THE HEDONIST: I have - in the past - been asked by various folks to write about the "boot-leggin'" days in Vermilion. And truth be told - I don't know a great deal about those days. But that which I do know probably shouldn't be told. And if it is told most of the names of those involved would have to be eliminated.
It's not that many would think any less of these persons or their descendants because of these matters. It's primarily because some of the sons and daughters are unaware of this history; and it would be exceptionally rude for someone to tell the world that their parent / grandparent - who may very well have been very prominent citizens - had once been involved in criminal activities.
Consequently, I've not yet approached the subject.
But while on the subject I wonder just how many folks are aware of the fact that the era beginning in the mid 1960's and continuing to the end of the 1970's was an historical period in Vermilion (and elsewhere) that rivaled - perhaps even eclipsed - all the illicit events that took place during the Prohibition years?
This old photo-sketch of Pickle (note that I misspelled the name on the pic) Pat's Saloon reminded me of those days. And while the owner of this wonderful pizza parlour was never involved with the illicit deals of that era the same can not be said for more than a few of the people who hung-out there.
Do not, however, be mistaken. Every saloon in town - and perhaps America - was then being patronized by (mostly) young persons in search of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" (and not necessarily in that order).
It was an exciting and interesting period in history. But like those involved in the "boot-leggin'" days of yore - I doubt that many would appreciate being named as active participants.
I know I wouldn't.
Ritter Advertisement
c.1897
GOOD TAILOR J. RITTER: This advertisement for J. Ritter's Tailor business was among the many interesting items I scanned (last week) from the microfilm copy of the 2nd issue of The Vermillion News from 1897.
I thunk it interesting for several reasons. The first, of course, is the rhyme. It's clever. Sophomorically so - but clever.
The other thing that makes it so interesting is the fact that "J. Ritter" was the father of George Ritter - the attorney-philanthropist who gave Vermilion a beautiful new library building back in the mid-1950's.
Mr. Ritter's tailor shop (in 1897) was located on the east side of Grand Street between the railroad tracks and Liberty Avenue. It was in a small building which abutted (just north of) the first home of the newspaper in which this ad appeared. Neither building still exists.
I believe I was told that when Mr. (George) Ritter - after becoming exceptionally successful - gave the Vermilion Library a painting of himself the library was still located in its first home (i.e.the brick building just north of the railroad tracks on Grand Street). In any case, he asked that it be hung on the north wall of the library so it would be, in essence, overlooking the place where his father once worked as a lowly village tailor.
To be sure the old advertisement is an interesting piece of Vermilion history.
"Who they are?"
7 LADIES ON A FENCE: This wonderful photo was among those given me by Vermilionite Dave Rathbun (and his cousins: Linda (Rathbun) Rucins and Claire (Rathbun) Ribble) several weeks back. And while it has been placed under the heading "Familiar Faces" - none of the faces are familiar (at least not to me, Dave, nor his cousins). The locale of the pic is also unfamiliar. But I have good reason to believe that this is a Vermilion, O. scene. For all of the photographs in the collection are Vermilion photos.
I have several locales in mind. 1. is the east side of Perry Street between the railroad tracks and Liberty Avenue - looking northwest. 2. is the west side of Perry Street between the railroad tracks and Ohio Street - looking southeast. And 3. is the west side of Washington Street between Lake Street and Huron Street looking southeast.
I've driven through the area in an attempt to discover some landmark that might nail down a clue as to where it might have been. But it's difficult. Things change. Buildings are remodeled, moved, and / or razed and the natural landscape items such as trees and shrubbery come and go. So making some historical sense of this pic beyond safely assuming that it is likely a c.1905 vintage is difficult.
Given the fact that it was part of the Rathbun collection I believe that George S. Rathbun's wife, Hattie (Abel), is probably one of the pretty women in the photo.
Perhaps, the pic will ring a bell with another "Viewer". At least I hope as much.
"Heck's Angels"
REMEMBERING HECK'S ANGELS:
The 1940’s were dominated by the effects of World War 2 The dire need to produce goods for the war effort had pulled our nation out of the depths of the Great Depression. The demand for able bodied workers to supply both goods and services during those years had resulted in putting record numbers of women and teenagers - both girls and boys - to work. And whilst some of those jobs had to be forfeited once the war was won, and the boys came home, the changes wrought via the personal trials and tribulations of all insured that life in these United States of America would never ever be the same.
The attitude of post-war America could not have been given better expression than that found on the faces of the men in the accompanying snapshot. But if that’s not enough the words, "Devil May Care", scripted on the bottom of the windshield frame of the Jeep in the photo is a bit less ambiguous. This was the attitude of young America and young Vermilion, Ohio c.1949; cheerfully irresponsible.
Pictured at the back of the CJ (Civilian Jeep) vehicle are Tommy Thompson (L) and Milton Karchin (R). In the foreground are my brother Bill Tarrant (L) and Chuck Thompson (R). The photo is very clear. It is how I remember these fellows. It was taken in the drive just north of Vermilion's waterworks. Behind the boys one can see the river and a home in the Vermilion Lagoons.
The identity of the photographer is unknown. But the boys were often in the company of “Tiny” Jack Balogh (Article appeared in the 7-21-05 edition of the Vermilion Photojournal) who lived with his mother (just around the corner to the north) on Main Street - so one might assume that he took the photo.
At the time of this picture Chuck Thompson had been home from WW2 only a few years. He was wounded in action during the war. It was a trauma that followed him for the rest of his years. War experiences do that sometimes. His brother Tom is now retired and lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio.
Milton Karchin eventually became a regional character of sorts. He was, to put it mildly, outspoken in all matters political. Through the years his letters to the editor frequently appeared in newspapers from Sandusky to Cleveland. I shall always remember him getting excited and red in the face when given an opportunity to vocalize his opinions . I believe he worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Cleveland. His brother was killed in France during WW2. Another casualty of the great war.
My brother, Bill, would become a journeyman printer at the family newspaper operation. A few years after this picture was taken he, too, would come to earn the wages of war in Korea. Contracting malaria in the theater it plagued him for some time afterward. He is now retired, and lives with his wife, Lois, in a tidy home along one of the most beautiful streets in Vermilion - Exchange.
But here the boys were in 1949. The great war was over, and this gang of fellows were ready to take on the world with a “Devil May Care” attitude”. And like millions of young men (and women) across our nation, that is exactly what they did. They were "Heck’s Angels".
Ref: Special Thanks to Major Jack Corcino. Published in the Vermilion Photojournal on 10-5-07.
6:36 AM
10/1/07
Liberty Theater et.al.
c.1936
VERMILION C.1936: At the risk of making "Viewer" download times exceptionally long and slow I enlarged this c.1936 of downtown Vermilion and maintained a high resolution pic in order for you to see all the detail. It is an intriguing photograph - a real beauty. You can almost walk right down the street.
Although Pearl Roscoe (my grandfather) took this photo long before I was born it is, by and large, much the way I remember it as a child. The hand on the wall of the bank pointing down to the Okagi Restaurant below always amazed me. I believe some semblance, albeit faded, of that sign still exists.
The stores between Okagi's and Berk's meat-market eventually became one building. I don't know whether they tore them down and rebuilt - or just remodeled the existing buildings.
Berk's market eventually became Moat's market. [In the early 1960's the fellow who owned the aforementioned Pickle Pat's place got started with a little carryout pizza shop on that site.]
The Liberty Theater, by and large, still looks much the same today as it did then. But the next two buildings - the Western Union and the News Gift Shop (owned and operated by my grandmother Bessie Roscoe) in one building, and the restaurant next to it - are long gone.
I am bemused by contemporary developers who very literally try to reproduce the ambiance of the small town seen / scene in this photograph by constructing replicas of small American towns for high-end shoppers. Why corporate American just doesn't just use the real thing is a mystery.
Go figure.
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND!!!: Take a cyber visit through my on-line store.
Christmas is coming. Break down and get Fido a shirt. He's freezing - for cripes sake!
But seriously, take a tour of the shop. I will develop several new items for the Christmas Season.
And for those who might wonder - this is my shop - and I do make a few bucks selling the items therein...
VERMILION VIEWS GIFT SHOP
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
PODCAST #100: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #100 presents a video / slide show of relatively recent pix taken in and around Vermilion O. over the last 12 months or so. The music is a tad loud. So ye might want to turn the volume of the speakers on your pc down.
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: After giving it much thought this link has been "put-down". During the last year most of the folks who used to use this page as a bulletin board have acquired their own and, consequently, no longer need this forum from "Views". I have, however, kept links (in the links section) to Larry Hohler's "Hope Homes" in Kenya - and to Bette Lou Higgins' Eden Valley Enterprises sites. They are historically and socially relevant projects.
If, however, something important crops up it - it will appear here.
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
"What do hate mongers do after elections are done - Go back to work for the AQ?"
-Professor Roselyn Picher
Vol.6, Issue 33, November 1, 2008
Archive Issue #294
© 2008 Rich Tarrant