Tourist Attraction
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS:The desktop pic this week is a tongue-in-cheek sign I developed for the city of Vermilion a few years ago. I still think it’s funny. More than that, however, I believe that if someone placed a sign like this on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets it would gather the attentions of a good number of people. But how they would handle their disappointment when they got to the beach is quite another matter.
1949: On Thursday February 3rd a fellow named Frank Miller – a Huron native was instantly killed when he walked into the side of a freight train engine at the Washington Street NYC rail crossing. Miller, brother of Jacob Miller an Erie County Board of Health Inspector, had worked on the Great Lakes for most of his 60 some years as well as various local fishing companies. Most folks in the village knew him as “Smoky”.
I was a bit over four years old when this happened. Believe it or not, I remember the incident. It happened on a Thursday evening while our family was preparing to print our newspaper so I was at the shop when the news came, and the presses stopped for the story. It appeared on the front page.
THE LIBERTY THEATRE: Right under the “Smoky” story in the same edition of the NEWS was this headline: Rebuilt Liberty Theatre Will Open Next Week.
At that time the theatre was owned by a lady named Mrs. Zegoib and managed by Vermilionite Bob Nuhn. It was being touted as “one of the most modern in Ohio with the latest mechanical equipment and seating comfort.” The remodeled theatre seated 500 patrons. The lobby had been enlarged, and the restrooms were also newly renovated.
“The walls,” the NEWS reported, “are covered with a rose damask that is fire resistant and on each side, t break the monotony of a solid color, art panels are to be installed.”
Blue and rose gold fluorescent lights were hidden in the ceiling. An electrically controlled velvet curtain covered a new silver plastic screen that was, reportedly, the “only one of its type in this district.”
The maple flooring in the auditorium was made at Vermilion’s Smith Handle Works, and was “being rat-proofed as layed”. The projection booth was enlarged, and “new machines of the latest style type with a large reserve power to product any films that may be over dark as is the case with some color subjects. The sound is also of the newest type and will be projected by a battery of 12 speakers.”
The entire building was made fire proof with a furnace room of cast concrete with an automatic gas furnace and cooling system. “No drafts will be felt either in heating or cooling as this will be entirely handled form the ceiling and 25 per cent of fresh air added as it is circulated.”
I thought this was both a good and informative description of a theatre that most Vermilion children of that era fondly remember.
1949: This was also the year that Vermilionite Captain “Det” Frank B. Parsons died suddenly in Cleveland. Shortly after bringing his freighter J. Burton Ayers into the unloading dock in Cleveland on June 21st Captain Parsons met his wife, Florence, at the dock. He visited with her for about an hour and a half, went back to the boat, collapsed and died.
Capt. Parsons had been born in Vermilion on October 1, 1884. In 1904 immediately after he graduated from Vermilion High School at age 17 he went to work for the Great Lakes Steamship Co. working as a wheelman. Advancing quickly he became master of the steamer W. W. Brown by 1912 when he was only 27. He sailed all the larger vessels of the fleet and in 1943 brought out the “Ayers” the flagship of the fleet, and one of the larger vessels in it.
The Capt. was a commander in the Coast Guard in both world wars. He was also a Charter member of the Vermilion Boat Club, a member of the Ely Lodge 424 F. & A.M. and Madeleine Chapter 204 O.E.S., of which he was a past Patron.
Only the good die young.
ONE LAST DEVELOPMENT: Early in June of ’49 Vermilion’s Bogart Dairy combined with the Maurer-Wikel Dairy giving the village one of the largest dairies in Erie County. The towns covered by the new dairy were Berlin Heights, Huron, Vermilion and Vermilion-on-the-Lake.
In the early years of the 20th century Charles Lang bought the Baumhart farm and Dairy and renamed it the Lang Dairy. When Mr. Lang died Huronite Henry Wikel purchased the dairy, and operated in both Vermilion and Huron. In 1948 Wikel consolidated with the Maurer dairy. In 1934 William Bogart, who produced milk that he sold to Cleveland markets had purchased Vermilion’s Krapp Dairy, and had operated it as the Bogart Dairy prior to this merger.
(Interesting stuff.)
