Parade on Liberty from Liberty
SHOPTALK (don’t let this confuse you): Beginning this week I’m only going to use one desktop pic in “VV”. I was trying to keep two (one just for Views and the other for the VN Print Shop Museum) and that just seems a tad schizophrenic. I was doing it because I work on two computers in two places. I don’t know why I was trying to do two desk talk columns – I just did. So – at, this, the start of the “VV’s” eleventh year I’m going to consolidate and try to stay sane (I think).
Time marches on, and things change.
A NEW BOOK: With the addition of a new (actually old) Ricoh copier / printer to the museum we now have some limited publishing capabilities.
It is, admittedly, somewhat odd (at least on the surface) to be using a digital machine in a letterpress museum. However, tis going to take some time to recondition some of the antique equipment and learn to operate it expertly. Ergo, we begin publishing with the Ricoh.
The first Vermilion News Print Shop Publication (booklet) is The History of The Vermilion News / 1897 – 1964. My sister Nancy Alice Tarrant Emery wrote the book.
The next publication (booklet) will be a republication of the book Rich Tarrant’s stories of Yesteryear in Vermilion, Ohio.
This book is a bit larger than the original published back in 2005. Several stories, additional and improved graphics were added, and some of the text edited. Publishing this booklet is going to be a challenging project.
CHANDLER-PRICE ROLLERS: The newly covered rubber rollers for the museum’s Chandler-Price letterpress have arrived from North Carolina.
I’ve not taken them from the box yet (I’ve been distracted with the Ricoh). But I will get to it this week.
My brother-in-law, Terry Diener, is going to supply us with a foot treadle to power the press. Once that’s done the work of learning set-up and printing will commence in the shop.
THE DESKTOP PIC The photo on the desktop this week allows us a peek at a pre-war (WW2) parade down Liberty Avenue. This may have been a 1937 Centennial snapshot. It was never used anywhere because it’s somewhat blurry – out of focus. The “Uncle Sam” leading the soldiers may have been Wm. “Corky” Harpley.
The photo appears to have been taken from a window on the second floor of Vermilion’s old Liberty Theatre looking north and east. The buildings, visible on the north side of the street, (i.e. the old Trinter house and the White Inn restaurant) are long gone. The tracks for the Lake Shore Electric still ran down the middle of the street. They were not removed until sometime on or after 1938.
MONDAYS & MUSEUM ADVERTISING: If you want to talk Vermilion folks who visit the museum on Mondays (1-4 pm) will be greeted by my sister Ginny and brother-in-law Dave Wilkes. They, like a good number of local people, have forgotten more about the town than I will ever know. They’re not in our ad that has appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal several times – but perhaps they should be.
DONATIONS: I almost forgot. Barb and her husband Chuck Ruggles donated some neat artifacts to the museum this week: An antique chair and (as indicated) various articles / artifacts that will be displayed in the apartment over the print shop in the future. These items are appreciated. But I need to begin making a hard-copy list of the various things contributed. The Board will undoubtedly keep after me about such things.
PLAQUE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS SPONSORS: We’ll soon have a nice plaque in the museum honoring persons who have contributed funds for special museum projects. At the moment we only have one name. We expect to have many more.
SEARCHING: We currently interested in finding copies of The Erie County Reporter from 1880 to 1920 or '30. Nobody on earth seems to have them. If you have knowledge of any of them we'd appreciate hearing from you. There's a great deal of Vermilion information in them.
FIVE-OH-ONE-CEE-THREE: It’s now official. The museum is officially a 501(c)(3) organization. Consequently, all donations to the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011. (Thank heaven. Now I can fret about something else for months on end.)
VISITING HOURS: We are located at 727 Grand Street in Vermilion across the street from Vermilion's historic E&R Church. The museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM. On Saturday the museum it is 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. Phone For Special Tours: 440-967-4555
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. most everyday. If you see a Chevy Silverado out front with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
Historically,
RUNNERS & JUMPERS
MY SCHOOL DAZE: My friend Frank Homitz stopped in at the museum this week with (among other things) this pic. It’s a group photo of the Vermilion School’s Track Team c.1962-63.
I don’t recall the first names of all those pictured, but I believe I know most of them by their last names. (The coach I do not remember at all.)
Standing L-R: Davis, Hauff, Spicer, Thornton, Smith, Stwan, Baumert, Risdon, Homitz, Wood, and Brown.
Front Row L-R: Hoffman, Idol, Trinter, DeBracy, Schisler, Seibert, Roberts, Williams, Fitzgerald, Palmer (?), and Kobsa.
The photo was (obviously) taken on the football field behind Vermilion’s Decatur Street School. The Civil Air Patrol used the tower in the background during the cold war.
Them were the days…
THE VERMILION POST OFFICE: It certainly doesn't seem that long ago. But it was – two Vermilion Post Offices and about 80 years ago when two of the accompanying photographs were recorded on film. In April of 1933 a newly elected Democrat President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, appointed Vermilion Democrat Charles A. “Charlie” Trinter (seen far right in the group photo) Postmaster replacing then acting Postmaster Republican A. David Baumhart Jr. Trinter had also served as Postmaster under President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921). Prior to that he had worked as a rural mail carrier (1908 to 1912). During a good part of the 20th century political appointees held all such positions.
Born in Vermilion in 1874 Trinter was both intelligent and ambitious. At the age of 26 the Vermilion Village Board of Education selected him to serve as clerk. It was a responsibility he diligently attended to for the next 44 years steering the system through a storm of controversy in 1915. It had raged around the School Superintendent and several of the teachers, culminating in the resignation of all parties involved. Nine years later he guided the board through the process of buying the old Pelton Farm along South Street, and the building of a new school on the property (which became South Street School). When not otherwise engaged he, at first, owned and operated a local grocery business. Later he ran a very successful insurance and realty agency. As Postmaster he earned $2,400 a year, less a government mandated 15% economy cut. That would be about $41,000 a year (less 15% of course) in 2013 dollars.
But I digress. During its history the Vermilion Post Office has been located in numerous places (e.g. a small building, now gone, behind the old M. & E. Church on Grand Street, and the building now home to the Main Street Grill on Liberty among others). But in 1933 – as the accompanying picture illustrates – it was located in rooms at the east end of the Fischer building (currently part of the Encore Consignment Shoppe) also on Liberty Avenue. Aside from Mr. Trinter, the only other person I recognize in the photo is a lady named Doris Hughes (3rd person from the right). I don’t know exactly how many years she worked for the agency, but it was many. She was still working in the same office well into the 1950s. Her husband, Jack, was for many years the local Taxi guy.
As the inset photo (left) illustrates, a wall separated the work area and the customer area with a cage type wire wall at the top. On the customer side (not pictured) there was a counter at the end of the room where one could purchase stamps, etc. The wall separating the rooms contained all the customer’s post office boxes. Visible on the worker side of the wall are backs of those boxes and the rest of the employee sorting / work area.
The inset (right) is a newer photograph that appeared on the front page of The Vermilion News in February of 1956. According to the article appearing with the photo the “red, white, and blue, right hand drive mail truck” was obtained via the efforts of the local postmaster (unnamed) with the assistance of then Congressman (and former postmaster) A. David Baumhart Jr. The photo was taken at the back of the Fischer Building office with Vermilionite Fred Harpley at the wheel. It was a “big deal” because prior to acquiring this truck the rural carriers all used their personal vehicles. That’s not terribly unusual – even today. But the “rural areas” in this particular case were Elberta Beach and the Village of Vermilion-on-the-Lake. Vermilion was on the cusp of phenomenal growth, and so was its post office. Very soon a new modern office would be built just a few doors away, and the old place and the folks who once worked there would be, for all intents and purposes, “consigned” to the yesteryear.
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. VIII,NO.43– April 6, 1905.
…Balance in Treas. $3636.44
The subject of street repair was brought up and the committee instructed to have the commissioner look after the necessary repairs about town, where the expense would be small. As it was thought that the band would be willing to make use of the bandstand the proper committee was instructed to see that it be repaired and painted. Several cross walks were talked of, especially one across the street at Linwood Park; it was finally decided to construct the walk if it would not cost more than $10.
A committee was instructed to meet with the board of public affairs to make arrangements for water for the watering trough and a drinking fountain.
A committee of gentlemen interest in the moral welfare of the village then came into the council chamber and asked that the laws prohibiting liquor selling, gambling and ball playing on Sunday be enforced. They stated their reason as to their action believing it demoralizing to the young people making them careless of Sunday observance and lowering their moral standard. On behalf of the council it was explained that some one interested would have to make affidavit or have the marshal do so if it is found that the law is being broken. Then the matter could be brought into court. It seems that there is some doubt as to the exact meaning of the baseball law. It appears to some that it applies to League games only. After the visitors had retired, the bills were ordered paid and provisions made for the payment of interest on the water works bonds, the funds of which are on hand.
The council adjourned. Word did not find any entries for your table of contents.
There were no bidders for th Milan Rolling Mills, appraised at $4000, which Sheriff Hoffman attempted to sell Monday.
Since the middle of March Judge Curran has committed o less than ten persons to the Toledo asylum. Erie Count has more than her allotment of patients in the institution at present.
The case of C.C. Baumhart vs. H.R. Williams et al., is set for April 10th.
Who’s your Printer? We print everything.
After two weeks vacation Earle Childs has returned to Oberlin where he will enter the Shorthand class at Business College.
The above is becoming to be a familiar announcement in our daily papers and when we stop to think of it what a terrible thing it is.
The though that a person has intrusted [sic] his savings to the keeping of one who has proven false to his trust is a shock from which the depositor is slow to recover. Many have plenty and do not feel it so much but offtimes [sic – meaning often times] the meager savings of a lifetime disappears as if by magic.
Many person are not satisfied with what they can accumulate by honest labor but seek the bucket shop and other gambling institutions and as is often the case they loose [sic]. If they have access to the funds of some institution the tempter says ‘borrow” and retrieve the loss you can pay it back soon”. The time of payment rarely comes. If it does the world at large never knows. But if the money is lost it is “borrow” again until it is too late and the crash comes.
Such seems to have been the case with the Citizens Bank at Lorain. The cashier, assistant and bookkeeper all seem to have been in the ring. If anyone else it has not as yet been developed. The crash came last week and the $102,000 “borrowed” by the bank officials will have to be lost by the stockholders and unless a larger steal is discovered the depositors will be paid in full.
Mr. Kaneen and the Walkers were gentlemen respected for their integrity and had man friends in Lorain who are endeavoring to let them down easy. They fell victims of the tempter “gain” and have broken the law, why should they not suffer the consequences. They were in full knowledge of what they were doing and the penalty for their acts.
One thing we cannot understand why should the plea of not guilty be made after acknowledging the commission of the act. What is back of it?
The following is a list of stockholders of the bank many of whom are well known in Vermilion:
[VV ED. Note: I have omitted the names of all these folks because the list was quite extensive. I believe the editor of The News was upset about the bank closing because taken in context with the problems experienced by the Oberlin bank it was becoming obvious that laws regarding the banking business were in need of more oversight than was then available. It’s a rather interesting piece of American history – albeit local.]
Mrs. Malvina Stall was born in Vermilion, May 16, 1855, and died at her home on Sandusky street, Sunday night, April 2, 1905.
In December 1900, she was united in marriage to Mr. Harris Stall who survives her. Mrs. Stall had been sick for over a year. The post-mortem revealed a state causing surprise she lived so long. During the past few months especially, she has suffered a great physical pain. With patience she endured her suffering and was singularly free from anything approaching a complaining spirit. It is rare to find one so appreciative of any thoughtful attention received; a flower sent, a book loaned, a call made were acknowledged in such a way that the bestower [sic] felt the happiness which comes from a consciousness of cheering another. Twice Mrs. Stall expected to be publicly received into the Congregational Church at a quarterly communion, but sickness prevented. However, she had been voted in and the church loses a devoted friend.
Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church yesterday afternoon at 1 o’clock, conducted by Rev. Geo. E. Merrill.
Edwin D. Gibson, born in Russia township, Lorain Co., O., July 6th, 1854. Died March 31, 1905, aged 50 yrs., 8 mo. and 25 da.
Married to Carrie Billmire, Feb. 22, 1877. From this union there was one daughter, Tilie Gibson, who, after long suffering was taken from them, Feb. 28, 1901.
Eddie Gibson has been along and patient sufferer. He leaves to mourn his lost a wife, two sisters and three brothers and many friends.
The funeral services were held from the church in Birmingham on Monday, April 3, at 1 p.m. conducted by Rev. A.G. Rupert.
Henry Wenzel was born near Hessel Castle, Germany, Jan. 14, 1833. He with his brother Martin came to this country in 1863, coming to his sister’s at Vermilion. He soon went to work for Samuel Phelps, on the lake shore where he staid for three years.
He was united in marriage to Betsy Sherod, Dec. 27, 1867 and moved onto the farm south of Birmingham. To this union no children were born but their hearts and home were open, and three orphan children were reared to manhood and womanhood. His wife died August 26, 1884. He was united in second marriage to Cordelia Phelps, Aug. 29, 1888. He died March 27th, 1905, aged 72 years, 2 mo. and 13 days. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn their loss.
Soon after coming to this country he united with the German Reformed Church at Vermilion. While not a member of the M.E. Church at this place, he always attended its services and gave for its support and was an ardent reader of his Bible. He had been in failing health for about a year and had been a great though patient sufferer, and had been waiting longingly for his summons for several weeks. He has been a kind and loving husband and father and an upright loyal citizen and leaves many friends to whom the memory of him will ever be held sacred.
-John Pilip Guckes.
Nicholas Fischer was born at Brownhelm, O., March 10th, 1871 and died Aril 1st, 1905 aged 34 years 21 days.
At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Ceylon, O. In 1899 he moved with his Brother Adam to Berlin Township where he remained until death. He leaves an aged mother, three sisters, four brothers and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss. He last words that were spoken were “Now it’s time; lay me down.”
Funeral services were held at the home of his brother Adam, last Monday morning, Rev. Wm. G. Klein officiating. A choir from Vermilion furnished appropriate and comforting music. The remains were interred at Riverside Cemetery, Berlin Heights.
May he rest in peace.
Three Buckeye fish tugs are at present fishing from this port, the Erie, Boyd and Telephone. The pound pole driver, Mogul, is also here, and the Eagle and Desmond, besides the Vermilion tugs. The fishermen all report fairly good catches but the market has bone to smash and in consequence quantities of fish are being shipped for freezing.
Born – Saturday, April 1, to Mr. and Mrs. I. Haas, a daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. John Neagele [sic] began housekeeping in par of Mrs. N. Fischer’s house this week.
Old newspapers for sale at the News office.
Capt. Truman Moore has been officially appointed harbormaster for Lorain.
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, aged 84 died at the home of her son at N. Amherst Thursday, the result of a fall in which she broke her leg.
Don’t’ miss seeing the opening game of the American League Baseball season at Cleveland, Friday, April 14th, only $1.00 round trip from Vermilion via The Lake Shore Electric Ry. Rate good on all cars during the day.
The people down the shore are all providing themselves with letter boxes ready for the postman on the first of May.
Mr. Ed. Nieding moved his family onto the “Leidheiser” farm down the shore last Friday.
Ellsworth Lee and Callie Barnes are out of school on account of the mumps.
Mrs. Henry Baker and little daughter Marion are quite sick with mumps.
Orra Jump of Shinrock moved his family to this place the first of the week, his children will attend school here.
Our school is having vacation this week.
Quite a number of boys went fishing Saturday. Did you have good luck boys?
The new owners of the Minkler farm are greatly improving the looks of it.
Miss Jeanette Willard is assisting Mrs. G. Smith with her housework.
A number of the people were about to take their hard coals stoves down but changed their minds as it did not stay warm long.
Who wishes for southern climes when we can have such lovely weather in Ohio.
Dr. Maynard was called to attend Dr. Boss who was sick.
Len Hopkins is quite bad with inflammatory rheumatism. Mrs. O.A. Mardoff [sic] is also sick with rheumatism.
Mr. Wenzell’s [sic] funeral was held Thursday He had done a great deal of good, having given three or four orphan children a home who were brought up with a father and mother’s tender love. [VV ED. Note: The name is spelled “Wenzel” in the obituary. The difference here (I suspect) is that the articles were written by different reporters.]
Old Folks dance at the K.O.T. M. hall last Thursday evening.
Hmmmmmm....
"...Hattie and Miller developed a keen interest in young people."
THE VERY SCARY TRUTH: Nearly a decade has passed (VPJ 1/23/03) since I initially wrote about Vermilion’s Wilber Family. By and large they weren’t a very remarkable couple. However, their story is so compelling it deserves some retelling. Miller was born in New York State around 1854. Harriet “Hattie” (Kellog) was born in Berlin Heights, Ohio in 1859. Both were farm kids. Miller’s father, Nicholas, owned the Joseph Swift farm and home in what folks now call “Swift’s Hollow” in Henrietta Township several miles south of Vermilion. After the couple married 1878 they lived for a time with Miller’s parents and Miller helped with the farm.
In 1882 Hattie gave birth to their first child, a boy they named Jesse. Two years later their first daughter, May, was born. Six years later twins Ruby and Roy were added to their brood. And all was well. Or at least it was until January of 1893 when all four youngsters fell ill during a minor diphtheria epidemic and died within six days of each other. At the time of this tragedy the family was living at Mrs. Kellog’s family’s farm in Berlin Heights.
The year 1900 found the couple living in a comfortable home they called “Sunshine Cottage” on State Street in Vermilion. Miller had become full partner in the Bailey and Wilber Hardware Store that was located in the Englebry building on Division Street. He also served on the Vermilion school board. His father, who had left the farm in Swift’s Hollow shortly after the death of Miller’s mother, had taken up housekeeping in a large home on Decatur Street.
Probably due to the dreadful experience of losing all their children in such a short time Hattie and Miller developed a keen interest in young people – especially children in various orphan’s homes in the area. During the holiday season each year the couple made an effort to make the lives of these children brighter by warming their days, not only with gifts but also, with their kind presence. In fact, after the couple died in 1930 their will specified the “proceeds from the sale of the home on State Street” were to be used “to provide a fund for crippled and poor children of Vermilion and vicinity.” [NOTE: The accompanying photo is that of Hattie and Miller filling a Christmas stocking for orphaned children.]
Now given their sufferings and their demonstrative effort to lighten the days of handicapped and orphaned children it is insufferable, but hardly surprising, to find that just a few years following the deaths of the Wilber children that some big city newspapers published stories that perverted the truth. And though complaints were tendered, and retractions made, the damage was done. Moreover, it has sadly proven to be permanent. Thanks, in part, to those stories the Wilber story has been blended and evolved into an equally perverted story about the Light & Hope Orphanage, a.k.a. the Gore Orphanage.
Over the years I have been asked by television producers to tell them the story of the Gore Orphanage. They were, of course, looking for some bazaar tale of the supernatural. When presented with the facts, and the suggestion that they make an equally compelling story I never heard from them again. And that’s the very scary truth.
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.
…ments. Some two years after starting, their foundry burned down. It was immediately rebuilt, and is still in operation, in the manufacture of plows and points, and such other castings as may be ordered, though they do no general foundry work. They also have a wagon and blacksmith shop in connection with their foundry, and turn out quite a number of buggies and wagons yearly. At present they deal specially in agricultural implements, keeping the best makes of mowing machines, rakes, drills, etc. As the country in the vicinity of Bellevue is largely devoted to agricultural pursuits, there is and has been a good demand for articles in which they deal.
Soon after the settlement of the county a small distillery was started near Bellevue. The grain used was ground at Clear Creek and the still was run by hand. This was previous to 1836.
In October, 1849, Chapman, Harkness & Company built the first large distillery, with a capacity of sixty bushels of grain per day. This was run until 1852, when it was sold to D. M. Harkness, who formed a partnership with L. G. Harkness and H. M. Flagler. It was then increased to a capacity of six hundred bushels of grain daily, and was run under this management until 1864, when it was purchased by H. M Sinclair. Since that time it has not been run continuously and is now abandoned as a distillery.
In 1853, Chapman, Woodward & Company built another distillery, with a capacity for six hundred bushels daily. This distillery has been run most of the time since built and is still in operation.
The original cost of these distilleries was not far from thirty thousand dollars each.
In April, 1876, Dehe S. Reiling purchased the cooper shop on the corner of North West and Castalia streets, and converted it into a carriage shop. They built an addition to the building then on the ground, and have since that time done a large business, principally in making and repairing carriages and buggies. Their shop is eighty-four by twenty-six feet, a part of it being two stories in height; under the rear portion of the building is the smith and ironing shop. A ready sale is found for their manufactures, mostly among the farming community of Bellevue, Sandusky and Norwalk. They turn out, yearly, from fifty to sixty carriages and buggies, besides doing a large business at repairing. At this time, spring of 1879, they employ nine men, and need more shop room than they have. Both members of the firm are practical men, and understand every detail of the business, and though they started in a very unpropitious time, a good measure of success has attended the earnest perseverance they have shown.
Early in 1875, the farmers living in the vicinity of Bellevue formed a joint stock company for the purpose of erecting an elevator that should be under their own control, and from which they could ship their grain if they thought best, or could sell on the street if prices offered suited them. The charter members of this company consisted of seventeen persons, and stock was subscribed to the amount of five thousand dollars.
A building about twenty four by sixty feet was erected and completed September 11, 1875. An engine house was also built and an engine provided for hoisting grain and running a cleaner and a mill for grinding feed. The cost was about nine thousand dollars, a part of it being paid from earnings of the elevator after its completion. The building and attachments were put in charge of John Decker, who, the first season, received and shipped some four hundred thousand bushels of grain.
On the night of April 10, 1878, the elevator was burned. A new one was immediately commenced, and was in running order about August 1, 1878, but the feed mill and cleaner was not replaced. "Mr. Decker continued as manager until November, 1878, when Messrs. Wood & Close took charge. The first of January, 1879, they leased the elevator, the stockholders reserving the right to use it for their own grain, on paying the lessees one cent per bushel for elevating and storing. Since the 1st of January, Wood & Close have shipped (to May 15, 1879,) about one hundred thousand bushels of grain. They also sell clover and grass seed, plaster, cement, etc. They are enterprising, reliable young men, and are building up a promising business.
The stock company is managed by a board of directors consisting of nine persons, three of whom, form an executive committee. It is believed by the members of the company that since the erection of the elevator, prices for grain have ruled firmer, and thus the patrons have received benefit from the investment.
There are two elevators in the building, both run by horsepower, two horses being used. This is found much more economical than an engine, and answers the purpose equally well.
The village of Bellevue is situated in a comparatively level country, with no hills and no elevated land from which to obtain water by means of springs or natural reservoirs. Underlying it is a limestone formation, full of cracks and seams, by means of which the surface water is effectually drained off, thus forming a fine system of drainage for farms, but giving the town the reputation of a dry place. On the purchase of a hand fire engine, in 1869, cisterns were built in various parts of the town, but the supply of water was not thought adequate. About that time the subject of some system of water works was agitated, and the village authorities caused an experimental well to be bored, but tlic drill became stuck and it was given up.
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
MECKEL’S TEXACO: I decided to revisit this artifact suppled by Bill and Bonnie Cutcher.
Since last week I've had some time to think about - and several people have told me and have sent emails telling me exactly where Meckel's Texaco Station was located. They jogged my memory and I, too, recalled that it was on Liberty Ave. at the entrance of the Vermilion Lagoons. Tom Hug has a shop called "Huggies" in the old station today. It's across from Romp's Water Port.
Vermilionite Dominic Kotora ran the garage after Meckel. He may have purchased the business from him. Anyway, "You can trust the man with the star".
Thanks, everybody, for the reminder.
The Court of King George III London, England July 10, 1776 Mr. Thomas Jefferson c/o The Continental Congress Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dear Mr. Jefferson:
We have read your "Declaration of Independence" with great interest. Certainly, it represents a considerable undertaking, and many of your statements do merit serious consideration. Unfortunately, the Declaration as a whole fails to meet recently adopted specifications for proposals to the Crown, so we must return the document to you for further refinement. The questions, which follow, might assist you in your process of revision:
1.In your opening paragraph you use the phrase "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God." What are these laws? In what way are they the criteria on which you base your central arguments? Please document with citations from the recent literature.
2.In the same paragraph you refer to the "opinions of mankind." Whose polling data are you using? Without specific evidence, it seems to us the "opinions of mankind" are a matter of opinion.
3.You hold certain truths to be "self-evident." Could you please elaborate. If they are as evident as you claim then it should not be difficult for you to locate the appropriate supporting statistics.
4."Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" seem to be the goals of your proposal. These are not measurable goals. If you were to say that "among these is the ability to sustain an average life expectancy in six of the 13 colonies of at last 55 years, and to enable newspapers in the colonies to print news without outside interference, and to raise the average income of the colonists by 10 percent in the next 10 years," these could be measurable goals. Please clarify.
5.You state that "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government...." Have you weighed this assertion against all the alternatives? What are the trade-off considerations?
6.Your description of the existing situation is quite extensive. Such a long list of grievances should precede the statement of goals, not follow it. Your problem statement needs improvement.
7.Your strategy for achieving your goal is not developed at all. You state that the colonies "ought to be Free and Independent States," and that they are "Absolved from All Allegiance to the British Crown." Who or what must change to achieve this objective? In what way must they change? What specific steps will you take to overcome the resistance? How long will it take? We have found that a little foresight in these areas helps to prevent careless errors later on. How cost-effective are your strategies?
8.Who among the list of signatories will be responsible for implementing your strategy? Who conceived it? Who provided the theoretical research? Who will constitute the advisory committee? Please submit an organization chart and vitas of the principal investigators.
9.You must include an evaluation design. We have been requiring this since Queen Anne's War.
10.What impact will your problem have? Your failure to include any assessment of this inspires little confidence in the long-range prospects of your undertaking.
11.Please submit a PERT diagram, an activity chart, itemized budget, and manpower utilization matrix.
We hope that these comments prove useful in revising your "Declaration of Independence." We welcome the submission of your revised proposal. Our due date for unsolicited proposals is July 31, 1776. Ten copies with original signatures will be required.
Sincerely, Management Analyst to the British Crown
NADA AGAIN: I may begin doing the podcasts again; but I'm thinking of just doing audio readings. The videos on-line are just becoming too redundant unless they really show something special. The short videos that appear on the VNPSM Facebook page are more purposeful. You might want to check them out.
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.
Another great book with Vermilion Roots is, "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.
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.11, Issue 1 - March 16, 2013
© 2012 Rich Tarrant