Vermilion Views

Historical facts come slowly - but surely. For instance: Did ye know that during about the mid 19th century that many families migrated to good old Vermilion, O. from a region / state in what is now Germany known as Hesse Cassel (Note: spelling is varied). Many of those families are still familiar to local citizens (i.e Trinter, Abel, Kishman, Englebry, Hart, etc.)...

And then there is the tech "mumbo-jumbo"; the html and css languages to learn and try to understand. I don't know if they qualify as being foreign languages.

Lately you will notice boxes and frames around some of the text and images in "Views". None of those items are from a graphics software program like Adobe Photoshop. They are all html /css (computer language) based. And they can be useful if one learns how to use them correctly.

I am also experimenting with video. Tis somewhat complex (at least at the moment) because it requires so much memory to record and produce. That's problematic.

None of this is accomplished without difficulty or error. But that is certainly part of the learning process. Methinks the best thing to understand, in this effort or in living life in general, is that it's not a sin to make a mistake - but it's a big mistake to fail to learn from it. Consequently "Views" is a quilt with many, many patches...

JUST THE LADIES: This snap was given me by Sandy Neiding on Monday last at the February meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society (2-11-07). It came from Vermilionite Roberta "Bobbie" Burley.

The ladies pictured (L-R) are (of course) Mary Louise "Tootie" Reisinger; her mother, Louise Giddings; and Bobbie Burley.

My good friend Tootie lives in her mother's old 3/4-story house on the beach at the foot of Main Street with her husband Dale "Shorty" Reisinger. That house appears in many photographs taken of that particular area through the years.

Louise Giddings was an extremely well-known Vermilionite. Her weekly column in the Vermilion (Ohio) Photojournal was forever - as some folks put it - "a hoot". One of her great-grandsons put all of her articles from that newspaper in several volumes of beautifully hard-bound books and gave them to his father (Bruce Eldridge) for Christmas.

Louise was quite a character; a very remarkable person. There are more than a few folks about town who have "Louise stories" to tell. She was simply a great deal of fun to have known.

Bobbi Burley's fist spouse was another well known Vermilion person named Bob Hallet. They operated the Vermilion Photojournal for many years. After Bob passed on she married the very popular "Doc" Burley. Doc passed on just a few years ago. Bobbi's a very bright person who stays active in the community.

I believe this pic was taken while the ladies were watching one Vermilion's Festival of Fish Parades. Tis a great pic that will find a very appreciated home in the archives of the VAAS.

THE DAY THE PILGRIM LANDED IN VERMILION, O: The following excerpt was taken from a story I wrote for the Vermilion Photojournal that was published on December 13, 2007 with a few minor alterations:

"In 1925 the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio built its first helium-filled public relations airship, the “Pilgrim”. Since the start of what has now become a traditional Goodyear P.R. program the company has named its blimps after the U.S. winners of the America's Cup yacht race. When the mast, called a belly mooring, was developed in 1930 it allowed cross-country operations of the airships independent of permanent hangars. And with the name of the tire company painted on the side of the ship the custom of Goodyear blimps “barnstorming” communities across these United States of America was officially begun.
The accompanying photographs were taken in (and above) the Village of Vermilion, Ohio during the Vermilion Boat Club’s South Shore Regatta in the summer of 1930. Photo (to the left) shows the airship about to descend on the beach near the bathhouse in the Vermilion Lagoons. [Note that there are but 2 houses in what was then a very pristine subdivision.]
Upon landing on the beach interested parties were allowed to inspect the airship’s gondola / passenger car. In addition to that some lucky folks were also allowed an opportunity to take a ride in the lighter than air vehicle..."

The aerial view over-looking the new lagoon development that eventually became Vermilion's "Cape-Cod" offers "Viewers" a good idea of just how big a project the developer had undertaken. Folks should understand that under the environmental rules and regulations of today Mr. Wells (the developer) would likely not have been able to undertake the project.

GOING, GOING, GONE: I thought it might be nice to take one final look at that which once was the Maurer Family farm.

As some "Viewers" may know Bob Maurer passed on just after the planting season last year. And as some may also know the family decided not to carry on with the business as usual. The crops were harvested and on Wednesday February 13, 2008 all the equipment on the farm was sold at auction.

This auction marks the very end of one of the last big family farms in the community of Vermilion. Neil Welch's farm on Mason Road may be the very last remaining family operation in the area.

PODCAST #63: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #63 returns to the reading from Betty Trinter's book, "The Way It Was". Future productions will likely include some video. These podcasts are forever under construction...

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...

Incidently, "Viewer" Larry Hohler who is a big part of the Hope Home in Kenya wants folks to know that the children they are assisting are safe - midst the turmoil raging around them in that country. Methinks all "Viewers" should take a good look (go to the links section of "Views" for a virtual tour) at how the project really, really helps underprivileged children in this 3rd world nation. It is sincerely a worthwhile effort.

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