Historically,
TIMELAPSE & PS5
SHHHHH: This pic is from a time-lapse camera trained on the birdbath in our backyard. The camera captured a photo every 5 minutes over the period of several days. It took over 900 photographs, but none, I'm afraid, were very interesting. Because of the extreme heat I thought I'd see a great deal of action. Even with the storms that blew through town there wasn't much to write home about.
The camera did catch "Kitty the Cat" refreshing herself at her favorite bird-flavored waterhole. And it did catch the morning dove whetting her whistle too. But not at the same time.
To make the best of it I "photoshopped" the bird into the pic. If nothing else it's a novel pic.
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER: I hope I get this right because the story of chain drug stores in Vermilion is dizzying. I suppose this is because I’m truly a small town person. As a youngster I only recall two drugstores in the village – Hart’s and Baumhart’s. Ergo, if you were in need of medication (or ice cream) the choice was easy – the nearest was the best. But a few years after WWII things began to change. The American economy was on the move. The furnaces of U.S. Steel habitually lit the nighttime sky over Lorain; the shipyards were jumping; and then the Ford Motor Company built its assembly plant on the eastern border of town, bringing a flood of families to the community. To address the everyday desires and needs of these families old businesses began to expand and new ones began popping up throughout the area.
In a field on the south side of Liberty Avenue just across the street from the Crystal Beach Amusement Park at the eastern edge of the village proper a (then) modern shopping center was built. Two grocery chains – Kroger’s and A & P – that had long occupied stores in the very heart of town found new homes therein; easily lured there by up-to-date amenities for their stores, as well as expanded and improved parking facilities. To be candid the removal of these stores from the main part of the village, however logical or inevitable, was not widely celebrated. Nonetheless, the writing was on the proverbial wall. It was the beginning of the end of the “mom and pop stores”. The era of corporate chain stores had officially arrived in Vermilion.
The Marshall Drug Store occupied a large room on the northeast corner of the new South Shore Shopping Center in the early 1960s. In the accompanying photograph of the Marshall lunch counter, taken by local photographer Paul Ludlow in 1963, Photojournal editor Bob Hallet and Dr. John Halley enjoy conversation and coffee while two unidentified waitresses stiffly pose for Ludlow’s camera.
It’s hard not to take note of the food prices on the signs above the counter. A glass of lemonade went for 15c. A cake roll ice cream sundae was 24c. A BLT sandwich was 70c. And a “Twinburger” (2 ground beef patties, melted cheese, with onion, tomato, lettuce, and a “Special Dressing”) was only 55c. Wow!
But back to the chains: It all started in Cleveland. A Canadian born man named Marshall Wentworth Goodson (1864-1936) bought an interest in Arthur F. May’s drug store in the mid 1880s that was once located where the Terminal Tower now stands. Eventually, he bought May out and began to stock proprietary medicines (i.e. drugs that have a trade name and are protected by a patent). He was very successful. In 1940 the chain merged with Cunningham Drug, but kept the Marshall name for a short time after it entered the Vermilion business scene. In the mid 1960s Gray Drug Stores, Inc. bought 27 Ohio stores from the Cunningham group. In 1981 Gray’s acquired the 181 store Drug Fair chain, and had over 360 stores in the Midwest and East. In September of 1981 the Sherwin-Williams Co. took over Gray Drug, and by 1982 the division had acquired 26 more Cleveland area Cunningham Stores as well. Finally, in 1987 Sherwin-Williams sold its Gray Drug chain to the Rite Aid Corp for $165 million.
Now does that make your head spin or what? To say that I prefer the “mom and pop stores” of a yesteryear is an understatement. But after my head stopped spinning I had to conclude that nothing, including chains, lasts forever.
SHOPTALK: On the shop desktop this week is the Wagner Hotel as it looked in its prime. It really hasn’t changed a great deal; just owners and tenants. When I was a youngster Dr. Halley occupied the north (right) half of the bottom floor, while various other concerns [i.e. Chuck Prieur’s appliance sales, and later Paul Ludlow’s studio occupied the other (left) half]. Upstairs (back when) Dr. Burley had an office. When I was nine or ten I got my first glasses from him. When my sister, Ginny, and her husband Dave (Wilkes) were first married they lived in an upper floor apartment. And I seem to recall that during the 1960s the very popular Ford worker / Boston native George Dwyer also kept an apartment on the upper floor. Some of the history of the building is in my book (Now & Then).
A FEW VISITORS: We had very few visitors at the museum this week. But that’s no big surprise because we’ve not pushed / publicized it too vigorously.
One fellow who visited this week drove all the way from Concord, Ohio just to tour the place.[Power of the internet.] Though he’s retired from the printing business he still owns a rather lucrative printing business that his sons operate. They have big contracts with the Cleveland Clinic, Progressive Insurance, etc. But it’s all offset and / or digital printing. He knows how to operate most of the equipment in our shop – with the exception of the linotypes. He is likely a very good resource for us.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: The museum newsletter “Printer’s Devil” should be ready to send out by the end of next week. The letter will be mailed to museum members along with their official membership cards.
We’ll also have two-sided brochure advertising the museum ready by that time.
On Monday (July 9th) a museum representative will interviewed in a short segment by Lorain / Elyria Radio WEOL AM at 8:05 AM.
In addition to these things we will (hopefully) have an article about the official opening of the museum in the Vermilion Photojournal next week.
Slowly, but surely, we move along…
NOW & THEN: My book, “Now & Then” has been inked and can be purchased at the museum along with the new VAAS calendar. It’s not a great book. But it sure is pretty.
VISITING HOURS: Starting Monday June 25th the museum will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM. On Saturday the museum will be open from 11 AM to 2 PM. A small admission donation of $3 (for adults) is requested. Children under the age of 11 will be admitted for free.
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. 8. – July 81, 1904
A freight train struck a young Hungarian while he was walking on the L.S. & M. S. track near Brownhelm, Monday afternoon. He was brought to Vermilion and the company’s physician, Dr. Quigley, dressed the wounds. The bones in his right leg were broken and protruded through the flesh and he also had two bad gashes on his head, besides bruises and cuts all over his body. The man could speak English quite well but was so confused that he could tell very little about himself. He mentioned St. Louis and Cleveland but could remember nothing.
He was taken to Lorain Hospital Tuesday morning. Later it was ascertained that he was from St. Louis and was on his way to visit friends in Cleveland. His name is Chas. Soher and he has no relatives in America. He had only 50c when the accident occurred. It is evident that the man was not a tramp as he was clean shaven and wore good clothes. There is little hope for his recovery.
Wesley e. Jefferson, 54, and Elden M. Pearl, 56, having made application, have been granted relief from the blind fund by Judge Curran of the probate court. They will each receive $25 per quarter.
Lewis Englebry, Guy Davis and C.F. Decker have appraised the estate of John Ritter, late of Vermilion, as follows: Personal property and chattels, $803.91; claims and accounts, $640.41; real estate $1,500. Total $2,944.32.
A capias [order for arrest] has been issued for Fred Behnke who has failed to comply with an order of the court of common pleas to contribute toward the support of an illegitimate child. He will be dealt with according to law if he can be found. The law compelling fathers to support their children, legitimate or illegitimate, is very severe. A term in the penitentiary is prescribed as a penalty for its violation.
Levi Roscoe, J.W. Sisty and Anson Streck, duly appointed in the matter of the application of the Milan Canal co. for an order of dissolution, have appraised the assets of the company as follows: Money in the hands of Ralph M. Lockwood receiver, $1,006.17; real estate, $800.
George Fischer, by his attorneys John F. McCrystal and Malcolm Kelly, has filed a motion in the court of common pleas in which he asks that a decree entered in an action in which he is plaintiff, and the Lake Shore Electric Railway Co., and the Village of Vermilion are defendants, be so modified and altered as to prevent the defendants from interfering with his rights as the owner of certain property to which he claims ownership.
John r. Hough of Berlin township has commenced a suit for damages in the sum of $200 against the Lake Shore Electric Ry. company. In his petition, filed in the court of common pleas Tuesday, he avers that on the night of July 1st about 12 o’clock a horse of the value of $200, owned by him was killed by one of the defendant company’s car at a point about a mile and a half southwest of Berlinville and Huron read. He claims the defendant company is responsible for the death of the animal owing to alleged negligence in failing to erect fences along their right-of-way as required by law and by the contract under which the road traverses the plaintiff’s premises. Mr. Hough further avers that the horse killed as stated ran ahead of the car for fully 150 feet before it was struck and that the men in charge of the car could have averted an accident if they had been so disposed.
Judge Curran has given out that he has made up his mind to demand security for costs in all cases of assault and battery and others of a similar nature that come to this court from the mayor’s and justice’s courts. A great many of these suits are instituted out of the spirit of revenge and are, in nine cases out of ten without merit. This will make a big saving to the people of Erie County.
The Lake Shore Electric Ry. has added three new cars to its list. The cars were built by the Stephenson Car company and are splendidly finished in cherry. They are somewhat shorter than the cars now in service and the interiors is finished in such manages to leave very few projections to catch the dust.
Don M. Grieves has gone to Erie where he will run a fish tug for the season.
Clark W. Jay left for Erie Tuesday where he will resume his position in the fishing business.
H. T. Baldwin has purchased the Miller lot south of the Wells Building and is having a blacksmith shop building upon it, the building will be 22 x 30 ft. Wm. Tischer has the work in charge. [VV Ed. Note: This was on the west side of Grand Street where a few years later Vermilion’s first library was built.]
Vermilion has a new barbershop located in the Quigley building. It is run by Mr. Manby, the pitcher for the Vermilion Ball team.
A very pleasant dancing party was given at the Lakeside Inn on Saturday evening.
The Lorain Steel plant has been shut down. Officials claim it is for a period of three weeks only.
A Lorain girl wrote the beauty department of a local paper and asked “What is good for big feet?” Promptly the reply appeared, “Big shoes.”
The entire “News” force enjoyed an outing over Sunday in Milan at the home of C. Roscoe.
Don’t forget the Farmer’s Picnic at Linwood Park Saturday Aug. 6. It has been a number of years since the farmers have picnicked here and it is hoped that it will be an event long to be remembered.
The Norwalk Piano Co. placed an elegant piano in the home of W.C. Leidheiser this week.
For Rent – furnished sleeping rooms. Inquire of Mrs. E.A. Boss, Grand St., Vermilion, O. t-2
A young man who lives near Birmingham had one of his arms broken last Sunday while playing baseball. He was taken to the office of Dr. Boss of Birmingham, where he received medical treatment.
“Just for fun,” some boys placed a stick of dynamite on the L.S.E. track near Rocky River last Thursday afternoon. It exploded and shook the passengers up considerably. The car was badly damaged.
Capt. Jas. Driscoll was home one day last week.
Geo. Rathbun was home from the Lakes Sunday and Monday.
July 22 the L.T.P.A. held their regular meeting last evening.
July 22 the Fishermen’s strike has been declared off and the men go back to work for the 3c offered them. A few boats set today others will set tomorrow and on Monday there will be a general stampeded of tugs from here.
The yacht Roamer from New York arrived here yesterday from Cleveland en route to Buffalo for which Port she cleared this A.M.
Capt. Lapp of the tug C.W. Desmond today had 3900 lbs.
July 23 tugs Kingston and Harold J. today had 2400 and 2300 lbs. respectively.
The licensed men on the Kate Wilson was pulled off on the 25th on the refusal of E. Loesch to pay to its late captain, I.D. Howard $10.50 due him as wages. She was one of the last boats to start and the first to lay up and a speedy settlement is looked for 1400 lbs. was high here today.
The Booth boats are shipping up nets today and will set tomorrow. They are all on by the day as are T.B. Watkers boats.
July 24 the fishing is steady at from 600 to 1500 lbs. It is said that fishing would be good were there less current. The current has never been so bad or nets in such bad shape as in the past week.
The Buckeye house at this port will be opened tomorrow by Clark Jay who arrived here today.
Earl Harris had a severe attack of appendicitis last week. He was attended by Dr. Boss and is now much better.
Miss Arlin Lawrence was quite sick at her Grandma Hillbergs Monday.
Bernie Croxford and two sons of Wakeman were the guests of Birmingham relatives.
Miss Nellie Harris is home for a rest. She has been employed at the Hotel at Linwood.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. McDowell of Henrietta Hill in their great bereavement.
Miss Bessie Reashaw of Cleveland has brought suit against the Nickel Plate Ry. officials for $5,000 damages as recompense for trouble, injury and annoyance she says was caused her. She says she boarded the Nickel Plate train at Vermilion on July 4th last. At the next stop a crowd of eight or ten drunken men were permitted to enter the train and car in which she was seated, and says they came up to her and trampled on her kicked and knocked her down between the seats.
A man was struck by a freight train east of the depot Monday afternoon and was severely injured. He was taken to Vermilion where his wounds were dressed.
We received the sad news of Floyd McDowell’s death Monday, who died at his home in Henrietta. He was a graduate of the G.H.S. and a great favorite among his schoolmates.
The little son of T. Daily fell out of bed the other day and broke his collarbone
Hmmmmmm....
"The name Presdee - genealogically speaking - is normally found as a surname..."
THE UNFORGETTABLE PRESDEE B. MORGAN: Presdee B. Morgan: an unforgettable guy with an equally unforgettable first name. The name Presdee - genealogically speaking - is normally found as a surname / last name. British in origin it has various spelling forms: Presdee, Pressdee, Prestie, Predsidey and, of course, Presdee. The name, however spelled. is essentially locational. Some historians suggest that it is a dialectal variant of the lost medieval village Priestley which, by the bye, eventually morphed into the English surname Presley. Locational names were those given to people after they left their original homes and moved elsewhere. The name “Priestley” is from the old English (pre-7th century) word “preost”, meaning priest and leah - meadow. And this suggests that the aforementioned village from which Presdee Morgan acquired his first name might have been home to a 7th century English monastery. However; in this case it is more likely that somewhere in his family tree the last name Presdee - in some form - was pre-eminent; the roots of the name long forgotten.
So why the history trivia lesson? Well, if “P.B.” Morgan wasn’t such an unforgettable character all of that wouldn’t really matter. But because he was who he was it kind’a does. That’s because the roots of his name - either ironically or prophetically - fit both his character and his life.
Like many of Vermilion’s earliest settlers P.B.’s grandparents, Frederick W. and Emma Chapman Morgan, came to Vermilion from Connecticut sometime in the early years of the 19th century. Together they had two children: a boy they named Frederick Chapman (PJ 11-20-003); and a girl they named Lucy. The family settled on a farm along Risdon road. And, though it should go without saying that the lives of the early farmers / settlers in the area was extremely demanding, the family always found time for their church.
That church, in this particular instance, was Vermilion’s first church; a Presbyterian church that was initially located in a clearing in the woods near their farm. And though by 1843 the congregation had moved to a new building in the thriving village of Vermillion the family remained extremely active in it providing music for services with a melodeon that sat on Mrs. Morgan’s lap; while her husband, at her side, pumped air into it; and whilst baby Frederick softly slept upon her knee. It was, then, hardly surprising that by the time the boy was twelve he was the one providing music for the services; albeit on a much larger pipe organ. And, in due time he also took over the farm, and married a gal named Mary. But ever as faithful as his parents, he continued to play for church services for the next 60 years.
In September of 1887 Presdee was born. Like his father and grandfather he came of age with a good knowledge of farming. But unlike them he preferred life away from the farm. He did well in school and actively participated in plays both in school and in church. In many respects he was more like his Aunt Lucy who was a public school teacher and a gifted writer. Thusly, Presdee worked briefly as a teacher. But by the time he was 30 he was working as an agent for the railroad and had married a Birmingham gal named Helen Blair. Helen worked as a clerk for the rail company. [Note: Helen’s sister Grace was married to a gentleman named John Feiszli. Two of the Feiszli children - Grace Roberts and Amos - and their respective families became, and remain, very well known and respected Vermilion citizens.] In February of 1922, after an illness of several months, Helen died at Lakeside hospital in Cleveland with her husband at her side.
Several years passed and Presdee became reacquainted with, and eventually married, an old school friend named Nellie Klarr Wood. Like Morgan she, too, had tragically lost her spouse. But unlike him she had three children; a boy named Paul, and two girls; Mary and Dorothy. [Another Note: Later Mary would marry a Vermilion boy named Howard Bogart, and Dorothy would marry another Vermilion fellow named Albert “Jim” Hart.] During all these years Morgan, as did his parents and grandparents before them, faithfully served his church which by then had become Vermilion’s First Congregational. He taught Sunday school; counted the proverbial beans / money; rang the bell calling folks to worship; advised the pastor; and, in essence, became what one might consider to be a GENUINE church deacon. He did everything but preach.
Outside the church he was extremely active in the Royal Arch Masons of Ohio. His dedication as a member of this organization eventually led to the application of his name to the local Masonic Chapter still known as the 233 P.B. Morgan Chapter. It was, and remains, a significant achievement and honor. So, in essence, Presdee in many respects earned his name after it was given him. Both he and his name are as unforgettable today as they were in the yesteryear.
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.
…ton to Cynthia Post, of Clarksfield, October 1-4, 1818, by Isaac P. Case, justice of the peace; Enos Smith to Sally Sampson, January 5, 1819, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; Francis Keyes to Mrs. Elizabeth Scribner, July —, 1819, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; Mr. Upson Clark to Sally Day, daughter of Dr. Samuel Day, December 28, 1819, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; Peter Kinsley to Lydia Merrifield, March 13, 18-^0; John Hooker to Laura Anderson, March 23, 1820, by Isaac P. Case; Hosea Townseud to Miss Sophia Case, March 25, 1821, by I. P. Case, justice of the peace; John Day to Miss Polly Corey, December 16, 1817, by Esquire Ralston, of Richland county, at uncle A. Hendryx's, in Haneytown, now Savannah.
The first birth occurred on the 29th day of February, 1816. Unto John Hendryx's wife was born a son. It died, of what, we know not, having lived only a few months. No name.
Mrs. Eunice Knapp, daughter of I. P. Case, born August 10, 1817, is the oldest person born in the township and living in the village.
Mr. Joseph B., son of Solomon Hubbard, born August 27, 1817, is the oldest male born in New London.
The first adult death was that of Mrs. Francis Keyes, who died of consumption in May 1819, and was buried on their own lot, near John King's orchard. Mrs. Polly Day, daughter of John Corry and wife of John Day, died in the autumn of 1820, and was buried on her father's farm, being the first buried in the village cemetery.
The first house erected was by Abner Green, on lot number ten, third section, February, 1815, and the first frame house by Hosea Townsend on lot number twenty-three, third section. The first frame barn was built by I. P. Case, and the first log store (a building 24x36) in 1819, on his place. The first frame store was "William C. Spaulding's, on lot number seven, third section. The first boy born in a frame house in the town was Ira Townsend.
The first corn was raised by Abner Green, and the first wheat carried to mill was by Hosea Townsend, to Uniontown, now Ashland. The first Hour and meal was obtained at Florence.
The first manufacturer of boots and shoes was I. P. Case, in 1815. The first black salts or potash was made by Josiah Day and his father. Dr. Samuel Day. The first orchards from the seeds were planted by H. Townsend, William Sweet, John Corry, and Francis Keyes, in 1820 and '22. The first gristmill was put up by Captain William Blackman in 1826, and was a small concern—two sandstones turned by hand. The first brick building was erected in the fall of 1865 and in the summer of 1866. Was used by Thomas Smith as a cellar. The Masonic Hall was built the following year. The first brick store was built by C. W. Gregory in the village in 1866. The first brick block of stores was built by Z. Barritt in 1867. The first quarrel or fight was between Dan Higgins and I. J. Webber. Webber knocked the wind out of Higgins, but he recovered. The first man killed at a raising was Simeon Munson, in 1828. The first arrest for forgery was one Bailey, and he was acquitted by proving he could not write. Peter Kinsley had a fight with R. Bailey, and Peter was the first to go to jail; nothing serious. The first hotel was kept by Peter Kinsley, a double log house with many additions; he also used it as a store. The first frame hotel was kept by Henry King in 1840. The first brick hotel was erected by J. A. and J. C. McConnell in 1869-70, and first "kept by M. Motter. The first township clerk was Sherman Smith, in 1817. The first justice of the peace was Isaac P. Case, from 1818 to 1851. The first mill of any magnitude was erected by John Bates; was moved into the village by Peter Kinsley and J. S. Merrifield in 1833, and was known as the "horse mill." In 1838-9 we had in Ohio the first and greatest drouth, the streams becoming dried up. It was then the wisdom of the "horse mill " investment became manifest. The mill ran day and night, Sunday not excepted. The first importation of blooded cattle from southern Ohio was by John Miller, in 1835, and were descendants of the English importation of Durhams in 1817. The first saw mill was built by I. P. Case, the second one by John Miller, in 1826, and the third by Robinson, in 1834. The first steam saw mill was built by T. B. Hemenway in 1857; the first steam grist mill was built by 0. G. Remington in 1861-2. The first railroad was the Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis, afterward the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, in 1850.
The first road opened was the Read, a military road from the south side of the county to the lake on the west line of New Loudon, in 1812. The second road was for the passage of the army of General Wm. H. Harrison's division, 1814, through the northeast corner of the township. The first road made by the pioneers was what is known as the Clarksfield road to Ruggles, commenced 1816.
The first mail matter was obtained at Huron, Judg Jabez Wright, postmaster, Dr. Richard P. Christopher keeping the office for the judge. The next was obtained at Norwalk. The first mail route was from Tiffin to New London—a man in southern Ohio taking the contract for carrying the mail, but mistaking New London for London in the central part of the State, he gave up his contract, and it was then carried by Squire Palmer, of Fitchville, from Fitchville to Tiffin and back, once a week; and by Tracy Case and Hosea Townsend from Fitchville to the office of I. P. Case, postmaster, for the revenue of the office. This was under J. Q. Adams' administration. Under Jackson's administration Peter Kinsley officiated as postmaster at '"Kinsley Corners," or Merrifield's Settlement. The first route through the township was from Florence to Uniontown, or Ashland; contractor,…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
LINWOOD CANE: I don't recall if I used this picture of a Linwood Park cane in an earlier edition of "VV" - but no matter. It is deserving of several viewings.
I don't have this artifact. It belongs (at least to my knowledge) to Thea and Bob Shanks of Bay Village, Ohio. Some time back Bob sent me this pic along with several other pix of Linwood souvenirs / artifacts collected by the couple over the years.
It's a beautiful piece.
His cheek Was rough His chick vamoosed And now she won't Come home to roost Burma-Shave
The place to pass On curves You know Is only at A beauty show Burma-Shave
On curves ahead Remember, sonny That rabbit's foot Didn't save The bunny Burma-Shave
Twinkle, twinkle One-eyed car We all wonder WHERE you are Burma-Shave
These signs We gladly Dedicate To men who've had No date of late Burma-Shave
A guy Who drives A car wide open Is not thinkin' He's just hopin' Burma-Shave
A whiskery kiss For the one You adore May not make her mad But her face will be sore Burma-Shave
His brush is gone So what'll we do Said Mike Robe I To Mike Robe II Burma-Shave
If your peach Keeps out Of reach Better practice What we preach Burma-Shave
When Super-shaved Remember, pard You'll still get slapped But not so hard Burma-Shave
Burma-Shave Was such a boom They passed The bride And kissed the groom
To kiss A mug That's like a cactus Takes more nerve Than it does practice Burma-Shave
The whale Put Jonah Down the hatch But coughed him up Because he scratched Burma-Shave
Violets are blue Roses are pink On graves Of those Who drive and drink Burma-Shave
Candidate says Campaign Confusing Babies kiss me Since I've been using Burma-Shave
My job is Keeping faces clean And nobody knows De stubble I've seen Burma-Shave
Doesn't Kiss you Like she useter? Perhaps she's seen A smoother rooster!! Burma-Shave
No use Knowing How to pick 'em If your half-shaved Whiskers stick 'em Burma-Shave
He tried To cross As fast train neared Death didn't draft him He volunteered Burma-Shave
Her chariot Raced 80 per They hauled away What had Ben Her Burma-Shave
She will Flood your face With kisses 'Cause you smell So darn delicious Burma-Shave
Lotion Use Burma-Shave In tube Or jar Then follow up With our new star Burma-Shave
Lotion It has a tingle And a tang That starts The day off With a bang
Burma-Shave Lotion Bracing as An ocean breeze For after shaving It's sure To please Burma-Shave
Lotion For early Morning Pep and bounce A brand new product We announce Burma-Shave Lotion
The ladies Take one whiff And purr-- It's no wonder Men prefer Burma-Shave
Lotion His face Was smooth And cool as ice And oh! Louise! He smelled so nice Burma-Shave Lotion
I'd heard it praised By drug store clerks I tried the stuff Hot dog! It works Burma-Shave
Train wrecks few Reason clear Fireman Never hugs Engineer Burma-Shave
NADA AGAIN THIS WEEK: This week no podcast again. God is still talking and 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 17 - July 07, 2012
© 2012 Rich Tarrant