CHANGES: This great aerial pic of Vermilion (c.1930)is a mighty good example of just how much the town has changed over the last 79 years. For the benefit of those who might not recognize the area this photograph looks over the village along Liberty Avenue from about Washington Street to Main Street (facing north and east). All of the buildings on the north side of Liberty between Washington and Grand Street are now gone. One of the houses near the corner of Washington and Liberty was moved and currently sits on the lake shore behind the Great Lakes Historical Society Museum on Main Street.
The church (the spire is visible toward the upper right of the pic) was the M&E Church that sat on the southeast corner of Liberty and Grand Street. It was - at one time - a popular church with a very active congregation. But as the years turned its numbers dwindled and, finally, the small congregation merged with the First Congregational Church. A local plumber used it for his shop until it was destroyed by a fire - and torn down.
In this pic the water-tower in Hanover Square is still in use; and a new housing development in what was once a wet-lands on the east side of Vermilion River (i.e. the Vermilion Lagoons) is beginning to take shape.
Although it's not really clear the Lake Shore Electric interurban still ran down Liberty. But change was coming. Automobiles can be seen running along the street. And a good many cars are parked on the north side of Liberty in what was then a very thriving business district. At the very time this pic was taken automobile lobbyists were in Columbus and Washingto D.C. pressing for funding for improving roads and highways across our nation to facilitate their industry.
Change would, of course, come. It would not be immediate - but it would come. And the face(s) of our nation, our state, and our town would also change. Whether we wanted it to or not.
Begrudgingly,
Some would now disagree...
THE NEW ROAD: I have several theories regarding the reason that Lake Road / West Liberty Avenue running through Vermilion, O. to the west was - at one time - such an obstacle course. It came from the east (as it does now) in essentially a straight line; moved through the heart of town - in essentially a straight line; and when it got to Decatur Street it made a sharp turn south, ran almost to the railroad tracks; and then made a sharp turn to the west (i.e.Rae's corner).
Now what engineer in their right mind would plot such a road on a map?
My theory is this: The initial road that ran east to west through Vermilion was south of the aforementioned (and current) road. It likely came across the river at about Huron Street and ran along the lake shore to Huron. Over time the road (among other things) was claimed by the lake, and a path, further south, had to be used.
This path was a horse / wagon trail. It was never intended to accommodate was eventually became motor traffic. Consequently, village officials were never compelled to deviate from the existing path for traffic - possible because they adhered to the philosophy that if it ain't broke don't fix it.
But by the 1950's it had become an ever present problem. Kyle Motors, for instance, had to take extreme measures to keep vehicles from crashing into their gas pumps. But as it was cars and truck still missed the turn and made into either the side of their building. And sometimes they made it into their showroom.
Finally, everyone had had enough and the state helped fund the construction of a new path our of town for State Routes #6 & #2. Those who lived around town at the time referred to it as "the new road". Some - myself included - still refer to it as such.
The new route followed some part of the path once used by the Lake Shore Electric interurban. It, essentially, by-passed the old "ess" turn route and rejoined the old route about 500 feet beyond Edson Creek. The "new road" was also a 4-lane road. Methinks (another one of my theories) that the state once intended to make Lake Road from the west side of Vermilion into Huron a 4-lane road. Some plans, however, get side-tracked.
This pick was contributed by Brian Kyle. It shows the beginnings of the building of "the new road". It was take from the corner of Liberty and Decatur Street looking to the south and west. Several homes that once sat along the shaded cul-de-sac which preceded it were removed to make way for the road.
This is really a nice photograph that was take by Brian's father Lloyd.
The Koachway Kids
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME: Carolyn Koachway Hill loaned me this pic some time ago for scanning - and it's a beaut. This photo was snapped in the backyard of what is currently a little eatery and ice cream store on the northeast corner of Liberty and Grand Streets. (Sorry I can't thing of the name of the place at the moment.) For a long time it was Edha Mae's. And before that it was Wolf Electric. But at one time is was home (as is obvious) to the Koachway Family.
I don't know all the children in the photo. But I believe the little girl on the right is Ellen Koachway OHara; and the little girl on the right is Carolyn. I can vividly remember meeting the girls and their mother along the sidewalk as they came from visiting their grandfather and grandmother (Fred and Hattie Fischer) who lived on Grand Street.
It's just one of those things that sticks in the memory for life. No great reason - other than to say it was always a pleasant encounter.
Memorial Day c.1958
DISCOVERY & ENLIGHTENMENT:
This, of course, is part of a pic which appeared in "VV" last week. I could not recall the name of the young lady on the bicycle with Lee Kress. I knew that it was not Carol Loucks Kress whom Lee later married - but I couldn't recall the name of the girl on the bike.
And then - from a lady named Penny Kenyon-Percun I learned that the young lady on the bike is her mother, Roylene Fitzgerald Kenyon.
Mystery solved.
I also discovered that the child that Jane Smith was carrying (in the background) was born in August of 1958 - and that his name is Robert Smith.
So now I am enlightened, and know just about everyone in the photograph.
Cool beans!
15 NEW WII GAMES
1. Sumo Wrestling
2. Dish Washing
3. Shuffle Board
4.Knitting
5. Pole Dancing
6. Marbles
7. Thumb Twiddling
8. Jay Walking
9. Pole Vaulting
10. Nose Picking
11. Cattle Tipping
12. Moon Walking
13. Wine Tasting
14. Flashing
15. Lawn Mowing
"It may very well be that Lewis Englebry was (to that date) the heaviest man to ever have been transported by air."
ONE OF THE GREATEST FLIERS WHO EVER LIVED: The first time I saw this photograph it was my understanding that the man in the middle of the picture was none other than one of the greatest fliers who ever lived; Glenn Hammond Curtiss. I also gathered that this photo celebrated the very first plane to land in Vermilion. That information, however intriguing, is only partially true. It is very much a pictorial recording of the first plane and pilot to alight on village soil, but it is not Glenn Curtiss.
August 1914 was a rather exciting time for Vermilion villagers. A Firemen’s Convention was coming to town, and the people had been in preparation for weeks. Cheerful signs of appreciation were everywhere. Welcome banners hung across Liberty and Division (Main) Streets. American flags dressed the porches of homes and businesses along the parade route where convention attendees, in full uniform, would march behind the G.A.R. Band and Vermilion’s proudly displayed steam pumper fire engine drawn by two white horses.
Some miles to the west, at Cedar Point, Ohio, a young flier from Washington D.C. named Antony “Tony” Jannus (b. 6-22-1889) had been contracted by the manager of the Breakers Hotel to provide airplane rides for guests in his Benoist [ben-owah] Airboat Number 43. He had been working and living there since mid-July. [Note: early aviators were impelled by simple circumstance to use air exhibitions/races and provide persons with rides to help finance their craft, trade, and livelihoods.] Precisely who from Vermilion contacted Mr. Jannus is not known. But it is known that he was contacted and hired to bring his airboat to Vermilion on August 30, 1914 to open the Firemen’s Convention.
Landing near the mouth of the Vermilion River Jannus drove the plane upstream, past Cloudy Noel’s Ferry Dock, where he moored it just across the river from the spot where a new village water plant was under construction. Later he would again take flight and land on the lake just off the beach at Linwood Park. There the Benoist Airboat would be beached and Vermilion News Editor-Publisher, Pearl Roscoe, would take this well known photo of Tony Jannus flanked by Vermilion’s Charlie Trinter (left), and Lewis Englebry (right).
Late Vermilion historian George Wakefield told me some years ago that Mr. Englebry weighed about 300 lbs. What he failed to tell me is that Jannus took him as a passenger and flew him back to Cedar Point with him. It may very well be that Lewis Englebry was (to that date) the heaviest man to ever have been transported by air.
As mentioned at the start of this article, “it was my understanding that the man in the middle of the picture was none other than one of the greatest fliers who ever lived”. And although it is not Glenn Curtiss in the photo the pilot is in fact, and in deed, one of the greatest fliers who ever lived.
Aside from being a contemporary of Glenn Curtiss (for whom he later worked), the Wright Brothers, and, of course, Tom Benoist (his first employer), Tony Jannus is recognized as being the very first commercial passenger airline pilot in the world. At exactly 10 a.m. on January 1, 1914 he had given throttle to his Benoist Airboat in the waters of a yacht basin in St. Petersburg, Florida and took off on the first round-trip commercial passenger air-flight in history; the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line was born.
On October 12, 1916 Antony Habbersack Jannus was killed when a Curtiss H Airboat he was testing for the Russian government experienced some mechanical problems and crashed into the Black Sea. His remains were never recovered. He was 27 years old.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 1938; Jannus an American Flier, Thomas Reilly; 199.)
5/15/05
9:57 AM
I wonders who the "cripple" on Grand Street was?
LOCALS - 1898: Newspaper "locals" as my family called them for The Vermilion News were, and remain, perhaps the most interesting items ever written for any publication. Methingks they're fun and can speak for themselves...
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND! HELP THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY!: Take a cyber visit through my on-line store.
I will be working on designing some new things in the weeks ahead. However: If you've not purchased something yet you're missing both the proverbial and literal boat. But, if nothing else, take a stroll through my shop. I keep the floor swept, the windows clean, and my dog don't bite.
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 #122: This week Vermilion Views Podcast #122 is medicine for the soul. Take a look and you'll see what I mean...
Also note that all the video (MP4) podcasts (where used) are done in the "Quicktime MP4" format.
NOTE NOTE:Past podcasts are not 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 me and I will place it on a disc and send it to ye for a minimal fee.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS ETC. (?):
Well - ENOUGH!!! Some European spammers finally got the best of me by using the email form which used to be available (here) in "VV". They hi-jacked the form for purposes I am unable to fathom (I don't gamble and I'm not in the market for Viagra). Ergo; I dropped the form and ye can simply drop a line to me by tapping on my name below:
RICH TARRANT
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.
Pay particular note to the "Hope Homes" page during the next few months. They've recently received a significant grant from the Dolan Foundation and are constructing a Manual Training Center for their children and for other young people in that community. This is an exciting project.
Vermilion High School Classes of 1963, 1964 and 1965 may be interested in knowing that a reunion is planned for the weekend of June 27, 2009. Those interested can contact Ruth Bauman Tanner.
The Vermilion High School Class of 1959 may be interested in knowing that a reunion is planned for the weekend of September 18-20, 2009. Registration can be made through Roger Boughton 2205 SW 10th Ave. Austin, MN. 55912 or you can just emailRoger.
Where's Alice? I found this link interesting. You just never know what Vermilion expatriots are up to - or where their up to doing it. Alice Wakefield is one of those people. So check out his link. Methinks you'll be surprised: Talking Turkey.
Memories are made of this...
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
or you can use PayPal:
" Two words: Nitrous Oxide. The answer to the Afghanistan thing."
-Professor Roselyn Picher
Vol.7, Issue 3, April 4, 2009
Archive Issue #316
© 2009 Rich Tarrant