STUMBLING ALONG: I'm always tinkering with things. Trying to make them better - or, at least, make them the way I believe they'll be better. And in doing so mess things up.
A few days ago I wasn't satisfied with the control panel for my scanner. For some reason I was unable to see (on the computer monitor) the entire screen. So thinking that I'd be real smart I reduced the resolution of the monitor to see the entire panel; I adjusted it; and, then, increased the resolution of the montor to return the screen back to the larger resolution.
What I got when I tried to return things back to normal was a black screen with a message that told me that the monitor didn't recognize the former screen resolution.
The computer worked just fine. But try controlling a computer blind (i.e. without a monitor). It's impossible.
But not to worry. I'd just connect an old monitor I had sitting around, change the resolution, and re-connect the larger screen. But I couldn't find the power cord for the old monitor.
But not to worry. I have another monitor at the Olympic Club. So I went to the club; returned with the monitor; hooked it up; changed the resolution; re-connected the original monitor and things worked - relatively fine. That is they worked fine until I restarted the computer. When I did that the screen, again, didn't recognize the computer.
But not to worry. I re-connected the monitor from the club, and went of a search for information about the "Acer" 22 inch monitor I was having a problem with hoping that there was a re-set button or something that would make everything work right.
There isn't.
But I did stumble across a website that informed me that the "Acer" 22 inch monitor would be exceptionally compatible with an Apple Mini-Mac computer. And would ye believe that's exactly what I have at the club.
So I took the "Acer" 22 inch monitor down to the club; connected it to the Mini-Mac; and it worked like a charm. Actually it works better with that computer than it works with the Power PC that is, by and large, my main workhorse.
Somehow things just work out. Even when you don't know what you're doing.
Mister-Magooly,
Congregational Church Junior Choir
C.1951: Vermilionite David Rathbun provided this great pic of what appears (at least it appears to me) to be the Junior Choir at Vermilion's First Congregational Church (now the UCCC) that I dare say may be c.1951.
I dated it by guessing that my sister (Pearl "Ginny" Wilkes who appears in the photograph) looks to have been about 14 or 15 years old when these shadows were captured.
The two adults in the pic are Ella Hayes and Charles "Chuck" Nichols.
Mrs. Hayes is the mother of two rather well known Vermilion women; Eveylyn "Nuggie" Cook and Maxine (Schmitz) Schetter. Both women have a passel of children and grandchildren in and around Vermilion. Her son, Harry, was the congenial owner of the "Bridge" Sohio service station. His son no longer lives in the area. But his daughter, Barb Ruggles, lives (where else) at Ruggles Beach. Another son, Ross "Tiny" Hayes, died a number of years ago. I've been told that he was an extremely talented musician. But I don't know much about his children.
Mr. Nichols was extremely active in the life of the Congregational Church. I believe that he and his wife lived on Douglas Street. They had two sons. I can only remember son Peter "Pete" at the moment because he was closest to my age. Eventually Pete became a minister. He was ordained in the Vermilion Church on State Street in 1972.
I am currently unable to name all of the youngsters in the pic. But I do see Carla Widdowson, "Biff" Langfitt, Harvey Hays, Pearl "Ginger" Tarrant, Doris Boone, Harriet Langfitt, Karin Kishman, Leslie Roberts and Diane Rathbun.
Although this pic was scanned from a photo copy of the original it shows well. And you just have to wonder what happened to that beautiful old pipe organ. The orgin of that instrument are described in The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church as follows:
"On Children's Day 1896, Mr. J. C. Gilchrist arose from his pew to announce that he would like. to present a new organ in memory of his young daughter, Daisy. A surprised and appreciative congregation "sprang to its feet and sang with a will, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow." By December the new organ was installed at a cost of $1,250; in January, a recital was given by Professor Andrew of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
I have many wonderful memories of that old church and of the people in this particular photograph. Did I ever mention that "Vermilion" was / is "a good place to live"?
"It’s all just a matter of time."
JUST A MATTER OF TIME:
This particular photograph and story required a great deal more work (on my part) than do most Yesteryear items. While the original photo is professional it suffered from very severe open air and water damage. In brief, it was discolored and dappled with water spots. Discoloration is not a major problem. Spotting, however, is quite another matter. Ergo; if areas in this picture appear to be somewhat mottled/dirty it’s not your eyesight playing tricks.
The story about the photo is no less obscure. Although the photo subject is plain (i.e. it is a picture of the Northern Ohio Basketball Championship Team of 1937-38 from Vermilion, Ohio) - it was still difficult to identify all the team members. 0f the eleven individuals in the picture only seven have been identified. But of that seven, six were well known residents of the Village of Vermilion, Ohio. More than a little effort and time were used to discover additional information about this cage team in local news archives. The results, however, were spare.
The basketball team was sponsored and coached by popular Vermilion Pontiac dealer Glenn P. Martin. I assume (but do not know for a fact) that this was a semi-professional team. It, most certainly, was not a high school team.
Pictured: (Back row L-R): Glenn Martin, Bill Tischer,unknown, Harry Hayes, unknown and then Dale “Tulip” Wendell who was the Team Manager.
(Front row L-R): An unknown, Buss Darley, Albert “Hansie” Fischer, Elsworth Dickerhoff, and Bruce Boeohler (from Lorain).
Mr. Martin owned and operated a Pontiac dealership that was located on the northwest corner of Liberty and Grand Streets. After it was destroyed by a fire (c.1930’s) he constructed a new showroom in the same spot. The site is now the home of the local ambulance garage/headquarters [Note: Since this was written the garage is no longer occupied by the ambulance company and is currently slated to be razed]. Over the years newspaper archives readily indicate that he sponsored numerous local intramural teams in both basketball and baseball. He was also a participant in some of the local games.
Near the same year of this photo it was reported that he and his brothers challenged the boys at the Olympic Outing Club to a game of baseball at the club’s annual Vermilion Day celebration. One very remarkable thing about the challenge was that Martin had enough brothers to comprise an entire baseball team without having others join with them. The article didn’t say who won that game.
And now a few words about three of the six remaining players:
Buss Darley was, in later years, highly visible at local sporting events. His son, Hugh, was actively involved in school sports activities. And Buss was always on the sidelines.
Elsworth “Els” Dickerhoff was another person that was forever involved in sporting events; either as a coach, a spectator, or an official. His sons Dave, Russ, and Larry have maintained like interests in local sports. Els was also a highly respected Vermilion Volunteer Fireman. He was, in brief, a good guy.
And lastly about the team manager, Dale “Tulip” Wendell. He was, of course, younger than all the rest of the boys on the team. He was also a great deal shorter. For a youngster who wants to play basketball being vertically challenged was as much a handicap then as it is today. Being a rather tenacious person he still found a way to be part of a great team. Even if he wasn’t a player. In fact it was thrilling. He later recalled, "I remember GP's team playing a reserve game at the Cleveland Public Auditoriam (SP) [sic] and the main team was the Boston Celtics, boy was that a treat. I did travel a lot with Glenn..."
It may be that the day will come when I know the identity of everyone on Mr. Martin’s championship team. It may be that by then I will know a bit more about the team itself. And it may be that by that time I will also be able to make the photograph more presentable. It’s all just a matter of time.
Ref: The Vermilion News (c. 1920-30); Special Thanks to Jill Martin Young, Marcia Martin, Barbara Hayes Ruggles and “Tulip” in Lake Havasu City, Arizona; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 3/23/06; Written on 3/19/06 @ 12:08 PM.
"He took to farming at a young age. And he stayed with it throughout his life."
VERMILION TAPESTRY:
Sylvester Augustin Pelton (pictured) appears to have led what some folks might deem to have been a rather ordinary life. He was born March 25, 1806 in Chatham, Middlesex, Connecticut. He was one of nine children born to Captain Josiah S. and Lucy Shepard Pelton. It was the same month and year the great English poetess, Elizabeth Barrett Browning first opened her eyes. And, across the channel, French Emperor, Napoleon I, was busy commissioning the building of a new memorial to his imperial army in the middle of Paris. It would be called the Arc de Triomphe.
Near the turn of the 19th century the Pelton family migrated from their Connecticut home to Euclid, Ohio. Then in 1818, three years after Mrs. Pelton’s untimely death at age 41, the family moved to Vermilion Township settling on a farm along Risden Road. There the oldest son, also named Josiah, assumed nearly all responsibilities for both family and farm . While the good Captain was not terribly old (62) his years as a sailor had taken their toll, and he apparently was not able / ready to begin a new career in the field.
Again, nothing about Sylvester’s life appears to have been unusual. He took to farming at a young age. And he stayed with it throughout his life. What is extraordinary about him, however, are some of the people who surrounded him during his lifetime.
When he was 22 and she was but 18 years he married a pretty village lass named Eunice Osborn Sturges. Eunice was born in Roxbury, New York on the 27th of July, 1810. She came to the place known as Vermillion when she was but 12 weeks old. Her mother carried her on a pillow all the way. It was a journey of six weeks.
The Pelton home c.1954
Eunice’s mother was Charlotte Tuttle Sturges (PJ 1-2000). Charlotte’s husband, Frederick, died in April - the same year Sylvester’s family came to the area. The following year (1819) she married a fellow named George Austin.
George’s father, Captain William Austin, is very likely Vermilion’s first settler. His mother, beyond the shadow of any doubt, was the first caucasian women in the area. This fact, by the bye, was not cause for much celebration on her part. (And that is a story unto itself.)
But back to Sylvester and Eunice. They were the parents of eight children. The oldest, a girl they named Anna Maria, developed a great friendship with another young lady named Phoebe Goodell and her family.
Phoebe’s father, Jotham W. Goodell, was a Presbyterian minister and led the congregation of the first church in the village (VPJ 6-30-05). This relationship eventually led her to marry Phoebe’s big brother William Bird Goodell in April of 1853. The marriage produced 3 children, but ended in catastrophe within a decade (VPJ 9-29-95). William lost his life in a flash flood while working at a customs house in Port Angeles, Washington.
Grief stricken, she returned with her children to Vermilion to tend to the needs of her aging parents, Sylvester and Eunice, and to operate their boarding house on Huron Street (now the home of Jim and Cathy Weber).
While all of the aforementioned folk (i.e. Charlotte Tuttle Sturges, Captain Austin and his wife, Rev. Goodell and his daughter Phoebe) have more than some passing import in our nation’s history it is Sylvester’s nephew who is most prominent.
Lester Allan Pelton, born in Vermilion on September 5, 1829 (a year after his aunt and uncle had married) became, and remains, world famous as the “father of hydroelectric power”.
I know, I know. None of these people or things makes the good gentleman in the picture worthy of note. But as one of my favorite American philosophers, Will Rogers, once said, “We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” In yesteryear that’d be Sylvester. Today it’d be me.
Ref: Ancestry.com; Pelton Family Tree; Blockhouses and Military Posts of The Firelands, by Cherry; 1934; Special Thanks to Mary Michaelson, co-cureator of the Lynden WA. Pioneer Museum; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 2/09/06; Written 2/5/06 @ 3:30 PM.
CHUTZPAH (AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE)
Chutzpah is a Yiddish word meaning gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, sheer guts plus arrogance; it's Yiddish and, as Leo Rosten writes, there is no other word, and no other language,that can do it justice. This example is better than than 1,000 words . . .the meaning of chutzpah.
A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time, and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel.
And this went on for more then 3 years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him for the first time.
"Excuse me, Sir. Thank you for your business. You are a good customer, but I have to tell you the pretzel price has gone up to 35 cents."
That's "Chutzpah".
The George King"
LSI: I found this pic to be curious. It was among perhaps a dozen pix that Dave Rathbun gave me (along with the choir pic) a few days back. Because it was so small (2½ x 3½)it was not easy to see the detail visible in the scanned copy.
I was struck by the fact that it is a wooden vessel / ore carrier. And though there is another pic (not seen here) of it moored aside a breakwall that looks a great deal like Vermilion's western breakwall it was not. That pic might have been taken in Huron, Ohio.
In any case, this view shows the "King" in that which looks like drydock where it is being repaired.
When I researched the vessel through the BGSU "Great Lakes Vessels Online Index" I found that it was built by George King (ergo; the name) in Marine City, Michigan in 1874. It was (as already indicated) a wooden hull vessel, 176.33 feet long; 30.58 wide; and 13.35 feet in depth.
It was first enrolled at Port Huron, Michigan on May 13, 1874. And it was destroyed by fire at Buffalo, New York on September 20, 1926.
The George King in better days"
I can only speculate as to the reason this pic was contained in the Rathbun Familyi collection, but I'd be willing to bet that this was the vessel on which Dave's grandfather, George, sailed when he was a young man.
But whether that's a fact or not - this is surely an interesting pic of an old wooden carrier along with a bit of its history. (By the way, L.S.I. stands for "Life Scene Investigation".)
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
PODCAST #147: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #143is the second part of an audio interview with former Vermilionite J.R. "Dick" Parsons who now lives in Georgia. Dick (as many folks already know) literally moved buildings and huge boats in Vermilion and other communities in the area
This is Part #2 of a 20 minute telephone conversation I had with him on Monday (9-14-09). If you saved the recording from last week you can put them together and save the entire piece. Tis really worth saving.
Also, please note that all the video (MP4) podcasts (when used) are done in the "Quicktime MP4" format. If you don't have "Quicktime" it's easy to find and free to download.
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'".
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.
Although this years Vermilion High School Class of 1959 reunion is over classmates may want to stay connected with each other through organizer Roger Boughton. Ye can connect by mailing him @ 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:
"And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light,
but the Electricity Board said
He would have to wait until Thursday to be connected."
-Spike Milligan
Vol.7, Issue 28, September 26, 2009
Archive Issue #341
Vermilion Views Search Engine
© 2009 Rich Tarrant