BEYOND VERMILION'S FISH(LESS) FESTIVAL: Originally designed to celebrate and promote the socio-economic development of the community of Vermilion, Ohio it is become something of an vestigial affair. The fishing industry is long gone from the banks of the ol' muddy (river). The fish are Canadian caught and bought. Six clams for a perch sandwich is highway robbery (It doesn't matter who's selling it - nor for what cause). Sometimes one can't see the wood because the trees are in the way. In brief, the party is over. It's time for change.
I am currently working on a brochure (and eventually a book) celebrating the life of a person who may very well be the most illustrous person to have ever been born, educated, and raised in the community. Take a look at an initial draft of part of the pamphlet (below):
One objective of the brochure is to help persons understand exactly who Lester A. Pelton was and what he did that makes him so well known around the world. The irony, of course, is that very, very few people in Vermilion know anything about this gentleman whose invention helped - and continues to help - provide what is currently called a "green" form of electric power to communities across the planet. His invention is, perhaps, more important today (in 2009) than it was a century back.
I am, of course, suggesting that the community of Vermilion, O. should look to captitalize on having been Pelton's birthplace as subject for a new festival - as well as that as the rich history of the entire area.
But that's just me thinking...
Historically,
VHS SAILORETTES 1962
SEPTEMBER 28, 1962: Vermilionite Pat Creel stopped by my office (i.e. the kitchen in Vermilion's UCC Congretational Church) on Friday (6-19-09) with several items she though might be of interest to me. This photograph was taken from one of those items. It appeared in a Vermilion High School Homecoming Program for September 28, 1962 (as indicated). It's nice that the names of the girls appear with it.
But for three of the girls I know not what direction the lives of the others have taken since these shadows were captured. What surprises me most, however, is that although these girls were (more or less) contemporaries of mine I was unaware that several of them participated in this activity until I saw this photo.
Huh.
I see Wanita (Washburn) Shaffer now and then at the grocery store. I used to see Dana (Switzer) Janosik about town. But I guess she's moved on. And I have have exchanged some brief emails with Susan (Rathbun) Riemann - who now lives in Huron, O. But as I said I've no idea where the rest of the girls are - nor what their lives might have been like.
The photo was taken in the football field behind Decatur Street (now VIS) school when it was Vermilion's High School. Top right in the background is the back of the church where 47 years later Pat Creel would give me the book wherein I found this picture.
Huh- again.
"The Sandak farm c. 1900"
THE SANDAK FARM: Vermilionite Sharon Deem loaned me this photograph of the old Sandak farm on Cherry Road taken around the turn of the last century. It was a rather large wide-angle photograph. But I managed to scan it in two parts and merge the scanned portions back into a cogent photo.
Mrs. Deem and her husband purchased the farm about 10 years ago.
I've never had much of an opportunity to see, much less duplicate, many photographs taken on area farms that were identifiable prior to this time. So the photos (she loaned me 3 of the Sandak place) that Sharon loaned me are especially appreciated.
Actually, what Mrs. Deem asked me to do was to try and date the pix. And so (as you can see) I have done. But this one is fairly easy. When there's a date on a rather new looking barn it's real helpful. The others, however, are a bit more challenging.
On the other hand, the other two pix have people in them. And this is how one can assign an approximate - but fairly accurate - date to them. Its how people are dressed - how they wear their hair, etc. - that provides some insight into the dating of the pix. While male clothing is not as telling - female dress and hair-styles are not so subtle, and are, therefore, exceptionally helpful in this process.
The Sandak photos are important because family, and records of the family, still exists in the area. While I've not looked into all that in much detail (as of yet) the photographs along with some of the available information on the family would make for a great local history story.
Wow!
NEED A DAY OFF? HERE ARE SOME EXCUSES YOU CAN USE...
If it is all the same to you I won't be coming in to work.
The voices told me to clean all the guns today.
When I got up this morning I took two Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac. I can't get off the john, but I feel good about it.
I set half the clocks in my house ahead an hour and the
other half back an hour Saturday and spent 18 hours in some kind of space-time continuum loop, reliving Sunday (right up until the explosion). I was able to exit the loop only by reversing the polarity of the power source exactly e*log (pi) clocks in the house while simultaneously rapping my dog on the snout with a rolled up Times. Accordingly, I will be in late, or early.
My stigmata's acting up.
I can't come in to work today because I'll be stalking my
previous boss, who fired me for not showing up for work.
OK?
I have a rare case of 48-hour projectile leprosy, but I
know we have that deadline to meet.
I am stuck in the blood pressure machine down at the
Food Giant.
Yes, I seem to have contracted some attention-deficit disorder and, hey, how about them Skins, huh? So, I won't be able to, yes, could I help you? No, no, I'll be sticking with Sprint, but thank you for calling.
Constipation has made me a walking time bomb.
"...James parades a new Willys Overland Knight along one of the town’s unpaved residential streets during 4th of July festivities in 1914.."
DALL - NOT "DULL" BROTHERS:
Despite the fact that nobody has put me in charge of making a list of the 10 most dynamic persons to have lived and worked in Vermilion, Ohio during the 20th century I have done it anyway. Very close, if not at the very top of this list, is electric lighting pioneer, businessman, politician, and avid sportsman on both land and sea, F.W. Wakefield (PJ 3-18-04). Among the very many reasons I consider him to have been vital to the positive development of our community is because he was a tireless promoter for and of Vermilion, Ohio. He saw the potential of our community for both industrial and recreational development, and actively - very actively - pursued and promoted it throughout his lifetime. Although his successes were, perhaps, only minimal that is irrelevant. As the author Frederick Wilcox once observed, “Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first ...”
One of Mr. Wakefield’s “minimal” success stories took place when the century was but a decade or so old and the automobile industry was still in its infancy. As the head of a newly established Vermilion Chamber of Commerce he persuaded two brothers, Louis A. and James R. Dall, to locate their business for the manufacture of motor pistons in the village. The brothers eventually constructed their Dall Motor Parts building on the southwest corner of South Street and West River Road/Water Street (now housing The Dry Dock boat equipment and supply store).
The gentlemen also operated a garage along the north side of Liberty Avenue just east of the Vermilion Boat Club. It is now owned by Moes Marine Service. Here the brothers began to sell the finished product - the whole automobile.
In the extraordinary Pearl Roscoe photo accompanying this tract brother James parades a new Willys Overland Knight along one of the town’s unpaved residential streets during 4th of July festivities in 1914. As was then the custom the vehicle was decorated with crepe paper that was probably purchased at Roscoe’s print shop. (Please note that I attempted to bring out more of the detail of the photo by applying a crosshatch brushstroke filter effect with special computer software. So if it looks a bit sketchy it isn’t the fault of anyone’s eyesight.)
Later James moved the auto dealership up the street (west) to the northwest corner of Liberty and Grand Streets to the site where the local ambulance garage is now located. Several years later he moved the business to Elyria where it (J.R. Dall Ford) remains to this day.
Brother Louis stayed with the engineering/manufacturing business until his death in 1949 at the age of 64. During the last few years of his life he kept offices atop Vermilion’s Erie County Bank building on the southwest corner of Liberty and Division/Main Streets (now city offices). By that time he had merged his Dall Motor Parts business with a Cleveland-based company, and had co-founded another auto parts manufacturing business, the H.A. Montgomery Company, in Detroit, Michigan.
One item that may better explain the connection between Wakefield and the Dall brothers concerns the fact that Louis, like the Commodore, was an avid recreational boatsman. Both in fact and in deed, he was the very first person to build and operate a power-driven pleasure boat on the Vermilion River.
So, as is apparent by their accomplishments, and this 1914 photo, the brothers Dall were anything but dull citizens of yesteryear in Vermilion, Ohio. Moreover; F.W. Wakefield certainly knew what it took to “steal second”.
Ref: The Vermilion News, 4-21-1949; Vermilion Area Archival Society, Pearl Roscoe Photo Collection, courtesy A.C. Tarrant. Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 3-22-07.
3/18/07
12:57 PM
"I'm certainly glad that's settled."
A VERMILION REGATTA C.1940
SOUTH SHORE REGATTA: If Mr. Lee was trying to get folks to pay attention to his boat yard with this floating float I'll be he succeeded. A boat with a band and 15 or 16 pretty young girls in swimsuits would do it.
This pic was taken by Vermilion photographer Paul Ludlow (407 ½ - Division St. Vermilion, Ohio - Phone No. 5632) probably right around 1940. The photo appears to have been taken from the Kishman Fish Company Docks (now the Fishermen's Bend Condominums) looking across the river as it turned in its course and meandered downstream toward McGarvey's Restaurant and the "Bridge". It is courtesty of Jean Derby Bauer who currently lives in Natchitoches, LA.
Jean was kind enough to number the pix she sent to me and make some accompanying notes. About this one she notes that nearest the bow on the starboard side are Annabelle (Derby) Kuhnle with Jean (Derby) Bauer just behind her. She also wrote that on that day a boy, unfortunately, fell into the water as they neared McGarvey's Restaurant. Someone standing in front of McGarvey's yelled, "Man overboard!". The boy was later found drowned.
What a great pic with an interesting story.
I added a little color to it just to see how it'd look.
Cool beans!
DON'T JUST SIT THERE WITH A MOUSE IN YOUR HAND! HELP THE (MY) 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 #133: This week Vermilion Views Podcast #133 the cast is Part #3 of an interview of William Roscoe Tarrant of Vermilion, Ohio. Bill was the oldest of eight children born to William B. and Ella G. Tarrant owners and publishers of Vermilion's weekly newspaper - The Vermilion News (1898-1964).
This interview is the second part of what (hopefully) will be many interviews will be recorded of long-time Vermilion citizens over the next few months and years. Because it is the very first it is not exceptionally professional nor comprehensive. But in time their quality should improve.
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 on a regular basis to see "what's shakin'".
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:
"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."
-Benjamin Franklin
Vol.7, Issue 24, June 20, 2009
Archive Issue #327
© 2009 Rich Tarrant