FROZEN IN TIME: Perhaps the changes at the intersection of Main and Liberty streets are less subtle to unfamiliar eyes. Some things in the old photo - such as the unpaved streets, the interurban rails, and the absence of traffic lights are obvious. But several of the buildings are gone now. Some have been replaced. And some of the existing buildings have not yet been built. Yet, still the scene is quite recognizable.
Once the literal "hub" of Vermilion, Ohio - today it is become a caricature of what it once was. What a difference just a hundred years can make.
Note the fellow (in the lower pic) leaning in the doorway of the corner building on the right (currently the Main Street Soda Grill). At the time of the photo was taken the building was divided down the middle, and the part of the building on the side where he is standing was Wagner's Saloon.
One has to wonder who he was and what he was doing. Was he the barkeep looking for a customer? Or just a customer waiting for the door to open? Or do you just suppose that he saw a guy with a camera out on the street and thought he'd step outside the saloon to watch?
And a hundred years later he's still there.
Frozen-in-timely,
Tiny Dancers
CHERYL & KEITH: From sunny California Bobbi Riley forwarded me this stupendous photograph of Cheryl and Keith Fisher c.1950. Cheryl and Keith were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Fisher who ran the local funeral home (now Riddle's).
Bobbi wrote in part that, "They are in costumes from a dance recital from Miss Lily's dance class that was held upstairs in the Fischer block, next to Paul Ludlow's photography studio."
Methinks that some time back Alice Wakefield sent me a photo of her and her sister Mary that was taken at a recital at the same studio. I've no idea (at least right now) who "Miss Lily" was.
The upper floor of the Fischer building was probably ideal for teaching dance because it boasts a hardwood floor. In the years following the construction of the building the upper floor was used as a roller-skating rink.
Where Cheryl and Keith might be today is a mystery (again - to me). But I do know that one of Cheryl's children sent me an email one time from Florida. It'd be nice to find out where these two people are today.
The phtograph is a masterpiece.
The Kline Family
CAMP RIVERVIEW:
This is just a great pic of the Kline Family vacationing at the Olympic Outing Club in the very early part of the 20th century (abt. 1909).
It took a bit of doing for club members to transport all these items to Vermilion from Cleveland (i.e. the tent, chairs, etc.) 'Twere either on the interurban or by horse and wagon. Either way - negotiating the hill with a wagon - or getting upriver with all these items (not to mention people) - the task had to be formidable.
But they got there. And there they (their descendants) remain to this day.
SIGNS THAT THE CAR YOU'VE BOUGHT IS A LEMON...
As you leave the used car lot, you see the owner rush
out with a gigantic smile and high-five the salesman.
The jumper cables are not in the trunk but are permanently
soldered to the battery.
The hood has been equipped with a push-button device for
quick and easy opening.
The "Purchased From" sticker at the bottom of the rear
license plate has been removed.
You get a "Good Luck" card from the previous owner.
As you drive up to a service station for gas, the mechanic
opens the big door and waves you in.
When you leave for work the next morning, you notice a tow
truck parked about a block from your driveway. As you go
by, it silently falls in behind you.
The little "Service Engine" warning signal in the dashboard
comes on and reads "Me Again."
"The photo was sent to me, electronically, by Vermilion expatriate Alice Wakefield..."
THE LADIES OF THE CLUB: There is a significant amount of electronic correspondence surrounding this pulchritudinous portrait. The intent of those communiqués was, and remains, that of identifying all the women in the photo. And that certainly is a worthy endeavor. However; looking at these shadows with an artistic and objective eye I’m not convinced that such information is all that important - at least not to everyone.
The photo was sent to me, electronically, by Vermilion expatriate (Please note that that’s not a negative term.) Alice Wakefield last October. Alice is the eldest daughter of late Vermilion, Ohio and Great Lakes historian George Wakefield. Prior to George’s demise I used to communicate with him via e-mail through her computer. Since that time I have maintained my electronic contact with her, as well as her sisters, and several of her cousins. I don’t believe any of those persons live in the same state. Ergo; this is the reason for the “significant amount of electronic correspondence” that was generated by this wonderful portrait.
I became a party to the aforementioned communiqués on the outside chance that I might be of some help in the endeavor of the families to (as I have indicated) identify the women pictured. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I was of any help in accomplishing that task. All I could offer was my rather meager expertise in dating old photographs.
After taking a good look at the photo I concluded the following:
The clothing and hair style of the ladies appears to date between 1900-1904. The fan one woman has in her hand would place it before 1900 (perhaps 1880). But the ribbons in their hair and on their dresses says no. So it's probably safe to date the pic c.1904.
The fact that fashions (among other things) - 100 years ago - were so rapidly and widely dispersed across America without the help of the current media forms - so that one can date these photographs with some accuracy - may tell us something about human character. I'm certainly glad that piercing and tattooing weren't popular among American women back then. (Note that none of the women have earrings.)
Although this didn’t help identify the women it did, I believe, afford the family some additional perspective, and allow them to better understand the ages of those they did recognize. Seated on the lower right is Franc Horton Parsons. Her sister Eliza “Lize” Horton is seated on the lower left. Another sister Mary Ada “Molly” Horton is seated in the middle (second from the left). And Mathilda “Lil” Horton is standing at the top left of the group.
To shed some further light on just what all of this means in terms of Vermilion history it helps to understand that Franc Horton Parsons, who was, incidentally, a widow by the time of this photo, was mother to Burdett, Clift, Alice, Grace, Bob and Mary Parsons. All are prominent Vermilion personalities of the past. Franc was my Virginia correspondent Alice Wakefield’s great-grandmother.
Although, as I earlier indicated, this picture could easily stand by itself sans any knowledge of the women in it - I must emphasize that it is extremely important to make a record on the backs of your photographs of all persons appearing in them.
Surely, it would have been nice to know what brought these women together in some photographer’s studio 103 years ago to pose for this portrait. But until we can identify all of them we’ll just have to sate our curiosities by referring to the lovelies as “the ladies of the club”.
Ref: Vermilion Area Archival Society; Special Thanks to Alice P. Wakefield, Molly Milner; Alexander McPherson, and Fred Wakefield. Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 2/29/07.
2/25/07
2:07 PM
The Ypsilanti man must have been a real rogue.
"A Country School"
AN EARLY SCHOOL IN VERMILION: It's not exceptionally easy to get a real good grip on the number and/or location(s) of all the old country schools that were scattered around the countryside surrounding Vermilion. And the one pictured (above) is no exception.
This is part of the Vermilion Area Archival Society's photo collection - and is not been identified.
Initially it appears to look a great deal like a home located on the southernmost part of West River Road south of town. But many of these country school buildings were so similar in their design that it's hard to tell where it was / is located.
In addition to this many of these old buildings were also used as church buildings. (After all, they were designed to be public gathering places.) But many of the small churches of this era (c.1900) had two doors in the front of the buildings. One was used for males, and the other for females.
Note the bicycle leaning against the structure (on the right). It was, perhaps, the teacher's transport.
Times have sure changed...
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 #126: This week Vermilion Views Podcast #125 the cast is a treat. For folks who recall old Cleveland TV personalities there's Ghoulardi, Dorothy, Joel, Gib, Don, Big Chuck, and Little John. The cast takes a bit of time to load - but it's worth it.
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.
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. I urge you to visit these sites.
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.
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:
"Virtue is its own punishment."
-Aneurin Bevan
Vol.7, Issue 7, May 2, 2009
Archive Issue #320
© 2009 Rich Tarrant