Vermilion Views

West coast "Viewers" unfamiliar with the freshwater lakes may find it somewhat incredible to understand that the entire lake can freeze over. But it does happen. (Although it hasn't frozen completely over for the last several years.)

Although (as one can see) the sun is shining brightly "cold" comes along with "clear" weather. And tis sometimes hard to recall just how nice it was a few months back

when one could sit around the backyard in the same sunshine and read a book in the quiet of an afternoon. Ergo; I thought it might be nice to, at least, warm ye up with a bit gorgeous - not to mention sexy - music from the southern hemisphere (Maleguena) along with some snapshoots of those months

The musical piece is from a collection called (appropriately enough) "Island Fever" by Chris Foster and the Bungalow Band. Chris (again appropriately enough) works out of Florida.

_{[Note: The use of music in the background of "Views" (believe it or not) is for educational and informational purposes. Most pieces are chosen for their historical significance. In short, either the music, the artist, the composer(s), or all three may be of some historic import. In this instance it is all three.]}

The piece Maleguena was writ by a gentleman named Ernesto Lecuona. Lecuona was born in Guanabacoa, Cuba a suburb of Havanna in 1895. This composer and performer of Basque descent, became, perhaps, the greatest and most legendary Cuban musician of his and - all - time.

While he travelled and performed throughout the world Cuba remained his home until 1960. Thoroughly unhappy with Fidel Castro's dictatorial regime he moved to Tampa where he died 3 years later at Santa Cruz de Tenerife at age 68. He is interred at "Gate of Heaven Cemetery" in Hawthorne, New York.

This particular piece of music is, needless to say, a favorite of guitarists all over the world and has, consequently, been recorded many, many times.

POP: This is a great snap of my father, William Basil Tarrant, feeding paper into the "big press" that once printed the weekly newspaper called The Vermilion News. Tis how I (along with many other folks) remember him.

Born in 1898 in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) his parents migrated to the U.S. to Portland, Maine when he was just a tyke. The family home was in Old Orchard Beach (a Portland suburb). His father, Fred, worked on the docks in Portland harbor.

During his teen years he apprenticed with a Portland printer. At the outbreak of WWI he entered the U.S. Army where he served in an artillary unit in France. He was "mustard gassed" whilst fighting in the Argonne Forest.

When the war ended he and a friend from Massachusetts had planned to travel to the State of Texas to hunt alligators (?). [Having later served in the military during a war and, consequently, acquiring a similar life experience myself I always assumed that this safari was a carry-over - lust for further adventure - from the war experience.] But setting all that aside the plan was ill-fated.

The Massachesetts fellow fell seriously ill and was unable to join my father in this venture. Undaunted, my father started out on the journey and got as far as Ohio. As fate would have it his uncle was the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Vermilion - and because he was passing this way he stopped over for a visit.

The church being directly behind the printing offices of The Vermilion News weekly - and my father having learned the business prior to the war - was encouraged by his uncle to visit the shop - whereupon he took a job. And the rest - as they say - is history.

SHE JUST FADED AWAY: It was a fitting first name for the sleek 128.5 foot steam powered yacht. Built by the Charles L. Seabury Gas Engine & Power Company in Morris Heights, NY in 1899 the steel hulled vessel had a gross tonnage of 119 and a net tonnage of 81. Christened as the Aria when built she would assume 6 more names before disappearing from the U.S. Merchant Vessel registry (official number 107470) in 1943.

She was the Aria (1899-1904), the Wacondah (1904-12), Isabella (1912-16), Kasha (1916-19), Fortuna (1919-36), Theo (1936-39), and finally the Spindrift (1939-43).

This Pearl Roscoe photograph of the beautiful vessel moored along Vermilion Harbor’s west breakwall was taken on Sunday August 13, 1916. At the time the yacht was officially registered as the Isabella. But folks along the river, and perhaps even the owner, referred to her as La Belle. (Again an appropriate name.)

