VIEWS DESKTOP - JANUARY 29th
VIEWS FROM THE DESKTOP: This week one of the projects I worked rather hard on was the podcast. And though the result pleased me to some extent - it is a "bear" to load. So let me apologise before you try.
Aside from improving the video portion of the cast I also improved the audio. In this particular case I took the video from one of the interviews I did with Vermilionites in Exchange Park last summer and coordinated it with an separate audio recording I made of the same.
I did this because the audio in the video recording was / is terrible. The mic picked up all the extraneous noise around the interviewing field. So it was not as clear as I would have liked. But my wonderful audio "Zoom" recorder filtered out all that noise.
It was difficult to get the timing of the audio coordinated exactly with the vidio. But I did succeed. The problem making it so long to load (on your pc) is something I need work on. However; if you are fortunate enough to experience the piece I'm certain you'll enjoy it.
I am also currently working on getting a new roof for the print shop. I mentioned last week that my spouse, Georgianne, and I purchased the property from my younger sister Nancy (she's still 39).
And - the book I've been talking about for a year will soon go to the printer. When published it should go for about $25. I want it to be a keeper. And, to be candid, it's one of those things I'll never do again. I'm not conviced that printed material will have much purpose in the future.
Historically,
AND TIME FLIES...
ANOTHER NEW SEGMENT: Marshall's Drug Store occupied the northeast corner of Vermilion's South Shore Shopping Center back in the 1960's. Not only is the a great Vermilion photo (by Paul Ludlow) but it's a great illustration photo of an American lunch counter from the period.
While this pic was likely captured for the purpose of advertising it also has a couple of old Vermilion faces in it; Dr. Halley and, the former editor of the Vermilion Photojournal, Robert "Bob" Hallet. Perhaps there is someone who knows who the identities of girls working the counter. But I don't recognize them. I recall that Lee Kress's future spouse, Carol Loucks, (thanks to Jimmy Dean for recalling her name) was a long time employee of the store.
Over the years the store changed names several times. I've not idea what the corporate strategy might have been. But I believe the corporate ownership was always the same - and only the name changed from time to time.
"This pic is submitted again with ALL the names..."
A VERMILION PICTURE AND RULE #2: (NOTE: Since the first writing of this piece readers have been kind enough to fill in the blanks and all of the men in the photograph have been identified.)
Ref: Special thanks to: Tom Rodgers; Stu White; Dick Gerber; Earl Tischer; Lynne Alheit Dowell; Kathalee Grant Hodge; Carol Trinter Bechtel; and Evelyn and Tom Maurer; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 1/20/11; Written 1/16/11 @ 10:39 AM.
NEITHER RAIN, SLEET. NOR...
THE MAIL GUYS: Well - I knew two of these fellows fairly well; Charles "Charlie" Tansey, and Kenny Kress. Initially I wasn't familiar with the third guy. But thanks to "Viewers" ML Homitz, Joi Murphy, and Annette Knapp I now know that his name is "PJ" Smith who currently lives on Adams street and works for Vermilion schools.
Both Charlie and Kenny are gone now. Kenny was a friend of one of my big brothers (Phil "Bud"). And Charlie was a family friend. His wife, Marie, was a long time State of Ohio representative. I saw and spoke to her last summer in Exchange Park during the Vermilion Archival Society's "Remembering Old Vermilion" day. She's a wonderful story all by herself.
Charlie, of course, went on to become a Vermilion Postmaster. And Kenny, like the rest of his family was just a very, very likeable and friendly person. Ken worked the front desk at the post office. He was working there at noon on November 22, 1963 when the announcement came over the radio loudspeaker in the office that John F. Kennedy had died of the gunshot wounds he had received in Dallas earlier that day. I remember that because I was there buying some stamps.
This pic was taken from a collection of slides given me by the daughter of Roy Kneisel for the VAAS. I'm so glad that Mr. Kneisel was an avid photographer. Becuase these are people (and places) that should be remembered...
PAINTING THE TOWN: Sometimes things are painted in pictures. And sometimes in stories. But however painted they are nonetheless as powerful...
A SIGHT TO REMEMBER: One hundred and fifty-three years worth of water has passed down the river and flowed out into Lake Erie since curious citizens in the quiet Village of Vermilion, Ohio witnessed a steam locomotive, a type known as a “Jenny Lind”, float into the harbor via steamboat. An even curiouser sight must have been the unloading of the onerous machine whereupon it was hauled by a team of oxen up the bromidic street to be set upon rails recently laid right through the middle of town by the Junction Railway Company. It was doubtlessly a sight those in attendance would long remember. But there would be others. By the dawn of the 20th century the Junction Railway Company, as well as the “Jenny Lind” locomotive, had long faded into history and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company (1869 - 1914) had assumed operation of the Lake Shore Line that ran along the southern shore of the lake between Toledo and Erie - and (obviously) through the hustling and bustling village of Vermilion. Quiet had become a rather relative adjective when describing the town. Along the river sails had given way to tugs driven by steam, and fired by coal. Housewives living near the stream were not only annoyed by the guttural coughing of the fish tugs being readied for a days work on the freshwater fields of the lake, but were also incensed by the smoke and ash clouds that wafted through the air landing on white bed sheets recently hung out to dry in the early morning sun. And those living along the rails? Well, they had actually become accustomed to life near the path of the great locomotives - at least as much as one might become accustomed to chronic earthquakes, explosions, and/or volcanic eruptions. They just spoke a little louder, or not at all, and learned to keep their eyes closed and not breathe too deeply while immersed in the dark clouds left by the trains that passed. It was a adaptation that would have made American behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner (1904 -1990) quite proud. But the point of the matter is that most townsfolk had become so acclimatized to the din and subsidiary unpleasantness of steam train traffic that they scarcely gave it much thought. That is they scarcely thought about it until, as seen in the accompanying photo, a freight train came to a crashing, crunching, and screeching halt right in the middle of town. It is extremely likely that the earthquake caused by this particular mishap literally took the photographer, Vermilion News Editor/Publisher Pearl Roscoe, right off his feet. Roscoe and his wife Bessie lived over their print shop on Grand Street just a stones throw away from this scene. These shadows were captured from the north side of the railroad looking to the south between Division/Main Street to the east and Grand Street to the west. Vermilion’s First Congregational Church (now the Millet Auction House), and the Vermilion Township Hall are visible in the background. Note that the steeple is still in tact atop the Town Hall, and that the duplex that now sits between the old church and the railroad tracks had not yet been built. Also worthy of some note is the upper part of the building just visible between the freight car being lifted by the railcar crane and the arm of the crane. That was the roof of the L.S. & M.S. depot. Following this freight-train pileup (c.1905) a new depot was built further east on the site where it remains today - behind St. Mary’s Church. It was undoubtedly “a sight that many folks would long remember”. However; were it not for Roscoe and his Graphlex (camera) the view of this century old memory might very well have become just another obscure event in Vermilion’s yesteryear.
Ref: The Way It Was, Betty Trinter, 1966; Vermilion Area Archival Society, P. Roscoe photo collection; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 7/19/07; Written 7/15/07 @ 11:25 AM.
AGAIN - ANOTHER NEW (NOW OLD) THING: Initially I said that "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." But methinks that it's carved out a niche for itself and the "Macabre stuff" with have to find another.
So stay tuned...
January 22, 1903. Volume 6 - Number 34.
Granite Shower.
A number of the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Naegele who began house keeping Thursday, showered them with grainite and tinware Friday evening. Everybody had a good time.
--------------------
A. D. Baumhart’s drug store was the scene of considerable excitement Thursday afternoon, when a bull dog belonging to A. R. Rumsey sprang upon G. M. White biting him severely in the lower lip. Dr. Englegry was called and dressed the would and no bad results have developed as yet.
-------------------- Save Fuel.
The scarcity of coal this winter has wroght upon the inventive genius of the American people and many new devices have been brought forward some of much mert. Our attention has been called to an attachement known as the Allingham Fue saver, which the Duplex Latch Co. of Cleveland have obtained control. It is claimed that 85 per cent of the heat is lost. This device prevens this loss and is also a smoke consumer. Vermilion parties are interested in this invention and have great hopes for it.
Go to C. Schwensen’s for Bread and Cakes.
To the Borrower - Don’t you think your dreams more pleasant if you would subscribe for the News instead of troubling your neighbor every week - It will only cost a dollar a year and you will not regret the investment. You wouldn’t think of borrowing your neighbor’s shoes, or coat, or hat, why borrow a news paper?
-------------------- Stockholders Meeting.
The first annual meeting of the stockholders of The Vermilion Telephone Company was held in the directors room of the bank at 2 o’clock, Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was quite largely attended nearly all of the twenty-nine stockholders being present or represented by proxy. The reports of the Company’s condition were most encouraging; ample funds are reported in the treasurey and a large number of contract are still on hand awaiting installation of telephones. It is the purpose of the Company to largely increase its service in both the village and country as soon as spring opens. The board of directors was increased by the election of three additional memebers, and now consists of E.L. Coen, R.F. Quigley, M.E. Lawless, Chase. H. McvGraw, C.C. Baumhart, Jacob Englebry, Edwin Flebderjohann, H. B. Kishman, C.L. Phelps, Geo. P. Wahl, and E.B. Welch. At the close of the stockholders meeting the board of directors organized by the election of E.L. Coen, President; R.F. Quigley, Vice-President; M.E. Lawless, Secretary, and Chas. McGraw, Treasurer.
A most agreable [sic] surprise awaited the Congregational church last evening at its annual meeting. Mr. J. C. Gilchrist had made them a proposoition that if they raise $500 he sould duplicte it with another $500 the money to be used in repairs of the church properties. The feeling was at once expressed that we must raise it. It will require a most determined effort but the belief is that it can be done. And the unanimous feeling was that such an opprtunity must not be left to pass. The subscription papers will at once be passed and it is hoped that all will honor it to the full extent of their ability.
Some of our boys are the proud possessors of an ice-boat. They say as to speed, its an astonisher.
It is seldom that a $10,000,000.00 company is organized or hold meetings in a town of 1500, yet such was the case with Vermilion Tuesday. The First cong’l Church of Oberlin has the largest membership of an Ohio church, and on of the largest in the country. The full membership is 1,014. Dr. Co. O. Probst. Secretary of the State Board of Helth has notified Warden Darby, of the Ohio Penitentiary, that all inmates, numbering nearly 2000, must be vaccinated. Gove. Nash has issued a proclamation calling on the people of Ohio to observe Jan. 29, with exercises in all schools, colleges and universities commemorative of the sixtieth annniversary of the birth of Wm. McKinley. The Patent Office has decided that President Rosevelt’s [sic] name should not be used as an advertising trademark. In the opinion of the commissioner of Patents a living celebrity is entitled to protection from the use of his name for the purposes of trade by others, and this is especiqlly true in the case of the President of the United States. These days when the ice man is laying in his store for next summer’s consumption, we are reminded of the correspondent who wrote to his paper that “the icemen were laying in their supply of congealed aqua fortis.” In the same paper not long after, appeared a description of a funeral in which the casket was decorated with “climax” (smilaz:) These items appeared in a “big weekly”. Can more be expected of us smaller fellows?
-------------------- AXTEL
Chas. Leimbright made a business or pleasure trip to Cleveland last Saturday. The Directors and Stockholders of the Diamond Cheese Co. met at the company’s office on the 12th inst. to elect officers for the coming year and trasact other business. Mr. Chas. Sprunk will have a sale on the 28th and we suppose will be ready to occupy the store recently purchased by him of Mrs. Champney by about Feb. 1st. The Progressiver Crokinole Club met at the home of Miss Helen Blair last Friday evening. There was a good attendance and the evening was spent very pleasantly. The preaching services of the .E. Church were held in the school house last Sunday afternoon on account of the repairs being made in the church. There was no meeting of the Christian Endeavor and probably will be none until the church can again be occupied. There will be a moving picture and phonograph exhibition at the Axtel Opera House on Thurday night, and there ought to be a good crowd out as we dont’ have a show every night and know how to appreciate it when one does come to our town.
-------------------- A $10,000,000Fleet.
The transportation companies of the Gilchrist interests held their annual meeting in Vermilion Tuesday. A large number were present. The old directors and officers were retained. The important transaction was the action in regard to merging the various fleets, which it was decided to do. This will give control of over 80 fine ships representing ten million of dollars, to the Gilchrist Transporation Company. The new company will be second only to the Stell Trust fleet.
-------------------- Presented with a Chair.
At the close of the meeting of the stockholders of The Vermilio telephone Company, tuesday afternoon, Mr. E.L. Coen was presented with a very handsome rocker as a testimonial of regards and in recognition of his services in organizing an developing the company. Mr. Coen has labored hard for the success of the enterprise and to his efforts the excellent service and condition of the Company is largely due. Mr. R.F. Quigley made the presentation in a neat speech. The chair is a beauty in Flemish Oak of colonial design and was a complete surprise to Mr. Coen.
The pottery contract has not yet been signed. The waterworks questions is being agitated. Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Trinter were in Sandusky Saturday. The last lecture of the season. Rev. Dixon, Jan. 28. Mrs. Fred Kuhlman spend several days last week with relatives in North Amherst. Claim agent Allen of the L.S. & M.S. Ry., was in town on business Wednesday. Mrs. E.A. Hill was the guest of Mrs. Fitch and Mrs. Albert Werner of elyria Saturday. Geo. Rathburn is taking a course at the Oberlin Business College. He began his studies Monday. Capt. and Mrs. F.A. goodell spent part of the week in town, guessts at the home of Capt. Bell. Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Hatch attended the funeral of Alonzo Wright at South Amherst Monday. Leave your laundry at Nuhn & Trinters not later than thursday morning. Mrs. Charles Miller and son, Reuben, Miss Ida Miller and Mr. Rounds of Elyria, spent Sunday with Geo. P. Wahl and family. Howard Andrews of Philabelphia is a guest at the home of Geo. Andres. Rev. Rupert was called to Camden today to conduct the funeral services of Mr. Henry Stone. It is reported that HIggens and Neff of Bellevue who are building the L.S.E. sub-station here have secured the contract of erecting a similar structure at Berlin Hts. Mrs. and Mrs. Ed Erbscorn, Geo. Christmann and Miss Cora Schade formed a theatre party to Lorain Monday evening. Kidnapped in New York was the attraction. The German servies at the Reformed church will be in the morning next Sunday. “Zwingli” The Leader of the Swiss Reformation, will be the topic. there will be a service of song in the evening. three hymns will be considered. You are cordially invited. All members of Lake View Grange are requested to be present at the next regular meeting, Saturday evening, Jan. 24, for the purpose of electing new officers for the ensuing year. To make the Grange successful depends upon our members and the election of good officers. By Order of Committee.
Hmmmmmm....
SOMETHING OLD - SOMETHING NEW: As you may have gathered from the intro piece to "VV" I'm on the verge of publishing now. I'll be beginning to work with the publisher on Monday. So stay with me and I'll have more information very soon..
These are rather interesting pix. The locale of the current pic may be obvious to some. And, of course, the older one - c.1904 - would not be so sans the current because it is a rather small part of a much large photograph.
The reason I found the older pic interesting is because I just recently noticed that Baumhart's Drug Store was in it. This isn't A.D.'s store. To my knowledge [given what he wrote about his business life in Vermilion] he never had a store in this location. Ergo; I think this was his older brother's, "C.C.", place. It was in the building directly to the south of the Fischer building / or on the southeast side of the street we know today as Main street just south of Liberty. Maryann's Beauty Salon most recently occupied the empty storefront in the current pic. (Another shop is going to locate their very soon.)
I wondered where Charles C. Baumhart kept his store whilst he was in Vermilion. And now I know.
January 29, 2011 7:07 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 of Vermilion in the Clarksfield area. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
FIRST EVENTS.
There were births, and probably deaths, among the squatters, of which there is no remembrance; but the first birth among the permanent settlers was a daughter of John and Susan Cline. She was named Savilla. grew to womanhood, married Simon Yetter and moved from the township. The first marriage was that of Eliza Day to James McManigal. Of this couple we only know that they moved to Michigan soon after marriage. The first death was that of Mrs. Higley, who resided on lot number one. The body was buried near the house, and some two years later it was disinterred, with the intention of removing it to a more suitable location. In 1839, a post office was established in the township. John Foglesong was postmaster, and the office was located at his house, on lot number seventeen. This office was finally discontinued and, for years, Richmond township has been without a post office. Richmond has never had anything in the mercantile line, except two small groceries, and these have long since gone out of existence. In addition to the hotel already mentioned, Abram Pollinger kept a house of entertainment on lot number seventeen, in third section, for a number of years. In 1848, Amos Ogden built a steam saw mill in the east part of township, on the Tiffin road (lot twelve). This was burned in 1861. Three other mills have been built and are still in operation in the township. The Tiffin road was the first opened in the township. It was begun in 1836, and completed four years later, and even then it was often a day's work to drive through the township with a loaded team.
ORGANIZATION.
From 1815 to "36. Richmond township was attached to New Haven. At the April election of 1836. Amos Ogden was elected a supervisor for Richmond township. He was the first sworn officer in the township. In March, 1836, the householders of the township met at the house of Philip Upp. Eleizor Day acted as chairman and secretary, and it was resolved,, on motion of Mr. Day. to petition the county commissioners of Huron county, for an organization of the township,under the name of Richmond. The following persons signed the petition: Eleizor Day, Jacob Croninger, Joseph Anderson, Hugh Carson, Wm. Carson, N. Carson, William Linglefelter, Israel Randal, Godfrey Lake, Elijah Packard, Wm. Hutchinson, George Day, Abram Carey. Amos Ogden. Henry Knavel, James Dailey, Jesse Williams, James Youngs, Charles Skinner, Samuel Spencer, William and Thomas Hill, Solomon Billings, Joseph Light and John Carpenter. The prayer of the petitioners was granted. and an election for township officers ordered, to take place on the fourth day of the following July. The record of this election cannot be found, but it is thought the following persons were elected: Reuben Franklin, William Hutchinson and Jacob Croninger, trustees; Eleizor Day, clerk; Philip Upp," treasurer: among justices of the peace we find the names of Amos Ogden, Amos Roop, Daniel Franklin, Jeremiah Williams, Huriah Robinson, Michael Lutts, Joseph Beelman, Daniel Sweetland, S. N. Sage, John Carothers...
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
MORE FROM FRANK: Ah, my good friend Frank Homitz stopped by t'other day with this self portrait and another piece he adapted from a Moulin Rouge poster.
And, nah, Frank doesn't (at least to my knowledge) own a horse - nor does he ride one. This drawing was done because he'd gone to a friends home dressed - pretty much - as you see him in the portrait (sans the gun of course); and he thought it might be amusing to place himself on a horse with a six-shooter in a self portrait.
As I've mentioned several times in the past: I enjoy Frank's stuff because it's pure. It has character; a trait I find lacking in a great deal of local artwork I've experienced.
I Bet Ya Didn’t Know This...
Kaparot is a traditional Jewish religious ritual that takes place around the time of the High Holidays. Classically, it is performed by grasping a live chicken by the sholder blades and moving around one’s head three times, symbolically transferring one’s sins to the chicken. The chicken is then slaughtered and donated to the poor, preferably eaten at the pre-Yom Kippur feast. In modern times, Kapparos is performed in the traditional form mostly in Haredi communities. The ritual is preceded by the reading of Psalms 107:17-20 and Job 33:23-24.
PODCAST #215:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #215 is, as I said previously, "new" (to me). I attempting to improve the quality of the casts. However; in doing so there are apt to be some flaws in the process. But in any case, this week I have re-mixed some of the interviews that I conducted with some familiar Vermilion faces in Exchange Park last summer. It may take a good deal of time to load. But if you succeed it's quite nice.
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 46, January 29, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant