FROM SLOPPY JOE'S: The weather in Vermilion and most of Ohio during the past week has been (in a word) tropic. This view of the Vermilion River was taken from the patio of Sloppy Joe's Bar - not in the Florida Keys - but at the Olympic Outing Club in Vermilion, Ohio during the week.
In it the river is certainly running (strong) but is not yet flooding. That would come later.
It was nothing very severe - just enough to be annoying.
The waters swept away a few boats that were not secured for such an activity. But fortunately some vigilant folks downstream caught them before they got to the lake. Persons to the south of Vermilion were not so lucky. Their misfortune(s) made national news.
To digress for a moment: "Viewers" familiar with Vermilion Ohio's Olympic Club might also be familiar with Sloppy Joe's bar at the resort. If you've not visited the club for some years you'll not know that the old - the original - bar was razed and a new one - a rather handsome one - has taken its place. Whilst it retains many of the original fixtures (i.e. the sign, the bar, the people) the structure is been turned, raised some, and was made more hospitable (if that were humanly possible).
Well, whether the weather (homonymic pun intended) is good or bad the view from Sloppy Joe's is perpetually interesting.
NOTE: Believe or not - last week I made a mistake and got ahead of meself with these holidays.
So - this week I give thee both the current and last weeks very bizzaar holdays...
19 AND 27: Looking through the Vermilion High School Annual, Hi Times - 1927 a few days ago I came across this pic and was fascinated by the personalities in it.
This is not the Senior Class. It is the Junior Class of '27. I should point out (as I have many times in the past) that many of these old annuals did not give the names of the students with the group photographs. And this was not exception.
However; in this particular issue the "Junior Class History" - which was a rather tongue-in-cheek literary piece that appears with the pix gives names that help identify some of the students. And once I had that info I was able to spot some of the people that I knew.
In the group posed on the steps of the State Street School 80 years ago are:
"Red" Charles Horton, Pauline Baily, Eleanor Blanchat, Howard Bogart, Evalyn Burrows, "Art" Arthur Copeland, Genevieve Christian, Grace Dyke, Lucy Golske, Eva Graham, Lenore Grant, Helen Greenhoe, Guy Herman, Doris Kishman, "Liz" Elizabeth Krapp, Ernest Kuhl, Orson Kuhnle, Herbert Lander, Paul Naegele, Bernadette Parsons, Bernice Phelps, Fred Reifert, Calvin Rothgery, Melvin Rothgery, Catherine Sanders, Gordon Sahr, Alice Schuster, John Trinter, Pauline Walker, George Wakefield, Richard Whitt, Evelyn Kneisel, William russel, and Amos Feiszli.
I will leave it to individual "Viewers" to find the faces that fit those names. Some are easy. Some are not. But it's a great pic of a great class.
THE MAUD IN '15: George Fischer had his Fischer Building block constructed in 1915. Last week another photo of the Maud-Elton appeared in "Views" that was taken sometime after the hotel had been moved down the hill to its present location but prior to the time the Fischer bulding was built.
That photo caused a "Viewer" to inquire:
"Regarding this weeks photo of the Maud-Elton Hotel, I was under the notion that the hotel was previously located on corner of Main and Liberty, the site of the Fischer Building today. Your old photo shows it in it's current location, even though the Fischer Building is non-existant. Compare it's location to the LSE building. Was the site of the Fischer bulding that open ground west of the hotel in the photo?
Just my thoughts. Maybe the Maud-Elton was never moved at all."
I explained that he was:
"...correct about the "Maud" being moved to where it's seen in the "Views" photo. That photo was taken just prior to the Fischer Building being built - a few years after it was moved down the hill. Of all the pix of the hotel it best (however unfortunately) shows it in its decline as a popular tourist spot. The sign outside making an appeal to motorists to stop in an stay is almost pathetic."
And while many persons already understood all of this - this photo should afford everyone a very clear idea of how all the moving and building transpired.
Aside from that it's just a great photograph. But take note: A further addition was put on the east end of the building some years after the original construction. I'm not precisely sure why anyone thought that was necessary. Perhaps it had something to do with the relocation of the Vermilion Post Office in that part of the building.
The photo, by the by, is courtesy of Roberta "Bobbi" Riley of Santa Maria, California.
MILL ON THE VERMILION RIVER: This is both a curious and wonderful picture that is part of the Don Englebry photo collection donated to the Vermilion Area Archival Society. In handwriting in the bottom margin are the words, "Verm. Mill". And that's all it says.
There's no locale - nothing.
The locale could be Mill Hollow. That's definitely a possibility. But that's just a guess. There were other mills in the area.
But setting that aside for the time this is certainly an interesting photo. I surmise that it was taken in Autumn after the leaves had fallen and the water in the stream was very low. It is obvious that the water must have come up at least to mid-wheel when the mill was in operation.
I honestly must plead ignorance when it comes to the technical aspects of this (or any) mill so I can't say much more about the photo except that it is rare.
PODCAST #39: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #39Vermilion Views Podcast #39 presents a rather interesting story about the untimely death of former Vermilionite Dave White in a 1966 Navy exercise air crash, and the search for the remote crash site in the Sierra Nevada Mountain wilderness by his daughter, son, and friend earlier this summer. And then - there is a continuation of reading(s) from Betty Trinter's wonderful Vermilion History "The Way It Was".
HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): Below is another new form that I've added to the site. With this form you will be allowed to preview your comment/question as it will be sent to me. After that just come back to this page and clear the form.
Well, folks I've got to say that this form is working wonderfully for me. I'm receiving good questions and comments on a regular basis. So it's exceeded my initial expectations substantially.
Returning to Alf Buell's train for a moment (which has generated a great deal of interest and comment from numerous "Viewers") I discovered that "Viewer" Bill Cutcher purchased the train from Mr. Buell when he moved to his house on Main Street.
And I'm still looking forward to acquiring pix of the train from Mr. Buell's daughter Alice.
But for the moment I have a question. Note the pic (albeit somewhat fuzzy) of Vermilion's former Chief of Police Ed Benson above. I'm interested in acquiring some stories about this gentleman. One "Viewer" (Maryann Wakefield Buxton) sent me a great story about an amusing interaction she had with the Chief while growing up in Vermilion and I'm certain that there are others.
So my question is to YOU. Do you have a story about Vermilion's old Police Chief you would be will to share with "Viewers"?
If you do would you please pass it on to me? I think those stories would make delightful reading.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS ETC. (?):
Well - ENOUGH!!! Some European spammers finally got the best of me by using the email form which used to be available (here) in "VV". They hi-jacked the form for purposes I am unable to fathom (I don't gamble and I'm not in the market for Viagra). Ergo; I dropped the form and ye can simply drop a line to me by tapping on my name below:
RICH TARRANT
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for information about VHS Class Reunions, The Vermilion Area Archival Society, Eden Valley Enterprises events, and Hope Home in Kenya? Follow the link to the Vermilion Locals page. Something new (mit a few new pix added) 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.
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 Tarrant
1041 Oakwood Drive
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-4459
"When I first heard that Marge was joining the police academy, I thought it would be fun and zany, like that movie -- Spaceballs. But instead it was dark and disturbing like that movie, Police Academy." ~Homer Simpson
Vol.5, Issue 23, August 25, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant