DESKTOP - 09/17/11 - THE G.A.R. Band Parading
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: I overheard an interesting comment made by an investment advisor last week that I thought interesting. On the subject of unemployment in the U.S. the advisor pointed out that while conditions were bad for the unemployed � it�s right around 9% right now � one has to keep in mind that it means that 91% are employed.
I don�t mean to make light of the situation in any way. But the comment kind of takes the edge off the doom and gloom pundits on the nightly news. [Talk about putting a spin on things.]
EAST RIVER ROAD PROJECT: Its real name is Vermilion Road. But some folks used to refer to it as �East River� road. In any case, it looks like someone is about to build something on the southeast corner of Vermilion and Liberty roads across from Linwood Park. For a time there was a service station on that corner. Then it was torn down, and the lot has been standing empty (and for sale) for over a decade. What do you suppose will be built there (if, indeed, that�s what�s going on)?
VERMILION NEWS BUILDING UPDATE: This (and part of last) week Garth Grob (Vermilion�s Tri-Power Electric) installed a new 200 amp electric service in the building. The service update also included new breakers that shut down at the first sign of an arc; four new outlets in the office (There were none); a wall switch for the lights (you used to have to pull a string to turn the lights on); and moved the lights to the center of the office. (They were off center.) Eventually we�ll highlight the presses, etc. in the building with strategically placed lighting. Thus far we�ve not removed any of the existing fixtures. We�re trying to keep things as original as possible. We�ve even kept some of the old wiring on the exterior even though the wires are not connected to anything.
Next week the old boiler in the basement will be removed to make way for a new one. I�ve no idea of how they�ll get that monster out of the building. This, like the entire project, is a challenge.
CALLING ON THE COPS: Candy Fischer, Margaret Worcester, my wife, Georgi, and I were invited by VPD Chief Hartung to the old �Ambulance Garage� (the old service station on the northwest corner of Liberty and Grand streets) on Friday (9/16/11) afternoon to go through some of their old files to see if we might find anything of interest for the Vermilion Area Archival Society before the documents are shredded. My, my but they had a great deal of �stuff�. It just didn�t occur to me until now that everything the police do is recorded. Times all those things by 30 or more years, place them in boxes, and you have (as said) a lot of �stuff�. Of course, some of it was off limits. And what we were mainly looking for were pictures. We did acquire a few photographs, and a few other documents. A few of the pix may be used in a future �VV�. Nonetheless it was an interesting experience.
Historically,
VERY, VERY FAMILIAR FACES
SERENDIPITOUS THINGS: My friend Bill Hlavin sent me this pic last Tuesday (9/13/11) and it's a "beaut". He said, "This group of ladies had formed a quartet in the mid fifties. They sang just about anywhere that they were requested. Church meetings, fraternal organizations etc. This particular picture was taken at boys Village in Smithville just north of Wooster. Pictured from L.to R. are:
This is really a great photograph.
"The bucolic setting in the photograph accompanying this essay was District School #4 on the corner of Joppa and Darrow Roads"
DISTRICT SCHOOL #4: When South Street School opened it�s doors in the 1927-28 School year the rural schools - the one-room school houses in Vermilion�s hinterlands - were forever closed; and Vermilion�s education system officially entered the 20th century. Initially the new, state of the art, building only had room for the upper six grades. The lower grades occupied the rooms at the old State Street School. But by 1939 an additional wing on the new building made possible for all youngsters in the district to (again) attend one school; albeit a far cry from their pastoral antecedents. And call it what one may - an upgrade, enhancement, improvement, or even a necessity - there were, undoubtedly, a few students who would not have applied any of those terms to the change they experienced. As American writer Ellen Glasgow so aptly observed; �All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward�. Nevertheless the change did come.
The bucolic setting in the photograph accompanying this essay was District School #4 on the corner of Joppa and Darrow Roads just a few miles to the south and east of the Village of Vermilion. The approximate year of the photo is 1920. It was the same year that the Treaty of Versailles ending the first World War - �the war to end all wars� - was ratified; Jim Thorpe had been named the president of the American Professional Football League; the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed granting women the right to vote; and an Ohio boy - Warren Harding - was elected in a landslide to become the 29th U.S. President. At the time Ohio was also very near the geographic center of the United States - population-wise. Ergo; this photograph is, very literally, a vintage portrait of �middle American� school children of that era.
And thanks to the thoughtful individual who owned this copy of the photo most of the persons in it have been positively identified. Photographed by J.R. Leiter, 37 W. College St., Oberlin, O. they are:
1st Row L-R: Ivan Myers, Earl / Ernie Fichtel, Louie Kovacs, Fred Fichtel, Milton Sanders, Myron Shoop, Henry Fichtel, and Wesley Myers.
2nd Row L-R: James Sanders, Frank Wlodarsky, Ora Crum, Edith Crum, Stella Wlodarsky, Ruth Baker, Catherine Sanders, and Claudia Hauff .
3rd Row L-R: Teacher (Miss K.?), Catherine Fichtel, and Louise Baker.
The detail in the photograph is to be appreciated. These youngsters walked to school and shoes were apparently optional. That the group knew their picture would be taken on this day is very likely. For some of the boys wore neckties for the occasion, and two of them are sporting lilac boutonnieres. Two of the younger boys (Henry Fichtel and Wesley Myers right front) are wearing faux civil war era military uniforms. One (Fichtel�s) even has a calvary insignia on the collar. The young ladies are all dressed quite nicely with ribbons in their hair. (All of them are wearing shoes.) The schoolhouse (I am told) still exists, and is currently used as a private residence.
Many of the names of those photographed are well known about the area. The Wlodarsky family was from Poland. The Fichtels were of German origin. Some like Kovacs were Hungarian. Their precise reasons for settling in this particular area are not known. Whether it reminded them of their homelands, or whether they just arbitrarily settled where family / friends from their homelands settled is also an unknown. But the positive impact of their presence in the community is well known by many. Perhaps that impact had something to do with what they were taught in this one-room school on Joppa Road in that yesteryear - before a tide called progress came along and swept them away. But perhaps not.
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...
September 3, 1903 � Volume 7 � Number 14
After several postponements the Class of �03 has at last received their diplomas and now pass into the history of the Vermilion high school as among the graduates of that institution.
The commencement exercises were among the best ever held in this Village and the large audience, which greeted the class Friday evening seemed to enjoy the event immensely.
The hall was beautiful decorated with banners, flag and streamers of pink and green, the class colors and many ferns and other plants and flowers converted the stage into a beautiful bower. Above hung the class motto, �Life is what we make it.�
The program was carried out as advertised with the exception of the class history by Miss Florence McClurg. She was present but unable to participate on account of recent illness.
The orations were well delivered and brought forth much applause from the audience.
The music was furnished was by Ortli�s Orchestra mention of the which is made elsewhere.
One of the features of the evening was the class address by Rev. W.D. Atkinson, Ph. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Norwalk. He took for his theme �The vision of Ezekiel.� He told many pointed stories and gave much good advice to all. The audience was much pleased with his address.
After the address Prof. J.C. Seemann presented the class with their diplomas.
The class consists of Linda M. Neilson, Fred A. Snyder, Bertha E. Neiding, Florence M. McCurg [sic] and Pressdee B. Morgan.
The citizens of Vermilion should be well pleased with the public schools. We have a good school board and Superintendent and a capable corp [sic] of instructors and we believe the boys and girls of Vermilion have as good an opportunity of obtaining an education as those in ano [sic] section of the United States and we are so glad that so many of our young people are taking advantage of it.
We will be pleased to have the person or persons who borrowed a ladder and scythe, return the same to the mill. � D&A.T. Christmann.
Nuhn and Trinter�s Stars won a game from Lorain Stars Sunday, August 30th, by the score of 26 to 14. The Stars cross bats with the West End Stars of Sandusky Sunday Sept. 6. The Stars will line up as follows: Tischer, rf., A. Ries, 3b., W. Krapp, 1b., Ritter, c., A. Krapp 2b., Hoffner, lf., Leidheiser, ss., Judge, p., Friday or Leimbach df., the boys promise that the game will be a good one.
Mrs. A. Beeckel and children are guests of Elyria relatives.
Albert Hahn and Albert Rust sailed with Capt. Blattner Monday on the new boat.
Silver mounted show cases will be used in the Ladies Department to display their exhibits at Erie Co. Fair.
Pressdee Morgan expects to go to Oberlin soon, where he will attend college.
Fred Ledrach of Birmingham spent several days of last week in town, the guest of M. Foster.
J.H. Baumhardt was in Lorain on business Tuesday.
Arthur Dalzell of Huron formally of this place will be married to Miss Minnie McConoughley of the same place Thursday evening Sept. 3d.
Mr. and Mrs. H. Kane entertained company from Toledo several days last week.
C.L. Whittlesey attended the G.A.R. Encampment at Lake Side Wednesday and Thursday.
Mrs. Philip Darley spent several days of last week in Vermilion the guest of her brother H. Leidheiser.
Miss Minnie Hahn was the guest of her brother Louis Hahn and family at Ceylon Sunday.
Next Monday, labor day, the Lakewood Yacht Club and the Cleveland Y.C. Will hold a race of Vermilion.
Such boats as the Chloris will compete.
Vermilion was decided upon as the best point from which to hold the races as it is a good harbor of refuge in case of sudden storm and easy of access.
Quite a number of boats will enter the contest.
It will pay any one to come to Vermilion Labor Day as this race will be equal to any ever run. The crack yachts of the lakes are among the best afloat and it is expected this race will be the finest of the season.
Monday was the day on which the bids for the Vermilion waterworks bonds were opened. Only three bidders had met the requirements and at a meeting of the Council held in the evening they were rejected. The premium being under what was deemed fair.
The bonds will be again advertised as provided in an ordinance published elsewhere.
Thomas Bottomley is the guest of friends in Milan.
E.T. Bottomley and daughter Mrs. Pearl Roscoe returned from their eastern trip Monday evening.
Work is progress at the stove works and it is thought that the first casting will be done this week.
Rev. and Mrs. A.E. Thompson and Miss Lottie Goodell left Lorain for their new home in Berea Ky. Tuesday.
At a meeting of the council held last Friday evening the trustees of the C.C. Baumhart Black Farm addition presented the plat and turned over the streets of that addition to the village. The council took the necessary action in the matter.
Coroner French has completed his investigation into the accident at Oak Point on Sunday, August 16th, in which four women were run down by a Lake Shore Electric car and one of them killed. He finds that no criminal neglect can attach to the motorman of the car., as the women were walking upon the private right of way of the line and he did all in his power to stop the car.
Robert, the three �months-old son of Mrs. Samuel Favro, of Fremont, died yesterday afternoon in this city, where Mrs. Favro was visiting. Mrs. Favro�s husband was killed a few months ago in an accident at Vermilion. �Norwalk Reflector.
Mr. Favro was one of the men killed on the Lake Shore bridge here early in the summer.
A switch engine and freight came together early Sunday morning at Bellevue. Both engineers wee killed.
Sunday the new steamer Woodruff met with an accident. She was going from the shipyard to the car dump when her wheel struck against one of the piles at the old lime kiln dock breaking one of the buckets. A gang of men worked all day Sunday repairing the damage. � Lorain News.
Now located at the rear of �News office� in the Miller building will be ready for business Tuesday Sept. 8th. This is the time of year to free your beds and pillows of impurities, moths, after sickness, etc. Feather mattresses made. Bring your feathers, or we get and deliver them for you. Call and see us. [VV Ed. Note: After the spring smallpox epidemic these guys probably had a substantial number of customers.]
Hmmmmmm....
�While J. Buster was unloading ice from the People�s Ice Co. wagon, last Saturday behind H.S. Miller�s saloon, the horse became frightened..."
FINDING H.S. MILLER & SOME WISDOM: When I was young - and knew everything - I would have looked at the photograph accompanying these words and immediately said, �It wasn�t taken in Vermilion.� But then something odd happened. Years passed, I got older, and discovered that I didn�t know much about anything - let alone a photo such as it. It was an epiphany of �comeuppance�; and, I found, one that is both justly earned and deserved.
But setting all that aside, I do give myself some credit for not rejecting everything I don�t immediately recognize - including this photo - entirely, and subsequently deleting all from my computer. That�s not because I�ve any hunch about them being relevant to my field of interest though. It�s really because I just like old photographs.
This particular item is a scanned reproduction of a post-card with a postal stamp date of April 5, 1907. Because general information pertaining to digital photo copies can be easily found using tools found on most computers I can tell you that I�ve had a copy of this photo for nearly six years. More precisely, I�ve had it since 10:47 PM, E.S.T., October 27, 2004. Every now and then I�d come across it while looking for something else; and I�d stop and wonder where it might have been. It looks like it might have been a nice place. And Mr. H.S. Miller (assuming that it is he on the walk outside the restaurant) appears to be proud of his enterprise. But the message on the card is somewhat difficult to decipher. It appears to read something like: �To Sir and Comrade - don�t forget it is nearing Decoration and we need the wind - F C & Z - H.S. Miller...�
Although I didn�t think much about the photo when I originally saw it I filed it away in the dusty recesses of my memory until last Saturday. Using a portable microfilm reader I was browsing through a reel of film of The Vermilion News containing an issue from May 18, 1899 when I came across the following article:
�While J. Buster was unloading ice from the People�s Ice Co. wagon, last Saturday behind H.S. Miller�s saloon, the horse became frightened at a piece of loose paper and ran away. It was caught in front of C. Deckers coal office. No damage was done, except a cut on the horse�s leg.�
According to the News piece Miller�s enterprise would - in 1907 - have been located somewhere along Division / Main Street between Liberty Avenue and the railroad. It �may� have been one of the several businesses that located in the shops behind the newly built (c. 1892) Pelton-McGraw market on the southwest corner of the downtown business block.
Searching further into the person whom I only knew as �H.S. Miller� I discovered that his name was Henry; and that he was born in Vermilion in 1843 of German born parents. His father�s name was John; and his mother�s name was Ester (Keesker). Early in his marriage to his wife Gertrude the family lived in Berlin Township. Together they had eight children. By the time the post-card was dated Mr. Miller would have been nearing his 64th year. And by 1910, after setting aside a tidy sum of money from his years as an entrepreneur, he and Gertrude had retired to a nice home on N. Washington Street in Vermilion and were about raising but one more child; a granddaughter named Marion H. Krapp. Henry died on the 23rd Day of May in 1911.
I�m glad that when I was younger that I didn�t (for whatever reason) destroy this photograph of a yesteryear. I guess it may be said that in our younger years some of us may tend to be more impulsive / naive. But given some time, and if we�re fortunate enough, that can change. Perhaps we don�t get any smarter. We just get a little bit wiser.
An intermetallic coating is a coating comprised of two or more metals (in this case, nickel and boron) that reduces friction while simultaneously increasing durability and lifespan of the object being coated. This invention results in the creation of a coating that uses Sodium Borohydride as the Boron source, rather than Boric acid, and incorporates Zirconyl ions as deposition enhancers to increase the percent of Boron in relation to Nickel that can be deposited onto the surface of a blade. This new Intermetallic coating is harder, cheaper, more friction resistant, and more environmentally friendly than any other coating on the market today. Currently, one in every third cast removal results in some kind of burn or laceration to the patient as burns and abrasions can occur from the heat created by frictional forces and direct blade contact. This coating may revolutionize the medical industry by preventing harms from medical saw blades. It may also be used in any metal-based industry, including automotive, oil and gas drilling, and food processing industries by reducing harsh abrasion. It is of importance to the military and armed forces as it uniquely reduces infrared emissivity by an effective means of heat distribution, making military devices practically invisible to infrared sensors. In addition, since this coating is harder than previous ones and more cost effective, it is a better alternative to current products to coat the barrels of guns.
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.
�post office was established at the locality now known as Edwards' Corners, and the Rev. Joseph Edwards was made postmaster. When Delphi begun to be a place of trade, the post office was removed there, and designated as Ripleyville�the name by which it has ever since been known. There is another post office in the township, upon the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad, named Carson.
The water power of the township being insignificant, there have never been any very successful flouring or saw mills run by this power, and for the same and other reasons no branch of manufacturing has ever been extensively carried on. There are now two saw mills in the township�one at Delphi, at present owned by David Truxell and John Howard, built in 1860, and one in the northern part of the township, upon lot twenty-one, section three, owned, for the past three years, by Robert Maynard. These, and a small manufactory of drain tiles, owned by Hubbard Hoak and located at Delphi, are the only manufacturing interests that Ripley possesses.
A far more important line of business in this township is the raising of blooded stock by a number of enterprising men. So extensively has this branch of the farmer's calling been carried on that it has made Ripley famous, wherever in our State an interest is taken in the improvement of cattle, sheep and horses, particularly the former classes of animals. S. W. Thomas is deserving of the credit, in all probability, of owning the finest flock of sheep in Ohio. Mr. Thomas, a native of New York State, came to Ripley in 1854, and about ten years later began the business of raising. He selected from the flocks of the following gentlemen in Addison county, Vermont: Messrs. C. D. Lane, C. W. Mason, W. H. Cook, Tyler, Stickney & Son, E. G. Farnham, S. J. Northrup & Son, F. & L. E. Moore, Rockwell & Sanford, Hall & Holden, J. A. Wright, H. Jones, George W. Paine, C. P. Crane, Mrs. C. W. Hayward and H. These purchases were followed up in the years 1865 and 1866, also in 1871, 1877, 1878 and 1879, the object constantly aimed at being the improvement of the flock through the introduction of the best blooded stock procurable. In purchasing, Mr. Thomas has spared no pains to secure the best sheep in the country, often paying as high as one hundred dollars per head, and in one instance one hundred and fifty for ewes. The rams used in the flock have cost from three to twenty-five hundred dollars a piece. The flock, at this writing, consists of something over two hundred and forty sheep. Of these, some of the ewes shear as heavy as seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and even twenty pounds of wool, and the rams from twenty-four to twenty-eight pounds a piece. Mr. Thomas' sales of sheep, during 1878 and the first two or three months of 1879 have amounted to upwards of four thousand dollars. Although giving most of his attention to sheep raising, Mr. Thomas has a very good herd of short horns (Durhams). He commenced breeding cattle in 1874.
A man who makes more of a specialty of cattle breeding is W. P. Noble, formerly of Richland county, but for the past fifteen years a resident of Ripley. He has a farm of two hundred and fifty acres in the south part of Ripley, upon which are to be seen some of the best specimens of thoroughbred Durham cattle that the country can produce. He has also quite a herd in Morrow county. Mr. Noble also raises some fine wooled sheep of the Spanish Merino variety. There are several other farmers in the township who have some remarkably fine thoroughbred cattle, among whom J. S. White is particularly deserving of mention.
Sol Lofland, the veteran breeder and trainer of running horses, is also a resident, and has been for over thirty years, of Ripley. He has upon his farm about thirty-five head of valuable horses.
Ripleyville Grange, No. 707, was organized March 16, 1874 with sixteen members. Following are the first officers elected: S. E. Peck, master; D. S. Washburn, overseer; William Baker, lecturer; Stephen Case, steward; B. L. Alverson, assistant steward; J. M. Maynard, chaplain; 0. G. Hall, secretary; E. Benedict', treasurer; J. Sattison, gate keeper; Mrs. M. A. Hall, Ceres; Mrs. H. E. Maynard, Pomona; Mrs. Sarah Washburn. Flora; Mrs. S. E. Peck, stewardess. The grange has now a membership of forty-five persons. Following are the ladies and gentlemen in office in 1879: Ira Paine, master; James R. Knight, overseer; G. L. Childs, lecturer; Robert Watts, steward; John Howard, assistant steward; Mrs. Mary Childs, chaplain; David Lyon, treasurer; 'Mrs. A. D. Stotts, secretary; David Truxell, gate keeper; Mrs. Ira Paine, Ceres; Robert Watts, Pomona; Mrs. S. Washburn, Flora; Mrs. John Howard, stewardess.
F. C. PAINE.
The subject of this sketch disclaims the possession of any qualities that entitle him to the mention that his friends believe should be made of him. He says that the most that can be claimed for him, is that he is one of that number whose effort and aim, thus far through life, have been to make the world better for his having been in it.
F. C. Paine was born November 23. 1819 at Enfield, Tompkins county, New York. In the spring�
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
VERMILION SIGNS: This business card for Vermilionite Dick McQueen's sign company was printed on the Heidelberg press at The Vermilion News back in the early 1960s.
I assume that Dick has been retired for some time now. But I believe his company still exists. It was located just above the Vermilion River very near the spot where Cooper-Foster Park road topped the hollow in the east side of the river. I don't know whether it's still there or not.
McQueen made many of the business signs around town including the one at the old Kountry Kitchen restaurant where I worked as a youngster. He was one of those "good guys" who used to take his coffee breaks at the restaurant.
His business card was as attractive as his many signs.
"What size bra you got there?"
"The voices in my head want to know if you're trying to kill us?"
"More prune juice, my sweet?"
"Would you mind if we skipped supper and just pigged out on popcorn at the theatre?"
"So... does the sight of blood scare you?"
"Do you mind if I floss?"
"Well, now that you know all about my maggot farm, do you collect anything?"
"Would you mind if I pinched that zit of yours that's distracting me?"
"Did you make that dress from an old set of curtains?"
"Are we gonna kiss later on? Because I've been practicing with my dog and I think I'm getting pretty good.
PODCAST #0:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #0 is none existant - again. I'm waiting until I've got something nice that's easy to load.
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.
How the old links menu looked
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Vol.9, Issue 27, September 17, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant