TIME FLIES...: And slowly our ranch in the blurbs begins to take some shape again. A month back we did not look forward to trying to bring the yard (pictured) back into shape. The task seemed (again pictured above) impossible. But slowly - so slowly - tis moving along.
The house was the first built on the street (Oakwood Drive) in Vermilion in 1963. The only reason I remember the year is because it is the year I graduated from VHS - which was just around the corner and up the street at the time. The builder was a Vermilion man named "Coonie" Conrad Neiding. It was in a new division called "Allendale". Allendale (I presume) may have been the style of the homes being constructed.
My wife (Geo) and I like ranch style homes. When we purchased the place (1983) we had our future(s) in mind. No steps to climb as we (along with our animals) age was a priority. And as we have improved it - as well as our cottage at the Olympic Outing Club - we have made an attempt to make both handicap accessible. I used to think it was both reasonable and novel. Twenty-five years later the novelty has worn off and I now understand that it was a very reasonable thing to do.
Time flies and things change.
At the moment we are virtually animaless. All we have now is a parakeet - "Tweety". It is the first time in our married lives that Geo and I have been without a dog or a cat for several weeks.
Our cat "Sweety" was born in a shed in our backyard 14 years ago. And while she was an indoor / outdoor cat she never left the backyard. She stayed away from strangers.
The remodling project apparently was more than she could take. While the contractor worked on the house she hid away in a spare bedroom all day. She would come out at night and sit on Geo's lap, or on the back of our livingroom couch. But when the workman arrived she's disappear.
About a week or so ago whilst I was putting together "Views" (on a Saturday morning) she let out a few rather mournful "meeyows" that were very unlike her normal "sweet" mews. Georgie wrapped her in a soft blanket. I stopped what I was doing and we rushed her to the vet. But poor little "Sweety-Pie" died before we got there. We supposed her little heart just couldn't take all the changes and excitement of the remodling project. And her backyard was - as is obvious by the photo - had been destroyed.
But time flies, things change; and life goes on.
F.W. at Georgian Bay with his boys
F.W. WAKEFIELD: Thursday (6-12-08) Alice Wakefield was kind enough to e-mail me this Rockwellian snapshot of her grandfather - F.W. Wakefield - with sons Ernest and Ted aboard the "Tobermory II" in 1924. (It is the best photo I have of the Wakefield Family patriarch. And, believe it or not, the identities of the persons in it really wouldn't matter if I were simply looking at it as an art critic. It's a great photo.)
F.W. Wakefield (from a very objective point-of-view) was very likely the most influential person in Vermilion, Ohio during the 20th century. If one seriously looks at his accomplishments as an inventor, innovator, industrialist, and community leader, it is doubtful that there were many other Vermilionites - aside from, perhaps, George Fischer - who contributed more to the positive development of the place known as Vermilion, Ohio during the last century.
To be certain,there were / are many great community leaders in Vermilion. And to be equally certain there were / are a good number of hard working men and women who, together,forge(d) a positive future for the community. But Mr. Wakefield's accomplishments were exceptional even by today's standards. (Or, perhaps, it should be said "in spite of today's standards"
One must realize that Wakefield was not a Vermilion native. And it may be that this allowed him more insight into the potential of the community that those who had been born and raised therein. The first prospectus for Vermilion, Ohio as a great place for businesses to locate was undoubtedly of his design. That prospectus remains as a significant historical document. Wakefield was constantly trying to bring additional industry into the community - be it on land or on water. Dall Motors was one of his success stories. (Note: Dall Ford of Elyria is an off-shoot of that original business begun in Vermilion.)
Both the Vermilion Boat Club and the South Shore Regatta(s) are vestiges of Mr. Wakefield's initiatives for a positive future for the community. He gave credit where credit was due by honoring veterans and volunteer workers throughout the community over the years. And the inventions and innovations of his company in the lighting industry in both war and peace are well known.
To be very sure F.W. Wakefield became a wealthy person. But the one thing he never became was an arrogant person. Vermilion, Ohio was his hometown populated by good people he respected and for whom and with he was willing to work.
To borrow a thought from the American singer, songwriter, novelist and politician, K. Friedman: "Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail."
The Tug "Alma" and Parson's Fishery
GREAT SNAPS: Among the several pix loaned me by Vermilionite John Trinter was this snapshot of the fish tug "Alma" in front the Parson's Family Fish House on the Vermilion River.
In truth tis not a technically great snapshoot - but tis an historically significant pic. I didn't doctor it much (although tempted) in Photoshop as I did with the Wakefield pic or, as you will see below, with another "Views" photo. But I was unable to refrain from leaving it entirely alone - and added the lens flare in the lower left corner.
Sometimes when I see these old pix of the fish shanties that once sat along the river bank like little Monopoly houses it's hard for me to believe that the pix were actually taken in Vermilion. That those buildings which loomed so large in the yesteryear could have so completely disappeared seems an impossibilty.
And where, o-where, did all those tugs, like the "Alma" go?
DOWNTOWN ELYRIA: Yesterday mon ami and local historian Albert C. Doane asked me about an old scrapbook loaned me 4 years ago by another friend, Dale Hohler, that had an (circa 1953)newspaper article about an electric rail accident in Elyria that occured on May 30, 1907. That accident was one Al had told me about some time previous where 8 people died and 6 were critically injured. It apparently started folks thinking about improvements to the Elyria hospital.
To my knowledge I didn't make a copy of that article so I couldn't send him a copy. (Although I did recall it.) Consequently I sent him an e-mail with that disappointing information. However; banking on the fact that another friend, electric historian, Dennis Lamont might have (or know of) the article I "cc'd" the response to him.
Dennis sent me the following (rather humorous) correspondence:
"The Lorain County Historical has copied all the local stuff on the Elyria Accident ... including the dumbshit reporter who didn't know the difference between a streetcar and an Interurban that has screwed up history ever since!"
Having learned the hard way that many news media reporters are among the "brain dead" I can empathize with Dennis.
But setting that amusement aside Dennis also sent me this postcard pic of the interurban on Court Street in Elyria. And because I liked the picture I worked it a bit in photoshop. The pic below is how it actually looks.
Cool!
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
"A snippet from the clippet..."
PODCAST #80: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #80 offers the final readings from Betty Trinter's book "The Way It Was" 1920 - 1925". This week the podcast is an audio (MP3) file. (No pix until next week.)
Also note that all the video (MP4) podcasts are done in the "Quicktime" format.
Stay with me on this project. Things will get better. (I pro-mize.)
NOTE NOTE:Past podcasts are no longer available in the on-line archive. They just take up too much disk space. But if one really, really, really wants to acquire a copy of a past cast it can be had by contacting moi - and I will place it on a disc and send it to ye for a minimal fee.
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
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. And if ye can spare a few bucks it can certainly go a long way.
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.
How the old links menu looked
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):
Rich Tarrant
1041 Oakwood Drive
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-4459
"It's hard to sleep at night if you're worried that a ten-pound frog from Southern Cameroon may come and jump on your stomach. "-Snoopy
Vol.6, Issue 13, June 14, 2008
© 2008 Rich Tarrant