"QUIET!!!"
SHOPTALK: Well, spring is officially here (at least for me it is). I mowed our lawn for the first time this year. The leaves on the trees will be full by this time next week. The neighborhood kids are riding their bikes. The birds are singing. The bees are buzzing. The dogs are barking. And our cat Anjou / Sandy loves to sleep outside in the sunshine. Who could ask for more?.
THE DESKTOP PIC: This week the desktop photo is that of the interior of the Vermilion Public Library when it was in the brick building on Grand Street. I remember it well.
It was, as is obvious, a very nice place. I have written about the building of this library in the past – but let me reiterate some:
The building was constructed in the depth of the Great Depression in 1935. The funds to build it were accrued by the library board starting in 1918 by saving on various purchases, work that was done at no cost to the board, and interest on savings. A lady named Ida M. Cague who, although not a board member, oversaw purchases of books etc. accomplished much of this saving.
The building was built by local workers, employed by the Works Progress Administration (i.e. W.P.A.), and supervised by local builder William “Dad” Tischer. It officially opened on Saturday October 19, 1935.
If the bookcases look familiar to some – they should. Some of them can now be found in the Fellowship Hall at the United Church of Christ Congregational church.
As many persons know when the new library was built on Liberty this building served as headquarters for the Vermilion Police Department for many years. Today it is the home of a circuit designing firm / cosmetic tattoo parlor. The current owner wants to make the former jail cells into a bed & breakfast facility.
The owner led me on a tour of the jail a week or two ago. I can only say that it’ll be a very novel, as well as a very expensive, project.
NEW BOOKS: Over the next several weeks / months I am going to be working on the production of two more books.
One is a reprint of the “History of the Roscoe Family” that was written by a great-aunt of mine back in the 1930s. Although it (obviously) pertains to my family it is, nonetheless, a very interesting document.
The other will be volume one of a set of books containing all my “Yesteryear” newspaper columns. I’m not certain just how much I can get in one book, so they’ll have to be numbered. The stories will be edited, and the graphics will be improved and increased. This is not Pulitzer material. Just fun.
Anyway, this will be a substantial task. I’m already tired.
FROM THE VHS LOG BOOK: Browsing through the VNPSM collection of old Vermilion High School annuals I came across the piece (below) in the 1941 Log Book. It’s a real nice article about The News. I copied the article as it was from the book and the pix – because they’re printed from metal photo engraving plates – don’t make the transition too well from letterpress to the digital environments. I do, however, have the original pix. Nonetheless, I was both pleased and surprised to find the article.
YESTERYEAR REPUBLISHED: I finally completed reprinting my old book “Rich Tarrant’s Yesteryear…”. This was accomplished at the museum. This reprint is much larger than the first (8.5 x 11); much of the copy has been edited; the graphics are improved; and it has two additional stories.
I didn’t want to staple-bind the book, so I purchased a small thermal binding unit that worked just fine. It’s now on sale at the museum.
Now I’ll get to work on a reprint of a booklet about the Roscoe side of my family that was written back in the late 1930s. This book will be staple-bound. I’m currently looking for some special paper for it. This is both a digital and a printing challenge. The book is, of course, historically relevant too.
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.
THIS JUST IN:I just received word from my friend and fellow historian Albert Doane that the Huron Historical Society has copies of this newspaper in the Huron Public Library. I hope they are accessible.
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 in the drive with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
Historically,
The Mean Team
VHS FOOTBALL TEAM – 1936 (AGAIN): Armed with a little bit of additional information I thought to use this pic again this week. This team, coached by Mr. Calvert had only two victories in the 1936 football season. It was reported that “the squad had only four lettermen from the previous year” and wasn’t as large as in former years. Someone in the 1936 edition of the Hi-Times yearbook wrote of them that their poor record, “would ordinarily discourage a team, but not the Sailors. What was lacking in numbers was made up in spirit and fight. Their motto seemed to be ‘We Can Take It’ and take it they did.” Their wins were against the Medina and the Sandusky Reserves. Their six losses were only by one or two points.
TOP ROW L-R: G. SPRIGG, C. KUHL, L. SMITH, C. GEGENHEIMER, D. SCHISLER, M. SANDERS, R. WASTAK, MR. CALVERT, W. TISCHER, M. JEFFERY, T. COLLITT, G. JOHNSON, E. BEINER.
BOTTOM ROW L-R: C. KLUCAS, H. CHANDLER, R. KOONTZ, W. KISHMAN, R. COLLITT, H. HAYES, E. WARD, G. TRUESDALE.
Thanks to Vermilionites Barb Ruggles and Judy Klucas for helping to identify Harry Hayes and Charles Klucas – and, of course, Richard Koontz for providing the pic.
WHO SHOT TOM GREEN (?): Monday April 4, 1870 Vermilion Lumber merchant Captain Thomas Green leaves his home in Vermilion for Sandusky, and from thence to Toledo on business. On Tuesday evening he arrives in Elyria, Ohio on the 8:20 P.M. train, takes a dish of oysters at Mr. Z. Blass’ oyster saloon, and then retires to the Washington House hotel for the evening. Before going to his room he sits for a time in the hotel lobby but talks with no one.
Once abed he remembers that he has some pressing business in Vermilion to attend to the next day. He also thinks to make a brief stop in North Amherst on the way. Ergo, he resolves to rise early, walk to N. Amherst, and, as a matter of expeditious convenience, catch the morning freight train back to Vermilion. He obviously had – as some would put it – all his “ducks in a row”. So thusly, does he rise promptly at 3 o’clock A.M. on Wednesday, depart the hotel without fanfare, and start off on his trek to Amherst.
About two miles later, as he makes his way along the railroad tracks in the darkness, he’s startled by the unexpected sound of footsteps nearby. Stepping up his pace he nears the township line where the railroad crosses the public highway when a shadowy figure suddenly appears before him blocking his way, sharply asking, “Is your name Green?” And before he can reply – BOOM – he is shot.
As Tom falls to the ground the shadowy figure says nothing further, but proceeds to go through his jacket finding and taking a small piece of paper in a side pocket. It contains $680. Then, stepping into the darkness from whence he came, the gunman vanishes.
Half conscious, Tom gets up and goes to a neighboring farmhouse for help. The half-awake farmer, thinking he he’s either drunk or insane turns him away. So Tom wanders further down State road to the house of one Mr. H. S. Powell who immediately comprehends the seriousness of his situation and removes him to one Dr. Crosse’s home in N. Amherst. Upon examination the Doctor finds that a bullet has hit Tom’s ninth rib, and penetrated the thorax just below the heart about one inch left of the breastbone. Tom was – as some might put it – “a lucky duck”. He was still alive. The authorities place him on the train to Vermilion where he receives further medical attention.
Immediate efforts to “detect the perpetrator of the crime” were begun. Authorities request assistance from Major Williams, chief of the Cleveland Police Department, and a detective named Rowe investigates. Vermilion’s Masonic order, Ely Lodge No. 424 offers a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of the culprit(s); but none are ever found. It is a mysterious affair.
Investigators find Mr. Green’s financial situation to be somewhat troubling; but do so with what can only be considered as a fair portion charity. Yet his early morning departure from the Elyria hotel without thinking it polite or necessary to tell anyone, or paying for his room, is cause for some concern and suspicion. It is also noted that the highwayman had neglected to take his wallet that also contained money. The whole affair is considered to be, as already said, a mystery. In the end, no one ever found out who shot and robbed Vermilion’s Captain Thomas Green in that yesteryear. But – as some might put it – “If it walks like a duck…”
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.49– May 18, 1905.
Walter Hageman, found guilty in the common pleas court of conducting a bucket shop has been granted three days by Judge Reed in which t file an appeal.
C.A. Nielsen as receiver for the Sandusky Fish company, has been granted permission by Judge Reed to sell the tug Connelly at private sale for $500.
The case of Lena Klatt against the Lake Shore Electric railroad has been dismissed. The railroad company paid the costs. Suit was brought for $1,000 damages, Miss Klatt claiming that she had been thrown last May while getting off a car at Vermilion.
John W. Jarrett, as guardian of Eliza Spenner, an insane person, has filed a petition in common pleas court in a suit in which August Spenner is the defendant. Plaintiff avers that on April 15, 1905, he, as acting guardian of Eliza Spenner, duly sold and conveyed by order of the probate court, the interest of Eliza Spenner in certain real estate in Florence township to the defendant Spenner.
The plaintiff also says that defendant paid the sale price excepting $150.50, which was to have been paid at the time of conveyance.
In view of the fact that the money was not paid at the time of conveyance, plaintiff asks judgement for $150.50.
By order of the probate court of Elyria, John A. and Katie Springer of Birmingham, O., were allowed to adopt Helen McLaughlin and change her name to Helen Springer.[VV Ed. Note: I believe this notice is in error. The last name was not “Springer”. It was “Sprunger”. And John and Kate Sprunger were the proprietors of the Hope and Light Orphanage in Birmingham in Florence Township.]
The Stmr. Stephen M. clement will be launched at Lorain Saturday.
H.B. Williams has been reelected superintendent of the Sandusky schools.
Fred Bishop, a young of man [sic] Greensprings, has been adjudged insane and taken to the Toledo hospital.
Frank Wheeler, who is alleged to have stabbed John Conley Friday night, perhaps fatally, at Sandusky, was captured Monday night. Conley is still alive.[VV Ed. Note: Like someone once said, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”]
Suit for infringement of patent ws brought in U.S. circuit court at Toledo Saturday by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co., of Pittsburg, against the Toledo, Port Clinton, and Lakeside railway. The plaintiff alleges that the railway is using certain devices for electric motor control that are covered by patents owned by the Westinghouse concern. Permanent injunction and accounting are asked for. – Ex.
Monday night the city council of Sandusky decided to put the question of issuing bonds for the harbor improvement, in the sum of 4125,000 to be used with government appropriation. A 21 ft. channel 300 ft. wide is to be dredged along the water front of the city.
Extensive preparations are being made for the encampment of the Grand Army at Washington, C.H. June 6 to 9.
The city will be in gala attire and it is estimated that from $8,000 to $10,000 will be spent in decorating. The flower parade will be held on June 7. The grand parade of the G.A. R. will be held Thursday afternoon and will be headed by a monster fife and drum corps of over 300 members, all veterans of the Civil War.
It is seldom that the “knights of the pencil” take a day off, but they invitation issued by the Sec’y F.W. Coen of the L.S.E. Ry for a trip to Detroit via the L.S.E. and Toledo & Detroit Short Line, was too tempting and when the special came along last Friday morning, at each station one or more of these moulders [sic] of public opinion, or a representative of their paper, were found dressed in holiday attire ready for the trip.
Each new comer was met by the genial traveling passenger agent, H.T. Surbeck, who introduced him to the other newspapermen, and to General Passenger Agent F.W. Coen and Manager Stout of the road.
Toledo was reached about noon and a lunch, served at the Boody House, refreshed the inner man.
Here the party was joined by other newspapermen and President Slush of the Toledo & Detroit line. At 1:30 the party left for Detroit.
At Monroe, Mich., a town of historic interest on account of the battle on the River Raisin and its having the second oldest Catholic parish in America, the party made a brief stop, visiting the power house there. It is a fine brick structure containing an up=to=date outfit for producing the “juice”. Several ponderous engines were at work; we understand that they are 600 h.p.[sic] each.
From this place the party went directly to Detroit arriving at 4:30. A Free Press photographer took the group for his paper. He had the photo in the hands of the engraver in thirty-five minutes and hoped to have the picture in Saturday’s papers.
In Detroit, which by the way is the cleanest city in the northwest, the crowd scattered, visiting various places of interest including Windsor, Canada.
6 o’clock found the party in the lobby of the Russel House fully ready for dinner. The dinner was served in courses and as one scribe expressed it “he didn’t know what some of the dishes were but knew they were good to eat.” However all did ample justice to the repast from the blue-points on the half shell to the fragrant Havanas.
Judge Reilly, a streetcar man of Detroit was toastmaster. Both newspapers and railroads were enthusiastically toasted and even the motors sang a new tune on the homeward journey.
The newspapermen were well pleased with the trip and it was a great pleasure to meet the Michigan brethren who were well represented.
To say we al had a most enjoyable time is bur a feeble expression. The press extends its thanks to the railroad officials for a pleasant outing.
We must not forget to mention that “Squire” Redfield of Norwalk, the oldest editor in the state was with the party. He is eight-two years of age. He spoke of working for a Detroit printer sixty [years} ago. What a change in those 60 years.
The return trip was fully as enjoyable as going the time of the run from Detroit to Vermilion being about 5 hours and 15 minutes.
[VV Ed. Note: The story goes on to list the names of 55 men who took the trip. It included railroad officials as well as all the editors from newspapers across northern Ohio. I didn’t list them here because the list was so large.]
The improvements at Johnson’s hill costing over 42,000 met with a severe setback by the severe storm last Thursday. The water forced the wall out of place for a considerable distance and the north end caved in. Some attribute the damage to faulty construction.
Ed Gessner has again been hired as janitor of the high school building at 442 per.
There is a milk war on at this place and venders of that very necessary article are charging 3 cts per quart with prospects for more reduction.
Change of play every night at the Opera House next week. Popular prices.
Nine cases of diphtheria is reported in the family of G. Sartor residing on the Huron Road.
Mrs. O.J. Mason, wife of Light Keeper at Put-in-Bay, is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Burns this week.
Capts. Stone and Horton visited their homes here Sunday.
Mrs. Alva Bradley is spending a few days in Cleveland.
The Ladies Aid Society of the congregational church will have a ten cent supper at the Parsonage on Friday evening, May 19th. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
Born – To Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Osborn of Cleveland, May 15, a daughter.
Mrs. W. Todd is still quite ill.
Pure ice cream can be had at all times at A.D. Baumhart’s.
Geo. P. Wahl and family moved to their summer cottage at the park yesterday.
Dr. Bond attended the Homeopathy convention and commencement exercises at Cleveland Wednesday and Thursday.
Mrs. Ed Sherod was called to New London yesterday by the death from whooping cough of her neice [sic]. Miss Glen Davis, daughter of M. Davis. Several members of the family have the disease.
C.A. Baldwin has quit the Ohio quarry and is now fireing [sic] in No. 6. He claims to like it better than slinging sledgehammers in the not sun.
It is reported that Will Kneisel of the north Road lost a good cow.
Raymond and Freddie Bacon of Mill Hollow planted potatoes for C.A. Baldwin Monday as Mr. Baldwin has a good jog in the quarry and could not leave it. [ I’m not certain how this report correlates with the one above.]
The farmers are very busy plowing for corn, the rain last week set them back some.
Mrs. May Phelps and sister-in-law Mrs. G.L. Nye and daughter Miss Hattie were in N. Amherst last Saturday.
Fan Delzel has been doing a good job cleaning the cemetery, but we are afraid it won’t be a snap job when it comes to digging a grave. Certain ones were death on the old sexton so we hope Mr. D. will satisfy.
Supt. W.E. Crandall, who has had charge of our schools for the past seven years was chosen by the board of education of No. Amherst to succeed Supt. Morrison resigned.
While the storm of last Thursday was passing over here, a bolt of lightening struck a telephone pole causing several telephone pole causing several telephones to burn out.
An Auto was seen on Maine street Sunday.
Miss Jeanette Willard took the examination at Sandusky Saturday.[VV Ed. Note: I assume this refers to the teacher’s examination]
Church and Sunday school was largely attended Sunday.
The G.A.R. Memorial Sunday services will be held at our church the morning of May 28th. The Post has 33 members. Some are quite feeble. Special pains will doubtless be taken to have as many as possible present. Let the congregation come out in force and give a warm greeting to the veterans.
In the evening Mr. Merrill will speak on “Girls: Faults and Ideals.”
Hmmmmmm....
"I give thanks to my Father above, who has gone with me through it all..."
LETTERS FROM HELL: June 4,1864. Bermuda, Virginia. “I am on the James River above the City Point, fifteen miles from Richmond, VA. We have been here a month today and have had two hard battles, and lost a great many men in both battles, but we won them. Since then we have fallen back in our entrenchments and they have tried to drive us out, but can’t. The last news is that General Grant’s Army is within seven miles of Richmond. All day yesterday the heaviest cannonading I ever heard was going on, and it kept up until ten o’clock last night.
I had letters from Levi and Chauncy. They were in Fort Cass, near Washington, D.C. they had been ordered to move, have gone to reinforce General Grant’s Army. I have been with the Hospital Department, helping care for the sick and wounded since the battles on May the 10th. [Note: This is in reference to The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – May 8-24, 1864] The Hospital is back of the trenches, out of range of the enemy’s guns. I am up most of the night. Am again troubled with the dysentery, but have only four more weeks to stay in service. Three years is a long time to be away from one’s home ties, and I have never been away on leave of absence since I joined the Regiment two and one-half years ago, not even a day, and never been sick, so as to go to the hospital.
I give thanks to my Father above, who has gone with me through it all and am very anxious to get home to see you all.
Hoping this cruel War will soon be over, the sight of so much bloodshed and mangled bodies makes me sick. I am sick of War.”
These heartfelt words appear in one of the letters written by my great-grandfather Caselton Roscoe to his parents, Levi and Eliza Stockwell Roscoe who lived in Milan, Ohio during the American Civil War. The letter is in a booklet prepared by my great-aunt Ellen Angeline Smith Roscoe and printed by my grandfather Pearl, Editor / Publisher of The Vermilion News, in 1930. The men he mentioned – Levi and Chauncy – were two of his seven brothers. Another brother, Ransom, also served in the Union Army during the war. All survived.
That war (as many already know) was the deadliest war in American history. An estimated 750,000 soldiers, as well as an undetermined number of civilians, were killed during the conflict. Some historians estimate that nearly ten percent of all Northern males 20–45 years old, and 30 percent of all Southern white males aged 18–40 were killed during the four-year struggle between the states.
Though Caselton held the rank of musician – he was a fifer – while in the service he was hardly immune from the abject misery of the experience. While garrisoned at Fredericksburg, Virginia in May of 1862 he wrote, “I still have my cough, but have stood the marching as well as any of them. We have to play the fife all the time on marching, if not we will be put in hand-cuffs.”
Despite the fact that the primary duty of the field musician was one of boosting morale on long marches, on the battlefields their duties, as previously indicated, also included carrying stretchers and assisting medical staffs. This duty is especially reflected in a June 24, 1862 letter as he described his experiences at the First Battle of Winchester (Virginia): “Before we left Winchester we had an awful battle…General Shields had his left arm broken. This was the most terrible sight I ever saw. Regiment after regiment charged up all the time, yelling and hollowing amid (the) awful roar of cannons and muskety [sic]. It was at this time one of our homeboys fell, Henry Gibbs. He was shot through the left lower jaw, passing clear through cutting his tongue, and when I found him, had been carried and layed [sic] in an old brick building, alone in a corner, on a little hay with only a bit of oilcloth thrown over him. I tried to make him as comfortable as I could, then I had to go and help others, as I had to go back of the firing line and help the nurses carry in the wounded.” [Note: Mr. Gibbs survived his wounds, returned home to Milan, and was appointed Postmaster in 1873. He died in 1879.]
Caselton served three years and nine months with Company K., of the 67th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He mustered out of the service in January 1865. Although the war had exacted a significant toll on his health, upon his return home he eagerly took up work as a carpenter and millwright (occupations he pursued for nearly 50 years thereafter), married, and had a son. In 1904 he supervised the construction of a building on Grand Street in Vermilion to be used as a newspaper office, print shop and home by his son (my grandfather) Pearl Roscoe. And it was there, shortly after the break of dawn on a Wednesday morning in May of 1918, that he passed quietly into the yesteryear. Though his war is long over it is yet to be forgotten. Perhaps tis best that none ever do.
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.
…teen,immediately after the death of his parents, went to reside at Whitestown, New York. There he learned the trade of millwright. His educational advantages were not the best, yet he made wise improvement of such as were afforded, and acquired a thorough knowledge of the practical branches then taught, and, for his day, was more than an average scholar.
Upon the outbreak of the last war with England, he volunteered his services in behalf of his country, served her with fidelity, and, at the close of the war, received an honorable discharge at Sackett's Harbor, New York. This was in 1815. He had at this time reached the age of twenty years. His mind now turned with eager thoughts toward the distant west. At Whitestown, New York, lived, at this time, a young lady to whom he had become attached. Miss Mary Shepard Savage, youngest daughter of John and Rachel Shepard Savage. She became his betrothed. Amos, the oldest brother of Gurdon, who was the youngest son, had married Rachel, the oldest sister of Mary, who was the youngest daughter.
In 1816, Gurdon Woodward started for the lands of his inheritance, and, after a temporary stay in Huron, where his sister Betsey and her husband, Mr. George Sheffield, located in the same year, he came on to Lyme in the spring of 1817, and made a selection of his lands. His first night in Lyme township, then Wheatsborough, was spent by the remains of an Indian camp fire —his dog and gun his only companions—upon the very ground which was afterwards to be his home during many of the years of his life. His dreams, that first night, must have been filled with thoughts of far-away Whitestown, and of the loved one who awaited there his return.
Two years of heroic toil were now spent in fitting his chosen heritage for the advent of her, who, at the expiration of that time, was to be his bride. A log house was erected and portions of the land cleared and fenced. The day finally came when he retraced his steps to his former home, Oneida county, New York, and there, at the village of Whitestown, on the 14th day of April 1819, he united his fortunes in holy matrimony with those of Miss Mary Shepard Savage. Westward the star of love, as of empire, took its way. Waiting only to receive the congratulations of their friends, the happy pair started for their western Ohio home, the husband, however, coming some weeks in advance of the wife, who came accompanied by Amos Woodward, Gurdon's oldest brother. Their journey hither, thus taken separately, was their only wedding tour, and the first days of their wedded life—in their wilderness home—their honeymoon. Those first summer days which, the young bride, then only eighteen, passed in the rude but comfortable home which her lover had, with dauntless perseverance, prepared for her, must have been in striking contrast to the life she had spent in her father's home in Whitestown. Yet who can doubt that they were happy days?
With energy and determination, enduring many severe privations, and denied innumerable comforts to which they both had been accustomed, they strove together to better their worldly fortunes, to improve the condition of their farm and its surroundings, to beautify their home, and to make life attractive. Heaven smiled benignantly upon their constant love and patient labor. Seven children blessed the former, and, as a result of the latter, the rude log cabin, in which their wedded life began, gave place, in time, to a large, substantial and comfortable dwelling—at the time of its erection, perhaps, the best in the township. Their beautiful home they christened "Woodlawn." Here they dwelt together for forty years, and here were born to them all their children: Lucy, Abishai, Amos, William, Mary, Rachel and Julia M.
In 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Woodward removed to Bellevue, and, purchasing the Dr. Lathrop property, on West Main street, spent there the remainder of their days, receiving kind attentions from relatives and friends. Each lived to a ripe old age, the former dying December 8, 1874, in the eightieth year of his life, and the latter February 25, 1879, nearly seventy-eight years of age.
On the fiftieth anniversary day of their marriage, April 14, 1869, their relatives and numerous friends assembled at their pleasant home to celebrate their golden wedding. It was a time of joyous greetings and hearty congratulations. The aged pair could look back upon a happy, well-spent life, and regard with pleasure their present condition, blessed with every comfort that hearts could wish. Death had robbed them of three of their children, Lucy, William and Julia, and hence their happiness was tempered with sad recollections, but their surviving sons and daughters were all happily situated in life—a fact that must have been of great gratification to them. In their declining years, their four children and their grandchildren ministered to them with devoted attentions; and rarely in this life is seen so marked an exhibition of filial affection as was shown Mrs. Woodward by her sons and daughters during the four years of her widowhood.
Of the children, Lucy became the wife of George Sheffield; Abishai married Mary Amsden, the second daughter of Mr. Thomas G. Amsden, and is vice president of the Bellevue bank, and universally esteemed by his fellow-townsmen; Amos married Arabella, eldest daughter of Mr. Frederick A. Chapman; he is vice president of the First National bank, and a man of wealth and influence; William died at about the age of fifteen; Mary became the wife of Rev. Mr. Hamilton; Rachel married Mr. Boardman, who died some years ago; he was a man of culture and intelligence, and was a resident of Lincoln, Illinois, at the time of his death; Julia M. died in early womanhood. Gurdon Woodward was a man of marked and clearly defined characteristics. Of commanding person, he was possessed of sound judgment, a strong will and an inflexible purpose. In politics, he was a staunch adherent to the Democratic faith, and never swerved from…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
A VERMILION FIRST: Richard Koontz sent this copy of Certificate of Election to me earlier this week. The reason it’s historically relevant is because his maternal grandmother Esther B. Schroeder was Vermilion’s very first female council representative.
Today we, of course, don’t give such matters any thought. But back in 1941 it really was a big deal. It’s just a very interesting piece of Vermilion trivia – a true artifactual.
Below is a little pic of Esther and her daughter Dorothy (Koontz) when Dorothy was a Scout. The pic was taken in Victory Park (near St. Mary’s church). The lady in the background is Nell Nieding. Nell lived in the house just to the south of the Vermilion News print shop on Grand Street.
While out one morning in the park, a jogger found a brand new tennis ball, and seeing nobody around it might belong to, he slipped it into the pocket of his shorts. Later, on his way home, he stopped at a pedestrian crossing, waiting for the lights to change. A girl standing next to him eyed the large bulge in his shorts. "What's that?" she asked. "Tennis ball," came the breathless reply. "Oh," said the girl sympathetically, "that must be painful, I had tennis elbow once."
NADA AGAIN AND 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.
I've not forgotten about this part of "Views". I've just been busy. But I will get back to it.
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 8 - May 4, 2013
© 2012 Rich Tarrant