02/26/11 VIEWS DESKTOP - VERMILION BOYSCOUTS AT CAMP c.1920
FROM THE DESKTOP: As you will soon discover as you scan down the page this week it’s pretty much the same as last week. But before you go get a sobriety test let me explain. Something - I don’t know what - caught me earlier this week and put me down, down, down. For two days I went to bed at 2 p.m. I did manage to work in the mornings - but I was feeling miserable. At one point in time I got up to use the lavatory and fell flat on my face. Yesterday I saw a nurse-practioner and she perscribed something that should make this “thing” go away. Until it does I’m down and so is much of “VV”. Some things I’ve managed to keet up with. But the rest is a repeat. So there it is. I’ve taken the week off (more or less). One more thing. Vermilionite Sandy Nieding and her family aren’t stranded in Great Britain. And she doesn’t (at least I think she doesn't) need anyone to send her $1,950.
Historically,
"...the family always found time for their church.."
THE UNFORGETTABLE PRESDEE B. MORGAN: Presdee B. Morgan: an unforgettable guy with an equally unforgettable first name. The name Presdee - genealogically speaking - is normally found as a surname / last name. British in origin it has various spelling forms: Presdee, Pressdee, Prestie, Predsidey and, of course, Presdee. The name, however spelled. is essentially locational. Some historians suggest that it is a dialectal variant of the lost medieval village Priestley which, by the bye, eventually morphed into the English surname Presley. Locational names were those given to people after they left their original homes and moved elsewhere. The name “Priestley” is from the old English (pre-7th century) word “preost”, meaning priest and leah - meadow. And this suggests that the aforementioned village from which Presdee Morgan acquired his first name might have been home to a 7th century English monastery. However; in this case it is more likely that somewhere in his family tree the last name Presdee - in some form - was pre-eminent; the roots of the name long forgotten. So why the history trivia lesson? Well, if “P.B.” Morgan wasn’t such an unforgettable character all of that wouldn’t really matter. But because he was who he was it kind’a does. That’s because the roots of his name - either ironically or prophetically - fit both his character and his life. Like many of Vermilion’s earliest settlers P.B.’s grandparents, Frederick W. and Emma Chapman Morgan, came to Vermilion from Connecticut sometime in the early years of the 19th century. Together they had two children: a boy they named Frederick Chapman (PJ 11-20-003); and a girl they named Lucy. The family settled on a farm along Risdon road. And, though it should go without saying that the lives of the early farmers / settlers in the area was extremely demanding, the family always found time for their church. That church, in this particular instance, was Vermilion’s first church; a Presbyterian church that was initially located in a clearing the the woods near their farm. And though by 1843 the congregation had moved to a new building in the thriving village of Vermillion the family remained extremely active in it providing music for services with a melodeon that sat on Mrs. Morgan’s lap; while her husband, at her side, pumped air into it; and whilst baby Frederick softly slept upon her knee. It was, then, hardly surprising that by the time the boy was twelve he was the one providing music for the services; albeit on a much larger pipe organ. And, in due time he also took over the farm, and married a gal named Mary. But ever as faithful as his parents, he continued to play for church services for the next 60 years. In September of 1887 Presdee was born. Like his father and grandfather he came of age with a good knowledge of farming. But unlike them he preferred life away from the farm. He did well in school and actively participated in plays both in school and in church. In many respects he was more like his Aunt Lucy who was a public school teacher and a gifted writer. Thusly, Presdee worked briefly as a teacher. But by the time he was 30 he was working as an agent for the railroad and had married a Birmingham gal named Helen Blair. Helen worked as a clerk for the rail company. [Note: Helen’s sister Grace was married to a gentleman named John Feiszli. Two of the Feiszlie children - Grace Roberts and Amos - and their respective families became, and remain, very well known and respected Vermilion citizens.] In February of 1922, after an illness of several months, Helen died at Lakeside hospital in Cleveland with her husband at her side. Several years passed and Presdee became reacquainted with, and eventually married, an old school friend named Nellie Klarr Wood. Like Morgan she, too, had tragically lost her spouse. But unlike him she had three children; a boy named Paul, and two girls; Mary and Dorothy. [Another Note: Later Mary would marry a Vermilion boy named Howard Bogart, and Dorothy would marry another Vermilion fellow named Albert “Jim” Hart.] During all these years Morgan, as did his parents and grandparents before them, faithfully served his church which by then had become Vermilion’s First Congregational. He taught Sunday school; counted the proverbial beans / money; rang the bell calling folks to worship; advised the pastor; and, in essence, became what one might consider to be a GENUINE church deacon. He did everything but preach. Outside the church he was extremely active in the Royal Arch Masons of Ohio. His dedication as a member of this organization eventually led to the application of his name to the local Masonic Chapter still known as the 233 P.B. Morgan Chapter. It was, and remains, a significant achievement and honor. So, in essence, Presdee in many respects earned his name after it was given him. Both he and his name are unforgettable now and in the yesteryear.
Ref: U.S. Census data; 1850 thru 1930; Sandusky Star-Journal 2-03=22; 10-09-22; Sandusky Register 12-13-1894;12-29-1894; 7-06-29; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 11/11/10; Written 1/07/10 @ 1:37 PM
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...
March 19 1903. - Volume 6 - Number 41
REPORT ON WATER- WORKS
GENTLEMEN: - The following report is respectfully submitted on the subject of the extent and cost of a complete water works system for the Village of Vermillion, [sic] Ohio, and in accordance with resolution duly adopted, and the petition of your citizens now on file. SUPPLY - While the matter of the best supply cannot be definitely determined in advance of investigations and actual tests, yet from the data available on this subject, and a study of the supply conditions of your Village, a good water supply may be had from either the infiltration water in the beach sand on the shore of Lake Erie just west of and adjoining the lands of Linwood Park Co., or from the water of the vermillion [sic], River near the Shore Road bridge and filtering such water for domestic purposes. While the first supply is subject in amount to the results obtained by experiment, yet the latter supply will be adequate in amount and quality, and at about the same cost, should the first source after experiment, prove deficient in quantity. And therefore for the purpose of an estimate, the first mentioned source will be used as a basis of an estimate. LOCATION OF STATION - All suction lines must be laid to a rising grade from the supply to the pumps, and therefore, should it be deemed desirable and expedient to take a supply from the beach sand on the shore of the lake, the suction pipe to the station must be located on the easterly side of the river. Again, a station should also be so located, that in case a new supply should be required from the development of the village that such supply may be readily had without changing the location of the station or the appurtenances therein. These facts indicate the necessity of the location of the station on or near the east side of the river, and as far up the river as will be in a measure beyond the influence of lake currents. But to reach such location it would be necessary to go up the river a considerable distance resulting in but shallow summer depth of the river water. And a reasonable compromise of location taking all the conditions under consideration, lead to a location before mentioned of near the Shore road, that being convenient of access for the operation of the plant and for the delivery of fuel, and having the additional advantage of deep water at all times in the adjacent river. MACHINERY - For water works purposes, you should have one pumping engine of 750,000 gallons daily capacity, which is sufficient to deliver three good fire streams to a height of 100 feet at any point within 500 feet of a fire hydrant. This engine should be compound and arranged to take live steam in the low pressure cylinders for emergencies when called upon to deliver water to those lines when more than 500 feet from a hydrant. One 60 H.P. boiler will be sufficient for present needs with storage in the line of an elevated tank on a tower or a stand pipe for use during times of cleaning or repairs to the boiler. STATION - A station should be of brick, and large enough to accommodate two boilers and two pumps, though but one of each will be necessary to be placed now: the surplus room being used for shop and supply storage, and for coal storage in the boiler room. The form of the building will in a measure depend on the site chosen but in such form that additions may be readily made to provide for increase of room for more machinery or for a future electric light plant. and the location recommended is well adapted for such lighting plant. STORAGE - That it may not be necessary to pump direct, and continuously, it is desirable to erect a stand pipe or an elevated tank on a steel tower with the top of the tank at a height of about 100 feet above the ground level. This will give adequate head for domestic and small fire pressure, and the capacity should be about 80 thousand gallons with a full tank, so as to enable you to pump all the water required per day in the day time and bank the fires for night. A valve should be placed in the connection pipe line to the tank so as to cut off the tank and pump direct when more pressure than that represented by the elevation of water in the tank is required for fire service. This tank may be located at any convenient site near the heart of the pipe distribution to insure normal pressure at all points of the distribution. A suggested location is shown on the plat 340-A (plats may be seen at the Mayor’s office,) as on Exchange Place, where the tower and tank will be an ornament as well of utility. DISTRIBUTION - The suggested pipe distribution is, as shown on the plat number 340-A herewith submitted. The this plan is not submitted as final, yet it or some location will give good service.....[not legible] in the present village...[not legible] the lots are built upon....construction commences, or before, and desired modification may be made to adapt the system to the best interest of the citizens and the village. Where houses cannot be reached by service directly from the mains shown on this plat, it is the intention to lay at the expense of the water works fund, what are known as long services, from such mains to the front of such properties, and from which long services to connect the house service required. ESTIMATE OF COST - The following estimate of cost has been prepared as being sufficient with present prices of labor and material to construct the plant proposed with a supply from either sources mentioned and which estimate is as follows: The laying of 7558 ft. 4-in pipe @ 20c.......... $1510 10600 ft. 6-in. pipe @24c.......... 2438 2400 ft. 8-in. pipe @26c........... 624 480 ft 10-in pipe @30c.......... 144 Additional cost of protecting pipe over bridge $200 Total for pipe laying................................................................. $4916 Pipe and Specials 4-in pipe, 166320 lbs. 6-in pipe, 318600 8-in pipe 28800 or, 314 tons @ $32...........$10048 Special castings, 6 tons.. 360 Total for pipe and specials.................................................................... $10408 Hydranti, Valves and Boxes, 21 4-in valves @ $ 7..................................$147 22 6-in “ 11................................. 242 4 8 in “ 17................................. 68 1 10-in “ 25................................ 25 48 Valve boxes...................2.75........................... 132 35 Fire hydrants..............24.................................. 840 Total for valves, hydrants and boxes.................................................... $ 1454 Long Services estimated.................................................... 322 Total cost of pipe distribution, complete.................................................. $17100 Water tower and 80000 gal. tank, iron work................. 5200 Suction line, pipe and laying complete................................................... 2900 Supply wells or cribs...................................... 600 Station building complete.................................. 2800 1 7500,000-gallon pumping engine complete........................................... 1700 1 Boiler and feed pump and piping complete............................................. 1000 Suction and discharge piping complete.......................................................... 300 Tank foundation......................................................... 200 $31809 Preparing legislation, printing specifications, engineering and inspection of complete plant, 5 percent.................................................... 1590 Expense of sale of bonds, land and right-of-way, grading grounds, contingent expense, estimated............................................................1300 Total cost of complete plant.............................................................. $35000 By judicious date and maturity of the amount of bond issue for this purpose, such issue can be floated for about 4 1/2 percent, and also receive perhaps a small premium. And in the legistration [sic] it is recommended that the bonds be made at not exceeding 5 per cent, and when bids are received the same to be at 4, 4 1/2 and 5 per rates, reserving the right to fix the rate after the bids are received. Should any premium be received, it must be placed in the sinking fund and cannot be used for construction purposes. COST OF OPERATION - This plant as recommended, can easily be operated within an annual expense of $1000.00 including in such expense all attendance, fuel supplies, and repairs. With the stand pipe or water tower, you will operate the plant with one man, and these results are easily had in all plants under like conditions. REVENUE - With an average low rate of $6.00 per annum from small residences, and the larger ones, and stores and business houses in proportion, with the possible revenue from railway and manufacturing uses, your revenue at the end of the second year will be sufficient to pay for all interest on the bonds, all operation and extension expenses and leave you a small margin for sinking funds, giving your people the fire protection at practically no annual cost, and which fire protection is generally equivalent to an annual saving in insurance rates of an amount equal to the interest on the propose bond issue. With the possession of such a water plant, you will be able to offer valuable and effective inducements for the location of manufacturing plants, increase your popularity as a place of residence, and add much to the comforts and conveniences of your people. Respectfully submitted, CHAPIN & KNOWLES, Eng’rs. per L.E. Chapin.
....................
Mrs. Andrews of Shadducks Park is quite ill. C. Mahler and wife entertained a trolly party last Sunday. G.F. Ferguson, the newly appointed light-keeper at Lorain, was the guest of light keeper Codding and family one day last week. Born - to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Davis, Saturday, March 14, 1903, a son. Miss Mollie Rumsey entertained informally for Miss Helen McKee of Cleveland at the Pelton House Monday evening. A Philadelphia citizen has the walls of his room entirely covered with postage stamps, 82944 altogether. It took five years to collect them and over a year to put them on. The Nickel Plate Railway Co. will at once undertake to make a direct connection with the Lorain Steel Company’s Lake Terminal system. This will mean a bridge across Black river, the double tracking of the Nickel Plate between Lorain and Cleveland and location at Lorain of terminal and repair shops. This change will give the Lorain Steel Co. a quick connection with all of the trunk lines centering at Cleveland and will furnish relief from the inadequate facilities of the B. & O.
.................... Council Meeting.
A meeting of the village council was held Monday evening pursuant to adjournment at last regular meeting. An ordinance was passed vacating the west end of Lake St. A petition for new sidewalk signed by Miss Jennie Harris was presented and referred to the sidewalk committee. The waterk-works question was brought up and consulting Engineer Chapin of Canto, O. presented his report. The report was accepted and a resolution presented and passed and the Council adjourned. The report and resolution will b found elsewhere.
It isn’t often a strike occurs at the News Office but Thursday afternoon our gas engine absolutely refused to work, however late in the evening matters were adjusted and work was resumed. A.C. Stout of the Lake Shore Electric was in town Monday, on business. Rev. J.E. Moeller will preach at the reformed church next Sunday evening in the English language. As this will very likely be his last address in Vermilion, before going to Toledo it may well be called his farewell sermon. The German services in the afternoon.
Hmmmmmm....
"None...would have been as much fun..."
THE FUN OF YESTERYEAR ACQUISITION(S): Like many of the photos acquired for these weekly essays the histories of how they’ve been obtained - and from whom - are often as fascinating as the photos themselves. Although the portrait accompanying these words this week is hardly rare - one could easily find a copy at the Ritter Library - the path leading to this particular reproduction was a tad more convoluted. But first it might be wise to date, and place some names with faces of persons in the photographs.
Ref: Special thanks to Bobbi Riley and Wade Rodgers; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 1/27/11; Written 1/23/11 @ 10:47 AM.
YOUNG BELL
At age 14, one schoolboy invented a rotary brush device to remove husks from wheat in the flour mill run by his friend's father. The young inventor's name? Alexander Graham Bell.
THE KOUNTRY KITCHEN: That which follows is the first of a three part history of a Vermilion restaurant called the Kountry Kitchen which was part of the local business environment for only a few years - from about 1960 to 1966. The significance of this piece - however negligible it may seem historically - lies primarily in the fact that the social landscape in our community is forever changing - evolving. And in time, no matter what the impact these businesses and persons involved in them have had in our community they are forgotten. Sometimes that’s a good thing. But sometimes it’s not.
