Vermilion Views

Our "mess" will, of course, be a memory by mid-summer. But the city appears to be sailing into the future with neither captain nor compass. Pure democracy is a noble concept, but it doesn't always follow that decisions made by a majority of people are correct. But c'est la vie.

My wife, Georgi, and I will keep the faith. And as the little room takes shape at the back of our ranch ("The Big Muddy") expect the same to happen just down the street. The potholes on Edson Street and elsewhere through the city will disappear. Some genius will discover that there is a ton of merit in having merchants buy the parking lot in the middle of town to allow customers "free parking". Other Mensa members will upon serious reflection discover that building a six-story building in the city will require substantial increases in safety services that residents cannot afford sans the immediate influx of beaucoup dinero. Others will come to recognize that Vermilion neither begins nor ends in the Harbortown section of town.

WAKEFIELD BRASS CREW: Many Vermilionites who came of age during the 1940's and 50's will recognize a few of the men in this pic. All, of course, were workers at Vermilion's F.W. Wakefield Brass Company.

The only fellows I knew to any degree were Jim Friday and "Buck" Rodgers. This was due to the fact that their sons, Rich Friday and Tom Rodgers, were my buddies. The others I knew just in passing.

What a great photograph. It appears that it was taken in one of the offices in the brick building that still stands just south of the railroad tracks along West River Road.

VERMILION'S UNIQUELY UNIQUE LUSTRON HOMES: Vermilion, Ohio once known as "The Village of Lake Captains certainly has many beautiful old homes scattered about its streets. The homes in the Vermilion Lagoons - "The Cape Cod of Ohio" are readily admired by many tourists and sundry passers-by. And the gigundous homes perched on the lake shore just west of the city may inspire awe in those of us who live in lesser spaces. But among all these great to monumental dwellings are two that are certainly among the most unique - not only in our city - but in our nation. They are Vermilion’s Lustron Homes.

Though the precise numbers vary according to which report one reads it is certain that less than 3000 Lustron Homes were ever built. While that alone might make them unusual the fact that these houses were constructed entirely of steel; fabricated in a factory; transported by truck to sites chosen

by each buyer; completely assembled in but 300 - 350 man hours (again the numbers vary according to which report one reads); and that all of this took place sixty years ago; most people will agree that these homes are, to be redundantly redundant, uniquely unique.

During the 16 year span between The Great Depression (1929) to the end of WWII (1945) very few homes had been built in the U.S. Some estimate that after the war nearly six million families were sharing homes with relatives. At about the same time (1946) a Swedish-born American inventor and entrepreneur living in Ohio named Carl Strandlund (1899-1974)

developed a plan to build prefabricated steel-paneled gas stations for the Standard Oil Company. To his regret, and those of his investors, he was denied access to the steel due to existing wartime restrictions regarding its use.

Not discouraged by this setback, and very conscious of the national housing shortage, Standlund had architects develop plans for an all-steel, prefabricated, bungalow-style home. The entire home; framing, interior and exterior walls, roof trusses and tiles would be fabricated of steel. All exposed surfaces (inside and out) would have a porcelain-enamel, hard, glass finish baked on to the steel panels and shingles.

All models would be available with exterior color choices of pink, tan, yellow, aqua, blue, green or gray, with interior color options of beige or gray.

The houses were purported to be fireproof, decay-proof, rustproof, termite-proof, and vermin-proof. Advertisements also claimed that neither sunlight, salt water, nor chemical fumes could stain, fade, crack, or cause peeling of the finish. The estimated cost of each new home would run between $6000 and $10,000 (lot not included).

Given the dire shortage of new housing after the war, married to the statistics regarding these low-maintenance, ultramodern homes it should be of little surprise to anyone that the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), a federal agency created some years earlier to jump-start America’s economy, helped finance Mr. Strandlund’s enterprise by giving him a $12.5 million loan.

Leasing half of the 1.2 million square foot Curtiss-Wright Aircraft plant in Columbus, Ohio Strandlund set-up his assembly-line Lustron (house manufacturing) Corporation. The name “Lustron” was derived from Mr. Strandlund’s observation that the enamel coating on the steel could be said to give it a "luster". These prefabricated, ready-to-assemble homes (like the one pictured along Jefferson Street in Vermilion) were shipped in 3000 piece units on a specially designed truck. The year was 1948.

Twenty-one months, and somewhat less than 3000 homes, later the Lustron Corporation was no more. Tooling the factory had been more difficult and, consequently, more expensive than anticipated. Also continual cost overruns and production problems seriously hampered the operation culminating in the foreclosure of the corporation by the RFC.

In truth, Strandlund’s Lustron all-steel house was, like the legendary Preston Tucker's automobile and perhaps even the Lake Shore Electric interurban transportation system, an idea ahead of its time. Political and economic forces combined to oppose the concept - however practical - so vigourously that the proverbial "baby was tossed out with the bath water".

In Vermilion proof of the extreme viability, stability, and longevity of Strandlund’s Lustron concept sits along a quiet street near South Street School, while another is comfortably situated among the quaint cottage homes in Elberta Beach. Many Lustrons are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All of them should be. For they’re all uniquely unique.

SUNSET STUDIO: In 1992 this pic appeared with a column writ by late Vermilion / Great Lakes historian George Wakefield in the Vermilion (Ohio) Photojournal weekly.[Ed Note: Mr. Wakefield's column was called "Vermilion Views". This is actually something I was unaware of when created this eZine. I used the name because it was similar to the name of my parents' newspaper - "The Vermilion News".] But back to the pic.

I was so very happy to see the photograph. While I had "heard" about this building I never before saw a photo of it. And, indeed, Mr. Wakefield observed that "it may be the only photo of the building" in existance. I've no idea who has the original.

This was professional photographer Rudy Moc's Sunset Studio on Grand Street in Vermilion, Ohio c.1921. Mr. Moc's photography business was so successful that he eventually moved to a larger facility in nearby Lorain. This structure was - believe it or else - Vermilion's very first library.

Eventually this building was razed to make way for a new / modern brick public library. That building was used until George Ritter blessed the town with the current library that bears his name on Liberty Avenue. And until rather recent times it was the home of Vermilion's Police Department.

The boys in the photo were, then, members of the VHS football team - Danny Wilkinson and Floyd Heys.

The building just to the left of the studio (one can just see the outside stairway) was the original home of The Vermilion News weekly. And next door to it was a little shoemaker's repair shop.

AIR VERMILION C.1956: These aerial pix of Vermilion are always enthralling. This is 1956. Many homes in the Vermilion Lagoons do not yet exist. I recall delivering the Cleveland News and the Cleveland Press to homes in the project during those years. They were (on some of the streets) few and far between. And in the place folks now know as the Valley View develpment there was only one real street - and it was a "dead-end". That was Langfitt Street just south of the Wakefield Lighting plant. Sanford Street was just beginning - and it only ran for half a block.

Romps Waterport - as is obvious in this photo - was also in its infancy. And note that there was no South Shore Shopping Center yet.

One thing I don't recall is the appearance of the area where the sewer treatment plant is today. Whilst I recall a town dump being at the site I do not remember the open area (that looks like it might be water) beneath the land just off West River Road north of the railroad tracks, nor the treed island-type area next to the river.

PODCAST #70: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #70 is a 1957 film capturing the laying of the headstone at Vermilion's First Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ Congregational Church). It's a real interesting clip briefly featuring many people from Vermilion's past; Reverend and Zella English; Reverend Bidle; Grace Roberts and others. Tis really a cool piece of local history being made.

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...

Incidentally, "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