SOUTH STREET BLUES
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: Tuesday Larry and Yvette Hohler stopped by the Print Shop to look around. They’re from Long Island, NY. Larry’s aunt and uncle were well-known Vermilionites, Margaret (Tansey) and Larry Shafts. Though both are retired they are very involved with their Hope Homes Children’s project in Kenya. They were here to visit Larry’s mother and brother, Dale, in the Milan area. When they’re around they usually stop to see me. They also made some welcome contributions to my projects at the Vermilion Food Pantry and the Print Shop Museum.
When talking about their Hope Homes project in Kenya they told me that now they’re faced with a new problem. When they started the home of orphaned children they had not really given a great deal of thought to what might happen when the children came of age. Now they find themselves at that point. Consequently they’ve started to put together a manual training program for the young adults that will give them more than simply academic skills. They have a farm, and they’ve begun to mill some of their grains. After the grains are milled they’re placed in sacks and tied. Now they’re going to try to get the machinery that will allow them to stitch the tops of the bags close. So they’re preparing room for sewing machines where these folks can be trained to sew, etc.
This is a very important and worthy project. You can catch their webpage in the links section of “Views”. I believe you’ll be positively impressed.
THE NEW YEAR: It appears that the New Year will arrive before we have any snow in Vermilion. Thus far, I’ve heard no complaints. It’s been a quiet week in town. There’ve been a few homes burgled – some twice – but other than that…
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
Historically,
RAY & DAWN
DAWN FULL: Prologue: What follows is the third of a series of oral history interviews conducted by the Vermilion Area Archival Society on July 30, 2011 during an event they sponsored in Exchange Park called “Remembering Old Vermilion”. Though no small part of the history of Vermilion, O. can be found in books, paintings, and old photographs, it may be that the very best accounts of the yesteryear are to be found among oral histories such as these
Born Dawn Narcissa Malson she was the only child born to Dr. Totten S, and Montros N Malson in Akron, Ohio on January 28,1918. At that time her mother managed a shop in Akron while her father attended dental school in Cleveland. After her father “got his license” the family moved to Cleveland – “to Shaker” (Heights)- where he established his practice. She attended and graduated from Shaker Heights High.
Not many people know it but Dawn was a pilot and an Airway Traffic Controller. While attending college at Wittenberg she recalled, “they had civil pilot training. They had [ruled that] ‘so many boys and one girl’ [would be eligible for the training]. I was the ‘one girl‘ so I got my pilots license. And then I worked at the Cleveland airport. Well, no, I take that back. I got my license and I worked at the Springfield airport. And after I graduated the head of the airport said that they were looking for people for airway traffic control because you could either have a pilot’s license or you could have a college degree. And since I had both [it was suggested] that I should send my application in. So I did; and, blithely, took off for Long Island to a wedding. My father [then] sent me a telegram, and said to come home because I was to report to the Cleveland airport in July.”
“I had an airplane - a Taylorcraft with slotted wings - along with some of the fellas in the tower. I was in the airway traffic control and they were in the tower. And so during those days – I can’t remember exactly what the years were – but they were having an air race in Miami. You could fly into different airports and you could get gas and oil and they didn’t charge you for it. So this friend of mine – we packed our bags and we started off. We went to Bucyrus, I think. From Bucyrus we went to Cincinnati. After we took off from Cincinnati we ran into a snowstorm, oddly enough. It was just a freak. So we had to land. And that was one of my first”, she chuckled – “well my first on this trip – my first [forced] landing. So she [her friend] had to take everything out. And I had to fly the airplane to a little airport to pick her up. Get loaded again. Then from there we were supposed to go to…ah…it’s at the top of a hill… Can’t think of the name of it. And we were flying along, and it was getting dark, and my airplane wouldn’t go any higher (chuckle). So, uh, we had another forced landing. This was in a field that at that time it had been cotton. But it had been picked so it was an empty field. It rained that night so you couldn’t get the airplane out because it was all stuck in this mud. We spent the night. We went looking around and we stayed in a house – the only one in the whole group that had paint on it. (chuckle) All the little kids came running out saying, ‘Stay at our house.’ So they took us in and we stayed all night. And then the people from the little airport, which wasn’t too far from there, came and picked us up. One of the men was driving to Miami. So we went with him. The people from the [Cleveland] tower were going to go to Miami so they just arranged to pick up the airplane at the little airport. They picked it up, and they flew it down to Daytona Beach, and put it up on its nose when they landed on the beach (chuckle). I did umpteen forced landings and never did anything to it. “
Her work at the Cleveland airport was no less fateful. In fact it led her to meet and marry a Vermilion man named Ray Full (1918-1985). At the airport she explained, “The airway traffic control was upstairs in ‘Sundorff Hanger’. Down below they had the planes for civil pilot training. My husband was an ‘A&E’ – an aircraft and engine mechanic. I used to go upstairs, and the only thing I’d see was his butt hanging out because he was always working on the engines. My supervisor told him that if he would buy a war bond he would get a date with me. So that was where I met him. He bought a war bond. The funny part was that he was a ‘Star Boater’ years back when Al Wakefield and everybody had star boats. My first date with him was on the star boat. Al had named the star boat the ‘Crack of Dawn’. So that did it.”
Tracing the history of Kishman Fish, which Dawn and Ray purchased from Lester Kishman in the early 1970’s, she stated “Kishman Fish was started by Adam Kishman (1831-1901) in 1864. It was four miles east of Vermilion on Lake Erie. I don’t know exactly where it was. And then in 1905 Henry (1858-1948), Adam’s son, located the business on the west bank of the Vermilion River. It expanded. …Lester (1905-2000) took over in 1931 after Henry’s death. And in 1948 he became president.” Ray then, worked for Lester. “He was his accountant. He gradually started managing the company.”
“In about ’70 the commercial fishing was kind ‘a dying down and they closed gillnetting in 1984.” The gill net tugs, she said, “were those “with the covered body. You weren’t’ allowed to use them after 1984, and that really cut back on fishing. Then you go to trap nets.”
She went on to say that Ray “was on the Fish and Wildlife or something like that; something to do with the government. So we would take two trips a year. One trip would be to Washington and the next trip would be to…Seattle or wherever. I know one year we were supposed to go to Hawaii. And Ray said,’ I’m not going to Hawaii’. And I said, ‘Oh yes you are. The government’s paying for it and we’re going.’ It didn’t pay for me, but it paid for him. So when we were leaving I said, ‘How much money have you got?’ And he said, ‘Twelve dollars and 95 cents.’ And I said, ‘You better go down to Kishman and get some money because you’re not using any of mine.’ After he got to Hawaii he had a wonderful time.” But they did work she said. “They were all conferring with Canada and all the different fisheries. I’m sure they – the whole group – got together and passed different laws.“
There are many accomplishments in Dawn’s life that she didn’t have the time to touch on during this interview. What, for instance, might anyone say about his or her life in 30 minutes or less? As English author Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 1762) so aptly put it “Life is too short for a long story.” And so it is.
"In 1912 the man who started it all - George W. Hess - opened the Inn at Elberta Beach amid an orchard of Elberta peach trees..."
THE ELBERTA: For over a year now I’ve been struggling at putting together a pictorial history of the Vermilion area. Saturday morning, as I was grinding away at the task, my sister, Nancy, called to tell me that Vermilion’s landmark Elberta Inn restaurant was ablaze. She said, “I thought you’d want to know.” And I did.
Coincidentally (and I’m not prevaricating), I was transferring the photographs that accompany this essay to another image format (i.e. from “jpg” to “eps”) requested by the publisher, when I received the call. (Truth is stranger than fiction.)
I’m really unable say a great deal about the Elberta Inn. What I do know is that - along with the "Crystal Gardens" at Crystal Beach Amusement Park, the Vermilion-On-The-Lake Club House, and Ruggles Beach Dance Hall - local folks had an opportunity to listen and dance to the music of many a nationally known band / orchestra from about 1925 well into the 1940’s and early ‘50’s. In later years bands still played, and dancers still came to dance at Elberta. But the day of “big band” performances at local venues had passed.
In 1912 the man who started it all - George W. Hess - opened the Inn at Elberta Beach amid an orchard of Elberta peach trees in Vermilion, Ohio. Mr. Hess was, professionally, a cook who became a restaurateur - a very good one. [The Inn, incidentally, preceded the establishment of Vermilion’s Helfrich-McGarvey restaurant.] If the food at the Inn was excellent - which it was; the entertainment was superb. From 1925 to 1940 nearly 90 different dance bands entertained patrons throughout each year. Among them were Duke Ellington, Kay Kyser, Danny Kaye and his Swing and Sway Orchestra, Jimmy Dulia, and many, many more. One of the local bands that played at the Inn was the Floyd Hays Orchestra. The Elberta, unlike most dance halls in the region, was open 12 months a year.
Sometime during the early 1950's Routes #6 & 2 (Lake Road) from the Lorain County line into the city of Lorain was transformed from a 2-lane into a 4-lane highway. To make way for this expansion several homes and businesses had to be moved. Consequently the Elberta Inn was "picked-up" and moved back (north) about 50 feet from its original location (lower photo). During the 1960’s the restaurant was given an attractive facelift (lower photo) which it maintained - until last Saturday (2/26/11) morning.
Mr. Hess, along with his wife Gertrude (Nickley), operated the successful restaurant / night-club until his death in April of 1962. Mr. Hess’s daughters Helen (Horton) and Anna Mae (Gannett), as well as Gertrude’s brothers and sisters - the Nickley family - were, and remain, well known and respected members of the community. Helen died in 2006; Anna in 2008; and Gertrude passed away in 2010.
For the last 15 years another owner, Ali Sabbaghzadeh, has guided the operation of the restaurant now known as the “Alize At Elberta”. During this time the restaurant has earned a growing reputation for its food - especially its garlic soup. Mr. Hess would have, no doubt, been delighted. Unfortunately however, prospective diners are going to have to wait to try it. For the “Elberta” of yesteryear - as well as that of last week - is no more.
Hugh Darley who was, back in the ‘70’s, affiliated with the inn emailed me Saturday afternoon saying, “Sad...another Vermilion Landmark gone. Of course, it's especially sad for me but I have many pictures (customer pics) of my tenure there.” And yet another Vermilion expatriate, Bill Hlavin, wrote, “Another Vermilion Land mark disappears!!!!” As the kids of today are currently given to say, “True Dat, friends - true dat.”
PICK A FONT
AT THE SHOP:Ye likely have more diverse fonts on your computer that can be found in these old type cases. But it's a veritable wonder that these exist at all.
Once upon a time a great deal of the news in THE VERMILION NEWS weekly was set using the type in these cases. When the Linotypes came into the shop somewhere around 1915 to '20 they revolutionized the newspaper business. The difference was as notable as the difference between using a horse or an automobile for transporation.
But crucial to any letterpress shop for job printing was the availability of type. Moreover, the old oak cases in which the type fonts are kept are absolutely breathtaking.
This week was mostly a paperwork week for me. I finally finished up with the IRS Form 1023 to obtain 501 (c)(c) status. Now I have to search for enough money to submit it. Ah, but the wheels of progress move slowly - but they are steady.
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...
December 17 1903 - Vol VII. No. 29.
Wednesday evening the Council held a short sessions to arrange for the completion of the culvert across Water street. Geo. Fisher was present and an attempt was made to make arrangements for crossing his land and also for building a retaining wall at the south side at the end of the iron pipe placed by the commissioners.
Mr. Fisher, would not allow the placing of the wall at that point but said it could go a short distance back letting the pipe project. This the Council refused to do and ordered the wall built on the street line as it was thought that as the pipe would project anyway it would make no difference as to the distance.
The opinion of an attorney concerning the opening of Exchange street across the Lake Shore Ry., was read and the idea of opening the street will probably be abandoned as it is very doubtful whether the railroads can be compelled to open up the crossing.
There being no further business Council adjourned.
[VV Ed. Note: Mr. Fischer had been trying, for a good deal of time, to have a street crossing across the railroad tracks on Exchange Street. If you know Vermilion, and think about it, his request was altogether appropriate. All the rest of the north-south streets in town had crossings. The railroad wouldn’t budge - just as they won’t today - because of the expense involved. And the Village probably didn’t pursue the matter for similar reasons. The railroad would have them fighting in court forever. But it’s an interesting piece of local historical trivia.]
The passenger department of the Nickel Plate railway has sent out a neat souvenir in the form of link cuff buttons engraved with the usual advertising cut of an engine and the words Nickel Plate.
Saturday night at ten o’clock the cylinder head of an engine in the lighting plant at Lorain blew out plunging the city in darkness. The sudden extinguishing of the lights nearly caused a panic at the theatres. The stores were crowded with Christmas shoppers at the time and much incnonvenience [sic] resulted.
The matter of interest on the waterworks funds has been adjusted in a satisfactory manner, s we are informed. The provisions made are, $30,000 of the amount will draw 3 per cent interest until drafts are made on that amount when interest ceases. The balance will be placed for immediate use. This will give interest on the greater part of the fund for some time to come.
Fishermen all along the lake report the worst season ever experienced. Several remedies have been suggested but have much opposition. It is claimed that the fish have migrated to Canada and as an exchange has it “sworn allegiance to King Edward”. Some fishermen are advocating a closed season for several years. This opposed by some on the ground that this state might be alone in the protection of the fish while the Canadians are making good catches and would be opposed to a closed season.
The jury in the Bennett wife murder case returned a verdict Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. It was “Guilty” as charged in the Indictment”. there was no recommendation for mercy. It will [sic] remembered that Bennett was the negro who killed his wife at Oberlin recently and will be the first man from Lorain county to suffer the death penalty.
“Sandy” Silverwood attempted to sell six chickens at one or [sic] our markets Saturday evening but before the sale was made Marshal Delker stepped in and clapped on the ‘iron”. It appeared that the chickens were the property of H.A. Nieding.
Mr. Nieding heard someone near his chicken coop and followed the person until he came to a street lamp. He recognized the man and spoke to him then went to the nearest telephone and called up the marshal who made the arrest shortly after.
Monday morning Silverwood was taken before the mayor and plead not guilty of stealing the chickens but admitted that had them. He claimed he was trying to sell them for a stranger. He failed to explain, however, why he was in Mr. Nieding’s yard and finally changed his pleas to guilty.
He was fined $100 and costs and given 30 days in the county jail. He will probably stay all winter.
Richard Ruggles, aged seventy-six, died at his home at Ruggles Beach last Wednesday afternoon, of paralysis. He was well known throughout this sections as proprietors of that famous resort, Ruggles Beach. He leaves a wife, three sons and three daughters. Funeral services were held Saturday morning; burial at Riverside cemetery, Berlin Heights.
Lewis Hall, the Clyde young man who is accused of attempting to burn the residence of the father of a young lady with whom he had kept company has been bound over. It will be remembered that the blood hounds used at Lorain in the Reichlin case furnished part of the evidence.
The Lake Shore Electric has decided upon a rule to have all watches of its employes [sic] examined twice annually. The work will be done by W.G. Gilger in Norwalk.
In the future the division superintendents will hold meetings once a week at the general office in Norwalk.
John Q Streater a well known B.&O. conductor was assaulted by thugs at Lorain, Saturday night while going home and lies unconscious. His diamond ring, and fine watch and $6 in bills were not taken, possibly being overlooked.
Lorain voted for additional water-works bonds Tuesday. the vote was light and against the issue. Lorain certainly has about as much bonded indebtedness as it can comfortably stand under now.
J.A. Klaar is among our new advertisers. He has a find line of goods and deserves patronage.
Prime Spare Ribs for sale at Krapp Bros.
It is reported that a dancing school will be opened in Vermilion soon.
E.B. Welch is busy preparing for the Christmas markets at Lorain.
The gloves found last week and advertised in the NEWS proved to be the property of Gladys Knott.
Robert Sickenger a well-to-do farmer living near Milan was driving home Saturday night when his horse dropped dead. The horse fell while crossing the bridge and he claims that when he alighted from his buggy to try to get the animal up he received a shock of electricity and that he believed the horse had been electrocuted.
A vetrinary [sic] surgeon was called and an examination made without result. A suit is threatened. The horse was 27 years old.
J.H. Baumhardt returned home from Chicago Wednesday where he purchased a car load of cattle which are the finest ever shipped to this place.
The members of the No. Amherst Grange have challenged the members of the Brownhelm Grange for a sparrow hunt. the side catching the greatest number are to be treated to a supper. We hope that every one will endeavor to do their part and thus have the privilege of enjoying a good supper.
Mrs. Phil Darley returned home Monday from Berlin Heights where she has been the guest of relatives for the past two weeks.
Reports come from along the lakes stating that the fishermen had a large number of nets in the lake when this cold wave struck. they are now frozen in and may be a total loss.
Our sailors are all home again and we wish them a Merry Christmas.
Mr. Allan is reported quite ill at his home west of town.
Chas. Nuhn moved his household goods to Conneaut, Friday. He has a position with the Nickel Plate railway as tank inspector of the place.
Misses Anna Nieding and Mame Baumhart spent a few days last week with Cleveland friends.
John Nuhn and Henry Leidheiser are among those who have recently purchased find pianos. the Norwalk Piano Co. placed the pianos.
The young people are enjoying skating.
Two special revenue officer [sic] dropped into Fremont Monday and confiscated several barrels of whiskey which a wholesale dealer in a nearby town is charged with placing on the market under a false brand. The whiskey is branded as coming from a distillery in Kentucky and the revenue officers say their [sic] is no such distillery known.
Hmmmmmm....
"...the company erected a building that was approximately 24x24 of Rockface sandstone."
DON’T IT ALWAYS SEEM TO GO…IN VERMILION: A headline in the February 18, 1936 issue of The Vermilion News read “ Standard Oil Company Leases Church Corner; Opens May 1st.”. The “church corner” alluded to in the article had once been the home of Vermilion’s Methodist Episcopal church. For years it stood as a local landmark on the southeast corner of Liberty and Grand streets in what was then the very heart of Vermilion’s bustling retail business district. After the congregation merged with that of the local Congregational Church in 1927 the building was leased to a plumbing company. A few years later the building was destroyed in what at least one local historian has described as “a spectacular night-time fire”.
Times were certainly, as poet-musician Bob Dylan much later put it, “a changing”. The days of using mass transportation systems like the steam railroads and the electrics such as northern Ohio’s once renowned Lake Shore Electric railway were rapidly fading. The era of personal transport (i.e. the automobile) had arrived. Consequently, as the numbers of auto owners expanded so too did the demand for stations to serve them. As an aside, it’s interesting to note that some persons once considered automobiles to be just a fad for the wealthy. In 1903 the Michigan Savings Bank told Henry Ford's lawyer not to invest in the Ford Motor Company because automobiles were but novelties.
Obviously neither Henry Ford nor a great number of American citizens paid much attention to the sage advice or predictions of the aforementioned bank. Ohio’s Rockefeller certainly didn’t. Because in the early years of the 20th century a small Standard Oil service station was in full operation down the hill - just east of Division / Main street on the south side of Liberty - opposite George Fischer’s lumber company. And business was apparently so good that by 1936 the company decided to upgrade.
Thus, the company erected a building that was approximately 24x24 of Rockface sandstone (pictured). A gentleman named P.E. Durbin of Mansfield took over management of the local station. His predecessor, one Oscar Lundgren, left for a position in the Lorain shipyards. The News simply reported that the old station was “abandoned”. [Note: That site may very well be at, or very near, the current site of Vermilion’s Sunoco station.]
The accompanying photograph was taken by late Vermilionite Roy Kneisel in, or around, the year 1942. Because this was at the very beginning of the second world war; and because Vermilionite Glenn Fulper Sr. had been, among other things, officially appointed as one of two local tire inspectors for the government, it is very likely that he operated the station when the photo was taken.
The scene is extremely bucolic / idyllic. Who wouldn’t like to live in a town like that in the photograph? In the background one can just see the steeples of the First Congregational church and the Vermilion Township Hall. Butler’s Restaurant looks like a very inviting place to drop in for a cup of coffee and a sandwich. The old Sohio / Standard Oil of Ohio sign on the pole along Routes 6 & 2 would likely be prohibited - as a safety hazard - today. And if you dropped in to buy some gas you can bet that an attendant - Mr. Fulper and, later, his son Glenn - would fill your tank and clean your windshield.
But the years have fled; and with them Fulper’s station, his auto parts store, most of the buildings in the photo, and, not to be forgotten, the steeple on the town hall. And to quote the words of but another poet / musician, Joni Mitchell: “Don't it always seem to go/That you don't know what you've got/‘Til it's gone...”
Invention: A "Train Detecting Device," which warns motorists of oncoming trains.
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.
…and Sarah, who are uow in "Wood county, Ohio. William Carl died in 1864, at the age of eighty years, and his wife March 35, 1879, aged eighty-six.
Luther Mead came in 1830, and settled upon lot thirty-one, section three—land that his father had bought many years before. Marcus E., William, Leander and Annie are his children, and live in the township. Joseph died in 1850. Amos Mead and his wife. Catharine, came from Dutchess county, New York, in 1831, and settled upon lot five, in section one. Garrett V. Mead, his son, is still living where he settled, lot six, in the same section. He married Sallie Fancher, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living, viz.: Daniel, in Kansas; Hiram, in Hartland township; Aaron, in Kansas; Moses B., in Berea, and Eliza Jane (Fish), in Monroeville.
S. P. Haviland and his wife, Lovina, and two sons, came to Greenwich in 1831, from Putnam county. New York, and took up laud in lot twenty-six, section two. Mr. Haviland afterwards bought lot twenty, section four, at the center, where he now resides. His children are: Samuel, in Toledo; William. B.. postmaster at Greenwich station; Alfred S., in Kansas and Nelson M., in Toledo.
Lorenzo and Samantha Barritt, of Mendon, Monroe county. New York, settled upon lot thirty, section one, in 1832. Mr. Barritt was a prominent man iu the militia, and held commissions as lieutenant aud captain. He died in 1878. His children were Zelotes E., who lives in Greenwich; Synthia C. (Mrs. P. Welch), of Ripley; Mary L. (Mrs. N. Smith), in this township; Clarissa and Walter, both deceased.
Abijah and Abiagail Griffin arrived iu 1833, from Hunter, Greene county, New York, bringing with them four children. Mr. Griffin purchased, of Robert 0. Saulsbury, lot ten, in section two, and there made his home. His children, who came with him to Ohio, were: Phebe (Mrs. Williamson), of Norwalk, mother of Hon. J. A. Williamson; Tamer (Mrs. J. Kingsbury), who died in 1854; Robert B. and Riley, in Greenwich. An elder brother, Ezekiel, moved in, in the spring of 1826, and lived in the township until his death in 1871.
Dr. Henry Reynolds arrived in 1836, from Cattaraugus county. New York. He has five children living: Russell, a physician, at Chicago Junction; Lavilla (Mrs. J. Sutton), in this township; Hannah (York), in Ruggles; Cornelia (Hurlburt), and Robert H., a physician, at Greenwich station. William, a son who died, was a physician. The family, for several generations, has seemed to have a peculiar bent for the study of medicine.
Moses M. and Abigail Burgess, of Greene county, New York, and their daughter, Abigail Ann, came to this township in 1838, and made themselves a home upon a farm in the Mead tract, purchased of Nathaniel Brown. All these are now living in the township. Abigail married a Watson. Of the children born in the township, Emory I. is living in this township. Egbert N. was a volunteer in the union army, and died in the service.
John Ellis and wife arrived in 1838, from Onondaga county. New York, and his brother, Wm. B. Ellis, came three years later. The first named had married Rachel Rickart, and the latter her sister Esther. They have large farms in the southwest corner of the township. John Ellis' children are: Sidney H., in Ripley; Therza B., John R. and Martin, in this township; Clara Leone and Palima, in Ripley, and Sarah, in Richland county. Wm. B. Ellis" children are: George W., Eliza Ann, Irwin. Lilly and Emma. M. A. Hall and his wife, Mary Ann (Robinson), came from Steuben county, in 1840, and took up a piece of land—lot two, section four, —where they now reside, then owned by the Rev. Joseph Edwards, of Ripley. Gideon B. Coutant came to the township in 1843, and his brother, at a later date. Adam and Barbara Breuneman, and their son, John, came in 1844, from Richland county, where they had removed ten years previous from Lancaster county. Pennsylvania. They located upon lot six, section four; John married Barbara Rickart, aud lives upon the farm where he first settled with the old folks. They are both dead.
A large and prominent family who became residents in the township, at a much later day, was that of George Thomas, of Otsego county. Now York. Uri B. came in 1846, the other later. George H. is in Fairfield; S. W., in Ripley; Washington L. and Adaline (Hills), in Michigan; Andrew J., in Bronson, and Benda L. in Hartland. One son, Walter W., was killed in the army.
ORGANIZATION.
Greeeuwich was attached, in 1815, to New Haven, or was within the jurisdiction of that township (for civil purposes). In 1819, Greenwich, Fitchville and Hartland were uuited, and an election was held in that year, at the house of Thomas B. White, for the purpose of choosing officers for the territory included within the three. Hartland was detached in 1820, aud iu 1823, Greenwich was separated from Fitchville and organized as a separate towuship, the first election being held at Thomas B. White's house, and the following officers elected: Jeremiah Rusco, Heury Washburue, trustees;- David W. Briggs, clerk ; Varney Pearce, justice of the peace: Ephraim F. Barker, constable.
The township received its name from the town of Greenwich, Connecticut.
Following are the officers of 1878: 0. Travis, H. Horr, Willis Sisson, trustees; H. Travis, treasurer; William B. Haviland, clerk; H. M. Krytser, J. B. Smith, justices of the peace; James Sutton, Frank E. Hopkins, constables.
FIRST FACTS.
Adna Carpenter, son of Henry Carpenter, was the first white child born in the township. He is now
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
HELFRICH-MCGARVEY: Vermilion expat Bill Hlavin sent me this matchbook scan, and I'm glad to have it. This is really a piece of Vermilion historical trivia. This hails back to the years when Charlie McGarvey took over the riverside restaurant that would eventually take his name. In the beginning it was Helfrich's "At the Bridge".
Charlie McGarvey also had a place in Sandusky (with his name). When I look over the long history of the restaurant I conclude that while Mr. McGarvey gave it his name Eddie Solomon gave it its reputation.
And no matter that a change in ownerships and financial environments eventually ruined the place. In the end the river really took it. Water has a way of eroding even the most substantial of our foundations.
May your brother-in-law get out of jail.
May your mother-in-law move out.
May you be acquitted.
May your father-in-law always have bail money.
May your dog scoop his own poop.
May your partner return with your safe.
May your neighbor return with your wife.
May your accountant find more loopholes.
May your lawyer find your accountant.
May you find a Bluetooth system that's covered by dental insurance.
May all your ex's move to Texas.
May your medical premiums cost less than your son's medical school.
May your cable repair guy get there while you still live there.
May you find a toupee with velcro.
May you lose a few pounds so you don't have to use the freight elevator.
May your laser eye surgery be successful so you can stop getting into cop cars and saying, "To the airport, please."
And if you should wake up from this ridiculous dream, may you have enough sleeping pills to get back to sleep.
ZILCH: No Podcast this week. I'm still gathering my thoughts. (Or attempting to...) Merry Christmas.
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
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.9, Issue 42 - December 31, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant