_{"When April Comes"}

AVRIL: I know that most everyone has heard this thought about ageing before - but I have to say it again: "Time sure seems to go very slow when you're going uphill. But when you're headed down - it goes way too fast." And it doesn't "seem" to go too fast - it "does".

Another thing I've become exceptionally aware of is the fact that when I was young I used to know everything. Perhaps it's just the early onset of Alzheimer's. For some reason as I age I seem to get dumber. I don't know drek

What happened?

I was just getting used to March when April came along.

But seriously, I have been working through a bevy of tech and format changes since the start of the new year which means that I've been doing less intense history stuff.

[EX.]I've found some neat freeware software that is - or will be useful - for "VV" in the coming months. I found a freeware app. called "Carbon Copy Cloner" that allows one to copy the entire contents of one hard drive to another. This software allowed me to install a new 1 terabyte hard drive on my computer without losing the info on my other hard disk.

That's a lot of memory. It's 1000 gigabytes. But I'm hoping that it will allow me do more of my own audio / video stuff. That's something I've wanted to do for years. Altogether I have about 2000 "gigs" at my disposal now.

The problem - then - becomes not one of learning or doing. It's time. I don't know that I have enough.

I have some occasion to work with young people doing the things that I do. And one of the things I try to instill in them is the following:

"The only true wealth any person has in their life is time. And tis fleeting. Spend it wisely."

Luckily my computer is my prosthetic memory.

Alzheimers-ly,

_{"Before NyQuil"}

BLUE RIBBON: This advertisement appeared in one of the very first editions of The Vermilion News in 1898.

It would certainly be amusing if breweries and distillaries took a lesson from this old ad and started peddling their potions as elixirs with natural medicinal properties. W.C. Fields could still be used as their spokesperson.

This curious advertisement is both an amusing and a very interesting artifact.

Cork

"CORKEY" HARPLEY: A Similar pic of "Corkey" Harpley has appeared in some earlier edition "VV". This particular scan is much, much improved.

I knew "Corkey" and his father, Fred, quite well. Corkey's real name was William. But I don't believe anyone outside a very formal setting called him that. A few folks called him "Bill". But most everyone knew him as Corky.He was called "Corky" because he was a realy "corker" - a character - one of a kind.

When Cork was fresh out of highschool his mother sent him downtown (probably to Rathbun's or the A&P Store) to get a loaf of bread and he didn't return for several years. Those who saw him last said that they'd seen him walking down the railroad tracks west of the village.

I don't know precisely how many years he was gone. Nor do I know (precisely) where he went during those years. But he told me enough for me to know that he "bummed" - rode the rails for most of that time. And I know that he became an alcoholic - and stooped to a low that led him to partake of that rare liquid found in canned heat, etc.

It was, for the most part, just a adventure of a naive youngster wherein his innocence was forever lost. But the experience did not jade him in the least. He was a rather amiable personality. He was, as I recall, an insomniac who'd replaced booze with coffee and Pall Mall (i.e. "pell-mell) cigarettes; who liked youngsters (he had a daughter); trucks, trains; and a man who could spin a yarn with the best of 'em.

He was a "corker".

Cork and his dad ran the Railway Express office in Vermilion. For a time they had an office just north of the New York Central tracks on the east side of Perry Street. They'd pick-up and deliver freight from the NYC depot behind St. Mary's church. And if anyone was shipping freight they could leave it at their office and Cork, or his dad, would make sure that it got to the depot on time.

Years later they purchased the local newsstand. For the benefit of some young persons who many not know what a newsstand is - it was a store that sold newspapers (of course) from all over the country, as well as current issues of magazines and comic books. They also sold tobacco products and some soft drinks. In Vermilion the newsstand also served as the Greyhound Bus Station. Currently the J.A. Berk and Associates Real Estate Appraisers occupy the site of the old newsstand. It was, at one time, a very busy place.

Corky was blind in one eye, but I don't believe I ever knew the reason. He didn't talk about it much, and I never asked.

Fred and Corky were good guys. They were fun to talk with. And, looking back, I wish I'd had enough sense to learn more about them. Fred had been involved with the LSE among other things in town. And I sure would have liked to have learned more about Cork's mysterious sabbatical. Those ships (as some are wont say) have long left the harbor. I'm just glad to have known these guys at all.

_{Cloudy's - Spring Thaw on the river -}

WHEN THE RIVER THAWS: This is an unusual pic of Cloudy's Ferry on the east bank of the Vermilion River during what was likely a spring thaw (c.1920 ?). This pic was buried somewhere in the plethora of Vermilion pix I have on my computer and I found it interesting.

Most pix of the place were taken during better times.

Cloudy's, I have come to understand, was located on about the site where the Vermilion Yacht Club [NOTE: not to be confused with the Vermilion Boat Club.] is currently situated.

Tis an interesting photo.

CLASSIFIED SECTIONS OF NEWSPAPERS...

*Tired of cleaning yourself. Let me do it.

*Vacation Special: have your home exterminated.

*Get rid of aunts. Zap does the job in 24 hours.

*Toaster: A gift that every member of the family appreciates. Automatically burns toast.

*For Rent: 6 room hated apartment.

*Man, honest. Will take anything.

*Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.

*Christmas tag sale. Handmade gifts for the hard to find person.

*Wanted: Hair cutter. Excellent growth potential.

*Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.

*Our bikinis are exciting. They are simply the tops.

*Wanted. Widower with school age children requires person to assume general housekeeping duties. Must be capable of contributing to growth of family.

*And now, the Superstore unequaled in size, unmatched in variety, unrivaled inconvenience.

*We will oil your sewing machine and adjust tension in your home for $1.00.

_{"Later in the day the laundry would be taken in and the work of ironing, folding, and putting away of the items would begin."}

MONDAY (WASHDAY): During the 19th - and well into the middle of the 20th - century Monday was known throughout most of the western world as “washday”. Without the benefit of automatic appliances and indoor plumbing the task required the time consuming chores of fetching and boiling water for the washing, making starch and bluing for whiter whites and bluer blues; and all of that was “just for starters”. So in brief (or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say “at length”) doing the family laundry was an all day affair.

The more affluent families in our society had servants to tend to this onerous task. But for the majority of folks - or at least for those who wanted clean pressed and starched clothing for the ensuing week - the devoir / task of doing laundry fell upon themselves. “Themselves” in most instances refers to female family members. [Please note that this observation is not presented herein to aggrandize nor antagonize either gender. But is rather presented as a matter of fact.] However; lest ye think that this was viewed by all those whose lot it was to accomplish it as just another bleak day of servitude - think again.

This wonderful photograph of “Washday Behind the Vermilion News Print Shop” was taken by Pearl Roscoe probably about 1914 or 15. Pictured sitting upon an old tree stump amid freshly washed bloomers, a night-dress, stockings and other items are the editor / publisher’s wife, Bessie, and his eldest daughter Ella.

The photo was taken near the back of their Grand Street print shop-home looking south toward Ohio Street. Directly to the left of the photo stood the Congregational Church (now Millet’s Auction House) and the Vermilion Township Hall and Opera House. At the time of this picture a row of stables to accommodate those visiting the aforementioned public buildings ran north to south along the lot lines of the properties separating them.

Judging by the shadows in the photo the image was captured around 11 a.m. in the full blush of summer. Young Ella is holding a book on her mother’s lap. Assuming that this was not a staged portrait beyond a moments notice - which would have been highly unlikely - Mrs. Roscoe was probably engaged in reading the book with her daughter as they waited for the clothing to be dried by the sun and pleasant summer morning breezes.

So palpable is the imagery of this photograph that one can almost catch the fresh odor of the wet laundry hanging on the lines around mother and daughter; hear a horse moving restlessly in one of the stalls behind the church, the incessant bark of a dog echoing at a distance, and the light-hearted voices of children playing a game of tag just down the block and across the dusty street in front of the print shop.

Later in the day the laundry would be taken in and the work of ironing, folding, and putting away of the items would begin. The evening meal would be light because washday duties precluded doing more. Evening would settle in. The electric lights in the parlour would dim every time one of the Lake Shore Interurban cars gasped for more power as it struggled up the hill heading west from the depot on Liberty Avenue downtown. And when their heads touched the pillows of their beds that night the Roscoe’s - as well as most other families in the little Village of Vermilion, Ohio and numerous other villages across America - would breath in the fragrant odors that emanated from their sheets freshly minted from the Monday (Washday).

_{Ref: Vermilion Area Archival Society: Pearl Roscoe Photo Collection Archive; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal in January of 2007; Special Thanks to Al Tarrant.}

12/30/07
11:22 AM

_{Photographer "Ennis" did a number of pix in the area.}

_{The racetrack at Vermilion's VFW}

,P>

RACING AT THE HOLLAND-BOND VFW POST: This is one of the pix Dana Buell Wheeler emailed to me a week or so back. Until I saw this photo I'd all but forgotten about the go-cart races that were once held on the grounds of Vermilion's Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Holland-Bond Post on Poorman Road southwest of town.

This particuar pic was taken (as were all that Dana sent me) by Albert Linglebach in about 1958. I don't believe I ever attended any of these races. But I do know that they were popular with the townsfolk.

One of my brothers-in-law (Dave Wilkes) was involved in the races. And an anecdote about that.

For some reason I was mowing his lawn on Devon Drive one day and ran out of fuel. Knowing everything as I did (because you remember that I said when I was young I knew everything) I picked up a gas can and filled the mower. I didn't know it but it was some sort of nitro-fuel he was using in a go-cart.

I can't remember if I ruined the mower by using this fuel or not.

But also as I previously mentioned "as I get older I get dumber". So maybe I just forgot what happened.

A great photo.

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 am working on designing some new things. 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 #123: This week Vermilion Views Podcast #123 is a collection of funnies with a 1958 film cut of a performance of Rock and Roll performer Wanda Jackson somewhere in between. Cool Stuff! 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:

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.

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}

Links to additional Vermilion Ohio pages: Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix History of Linwood Park Vermilion Visitor's Advisory (Satire) Gore Orphanage History The Lester Pelton Story The Wreck of The Niles #152 The History of Crystal Beach Vermilion Views Archives Vermilion's Pioneer Woman; Charlotte Sturges Cloudy; Vermilion's Ferryman The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843 The Last Time I Saw Charlie Hope Childrens Home Kenya A Profile of Rich Tarrant Vermilion Biographies Vermilion - Village of Lake Captains Vermilion's Youngest Minstrels Don Englebry's "Growing Up In Vermilion" "Views" Podcast Archive The Story of Vermilion's Education System Eden Valley Enterprises VHS Class of 1959 Vermilion Views Gift Shop - Always Open

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:

Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless
you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet.
- Dave Barry"

Vol.7, Issue 4, April 11, 2009

Archive Issue #317

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