, Charles Sammons, Blank, Paul Friday, Robin Kane Row 4- Charles DeBracy, Wade Mertz, Blank, Angus Murdoch Row 5- Blank
Even if the photo had been of better quality I doubt that I could have named more than I did last week. Some of the names - like John (himself), Charles Sammons, Paul Friday, Chuck DeBracy, and Wade Mertz - I'd completely forgotten.
Great memories - just great!
ELEANOR: A facsimile of this pic was used with my Vermilion Photojournal column this week. As I sat composing "Views" last Friday night unbeknownst to me my sister, Eleanor Slocum, passed into eternity at the Austinwoods Care Center in Austintown, Ohio. She had struggled with cancer for quite some time. She was but 65 years old and graduated with the VHS Class of 1959.
I don't have too much to say about her passing except to quote part of a poem writ by the poet John Donne "...send not to know/For whom the bell tolls,/It tolls for thee." She will be missed.
Her complete obituary can be found in this weeks Vermilion Views Podcast
RURAL SCHOOLS: This week a someone contacted me asking about Vermilion's rural schools. While I'm not familiar with all the former sites of the schools (some are, obviously, gone) I do know of a few. Some are still standing.
The question about the schools is historically significant. Ergo; I thought it might be nice to share this information with "Viewers" and, concurrently, make it a matter of retrievable record (on the net). This list as I know it is as follows:
District 1: Village - The original (a log school) was located near the mouth of the river and was long ago claimed by the lake. District 2: (Cuddeback School) Orchard Beach - NW corner of Lake and Risden Roads. The previous school (attended by Lester A. Pelton) was a small red frame building on the SE corner. I have been told that part of the big house on the NW corner of Lake and Risden Roads is part of the 2nd school. I have also been told that part of a house further west (on the SW corner of Center Road in Orchard Beach) is part of that original school. District 3: Corner of Joppa and Lake Roads (No longer exists). District 4: Joppa, just north of Darrow Road (No longer exists). District 5: Darrow Road (old Furnace Road). District 6: (Crane's School) NE Corner of Cherry and Mason Roads. This was a clapboard school that existed right into the late 1960's early 1970's (No longer exists). District 7: (Furnace School) SE Corner of State and Darrow Roads (No longer exists). District 8: First on Stanley, then near Wills' on Risden Road (No longer exists). District 9: Axtel (two schools). The brick structure still standing was later used as the Vermilion Grange Hall. District 10: Coen Road (No longer exists).
District 2: (Cuddeback School) Orchard Beach - NW corner of Lake and Risden Roads. The previous school (attended by Lester A. Pelton) was a small red frame building on the SE corner. I have been told that part of the big house on the NW corner of Lake and Risden Roads is part of the 2nd school. I have also been told that part of a house further west (on the SW corner of Center Road in Orchard Beach) is part of that original school.
District 3: Corner of Joppa and Lake Roads (No longer exists).
District 4: Joppa, just north of Darrow Road (No longer exists).
District 5: Darrow Road (old Furnace Road).
District 6: (Crane's School) NE Corner of Cherry and Mason Roads. This was a clapboard school that existed right into the late 1960's early 1970's (No longer exists).
District 7: (Furnace School) SE Corner of State and Darrow Roads (No longer exists).
District 8: First on Stanley, then near Wills' on Risden Road (No longer exists).
District 9: Axtel (two schools). The brick structure still standing was later used as the Vermilion Grange Hall.
District 10: Coen Road (No longer exists).
I've not done the history of the Vermilion Schools on-line yet - but may do it in the near future. I've already written the story. It just needs to be translated into HTML for the net. (Perhaps next week.)
VICTORY PARK: This pic may have appeared in an earlier editon of "Views". But during these months of ceremonies and festivals in Victory Park (some folks confuse Victory Park with Exchange/Rubberneck Park on Liberty Avenue) I do believe that another look at the old bandstand is appropriate.
I have no idea as to the reason this particular bandstand was razed. As is obvious it was both a sturdy and substantial structure - made of brick. I also am unable to recall just when it disppeared from the park.
If my memory serves me properly (which is questionable) I think that there were restrooms in the lower part of the stand. But I never recall that they were open. Perhaps it was simply storage space underneath. But I certainly recall having some great times playing on and around it.
It was located just to the east of the Founders Day Stone that still sits in the park. And there was a drinking fountain near the stone. The swings were located along the southern edge of the park. They were wooden swings chained to large telephone pole-like logs. During ceremonies the children would swing - and the band would play.
MITIWANGA: Courtesy of electric historian Dennis Lamont, who is forever researching for information and pix in libraries (public and private) for historic data, comes this wonderful photograph taken at Mitiwanga, Ohio during the 1920's.
Dennis found this pic, along with several others, in the Cleveland State University archives.
The store is long gone - but the summer place lingers on. The signs are slightly amusing. Note the signs over the entrance to the building on the left; Bowling & Pool. How many alleys could they have had in that building? Amusing. Very amusing.
PODCAST #27: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #27Vermilion Views Podcast #25 includes the official obit for my sister "Ellie" that was writ by another sister (Nancy Emery); a very rare rock n' roll piece that was recorded by Vermilionite Bob Fackler and "The Rhythm Kings" (with Jim Fischer) back in the late 1950's; and, of course, a continuation of readings from Betty Trinter's history of Vermilion - "The Way It Was".
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
Again, I am unable to answer this question with an specificity yet. This is really not a lame excuse. Honestly, me life has been so busy for the last three or four weeks that I've hardly had time to think about anything. However - when I've found some time and gone to the library to research the microfiche machine (there is only one) is being used by others. What I can say, at the moment, with some confidence, is that the "Pickleworks" had its beginnings in the 1920's. But now that it's taken me so long to acquire the specific information I really want to get it exact - because I, too, am curious. I also know that more than one person owned and operated the business through the years. So, with some luck, I should have the answer by next week.
And while ye wait - if anyone has any other questions...
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for information about VHS Class Reunions, The Vermilion Area Archival Society, Eden Valley Enterprises events, and Hope Home in Uganda? Follow the link to the Vermilion Locals page. Something new for your enjoyment.
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 12, June 9, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant