"GOOD TIMES, OLD TIMES"
SHOPTALK: One of the desktop pics this week appears to have been taken in the late 1940s of a parade on Liberty Avenue between Main-Division and Grand streets. The band leading the procession of Firemen was likely the Vermilion High School Marching Band.
I’m tentatively dating this pic as 1937 during Vermilion Centennial. The band leading the procession may very well be the Vermilion High School Marching Band. The photo appears to have been taken from the marquee of the Liberty Theatre looking to the north and west down Liberty Avenue just past Grand Street. The house to right was once Englebry’s Funeral Home – but I don’t believe it was a funeral home in this pic. Today it is Edna Mae’s Ice Cream and Lunch Parlor. The sign at the mid left side of the photo advertising Gifts and Cards was over The News Gift Shop owned by my Grandmother Bessie Roscoe. The building with the big glass windows in the middle of the photo is Glenn Martin’s Pontiac Dealership (currently Friendship Park).
The other desktop pic is a tiled photograph of one of Vermilion’s early semi-professional baseball teams. It was taken at the back of Exchange Park in downtown Vermilion around 1905-06. If you look closely you can see one of the park’s cannons to the back right side of the team.
I don’t know any of the fellows pictured with any certainty. However, I believe the older-looking guy standing at the back right of the group is Charles A. Heidloff, the team manager, and the little guy - the mascot – is Verne Leidheiser. Charles Barber (senior) may also be in this group, but I am unable to recognize him.
THINKING AHEAD:This Spring the museum will be offering a new book – Yesteryear II – for sale at the museum. Like the first Yesteryear book it may feature stories from past Vermilion Photojournal newspaper columns along with companion piece photographs. There will be more pix in the book than appeared with the original Yesteryear newspaper columns, and all will be of better quality. In addition the information will have been edited to eradicate most errors therein.
The books will be printed by and at the museum and will cost between $20 and $25 depending on their size.
Another Now & Then Book is also under consideration.
AT WORK: Mark Slocum, my nephew and fellow VNPSM Board Member painted the vestibule in the apartment during the last week making it ready for wallpaper to be placed on three of the walls. He also did the ceiling.
It looks great. But it will look a good deal better when its papered, and the floor is sanded and stained. Georgi and I went to the Sherwin Williams store on Tuesday and chose and purchased the paper. It should be in sometime next week.
SOME OTHER THINGS: Larry and Yvette Hohler and their daughter stopped at the shop just after Christmas. They were in the area visiting Larry’s Mom Marie and were on their way to the airport to catch a flight back to New York. They’re a busy family. Very soon they’ll be going back to Kenya to see how things are shaping up at their project (Hope Homes: you can find a link in the “Links Section”).
Some folks retire to work harder than when they worked.
I also want to mention that we now have postcards and tee-shirts at the museum. I just began producing the cards this week (along with note-cards). The shirts a really, nice.
Cool!
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
We are not open on major holidays.
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 Museum727 Grand Street Vermilion, Ohio 44089440.967.4555.
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,
F.W. & THE TOBERMORY
EFF-DUBYA: Alice Wakefield sent me this pic during the week and I just have to use it. In it Commodore F.W. Wakefield is standing aboard his beautiful vessel Tobermory in Eau Gallie, Florida sometime around 1925. The boat was a familiar vessel in Vermilion Harbor as well as harbors all over the Great Lakes.
If you’re following the stories in the “Briefs” section of “VV” you may know that Mr. Wakefield started coming to Vermilion in the very early years of 20th century for the summers. And in the early months of 1906 he began planning to bring his light fixture company to Vermilion. If you follow along in that section of “VV” you will learn how plans for the factory developed.
NEIDING FISH AND OTHER THINGS: My late father-in-law, George Diener, was truly a great sport fisherman. Frequently he would tell my wife and I about a 200 lb. catfish that used to hang out in the Vermilion River. And just as frequently I would bend over laughing at the thought: a 200 lb. catfish indeed. It would have looked like a mini-sub marine scudding up and down the stream. Diners at the old McGarvey's Restaurant would have loved it. It was absurd. But now - after all these years - I'm not so sure he was jesting. For if I were, say, just 20 years old today and some aging balding guy with bifocals told me about a time he saw a fish tug in the harbor loaded to the top of its gunwales/gunnels with Walleye and/or Perch I know what I'd think he was full of - and it wouldn't be fish.
Fortunately, this snapshot provided by Vermilionite Tom Neiding serves to both prove arid underline the claim. And I might add that the catch pictured was not all that unusual in the yester year.
Pictured are Tom Neiding on the right, then 15 years old, and his brother Bryce, then 10 years old, on the left. It is the early spring (April) of 1956. Their father, Harold, owned and operated Vermilion's Lake Erie Fishery now occupied by Vermilion's gorgeous Boat Club.
The tug is the Mary H - a trap netter owned by the Hosko Brothers of Toledo, but fishing out of Neiding's Lake Erie Fishery. The catch is 7.5 tons of netted Pickerel (Walleye). And as is plain from the fish Tom is holding up for the camera it is a good-sized catch.
As the years turned Mr. Neiding (Harold) moved from the commercial fishing business into the restaurant business. This was, apparently, not much of a stretch for him. I do recall stories of his being well known for preparing and selling smoked fish for various folks as he attended to his commercial fishing pursuits.
In any case, sometime in the late '50's or very early 1960's he built a small restaurant just to the east of the Lake Erie Lanes Bowling Alley. It was called, appropriately enough, the Lake Erie Drive-In. Also, appropriately enough, the main food on the menu was Lake Erie fish. And were I a retrospective food critic (if there be such a thing) Harold Neiding's Lake Erie Perch sandwiches would receive a 5-star rating.
This restaurant, as has been said, was a drive-in. In some respects it was similar to the one known, as “Arnold’s made famous by the television series Happy Days". It was, for some area youngsters, a place to hangout before and after high school games and dances. Pretty teenage girls served as Carhops. The jukebox was seldom silent. And the parking lot was seldom empty. But it was always, first and foremost, a restaurant; and a reason ably good one at that. Today (2007) it is the home of Martino’s International Cafe.
But back to the photo; behind the boys on the tug, and across the river, are the willows that once lined the riverbank along Park Drive in the Vermilion Lagoons. There are no houses on that street visible in the photo, although there may have been a few beyond the range of the camera lens. Bryce, who was incidentally a school chum of mine, appears to be fishing in the river. It may be that he was looking to hook that 200 lb. cat my father-in law always talked about. If nothing else it always made for a great story, and will always be something for every young fisherman to dream on.
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. IX - NO.33 – Jan. 25, 1906.
The trial of John Counter, jointly indicted with Thomas Vanderpool and Isaac Traynor, for burglarizing Krapp’s Saloon, was begun and nearly completed Wednesday afternoon. The case went to the jury this morning.
Louise Ritter, Administratrix of the estate of John Ritter, deceased has made application to the probate court for leave to sell real estate in Vermilion.
Robert E. Jones 21, Brownhelm, O., …and Miss Mary Agnes Jones, 18, Vermilion. Rev. Brown to officiate.
The following marriage license was issued Monday, Lafayette Counter, 34 years, Vermilion, and Mary Bruce, 18 years, N. Amherst.
Charles Shafer 28, Brownhelm, and Miss Ida Helen Tisdale, 31, Vermilion. Rev. A.P. Higley married them in the probate courtroom.
While “there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip,” as an old saying runs we may feel reasonably certain that the Wakefield Brass Co. will locate in Vermilion. Subscriptions are now being collected and all arrangements necessary for closing contracts, etc., are bing made so that there will be no delay in getting down to business when Mr. Wakefield is ready.
A notice to contractors will be found elsewhere and we understand plans and specifications will be ready as soon as the other part of the matter is settled.
Word was received here today of the death of Chas Fischer, at his home in Paintsville, Ky., at 9 o’clock this morning.
Funeral services will be held at his late home Saturday at 10 A.M.
Mr. Fischer was a young man of ability and leaves a young wife and a little child, besides a large number of relatives and friends.
A.B. Todd, proprietor of the Old Reliable Poultry Yards can be congratulated at the outcome of his exhibit at the big Cleveland show tis week at Gray’s Armory. Out of four entries made by him of Single Comb White Leghorns in competition with 68 in and out of the state his chickens won as follows: 1st premium on cock, 5th on hen and 5th on pullet.
On the application of George Brandes, one of th stockholders, Judge Reed sitting in the court of common pleas on Tuesday, appointed Mr. George R. Butler, of Sandusky, receiver for the Erie Woo-working Co., of Vermilion.
In his petition Mr. Brandes state that the company was organized on August 16, 1905, for the purpose of manufacturing doors, sash, interior finish and doing a general contracting business in those commodities. For the purpose of conducting and carrying on its business it has purchased a t various times machinery and equipments [sic] of the value of about $10,000 and has on hand raw material and partly constructed material of the value of $12,000 to $13,000. It has contracts in process of completion, of which a large part remains to be done in order to collect the amount due the corporation on such contracts. While the corporation is not insolvent and has assets with which to pay its liabilities owing to the amount of money that is now tied up in contracts it is unable to pay its current obligations and complete its contracts under its present management.
The profits on the contracts, when completed will amount to about $4,000, and the material on hand will be largely converted into cash by the completion of the contracts, thus creating a fund to pay the debts and liabilities.
The payroll necessary to keep the business in operation requires the sum of about $500 to $800 every two weeks and there is now due and unpaid for labor the sum of about $1,000 and the corporation has not the wherewith to pay the labor claims, and the workman are threatening to leave the employment of the company and sue for their wages. The corporation is indebted to various creditors in the sum of $18,000, a large part of which is due, and creditors are demanding payment, and the balance is mainly in the form of notes, which will shortly come due.
The authorized capital stock of the corporation is $25,000 of which $8,700 has been paid in; and there is nothing due on subscriptions. Plaintiff holds eight shares of stock of the value of $800 and brings this action for himself and such stockholders as desire to come in and seek relief. He says the defendant corporation is in eminent danger of becoming insolvent and unless a receiver is appointed to take charge of its affairs; complete its assets, pay its liabilities and make such dispositions of said corporation as shall be deemed to the best interests of all parties, his interest will be totally lost.
Plaintiff also says the corporation has not sufficient capital to conduct the business of its magnitude and that so far it has been unable to get more capital, and unless more capital is provided, the business will have to be wound up and the corporation dissolved.
The matter was presented to the court by Mr. Burrows, of the firm of Burrow & Mason and after a hearing Judge Reed made the appointment of Mr. Butler, fixing his bond at $5,000.
Little Ruth Crum is quite sick at this writing.
Relatives from this place attended the funeral of Mr. Geo Krock at Huron, Monday. Mr. Krock was killed by the cars Saturday evening He leaves a wife and five children. Mrs. Krock was formerly Miss Minnie Crum.
It is said that Toledo State Hospital will be thoroughly reorganized in the near future.
Henry Krock was killed and Chas Cole quite seriously injured Saturday night while walking along the L.S. tracks. Both are supposed to have been drinking, as Cole cannot tell anything about it.
[VV Ed. Note: The article in the Ashmont section referred to Krock as George. It was also somewhat vague about how he lost his life. This Huron note helps understand what happened.]
Claude Shinn was operated on for appendicitis Sunday.
The annex, which, has been built on the schoolhouse, will be ready for occupancy Feb. 5th.
A little daughter came this week to make her home with Rev. and Mrs. Megler.
Mrs. L. Bose is reported ill.
Henry Pelton is undergoing treatment for cancer.
The Misses Cuddeback are recovering from their recent illness.
New Wagon – A new Tura Bull wagon for sale, S.C. Meyers, Vermilion, O.
Vermilion friends of Mrs. A.G. Rupert will be pained o learn that she is reported very ill at a hospital.
Mrs. Helen Kelsey Fox returned home with her daughter Mrs. Chas Englebry, Tuesday. The home which she intended to go to has been closed for some time and she was taken to the hospital, but was failing and so, returned to Vermilion while able to stand the journey.
[VV Ed. Note: This little snippet helps me better understand just who Mrs. Fox was. I knew she was a talented poet, but I knew nothing about her children. She is an interesting personality.]
A.J. Stoll, Henry Bickley and Charles Day of this city, and Fred Driscoll of Vermilion, and C.E. Heyman of Huron, appeared before the house committee on fish and game at Columbus Tuesday.
The changes in the fish laws as decided upon at a meeting of the fishermen in this city were made known to he committee. Action was deferred – Sandusky Register.
Representative Winter of this county has been asked by the Christian Scientists to introduce a bill to permit them to receive money in payment for services rendered in praying at the bedside of sick people.
[VV Ed. Note: This is an interesting bit of information. Just a year or two prior the federal court ruled that the Christian Scientists could not practice medicine without a proper education and license. This legislation looks like an “end run” on their part.]
Mr. and Mrs. John Krapp have gone to housekeeping in Vermilion.
Born: to Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bachman, Jan 23, ’06 a son.
V. Leimbach was badly shaken up while trimming an apple tree Tuesday. The limb broke and let him fall.
The exercises at the school were well attended.
Jacob Ladrach of Brownhelm is calling on farmers in this vicinity contracting for milk the coming season.
[VV Ed. Note: The Ladrach and Bauman families were operating cheese factories in the area. While I have a pic of the Brownhelm operation I have no idea about where it was located.]
Hmmmmmm....
SMITTY: One of the most familiar faces about town and along Vermilion's waterfront for many decades was a man named Warren G. (The "G" was for Gold) Smith. Most folks just called him "Smitty"
Born in 1897 he was the second of three sons born to Lewis and Nellie Smith. Possibly because his father was a farmer neither "Smitty", his older brother James "Alfred", nor his younger brother, Sterling, were strangers to hard work - physical or cerebral.
By the early 1920's Smitty had left off farming to take up a business of his own design. The first enterprise was a gasoline and tire sales business located in the building, which is now the home of Freeman-Eckley Inc. on the bank above Don Parsons Inc. Boat Marina and Storage, concern along Liberty Avenue. The Age of the Automobile had arrived and Smitty was there.
His next business was what most folds today would consider to be a convenient-type store. It's not clear whether that store was also located in the gas/tire station or if it was in the building now housing the Central Basin Bait and Tackle Store just to the west. Whatever the case, it was a tidy little emporium with a few tables, a four stool lunch counter, candy and tobacco products in glass showcases, and various non-perishable goods neatly stacked on shelves around the room. All of this surrounded a strategically placed "one-armed bandit". (This, incidentally, was not very unusual in more than a few bars, restaurants, and stores about town during that era.)
By about 1940 when the accompanying shadows of Smitty and his wife, Emily, were captured on film interacting with a veritable plethora of potential customers, their business had become primarily one of selling fishing supplies to sports fishermen, and renting boats to anglers and/or persons looking to simply spend an afternoon on the water.
To accommodate this enterprise he had moved from his stores on the bank above the river to the riverside. Along with his wife, and his brother Alfred, they pounded in heavy piles and built docks along the river. He purchased a trolley car from the recently defunct Lake Shore Electric Railway system and used it for a bait store. The family, which now included son, Robert, and daughter, Jean, lived above the boathouse along the river just to the west of the bait store. And, as is quite obvious, business was not just good. It was great.
And it was there that Warren G. Smith - the fellow that most folks just call "Smitty" - came into his own milieu. It's a place that only a few men or women are ever fortunate enough to find. It's a place where one is comfort able not only doing what they want to do, but also have the ability to do it well, and to make a living doing it.
Sometime in the 1950's Smitty sold the riverside enterprise and moved to a new, and a rather unlikely, location. He retired to a property on the north side of Darrow Road just east of Joppa Road in Vermilion Township. There he dug several lagoons to raise bait and operated a boating/fishing supply business out of a two-car cement block garage along the roadside. As before, his business prospered. Folks from Cleveland to Toledo who were going to fish out of, Vermilion harbor went out of their way to go to "Smitty's Bait". It didn't matter where it was.
In a different snapshot taken by another Vermilion, Ohio icon, Dr. Dickason, sometime near the end of his time on earth (1967) there Warren G. smith stands: Fishing gear in his hands; old hat cocked across his brow; signature pipe in his mouth; forever doing what he loved and being who he was.
Most folks just called him "Smitty".
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.
…library association. This is now the only public library of the city, save those connected with the schools.
The present First Congregational Church was organized in 1819, by the name of "The First Christian Church of Sandusky." It has been claimed that the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in 1818. There is, however, no evidence of its formation that year. It is plainly inferable, from the fact of its being recorded as -'The First Christian Church of Sandusky," that the Congregational was the first organized in the place; that no other Christian church then existed in the place. But it is certain that a Methodist Church or class was in existence at an early day in Sandusky. The few members of each of these churches worshiped together in temporary places, until 1830. When there was no preaching, the Sabbath exercises were mostly conducted by Samuel Walker, Congregationalist, and Wm. Kelley, Methodist. In 1830, the Methodist Episcopal Church erected the first church building in the place. It was a small, one-story frame building, and stood on ground now in part covered by a still smaller building of stone, south of the "Bently" building, now owned by the Germans. This small stone edifice was put up by the Wesleyans in 1849-50.
The First Congregational Church edifice was commenced in 1835, and finished in 1836. It was of stone, forty by sixty feet, with single tower, and occupied ground now covered by the west end of the present enlarged structure, built in 1856. The Episcopal edifice was also put up in 1836; is of stone, and has been since much enlarged. The present towers were added in 1856-T. The church was organized in 1835.
The next church formed consisted of the late John Beatty, Esq., and his associates, who seceded from the Methodist Episcopal Church, leaving but two male members (D. H. Tuttle and Daniel Van Fleet), and a few females. The new body was named "The Methodist Society," more generally known, however, as "Beatty's Church." The edifice is now owned by a German church, on the northwest corner of the West block; was put up also in 1836, principally by Squire Beatty. The upper part of it, however, was not finished off till 1856, which was done by the Baptists, who had purchased it. After a few years, most of the seceders returned to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the "Methodist Society" was changed to "Wesleyan Methodist," and occupied the basement of the Beatty edifice, till it was sold to the Baptists, in 1856. It then built the small stone edifice before refered [sic] to.
In 1852, the First Presbyterian Church was organized, mostly by a colony from the Congregational church. The church edifice was built in 1854—5. In 1854, the Baptist Church was organized, and in 1856, it purchased the Beatty edifice, and finished off and occupied the audience room for several years. The edifice was finally sold to a Protestant German Church. The Baptists now own the small frame building next south of the Episcopal Church.
In addition to the above, there are five (perhaps more) Protestant German churches of different denominations, each of which has a house of worship, mostly of stone.
There are now two Roman Catholic churches in the city, the first having been organized in 1846. In 1848 its stone edifice on Tiffin avenue was built, and enlarged in 1853. It consists mainly of Irish and a few others who choose to have services conducted in the American language. That society has put a very large and costly edifice of stone on the corner of Columbus avenue and Jefferson street, with a parsonage of stone adjoining. The second one, consisting of Germans, was organized in 1855. Their first stone edifice, on the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets, was built in 1856. They have put up a second one, now just finished, the largest and most expensive church structure in the city. It stands on the northwest corner of the same streets.
The first movement in this reformation was made by F. D. Parish. The meeting was held on the evening of January 1, 1881. A constitution and pledge of abstinence from ardent spirits were adopted and signed by Isaac Darling, Rev. William Runnels, Samuel Pennewell, R. J. Jennings, John Beatty, Isaac Booram, Moors Farwell, F. D. Parish, John X. Sloane, John Davis and James Forman. First officers: F. D. Parish, president; Farwell, Sloane and Darling, vice presidents; Samuel Pennewell, secretary. Other names were soon added. The enterprise has met with various and signal success, and the struggle still continues. Other societies have since been formed excluding all liquors that produce intoxication.
What are known, as secret societies are too numerous in the city to admit of enumeration, or to be named. They generally claim to be benevolent societies, but the public being excluded, that character is not generally conceded to them. A Masonic society existed in the place as early as 1822. The original members, as remembered, were Hector Kilbourne, George Anderson, William Hull, William Kelly, William P. Smith, and Leicester Walker. After the occurrence of the Morgan affair in the State of New York in 1826, the society was not known to have meetings for twenty years or more. Others have greatly multiplied since that time. As understood by the writer, these secret clubs have no valid claim to the character of benevolent organizations, certainly not outside their membership.
[VV Ed. Note: William Morgan (1774–1826) was a resident of Batavia, New York, whose disappearance and presumed murder in 1826 ignited a powerful movement against the Freemasons, a fraternal society that had become influential in the United States. After Morgan announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry’s secrets, he was arrested, allegedly kidnapped by Masons, and believed murdered.]
There has been organized a truly benevolent society called the "Calvary Hospital." or some similar title. It is understood to have originated by the Rev. Mr. Farr, late rector of Grace church. Yet it is said not…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
HISTORIC FOCUS: Not that many of the pix that appear in “VV” aren’t artifacts – but this one is special. Barbara Ruggles donated this portrait to the museum a month back (or so) along with several others. It’s a beautiful portrait of Vermilion’s Bauman family that was taken at the Ladrach Cheese House somewhere around the year 1910
After I received the pic I scanned it and sent a copy to Vermilionite Ruth (Bauman) Tanner. This is part of Ruthie’s family. (The other part is Vermilion’s Krapp Family.)
A few days later Ruth dropped by the museum with several books (that need be returned to her) about the Bauman family. Their history is well-documented – and I knew very little about them (including the fact that they have close ties with the Ladrach family) until Ruth supplied me with the info.
The pic of the interior of the Ladrach Cheese House appeared herein several issues ago, and I still have no idea where (in Brownhelm) it was located. This pic (as some good soul was kind enough to note for us) was taken outside the Ladrach Cheese house. The little guy sitting at the far right in the photo is Ruth’s father Earl Bauman.
You will note in this weeks “Briefs” section of the page that there is a blip about Mr. Ladrach visiting the farmers in Brownhelm to set-up the purchase of milk from their cows apparently for his cheese factory.
This is really a wonderful photograph. Between it and the info provided by Ruth another detail in the historical panorama of Vermilion comes into better focus.
This is an article submitted to a 1999 Louisville Sentinel contest to find out who had the wildest Christmas dinner. This won first prize.
As a joke, my brother used to hang a pair of panty hose over fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill them. What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because every Christmas morning, although Jay’s kids’ stockings were overflowed, his poor pantyhose hung sadly empty. One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don’t sell those things at Wal-Mart.
I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown. If you’ve never been in an X-rated store, don’t go. You’ll only confuse yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, “What does this do?” “You’re kidding me!” and “Who would buy that?” Finally, I made it to the inflatable doll section. I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute as a passenger in my truck so I could use the car pool lane during rush hour. Finding what I wanted was difficult. Love dolls come in many different models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do things I’d only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled on “Lovable Louise.” She was at the bottom of the price scale. To call Louise a “doll” took a huge leap of imagination. On Christmas Eve, with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to life.
My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning hours, long after Santa had come and gone. I filled the dangling pantyhose with Louise’s pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and giggled for a couple of hours.
The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house and left a present that had made him VERY happy but had left the dog confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some more. We all agreed that Louise should remain in her panty hose so the rest of the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional Christmas dinner.
My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door. “What the heck is that?” she asked. My brother quickly explained, “It’s a doll.” “Who would play with something like that?” Granny snapped. I had several candidates in mind, but kept my mouth shut. “Where are her clothes?” Granny continued. “Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran,” Jay said, trying to steer her into the dining room. My Grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up to me and said, ” Hey, who’s the naked gal by the fireplace?” I told him she was Jay’s friend. A few minutes later I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise. Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this might be Grandpa’s last Christmas at home.
The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who was dying, and who should be killed. When suddenly Louise made a noise that sounded a lot like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the panty hose, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the sofa. The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants and Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car. It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember.
Later in my brother’s garage, we conducted a thorough examination to decide the cause of Louise’s collapse. We discovered that Louise had suffered from a hot ember to the back of her right thigh. Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to perfect health. Louise went on to star in several bachelor party movies. I think Grandpa still calls her whenever he can get out of the house.
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'".
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.
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 43 - January 4, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant