The book, for those who may not be familiar with it, is well writ and extremely, extremely informative. For those interested in local (Vermilion) history it is a must have reference. Whilst it is currently out of print Karen is having it updated and reprinted for the 125th anniversary of the Park next year.
The books are $45 (shipping costs $5.00 for the 1st book and $2.00 for each additional tome). They are well worth the price. It would be a good idea to pre-order a copy or two because they will definitely sell out quickly.
Folks looking to secure a book can make your checks payable and send them to:
Well folks, a new book and an empty chair on the deck beckons.
Stay close...
ONCE UPON A TIME ON DIVISION STREET: This pic of Division Street taken shortly after the turn of the 20th century was among those that the aforementioned author, Karen Boas, brought with her when she came to visit.
So what's so unusual about the pic?
Prior to the time that the Fischer Building was constructed on the southeast corner of Division (Main Street) and Liberty Avenue the Maud-Elton (Lake House) Hotel occupied the corner.
In this pic the hotel has been moved down the hill to the corner of Exchange Street (where it is today), and the corner is empty. It appears that the excavating was (then) being done for the new building. (Note the fence that is propped up to keep pedestrians away from the construction site.)
I have seen few pix of this corner between the time the hotel was moved and the brick Fischer Building was being constructed. Ergo; this is an unsual photo.
The other thing I noticed after scanning the photograph was the restaurant sandwiched between the Englebry building (to the south) and the Masonic Building (to the north - See pic enlargement on right). Later (probably after a fire) A.D. Baumhart would build his drug store on that site. But I wonder who (in this pic) had a restaurant at the site in this photograph?
Perhaples some "Viewer" has an answer to that question.
What a cool pic.
In Michigan
FRED AND HATTIE: Carolyn Hill dropped by the church last week with some very neat family pix that she has allowed me to scan. I'm sorry I was unable to take in all the information she provided me re: the photographs - but I can give the basics (at this time).
Carolyn's parents - as some folks know is a daughter of the late Al and Bernice (Fischer) Koachway. Ellen O'Hara - another well known Vermilionite - is her sister. Their maternal grandparents were Fred and Hattie Fischer.
Fred worked for the railroad and was a highly respected Vermilion Mayor. Hattie (I have been told by numerous people) was a tremendous baker / cook, and an all-around wonderful person. They lived (for as long as I ever recall) in a little house on the east side of Washington Street just south of Liberty Avenue.
In the above photograph Fred is the serious-looking fellow in the straw hat (on the right) with his hand resting on the shoulder of a very pretty Chicago girl named "Hattie". Hattie is holding a banner with the words "1915 Eden Springs". So I assume (a dangerous thing to do) that that is both the year and the place of this pic. And I believe that Carolyn told me this is a Michigan photo.
Great stuff!
I will share additional pix and acquire additional information soon...
A DOG'S LIFE IN VERMILION VILLAGE: The accompanying photograph is rather unremarkable as a photo composition. And much of that which appears in it has been written about, and/or has previously appeared, in this forum. But that is not the gist - the substance nor intent - of this essay. This piece is not about Mamouru Okagi’s wonderful restaurant, Leidheiser’s Grocery store next door (that featured the popular Tellings Ice Cream made in Belle Vernon, Ohio), nor Ray Leidheiser’s place next to it. It concerns the pooch who probably ruined the photo when he crossed in front of P. Roscoe’s graphflex camera as he followed his nose down Liberty Street to (where?) heaven only knows.
Once upon a time Vermilion was like that. Dogs (and to be fair, some cats) appear in many an old photograph taken around Vermilion Village. More often than not they, like the one in Roscoe’s photo, were not there by invitation. And again, as in Roscoe’s photo, they just happened to be passing by when someone was taking a picture. But it was not uncommon to meet your neighbor’s dog walking along the street unattended. And just as everyone in the village knew whose children belonged to who - they also knew everyone’s dog (or cat) by name.
Our family had a feisty black-white-and-tan fox terrier named Mr. Chips who was as well known by folks in the village as was, perhaps, the Chief of Police, Ed Benson. In fact, they were rather well acquainted.
Chips (pictured at right), to the consistent chagrin of my mother, was not a stay-at-home dog. Confinement to the house was nigh on to impossible, and chaining/tying him up in the yard was worse. This dog was as close to being the definition of a free spirit as any person or animal 
I have ever encountered. He was not mean nor vicious. He was just, as mentioned, a “free spirit”.
Every morning he arose, left our home on Perry Street, and went to Dale Rodgers’ house on the southwest corner of Grand and Ohio Streets. He would visit with Mrs. Rodgers for a few hours, have a midmorning snack, and then leave and cross the street to Cort and Myrt Simons home on the southeast corner of the aforementioned streets. There he would visit til lunch was served and afterwards head on downtown.
In the business district he was a backdoor visitor. His first stop was at the backdoor of the Okagi Restaurant where his friends would provide him with some scraps leftover from lunch. Then he would saunter over to the backdoor kitchen of the Duperow Restaurant to visit with Norm, the cook-owner of the eatery, for another pick-me-up. After that it was siesta time. And there was no better place to take a summer afternoon snooze than in the verdurous shade of the trees in Exchange/Rubberneck Park.
At that time the Vermilion Police Department kept a very small office in a booth-type structure in the same park. (Note: that building apparently still exists, and is located at one of Vermilion’s athletic fields.) Consequently, the police parked their cars on Liberty Avenue beside the park. During the heat of the summer months the windows of their cars were always rolled down. But I digress.
After the free-spirited terrier woke from his nap he’d have a good stretch, saunter over to Chief Benson’s police cruiser, jump through the window onto the the passenger seat, and wait. When the Chief came back to the car, he’d pat the dog on the head, and deposit him back to our home on Perry Street.
So it’s really no big surprise that a dog following his nose down Liberty Avenue should have happened by just as Roscoe was trying to take a nice photograph with his graphflex. He, like Mr. Chips, was obviously on a mission of dire importance. Somewhere in that yesteryear someone was expecting him.
*
6/24/07
11:37 AM
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND - BUY SOMETHING: Well I've finally gone and done it. I now have a Vermilion Views Gift Shop on-line where one can purchase sundry items with the "VV" logo and / or various historical pix of Vermilion, Ohio.
This enterprise is new to me so I don't know what to expect in the way of response - but it is actually very nice. Over the next weeks and months I will be adding (and deleting) different items with different pix that folks might like to use for gifts or just have for themselves.
So take a tour of the shop. Tell me how you like it and what you might like to see on some items. I'm always open for business and for reasonable requests and suggestions.
VERMILION VIEWS GIFT SHOP
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
"Il Mio Libro"
PODCAST #87: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #87 is another chapter from me book "Yesteryear - An Anthology of Historical Narratives of Vermilion, Ohio and Its People". This is an audio reading re: "Captain David Johnson".
Also note that all the video (MP4) podcasts (where used) 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
"People everywhere confuse what they see and read on the internet with truth."
-Professor Roselyn Picher
Vol.6, Issue 20, August 2, 2008
© 2008 Rich Tarrant