PART ONE - THE PLAYERS: As restaurants go - at least those back in the 1960’s - the Kountry Kitchen (currently the site of the Old Prague Restaurant) wasn’t a particularly pulchritudinous place. But the food was good. While the daily menu featured meat, fish, and potatoes, most of which was fried, the daily specials were generally prepared in an oven. But however it was prepared, the food was darn good. It was always fresh and, best of all, reasonably priced. A t-bone or top sirloin steak dinner was $1.75. All the dinners included salad, potato, vegetable, and all the coffee you could drink. And the fresh (Lake Erie) perch “Special” every Friday was just 99 cents. In short, what the place lacked cosmetically was more than made up for gastronomically. The ambience - or the absence of it - consisted of a rather larger banana plant that sat near the jukebox at the back of the eating area and a long cast of personalities who either frequented and / or worked there during the approximate six short years of its active life in Vermilion, O. The owner of this establishment was one Richard J. “Dick” Johnson. Dick was a native of Benton Harbor, Michigan and a graduate of Ohio Weslayan University in Delaware, Ohio. While going to school in Delaware Dick had worked as a meat cutter for a family named Lehner. And Mr. Lehner’s son, Jim, worked for a family named Bettcher. As many may know the elder Bettcher invented a dynamic tool for the meat cutting industry called a “meat-boner”; and that invention had quickly come into popular demand all over the universe. Mr. Bettcher had decided to make Vermilion the world headquarters for his business. Consequently, Jim Lehner and his family followed. As an aside it should be noted that the U.S. economy of the 1950's may be characterized as having been relatively stale for a period of time wherein there had been neither any major problems nor breakthroughs. And whilst the gradual growth of the U.S. during these years did lead toward an economic peak in the 60's, it had turned sharply downward during the summer of 1957 reaching its lowest point in the spring of 1958. Thus, when Mr. Bettcher and Mr. Lehner came to town the community was still feeling the effects of that “downward” trend. Their presence would, however, help change all that. Jim Lehner had not been in Vermilion too long when he purchased the old Dari-Bar restaurant , to use an ancient merism, “lock, stock, and barrel”. And drawing on his friendship with Dick Johnson whose expertise as an accountant, a meat-cutter, and cook, he well knew, he convinced Johnson to open a new restaurant in the building. Initially Dick worked the business from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with only the help of a few local waitresses. He lived alone in an apartment above the restaurant so getting work on time was not a problem. He cut the meat, baked the pies, and did the cooking and cleaning by himself. But as business increased he appealed to his mother, Hazel, back in Benton Harbor for help - and she came. Eventually even his grandmother, “Granny”, joined the operation. Johnson was, to be breviloquent, a genuine talent. He certainly believed that hard work would pay off. But that “hard work” was often accompanied by a good cigar, a bottle of cold beer, and an even measure of practical joking. The consequent atmosphere was for some (myself included) quite contagious. For years and years persons who have entered the social environment in Vermilion, O. have complained that it took them “years and years” for the so-called natives to accept them as peers - to call them Vermilionites. Without questioning the veracity of this complaint it can be said with some certainty that Dick Johnson never had that problem. And had it been so he likely would have put shaving cream on its hands while it slept and tickled its nose with a feather...
Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 3/25/10; Written 3/21/10 @ 11:56 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 townships south of Vermilion. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
NEW HAVEN.
...nine, and Ellis adjoining him upon the latter. Ellis died in 1824. Isaac Powers came about the same time and took up the lot north of Rooks, but removed to Michigan with his family as early as 1831. All these families were from New York State. Rouse Bly, who came in sometime during 1816, took up lots one hundred and thirty-seven and one hundred and thirty-eight, section one. It was probably about this time that Joseph Darling, of Connecticut, came into the township. He married Sophia Dana, and lived in New Haven till his death, which occurred about 1855. John Myers located, not far from the year above mentioned, on the town plat, and Benjamin West. Gasper and Matthew Smith, John Middleton and several others, arrived in the township. Henry Granger came in about 1817, and built a tavern. Benjamin McFarland came from New York the same year, bringing with him his mother. He resided for a number of years on the town plat, and is still living in the township, aged nearly ninety. He never married. Wm. Clark, who came at this time, or earlier, perhaps, took up no land for a permanent homestead, but bought various parcels upon speculation. David Dow, of New York, came in 1817, bought land of Clark, and afterwards went into the shoemaking business. He married Louisa Beymer. Medad Woodruff was another arrival during the same year. He was drowned some time after. Enos Rose was one of the first who entered the settlement in 1818. Elisha Steward, a native of Connecticut, but for some time a resident of Pennsylvania, took up lot one hundred and twelve, section one. He married Mary Rice. Wm. Bunn, of Maryland, came in the same year. A Mr. McEwen arrived about the same time, and Bunn married one of his daughters. Thomas T. Mulford arrived in 1811). His parents had lived on Long Island, but Mr. Mulford's last place of residence, before coming to Ohio, was in Lucerne county, Pennsylvania. He was a single man when he came to New Haven, but in 1821 he went to Connecticut, (New London county,) and married Phoebe Steward. Then returning, he engaged, with Mr. Steward, in the tanning business, and in 1827 bought the farm upon which he at present resides, lot eighty-nine, a part of lot eighty-eight, and a part of lot eighty, section one. His wife died in 1860. The children of this couple were: Lewis, Polly. (Mrs. T. M. Chapman, of New Haven,) Emeline, Almira, (wife of Dr. William Smith, of Van Wert,) Marion, (who married Elizabeth Born, of Buffalo, New York,) residing upon the old homestead, and Harriet, (wife of Dr. Charles Richards, of Joliet. Illinois). Lewis and Emeline are dead. Enos Ayres settled a mile and a half south of the village, in 1819, and engaged in cabinet-making. After 1820 the settlement increased very slowly for a number of years. It had grown with considerable rapidity until then, but Judge Wells, the principal owner of the land, in that year raised the price to about three dollars per acre, and there seemed but little inclination among would be settlers to take it at that price. Judge Ives, of Wallingford, Connecticut, one of the ablest men New Haven had among its many able citizens, came to the village in 1820, married Polly Frisbie, and resided there most of his years. He died in 1864. Moses S. Beach came the same year, and at a later date brought his family to the then growing and active little town. Dr. John B. Johnson came also in 1820. He was from Southington, Connecticut. He married Roxanna Andrews, settled down in the village to follow his profession, and was doing very well with prospect of fine success in the .future. He died, however, in 1824, leaving a family of four children— Jane E., Hermie, John B. and Wallace. Jane E. is the wife of William F. Knight, himself an old resident of the county. Wallace is in Buffalo, and the other two are dead. Richard Frisbie came to the township about this time. He married Emma Andrews, a sister of Mrs. Johnson. Ives Rice, of Wallingford. Connecticut, came to New Haven in 1821. He married Elizabeth Johnson. J. B. Lewis, of New London, Connecticut, came into New Haven in 1822, but returned east and remained until the spring of 1823. He lived upon the town plat, and was a tanner, until 1833. when he bought a farm—lot eighty-one, section two, and made his home there. His first wife was Louisa White, and his second, Susan Head. He has three children living: Oscar, (in Illinois,) Leander H., (in Knox county, Ohio,) and James S. (at home. John Loveland came into the township in June. 1822. He was a native of Vermont, but moved into Ohio from Pennsylvania. He took up lots thirty-four and thirty-three, section two. He was engaged for several years in the production of whisky, and distilled peppermint and other essences. He married, in 1824, Flora, a daughter of Joseph Dana, and several years after her death married Calista Curtiss. His children, by both wives, are: John B., (in Fremont,) William W., (in Michigan.) Rockwell, (deceased.) Almira Jane, (Mrs. Woodworth, New Haven.) Flora A., (in New York,) George W., (in Richland county.) and Oscar A., on the old homestead. The Brewbakers, from Pennsylvania originally, but directly from Mansfield, settled upon lot nine, section two. The old gentleman's name was Andrew, and his sons were Andrew, Jacob, and John. Peter and John Lang were among the early settlers. They came from New York, and lived in the village. The first named was an odd and original character, who had a hand in almost every harem-scarem [sic] adventure that was enacted in his time. William B. Moore was a prominent citizen, who arrived in 1819. He married Mary Graham, of Greenfield. Dr. Philo P. Hoy, Ira Towne, John D. Loomis. Merrit Clark, George Knight, and several others, who took a leading part in the affairs of the village, became residents about this time. Henry Moore, of New York State,...
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
REVEREND A.C. PRETZER & The E & R CHURCH: During the mid-19th century political turmoil in parts of Germany became the catalyst for peoples to migrate to the United States of America. Of the thousands of families that left their “Fatherland” some 100 of them choose to settle in Vermilion, Ohio. More than a few of their names are still familiar to local citizens: Abel, Fischer, Gegenheimer, Griesel, Hahn, Neiding, and Schmidt (to name only a few). By both nature and habit they were a religious lot accustomed to having a church home where they could attend services and prayer meetings on a regular basis. In Autumn of 1852 they organized a church organization. Early the following year church officers purchased two lots on Grand Street for $75 and on May 2 construction was begun. By late November of the same year the congregation assembled for services in the new church. However; formal dedication ceremonies weren’t held until December 31, 1854. Total construction costs were $724. Less than 20 years later that church became too small for the growing congregation so it was sold at auction and moved down by the river. The new church, which forms the nucleus of the existing Evangelical and Reformed Church on the corner of Grand and Ohio Streets, was formally dedicated in February of 1896. By this time a young minister named Albert C. Pretzer had already been in the service of the congregation for six years. During Reverend Pretzer’s pastorate. (1890 - 1901 and 1909 - 1919) he saw many building improvements. New doors which would swing outward were installed; the church was wired for electricity; a new furnace was installed to replace two wood stoves located at the back of the sanctuary; the building was raised, moved back from the street, and placed atop a new basement that had been dug during the moving process. Rev. Pretzer had (at that time) been in service of the church longer than any of his predecessors. And it was during his tenure as pastor of this congregation that he reflected upon his childhood, and what his parents had taught him and his four siblings about the meaning of Christmas. Both Pretzer’s parents were born in Germany. So as previously stated about the religious natures of Vermilion’s German settlers his early home environment was very similar. His family considered Christmas to be “the most joyous event of the whole year”. And “waiting for its annual recurrence seemed like passing through a small eternity”. Every Christmas the Reverend’s parents would have each child choose a passage in the old German Hymn book they had carried from their homeland describing the Nativity of the Christ Child and commit it to memory. And then, on the Eve of Christmas, each child would be expected to recite that passage in the candle-light of the tree in their home without stammering. Later they would repeat their performance(s) at the festival in their church. And it was also from his parents that he learned the symbolic meaning of the tree. “Its evergreen was to represent the never changing love, grace, mercy, and power of Christ. The candle-lights represented Him as being the light of the whole world. The exchanging of gifts referred to Christ as being the unspeakable gift of a Father to a lost world.” Although he considered his family’s way of celebrating the event to be rather “simple”, it undoubtedly “had a good and lasting effect” upon his character. Persons familiar with the face of the old church on Grand Street may now better understand just how such character influenced the lives and history of the people who lived (and still live) in Vermilion.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 12-14-22; Ancestry.com; US Census; 1910 & 1920; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 12/23/04; Written 12/19/04 @ 3:29 PM.
A PIONEER’S STORY: (continued from PJ 7-7-05)...Goodell. She and her twin sister Mary were the daughters of the Reverend Mr. Jotham Weeks and Anna G. Bachelor Goodell. (Reverend Goodell, as previously mentioned, was the pastor who presided over dedication services of the first church in Vermilion Village on 12-20-1843.) In 1849 Phoebe and Mr. Holden Judson were united in marriage in the pulchritudinous church beside the one room school both had attended as youngsters. At the time those were the only church and school in the village proper. Holden’s family had been among the first to settle in the region. In July of 1809 Holden’s grandfather, Rufus Judson, his family, and several other families had traversed a new road (Lake Road), which ran along the lake shore from Rocky River to Huron, to settle in a place called Jessup (Florence Township; PJ 5-12-05). They were from Danbury Connecticut. About 1811-1812 Rufus, who was a blacksmith/farmer, moved his family to Vermilion. Mrs. Judson would later lose her life on Lake Erie while returning from a trip to Buffalo. Holden was born in Vermilion in 1826. His father, Charles P. Judson (b.1775), was Vermilion’s first storekeeper. For a number of years he was also Vermilion’s Township Clerk. Holden’s only sister, Lucretia. also attended the little brick school house in the village square. She later graduated from Oberlin College. By the year 1850 the population center of the efflorescing nation had shifted from Baltimore, Maryland to Parkersburg on the Ohio River. In 1851 a gentleman by the name of Horace Greely published a piece in the New York Tribune that advised, “Go West Young Man. Go West!” And at the beginning of the decade roughly 44 thousand people had followed Greely’s advice. Holden and Phoebe would also heed that counsel. In 1853 Holden, a pregnant 20 year old Phoebe, and their 2 year old daughter, Anna, embarked on an overland journey across the North American continent into the wilderness of the West. Their destination? The Puget Sound country of the Oregon Territory where the government of the United States promised to each head of family who settled there a grant of land. The journey along the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon often drawn by a team of oxen was not easy for anyone. The main killers were disease (i.e. typhoid, smallpox, malaria) and accident. Of perhaps 10 thousand deaths that occurred along the trail only 4% were due to Indian raids. Phoebe’s account of this journey, and ensuing years, as she and her family helped shape the state of Washington and build the town of Lynden out of the wilderness can be found in her book, A Pioneer’s Search For An Idea Home, published in 1925 when she was 94 years old. Remarkably (or perhaps not) Phoebe often recalled her life in Vermilion, Ohio as she and Holden searched for their “ideal home” in the west:
‘One night in my dreams I was with a dear companion of my younger days. She wandered with me on Lake Erie’s beach; a soft south wind was blowing; the little ripples came creeping over the shells and pebbles; my hungry heart was feeding on those joys of bygone days; a passion of love filled my being; stooping, I extended my hands over the clear waters as though I would caress them, and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful, Lake Erie.”...’
Today history books refer to her as “The Mother of Lynden” Washington. She gave name to the town in reference to the poem Hohenlinden by T. Campbell, choosing to spell it with a “y” simply because it looked prettier. Today in Lynden folks fondly refer to her as “Aunt Phoebe”. But call her what you will; aunt, wife, mother, sister, daughter, abolitionist, suffragist, prohibitionist, transcendentalist; Phoebe Goodell Judson was a Pioneer in the finest sense of the word. She was a Pioneer whose roots, forged in a tiny hamlet in Ohio during the early 19th century, helped give both form and substance to a great nation.
Ref: A Pioneer’s Search For An Ideal Home; Phoebe Goodell Judson; University of Nebraska Press; 1984 reprinted from the orignal 1925 edition; Blockhouses and Military Posts of the Firelands; Cherry; 1934; History of Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams; 1875; Special Thanks to Mary Michaelson; Assistant Curator; Lynden, WA. Pioneer Museum; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 7/14/05; Written 7/10/05 @ 9:54 AM.
SOME OF THE BEST NORM PETERSON QUOTES FROM "CHEERS":
"What's shaking, Norm?" "All four cheeks and a couple of chins." "What's new, Normie?" "Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach & they're demanding beer." "What'd you like, Normie?" "A reason to live. Give me another beer." "What'll you have, Normie?" "Well, I'm in a gambling mood Sammy. I'll take a glass of whatever comes out of the tap." "Looks like beer, Norm." "Call me Mister Lucky." "Hey Norm, how's the world been treating you?" "Like a baby treats a diaper." "What's the story, Mr. Peterson?" "The Bobsey Twins go to the brewery. Let's cut to the happy ending." "Hey Mr. Peterson, there's a cold one waiting for you." "I know, if she calls, I'm not here." "What's going on, Mr. Peterson?" "A flashing sign in my gut that says, 'Insert beer here.'" "Whatcha up to, Norm?" "My ideal weight if I were eleven feet tall." "How's it going, Mr. Peterson?" "Poor." "I'm sorry to hear that." "No, I mean pour." "How's life treating you, Norm?" "Like it caught me sleeping with its wife." "Women. Can't live with 'em.... pass the beer nuts." "What's going down, Normie?" "My butt cheeks on that bar stool." "Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?" "Alright, but stop me at one....make that one-thirty." "How's it going, Mr. Peterson?" "It's a dog eat dog world, Woody and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear." "What's the story, Norm?" "Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer." "Can I pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?" "A little early, isn't it, Woody?" "For a beer?" "No, for stupid questions."
PODCAST #224:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #223 features Part Three of Vermilionite Bill Summers presentation on the subject of Morgan's Raiders. This is the 3rd of a series. It was recorded at a meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society at the Ritter Public Library on March 14th.
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 and MOV) podcasts (when used) are done in the "Quicktime MP4 / MOV" formats. If you don't have a "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.
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Vol.9, Issue 4, April 9, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant