CLAM BAKE TIME: The annual Clam Bake at the Olympic Outing Club in Vermilion, O. is possibly one of the oldest (annual) bakes in the area. Whilst I don't believe that they held one when the place was founded in 1902 - and they likely suspended them (if they were, in fact, doing them) during the Great American Depression - they've, nonetheless, been putting on their bakes for a long, long time.
In years past they served over 1000 people in one afternoon. That is / was a rather significant achievement. At last Sundays Clam Bake (9-28-08) they served nearly 200 people - and the grounds were filled with cars. Can ye imagine what it was like when they served 1000?
However; in years past more than one person came in an auto - and groups came in buses. But the "joint", as the saying goes, must have "really been jumpin'".
The folks pictured above are direct descendants of those responsible for the aforementioned gigantic dinners. I refer to them as "real Olympics". Their work and enthusiasm for this organization, and its activities, is remarkable. Some folks might - after a time - take all of it for-granted. But that has never ever, in my association with any Olympic Club member, been the case.
AND A FOLLOW-UP NOTE ABOUT VERM BUSINESS CHANGES: As mentioned in the last "Views" the Vermilion Hardware (a.k.a. Bailey's) is closing its doors after 62 years. And Andretti Chrysler shut-down last week. (I, incidentally, was in the middle of doing business with them when the call came to lock the doors.) Ponderosa did not close. What it did do was change suppliers. (That was more of a technical alteration.) And Brushaber Plumbing is, as previously whispered also concluding its operations. However;
David Delamatre - son of the former business owners Bill And Elsie - isn't closing the shop due to the economic problems currently being experienced by many businesses in our nation. My sources tell me that David is been recruited by the U.S. State Department to work in Russia for the next few years.
While the news of Brushaber Plumbing quitting operations in the community is not good news the news of David getting to practice his trade in Russia is extraordinarily cool.
Vermilion G.A.R. Band
Somewhere in Ohio c.1910
IF AT FIRST...: Methinks this pic - or some semblance of it - has appeared in past editions of "Views". Vermilionite Dave Schwensen passed it to me (electronically) several years ago. I'm certain that one of the men in the pic is related to Dave. (I believe it might be the fellow with the cornet kneeling next to the drum.)
Some of the members [all are not pictured] of the band during the early years of the 20th century were:
John Krapp, Alfred Buell, Clarence Walper, Pearl Roscoe, Jake Baumhart, John Becker, Miles Lawless, Otto Kuehlman, George Becker, Phil Darley, Charles Horton, Tony Becker, Carl Blair, Ralph Risdon, Charles Krapp, T.J. Ball, Ed Law, Fred Morgan, Creight Powell, John Malik, P.B. Morgan, August Schwensen, Will Krapp, Earl Childs, Fred Krapp, Walter Murschell, Henry Ries, Cliff Squires, and E.B. Ackley.
The reason the pic is being used here again is because the locale of the photograph is unknown (at least to me). I'm certain that it wasn't taken in Vermilion. It might have been in Lorain or Sandusky. Ackley - the band director - lived in Sandusky, and the band frequently performed in that city. But, on the other hand, the band performed in a number of surrounding communities.
Perhaps, someone recognizes the locale.
VHS SOPHMORE CLASS - 1946
TIME SURE FLIES WHEN YER HAVING FUN: Take a good look at these youngsters. Despite the fact that I was only one or two years old when these shadows were captured at Vermilion's South Street School I remember some of them.
Pictured are:
Bottom Row L-R:M. Hemrick J. Derby, J. Ridenour, D. Greenawalt, P. Wilkes, P. Ruggles, and J. Horvath..
2nd Row L-R: A. Schmidt, M. Kress, B. Breen, M. Sokol, R. Millis, and M. Kudela.
3rd Row: R. Jenkins, R. Hoffman, J. Fitzpatrick, R. Olah, Nielson, R. Kubishke, and A. Disler.
4th Row: M. Koppenhafer, D. Kaylor, R. Ruetenik, R. Barnes, F. Bachman, P. Tarrant, H. Sender, and R. Thomas.
And now that time has (in fact 62 years) flown some of the folks pictured (like my good brother Phil) have gone on to their great reward. But some, happily, remain. And this is they:
Pictured left to right in the August 16, 2008 photo are:
Dick Jenkins, Dick Barnes Carol (Trinter) B. Clutter, Larry Shirk, Roger Ruetenik, Dot (Greenawalt) Lowder, (Seated) Pat (Ruggles) Wilson, Ruth (Millis) Fistner, Merle Koppenhafer, June (Ridenour) Gray, Mary Ann (Kudela) Laprad, Ray Olah, and Marie (Hemrick) Lence.
Cool beans!
The recent photo came to me from Pat (Ruggles) Wilson courtesy of "Viewer" Carol (Trinter) Clutter. It was taken at their reunion held at the Elyria (Ohio) Country Club. And I was told that "a great time was had by all".
