_{"ONCE'T UPON A TIME IN VERMILION"}

MURDER & OTHER THINGS: It all began with several newspaper clippings fromThe Elyria Constitution (1877) and the Sandusky Daily Register (1889) that my brother Al gave me earlier this year.

I found them interesting but not exceptionally helpful as stories go. I suppose I was looking for the whole thing on a proverbial platter. And it just wasnt' there. But when I got around to taking a closer look at the info I thought that I'd try to run some of the loose ends down (electronically) and see if it led anywhere. And it did.

I was surprised. Because things like this usually aren't that easy.

What follows is the "jist" of the aforementioned articles:

In the Spring of 1877 a Vermilion man named Joshua Kalb stabbed a Vermilion jeweler named Elijah DeWitt in a botched robbery attempt. Dewitt, who was described as being "a cripple" died about a week later. Kalb, who had been apprehended the day following the attack was tried for murder (in Sandusky, Ohio) in June; was found guilty of murder in the second degree; and was sentenced to life in prison.

In 1889 Ohio Governor Joseph B. Foraker, as an act of mercy during the Christmas season, reduced Kalb's sentence from life to 18 years. This commutation was not widely appreciated by a good number of people in Erie County, Ohio.

To be sure, it's an interesting story. But who were these people? I had some questions. And this is part of what I found:

The jeweler (DeWitt) was the son of a well-to-do Elyria (Ohio) banker also named Elijah. His uncle was Edwin Converse Higbee who founded one of Cleveland, Ohio's largest, and most successful, drygoods stores on Euclid Avenue. Ergo; the family was well known and known to be economically affluent.

Historical records show that the younger Dewitt was only 19 (b.1852) years old when he came to Vermilion to open his store (1871). The inference is that there was some family money behind the young man's enterprise.

Information about Kalb - the man who murdered the jeweler - is scant. All I could find is that his father had been a ships carpenter, and that they family lived on "Bridge" Street in Vermiion. [NOTE: I've no idea as to where "Bridge" Street was located.] The newspaper articles make a point of saying that Kalb had been in Cleveland where he apparently "planned the murder". But why or where he was in Cleveland when this "planning" was done is unknown.

The verdict of the jury in this case is equally puzzling. The judge told the prisoner at the time of sentencing that "the jury through mercy and mercy alone found you guilty of murder in the second degree instead of the first." And I also have to seriously ask, "Why?" This, by all accounts I have ready was a flagrant act of premeditated murder. Why did the jury decide the way it did. What did that jury know / see that I / we did not?

And then there is a rather disturbing and cryptic comment that appeared in the "Daily Register's" 1889 communtation report. It was a remark reportedly made by a Sandusky Court House official saying that Kalb's "going unhung was the direct cause of Taylor's being lynched shortly after".

Taylor, I later found, was a Sandusky black man named William Taylor who was lynched on September 4, 1878 - the year following the Kalb trial. He was hung by a mob of angry citizens from a lamp post on Market Street in downtown Sandusky as retribution for the murder of a girl named Alice O'Donnell. An account of the story was published in the September 8, 1878 edition of The New York Times with the headline "A CITY UNDER MOB RULE".

So - all this from a few old newspaper clippings. And there are now more questions than answers. Was there something wrong with Kalb? Could DeWitt's affluent relatives have had some connection to this murder. Why did the jury, and later the governor, give Kalb the lighter punishments? Did Taylor's fate really have anything to do with the Kalb verdict?

Once't upon a time in Vermilion...

Verily,

Mrs. Burdue's First Grade Class c.1952

ALWAYS YOUNG: This was one among the several hundred photographs furnished by Air Force Major Jack Corsino from the Thompson-Nichols Family photo collection. Jacks mother is the late Maryann Thompson. His uncle, Billy, is one of the little fellows on the floor directly in the middle of the front row. Aside from the teacher, Mrs. Burdue, he is one of the only persons I recognize in the pic.

To be honest I should mention that Mrs. Burdue is not likely the mean old school marm that I've made her out to be in the past. But was rather a popular, and highly respected educator during her many years as a Vermilion teacher. I have heard both bad and good things about her. But I can say the very same about most of the teachers of that era - and this.

One of the things about this particular photograph that I just noticed (this a.m.) is that it does not appear to have been taken at South Street School where it would have, logically, been taken given age of the youngsters in the class.

This leads me to believe that it was taken during the years when South Street was overcrowded and some of the lower grade classes were held at different sites throughout the village. This, therefore, could be a Vermilion Township Hall classroom.

Whatever the case, I am sure that some "Viewer" knows more than I about the site and the children in the pic.

_{"Peeking at the Past"}

RESOURCES: While searching for information peraining to the Kalb-DeWitt murder (above) I came across an on-line resource which, prior to this time, I could only find in the local library. This book - the title page pictured above - can be found on Google, and one can download a PDF copy of it to keep and use for personal reference.

This one (as is obvious) was put together by a man named Hewson Peeke. And it is quite extensive - 513 pages - but well worth having.

_{Hewson L. Peeke}

The tome, while it was, as indicated, printed in 1916 actually documents Erie County history to about 1910. And there are similar histories available of Cleveland and its "Environs" and Lorain County. I find them to be exceptionally interesting - not to mention valuable.

From what I can understand they are now available on-line because there are no copyrights to keep them from being openly published and available. And I can only say, "Thanks" to the persons responsible for making them so available. Running to the library everytime I need to find an exact reference that I know can only be found in one of these books was often a large inconvenience.

There are some nice images to be found:

_{Looking south on Division Street in 1900}

So - cool beans everybody. Cool beans.

_{"Methinks that temptation must have an aroma like fresh popped popcorn."}

BOB'S POPCORN STAND - 10 CENTS: Ten cents a box? Marvelous! This is something that truly belongs in “yesteryear” [NOTE: This refers to a newspaper column in the Vermlion Photojournal] because it’ll never pass this way again.

There are few to no people who strolled along the streets of our pretty little village during the late 1950s and early 1960s who will forget Bob Furgason and his popcorn stand. Summer had only truly arrived if and when Bob had his little concession up and running.

In the accompanying postcard portrait the stand is located in exchange/rubberneck Park on the northeast corner of liberty and Main streets. In the background one can just make out the Kishman fish houses standing along the river. The drinking fountain with a concrete steps to the right of the stand was a handy little device for popcorn lovers. Because Bob didn’t sell soft drinks - only popcorn and peanuts.

Bob’s rolling popcorn Palace was not always at this location. Before that top of my head could reach the apex of the zero on the 10 cent letter’s painted on the wagon it sat on the southwest corner of Liberty and Grand streets in the side yard of the Furgason home (one the Vermilion lighthouse keeper’s house) .

I have very vivid recollections of having to pass the wagon going to and from Bob and Lucille Nuhn’s Liberty Theater on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. (Methinks that temptation must have an aroma like fresh popped popcorn.) The quarter my mother had given me to go to the movies would start burning a hole in my pocket the minute I got near Ferguson stand. The movie cost a dime in the treats at the theater ran from a nickel to a dime. And therein was a dilemma (for myself and many others). I could save my remaining $.15 until after I spent an hour or so watching the adventures of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Gene Autry, The Three Stooges, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck or... Well was surely a dilemma for any youngster.

And add to this one additional feature. At Hart’s corner drugstore one could get a single scoop ice cream (any flavor) cone for what else? The low, low price of one thin dime. If one was real lucky and happened to have an extra dime one could order a “double-dipper”.

Furgason’s father, Earl Senior. (“Furgie”) had owned and operated Furgason’s Bowling Alley on Main Street at the back of the Fisher Building. By the time of this photo the bowling alley was long gone and other businesses filled the storefronts where it was located. Bob’s brother’s name was also Earl. But most folks known as “Sonny”. Sonny worked on the Great Lakes as a young man, then returned and work for Ford until his retirement. As I got to know Sonny, later in his life, he would regale me with stories of the old bowling alley, some work he used to do for Ed Fisher (Vermillion’s former mortician and ambulance driver), and his experiences on the lake freighters. He was married to Nadine (nee Osberg). Her father was Leonard Osberg, Vermilions “singing Mayor” and local archery expert. But back to Bob’s popcorn.

The popcorn stand lingered on in town for a time after Mr. Furgason sold it culminating in a tragedy some years later that I’ll not recount here. It would not be appropriate to cast a dark shadow on the positive, happy, memories most folks have of this wagon. I have been told that plans are available to construct a similar kiosk. And I have also been told that those plans are costly. But whatever the case, one can be assured that a box of fresh popcorn will never again cost just one thin dime.

_{Ref: published in the Vermillion Photojournal on July 15, 2004; Oral transcription made at the Olympic Outing Club on August 13, 2009 at 2:03 PM.}

THINGS YOU MAY NOT WANT TO HEAR AT A TATTOO PARLOR

"Eagle? I thought you said BEAGLE."

"We're all out of red, so I used pink."

"There are 2 O's in Bob, right?"

"Gosh, I hate it when I get the hiccups."

"The flag's all done and, you know, the folds of fat make a nice waving effect."

"Ooooooops!"

_{Podcasts - "forever under construction..."}

PODCAST #141: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #141 (although mis-numbered - and short, but sweet) poses the question: "It's a nice day. So where the heck is everybody?" at the OOC. The clips around the feature "vid" make it well worth watching though.

Also, please 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 suggest that you visit these sites on a regular basis to see "what's shakin'".

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:

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."
-Douglas Adams

Vol.7, Issue 22, August 15, 2009

Archive Issue #335

© 2009 Rich Tarrant