SIDE VIEWS: After electronic and print publications of the pic of the Riverside Inn a week (or so) ago I came across some additional anecdotes about the place that I believe are worth recounting.
While I did (somewhere) recall that Louis Kuhnle Sr. at one time operated the inn it wasn't something that I was certain about. Consequently, I never mentioned it. But later in the week I ran into his youngest son, Kurt, who told me that when his mom and dad ran the place he and his older brother, Louis Jr, used to play around the place quite often. Both boys learned how to play "66" with the old fishermen who once haunted the place. Kurt also chuckled when he told me that whenever some old fellow had a bit too much liquid spirit, and passed out, his parents would do a "make-over" on them. They'd put make-up on them (i.e. eye-liner and lipstick), dress them in funny hats, and then take their pictures. (Hee-hee!)
Another person - Joyce (Dorsey) Gill - who spent her childhood summers with her family at the Olympic Outing Club - also had her memory jogged by the pic of the inn. She laughingly told me that she bought her "first drink" at the Riverside Inn when she was 15. She said she threw it out. I assume it was because the taste for booze is an acquired taste. It ain't a cherry coke.
At the beginning of the "inked" article I wrote, "As the old adage goes, "Out of sight, out of mind". The Riverside Inn has nearly been forgotten by many long-time residents of Vermilion, O... And - speaking for myself and apparently a few others - this was, in fact, the case.
Cool beans!
11-29-08
8:54 a.m.
Who'd a thunk?!
WHO'D A THUNK ABOUT THE DUMP (?): People take pictures of many things for many reasons. Generally they are functional. And I don't doubt that there was some good reason for the shadows [seen above] to have been captured back in the early 1940's. But I seriously doubt that that "good reason" will ever be uncovered (no pun intended). But no matter. I, for one, am glad that this photograph exists. It is a rather good public record of Vermilion's past. It's a photo of the Vermilion Village dump.
The dump was located near the Vermilion River at the east end of South Street. Today Vermilion's waste water-treatment plant and public boat launch / parking area occupy the site.
During the years of its existence the village took care of its own trash. Most of the trash in the dump was that which we now consider to be bio-degradable material. Prior to and after WW2 tin cans were likely contained in the refuse. But during the war such items were recycled. People were allowed to burn paper items in burners by their homes. Everybody had one. And folks were still allowed to burn their leaves during the autumn.
I vaguely recall the time when the dump was closed. Tom Utter was Vermilion's Mayor at the time. The issue was quite controversial.
And were it not for the scent which occasionally escapes from the site few current citizens would ever know about the place. [Tis another one of those "Out of sight, out of mind" kind of things.]
VHS Majorettes 1977-78
CAN YE NAME THEM (?): Vermilionite Jim Smith stopped by the other day with an old calendar that was produced by Vermilion Band Boosters. On it is this pic of the VHS Majorettes. It's from the 1977-78 school year.
I've, thus far, only been able to identify three of the girls: Liza Garner Johnston, Jodi Wells, Pam Becker, and Becky Nichols. It would be real nice to have all the names.
I really wasn't aware of the fact that these calendars were ever produced until Jim showed me this one. It would be nice to gather a collection of each calendar that was printed through the years. And, if the names of the people in them absent, add those names for posterities sake if nothing else.
But first - the names of these girls. Who knows them?
Let's Get Real
One of the problems I have with ageing is that once you’re old enough to know better what mattered doesn’t really matter anymore. This thought popped into my brain the other day when a 15 year old boy told me that he liked philosophy - but he didn’t care for logic. He said, “I like to think outside of the box”. I couldn’t but help wonder which box he was thinking outside - or why. To be fair - I don’t think he really knows. But I sincerely hope he figures it out long before he gets to be my age.
11/29/08
6:40 AM
The Gang at The Vermilion News
c.1951
THE VERMILION NEWS GANG - C.1951
The accompanying photograph was taken in the Spring of 1951. I was six - going on seven years old. It was the same year that the proprietor of Vermilion’s Liberty Theater, Bob Nuhn, would scold me for singing at the top of my lungs in the echo chamber that also happened to serve as the theater Men’s Room. I was so happy to be going to school that I was unable to resist breaking into song about the prospect. (Oops!)
It was also the year that my big brother, William "Billy", would be joining another one of my big brothers, Philip, in a far off place called Korea. With two boys involved in a war the next several years would be difficult ones for my parents. But on the day these shadows were forever froze in time those days were far from anyone’s thoughts, and the mood was hardly one of gloom and doom.
The portrait was taken inside the print shop / offices of The Vermilion News building on the east side of Grand Street. These were (the adults) the folks who made the place work. They gathered the news, answered the telephone, sold the advertising, wrote the stories, took the photographs, printed the newspaper, and made the deliveries. And I will add that this was often accomplished whilst singing aloud. That fact may, in part, explain why I later saw nothing wrong with “breaking into song” in a public restroom - albeit somewhat eccentric behavior. The group is pictured seated and standing between the linotype machines in front of the north wall of the shop. Pictured are:
Top Middle: Nancy Alice Tarrant (Emery).
Row Below L-R: Chuck Thompson, Margie Tomusko (Zelenak), Lois Troxel, W.B. Tarrant.
Below: (the little lady by herself): Helen Elsworth.
Next Row L-R: W.R. "Billy" Tarrant, Zella "Butch" Tarrant (on Bill's lap), Ella G. Tarrant, and Rich "Richie" Tarrant (on Ella's lap).
The little boy in front: Billy Thompson.
One of the interesting aspects of this particular photograph is that except, of course, for the calendar on the wall the only things that have changed since it was taken are the people. If one walked into the print-shop this very moment and looked at this area nearly everything there is the same. But more than half the folks in the photo have passed on. And those who survive have grey, very little, or no hair at all. But, again, everything else in the snap is nearly as it was 56 years ago.
While I don’t recall the precise scenario / reason for the photo, nor who took it, it is likely that it was celebrating the temporary homecoming of my brother Bill (uniformed) from his Army training at Fort Atterbury Indiana. In a few weeks he would be leaving again to serve in Korea.
In April of 1951 Les Paul and Mary Ford were at the top of the music charts with a thing called “How High The Moon”. It would remain a favorite of mine for life. On April 11th: After several public criticisms of White House policy in Korea, which were seen as undercutting the Commander-in-Chief's position, President Harry S. Truman removed General Douglas MacArthur from command and ordered him to return to the United States. Meanwhile in the Village of Vermilion, Ohio the “Gang at the Vermilion News” happily gathered together in the print-shop on Grand Street and posed for a photograph. They may have even sung a song or two.
Ref: Special Thanks to Albert C. Tarrant: Tarrant Family Photo Archives; and Nancy Tarrant Emery. Published in the Vermilion Photojournal on 11-01-07.
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10/28/07
10:57 AM
All Aboard
BOARDING THE NYC @ VERMILION, O: This pic was among the old Vermilion News negatives I received from my sister Ginny (Wilkes) a few weeks ago. And again - like the pix of the Riverside Inn and the Village Dump - they are jewels. They are precious because they depict people, places, and things from Vermilion's past that hither-to-now have been thought to only exist in the memories of those who lived during those days. And once those persons ceased to exist so too would those memories.
This photo shows a group of persons (currently unidentified) boarding a New York Central passenger train car at the NYC Depot just east of Division / Main Street. The train is headed east, and I surmise that these folks are headed into Cleveland. But for all I really know they might have been headed to Erie, Buffalo, or New York City as well.
Just imagine catching a train in Vermilion and riding into Cleveland to spend the day. Perhaps a commute of this nature will return someday in the future.
Brownhelm and Amherst (inset) Mills
HEYMANN'S MILLS: Local historian, Dennis Lamont, sent me this pic / drawing of the mills in Amherst and Brownhelm that compliment the pic of of the mill at Mill Hollow which appeared in the last issue of "VV".
This drawing affords a better idea of just where the mill was located in the hollow. (But I still need to go and see what is left myself. My brother-in-law, Dave Wilkes, told me that the foundation - as well as the "ditch that provided water-power for the mill - still exists.)
As most folks know the river winds through the hollow in what may be termed to be a "U" shape. So - to power the mill a "ditch" was cut between the two arms of the "U" shape to let water through to power the mill.,P>
The mill pictured in this drawing, however, appears to be powered by steam. Mr. John Heymann purchased the mill from the Benjamin Bacon family in 1868. It was destroyed by the fire in 1876. And when it was rebuilt in 1877 it was powered by steam. Ergo this drawing must be c.1877.
I note that the owner's name "Heymann" is also spelled as "Hyman" in other histories of the place. Variances in the spellings are not uncommon in historical records. But it's helpful for interested parties to understand that they do exist - and what they are.
As an aside Vermilion expatriate K. (Dickason) Kvach sent me the following communique:
"...You wrote about the Bacon family--here's a good story for you about a woman who lived in the huge ramshackled house at the top of Mill Hollow on East Lake Rd. right before you went down to the Hollow (and it had a huge, wonderful barn behind it) She was a Bacon and quite elderly even when you and I were kids, but I just can't think of her first name--anyhow my dad was great friends with her and was her doctor. He'd go out to visit her and they'd talk Vermilion history, etc. and one day she invited him to look through this gigantic run-down house of hers, just crammed with antiques and junk (sometimes I'd go with him so I can tell you that I --probably 8-9 or so--thought that it was a badly kept museum) He found two or three original Currier and Ives' paintings stashed away in a corner--at least that's what he thought, and with her permission he took them to (I think) Case Western Reserve where it was verified that they were originals. On another day she offered to give me an antique woman's side saddle--I don't remember having it at home so I guess I wasn't allowed to accept it, but I do remember how thrilled I was that she offered it to me..."
Wow! What great stories and pix "Viewers" provide. Wow!
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND! HELP THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY!: Take a cyber visit through my on-line store.
Christmas is coming and I'll be designing some new items. So stay close; and take a virtual tour of the shop. I keep it nice and clean.
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 #104: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #104 is a slide presentation of people at Vermilion's Olympic Outing Club. Here I focus (no pun intended) on working with a series of photographs that are essentially candid in nature in an attempt to develop both Photoshop and movie skills. If nothing else - it's fun. As I have previously suggested - ye might want to turn the volume control on the speakers on your pc down, down, down. I've not toned the music down so it will be a little loud.
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.
Join Bette on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 11 a.m. in Vermilion when the Christmas Tree Ship arrives! Dave Childers will sing Christmas songs and read the story of the Christmas Tree ship at the dock by Red Clay on the River at 5150 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion.
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
"I think that the kids next door know more about financial futures
than do Wall Street execs.
I've never hear them whining about anything."
-Professor Roselyn Picher
Vol.6, Issue 37, November 29, 2008
Archive Issue #298
© 2008 Rich Tarrant