AN ENIGMATIC PICTURE:
It’s been several years now since I met an internet friend, Bobbi (Roberta) Neller-Riley, who lives in Santa Maria, CA. (She was surfing the net one day and came across one of my webpages.) Bobbi, it turns out, is a great-granddaughter and granddaughter of late Vermilionites George and Elton Fischer (respectively) who operated a rather prosperous lumber business during the latter part of the 19th to the mid 20th centuries in Vermilion. Thanks to her their names, faces and stories have appeared in this column (Yesteryear) numerous times since our acquaintance (PJ 1-22, 2-2, and 7-6-06). In brief, this is, and continues to be with the accompanying photo, an historically productive digital rapport about a century ago from 3000 miles away. Amazing.
But even more amazing may be the relationships that existed amongst citizens of the Village of Vermilion, Ohio 100 years ago. It should be of no surprise to anyone that in a hamlet that, then, only consisted of roughly 1500 to 2000 souls that kinships among the townsfolk would be both strong and numerous. And so it was. However; during the passage of 100 years these obvious relationships are likely to become less and less obvious until they are nearly, or sometimes completely, forgot.
Many older townsmen in our pretty city, for instance, will recognize the name, if not the face, of a gentleman named A.E. Beeckel. Mr. Beeckel’s name is known by most persons familiar with local history because he was for many years Vermilion’s funeral director. During the last century he kept a parlour in the shop(s) situated between what is now Brummer’s Candy Store (north), and Winterstein Realty (south) on Main Street. [Photo on the left ]
Local resident Henry “Hank” Fischer makes some mention of him in his oral histories of Vermilion. And advertisements for Beeckel’s professional services and furniture business regularly appeared in The Vermilion News.
As an aside it might be helpful for some readers to understand that furniture sales by persons engaged in the funerary business was not unusual. In fact, it was more the rule than the exception.
But back to Mr. Andrew E. Beeckel. He is pictured (here) standing next to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Liberman Fischer. The ladies seated - from left to right are: Mary “Mame” Beeckel, Catherine Liberman, and Blanche Liberman. Their apparel suggests that the photograph was taken about 1902. The location is unknown.
Now about those aforementioned relationships. “Lizzie” Fischer was Andrew Beeckle’s older half-sister. She was married to Vermilion entrepreneur and lumberman George Fischer. "Mame" Beeckle was Andrew’s younger sister. Catherine was their mother. And Blanche is thought to be one of Lizzie’s cousins. But hold on folks it doesn’t end here.
At the time these shadows were captured by an unknown photographer Catherine was married to a Vermilion businessman by the name of John W. Krapp. Mr. Krapp was the proprietor of a well known Vermilion hostelry called the Lake House which sat on the southwest corner of Liberty Avenue and Division/Main Street.
In time Lizzie’s husband would purchase the hotel, move it down the hill (to the east) and name it after their children Maud and Elton.
To further illuminate/confuse matters folks should know that John and Catherine Krapp also had four additional children; Helena, George, August, and Carrie. So unlike the razor-sharp images in this beautiful photograph come 3000 miles to afford us a glimpse of Vermilion folks one century ago the relationships among those in the photo are nearly, if not completely, enigmatic.
Ref: Ancestry.com: U.S. Census 1880, 1910; Special Thanks to Bobbi Neely-Riley, Santa Maria, CA. - Adapted From "Yesteryear" in the Vermilion (Ohio) Photojournal 2-1-07
1/28/07
2:56 PM
Helen (Grant) Callin
"First Year Teacher"
c.1932
THE GRANT FAMILY: As the late great band leader Lawrence Welk used to say, "Ah-wonderful,ah-wonderful." That is what this photograph is - just ah-wonderful.
During the week (last) I was surprised to receive a priority mail package from Kathalee (Grant) Hodge who now lives in Rochester, New York - and this was among several photographs (all of which you will eventually see) in it.
In addition to this she included notations (mostly in pencil) on the back of the photographs to identify the most of the persons in them. (That is really and truly important.)
Unfortunately I don't really know a great deal about the Grant Family - and I have not been able to find anything (such as U.S. census data) on the family at Ancestry.com. At least I've not been successful - yet. What I do know is very sketchy as you will see by the following:
I know from Kathalee that her grandfather, William (whom I do remember) was the Agent / Telegrapher for the Nickle Plate Railroad. And I also know from her that her grandmother, Stella, was an excellent seamstress. From local (UCCC) church records I know that Stella transferred her church membership from a Methodist Church to Vermilion's First Congregational Church sometime during the 1920's. From Vermilionite Larry Howell I know that Kathalee's mother, Katherine, worked for the Vermilion Education System. I know that her father, Leroy "Roy", worked for Wakefield Lighting and was a friend of local pharmacist Jim Hart. I know that her Aunt Helen (pictured above) was a school teacher - and according to Reverend Louis Bertoni eventually lived on the West Coast. But there are way too many blank spaces for me to get a better picture of the family.
I am at a loss (for instance) to trace the Grant Family roots beyond the city limits of Vermilion, Ohio. But I'm hoping that Kathalee will help me fill in those blanks. These photographs give me good reason to want to do that.
It would be interesting to know if Helen (for instance) was teaching in Vermilion when the above shadows were captured. And how intriguing is this pic of Helen in the "bibs" with Lenore and Dorothy Grant posed on the front of this NP locomotive?
But that ain't all folks. Take a look at this:
Some of the men in the photo are:
Duke Showalter, Red Tischer, Harold Cole, Dewey Neiding, Rev. W.W. Williams, Charlie Squires (?), Wm. Grant (3rd from left)
(The names are as they appear on the back of the picture.)
I am assuming that this photo was taken in the Meeting Room of the Vermilion Township Hall. It does not appear to have been taken on the stage of the Opera House. A note on the back says that it was taken in early November of 1913 "the year of the big November snow". And the name "Rev. Van Vorris" also appears on the back. This is a post card photograph.
Although I realise that more than a few persons find the old Minstrel Shows to have been in bad taste I don't really share the sentiment. It is what it is - and pretending they didn't exist is simply stupid. What they say about American culture may not be nice - but it surely isn't anything to avoid. Whatever the case the picture is certainly a jewel. I find it highly amusing that Reverend Williams - who was a very prominent member of the community participated in such a production - even if he was not in blackface. (That may also say something about 20th century American cultural behaviors.)
It is obvious from this photos that the Grant Family played a significant role in the history of Vermilion, Ohio. And I would really like to know more about them. So - I will continue looking for more information about them...
THE LSE & CHESTNUT TREES: Electric train historian Dennis Lamont sent me this 1917 advertisement about the use of American Chestnut trees. I can't really say that I ever gave it much thought until I received the piece. Persons who review old photographs of the the interuban lines can't help but note the many, many poles that were used to hold the lines that powered the trains. And perhaps because they are so numerous they become redundant. And perhaps because they are so redundant they become invisible. (i.e. One can't see the forest because the trees are in the way.)
Early in the 20th century, chestnut blight was introduced to North America by the importation of Asian chestnut plants. This resulted in the subsequent destruction of an estimated 4 billion American Chestnut trees over the next 40 years, and what had been the most important tree throughout the east coast was reduced to insignificance.
Aside from being an interesting piece of historical trivia I believe it underlines the fragile nature of our environment. Tis not something that should be ignored.
In the summer of 2007, a stand of trees was discovered near the north-eastern Ohio town of Braceville. The stand encompasses four large flowering trees, the largest of which is approximately 23 meters (75 ft) tall, sited amongst hundreds of smaller trees that have not begun to flower, located in and around a sandstone quarry. A combination of factors may account for the survival of these relatively large American Chestnut trees including low levels of blight susceptibility, hypovirulence (the attacking blight fungus is weakened by a virus), and good site conditions. In particular, some stands may have avoided exposure thanks to trees being located at a higher altitude than blighted trees in the neighboring area, the fungal spores not carrying to higher altitudes as easily.
In March of 2008, officials of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that a rare adult American Chestnut tree had been discovered in a marsh near Lake Erie. The officials admitted that department officials had known about the tree for seven years, but had kept its existence a secret. The exact location of the tree is still being held secret, both because of the risk of infecting the tree, but also because an eagle has nested in its branches. They described the tree as being 89 feet (27m) tall and having a circumference of 5 feet (1.5m). The American Chestnut Foundation was also only recently told about the tree's existence.
Once upon a time a Cleveland State University instructor told his class that the American Chestnut was altogether extinct. After the class I laid a leaf from a Chustnut tree I had found along the Vermilion River on his desk.
There is, afterall is said and done, some glimmer of hope for the American Chestnut tree - and, perhaps, also for the electric trains.
X-DAY: The colors in this photograph are, for the lack of any better description, quite delicious. I call this photo "x-day". The value of "ex" is whatever you want it to be.
Have a nice "x-day" and I hope you have a good "x-week".
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
"A snippet from the clippet..."
PODCAST #81: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #81 begins a new setting of readings (mit a little video). The readings will be from my book: "Rich Tarrant's Yesteryear An Anthology of Historical Narratives of Vermilion, Ohio And Its People". The Title is longer than the book.
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
"Never neglect writing letters of appreciation to someone who has been good to you. "-Snoopy
Vol.6, Issue 14, June 21, 2008
© 2008 Rich Tarrant