RITTER PUBLIC LIBRARY - VERMILION, O. c.2008
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: The desktop pic this week is (obviously) the entrance to Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library (writ in stone). I took this photo before the latest addition on the building was added. I realize that it “ain’t” much of a photograph, but I wanted to preserve some memory of how it appeared in that yesteryear. I would not bet on it lasting forever. (Nothing does.)
FURTHERN NOTES ON VERMILION K.I.A.S: This week I have some snippets on some of the Vermilion casualties from WWII:
U.S. Navy Torpedoman Mate 2nd Class Patrick Holland son of Mrs. J.T. Holland of Darrow Road, Vermilion, Ohio had been in the U.S. Navy for thirteen years. While serving aboard a Mosquito Boat (i.e. a motor torpedo boat – PT Boat – a small high-speed warship designed for torpedo attacks in coastal waters) he was reported missing on February 10th 1943 near the Solomon Islands. Never found, he became Vermilion’s first casualty of the war. He was 36 years old. His brother (below) was also lost.
U.S. Navy Chief Torpedoman Michael Holland, following in his older brother’s footsteps (above), was a twelve-year Navy veteran. He spent ten of those years in the torpedo division. In November of 1942 he graduated from a submarine base in Rhode Island, and left the states that December.
Just ten days following the receipt of a telegram informing his mother of the death of his older brother Michael’s wife, Ilene and their two children of Huron, Ohio, received notice that the 28 years old sailor was also “missing in action”. Both men were later listed as being “buried at sea.”
Both Michael and Patrick were born in Lorain, but moved to Vermilion township around 1918, and attended school in Vermilion. Michael had served fours years in the area of China. His brother Patrick had served there eight years. The men were two of a family fifteen children. Their father had passed on a few years prior to their demise.
Private First Class William F. Bond died on the battlefields of France on 27 November 1944 of wounds he had received the previous day. Few details regarding his death were recorded.
“Billy”, as folks knew around town, was born in Vermilion May 3, 1924, and was a student in Vermilion High School up to his senior year. He entered service on February 8, 1943 and trained at Camp McCain, Mississippi. He left this country early in May, and spent a considerable time in England before shipping to France. Billy’s grandfather, Benjamin, was one of Vermilion’s earliest physicians.
HOLLAND-BOND: In case you’ve not already guessed Vermilion’s Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post is named after the Holland brothers and Bill Bond. Well known Vermilionite Katy Reutener is Bill’s niece.
Historically,
Sadly, all things must end.
THE THRILLER: [VV Ed. Note: I should probably place this piece under the heading “FAMILIAR PLACES”. But in lieu of that tis here.]In February of 1925 The Vermilion News reported that a new ride was being constructed at Vermilion’s Crystal Beach Amusement Park. George Blanchat, the manager, had “promised his patrons this interesting ‘thriller’” for the 1924 season, but nothing had materialized until 1925.
The ride, constructed by William Clason of South Beach, Connecticut, used 265,000 feet of lumber valued at $18,000. It was located a “short distance northeast of the famous Crystal Gardens” dance hall. It was 400 feet long by 150 feet wide. Its various windings, leaps, and dips were more than 2800 feet.
The accompanying photo is that of the old coaster as it was being demolished in the mid-1960s. There are still a plethora of persons around who remember riding on the “Thriller”. Never a fan of such rides I am not among them.
A TANK ON MAIN STREET IN 1917: Were there ever an exhibition featuring the top 10 most unusual photographs ever taken in a Vermilion, O. yesteryear the one attending this essay would, no doubt, be among them. A tank on Main Street? Who’d a thunk it?
The photograph was taken in 1917 from what would today be the very steps of the Vermilion Photojournal office (i.e. the old Wagner Hotel) on Main Street looking to the east and south. In the background the Kishman Fish Company’s fish-house with an advertisement for Mail Pouch Tobacco on the roof, as well as part of Vermilion lumberman / entrepreneur George Fischer’s riverside home are quite visible. And just to the left of the fish-house a pristine flood plain, that would later become the site of trim cape-cod style homes called the Vermilion Lagoons, stretches from the eastern bank of the Vermilion River eastward to the shale banks which serve as a natural boundary between the plain and Linwood Park.
