THE BRICK PAVERS
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: I’ve flubbed several things during the last two weeks. One of the things I botched was the digital manuscript for my book. I guess I just didn’t give it much thought. The photographs were fine. The digital text was not.
As a consequence I digitally revised the entire manuscript. All of it is done in a 300-ppi format. And that presented another problem. First of all – while it is possible to compress (i.e. make the PDF files smaller / more compact) – they suffer some damage in that process. Ergo; it’s probably best that some files not be compressed. This is especially true if the information on the files is to be inked.
Now, if you have a file that is larger than 700 megabytes you are not going to place it on a single disk. That though never occurred to me. The first manuscript I sent – as well as its cover – was on a single disk. But the revised manuscript was much larger.
In the end I placed everything on a flash drive and mailed it to the publisher. I should’ve done that the first time. (Duh.)
SURPRISE, SURPRISE: For a month and a half I’ve been waiting for Bowling Green University to send me the rest of THE VERMILION NEWS microfilm rolls that I requested and paid for. Finally I emailed them an inquiry. I was unable to understand why getting the second shipment of the files was taking so long.
As it turns out – when I received the shipment of files in January I never opened the boxes in which they were packed. I figured they constituted only the first half of the files because I’d only paid for half, and assumed I wouldn’t receive the balance of the films until after BG received all their money. (They cost $65 per roll and there are 25 rolls.) I assumed they wouldn’t trust me for the remaining $800 they needed to cover their expenses. But they did.
So all along I’ve been sitting on the entire set of micro-files, didn’t know it, while I allowed myself to become more and more anxious as the days went by. I’m extremely happy that I do have all the files. But I’m truly surprised that BGSU trusted me to pay the balance after they sent the microfilm files. More importantly, I can’t think of what I might have done if I hadn’t found the funds to pay for them. (I’d have been beefing about that.)
SPRING IS NIGH: The weather in Vermilion has been seasonal over the last few weeks. (Unlike the warm stretch we experienced in March.) But true spring is right around the corner. Tomorrow (04-15-12) the temp is supposed to climb into the 70s. I mowed the lawn twice already. Usually the mowing season is just about to begin. The neighborhood kids have been playing in the front yard entertaining my wife by doing cartwheels and other kid stuff. I saw a pooch wandering down the street by himself the other day. (That’s unusual anymore.) Kitty the cat stays outside longer stalking birds, and sleeping in the sunshine. The big maple in front of the house is on the verge of bursting forth with leaves, and the birds in the English ivy sing loud and happily as they prepare their nests. Yup, spring is right around the corner.
Historically,
...found inside one of the walls...
FORGOTTEN: I've no explanation for this tintype pic. But how it came to me is interesting.Ten (or more) years ago someone called me and told me about a little tintype photo they'd found inside one of the walls of the Riverview Nursing Home (i.e. The George / Elton Fischer home that once sat along the river just west of the current Vermilion Boat Club) when it was being torn down. A few days later they gave me the jewel and I scanned it (above).
Given the way the folks in it are dressed I'd estimate that the pic is from the 1890s. I'd venture to say that it's a wedding photo if it were not for the fact that the males in it look so young. As I've mentioned before these types of photographs were similar to those old Polaroid instant pix - or those instants that one used to be able to get at amusement parks by stepping into a booth with your lover.
In short, the photo process was both portable and easy for the photographer. The photographers used to travel around to social gatherings such as fairs, etc. and offer their services. Methinks that's what this jewel must be. Perhaps it was taken at Shadduck's Grove (later Crystal Beach Amusement Park). Or maybe the youngsters had just come to town on a Saturday to buy some things at the farm market in Hanover Square.
But how it came to be inside a wall in the old Fischer home is anyone's guess.
IT HAPPENED ABOUT THIS SAME TIME OF YEAR: - late May in 1903. Linwood Park was about to open for the summer. Trot-line fishermen had been bringing in some good catches. Work on the construction of the new stove factory on the west side of town was moving along. The Twentieth Century Limited made a record run between Cleveland and Toledo passing through town in a blur. A.D. Baumhart was busy moving his drug store / insurance office on Division [now Main] street four doors north of Englebry’s Dry Goods Store [now Brummer’s Candy store]. The first picnic of the season was about to be held at Shadduck’s Grove [later Crystal Beach amusement park] the coming Saturday. Local farmers had received just enough rain for their crops during the week. The Vermilion High School commencement was set for June 5th at the Township Hall Opera House. So, all in all, it looked like it was going to be another pleasant and busy summer season in the little village of Vermilion, O. when young Orville Brooks came home feeling a bit under the weather. The poor boy was running a fever; had a slight rash; and less than 24 hours later the whole town was on the brink of panic. Orville was found to have smallpox.
To digress momentarily, it might be helpful to understand that smallpox is a potentially fatal contagion that emerged in human populations thousands of years ago. Human beings are its only known natural hosts. It is generally spread by direct, prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected individual and / or direct contact with infected bodily fluids or objects contaminated by sufferers. The name is derived from the Latin word for “spotted” referring to the raised bumps that eventually appear on the face and body of the infected person. Thank heaven, and modern medicine, it has now been eradicated from our planet. The last known case is said to have been in Somalia in 1977.
But back to Vermilion in May and June of 1903. The residences of Brooks’ parents and grandparents were immediately quarantined and guarded. School was dismissed and the building was fumigated. By June 4th Commencement proceedings, church services, and all public gatherings were cancelled until further notice. As more persons came down with the disease a “Pest House”, a clinic for treating persons with contagious diseases, was set up somewhere along West River road. [Note: I first heard about the Pest House in a recording made by late Vermilionite Betty Reffner of another late Vermilionite, Harvey Krapp, talking about his earliest memories of Vermilion. In that recording Mr. Krapp indicated that the clinic was located near the site of that which eventually became the F.W. Wakefield Brass Company.]
In ensuing days every house in the village was fumigated and formaldehyde was being freely used. Inoculations for the virus were started immediately; and by June 5th Mayor Williams reported that there were not five persons left in the town who had not been vaccinated. Here it is interesting to observe that Vermilion’s good Dr. Bond refused a vaccination because he didn’t believe in them. He, consequently, did suffer with a mild attack of the disease, but did recover.
By mid-July the siege of smallpox was at an end. City leaders, responding to the immediate needs of residents, had had to borrow $1500 (which was a significant amount of money in those times) to address those needs. There had been four casualties: Orville Brooks; his sister Mabel; their uncle William; and a three year old boy named Myron Krapp. But five others; Ada and Ethel Brooks (Orville’s sisters), Mrs. Guy Davis, Ozzie Shaffer, and Henry Ries survived the ordeal. So whatever the cost had been to stem the spread of the virus, it had been well worth it.
On August 1st a celebration was held at Shadduck’s Grove and Linwood Park. Everything was free. Two bands, one from North Amherst, and one from Norwalk, entertained town folks. And, in the true spirit of America, a baseball game was played. Who won that game in that yesteryear didn’t matter. What really mattered was that “the end of the scourge” in Vermilion had come, and the people were happy once again.
LESTER'S WHEEL PAGE 6:
THERE ARE NO SMALL MISTAKES MADE IN INK
SHOPTALK:
Among my several “flubs” this week is the obvious error in the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM membership card pictured above.
I am responsible for the gaff. It accounts for my wanting to do things too quickly, and not checking my work. I do things like this every once in awhile. But thankfully, I can usually correct the mistakes before things go too far: but not this time.
I have, however, corrected the error.
GOOD SIGNS: Thanks to Margaret Worcester, who attended the Harbortown Review committee meeting on behalf of the museum, we will now be able to install our “VERMILION NEWS PRINTING MUSEUM” signs on the outside of the building. They are from the 1930s, and will hang in their original place on either side of the overhanging porch on the front of the shop.
The committee also approved additional plans for the building, but we’ll have to wait until we have enough funds to complete them. We will, hopefully, get the building painted soon.
JUNE TOURS: The Board is planning on having an open house featuring guided tours for small groups of people during the Fish Festival in June. Some souvenir items may also be made available for sale.
POST OFFICE BOX: Please note that the MUSEUM has a post office box now. Now we won’t have to use our home address, nor the one at the shop for mail.
MEMBERSHIPS: Memberships to the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are now available. Funds generated will go toward the aforementioned renovations and maintenance of the shop.
If you would like to become a member the VNPSM you can send a check or money order to:
Vermilion Print Shop Museum P.O. Box 792 Vermilion, Ohio 44089
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:Take the time to visit us on Facebook. Click on the badge below and stop in. We'll keep adding pix as we go along. If you're in the area come on in. I try to be there in the a.m. If you see a Chevy Silverado out front with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
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...
Vol. VII. No. 44. – April 7, 1904.
The Village Council held a short session Monday evening and then adjourned until Wednesdoy [sic] evening. It was reported that the L. S. & M.S. would do considerable work along the line which will be of much benefit to the village. A petition asking permission to lay a stone crossing on Liberty street near or opposite Englebry’s clothing Store was read and granted. The petitioners will put in the crossing at their own expense [sic].
Wednesday evening there being no quorum present meeting was adjourned until Thursday evening April 14th.
Men from Cleveland were in town Tuesday putting up new awnings.
If you meet a fisherman now days, ten chances to one he will greet you with a smile and jovial salutation.
A visit to the fish houses late in the afternoon will readily explain the cause. A busy scene is presented. Scores of men are at work unloading, weighing and packing fish while others are reeling nets and preparing for the next day’s fishing. We are unable to give the exact figures, but the catches have ranged from 500 to 10,000 lbs. per boat. Wednesday, the Stricker and Driscoll each brought in about 2 1⁄2 tons of herring besides a few pike and perch. Other tugs did well also. The fish are finding a ready market.
Of course, it is uncertain how long the run will last, but it is to be hoped that it will continue for some time and make amends for the poor seasons experience during the past two or three years.
The case of the State vs. Oliver W. Marble.
The defendant, Oliver W. Marble, was convicted in the probate court before Judge Curran of practicing medicine without a license and fined $25 and costs. Mr. Marble is an architect and professes Christian Science. The evidence in the case was to the effect that last summer Marble prayed for a man who had rheumatism and the result was that the man was healed. So grateful was the sufferer that he gave Mr. Marble $5, which he accepted.
The case was strongly fought on legal grounds, the claim being that the practice of Christian Science does not come under the statutes as the practice of medicine. John Ray represented the plaintiff in error and Prosecuting Attorney Williams, the state. Judge Reed will later announce his decision as the granting of a new trial.
The case of the Cleveland & Southwestern Traction Co. vs. Christian Schoepfle and Mary Schoepfle was heard on error in the common pleas court before Judge Reed. This is a suit in which the defendant was given damages in the probate court for land in Birmingham appropriated by the company for right of way.
In the case of George Fischer vs. the village of Vermilion, Judge Reed Monday granted the injunction and the relief prayed for.
The will of Jennie Pelton of Vermilion was filed in probate court Tuesday.
Alonzo Martin was taken to the penitentiary at Columbus Saturday by Sheriff Foster, to begin serving his ten years’ sentence. He was sentenced in the common pleas court recently by Judge Reed on conviction of being implicated in the murder of Otto Mischke at Fremont, May 9, 1903.
The Pressing & Orr Co., of Norwalk, will hold a meeting in the town hall, Vermilion, on Saturday afternoon, Apr. 16th, at 2 o’cock, when a representative of the company will be present to address farmers on the matter of making contracts for Cucumber Pickles for which the company offers 6c for 50 libs.
Mrs. Meda Aufderheide, born on the 31st day of January 1834 in Scharmbeck Stadel amt Osterholz, Province Hanover. She came to New York at the age of eighteen. In 1861 was married to Henry Gerhen, who died shortly afterwards. She was again married in 1866 to Christian Aufderheide; he preceded her to the grave in 1896. This union was blessed with seven children, six of whom are still living to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother. The children are: Herman, Dorathea, Frederick; Meta, Christina and Anna.
Her death was caused by paralysis. She passed away peaceful during the night, dying April 2, 1904. Funeral was held from the residence April 4. The remains were taken to Port Clinton and interred in the family lot in Lake View cemetery.
Jennie Brown Pelton born in Brownhelm, O., March 23, 1850. She was the youngest of four sisters, the other three surviving her. Her parents moved to the vicinity of Axtel when she was four years of age, her father dying about that time. At sixteen years of age she was married to J.R. Pelton and lived in Vermilion most of the time since. She died Apr. 2, 1904 after an illness which she bore cheerfully and bravely. She united with the M.E. Church in Vermilion under the pastorate of Rev. Simeon T. Dunbar, afterward coming to the Axtel Church where she has since been a constant attendant.
Mrs. Pelton in the last days of her sickness was resigned to the will of the Heavenly Father in which she trusted. She leaves a husband and two sons and many other relatives and friends to mourn her departure.
The funeral was held at the Axtel M.E. Church, Monday afternoon conducted by Rev. A.G. Rupert.
E.C. Rust is reported quite ill.
When in need of a buggy don’t forget to call at Frederick’s, Lorain, O. He buys them in car loads lots.
Miss Olive Lawless left for Rensselaer, Ind. Monday where she will act as bridesmaid for he friend Miss Lela Coen, and visit for several weeks.
Easter was cool, but pleasant except for the little cloudiness of the early morning. A distinct note of joy characterized the services. The mourning attendance was about forty per cent above the normal. 125 were at Sunday school. 45 at Christian endeavor and it was a busy, helpful meeting, sometimes three arising at the same time to take part. The auditorium was comfortably filled in the evening for the concert.
We publish the statement of the Erie Co. Banking Co., this week. It shows a large increase in business.
For Sale – A good top buggy – Cheap. Address – Rev.Wm. G. Klein.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jones had a very pleasant surprise last Friday by the unexpected arrival of their daughter Mrs. Jordan and little daughter from Chatham. Ont.
Dr. Russell P. Pelton and wife of Cleveland were in town to attend the funeral of his aunt Mrs. Jennie Pelton.
Earnest Pelton and wife, of Geneva, Ohio, were called to Vermilion by the death of his mother, which occurred Saturday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rumsey of Cleveland were guests of C. Rumsey and family this week.
C.F. Decker has been having a little trouble with his gas well. He investigated and as a result has taken about eight barrels of fine oil. The flow is very slow, as it has taken all winter to accumulate this quantity.
Born – To Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hart April 1st, a daughter.
Mrs. Ed Erbscorn visited with Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Otto at Ceylon one day last week.
Geo. Naegele has received notice of his appointment to R.F.D. No. 1 and will soon have his equipment ready.
30c round trip to Lorain on Saturday, April 9th, to see the launching of the largest freight vessel in the world at 12 Noon. 560 feet long, capacity 333 car loads. Rate on all care of The Lake Shore Electric Railway.
The Lake Shore Gatemen are wearing new badges in their caps bearing the word “Watchman”.
N.C. Foster our popular boatman has placed his fleet of boats in the river and is prepared to accommodate any one who wishes the se of a boat.
The Frank E. Kirby will make her first trip from Sandusky to the Islands and Detroit on April 12th.
Jacob Bonner aged 70, of Huron committed suicide Friday by hanging himself in the barn. He was born in Bade, Germany, and had been a resident of Huron for 45 years.
A state railroad inspector from Columbus was in town the first of the week looking over the crossings, etc. He expressed no opinion in regard to the matter.
A.D. Baumhart has started his ice cream factory. The first cream was frozen this week. The gas engine is a model of neatness, being built by the Ohio Motor Co., of Sandusky. The freezing apparatus works to perfection. Here’s wishing you success A.D.
There are no empty houses in Birmingham at present.
Mr. and Mrs. Early went to Lorain today to attend the funeral of the infant son of Mrs. Early’s brother.
Mr. Wm. Funk is suffering from an attack of Dutch measles.
About the largest Freight Vessel in the World to be launched at Lorain, Ohio Saturday, April 9th at 12 o’clock Noon also the announcement of a 30c round trip rate via the Lake Shore Electric Railway on the above date good on all cars.
The length of the vessel is 560 feet, 56 feet wide and 32 feet deep. This mammoth boat sliding majestically into the water will be a sight well worth witnessing. She will carry 11,000 tons of ore and 300 tons of fuel on 18 feet draught. This is equivalent to 333 carloads or 11 trainloads. The Wolvin will cost complete $500,000.
This launching will probably attract the largest crowd of marine men that has ever been brought together by a similar event anywhere on fresh water. The citizens of Lorain will do everything in their power to help visitors enjoy the day. Band music will be furnished on a boat in the river during the launching and everyone who wishes will be at liberty to go on the new vessel before the launching.
The boat yards are in the heart of the business district. Thirty thousand people will have ample room to witness the launching. One remarkable sight to see in Lorain at this time is the new Tube Mills. The buildings are 27 in number, averaging 75 by 700 feet in size. The roof covering 25 acres, costing $8,000,000 and employing 6,000 men.
Don’t forget this date, Saturday, April 9th, 1904.
[VV Ed. Note: The formal name of the ore carrier was the Augustus B. Wolvin (Propeller)]
Hmmmmmm....
"...the “big shed” being moved by the workers in this photo, once upon a merry old time, was the headquarters for Vermilion, Ohio’s finest."
THE VPD: While the quality of the accompanying photograph is, obviously, nothing to write home about, it is – historically speaking – quite remarkable. Yes, for some it’s just a blurry picture of the old popcorn wagon in Exchange Park, with a bunch of guys moving a big shed-like structure behind it, while a policeman on the corner apparently directs traffic. Big deal. So what makes this particular photo not just remarkable but “ quite remarkable”?
The photo is unique (and it may be hard for some folks to believe) because the “big shed” being moved by the workers in this photo, once upon a merry old time, was the headquarters for Vermilion, Ohio’s finest (i.e. the VPD). Understandably, there are not many – if any – other photographs of this edifice when it served as such. But, of course, when the tiny command post was in use the entire police force had one full-time lawman. That was Police Chief, Edgar David Benson.
Chief Benson was born in Monroeville in 1884. He married Ella Waldron of Wakeman, Ohio in 1907. The 1910 U.S. Census has him employed as a freight agent in that town. But by 1920 the couple had moved to a home on Ohio Street in the Village of Vermilion. At the time Mr. Benson was working at the mill at the southern end of Exchange Street. Ella died unexpectedly in 1924 at age 35 leaving him with their 4 children. He later married a lady named Lillian Showalter whose husband, George, had also passed unexpectedly. She had three children.
For years Mr. Benson worked three jobs to help support his big family: miller, school bus driver, and village Marshal. In 1930 he was appointed, and became as a consequence, Vermilion’s first Police Chief. Though he eventually left the mill he retained his bus-driving job despite the promotion.
The concomitant snapshot was probably taken just a few years before Chief Benson retired in 1955. He passed away in 1960. Times were changing. Some part-time patrolmen had been added to the force as well as a legion of auxiliary policemen who were used during special events in the community. The old comfort station in Exchange park was about to be converted into the new police station with a nice office for the chief as well as some jail cells. The previous town lock-up was located at the back of the town hall.
The old police station was not destroyed – just retired as police headquarters. Sometimes it served as an information booth for the Chamber of Commerce on the corner of Liberty and Main streets. It was last seen being used by the local school system for various school functions, and might very well still exist. If not we are fortunate to have at least this remarkable photograph to remind us just how far we have come since that yesteryear.
1865 - Since the age of 18, Alexander Graham Bell had been working on the idea of transmitting speech. While working on a multiple telegraph, he developed the basic ideas for the telephone.,/p>
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.
was organized October 23, 1854, and the following were the first officers elected: H. W. Owen, W. M. ; Elisha Seymour, S. W. ; William C. Huestis, J. W. S. S Smith, S. D.; N. W. Thayer, J. D.; H. E. Stevens, tyler. The lodge has been in a prosperous condition ever since its organization, and now has a list of fifty members in good standing. Following is a list of the officers in service in 1879: Jonathan W. Huestis, W. M.; Alexander C. Taylor, S. W.; B. T. Day, J. W.; Wilber Huson, treasurer; J. D. McCord, secretary; 0. L. Colvin, S. D.; William H. Smith, J. D.; J. McCord, tyler.
The North Fairfield Grange P. of H. was organized April 7, 1874, with the following charter members: C. P. Irwin, D. F. Irwin, James Woodworth, Frank Wright, George Hinman, J. W. Cook, A. L. Simmons, Clarence Conover, S. Wakeman. A. R. Wright, J. A. Cherry, E. Hoyt, J. Hinkley, E. Hinkley, P. L. Mitchell," E. B. Mitchell, 0. Ganung, L. Adams, T. W. Place, Mrs. N. D. Irwin, Mrs. N. Cook, Mrs. A. L. Simmons, Mrs. M. Conover, Mrs. S. S. Woodworth, Mrs. S. Wakeman, Mrs. E. A. Wright, Mrs. J. E. Wright, Mrs. P. Cherry, Mrs. E. Hoyt, Mrs. E. Hinkley, Mrs. L. C. Mitchell, Mrs. H. Ganung, Mrs. L. Adams, Mrs. R. M. Place, Mrs. E. B. Mitchell, Mrs. E. Hinkley. The following officers were elected: P. L. Mitchell, worthy master; J. A. Cherry, overseer; C. P. Irwin, lecturer; Lyndon Adams, steward; Frank Irwin, assistant steward; Frank Wright, chaplain; Sherwood Wakeman, secretary; Elmon Hoyt, treasurer; James Woodworth, gatekeeper; Mrs. J. Cook, Ceres; Mrs. M. Conover, Pomona; Mrs. E. B. Mitchell, Flora; Mrs. A. R. Wright, lady assistant steward. The Grange conducted a co-operative store in North Fairfield for about one year from April 1, 1877.
Fairfield has some quite extensive manufacturing interests, but the most prosperous days of the town were long ago. Important enterprises were projected. Some never advanced to completion; others were realized. Ebenezer Foote, Sampson Baker and Dr. Campbell, built, in 1834, a steam saw mill. This was the beginning of the manufacturing interest at what is now the village of North Fairfield, then named "Steam Corners," and later "Steamburg." In the period between 1847 and 1850, there were six steam powers at North Fairfield, and five dry goods stores. Besides Foote's steam mill, there was a wool carding establishment, the property of Nelson and William Turner; a grist mill, run by Whitten and Rowland; an oil mill, started by George Silliman; an iron foundry, the property of A. J. and E. Wakeman, and a machine shop, owned by R. Seymour.
Messrs. Ruggles, Kirtland & Burr bought out, in 1850, the cabinet making interest of Nelson and William F. Turner, and began, upon a large scale, the manufacture of chairs. The business proved a remunerative one for the men engaged in it, and a very valuable aid to the advancement of the general business of the place. The firm employed as many as fifty men during the time of its most successful business, and never less than twenty-five or thirty. It was a severe blow to the village, as well as the company, when, in the winter of 1856-7, the factory was destroyed by fire. The loss sustained by Messrs. Ruggles, Kirtland & Burr was so large that they were unable to resume business upon the ample scale they had before conducted it, and so, in a single night North Fairfield lost forever its most valuable manufacturing establishment, and one which, had it remained, might, very probably, have become the nucleus around which other extensive works would have clustered in time.
At present the principal manufactory of the village, and one of the leading ones in the county, is the North Fairfield Plow and Iron Works." The building was erected in 1847, by J. A. and E. Wakeman, and as then constructed consisted of an upright brick, two stories high in front, and three in the rear; sixty-five by twenty-eight feet in size, with a one-story moulding room, fifty by forty feet in dimensions. The Messrs. Wakeman manufactured stoves, plows, and did general foundry work, carrying on, for two years, a heavy business. The works were then closed and remained idle until 1855, when they were purchased by Mr. N. Burch, of Eaton, Madison county. New York, who at once commenced the manufacture of stoves from new and then beautiful patterns. He saw that the country was in need of better plows than were then being put upon the market, and made arrangements to manufacture the Curtiss Iron Beam Plow. The plow department was, for a number of years, conducted by Mr. Robert Park, who rented a part of the foundry building and bought castings off…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
FOR FIFTY YEARS: This is the first page of a document written (and typed) by late Vermilionite Alice Jane (Gegenheimer) McClurkin for The Vermilion News weekly in 1941. M.J. wrote several article for The News. She graduated from VHS in 1936. I have transcribed the entire document and will eventually republish it in its entirety. It's an interesting and valuable history of the system.
I'm not yet certain how she intended the history to be used - or how it was actually used. I'll have to look through the old News files to see if this particular article was published. (Although it seems to me that I did see it in the old files a long time back.) However, reading it through this week I had the impression that this was written to be more of a speech to a graduating class (i.e. that of 1941) than a newspaper article.
Whatever the case I was excited to find it. And I'm sure you'll enjoy reading it when it is again published.
A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom.
The little boy turned to his mother and said, "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark."
The mother smiled reassuringly at her son. "You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. "Jesus is out there. He'll look after you and protect you."
The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?"
"Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said.
The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called," Jesus? If you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?"
ZIP AGAIN THIS WEEK: This week no podcast again. I continue to think about this section of Views - looking for a better way to present these videos.
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.
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.10, Issue 05 - April 14, 2012
© 2012 Rich Tarrant