THE HARMONICATS: Al Fiore (Born Al Fiorentino d. 1996), Jerry Murad (Jerry Muradian, b.1923, d.1996), and Don Les (Dominic Leshinski b.1914, d.1994) were the Harmonicats. As implied by the name they were a group of harmonica players. They came to the forefront of the American music scene in the late 1940's when, during a national musicians strike, their music received a great deal of radio play because harmonicas were not then considered to be musical instruments.

If you are able to hear the musical piece accompanying "Views" this week you are listening to a c.1950 "Merco Plastic NON-BREAKABLE Under Normal Use" re-recording on the Mercury label of pianist Jan August & Jerry Murad's Harmonicats. The piece is "Bewitched".

Persons familiar with the group will know that one member of the group, Don Les, has a Vermilion, Ohio connection. His son, Ron Leshinski, attended school in Vermilion and still lives in the area. Don's former wife (Ron's mother) passed away just a month or two ago. She lived on Jefferson Street in the city.

This particular recording was loaned to me by a friend along with, perhaps, 25 or 30 additional 78 rpm antique recordings during the week. I was both happy, and pleasantly surprised to have been given access to them. Ergo; I am busy digitizing them.

Many of the records are (plastic or not) wear damaged and heavily scratched. But my software is helpful in audio restoration. I record them with a freeware program called "Audacity", and restore them with a program called "Amadeus II". All the damage(s) can't be repaired - but the recordings are discernible.

Great stuff!

DOWN BY THE STATION: This is one of those, Whowouldathunk? stories.

It started with an earnest, but rather modest, question from a fellow named Ron Bassett:

_{"...I seem to remember a family that lived on the dead end of South Street at Decatur that had a train ride built on their property...The question is, was it really there or just a childhood dream?"}

While I had no recollection of such a ride I opined that if anyone at all had ever had such a contraption it could have only been but one person. And that person would have been Alfred Buell.

I say that because Ingenious could, and should, have been Mr. Buell's middle name. Having spent some time around the old Buell Family home at the end of South Street during my youth I can testify to the fact that there was never ever a dull moment. Always, always there was activity. And always, always it was fun. After some mention of the aforementioned train appeared in "Views" I began getting responses from folks all over the country.

An example is this note from one From Michael Rust:

"Mr. Buell lived 4 homes west of us on South St. He did have a small train called "Puffer Belly". The engine of the train was made of what appeared to be a 35 or 55 gallon drum lying on it's side. It had a look of a old time locomotive. I remember that the small gasoline motor in the enigne had a little "push down" foot crank to start it. The train tracks ran around his yard and north down near the creek. I remember Mr. Buell telling me that he had hand made wooden tracks which were about 16 inches in width. He had several train cars which he always kept painted with different [sic] collors. Puffer Belly was blue and had a smiley face painted on the front. It was always a treat to get a ride on his train. It was sad to see him move when he went to Main St.

As with everything goes as you get older, I now wish that I would have at sometime stopped over to see him as an adult to thank him for being one of the best neighbors..."

And then Mr. Buell's oldest son Leon afforded this great information about how the train - affectionately called the Pufferbelly was constructed:

_{Engineering a Pufferbelly;The engine was a two cycle kick start gas engine from a Maytag washing machine.The flanged drive wheels were brass valve sears.The trains tracks were made from 1" oak boards.The cross ties were made of maple. Nelson Ferber of Risdon Rd. had a saw mill and made the "tracks"out of local rough cut timbers.Father knew Nelson as he logged with and farmed with a team of horses.He came into town and plowed our garden. Father and I fashioned the tracks into sections,some of which were curved to circle the house. For winter use father made little trucks on skis to replace the wheels.We hosed down the tracks and they were then an ice track."}

Adding this great bit of info:

_{"Another story would be Father and I making pickle barrels and steel pipe into a giant tobaggan run of 600'.}

(We'll be looking forward to that story)

But that is not the end of this story. A few days ago Alice (Buell) dropped off the following pix along with a copy of an article "Smiling Train Draws The Younger Crowd" which appeared in the 6-28-72 edition of the Sandusky (Ohio) Register about Mr. Buell's "Pufferbelly".

_{Children enjoying "Pufferbelly" in Buell's backyard on South Street.
Perhaps Mr. Basset's in the crowd.}

But that's not the end of the story either. I received the following communique and pix from my friend (also Commercial Fishing Historian) Bill Cutcher last week:

"Just a little more about the train. It was purchased some time in the fall of 1984. After arrangements to see the train I went to the west end of south st and in a small shed saw the train and its condition. A price was agreed on and we loaded the train in the truck and brought it to its new home Brownhelm store. The train came with the engine and two cars that the children rode in. The track was made of wood and had rotted so bad that he had disposed of it.

Back at Brownhelm store new track was made and the engine was gone over and put up in the yard next to the Brownhelm Store and rides given to children who wanted to ride.

Rick Coolbaugh and Bill Cutcher repairing "Pufferbelly"

It was only up for 1 year as the engine used a Maytag washing machine and refused to start most of the time. Plans were made to remake the engine and the drive wheels.Progress never went beyond the planning stage and some disassembly. When we had an auction the little train was sold to a fellow who had an antique store on Rt 20..."

And so the story continues.

Somewhere there is likely a veritable plethora of children standing in awe - down by the station awaiting a turn to ride on Alf Buell's wonderful Pufferbelly.

"Whowouldathunk!"...

MILL ON THE VERMILION RIVER: I want to touch back about this pic from the Don Englebry photo collection donated to the Vermilion Area Archival Society. I still can't given anyone the locale of this photo but given the help of Electric Train Historian Dennis Lamont of Birmingham I have learned the following:

_{"On the subject of the mill, the picture shows an "overshot" water wheel whereby the water came down the trough and weight of it rotated the wheel clock-wise. Not shown on the list is the troughs connection to a water source. Over by North Fairfield at the remains of the Old Phoenix mill (1853)they dug a trench on the side of the hill the mill was built on and brought the water from about a 1/2 mile upstream."}

Dennis' explication of the mill in the pic makes the operation a bit clearer (to me) now. But the locale still puzzles me. Could (I wonder) it have been further south of Mill Hollow?

PODCAST #40: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #40Vermilion Views Podcast #40 is a reiteration of the story of the discovery of the plane crash site in California where Vermilionite David White and 3 Navy comrades lost their lives in 1966. It goes with the photo that his brother, Stu, forwarded me after the story ran last week. I think it (the pic) speaks for itself.

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.

Keep all the questions and comments coming. I really appreciate them.

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:

LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for updated 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.

If you're looking for my old links section (pictured) I've replaced it with a pull-down menu (visible in the small box next to the word "Go"). If you're looking for links to more Vermilion history check that menu.

_{How the old links menu looked}

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 24, September 1, 2007

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© 2007 Rich Tarrant