The yacht was owned by Lakewood, Ohio automobile pioneer Alexander Winton. Winton, who was commonly recognized as a “trigger-tempered Scot” (a trait with which I sincerely identify), had migrated to America from his home in Scotland in 1878; to Cleveland in 1882; and 14 years later produced the first American-built automobile sold commercially in our nation.

The Cleveland Yacht Club Commodore, Winton, had brought the vessel to Vermilion in celebration of Vermilion Boat Club’s third annual South Shore Regatta. Because the wind had turned, and was blowing hard from the northeast on the second day of the regatta, all the lake races had been postponed, and spectators had an opportunity to take a good look at this boat, and others, in the harbor.

While the above photo is not the only, nor the best, photograph Roscoe took of La Belle on that summer morning nearly 89 years ago, it is the only one that affords us a reasonably good idea of the vessel’s size and synoptic beauty.

During my six decades along this stream I’ve seen only one other yacht

that would compare in size to this one in the harbor. That vessel belonged to a gentleman named Bill Miller who, I believe, kept a summer home in the Vermilion Lagoons and had some connections to folks in Linwood Park. Mr. Miller owned several auto dealerships and wintered in Florida.

But I digress. The top photo was taken dockside at Cloudy’s Ferry (**VPJ 2-17-05) looking west. The tired building to the left (south) of Winton’s yacht is Tom Ball’s Boathouse/Shanty. Today that building would be very close to where the home of the late Ted and Dr. Ruth Read-Wakefield’s lakefront home stands today. The flag on the mast to the left is the Cleveland Yacht Club flag, and the one on the right is Winton’s personal flag.

In 1936, as the Theo, the great yacht would be converted to gas power. And seven years later, as previously indicated, she would disappear from the U.S. registry altogether. I guess like the old soldiers proverb, old yachts (and arias) never die - they just fade away.

MONKEY-WARD HOME: Along with many other folks I share an interest in, what I call "factory manufactured" homes. Sears homes are regularly given attention by most persons. That may be because they were the most prevalent type of ready made homes in our region. Lorain, Ohio has many.

It was not until my friend, Stu White, pointed it out time that I knew that Montgomery-Ward also sold houses. And I must say that I was surprised to learn from him that his family home (on the northwest corner of Main and Ferry Streets) in Vermilion is one of them.

I tried to lighten the photo (above) of the house as it appeared yesterday afternoon (1-25-08) to show thee one identifying feature of the MW homes; it is the "S" figure on the chimney. And if you pay attention during your travels - hither and yon - you will likely notice others.

A good number of these "factory" homes are of better quality than many homes built on site. Part of the reason this is true is because all the parts that make up these houses are standard and, therefore, nearly perfect.

THE REIS BARN: Whist on the subject of architecture we should consider this masterpiece. For years it sat behind the Ries home on Grand Street. (The site is now occupied by a newly constructed house of substantial size.) It t'were the site of Ralph Bard's home before it was razed.

The barn pictured was used as a workshop and pigeon coop when this pic was taken. The pigeons were raised for dinner(s) in fine restaurants.

PODCAST #60: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #60 is retired Vermilion Municipal Judge, Betsy Wakefield, speaking at the January meeting of Vermilion Area Archival Society about the History of the Vermilion, Ohio justice system (Part Two).

For the benefit of all - kindly take note of the fact that I have produced an archive (that can be found in the "Links" section of the page) that will allow "Viewers" an easier way to access all past podcasts.

_{Note: (1)that the podcasts are in the archives; (2)that one can easily listen to them on-line and / or copy them (for free) to their PC or Mac for later listening; and (3) that all have also been preserved, by myself, on a separate hard-drive and on CD's. Anyone unable to listen to, or acquire the audios on-line and wishes to acquire a copy of any of these audio casts and / or recordings of persons who have spoken at a Vermilion Area Archival Society meeting during the last 12 months can do so by contacting me, and paying a small cover fee for recording materials.}

LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for the latest 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. Always changing...

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 links. 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.

For Persons who would like to donate 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 already donated to the cause. I doth certainly appreciate it):

Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live