"The New Road"
THE NEW ROAD: This aerial photograph of the west side of Vermilion Village is not extremely old. It may be c. 1950. (It should be noted that c./circa means that the date given is approximate as opposed to being specific). Due to the fact that this is also a winter photo, and the trees are bare, it is all the more interesting. In this particular instance it was also very useful.
As most folks already know Ohio Route(s) #6 and #2 (a.k.a. Shore Road; Lake Road; Liberty Avenue) was, for perhaps some 50 years, the main thoroughfare to, through, and from Vermilion for all the auto, bus, and truck traffic that travelled along the southern Lake Erie coast through northern Ohio. The road was, in a word, busy.
After the demise of the Lake Shore Electric rail system in 1938, and the increased popularity of the automobile as the primary and preferred mode of transportation this main highway became even busier. As fate would have it the early roads upon which this traffic had to travel were not designed to accommodate that type of traffic. When they were created they fell upon a more natural course. Like water they followed the channel of least resistance. A road course designed for wagons and buggies being towed by one or two horses is not automatically suited for heavy steel machines powered by an engine equal to 200 or 300 horses.
In the Village of Vermilion, Ohio this was no more apparent then the course the road ran on the west side of town. The road was easy to follow until it reached the corner of Decatur Street (heading west). At that point the road abruptly turned south toward the steam railroad tracks. Then just before the tracks it, again, took an abrupt turn to the right and headed west. This was not an “S” curve. These were corners that required complete turns.
There were no traffic lights and no stop signs on these corners (although there may very well have been a single blinking light on Liberty at the intersection where the road turned south on Decatur and ran toward the railroad tracks). But even so, negotiating these corners required that one pay serious attention to the road and the arrows on the signs at the corners. Unfortunately, that was not always the case.
Usually it was the east bound traffic coming into town that had problems negotiating the turns. The speed limit coming from the east toward the turn onto Decatur Street was probably lowered from 60 mph to 20 mph some distance before crossing Edson Creek - but I think we all know how that goes. And many an unsuspecting motorist had the misfortune of abruptly parking their car or truck through the showroom window of Kyle Motors (currently Vermilion’s Municipal Court). At one point in time Mr. Kyle built a concrete post to protect the gas tanks in front of his garage. The likelihood of more people missing the turns at either corner were as predictable as rain in the springtime. If was not a matter of if, but of when.
Finally, with a great deal of encouragement from Vermilion Village representatives, the state decided that it would be a good idea to build a new section of highway from Decatur Street westward, just past the city limits, to eliminate the problem. Moreover; the new section of highway would be a divided highway. The reason for that choice is unclear. However; at about the same time this was being done so too was the divided highway between Vermilion and Lorain being built. It may be that it was the intent of the State to turn the entire length of Lake Road into what was then perceived to be a modern highway system using the existing roadways.
In any case, this is the reason that one might hear many old-time residents of Vermilion refer to the divided highway on the west side of our pretty city as “The New Road”. That it, most assuredly, is.
Ref: The Vermilion News photo archive; and the Vermilion Area Archival Society. Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 3-30-06
3/26/06
11:44 AM
July 4, 1969
THE GREAT FLOOD OF '69: A great many pix were taken of the 1969 Fourth of July Flood in Vermilion, O. And this, obviously, is one. However; this pic is not applied here to showcase that disaster so much as it is to allow some folks to recall the boathouse and cottages that once stood along the river behind the old McGarvey's Restaurant.
I've very vague memories of these buildings. But I don't know who owned them nor when they were razed.
This photo came - along with several other snaps taken around Vermilion - from a former Vermilionite named Jackie Stevens now living in Tennessee. She wrote:
"Rich,
Here are some pictures of one of the many floods that Vermilion has had over the years. I'm not sure of the year but the stamp on the back of the pictures says July 69.
You can probably name the locations better than I can as I grew up in Brownhelm near Miller Orchards. My mom, Laurel Kubishke, is the native Vermilioner.
The last picture is a picture that my mom took of me at the old IGA in Vermilion. My guess it was early 80's. I can remember really wanting to have my picture taken in front of that giant cow!
I really enjoy your website. I learned a lot about Vermilion. Even found a few family references on it.
My mom used to bowl with your sister Nancy. On the times that I would travel to LEL with mom, I can remember your sister as a character. Tell her I said hello and that she is still the only one who insists that I look like my Grandma Jane.
As I go through the boxes of pictures that were my Grandmother's (Mary Jane Derby Kubishke) that now belong to my mother, I will try to send some of the old shots of Vermilion to you."
Obviously, all the pix she refers to have not been included in this edition of "Views". And this is, perhaps, not the most interesting. But this is the type of photo that helps fill in the proverbial blanks in the history of Vermilion, Ohio. And they are certainly appriciated.
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND - BUY SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF, YOUR DOG, AND YOUR BEST FRIEND-WOOF:
Take a cyber visit through my on-line store.
Christmas is coming. Break down and get Fido a shirt.
But seriously, 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. If nothing else just do a little window shopping. It's fun!
VERMILION VIEWS GIFT SHOP
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.
If, however, something important crops up it - it will appear here.
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.