History books aside - my personal knowledge of the First World War (1914 - 1919-20) is partially derived from songs and stories told by my late father (W.B. Tarrant), and his later friends; Norman “Red” Duperow, who co-owned and operated a diner with his wife, Ruth, on Division Street; and Hazen Thompson who had spent most of his war years “skinning mules” for the U.S. Army in France - and the rest at the steel mill in Lorain. Most of the stories they told are “tellable”. But many of the songs are not appropriate for those of tender years nor those with even “tenderer” ears.
My Pop was a member of the 26th "Yankee” Division during W.W.I. It was the first "full" American Army Division to land in France in 1917. The battle record of the Division was rivalled only by the exploits of the U.S. Army’s 1st Division. The 26th Division received credit for the following campaigns: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector. I recall Pop telling me about the "Argonne" offensive (October 15 - November 14, 1918). I'm glad I wasn't there. Being in the middle of any armed conflict is bad. But being in the middle of a war during inclement weather, whether you’re walking or driving / riding an animal is, to politely paraphrase Civil War General Tecumseh Sherman’s thought on the subject, “heck”.
This information is pertinent to the 1917 photograph of a tank on Main Street in Vermilion because during W.W.I the American calvary was essentially tankless. The War Department had, that same year, established the U.S. Army Tank Corps consisting of twenty-five battalions. And the corps had begun training at British and French schools utilizing foreign machines while they waited for American factories to begin mass production of the armored vehicles. However; only twenty-six tanks were built before the war ended and none went overseas.
One can, therefore, safely surmise that photo of the the tank on Main Street (c.1917) was one of the aforementioned twenty-six tanks produced in the U.S. prior to the end of the war. However; the exact reason the Ford M1917 Light Tank, which was armed with either a 37mm or 7.62mm machine gun, was rolling down Main Street in Vermilion O. instead of tracking through the muck the Argonne Forest in France is - at least for now - one of local history’s mysteries. A technological wonder of the 20th century it weathered nary a storm nor fired a single round of ammunition in an effort to win the “war to end all wars”. But it surely had to be a curious sight for Vermilionites in that yesteryear. And so it remains nearly one hundred years later.
Ref: Tank Tactics From Normandy to Lorraine (2001) by Roman Johann Jarymowzcz; Special Thanks to: Bill Lehky; Louis Bertoni; and the Vermilion Area Archival Society; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 03/12/09; Written 03/08/09 @ 1:12 PM.
SHOPTALK: On the desk this week is a scan of a metal plate I found in my grandfather’s darkroom during the week. I discovered this plate and others near the oil lamp seen in the artifacts part of “VV” this week. I didn’t think scanning the plate (the original scan is below) would work to well. But the results weren’t great but were actually better than expected.
The plates (there are many in the shop) were made from photographs – many taken by Pearl Roscoe. The photos were sent to an engraver in Lorain or Cleveland, made into metal plates (as seen), and sent back to The News to be mounted on pieces of wood and used for printing. The photos on the plates are actually a series of small dots. In the digital world of today our electronic images are composed of pixels / small squares.
This pic (no pun intended) is a portrait of Vermilion’s Football Team in 1919. I had some trouble reading the year. I couldn’t tell if it was 1919 or 1910, and I don’t fully recognize any of the persons pictured. I may be able to find a high school year book (for which this plate was likely made) or newspaper photo that will clarify the matter.
I’m always delighted to discover new treasures.
THE PAST WEEK: Aside from finding some rather interesting articles in grandfather’s musty, dusty, darkroom this week I’ve acquired and placed some additional oil, and real lamps, around the shop as well.
When the shop was built and occupied in November of 1904 it was without electricity. (It was, incidentally, the same year that to town acquired a water-works and water tower.) Anyway, aside from using the natural light that filtered through its many windows oil lighting was also used.
Some of the lamps were in lamp holders on the walls. And from an old photograph I found the site of at least one of them. When I went to place another lamp at that spot on the wall I actually found the nail that held the original lamp, and used it for the replacement.
I found a very cool-looking electric lamp at Vermilionite Mary Lynn Myers Homitz’s garage sale, and it works perfectly on the news desk with the antique candlestick telephone.
And then…I added some spot lighting in various places around the printing room. It helps emphasize different pieces of equipment, etc. But it’s a strategy that needs more work. (I thought it’d be easier.)
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. 12. – September 8, 1904
Council met in regular session Tuesday evening, Monday being a holiday. All members were present excepting Wahl who is out of town.
The session was rather short. Several new sidewalks were reported needed. The clerk reported the receipt of the tax levy. Jas. Brooks was present and asked that his sidewalk be put on the lot line, but as it would necessitate the moving of nearly every walk from Andrews’ corner to Hanover square it was deemed unadvisable to grant his request. Mr. Lingelbach was also present and complained about the water from the street running onto his premises. He also wished to raise his walk. He was referred to the proper committee.
D. Driscoll entered a complaint. He was injured by a fall caused he alleges by the poor condition of the walk near Fischer Lumber Co.’s Mill. He was told that no claim for injuries could be acted upon until a bill for same was presented.
Arrangements were made to pay into the water works funds, money borrowed from it to pay interest on bonds. This will be cared for as soon as the returns come in from this year’s levy.
There being n further business Council adjourned.
Fred Ketchum, of Ceylon, O., who was appointed postmaster at that place about a year ago. Was arrested and taken to Toledo last Saturday night.
The charge against Ketchum is that he is short in the finances of the office for which he can give no account. His bondsmen were John Boehm, Frank barrows and g. Horn, all of Ceylon. They were required to forfeit $400. Ketchum has been arrested several times on various charges and has been lately under suspicion although the post office was believed to have been robbed at some time in the past. The authorities will probably discontinue the office at Ceylon.
Labor day was quite a holiday in Vermilion. The arrival of the yachts Sunday was watched with much interest by the people on the piers and shore. But only a few arrived before dark. Monday morning dawned with the prospects for an ideal day and the yachtsmen commenced early to prepare for the race. In all about twenty yachts and gas boats were in port by noon.
The wind was from the northwest and about heavy enough for a speedy race. The course a ten mile one was first leg to windward, second one a broad reach and third a close reach home.
[VV ED. NOTE: I omitted the detailed results and times of the participating yachts.]
The Chloris having no yacht of her class to compete with gave the Suzanne a good handicap and the two yachts entered the race although the Chloris came out fully twenty minutes ahead of the other yachts the Daphne had the most remarkable experience as she was about the leave the harbor and about the time the gun was fired the peak halliards [sic] came down but notwithstanding the return to port and twenty minutes delay therefrom, she won the Class C race.
For the transgressions of a few, laws are made for all. Such was the case with the bicyclist and so it will be with the Auto.
John Moes thinks himself most fortunate that he escaped with his life Tuesday while on his way to Lorain with a load of peaches.
When he reached a point near Lorain and was ascending a hill an automobile was noticed coming toward them. He gave the customary signal to stop but the automobilist did not slacken at all and struck one of the wheels of his wagon with one of the wheels of the auto. Both vehicles were brought to a stop. The shock caused a breakage to the wagon and harness, the wagon tongue dropping to the ground. Mr. Moes was thrown forward and jumped from the wagon. Two children that were with him were thrown and attempted to jump, one excepted without injury, the other fell between the horses and dashboard but miraculously escaped with only slight bruises although the horses ran away. The team was stopped before the load tipped over. One of the horses was so crippled up that it could not walk home.
Mr. Moes was considerably shaken up and bruised and he says one could hardly imagine his feelings when he saw the team running away with the child at the horse’s heels.
The peaches were afterwards taken to Lorain and sold, but at a sacrifice.
Mr. Moes says that after trying to stop the horses the auto-man went on without any apparent damage to his machine. However he can identify the outfit. The automobilist alleged that he could not stop his machine. As the road is narrow at that place it would have been no more than right for a person with an auto to see whether any team, especially one with a loaded wagon was coming. However it is very fortunate that the accident resulted in no fatalities.
The Vermilion Public Schools opened Tuesday with a full compliment of teacher and an enrollment of about 240 pupils. This may reach 250 before the winter term.
Not often have the people of Brownhelm been shocked and grieved to the extent they were Saturday evening when the sad news went swiftly from one to another that “Mrs. H. Brandon had passed away.”
How little did she think as she left her home early Saturday morning to attend Pomona Grange in Oberlin that she would be called so soon.
As she reached the lodge room she complained of a severe pain in her head and in the next instant became unconscious and remained in that condition until in the evening when she passed away. The cause of her death being heart failure.
Her church and also her lodge sustained a severe loss. She was a loyal member to be depended on in any branch of its work and never was she appealed ot [sic] for counsel or assistance in vain.
She leaves to mourn her loss a husband, four daughters and two sons besides a host of sorrowing friends.
The funeral was held at her late home Tuesday afternoon.
The raising of a fine fifty-foot flagpole at the home of Geo. W. Shadduck last Saturday afternoon was a perfect success, and there now floats on the breeze a beautiful American flag that can be seen for miles around.
We were informed too late for our last week’s issue, of the arrival of anew launch for use in the harbor. It is the property of N.A. Foster, is 18 ft. long and contains a Racine gasoline engine. It is perfectly seaworthy and very speedy as well as roomy and our summer visitors will probably have enjoyable trips in it next season.
Don’t’ forget the souvenir post cards at the News Office – They include views of the harbor, yachts and the Chloris, the speediest yacht of Lake Erie.
The naval-reserve ship Hawk, came up from Cleveland Monday and after witnessing apart of the race was soon out of sight to the eastward.
The advent of an auto-boat in the harbor Monday afternoon attracted considerable attention. The speedy little craft distanced everything afloat easily.
A yachtsman fell from his boat Sunday and required considerable shaking up to bring him to.
A valuable Kodak was lost overboard from a rowboat near Foster’s boathouse Monday. A young man from one of the yachts dove for and recovered it.
Several children from Brownhelm tp. were sent home from school Tuesday on account of their not being legally entitled to attend without tuition.
D. Christman, formally [sic] of this place is reported very ill with typhoid fever at his home in Berea. His sister a nurse of St. Clair Hospital, Pittsburg is caring for him.
Wednesday being rather short of news for this week’s edition of the paper, Ye Editor took a stroll south toward the Nickel Plate. The first thing he noticed while passing along Exchange street was a new structure at the rear of Mr. Henry Nieding’s residence. Upon invitation of Mr. Neiding he inspected the building and found it a first-class, neatly appointed home for our feathered friends. In other words an up-to-date chicken coop.
The building is a substantial one-story building, airy, light and well appointed. It is divided into several compartments, two for the brooding hens and the chicks and others for the old birds. Mr. Nieding has contrived new arrangements for the roosts and nests, has novel drinking founts and other handy appliances. Attached to the main building is a feeding room and runway. From this are openings into commodious yards where the fowls may run in good weather.
Mr. Nieding has at present and intends keeping Barred Rocks, White Wyandottes, Brown Leghorns and Orpingtons. The latter breed is a new one and the chickens are buff in color and heavy weight. Mr. Nieding is justly proud of his outfit, which he calls the Star Poultry Yards.
Passing from Mr. Nieding’s place Ye Scribe visited the flourmill where everyone was busy preparing that staple from which the “staff of life” is made.
Knott’s sawmill was setting up a busy hum and screech, so that branch of our industries proclaimed its activity by its noise. [VV Ed. Note: This item refers to timber dealer John Knott’s place on State Street near the flourmill at the end of Exchange Street. Both are, of course, gone now – 2012]]
Having learned that men were engaged not far from the N.P. bridge in drilling for oil, he attempted to visit them but finding the way barred by water and marsh land was content to view the scene from afar. The workmen were placing another section of casing, having already one or more in the well. We all await the result and hope the search will be successful.[VV Ed. Note: This site must have been on the west side of the river. But whether it was on the north or south side of the N.P. rails is unknown.]
The next visit was made to the river and docks but little of interest was found excepting several social yachtsmen who are spending a few days with their boats here.
Having absorbed considerable fresh air and sunlight as well as news, ye editor strolled home.
Hmmmmmm....
"...the demise of these great dairy, and grain, farms regretfully mark the end of an era in the community of Vermilion, O...."
REMEMBER MAURER’S FARM AND DAIRY(?): What follows (vernacularly speaking) “ain’t” so much a history as it is a sharing of a few thoughts about things that “ain’t” no more and of times that “ain’t neither”. Nonetheless, it seems just like yesterday.
Long ago - long before I came to be - the community of Vermilion, O. was known for (among other things) its dairy farms. By 1877 there were two cheese factories in the (Vermilion) township. One was commonly known as the “Switzer” factory. It was located just north of Axtel Corners on the west side of the Vermilion-Savannah Highway - State Route #60. The building - a flat-topped brick structure - is still standing. A local farmer by the name of Christopher Bauman and his herd of 100 cows kept the business humming. Aside from providing locals with their cheeses they also marketed their from ages in New York , Philadelphia, and Chicago. That is, of course, very interesting. But again, by the time I came to be, that was all gone.
When I was young there were only three big dairy farms left in the area. There was the Trinter farm on the northeast corner of State Route #60 and Trinter Roads; the Bogart farm on the west side of Route #60 just a block or two south of the Village proper; and the Maurer Farm (pictured) that bordered the Bogart Farm to the west.
In the past there had been several dairy operations in the village. But over time they had either gone out of business or changed hands. And that which was left was the Maurer-Wikel Dairy (inset picture top left). It was located at the very south end of Washington Street just east of what is currently (2010) Vermilion’s South Street School. The milk processed and sold by the dairy was provided, of course, from the local dairy farms. And both the Maurer and Bogart families were involved in the operation.
Growing up I knew most of the folks who worked the dairy. Aside from the fact that one of my big brothers (Albert) worked there a good number of them were neighbors. After all, Vermilion was a rather small town. Yet even if that were not so - back then milk was delivered daily to your doorstep like the newspaper, or the mail. So one would have had to have been stone deaf and sightless not to have been familiar with these people.
Few folks who recall those years will forget the clink-clanking of the bottles as they were being delivered in the early morning light; or how - on cold winter days - the cream at the top of the milk would freeze and push the paper caps off the tops of the bottles. (I don’t know if milk is still sold in glass bottles anymore.)
During the summer months my friends and I used to play basketball on the courts behind South Street School. To be candid playing this game on asphalt when the temperature is 80 plus degrees or more takes a lot out of a soul - young or not. So to cool down, and quench our dire thirst we’d find a nice place in the shade, pool our pennies, and send a delegate over to the nearby dairy for some refreshments.
Being an appointed delegate for this purpose was, in some respects, a double-edged sword. Because although the dairy was always one of the coolest (temperature-wise) places to be in town; a delegate also had to do a bit of begging. For seldom did we have quite enough money to buy something for everyone. Yet, more often than not a delegate would return with enough half-pint bottles of ice cold orange drink for all. This was, however, with the stipulation that we return the bottles when emptied. That was, of course, never a problem.
As time ticked by the dairy was sold. And though it remained in town for some years thereafter the nature of the business was changing. Corporate America was gradually absorbing all the small dairy operations, as well as the farms from whence their raw materials came.
The Trinter farm held on to its roots for as long as possible The Maurer farm made a transition from milk to grain farming very successfully. But with the untimely death of Bob Maurer the operation ended. Overall the demise of these great dairy, and grain, farms regretfully mark the end of an era in the community of Vermilion, O.. Like the last days of the Lake Shore Electric Railway (LSE Car #160 inset) when the once useful cars were relegated to some inane duty far off their beaten tracks, the farms now give way to suburban housing, gas stations, and strip malls; and exist only in stories of a yesteryear that grow fainter with each passing day.
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1917, Marion Donovan was instilled with an inventive spirit at a young age. She spent the greater part of her childhood hanging around the manufacturing plant run by her father and uncle, two men who combined to invent, among other things, an industrial lathe for grinding automobile gears and gun barrels.
Years later, as a post-World War II housewife and mother of two in Connecticut, Donovan would make good use of the ingenuity that she had observed in her youth. Frustrated by the thankless, repetitive task of changing her youngest child's soiled cloth diapers, bed sheets and clothing, she decided to craft a diaper cover to keep her baby – and the surrounding area – dry. Donovan sat down at her sewing machine with a shower curtain and, after several attempts, she completed a waterproof diaper cover.
Unlike the rubber baby pants that were already on the market, Donovan's design did not cause diaper rash and did not pinch the child's skin. The soon-to-be famous female inventor subsequently perfected her invention, adding snap fasteners in place of the dangerous safety pins that were commonly used. Donovan named her diaper cover the "Boater" and explained "at the time I thought that it looked like a boat."
When no manufacturers would even consider her invention, Donovan struck out on her own, and the Boater was an unqualified success from the day it debuted at Saks Fifth Avenue in 1949. Donovan received a patent in 1951 and promptly sold the rights to Keko Corporation.
Her next project was a fully disposable diaper, for which she had to fashion a special type of paper that was not only strong and absorbent, but also conveyed water away from the baby's skin. Donovan took her finished product to every large manufacturer in the country, but once again she found no takers. Incredulously, everyone she talked to told her that the idea was superfluous and impractical. It was not until nearly a decade later, in 1961, that Victor Mills drew upon Donovan's vision to create Pampers®.
In keeping with her innovative heritage, this "mother of invention" explored numerous ventures that were completely unrelated to her diaper improvements. She earned a total of 20 patents in her lifetime and also received an Architecture degree from Yale University in 1958. Although Donovan's extraordinary life may go largely unnoticed by the public, this famous woman inventor deserves the undying gratitude of new parents around the globe.
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.
…Clarksfield streets, was erected by C. W. Gregory, A. Porter, A. McClellan and R. C. and A. A. Powers, ill the year 1873. The town hall block was commenced in the fall of 1867, by Union White. White died November 1867. The block was put up in 1868 by A. White, L. L. Doud, and the trustees- Jesse Perkins, A. Miner and L. D. King—of the township, at a cost of eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. C. E. Healy first manufactured steam engines in New London, in 1871. Mr. D. J. C. Arnold is also now making steam engines. W. P. Curtiss and Brother are making tubs, pails and wooden ware; George W. Runyan is the editor and publisher of New London Record; T. B. Hemenway is planning [sic], matching and sawing lumber; W. W. Vangorder erected his block in 1869, and is a dealer and manufacturer of cabinet ware and furniture; A. W. Carl is in the same business; L. W. Breck, first harness and saddler, in 1842, and still carrying on the business; John Wells and John E. Wells, and R. Hazard are in the same business; the drug business is represented by B. F. and C. Starbird; Dr. A. McClellan and L. W. Brickley; hardware—Washburn and Skinner, in their block, erected in 1875; E. H. Curtiss is now the photographer. The first cheese factory was erected and run by L. D. King, in the year 1863.
The first cheese depot was established by John Rawson, in 1876, and in 1878 there were handled by him in it over seven hundred thousand pounds of cheese. The first window sash, door and blinds manufactory was established in 1853, by M. Houghton and J. F. Badger; L. Bonney and A. Zuber are now manufacturing wagons and carriages on Fitchville street, and have been for several years; Robert Fulton and Albaugh, and A. W. Long and Davis are m the marble and monument business; H. Palmer. R. S. Giles, S. J. McCready, J. Middleswarth, T. Wood. A. H. Messinger, A. C. Kimball, grocers; A. D. Sackett, B. M. Spaulding and F. J. Peck, restaurants; Chas. H. Church, forwarder; A. White, Miner Brothers, merchants; D. E. Sackett, cigar manufacturer; W. D. Golding and 0. G. Carter, jewelers [sic]; Beattie and Laning, and R. C." Powers, lawyers; Powers, Laning and T. Case, Justices of the peace; W. E. Minor, township clerk; G. E. Washburn, treasurer; Phil. Mann, St. James, S. Upson, of the Gregory House, and A. D. Skellenger, of the Skellenger House, hotel keepers; Cy King and J. M. Rawson, dentists; J. M. Runyan, M. Cookingham, Geo. W. Knowlton and J. H. June, boot and shoe business; Dr. H. Kester Homeo; H. Motter. J. R. Soules and A. D. Skellenger. Livery business; A. Hendryx, J. Fry and W. Taylor, blacksmiths: S. P. North, architect; J. Thom, James Thorn, Hearsey. Flint, R. A. Coats, Markham, Zarker are carpenters; J. Laning. J. A. Turner, James Rawson. J. C. Beattie, C. Hazard and C. Hotchkiss. brick and stone masons: William Mackey and William Dobson, meat market; L. T. (Gilbert. flouring mill.
Present village officers: A. D. Skellenger, mayor; C. A. Mills, clerk: John King, John Middleswarth, C. King, E. F. Moore. B. B. Mead, J. F. Laning, councilmen: M. B. Runyan, marshal; C. Starbird, treasurer; Henry Messenger, street commissioner. The population of the village is estimated at twelve hundred.
A brief notice of a few of the residents of New London:
Samuel Doud (son of Solomon Doud, who died March, 1849) was born May 29, 1813; came to Greenwich in 1822, and to New London 1866; lives on lot number six, fourth section.
Wm. McConnell (son of Alex. McConnell) came to New London 1831; married M. A. Roorback 1840; is the father of Mary (Mrs. Carvey), A. K., J. F. and A. E., and now lives on lot number eighteen, first section.
G. E. Washburn, township treasurer, came to the village in 1865 (son of Walter Washburn, of Fitchville), and is of the firm of Washburn & Skinner; a reliable man.
Stephen W. Gates (son of Wm. Gates) was born in Duanesburgh, New York, December 29, 1813; came to the second section with his father's family; settled, and now lives on lot number nineteen, same section. Married a daughter of H. Townsend—Sarah—now dead, and for second wife Mrs. L. Belville; is the father of Ella E., born January 6, 1857.
Chester McClave (son of James McClave, who died in Michigan, 1867,) came to the first section, lot number one, in May 1833. Chester was born December 19, 1825; married a daughter of Robert White, November 13, 1856; is the father of Ida, born November 23, 1858, and Charles, born June 21, 1859.
0. G. Remington was born in New York, May 28, 1823; married Miss Fay, of Bronson, July 12, 1846; came to New Loudon about 1866; erected the first steam grist mill in 1861-2, and a brick dwelling on Fitchville street, corner of Grant, in 1867. B. F. Remington, a son, was born June 6, 1848.
A. S. Johnson (son of Wm. Johnson) was born March 29, 1829; married Miss Philotha Townsend, daughter of Hosea Townsend, September 24, 1856; came into New London 1835; has several times been township trustee, and member of the village council; is now vice president of the First National bank.
R. C. Powers, Esq., son of Isaac Powers, of Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont, was born January 23, 1823, and came to New London in November, 1851. He was first elected justice of the peace in April 1856. Having been elected in October following, to the office of prosecuting attorney of Huron county, he resigned the office of justice of peace to take effect January 1, 1857. He filled the office of prosecuting attorney for two terms; again elected justice of the peace in 1864, and has filled it ever since. He has been trustee of township, and township treasurer. In his offices, and in his practice…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
LET THERE BE LIGHT: Whilst rummaging through my grandfather Pearl Roscoe's darkroom at the Vermilion News Print Shop Museum during the week I found this beautiful glass lamp (sans chimney of course) at the very back of the closet secreted under many years of dust. After cleaning it up some, and buying a new chimney for it I placed it back in the shop where it belongs.
How cool is that?
Q. What equipment will I need to go camping?
A. You need a tent. Tent sizes are measured in units of men, as in "a three-man tent"; this tells you how many men are required to erect the tent if they are all professional tent engineers. Even then, the tent will collapse under unusual weather conditions, such as nightfall. You will also need a hatchet, for the spiders, and a credit card, for the motel.
Q. Where should I go camping?
A. The United States has a spectacular national park system with millions of unspoiled acres where wildlife is protected by federal laws. Avoid these places. You want a commercial facility with a name like "The Stop 'n' Squat Kountry Kamp-ground," where large animals cannot fit through the 6-inch gaps between the Winnebagos.
Q. How much food should I take?
A. A lot. You'll be providing food not only for your family, but also for the entire raccoon community. When I was a boy in rural Armonk, our garbage cans were regularly terrorized by a gang of brilliant criminal raccoons. I recall being awakened at 3 a.m. by loud noises and looking out the window to see, by moonlight, my father, a peace-loving Presbyterian minister, charging around in the bushes, wildly swinging a baseball bat and saying non-Presbyterian words.
Of course, he did not get the raccoons; you NEVER get the raccoons.
Q. What if I get lost?
A. If you don't have a compass, stand very still and listen very carefully, until you hear this sound: "eh-eh-eh." That is Canada. Whatever you do, don't go that way.
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.
I need add here another great book with Vermilion Roots called, "Grandmas’ Favorites: A Compilation of Recipes from Margaret Sanders Buell" by Amy O’Neal, Elizabeth Thompson and Meg Walter (May 2, 2012). This book very literally will provide one with the flavor of old Vermilion. And ye can also find it at Amazon.com. Take a look.
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 22 - August 11, 2012
© 2012 Rich Tarrant