"Liberty Woodcut & Tommy"
SHOPTALK: The pix on top of the desk this week are (1. Tommy Thompson on his bike just north of the NYC tracks on Perry Street. It was probably snapped sometime in the late 40s. It’s not a great pic (after all it is somebody’s Brownie Kodak snapshot), but I like it because one can see my (the Tarrant) family home in the background on the right.
To my knowledge Tom is still casting his shadow across the earth. He lives near Columbus and is probably well into his 80s.
The other (woodcut print) is from a pic I took by the Vermilion City offices on Liberty when new walks were being installed several years back. Vermilion’s old business section is well appointed, but the rest of the town is in need of some attention as well. The problem (in my view) is direction. The town seems adrift – a ship without a captain.
MES ERREURS:Ok, lets begin by reviewing one of my (more recent) errors. In an article that appeared in last week’s edition I led everyone to believe that the Ohio Edison company owned the old Blattner Hardware Store on Liberty next to the Isaley’s store.
Not so Vermilionite Don Parsons tells me: the reference I made about Ohio Edison purchasing of George Blattner's building is incorrect. George's daughter Alma Blattner Parsons (Cliff's wife) built the building to OE'S specification. They owned the building until their demise, and then their son Nelson Parsons (wife Rita) inherited it. Currently Don and his wife Karen own the building where Papa Joe's is located.
I’m actually glad that Don let me in on this information. Anymore I don’t generally know who, exactly, owns what around town. I’m not (nor have I ever been) a very sociable person. Consequently, I often miss things that many others have known for years.
THE ANGEL: Vermilionite Robert Berry dropped by the museum Sunday and gave me a copy of a pic of the Angel monument that once stood undisturbed in Maple Grove cemetery.
This beautiful memorial once overlooked the resting place of the four Wilber children who, very tragically, died of black diphtheria within weeks of one another right around the turn of the 20th century. Vandals defaced the memorial taking the head and hands – and that, to be polite, was a gosh darn crime.
Stupidity knows no bounds.
ONE LAST THING: Like a lot of places we’ve had a good deal of snow during the past week or so. Consequently, the drive at the museum was really snowed in – and I was not looking forward to shoveling it out. The snow has a tendency to drift fairly high therein. But I steeled myself, dressed warm, and went there Thursday intending to get to it. But surprise, surprise! When I got there someone had plowed the drive.
I don’t know who did it, but I’m certainly glad they did. I’d like to thank them. So whoever you are: Thanks a bushel.
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. Keep an eye out here - because this may change.
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,
They were much better than their record illustrates.
NINE AND NINE: It wasn’t a “great” season back in 1953 but it was entertaining. Coad Al Schroeder’s team only won half their games (9 wins and 9 losses) but the Log Book says they played every game for fun and every game to win.
In their first tournament game they went from being 22 points behind at the half to tie the game in the last 20 seconds, and lost by only 2 points. And that’s good ball.
Pictured - the names given as they appeared in the book are - Front Row L-R: White, Parsons, Lee, Gergel, and Vick. Back Row L-R: Whatley, Baker, Knittle, Leidheiser, Bodde, Miskow, Croll.
The only guys still around town that I know of are Bruce White, and Rich Parsons.
ARIA – THE YACHT: It was a fitting first name for the sleek 128.5-foot steam powered yacht. Built by the Charles 1. Seabury Gas Engine & Power Company in Morris Heights, NY in 1899 the steel hulled vessel had a gross tonnage of 119 and a net tonnage of 81. Christened as the Aria when built she would assume six more names before disappearing from the U.S. Merchant Vessel registry (official number 107470) in 1943.
She was the Aria (1899-1904), the Wacondah (1904-12), Isabella (1912- 16), Kasha (1916-19), Fortuna (1919- 36), Theo (1936-39), and finally the Spindrift (1939-43).
This Pearl Roscoe photograph of the beautiful vessel moored along Vermilion Harbor's west break wall was taken on Sunday, August 13, 1916. At the time the yacht was officially registered as the Isabella. But folks along the river, and perhaps even the owner, referred to her as La Belle. (Again an appropriate name.)
Lakewood, Ohio automobile pioneer Alexander Winton owned the yacht. Winton, who was commonly recognized as a "trigger-tempered Scot" (a trait with which I sincerely identify), had migrated to America from his home in Scotland in 1878; to Cleveland in 1882; and 14 years later produced the first American-built automobile sold commercially in our nation. The Cleveland Yacht Club Commodore, Winton, had brought the vessel to Vermilion in celebration of Vermilion Boat Club's third annual South Shore Regatta. Because the wind had turned, and was blowing hard from the north east on the second day of the regatta, all the lake races had been postponed, and spectators had an opportunity to take a good look at this boat, and others, in the harbor.
While this is not the only, nor the best, photograph Roscoe took of La Belle on that summer morning nearly 89 years ago, it is the only one that affords us a reasonably good idea of the vessel's size and synoptic beauty.
During my six decades along this stream I've seen only one other yacht that would compare in size to this one in the harbor. that vessel belonged to a gentleman named Bill Miller who, I believe, kept a summer home in the Vermilion Lagoons and had some connections to folks in Linwood Park. Mr. Miller owned several auto dealerships and wintered in Florida.
But I digress. This photo was taken dockside at Cloudy's Ferry (VPJ 2-17-05) looking west. The tired building to the left (south) of Winton's yacht is Tom Ball's Boathouse/Shanty. Today that building would be very close to where Dr. Ruth Read-Wakefield's lakefront home stands today.[VV Ed. Note: The Read-Wakefield home no longer exists at that site. Today it is a park.] The flag on the mast to the left is the Cleveland Yacht Club flag, and the one on the right is Winton's personal flag.
In 1936, as the Theo, the great yacht would be converted to gas power. And seven years later, as previously indicted, she would disappear from the U.S. registry altogether. I guess like the old soldiers proverb, old yachts (and arias) never die - they just fade 'away.
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.39 – MAR.8, 1906.
Neither the probate nor common pleas court are in session today owing to the funerals of Judge Grayson Mills and Judge Lewis H Goodwin.
Maude Burrows Aldrich has filed suit against her mother-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Aldrich, for $10,000 for alleged alienation of the affections of plaintiff’s husband.
[VV Ed. Note: Wow! This is a good one. I guess Momma didn’t like her daughter-in-law touching her little boy.]
Mrs. Tillie Gallagher has filed a petition for alimony in the curt of common pleas, from her husband John Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher is exp-auditor of Erie Co.
The case of Chas Humphrey et al. vs. Ann Burrows et al. was on trial in the court of common pleas on Tuesday before Judge Reed and a jury. It is a suit in which the plaintiffs seek to set aside the will of the late Jeannette Call of Vermilion Tp. The deceased was 93 years old when she died and the claim is made that her last will and codicil attached thereto were executed at a time when extreme old age had so weakened her mentally and physically that she did not possess the capacity to made a valid will.
The first of the suits brought by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad company for the appropriation of land for terminal purposes at Huron, was decided on Monday afternoon in the probate court. The jury had been investigating the claim for compensation of George Akens, one of the defendant landowner. The attorneys made arguments during the day and Judge Sloane delivered his charge to the jury at 3:30. The jury after being out for fifteen minutes returned a verdict assessing the amount due Mr. Akens at $3,672.
The second of the W. & L.E. Co. appropriation suite was taken up Wednesday. The property in dispute is that of Levi Green. The jury was sent to Huron to view the property.
A Sailor’s Farewell dance will be given at the Firemen’s Hall on the evening of March 22. Hermann’s Orchestra will furnish the music. This dance will be one of the events of the season. Don’t miss it.
The regular meeting of the Village council was held Monday evening. Very little business was transacted. The committee on Electric lighting reported on their trip to Cleveland to confer with Railway officials. Nothing definite was learned from the L.S. & M. S., but the Nickel Plate officials seem to look favorably upon the light and have already signed to stand their proportion for 2 lights.
The matter of having city water in the firemen’s building was brought up and it was finally decided to have a hydrant placed in the llwer roo of the building. The subject of gates at Nickel Plate crossing was discussed and it was finally decided that gates at the State Street crossing would be satisfactory for the present.
The bills were then read and ordered paid and council adjourned.
Capt. Fred Hasenflue and Miss Lizzie Naegele, both of this place, were quietly married Wednesday evening, Feb 28. Both young people are very popular and have a host of friends who will extend to them congratulations and best wishes.
Clarence Hoffner, formerly of this place an L.S. and M.S. brakeman, met with an accident early Monday morning while switching cars at Danbury, which resulted in death at Sandusky Tuesday morning. He slipped and fell between the cars. The wheels passed over his left arm completely severing it and his shoulder and chest were crushed. He was taken at once to Providence Hospital where he died without regaining consciousness. He leaves a wife and little daughter at Toledo. Mrs. Hoffner was formerly Miss Stella Johnson of this place and sympathy of the entire community goes out to her in this bereavement. Funeral services will be held at the home of Mrs. Helen Johnson Friday at 11:15 and interment made in Maple Grove cemetery.
C.W. Balson and L.W. Campbell, two well-known Vermilion men, have purchased the grocery stock of W.H. Cooley & Son and will take possession of this store March 1.
Mr. Cooley in turn has purchased the shoe store of W.J. Stone on West College street, and with his son and partner, Butler Cooley, will take possession during the coming month.
Mr. Stone will not leave Oberlin although he will probably spend part of his time in Cleveland, he having in view an excellent business opportunity.
Three business changes are the most important which have occurred in Oberlin for a number of years. Messrs. Balson and Campbell, who have been in Oberlin the past two days are both experience businessmen, having had much experience in mercantile lines They expect to make improvements in the store purchased by them and will carry a high class line of groceries. They will bring their families here at once. – Oberlin News.
Miss Alta Blake of Toledo is caring for her grandma, Mrs. J. Blake who recently fell and fractured her limb.
Rev. A.D. Blakeslee has gone to Wisconsin to perform the marriage ceremony of his youngest son.
The many friends of Clarence Hoffner were pained to hear of his death which occurred Monday evening near Milberry [sic], while in charge of his duties as brakeman on the Lake Shore railroad. He leaves a wife and little daughter to mourn their loss.
C.L. Whittlesey is somewhat improved.
Ellsworth Lee age 14, died on the train while on his way to a Cleveland hospital Friday. He was suffering from pleurisy.
Dry good to the value of $600 was stolen from the L.S. Ry. car Friday night.
The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas Smith met with an accident Friday by which he will lose the thumb of his left hand. He was running the corn shelter and in some manner got his hand in [sic] caught in the machine.
Mrs. John Butler is still in a critical condition, the result of falling downstairs last week.
Mr. Chas Thompson is quite sick with pneumonia at this writing.
Percie [sic] Lee of Chicago was called home by the death of his brother Ellsworth.
Master George Nuhn who has been on the sick list for the past month is able to be about again.
Frankie Barnes is on the sick list.
A hard freeze last night makes the sugar-makers rejoice.
Mr. and Mrs. Darby attended the funeral of Mr. Lee at Ashmont Monday.
There was a masquerade Wednesday.
Capt. Joseph Singler of the Ranney fishing fleet has returned from his annual vacation, which he spend in the Florida and jersey coasts. Capt. Singler will take charge of the local office of the Ranney Fish company and oversee the extensive reports the company expects to make. The Captain will make the southern trip again in the fall, but next time it is said he will take with him a prominent young society lady from Vermilion. It is said he is to be married this fall. – Times Herald.
Mrs. Watson is very ill at this writing.
Bruce Gibson is able to be out again.
Mr. F. Cierly of Lorain is moving on the C. Cook farm.
Earn Kelly had a car party Saturday evening.
Judge Lewis H. Goodwin, formerly Probate Judge of Erie co. and Judge Grayson Mills formerly common pleas court [judge] died Monday at their homes in Sandusky.
The rumor that a great steel industry will locate at Oak Point will not down. Let it come. “We’re willin.”
A good crowd enjoyed the lecture by Rev. Mitchell at the Town Hall Tuesday evening under the auspices of the M.E. Church. His subject was the Prize Taker, and he handled it in an able manner. $25 was cleared for the church.
When we received our copy of the Erie County Reporter last week we were greatly surprised to learn from the Berlin correspondent to that paper that the Berlin Heights school had won the debate not only this year but this [the]last as well. This will probably be corrected this week.
Joseph Ramsey Jr., recently president of the Wabash has announced that he has organized the Lorain Southern railroad and purchased the Industrial railroad from the Sheffield Land Co., and now the subject of harbor is brought up. Whether the company has acquired dockage at Lorain or will open up Beaver Creek, (just whisper this) come to Vermilion. Of course the latter would suit us the best. It is the intention of Mr. Ramsey to have a portion of the road ready for operations by July 1st of this year.
Patrons of the telephone company should bear in mind that it is not always possible to give immediate service to every call. Sometimes there may be twenty calls at one time and then someone must wait for a short time. Don’t be faultfinding with the telephone girls if you sometimes fail to get a quick response. Remember there may be nineteen others called at the same instant you did, and it is impossible to serve everyone at the same second. Vermilion telephone girls are as good as any in the country and are willing and anxious at all times to do the best they can for patrons of the company.
[VV Ed. Note: Currently we don’t think about telephone “service” at all. We’ve come a long, long way in just a little over 100 years. The number at The News in 1906 was 19.]
The senate committee on labor has recommended for passage the Wertz house bill to abolish contract prison labor and to employ convicts at making road materials and supplies for state institutions.
Anna C. Conners commenced suit in the court of common pleas Wednesday against Herman Shafer of Florence Tp. for $5,000 for alleged breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff states in her petition that on or about May 25, 1902, she was unmarried and resided in Cleveland. At that time she was the owner of certain household and kitchen furniture. Shafer was at that time unmarried and living in Florence where he owns a farm. At that time Shafer proposed marriage to her and promised if she would leave her place of residence and go to his residence and take with her the furnishings and goods, which belonged to her, he would marry her there. She states that she accepted this offer, and relying upon defendant’s word, left her home in Cleveland and took the goods she possessed with her. Upon her arrival she required that he marry her, but he asked that the ceremony be postponed until some time in the near future. Plaintiff says that by reason of Shafer’s promise of marriage he procured her to live with him as his wife. She says that she then requested him again to fulfill his contract, but he again postponed the time of the vent until Jan. 26, 1906, at which time she again made the request. Then, she says Shafer violently assaulted her and ejected her from the house and refused to marry her. Plaintiff claims that Shafer has blighted her affections and wounded and lacerated her feelings She still remains unmarried, to her great distress, mortification and disgrace.
Capt. and Mrs. Full returned from their wedding trip Sunday.
Rev. A.C. Pretzer of Huntington, Ind. Visited friends here this week.
Mrs. Peter Hart entertained the German M.E. church society Friday afternoon.
The tug William D., owned by W.R. Young left for Cleveland Monday to prepare for the spring fishing, which opens March 15th.
E.R. Felton one of the founders and life long supporters and teachers of the Spencerian [sic] Business College of Cleveland died at his home in Milan Thursday at the age of 77.
Just as we go to press rev. W.G. Klein reports that his little daughter is not improving as fast as could be wished, but the doctor things her out of danger.
FOR SALE – Building used as blacksmith shop with lot. New and good for any kind of shop. Enquire at the residence of H.T. Baldwin.
[VV Ed. Note: Henry T. Baldwin was one of the town’s blacksmiths during the early years of the 20th century. I don’t believe he sold his shop until some years after this little ad was published. Though “smithing” may seem a rare trade to most folks today it was rather common back then. These guys were like auto mechanics and dealers. Every small town had several.]
Misses Elnor and Nellie Buckley were in Lorain Sunday guests of Earl Minkler who is at St. Joseph’s hospital. He has undergone an operation for appendicitis and is at present doing very nicely.
Isaac Skinn has decided to discontinue farming and will offer for sale at public auction on the old Crane farm a large quantity of Stock, farm tools etc., on Tuesday March 13, commencing at 10 a.m. Free Lunch at noon. A.A. Blair is Auctioneer.
Vermilion Light was lighted for the first time this season Monday night March 5th. By order of the Light House department and navigation is now open. The D. and C. Lines commenced to made their regular trips between Cleveland Detroit.
Vermilion Sailors expect to start out abut April 1st.
Maple Syrup and sugar has made its appearance in the market.
Fred Lawless has secured the contract for the water works extension for the Brass Works and the work is progressing rapidly.
[VV Ed. Note: In past issues it was reported that F.W. Wakefield requested that a fireplug be installed near his new factory on West River road. Obviously, Mr. Lawless was the guy who installed the system.]
Mrs. L.W. Noble of Minneapolis, Minn., who has been the guest of her sister Mrs. E.T. Bottomley for the past two months, left for her home in that city Monday evening.
[VV Ed. Note: I make note of this particular event because Mrs. E.T. Bottomley was my great-great-grandmother. Her name was Clara. I don’t know a great deal about her – and this gives me a reference place where I will be able to find more info in the future. We have large photo portraits of both Clara and her husband, E.T. Bottomley hanging on the wall in the upstairs portion of the Print Shop Museum.] A.G. Risden has just received from the Woodman Accident Association, twenty-two dollars and forty-six cents, for an accidental piece of wood hitting him in the eye while splitting kindlings [sic] on Jan. 20. It pays to have a policy in the Woodman Accident Association. Get one now. Don’t wait. The chicken pie supper given by the Ladies Aid Society of the Axtel M.E. Church at the home o Mr. and Mrs. John Nieding last Thursday evening was well attended, there being about 100 people present. The people were very kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Nieding, and all enjoyed a very pleasant social time. The Ladies Aid wish to extend hearty thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Nieding for opening their home to them. Mrs. Samuel Kuhns aged 100 years is seriously ill from pneumonia. It will be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Kuhns, aged respectively 100 and 101 were recently married in Penfield. LEGISLATIVE Senator Lamb offered a drastic anti-pass bill. It provides that if any State officer, mayor, member of city council, or township officer accepts a free pass on any railway or interurban line, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined from $50 to 500, and the second offence shall work a disbarment from office. Representative Stockwell, in a bill introduced this week, would give municipalities the right to own and operate street railways and traction lines. Mr. Stockwell introduced a bill under which a municipality may issue bonds for public utilities, the securities to be a lien upon the property affected and not upon the entire city. Mr. Roberts put in a bill making it a crime to give a free lunch with a drink. The senate judiciary committee has recommended the Stockwell medical reciprocity bill for passage without the amendment requested by the Christian Scientists. The effect of this is that the Scientists will not be permitted to make medical practitioners’ charges for their healing prayers. The house committee today recommended for passage the Eagleson bill making it a crime equivalent to larceny for a banker to overdraw his account in his own bank. Unable to obtain a conviction in the “black bass” cases against the A. Booth company with Sandusky jury, the State Fish and Game Commission has begun a new case in the court of Justice Carley at Milan.
[VV Ed. Note: I make note of this particular event because Mrs. E.T. Bottomley was my great-great-grandmother. Her name was Clara. I don’t know a great deal about her – and this gives me a reference place where I will be able to find more info in the future. We have large photo portraits of both Clara and her husband, E.T. Bottomley hanging on the wall in the upstairs portion of the Print Shop Museum.]
A.G. Risden has just received from the Woodman Accident Association, twenty-two dollars and forty-six cents, for an accidental piece of wood hitting him in the eye while splitting kindlings [sic] on Jan. 20. It pays to have a policy in the Woodman Accident Association. Get one now. Don’t wait.
The chicken pie supper given by the Ladies Aid Society of the Axtel M.E. Church at the home o Mr. and Mrs. John Nieding last Thursday evening was well attended, there being about 100 people present. The people were very kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Nieding, and all enjoyed a very pleasant social time. The Ladies Aid wish to extend hearty thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Nieding for opening their home to them.
Mrs. Samuel Kuhns aged 100 years is seriously ill from pneumonia. It will be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Kuhns, aged respectively 100 and 101 were recently married in Penfield.
Senator Lamb offered a drastic anti-pass bill. It provides that if any State officer, mayor, member of city council, or township officer accepts a free pass on any railway or interurban line, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined from $50 to 500, and the second offence shall work a disbarment from office.
Representative Stockwell, in a bill introduced this week, would give municipalities the right to own and operate street railways and traction lines. Mr. Stockwell introduced a bill under which a municipality may issue bonds for public utilities, the securities to be a lien upon the property affected and not upon the entire city. Mr. Roberts put in a bill making it a crime to give a free lunch with a drink.
The senate judiciary committee has recommended the Stockwell medical reciprocity bill for passage without the amendment requested by the Christian Scientists. The effect of this is that the Scientists will not be permitted to make medical practitioners’ charges for their healing prayers. The house committee today recommended for passage the Eagleson bill making it a crime equivalent to larceny for a banker to overdraw his account in his own bank.
Unable to obtain a conviction in the “black bass” cases against the A. Booth company with Sandusky jury, the State Fish and Game Commission has begun a new case in the court of Justice Carley at Milan.
Hmmmmmm....
NOTES ON A TINTYPE: Early on a summer's morning a half century ago, I have a rather vivid recollection of walking along the north side of Liberty Street just below the public comfort station. At that time, Vermilion was a village of some 2000 moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends and associates. Few people, places, and things were new to a towheaded 10-year-old freckled-faced boy with ears so dirty my mother used to exclaim that "You could grow corn out of them." (There's an interesting picture.) In any case, I remember that morning.
I may have been coming up the avenue toward the rest station after having crossed the street from the Maudelton Bar where I always delivered and sold a few Vermilion News papers on Friday mornings in the summertime. I hated the smell of the old bar in the hotel basement, and never ceased to be amazed at the fact that anyone could partake in the beverages served there so early in the morning. However; the bartender and patrons were always very nice to me - showering- me with greetings, gifts of candy, pop, a bag of popcorn, and buying a paper or two. I also got to keep the nickels I received for the papers I sold. But, again, I digress.
As I bounced along the walk destined for, perhaps, George Rathbun's store at 7 o'clock that morning, I noticed a man with a broom working in the gutter of the roadway. He was busy sweeping debris (mainly composed of rudely discarded cigarette butts) into an old dustpan and depositing it into a small trashcan beside him. He was dressed like a bum - or what I perceived a bum to dress like - and paid no attention to me as I passed. As previously mentioned, few people were strangers to me in our little town. But this man certainly was. Moreover; I found it even stranger that anyone would be sweeping up cigarette butts out of the gutter of the GAR Memorial Highway (Route 6).
Some time later I would find that the man was none other than Elton Fischer; bother of Maude; and son of George who gave their names to the hotel and bar I had just visited. And he was not cleaning the entire street, but cleaning only the curbside that adjoined his riverside mansion. [VV Ed. Note: Don’t laugh too hard. I still sweep the gutters in front of our home on Oakwood Drive; and with good reason. The refuse in those gutters goes into the sewer and clogs them. I’m just a civic-minded person. But I’m relatively sure some of my neighbors think me somewhat odd.]
The Fischer mansion/home was a wonderful place to behold. Surrounded by a wrought-iron fence, set in concrete, it occupied a rather large piece of real estate from the edge of what are now the Fisherman's Bend condominiums, on the west, to the boat club parking lot to the east. The only comparable home in town was F.W. Wakefield's Harborview manse at the foot of Main Street. Years later it would evolve into Bob and Lucille Nuhn's Riverside Nursing Home.
When the Fischer home was being razed to make way for an empty place on the river, a lady who worked in the facility discovered the picture accompanying this article in a wall. The photo is actually a tintype photo I copied with my handy-dandy MicroTek Scanmaker s400.
Tintype photography was a popular form of photography widely used in our world from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. It was popular because it was both a cheap and easy process, making it readily available to the masses. They were called tintypes because they were made of a cheap metal easily cut with tin shears. The images were positive, but reversed, like looking into a mirror.
I know not the identity of the folks in this picture. The tintype may have been a memento of the Fischer family, a construction worker who helped build the home, or that of a former nursing home resident (although that, for several reasons, is rather doubtful). What I do know is that it dates from about 1896. The dresses, hats, and hairstyles of the ladies, and the necktie configurations of the men tell that story.
One is inclined to believe that archaeology is the process of discovering ancient artifacts and histories, but nothing could be further from the truth. The dig one discovers and analyzes may well be in the ruins of a 20th century home or in one's personal memories of but 50 years past.
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.
…had been in rehearsal for weeks or months before the exhibition, which was emphatically true.
Thus the State was involved in a debt of millions and millions of dollars, in amount three or four times larger than what the single central route would have cost; and this enormous debt, after the lapse of over a half century, is still unpaid, to the amount of six millions. And, at this time, the State is in utter perplexity what to do with its two long canals, neither of which has ever paid the interest on its cost. The wisest of our public men are unable to determine what can be done with them, some advising to wholly abandon them as entirely worthless, and waste no more money upon them. Instead of the sixty thousand dollars, the State has expended from ten to twenty times that amount, and the general government has contributed thousands to the same object; and yet it is not in a condition to answer the demands of the business unnaturally brought there; and the narrow river, all around the “Ox Bow,” wholly inadequate to meet the want of commerce, every craft that enters must either back out, or warp around with line or otherwise. To remedy the still existing insufficiencies, the general government is, from time to time, making large appropriations to make additional improvements and to aid in constructing an artificial harbor in the open lake; and, even with that addition, the whole works will not be equal to the natural advantages and facilities existing at Sandusky.
Now, it is evident to all, that, had the central route alone been opened, terminating in Sandusky bay, Sandusky City, at this moment, would have been much larger in population and in all kinds of business than Cleveland now is, and probably larger than Cleveland and Toledo united; and the State and national government would have been exempt from the heavy contributions to create artificial facilities for making a city, contrary to the ordinance of nature, and to provide unnatural commercial privileges for it. At Sandusky there would have been no call for State or national aid to any considerable amount, and no necessity for burdening the citizens with large contributions, or with heavy taxes, to grade high bluffs to get to and from the place of commercial business and travel, to fill up valleys, ravines or swails [sic] to make suitable ground for streets and buildings, or to extend the bounds of the city, or yet, for the construction of viaducts, the enormous figures of two and a half millions of dollars, nor, indeed, for any other improvements by way of supplying the deficiencies of nature.
A very large part of the through travel and carrying trade having been thus diverted from Sandusky by opening the Ohio canal, the citizens and the inhabitants of the westerly parts of the State turned their attention to railroads. Charters were secured for two, one for a line from Sandusky to Dayton, first called the Mad River and Lake Erie, (now the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland), and the other from Sandusky to Newark, known as the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark (now the northern division of the Baltimore and Ohio). Both of these terminate at Sandusky. The northern division of the Lake Shore Road passes through the city. The road to Newark was first built only to Monroeville, and was constructed by bedding large logs in the ground, hewed flat on the top, and scantling spiked to the logs. Light coaches were moved by horsepower — two horses in single file. A few years sufficed to finish up this device.
The Mad River line was commenced in 1835. Abut 1839 it was finished to Bellevue, and a stage line ran on from that point to Columbus, which was transferred to Republic and Tiffin respectively as the road progressed. As the line was extended, it drew an increased amount of travel and freight business. When completed to Dayton, much the largest part of the business to the south was reclaimed from the Cleveland line. The opening of the line toward and to Newark had a similar effect. This re-division was so manifest and complete, that the Cleveland Herald earnestly called the attention of the businessmen of that city to the fact, and admonished them that without a railroad from their city to the south, the travel and carrying trade would inevitably be done through Sandusky. This produced the desired effect. A railroad was made in quick time to Columbus, connecting there with the Little Miami road to Cincinnati. Instead, however, of locating it on the most direct course to Columbus, it was shrewdly given a southwesterly course to Crestline and Galion, with the purpose of cutting off business from Sandusky and carrying it to their city. The intended end was, in fact, secured by the plan, and Cleveland was saved from a quick and ruinous decline, and again checked the prospects of the more rapid growth of her only rival city. All this time, the rapid increase of the prospects of the growth of Cleveland had attracted the attention of capitalists, and rescued that city from threatened disaster, and it has grown to its present dimensions and splendor.
The present inhabitants of Cleveland are not accountable for the monstrous fraud committed, or the wrong done to Sandusky, to the whole of the central north of the State, and, indeed, to the whole State, but they are enjoying their present prosperity as a direct result of the original stupendous fraud of Kelly and Williams, and have hitherto, and are still, dependent upon the State and Nation for aid in building up their city, in spite of the vastly superior advantages in every respect of a neighboring city.
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
JACOB ENGLEBRY: I came across this snap a few weeks ago. I believe it was taken during Vermilion’s Centennial celebration in 1937. It’s more interesting when seen more closely than I can display it here. I tried, however, to make it as clear as possible. This is what the display window of the Englebry store [currently Brummer’s Chocolate store] looked like during those festivities. I believe it won a prize for the best display.
You really have to wonder what happened to all the artifacts in the window. Were they scrapped or might they be in some museum far from home?
Below is Mr. Englebry’s obituary as it appeared in The News when he died in October of 1905.
Jacob Englebry was born in the city of Niedenstein, Hesse, German, Aug. 11, 1841. He came to America in 1856 and made Vermilion his home. When only twenty he engaged in a general merchandise business here and continued in it, either with a partner or alone till his death last Friday morning, Oct. 27,1905, at the age of 64 years, 2 months and 16 days. He leaves in bereavement of his immediate family, wife three sons, a daughter, one brother, and a niece that for years has occupied the position of a daughter in his home.
For years Mr. Englebry served as town and township treasurer, has been on the council and solicited not a few times to stand for county office.
Mr. Merrill in his address said: “I could fill several pages in writing down the good things I have heard of this man who has occupied a prominent place in the town’s life for nearly half a century. Undoubtedly he has had many of what we call life’s pleasures, but life’s shadows have also been his to a remarkable degree. It is needless to state facts known to so many. They test to approximately the breaking point many strong souls. They change life’s currents in all souls. To some they mean a shrivelment [sic] – a narrowing of life’s outlook until the stream of life flows itself away into a pool of stagnation. To others they usher in an enlargement – the leaving of the small placid stream and going out into a Gulf of Mexico or even the turbulent Atlantic and a mightier held on the great enduring things of life.
Honorable dealings, kindly actions, the thousand and one thoughtful ministries belong to this great life. Dishonorable dealings, unkind actions, the thousand and one thoughtless sins of commission and omission are of the pool – the stagnation existence, whether the work of prominent or obscure personality.
Let every deal of honor, every act of kindness every thoughtful attention to the welfare of another on Mr. Englebry’s part during his long Vermilion residence, known to any one, be cherished with enduring memory.”
Funeral services Monday one o’clock.
Erie Commandery [sic], No. 23, K.T. of Sandusky, sent a delegation of 30 in a special car.
Ely lodge, No. 424, R.&A.M. also attended in a body.
After brief services at the house the remains were taken to the Congregational church. The choir sang “Nearer My God to Thee,” and “Lead, Kindly Light,” Rev. Bockstahler offered prayer and Rev. Merrill made an address, after which the beautiful and impressive Knight Templer [sic] served was held.
After acting as escort to near the town limits the Knights returned to Sandusky in their special car. The body of Ely lodge members accompanied the remains to Brownhelm cemetery and preformed [sic] the Blue Lodge committal rites.
The business places were close during the funeral.
These individual quotes were reportedly taken from actual employee performance evaluations in a large US Corporation.
(1) "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom.....and has started to dig."
(2) "His men would follow him anywhere...but only out of morbid curiosity."
(3) "I would not allow this employee to breed."
(4) "This employee is really not so much of a 'has-been', but more of a definite 'won't be'."
(5) "Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap."
(6) "When she opens her mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet."
(7) "He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle."
(8) "This young lady has delusions of adequacy."
(9) "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."
(10) "This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
(11) "This employee should go far...and the sooner he starts, the better."
(12) "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together."
(13) "A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus."
(14) "He certainly takes a long time to make his pointless."
(15) "He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
(16) "I would like to go hunting with him sometime."
(17) "He's been working with glue too much."
(18) "He would argue with a signpost."
(19) "He has a knack for making strangers immediately."
(20) "He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."
(21) "When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell."
(22) "If you see two people talking and one looks bored...he's the other one."
(23) "A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on."
(24) "A prime candidate for natural deselection."
(25) "Donated his brain to science before he was done using it."
(26) "Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming."
(27) "Has two brains: one is lost and the other is out looking for it."
(28) "If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week."
(29) "If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change."
(30) "If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the oceans."
(31) "It's hard to believe that he beat 1,000,000 other sperm to the egg."
(32) "One neuron short of a synapse."
(33) "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled."
(34) "Takes him 2 hours to watch 60 minutes."
(35) "The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.
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 48 - February 8, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant