02/12/11 VIEWS DESKTOP - at Ogontz
VIEW FROM THE DESKTOP: I do suppose that some persons may wonder, on occasion, the reason that I don’t generally have some local current events in “VV”. My reasoning is rather simple. Most current events about Vermilion are usually well documented by others. They either appear in the local newspapers or can be found on-line. Ergo; by the time my page hits the electronic highway each Saturday whatever’s been happening has happened and someone - or some other agency - has already made it easily available. Anything I might have to add would likely be redundantly redundant. So that’s that about that. Moving right along.... Sometime during the last few weeks I received a communique from someone asking me if Mason Road (14000 block of Mason Rd) had once been a route to the west? They had heard there was once a stagecoach inn in that area. My answer was: “I've never seen any detailed history of that area (yet). However; I surmise that Mason Road was initially a west to east route used by farmers to take their crops to the mill. I say that because you will note that the name (Mason Road) changes to North Ridge when it enters Lorain County. Mason Road - as you probably know - is a fairly long road to the west. Darrow Road is much the same. I believe [sans any credible evidence] that both Mason and Darrow roads were early indian trails along the ridges followed by settler-farmers because both lead to places where they could easily ford the Vermilion river at certain times of the year. The main east-west routes for the earliest settlers to the Fire-Lands area were either on or along the lake. I think that Mason was a wagon route. But I don't believe that it was ever actually a route for many travelers. Most routes used by travelers went from settlement to settlement. (i.e. Cleveland to Sandusky or Elyria to Milan) This is, of course, just an assumption on my part. But if I ever find information that explains the real reason for these old roads I'll certainly let you know.” And so I will. I should mention - incidentally - that today as I work on this edition of "VV" that I'm working blind. For some unexplainable reason I'm not able to see the page I'm working on. So if there are any serious mistakes you need to understand that it may be due to the fact that I can't see where I'm going...
Historically,
DOROTHY
DOROTHY LITMAN: Some long time Vermilionites no doubt recognize this lady - Dorothy Litman. If you knew her you'd not forget her. My first memories of Mrs. Litman are of the time when she and her husband Bill owned and operated Vermilion's News Stand at the site where the J.A. Berk Real Estate Appraisal firm (on Liberty Ave) is currently located.
Thinking back I remember her as a very ambitious chain smoking woman who (or it always appeared to me) overshadowed her very amiable and soft-spoken spouse - Bill. My sister, Ginny Wilkes, worked for them. And I delivered papers - the Cleveland News and Press - from the place.
Dorothy, the consumate businesswomen, was involved in politics and eventually became district assistant to U.S. Congressmen Charles Mosher and Donald J.Pease. It was an environment in which she thrived - professionally. She served in that capacity from 1964 to July 18, 1981. She died on the 17th day of January in 1982. For six years prior to her demise she lived, and dealt, with leukemia.
Dorothy was born Dorothy Weber in Ashland, Ohio in 1916. She was the daughter of Fern Beymer of that place. She married her husband, Maurice "Bill" Litman - a West Virginia native - in about 1941. The young couple settled in Vermilion a year later.
Dorothy was an extremely active person. She was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregational, Vermilion, Madeleine Chapter 204 Order of Eastern Star, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the American Red Cross Erie County Chapter, the board of directors of the Firelands Campus of Bowling Green State University, the Lorain County United Way, a charter member of the Business and Professional Women of Vermilion, a charter member of the Vermilion Women's League, chairman of Vermilion Charter Days, and was the co-founder of the New Teacher Orientation Day in Vermilion.
Her husband, Bill, died in 1983. The couple never had any children. They left their home on South Street to the city. [NOTE: At one time there was a rather obtuse plans to build a bridge that would run from about their home on South street over the railroad tracks to the south and connect with State Route 60. But that's another story for another time.]
As mentioned at the beginning - Dorothey was an unforgettable person. Believe it or not, I can still recall the sound of her voice, and see her taking a long drag on a cigarette before going on with whatever she might have been saying.
A great pic with a great memory. I wish I had a pic of her husband Bill.
PAINTING THE TOWN: Sometimes things are painted in pictures. And sometimes in stories. But however painted they are nonetheless as powerful...
A RATHER RARE PIC: This another pic taken from a color slide photo captured by late Vermilion native Roy Kneisel. While it really wasn't - at least in its raw form - a great photo the magic of Adobe Photoshop with some very wonderful plugins by Topaz Labs help make it into something to behold.
The pic was taken probably right around the year 1942 (during the war) during Regatta time in Vermilion. The rather unique thing about this photo (at least from my point-of-view) are the numbers of spectators crowded on the breakwall to watch the races and admire the great cruisers of a yesteryear as the pushed the throttle ahead and sailed into the lake. I doubt that we'll see anything like this - again.
I also surmise that the crowd on the east breakwall was only matched by that on the west wall where Mr. Kneisel caputred these shadows. Them were most certainly the days.
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 29, 1904 - Volume 6. - Number 35.
Fire at Oberlin.
Early Sunday morning the college chapel at Oberlin was burned to the ground. The loss will reach $75,000 and includes one of the finest pipe organs in the country. The chapel was erected in 1846. Most of the college records were saved. $125,000 is already on hand for the erection of a new chapel.
-------------------- A Young Hero.
Berlin Heights has a twelve-year-old boy who evidently has presence of mind far beyond his years. Friday night the parents of Freddie Hast attended a K. of P. anniversary, leaving Master Fred in charge of the premises and four younger children and two small cousins. Shortly after midnight the boy awoke and found the room full of smoke. He attempted to go into the next room but was driven back by the fire. As the children’s clothes were in the room where the fire started, he secured blankets and managed to get the children to a neighbor’s house and gave the alarm. The fire was soon extinguished but did considerable damage. Master Fred deserves much credit for his rescue of the children.
-------------------- Isaac Vanderpool Dead.
Isaac Vanderpool was born Feb. 18, 1839 and came to Ohio with his parents when about twelve years old. He was a veteran of the Civil War and lived in Berlin Heights until about thirty years ago when he moved to the place where he died. He was never married and lived alone. His remains were taken to Berlin Heights for burial. He was nearly sixty-four years old. His sister, Mrs. Chas. Hardy, who lived nearby, died about three weeks ago.
-------------------- A Surprise Party.
A very enjoyable surprise was given in honor of Miss Idah Hill at the home of her parents, Capt. and Mrs. Hill, Friday evening, Jan. 23, at which about thirty young people were present. Miss Nellie Hill assisted in receiving. The evening was spent in games and music by several of the young people, that by Miss Hattie Abell being exceptionally fine. At 12 o’clock Messrs Tischer and Rumsey headed a march to the dining room, where a table well filled with good things awaited them. After supper the girls formed a sewing society and invited the boys to attend. They soon found the members of the society as handy with pins as with needles. At a late hour the young folks departed, having spent a most enjoyable evening. The following young people were present: Myron Englebry, Paul Leimbach, Hall Friday, Lee Tischer, Ed Bachman, Leslie Rice, James Quigley, Clifford Parsons, Hazen Thompson, Lawson Rumsey, Roy Kane, George Blattner, Jr., Albert Hart, Warren Baldwin, Art Christman, Willliam Ries, Laura Walper, Nellie Klaar, Georgia Burrows, Leana Shadduck, Helen Parsons, Pearl Mattison, Hattie Ritter, Alice Ritter, Alice Parsons, Grace Parsons, Elsie Hahn, Agnes Jones, Nellie Hill, Hattie Abell.
-------------------- A Birthday Surprise.
A number of the relatives and friends of Adam Walper gathered at his home during his absence Monday evening and then sent for him. To say that he was surprised is needless. He was presented with a handsome chair as a reminder of his fifty-third birthday anniversary. A fine supper was served and all spent an enjoyable evening. Among those present was a sister, Lizzie Walper of Lorain.
--------------------
Mrs. C.S. Shaffer has been quite ill the past week. A number of our citizens attended court at Sandusky Tuesday. John Thompson spent the first of the week in North Amherst in the interest of the Allingham Fuel Saver. Mrs. Geo. P. Wahl is making a two weeks visit with friends and relatives in Lorain, Elyria and Cleveland. Leave your laundry at Nuhn & Trinter's not later than thursday morning. Before laying aside this paper read Biggs & Everard’s ad on last page. Mrs. John Lenz was the guest of Mrs. Geo. T. Lair at Sandusky Tuesday. Miss Ollie Lawless and Gertrude Simons visited Miss Abell’s school near Ceylon Wednesday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Andres of Brownhelm were guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Upton Darby thursday evening. The remains of Miss Sarah Pelton, daughter of Austin Pelton, who died at the home of her brother Lester in San Francisco, Cal., are expected here Saturday night. [VV ed. note: Sarah’s father was Allen - not Austin as listed in this report.] Try the Ideal Laundry. Work called for and delivered promtly [sic]. Frank Bond, agent, Leave your order at Englebry’s Clothing store. Laundry leaves Thursday a.m. A slight wreck occurred on the LS.& M. S. Ry. here sunday morning. A car load of hard coal jumped the track and caused the delay of a west bound freight. A wrecker soon cleared the track. Rev. Howard of Savannah, Mo. preached to a well filled house at the M.E. Church on Sunday evening. He took for his subject, “Lessons of the Past.” It was a practical sermon and seemed to touch the hearts of the hearers. His theme in general was: That we fail to do the thing we ought to at the time of opportunity. If we could live life over again we would do many things differently. Council meeting Monday evening. “Old Farmer Hopkins” ion four Acts at the opera House Feb. 3d. F.J. Roth is business manager. Mrs. Emma Naegele is the guest of her daughter Mrs. Anna Hoffman at Beaver Falls, Pa. Prof. Chas. Kneisel was a guest at the home of Chas. Englebry Saturday. Henry Nieding sold his property on State St. to Mrs. Caroline Haber the first of the week. It is reported that G.W. White has sued A.R. Rumsey for $5,000 damages. He alleges that a bull dog belonging to Rumsey attacked him, biting him severely. Pork Steak 12 1/2c, Pork Roasts 10c, Side Pork 9c. Beef Steak from 10c to 121/2c, Beef Ribs 6c. Beef Roasts 8c to 10c. Other meats in proportion at Krapp’s market. Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Leser and little son Glenn of Sandusky spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. J.I. McKee. If you want to see the Allingham Fuel Saver, call at Penning’s News Depot. Best on the Market. -Geo. B. Krapp, Agt. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brooks are on an extended visit with relatives and friends in florence Birmingham and Cleveland. F.J. Roth informs us that he will bring a first class show to Vermilion Feb. 3d. It bears the name of “Old Farmer Hopkins.” Lost - Saturday evening between the residence of Orson Meeker and Nuhn & Trinter’s drug store a gold Brooch. finder will receive reward by returning the same to Miss Leah Meeker. We are pleased to note that N. A. Foster has secured the boating privilege from Linwood Park for another term, which speaks much for his ability as a boatman, as his bid was not the highest offered for the privilege. The Masonic Club will hold their annual meeting at their club rooms on Feb. 3d. at 7 p.m. Standard. All members are request to be present, matters of importance will be brought before the Club. - By Order of President. An editor desiring the news asked a man to write it from his neighborhood and got this reply: “We have two school marms, the hog cholera and about fifty bushels of potatoes, and a tarnal fool who married a cross-eyed girl because she had a mule and forty acres of land, and the same is your humble correspondent.”
The Library.
The Subscribers Library Association is progressing nicely. The book-case is completed. All the books ordered, with the exception of seven, have been placed in the library and these will be in a few days. A number of books have already been donated and others will be. One-half of the books have been selected by the different members, each one having been given the privilege of selecting one book. The book committee selected all others. The Association has now sixty-six members and others joining almost daily. It is hoped that it may reach at least one hundred before the charter membership opportunity is closed. We urge any who might desire to become charter members to do so within the next ten days. The committee for drafting a constitution has about completed their work and will be ready to report at the next meeting. If favorable, it is hoped that the Association will adopt the constitution. When the constitution is once adopted it will virtually close charter membership unless otherwise ordered by the members. It is desired that there be a full attendance at the next meeting, the time of which will be announced later. - By President of the Association.
The Sunday School Class of Miss Goodall gave an Ice Cream social at the home of W.A. Tischer Tuesday evening. It was a successful affair and will net the class a neat little sum.
J.F. Gerhart junior member of the firm of Smith and Gerhart of the Boston Store Lorain, was married to Miss Sabina McGee Tuesday. They will spend their honeymoon in Florida.
-------------------- Life Saving Station at Lorain.
Prospects seem bright for Lorain securing a life saving station. There is great need of such a station at Lorain as several times lately the Cleveland Life savers have been called upon.
Hmmmmmm....
"At 3:30 am on Tuesday the eighth of August 1916 State Street residents, Mabel E. Halloran and John Walper, discovered the mill ablaze."
H.H. BERK & SON: VERMILION FLOUR AND GRAIN CO.: The previous column (VPJ 4-28-05) regarding the Birmingham Mill is coincidental to this account re: the Vermilion Flour and Grain Company (Mill) that once stood at the southern end of Exchange Street in the tiny hamlet of Vermilion, Ohio. So is the fact that both mills were completely extirpated by fire in the early years of the 20th century. The beautiful Birmingham mill was lost in 1906. Vermilion’s Mill survived it by another decade. Built in 1898 by D. & A.T. Christman it was one of the town’s foremost industries. This was, in part, because it was one of the only plants of its kind in the immediate vicinity. In 1910 Henry H. Berk (b.1850) purchased the business (about the same year shown in the photo), and went about making needed repairs, built some additions, and installed up to date equipment. This gave them an ability to produce some of the best grain based products in the region. The same year Berk bought the mill he hired a gentleman by the name of W.B. Houseman to manage the business. According to an early advertisement that appeared in The Vermilion News during those years they offered consumers, “high grade Flour, Graham, Buckwheat and Pancake Flour, Bolted Corn Meal, Feed and Grain” , and they “ground on Tuesdays and Fridays (unless otherwise notified)”. At 3:30 am on Tuesday the eighth of August 1916 State Street residents, Mabel E. Halloran (1882-1971) and John Walper (b. 1859 & PJ: 4-7-05), discovered the mill ablaze. Both alerted local fire-fighters. All efforts to save the building were futile. No sooner had the firemen thought the fire well under control in one place than it would break out again in another, and then another. This continued through the night. And in the early morning light, when P. Roscoe arrived with his trusty camera, it burned still. When it was all over damages were estimated to be at least 20 thousand dollars. Aside from the total loss of the building and all the machinery within some 1000 bushels of oats, four to six thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred bushels of corn, and substantial amounts of flour and livestock feed were destroyed. Two train car loads of grain had been saved when a passing Nickle Plate locomotive noted the blaze and transported them away from the flames - one was already burning. The cause of this spectacular conflagration, which was apparently visible to residents living miles from town was, and remains, a matter of some speculation. Some folks were of the opinion that ancillary lightening from an intense midnight rain storm may have sparked the blaze. Others guessed that spontaneous combustion might have taken place due to the hot and humid weather conditions they had experienced that Monday evening. But most everyone agreed, and were certain, that were it not for the drenching rain of the aforementioned storm the fire might have spread to the homes nearest the mill. There was also some speculation as to whether or not the mill would be rebuilt after the fire. Nearly one century later we need wonder no longer. The mill was rebuilt, and it had both a lucrative and illustrious career as a business concern in our town until somewhere in the middle of the 20th century. In fact, if I knew nothing of this fire I would depone that the mill in this 1910 picture is the very same mill I remember visiting as a boy in the 1950’s. Today Vermilion’s very pleasant Mill Manor nursing facility occupies the site.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 8-10-1916; Ancestry.com; U.S. Census 1920; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 5/05/05; Written 5/01/05 @ 11:02 A.M.
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.
DEFEAT OF THE SQUATTER.
In 1837, Eleizor Day was elected justice of the peace, and served three years. In 1840, W. H. Pond was elected, served three years, and was a candidate for re-election in 1843. He was wholly and entirely in the interest of the squatter element. At this time two parties, equal in numbers, stood sternly opposed to each other morally. Amos Roop was the opponent of Mr. Pond. Two elections had been held, and both resulted in a tie vote. But at the third the Pond party had increased its strength, so that he was sure of receiving two majority. But to his surprise, when the votes were counted the two majority were in favor of Mr.Roop. An investigation was had, and a suit brought before Esquire Coglazier, of Plymouth, contesting the election. The court, however, ruled that Roop was legally elected. The defeat of Pond was the defeat of the outlaw party, and the death blow to squatter rule in Richmond township, a sort of moral revolution, as it were. Her good men breathed freer. The civilizing influence of Mr. Roop's judicial administration scattered the squatters and those who had gathered to their standard, like chaff before the wind, and Richmond assumed a moral position among her sister townships.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HURIAH ROBINSON
is the sixth child of William and Latitia Coleman Robinson, who removed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, soon after it became a State, first locating in Lenton township, Coshocton county, where the subject of this sketch was born, March 2, 1816. In 1828, the family removed to Marion county, where they remained until 1832, when they came to Huron county, arriving in Norwich township on May 5th of that year. Eventually the parents removed to Fitchville township, where Mr. Robinson died in October, 1864; his wife following him in February subsequent. Huriah derived his education in the common schools of Northern Ohio, and after obtaining his majority he engaged in the vocation of farming. On January 16, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Phebe Wade Johnson, of Richmond township, by whom the following children were, born: Hannah, who married Jolin Nesbitt, and resides in Richmond; William J., who is now clerk of the Morton House, at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Emily 0., who is deceased; Volney J., who married Emeline Post, of Norwich, and lives in Richmond; Eugene, deceased; Robert, deceased; Prank, who married Caroline Croxton, lives in Richmond; Josephine, deceased; and Martha E., who married F. B. Tanner, deceased, leaving two children. In January, 1843, Mr. Robinson purchased the farm in lot number thirty-seven, in the second section, upon which he still resides, and which he has brought from a "howling wilderness" to a profitable state of cultivation. He now owns one hundred and fortyeight acres. Politically, Mr. or Esquire Robinson, as he is usually called, is a firm adherent to the principles of the democratic party. In his township he has always occupied a prominent position in its politics, and beginning with the office of justice of the peace, which he held twelve years, he has held every township office, except constable, and during his service as justice of the peace had but one case appealed. A fine view of his residence appears in this volume.
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
STATE OF THE ART: Most persons who read these words probably don’t care how they get written but I’m going to tell you anyway. I do all my writing with an Apple Macintosh G5 (computer). This baby can do virtually everything except cook breakfast. And that’s actually not much of a exaggeration. It quite literally sings. It is state of the art. Long ago (89 years back to be precise) my grandparents, Bessie and Pearl Roscoe, purchased a machine that would make their fast growing printing business “sing”. It was called a Linotype. At the time it too was a “state of the art” device. The manufacturers name for the appliance was the; Model 15, Quick Change, Two Letter Mergenthaller Linotype. This wonderful apparatus was the brainchild of a German-American clockmaker named Ottomar Mergenthaller. This instrument, when married to the new Stonemetz 2 revolution printing press that had been installed in The News printshop two years earlier, and the telegraph, allowed the Roscoes to place their newspaper with “the very latest news of the world” on Vermilion doorsteps almost before the ink had dried. Originally all the type was set by hand. Then in 1906 they employed a machine known as a Simplex, or Unitype, to set type for the publication. This process required the services of two operators and also used regular type. In 1910 they replaced it with an American Typograph machine. This set matrices or moulds of letters by pressing on keys, and then by turning a crank (or throwing a clutch) fashioned a line of type made of melted metal. The problem with this mechanism was that it could only produce letters of one size, and lines only the width of a column in the newspaper. The Mergenthaller invention produced lines of type, not only for the body of the paper, but could also produce large sized headings for headlines and advertising matter. The “Quick Change” mention in the name refers to the operator’s ability to change from one line size and/or type size to another in a short space of time. The implement also produced bold letter type in the same line, and could make rules and borders. These seeming mundane capabilities made the printing of news, advertising, and job printing much more effective and efficient. With the Linotype the lines were formed by the assembly of small brass matrices as an operator pressed keys similar to those on a typewriter. The lines were then sent forward to a casting mechanism by pressing a lever at the side of the keyboard. The lines were automatically spaced, and cast into a line of type made of melted lead. The matrices were then returned to their proper channels and were ready to be used again. These mechanical marvels stand over 6 feet high and probably occupy an area of some 36 square feet. When the Roscoes purchased their first linotype there were about 33 thousand of them in existence world-wide. They proved to be so valuable throughout the industry that they were actively used until the 1960’s when offset printing made them obsolete. Now only a few of them exist in museum environments. My Macintosh G5 (computer) occupies an area of less than 3 square feet. It can do what the Mergenthaller Linotype once did, plus a great number of other things (except cook breakfast), with lightning speed and is a great deal more accurate. But the truth be known - it is less than a year old and already obsolete.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 1-27-16; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 6/16/05; Written 6/12/05 @ 4:30 PM.
ITS WINTER IN OHIO (courtesy Nancy L.) It's winter in Ohio And the gentle breezes blow, 70 miles per hour at 52 below! Oh, how I love Ohio When the snow's up to your butt; You take a breath of winter air And your nose is frozen shut. Yes, the weather here is wonderful, You may think I'm a fool. I could never leave Ohio, Cause I'm frozen to the stool.
PODCAST #217:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #217 affords a sneak peek inside the book I've been working on for the past year.
And Aside from that I'm still trying to acquire some mastery of a new bit of software; that which allows me to made a video without a camera.
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 48, February 12, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant