"He is (to my knowledge) the only non-cleric to have his portrait placed among all the ministers who have served that church."
PRESDEE B. MORGAN: Presdee B. Morgan. One of the most unforgettable Vermilion personalities I ever saw. I really can't say that I knew him - because I never had a conversation with him. But I certainly do remember him.
When I was a lad P.B. rang the bell at the Congregational Church every Sunday a.m. I very vividly recall him doing so because, for whatever reason, I equated this tall bony fellow with a big nose pulling the rope to the bell with Ichabod Craneof "The Headless Horseman" fame. Mesmerized by the sight I thought that the rope might just pull him up, and off his feet. So I kept watch.
I knew that he was intrinsically involved with the fraternity of Freemasons because me Pa used to travel to various Masonic functions with him. Pa's stories were invariably punctuated with asides about Presdee's ineptitudes as a driver of automobiles.
But as I grew older I began to understand that "P.B." (as most folks referred to him) was not only a dedicated member of the aforementioned fraternity, but was also a very valuable and respected member of Vermilion's First Congregational Church. He is (to my knowledge) the only non-cleric to have his portrait placed among all the ministers who have served that church. No one ever referred to him as a deacon. But if ever there were someone deserving of that title it would be him.
His family were among the earliest settlers in the area. His mother and father had a farm on Risden road west of Vermilion. They were also very early members of Vermilion's first church. The story is that P.B.'s mother and father provided the first organ music for the church. Mom played the lap organ while Pop pumped the air into it, and little baby Presdee sat on her knee. His father eventually volunteered to be the church organist, and kept at it until his demise.
P.B. taught classes in the Sunday School and also the public schools as a young man. If memory serves me correctly he taught in a one-room school house that was also once the home of the German Reformed church near Mitiwanga, O. [NOTE: That church still stands along Lake and Fraley roads west of town.]
Generally, I would not have known about his public school teaching days. But by pure accident (I was searching for files on another subject some years back) I found some mention of his being sued by the family of a student for punishing their child. That suit was tossed out of court because it lacked substance. In short, the child likely deserved some correction.
P.B.'s aunt Lucy, I believe, was also a teacher. And speaking for myself I considered her to also be a gifted writer. Her book The First 100 Years of Vermilion's First Congregational Church is without question a valuable historical document - locally as well as nationally.
Many local folks know that Morgan was married to Nellie (Klaar) Wood, and that his step-daughters were Mary Bogart (Howard) and Dorothy Hart (Albert / Jim). But few know that he was previously married to a gal named Helen Blair. Both worked for the railroad.
Helen was a sister to Grace Blair Feiszli - the mother of Vermilion's late Amos Feiszli and Grace Roberts. Helen died in early February of 1922 six months after her sister, Grace, passed. She was but 39 years old. I don't know the cause of the death of either woman.
In later years P.B. sold insurance. But throughout his life he remained steadfast in his faith and works for his family, his church and the Freemasons. His work with the Masons was so significant that the local (Vermilion) chapter bears his name.
Presdee died on June 12, 1974. His influence in community affairs lives on...
Historically,
"...almost immediately “we all bundled up our books and ourselves, and marched enmasse to our new digs in the West (Elementary) Wing) of the South Street facility..."
VERMILION IS ALWAYS “HOME”: Richard “Dick” Jenkins was born in Delphos, Ohio - a little place near the Ohio-Indiana border - in 1930. His father, Laurence, an automotive engineer, brought his wife Pearl and their two children (Pauline and young Richard) to Vermilion from the Clyde / Greenwich area of the state in 1939 after accepting an engineering position with the Thew Shovel Company of Lorain. Initially the family rented a big house just east of George Blanchat’s home and amusement park; Crystal Beach. The house is remembered by the younger Jenkins as having had a third floor “Widow’s Walk” that was presumably “intended to protect (the inhabitants of a yesteryear) against marauding Indians.” And though, as Dick put it, “For a 9-10 year old kid living, for all practical purposes, in Crystal Beach Park was a fantasy come true!” it was not a view shared by his parents. Less than a year later the family came to enjoy the relative peace and quiet of a place they found between Steve Martin’s Grocery Store (currently Bicycle Bill’s) and Ed Fisher’s first Funeral Home (before it moved to the current site of the Riddle Home) on South Street. In 1943 the family purchased a house in an even quieter part of town on Perry Street north of Liberty Avenue. The photo accompanying this article is Vermilion High School’s Junior Class of 1947. Their shadows were captured in front of South Street School. Dick, of course, was a member of this class; joining it in late October of their fourth year at State Street School. But the stay was brief. As Dick remembers it, almost immediately “we all bundled up our books and ourselves, and marched enmasse to our new digs in the West (Elementary) Wing) of the South Street facility. There we remained, gradually matriculating eastward until we went our separate ways eight years later.” This photo was, as indicated, in the seventh year of their “matriculation”. Pictured are:
Back Row L-R: Jim Fitzpatrick, Ruth Millis, Jean Derby, Maryanne Kudela, Thelma Dean, June Ridenour, Carol Trinter, Carol Hertzig, June McLaughlin, Betty Breen, Martha Kress, and Marjorie Sokol. Middle Row L-R: Ray Olah, Dean Kaylor, Dorothy Greenawalt, Unknown, Phil Tarrant, Floyd Bachman, Dave Roberts, Pat Ruggles, Betty Zess, Larry Shirk, Don Nielson, and Merle Koppenhafer. Bottom Row L-R: Bob Kubishke, Joan Nabakowski, Marie Hamrick, Bob Hoffman, Carolyn Olson, Dick Carter, Pat Wilkes, Richard Jenkins, and Roger Ruetenik.
Ref: Special Thanks to: Jean Derby Bauer of Natchitoches, LA; and Richard L. Jenkins of Ashland MA; letter 7-7-09; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 7/26/09; Written 7/26/09 @11:59 AM.
Vermilion Football - 1937.
IN PASSAGE: Just in passing a young lady named Suzanne Klucas emailed me last week requesting the above pic.
I'm not always able to fulfill such requests. But in this instance I happened to stick out my hand from where I sit and grab the book containing this pic out of my files. (It was a fluke.) But there it was. And here it is.
I found it interesting because I knew a few of the guys in the photo. And because I'm sure that more than a few "Viewers" share that knowledge I'm using it here. The boys in the pic are:
BACK ROW L-R: R. Kennedy, E. Weilnau, R. Snyder, H. Rogers, P. Becker, A. Horning, F. Knott, E. Beiner, R. Weigel, H.Berk. MIDDLE ROW L-R: G. Haber, L. West, G. Kominis, C.Kuhl, C. Gegenheimer, T. Collitt, D. Schisler, G. Truesdale, R. Gorbach, G. Johnson, Mr. Calvert. BOTTOM ROW L-R: C. Klucas, M. Jeffery, L. Smith, R. Koontz, H. Hayes, H. Chandler, R. Collitt, R. West, D. Kishman.
The photograph was taken behind what was then Vermilion's fairly new South Street School in the fall of 1937. It's a keeper.
PAINTING THE TOWN: As previously mentioned this is a preview piece for a new webpage that I am currently developing. Using a new software program in conjunction with Adobe's Photoshop CS4 & 5 I am able to take some already wonderful pix of Vermilion, O. and make them (at least in my view) more "wonderfuller"
VERMILION SUPERMARKET OF THE PAST: Obviously, this is not a painting. But it's a very nice portrait of one of Vermilion's old superstores. Currently it's a puzzle for me to decipher. I don't know the who, wheres, or whats of it. All I know is that the name C.A. Stevenson is on the cash register and the sign near the back of the store advertises lake excursions on the "Edna B" from the Crystal Beach shoreline.
I've not had a great deal of luck discovering the identity of C.A. Stevenson (yet). I have found some info on a person named Clarence A. Stevenson whose father, Murry, was a Vermilion blacksmith. But beyond that I've been unable to rustle up and more "stuff".
I'm thinking that as I slowly peruse the old microfilm files of The Vermilion News I'll probably find something. I've got a lot of questions about a number of things. Hopefully, I won't run out of time before they can be answered.
October 30 2010 8:45 AM
Beautiful.
AGAIN - ANOTHER NEW THING: This will not take the place of the "Macabre" stuff all the time - but will supplement whilst I search for more macabre stories to tell.
So stay tuned...
February 27, 1902.
Suicide.
James M. Tisdale, who lived about 2 1/2 miles south of town committed suicide Saturday morning by shooting himself through the head with a 32-caliber revolver. He went to the barn is usual to attend to the chores and when breakfast was ready he was called but has no answer was received, his son will went in search of him. He was found lying in the barn dead, with a bullet hole in his head and revolver by his side. It is thought that he took his life in a temporary fit of insanity. He was 62 years old and leaves a wife and four children. The Funeral took place Tuesday afternoon. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of the G. A. R.
-------------------- Another Wreck.
The people of Oberlin have at last a new event from which to date their letters and in consequences are turning up their noses at the wreck at this place. What might've been a serious accident occurred near that quiet village Friday afternoon. A westbound passenger train on the solver Southern division of the L. S. &. M. S. Ry. was derailed near the E. College St. crossing. Three persons were hurt and many more badly shaken up and frightened. The accident was caused by some part of the engine giving way. One of the wrecking trains at this place was sent to clean up the wreck. Had the accident occurred a short distance further west of loss of life a [sic] probably have been the result.
-------------------- Wood's Lecture.
The lecture committee will make a definite announcement concerning Dr. Morgan A. Woods lecture soon. Watch the papers. David Washburn, father of the late Watson Washburn, died at his home at Birmingham, Oh. Saturday, February 22nd. Funeral services were held from the house at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
-------------------- Weddings.
About 50 guests gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alec Jones last evening to witness the marriage of their knees, Miss Lillian Handy to Mr. George Howell. Miss Agnes Jones acted as bridesmaid and Mr. Willis Mack his best man. The out-of-town guests were: Philip Mack and family of Lorraine, John wedge and family, and this is Ida Smith and son Delbert Sandusky. A bountiful supper was served. The News joins their many friends in wishing him a happy and prosperous life. Married–At the M. E. parsonage Wednesday, Feb. 26th, Rev. A. G. Rupert officiating, Mr. Albert Summers of Florence and Miss Anna Blair of Axtel. They have the best wishes of their many friends.
-------------------- School Row.
Several of the scholars of the Furnace Corners school were brought to town Saturday, charged with injuring school property. From the description of the damage done, it's a wonder the school house is still standing. The trouble was settled by an agreement on the part of the parents to repair damages.
--------------------
When U. S. Senators engage in a fist fight in the Senate chamber as was the case a few days ago, what can be expected of schoolboys.
A new post office ruling is to the effect that a fine of $200 or imprisonment for one year shall be the imposed on anyone who, through carelessness or otherwise, takes mail from the post office not belonging to him and fails to return it immediately. This applies to papers as well as letters.
--------------------- A Great Offer.
From March 1-15 inclusive we will make the following offer. Any person who will bring in one strictly new subscriber for one year at the regular subscription price, $1.00. paid in advance, will have their subscription advanced six months.
If you have anything to sell advertise. Call up phone 193 and we'll do the rest.
--------------------- Obituary.
James Tisdale is born at Vermilion, Erie County, Ohio, July 21, 1839. He died February. 22nd, 1902, the being 62 years, seven months, and one day old at the date of death. November 29, 1868 he was married to Ms. Mariza Blair. Five children were born to this union; three boys and two girls, who, with a widow and one sister Mrs. Adeline Goodrich survive him. When the Civil War broke out in 1861 he was one of the first to enlist an on the 29th day of June at Cleveland, O. enlisted for three years during the war. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on July 15, 1864. He reenlisted on the 28th day of March 1865 for one year in Co. H. Of Hancock's Corps, being the 6th Regiment U. S. Volunteers. He was honorably discharged March 27, 1866, having served four years, one month, and 14 days. He has been a member of H. G. Delker Post Nol 428 G. A. R. Dep't of Ohio since 1897. The 8th Regiment of which he was a member belong to the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in some of the hardest battles of the war and is known as one of the fighting regiments from Ohio. The funeral services were held from the house on Tuesday afternoon, in charge of the G. A. R. of this place conducted by Rev. A. G. Rupert.
-------------------- Local Briefs.
You may want a new carpet or some furniture this spring. Call on Wickens & Ransom, Loraine O. Ask your grocer for White Heather Flour. C. C. Baumhart was a Cleveland visitor Saturday. Mrs. F. E. Englebry is the guest of Cleveland relatives. Herman Martin has returned from Mt. Clemens, Mich. Mrs. Rathbun spent Sunday with her son who is in a Cleveland hospital. Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Whitmore of Cleveland were in town over Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. L. U. Todd attended the Farmers Institute at Berlin Hts. Saturday. Bert Davis of Florence and Superintendent Thompson of the Birmingham school were in town Saturday. Mrs. Ida Green and daughter Ida of Perkins, were the guest of relatives here Saturday and Sunday. Dance invitations and programs, wedding stationery, visiting cards, in fact, anything in the printing line can be had at the News office. Mr. and Mrs. A. Neiding left Saturday for a few days visit with relatives and friends of Lorain Elyria and North Amherst. Mrs. P. Miller of Linwood Park spent Sunday with her husband who is in the St. Clair Hospital at Cleveland. Mr. Miller has been ill for several weeks and is taking a general treatment.
-------------------- Obituary.
Chester Cooley King was born in Hartford City Conn; February 7, 1817, and died February 17, 1902. He, at the age of four years, came with his parents to the Far West state of Ohio, and settled in Florence Township, then Huron County where he lived continuously since except four years and Lorain County. In early life he became a communicant in the Baptist Church of which his mother was a member. After reaching maturity he followed the milling business, and that he turned to the fruit business in which he was engaged for several years. He was Justice of the peace in Vermilion Township for 12 years. Mr. King was well known in business and social circles in Lorain and Erie counties. He was twice married. He married Miss Katherine Hultz and to them were born three sons. After her death he married Ms. Lavina Merriman who survives him. He has run his race and finished his course. Peace be to his ashes.
-------------------- A Dangerous Pastime.
We have noticed of late that quite a number of boys are making a practice of jumping on and off trains when in motion. This is something that should not be allowed. Besides it is dangerous. Almost every day we read in the papers of boys being injured or killed in this manner. It's a dangerous pastime. Don't do it.
-------------------- Sent to the Reform School.
Judge Curran Saturday sentenced Charles Taylor of Axtel, to the Boys Industrial school at Lancaster. The lad is but 15 years of age and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawton Taylor Vermilion Township. He has been causing more or less trouble for some time in the school which he has been attending and finally something had to be done. The boy wouldn't or couldn't study and it was thought best to send them where he would be obliged to obey the rules laid down. The lad has been ring-leader in several escapdes in that vicinity in his parents and teacher were powerless to make him obey. He was taken to the school early this week.
Hmmmmmm....
WALKER MOTORS: Six years after entrepreneurs Howard Coffin, Joseph Hudson, Roy Chapin, and George W. Dunham, et. al. founded the Hudson Motor Company a man by the name of E.G. Walker began to sell the autos they manufactured in Vermilion.
The Hudson Company made a number of positive contributions to the design of these early machines. They were among the first to produce closed (as opposed to convertible-type) car models (1911). They moved the steering wheel to the left side of the cars; the hand control(s) to the inside and center of each vehicle; and introduced the self starter and dual brake systems to the industry. In 1916 they revolutionized the auto manufacturing world when they introduced the first balanced crankshaft, thus ushering in what automobile historians know as The Age of the Super-Six. And then, in 1932, came their piece-de-resistance; the Essex-Terraplane. It was a powerful hill climber, fast (it set speed records), and it was thrifty. When Pearl Roscoe took the accompanying photo of the E. G. Walker Motor Sales building for advertising purposes in 1937 sales of the Hudson Terraplane automobile was brisk. So was business at Walker’s Texaco gas pumps along Liberty Street. (Needless to say the Occupational Safety folks would have a coronary problem if such a condition existed today.) This building should be familiar to most Vermilionites. It is now the Ritter Library Annex. [NOTE: The building was razed in 2009 to provide space for a new addition to the library.] But I digress. Prior to the time Walker built his garage here the site was occupied by the Decker Livery (a detail I personally view as being extremely ironic as well as the electric train rails that can be seen running in front of the building). When this photo was taken the building just to the left (west) of the garage was Fred Becker’s blacksmith’s shop. To the right (east and unseen) was Becker’s two story home. Next to it, on the corner of Liberty and Grand Streets, was G. P. Martin’s Pontiac dealership. And directly across the street from Walker’s place was Stone’s Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership. Mr. Walker’s dealership thrived until World War II when Hudson suspended new auto manufacturing and used their factories to build aircraft parts and huge engines for the Navy. After the war (1948) Hudson had come back with a completely new concept in auto design that, however influential in the industry, never allowed them to recover the popularity they had previously enjoyed with the Terraplane. During the caesura two of Walker’s sons (Gene and Dick) took over and formed the Walker Brothers (Chrysler) Dodge-Plymouth Dealership. Vermilion’s current court bailiff, Dick Baker, was the last auto dealer to occupy the building. It may be that the building seems, today, an unremarkable structure. But in 1937 it was a state-of-the-art auto garage and showroom selling, showing, and repairing state-of-the-art vehicles. But like the livery it replaced and the motorcars once sold there, supplanting the electric trains and horse drawn wagons and carriages that long ago sped along West Liberty Street in Vermilion Village, it is not gone, but is forever changed.
Ref: Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 4/14/05; Written 4/10/05 @ 6:10 PM.
SOMETHING OLD - SOMETHING NEW: The idea for this piece began as an idea for a coffee-table book of historical photographs of Vermilion, Ohio and, hopefully, it will (someday) be realized.
Originally the concept - as previously stated - was just a picture book. But after mentioning such a project in an issue of my weekly web page - Vermilion Views - a reader by the name of Scott Dommin suggested that it might be interesting if it featured photographs of how people, places, and / or things in the City of Vermilion, Ohio appear today along with photos showing how they appeared in the past. Ergo; the title "Now & Then".
"What a great idea." I told both myself and Scott.
[NOTE: I've said that this is going to take some time; and so it is. While I can actually have such a book published at no cost to myself such a venture menas that I have very little control over the make-up of the a book. I don't like the trade-off. So - I'm currently toying with the idea of acquiring equipment and publishing my "stuff" (as well as others) myself. Nothings ever easy. Another publisher has contacted me about this project. And as soon as I am able I'll get back to them. I'm working on about probably ten projects at any one time. So...]
These images show the first electric car to visti Vermilion. The pic of Car #101 is (I believe) when the car was retired and worked the streets of Norwalk, O. The following story was written before I had "all the story". But it's interesting:
The photo accompanying this commentary is a close-up view extracted from a photograph that has been published in several historical journals over the years. Generally it has been used to illustrate - sans any great detail - a time when the interurbans / electric trains ran down the middle of Liberty Street through the Village of Vermilion, O. It certainly is a nice picture. But it is so, so much more than just that. Though it was feasible for persons to travel the entire interurban system (i.e. from Cleveland to Detroit) at the time these shadows were captured, the system - one that historians would someday consider to be “The Greatest Electric Railway in the United States” - was very literally “flying by the seat of its pants”. Since its formation as the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company in late August of 1901 some workmen had been working 60 to 121 hours at a time without sleep. They apparently labored without complaint and, in turn, were properly rewarded. For their efforts the fledgling company paid double wages, provided them with clean / new work clothes when needed, and made free board and lodging available to them. The task given them was formidable, and their employer(s) certainly recognized it. As an example of just how “green” the traction system was at the time of the accompanying photo it is interesting to know that just few months earlier - on a rainy Monday in 1901 - just two days before Christmas - a handful (or two) of company officials boarded a streetcar in Cleveland for an inspection tour of the traction system. Enroute they made a rest stop at the Kishman Farm on the very east side of Vermilion. [Note: This refers to the area near the former Lorain Ford Assembly Plant. Prior to Ford locating the plant in that area it was part of Vermilion Village.] In any case, their departure was delayed because one of the Board Directors, Henry Everett, was, purportedly, lost in the woods. In truth the delay was more likely a deliberate plan that would allow a few of the aforementioned workmen enough time to lay a temporary track over the Vermilion River wagon bridge. The tracks over the Vermilion bridge were, as indicated, “temporary”. This was because the bridge wasn’t really made to handle the traffic that would eventually be generated by the newly formed electric rail system. It was, subsequently, reinforced and used by the L.S.E. until a new span, built especially for the electrics, was erected just to the south. But, back to the photograph. The streetcar in the photo was, as is obvious, Car #4. It was borrowed from the Sandusky & Interurban Railway system which would soon be assimilated by the Lake Shore Electric company. It was likely being used for an inspection trip by company officials because of its utilility. If problems arose with either the track or overhead lines they could very easily be corrected due to the size and weight of the car. It would would finish its career as a Norwalk streetcar until it, very literally, fell apart. Car #4, as many readers will readily recognize, is heading west, and has just passed the corner of Liberty and Main Streets. The photo appears to have been taken from a window of the Pelton-McGraw grocery store. That emporium was eventually razed and the Erie County Bank (currently occupied by municipal offices) building was built in its place. Visible over and beyond the electric car is a very pristine Exchange Park. A newly installed cannon dramatically posed on the hill, overlooks the Kishman Fish Company, the entrance to Vermilion’s harbor, and the wetland wilderness beyond that would one day be transformed into one of the most attractive housing subdivisions in Ohio (i.e. the Vermilion Lagoons). The Davis Bros. Store (now the Main Street Grill) - purveyors of dry goods, boots, shoes, wallpaper, groceries (“Butter and eggs taken in exchange for goods”), and probably a hundred other items is very visible on the corner. In the window of the store is an ornate kerosene glass banquet lamp surrounded by lace curtains that were then sold for $1.50 to $2.00 per pair. And in the blink of an eye Car #4 was gone. But this really wasn’t about Car #4; but about life in a yesteryear before, during, and after the lens of some innominate photographer captured these shadows that we all might study and treasure a hundred or so years hence.
Ref: The Lake Shore Electric Story, Howard-Korach, Indiana University Press, 2000; Special Thanks to: Dave Rathbun; and interurban historian Dennis Lamont; published in the Vermilion Photojournal 10/30/08; Written 10/26/08 @1:58 PM.
October 30, 2010 6:37 AM.
THE FIRE-LANDS: I found the following information re: the early inhabitants of our area to be extremely informative. Methinks you will also.
I am getting better at transcribing these passages so there are fewer mistakes. But I like to read as I go - and sometimes I fill in the blanks. So tread carefully this trail through yesteryear.
The following series will take thee to the south and west of Vermilion in the Berlin / Berlin Heights area. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
ORGANIZATION.
The political organization of the township, like that of all others in the State, involves no special interest. It was first recognized by being attached to New London. A few years later Clarksfield and Canterbury constituted one township, and continued for some years longer, when each assumed a distinct organization. The records of the township are imperfect; in fact, the writer has been obliged to compile much of the early history of this township from the "memoirs" written by Benjamin Benson and E. M. Barnum. In April, 1822, the following named persons were elected township officers: A. Rowland, Josiah Kilburn, and Benjamin Carman, trustees; Levi Barnum, clerk; Jason Thayer, William Howard, overseers of the poor: Ziba Thayer, James White, fence viewers; Eli Segur, Smith Starr, appraisers and listers; Eli Barnum, Nathan Miner, constables; Josiah Kilborn, Joseph Osier, Levi Barnum, Eli Segur, Eli Barnum, Ira Peck, Stephen Post, Smith Starr, and Allen Blackman, supervisors. Benjamin Stiles was elected a justice of the peace in 1820 (December), and Obediah Jenney had acted as township clerk previous to the election above mentioned. In early times, in the selection of candidates for office, little was urged but weight of character and fitness for the place proposed, and of which most were capable of judging, consequently there were but few causes for strife and debate. The officers for 1878 were: L. F. Beers, Henry Hayes, and A. J. Gridley, trustees; M. T. Stiles, clerk; G. W. Jerauld, treasurer; S. Long, assessor; Loren Spurrier, constable; Myron Rogers and A. J. Blackman, justices of the peace.
CHURCHES.
Immediately after Samuel Husted became settled in his wilderness home he began holding religious service there on the Sabbath. He was of the Presbyterian faith, and had brought with him from his far-away eastern home some volumes of sermons, from which he read. Meetings were held at his house until it became too small to accommodate the increased attendance, and afterwaids in the school house. Alvin Coe and William Westlake, the former a Presbyterian and the latter a Methodist minister, were the first preachers who visited the township. The first church organization was that of the Congregationalists. This took place on October 24, 1822. No early records of this church are now in existence. Among the first members were Samuel Husted, E. E. Husted, and Rhoda Stiles. The first minister to locate was Rev. Xenophon Betts. Then followed Paine, Wilcox, Todd, Penfield, Shepard, etc. Rev. A. A. Grossman, now of Monroeville, was ordained pastor of this church in 1875. Rev. J. M. Frazier succeeded him in 1876, and still labors there. The present church officers are: Martin Palmer and William Adams, deacons; Mrs. F. H. Hayes, clerk; J. N. Barnum, treasurer; 0. J. Husted, F. E. Wildman, and A. S. Adams, trustees; Thomas Rowland, superintendent. Average attendance at Sabbath school, fifty. In 1835, the church at the hollow was begun, and finished two years later. The upper room was finished and occupied sooner than this. Do not know the cost. In about 1822, a Methodist church was formed in the south part of Clarksfield,but the membership was almost entirely from New London township, to which township the sketch of this church belongs, though...
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
KYLES: What you see in this photo is something that took place on the hairpin turn(s) along West Lake Road and Decatur street in Vermilion for years and years. I suppose one could enter into a deep philosophic discussion as to the reason the road turned at right angles on the west side of town - but methinks that that proverbial ship left port a long time back. So let it suffice for me to say that the turns were exceptionally precarious - and that many, many a motorist found that out the hard way.
Moreover; Vermilion's Kyle family, who owned the businesses once locate there literally had to pick up the pieces after some unwary motorist failed to negotiate the turn(s). [NOTE: Currently the building is the site of Vermilion's muni court system, and serves as the City Council chambers.]
There are likely several dozen pix of accidents at this site in circulation. It became infamous.
RULES FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Just in case you have forgotten the rules for a safe and Happy Halloween. 1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead. 2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke. 3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out. 4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice. 5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go it alone. 6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell. 7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well. 8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HELL OUT! 9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out! 10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead. 11. If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around. 12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing. 13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you. 14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately. 15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine (or Alabama). 16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange because you thought you had half of a tank, shoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway, and most likely be eaten. 17. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. This applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house. ...and MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL... REMEMBER TO FLOSS AFTER EATING ALL THAT CANDY!
PODCAST #203:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #203 features another clip from a television program originating in Great Britain called "Things You Wouldn't Hear". This week the subject is "Unlikely Letters For An Aunt Agony to Receive". [Aunt Agony is a "Dear Abby" type of newspaper column.] It's very funny stuff.
Persons interested in the history of the Lake Shore Electric Railway (which was the subject of a recent past podcast series) - "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 gift.
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'".
THE BEAT GOES ON: This page is generated by a 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
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.8, Issue 33, October 30, 2010
© 2010 Rich Tarrant