PHILOSOPHY WITH A GRIN: I kid about it - but tis true. Time - when you're going up (in years) goes so slow. Remember when you were 15? How long it seemed for that one year to pass so you could get your driver's license? It seemed like 10 years. But when you suddenly find yourself on the way down...well...it GOES real fast. The years just run away. (i.e. Here it is almost Christmas again, and I was just getting used to autumn.)
This ain't nothing to cry about though. It is what it is. That's my philosophy. And Rene Descartes, and Sartre, and Spinoza can dress it up in any type of clothing they want. In the end it's all the same.
There's a line in a 1960's movie called "Joe" that has always amused me. It's where actor Peter Boyle is walking across an empty parking-lot with another guy talking about life. He turns to the other fellow and says,"Did you every think that maybe life is just a bunch of shit?"
That line, however stupid, is quite profound. If you don't think so take up the study of logic and then try applying it to human behavior. Either human behavior is completely devoid of logic or the study of logic is seriously flawed.
Ergo; I submit that "life is what it is". Devoid of logic; and unpredictably delightful. I only wish we all had more time to enjoy all its nuances.
Philosophically,
Some Townsfolk
COOL PIC: I just received this pic of some familiar Vermilionites from Dawn Full yesterday (11-20-09). I still have several additional pix she gave me a week or so back that I want to use. But I thought this one was rather unusual - so I pre-empted the others.
Pictured are:
L-R: Mrs. L. Grant, Mrs. Wilson, Roy Grant, "Tug" Wilson, Ray Full, and Dawn Full
I've got no background on the photo (i.e. when, where, or why it was taken). But it's the only photo I have with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson in it. And, again, I have no background on the Wilsons (yet). But all three couples were familiar faces around town through the better part of the last century.
I do have several photos of the Grants that their daughter, Kathalee (an unusual name) provided. And I've tried to research the Grant Family history some, but have never been able to find a great deal. It may be that I've just been looking in the wrong places. Geneaology can be like that.
I know some about the Full family, and a bit about Dawn's background. But, as indicated, I don't know anything about "Tug" Wilson other than to say that his name was very familiar to me when I was a youngster.
Hopefully, I'll get to know more about all these folks in coming months. But it's a beautiful photograph whether I know much about it or not.
"The yacht was owned by Lakewood, Ohio automobile pioneer Alexander Winton..."
ARIA: It was a fitting first name for the sleek 128.5 foot steam powered yacht. Built by the Charles L. Seabury Gas Engine & Power Company in Morris Heights, NY in 1899 the steel hulled vessel had a gross tonnage of 119 and a net tonnage of 81. Christened as the Aria when built she would assume 6 more names before disappearing from the U.S. Merchant Vessel registry (official number 107470) in 1943.
She was the Aria (1899-1904), the Wacondah (1904-12), Isabella (1912-16), Kasha (1916-19), Fortuna (1919-36), Theo (1936-39), and finally the Spindrift (1939-43).
This Pearl Roscoe photograph of the beautiful vessel moored along Vermilion Harbor’s west breakwall was taken on Sunday August 13, 1916.
At the time the yacht was officially registered as the Isabella. But folks along the river, and perhaps even the owner, referred to her as La Belle. (Again an appropriate name.)
The yacht was owned by Lakewood, Ohio automobile pioneer Alexander Winton. Winton, who was commonly recognized as a “trigger-tempered Scot” (a trait with which I sincerely identify), had migrated to America from his home in Scotland in 1878; to Cleveland in 1882; and 14 years later produced the first American-built automobile sold commercially in our nation. The Cleveland Yacht Club Commodore, Winton, had brought the vessel to Vermilion in celebration of Vermilion Boat Club’s third annual South Shore Regatta. Because the wind had turned, and was blowing hard from the northeast on the second day of the regatta, all the lake races had been postponed, and spectators had an opportunity to take a good look at this boat, and others, in the harbor.
While this is not the only, nor the best, photograph Roscoe took of La Belle on that summer morning nearly 89 years ago, it is the only one that affords us a reasonably good idea of the vessel’s size and synoptic beauty.
During my six decades along this stream I’ve seen only one other yacht that would compare in size to this one in the harbor. That vessel belonged to a gentleman named Bill Miller who, I believe, kept a summer home in the Vermilion Lagoons and had some connections to folks in Linwood Park. Mr. Miller owned several auto dealerships and wintered in Florida.
But I digress. This photo was taken dockside at Cloudy’s Ferry (VPJ 2-17-05) looking west. The tired building to the left (south) of Winton’s yacht is Tom Ball’s Boathouse/Shanty. Today that building would be very close to where Dr. Ruth Read-Wakefield’s lakefront home stands today. The flag on the mast to the left is the Cleveland Yacht Club flag, and the one on the right is Winton’s personal flag.
In 1936, as the Theo, the great yacht would be converted to gas power. And seven years later, as previously indicated, she would disappear from the U.S. registry altogether. I guess like the old soldiers proverb, old yachts (and arias) never die - they just fade away.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 8-17-16; Great Lakes Historical Vessels Index; Historical Collection of the Great Lakes; BGSU; Vermilion Area Archival Society; Al Tarrant; and Special Thanks to Bill Hlavin; Written 6/05/05 @ 4:23 PM; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 6/09/05.
Japanese Technology
THOSE DARN JAPANESE: Dennis Lamont found these clippings somewhere in his researchings of the electric interurban trains and passed them to me.
Here - I've cut out most of the text just so "Viewers" get the general idea of what this was all about. When I make a big deal about the accomplishments of Vermilion's Lester Pelton I do so for good reason. His contribution to our world was significant in 1887, 1898, etc. - and continues to be significant today. It's not an exaggeration.
So...
On Sunday, December 6th a marker honoring Mr. Pelton, one of Vermilion's most noteworthy native sons, will be dedicated in a ceremony sponsored by the Vermilin Area Archival Society. It will take place at 1:30 PM at the Cuddeback Cemetery on the corner of Risden and Lake Roads in Vermilion Township.
Afterward participants are invited to tour Mr. Pelton's birthplace - currently the home of Tom and Jean Beach - at 11901 W. Lake Road (just a stones throw from the dedication site).
How cool is that?
MEDICAL DETERMINOLOGY
- Artery: The study of painting.
- Bacteria: The back door of the cafeteria.
- Barium: What doctors do when their patients die.
- Bowel: A letter like A, E, I, O or U.
- Caesarean Section: A neighborhood in Rome.
- CAT Scan: Searching for a kitty.
- Cauterize: To make eye contact with a girl.
- Coma: A punctuation mark.
- Enema: Someone who is not your friend.
- Fester: Quicker.
- Fibula: A small lie.
- Labor Pain: When you get hurt at work.
- Nitrates: Cheaper than day rates.
- Node: Was aware of.
- Outpatient: A patient who fainted.
- Pelvis: An Elvis impersonator.
- Recovery Room: A place to do upholstery.
- Secretion: Something you don't want anyone to know.
- Seizure: A Roman emperor.
- Tablet: A small table.
- Terminal: Where the planes land.
- Urine: Opposite of "you're out".
- Varicose: Nearby.
- Vein: To be conceited.
"Were this a musical comedy this would have been the part where the two beleaguered deckhands might have broke into song.".
SHIPWRECKED IN VERMILION, OHIO: In 1927, Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II completed Show Boat, a milestone in the development of musical comedy. It told the story of life on the Mississippi River from the late 1880's to 1927, and was based on the novel Show Boat (1926) by American writer Edna Ferber. The reason this show was so unique was that the music was integrated into the stories more realistically (were that actually possible) than the typical musical shows of the era.
During midsummer of this same year one Charles White, 62, of Buffalo and New York City (if that, too, were possible), and another fellow, George Thompson, 35, (who was just from Buffalo) were working as deck hands on the tug Henry Stokes out of Chatham, Ontario, Canada. The Captain of the Stokes was one E.J. Cadotte of Windsor. All were employed by a concern named the Dennison Sugar Company.
On Monday August 1st Captain Cadotte, White, and Thompson were in the process of towing two canal barges, the Hattie L. Kill and the Charles Hawley, from Buffalo to Chatham. Around 11 p.m. the wind changed - blowing hard out of the northeast, and the barges were torn away from the tug. Or at least most of the barges were. The forward part of the Kill attached to the tug still remained. And the good Captain Cadotte sailed on.
Unfortunately, White and Thompson were not on the tug. They were on the Hattie L. Kill. And, just as unfortunately, they were not on the part of the barge that Cadotte continued to tow through the raging seas toward home port. T’were their fortune/misfortune to have found themselves on the part that broke away - and consequently - sank.
Were this a musical comedy this would have been the part where the two beleaguered deckhands might have broke into song. But this was, understandably, far from being either a comedy or, much less, a musical comedy. For the next 5 1/2 hours the two men clung for dear life to the wreckage of the Kill.
Around 4:30 the following morning the Vermilion fish tug Potter captained by George Leidheiser, and his crew; Jim Wenling, Harry Ruddy, Harold Tischer, Dave Neiding, and Vern Leidheiser came across the water-clogged pair and plucked them from the drink.
In the meantime Captain Cadotte, who had happily made port shortly before midnight on Monday, was aghast when he discovered that not only had he lost a barge and a half, but had also lost Charles White and George Thompson as well. He promptly notified authorities. Upon receiving the news the U.S. Coast Guard in Lorain, Ohio quickly dispatched a search/rescue team. Their initial efforts proving unsuccessful, they took-up a command post in Vermilion Harbor and met the Potter when she steamed into port with the shipwrecked sailors.
When the sun rose on Tuesday morning early risers along beach at Main Street found the wreckage from the Hattie L. Kill strewn across the sands by the waves still being churned by the northeaster blow. And still further east along the beach of Nokomis Park the great hulk of the canal barge Charles Hawley lay lifeless in the shallows near the shore.
Later, as sightseers gathered and clamoured aboard White (left) and Thompson (right) posed atop the barge for P. Roscoe’s Graflex camera. I suppose in the world of the musical comedy it would have been time for another song. If so it would have very likely have been more in the way of a psalm.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 8-4-1927: Through These Gates; Karen and Ray Boas; 1984, Linwood Press; Vermilion Area Archival Society; Written on 10/22/06; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal on 10/26/06.
WAGNER HOTEL c.1920
WAGNER'S: Currently it serves as the headquarters for Vermilion's weekly newspaper, the Vermilion Photojournal, and a dentist's offices. But at one time it was a well known hotel and restaurant known as Wagner's.
As I know the place today it's difficult for me to understand the layout - as it must have been - when it served as a hotel. And if I didn't know this history I'd never have guessed.
When I was a lad Dr. Burley, the local optomistrist, had his offices on the upper floors of the building. Downstairs (where the Photojournal is today) Mr. Pryor had an appliance store. And later Vermilion photographer, Paul Ludlow, had his studios there. The other side of the building, where the dentist offices are today, was occupied by Dr. John Halley's offices. Dr. Halley (I believe) was a G.P.
The upper floors served as apartment space(s). When my sister, Ginny and my brother-in-law, Dave Wilkes, were first married they had an apartment upstairs where Dr. Burley once had his office.
The building has been remodeled some through the years. But it's still very recognizable.
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
PODCAST #155: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #155 gets back on track (pun intended) taking us on another leg of our ride on the L.S.E. from Cleveland to Toledo. Your tickets are compliments of interurban historian Dennis Lamont.
Persons interested in the history of the Lake Shore Electric Railway - "the greatest electaric railway system" on the planet may want to go to Amazon.com and purchase a book called "Images of Rail - Lake Shore Electric Railway". It was put together by Thomas J. Patton with the help of my friends Dennis Lamont and Albert Doane. It'd make a nice Christmas present.
Next week I'll be back with a continuation of the ride on the LSE.
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'".
SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDEN VALLEY This year the Christmas Tree Ship will arrive at the McGarvey's Dock along the Vermilion River on Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. Dave Childers will sing Christmas songs and tell the story of the original Christmas Tree Ship, the Rouse Simmons.
This is an annual event that has become a tradition for many local families. So enjoy.
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:
"Our care should not be to have lived long as to have lived enough."
-Seneca
Vol.7, Issue 36, November 21, 2009
Archive Issue #349
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© 2009 Rich Tarrant