2 HOUSES: CHEESE & BOAT
SHOPTALK: On the shoptop this week is a cropped pic of the old Diamond Cheese Factory at Axtel, Ohio. The factory was owned and operated by members of the Bauman family who had migrated from (where else) Switzerland back in the 19th century. It’s an interesting story.
On the desktop at home is a full screen pic of what was probably part of a Memorial Day parade back in the 1950s. The parade was just rounding the corner from Liberty to Sandusky street.
The back of the old Legion truck bandstand – sans a band – has almost made the turn. Behind it Lee Kress and his girlfriend [I am unable to recall her name at this writing] are riding their bicycle “built for two”. And beside them John Brunton is driving one of the tractor / mowers sold by his father during those years. This is a Linglebach pic provided by Vermilion expat Dana Buell Wheeler.
The first obstacle to reading such material is the writing. There’s nothing wrong with it. It is legible (or I’d not be writing this). But one has to become accustomed to reading cursive (again).
Today we’re so used to reading and writing with typewritten script cursive handwriting is rapidly becoming a foreign element of communication. Moreover, some of the cursive used by our forefathers is quite artistic – expressive of their respective personalities.
Consequently, learning how to read particular cursive words (in this case that of my grandfather’s) required a magnifying glass, as well as ready access to a computer attached to the net.
In a brief article I just wrote about this experience in particular I described my grandfather’s daily entries as being “rather mundane”. And that is an hones observation – though as a whole work the diary was extremely informative – historically speaking.
Once involved in the reading the diary I was absorbed in it. We worked on the farm, went fishing, built some homes, shingled some houses, and built some toboggans. We went to town: to the store for tobacco, a pair of boots, and to purchase some strings for a “fiddle”. We went to dances – “staid” until dawn, and went to regular meetings at the Masonic Lodge in Milan and Norwalk. One time we took the train from “Clide” to Cincinnati for a Masonic Convention. We also went to Huron “for a swim in the lake” and fished in the Huron River. We attended church almost every Sunday, singing in the choir. And we voted.
It was quite an experience. But the thing is this was but one of his diaries. I would be distracted for weeks if I had them all.
But I’ve begun to hone my cursive reading abilities, and I’m ready…
THE BACHMAN BOYS: I need to say something about the passing of Vermilion’s Bachman brothers Melvin (d. January 23rd) and Roger (d. June 22nd) of this year. Melvin was 65 and Roger was 71.
One reason that I want to mention their deaths is because notice of them was not widely disseminated. Neither was married, and most of the family that survive them – with the exception two nephews – no longer live in the area. Both were good guys.
Over the years Melvin did a great deal of (free) work for Vermilion’s Harbourtown organization. He also cleaned fish and did other odd jobs around town.
Roger, a true bicyclist in his youth, didn’t have a driver’s license until he entered the Army. In the service he was assigned to work as the “Colonel’s driver”. After the service he worked (for a number of years) at the old Package Store (now a bait store) just above Parsons Marine on Sandusky Street. In his spare time he also cleaned fish. For his 50th birthday he bought a Mercedes Benz for himself.
Both boys (“boys” is just the way I will always think of them) were what one might call eccentric persons. And Vermilion will be just a few shades paler without them.
A GOOD SIGN: Just in case you missed it on our Facebook page here’s a pic of our new sign in the front window of the museum. It’s a neon beauty. We can make it blink (but we won’t because it’s too distracting). But it’s really a nice sign. We’ve had it for a month or so. But it didn’t make it into the window until last Wednesday or Thursday. It’s rather large.
Now all we need are some visitors.
THE ORAL HISTORY RECORDINGS HAVE BEGUN: We began our oral history recordings at the museum. We’ve not done much since we did Rev. Myrtle Eppler.Thursday we recorded my sister Nancy Alice Tarrant Emery. Nance (believe it or not) is now in her 80s. She really had some neat things to say. We should be finished with the final edit of the video early next week.
The next person on our schedule is Rev. Louis Bertoni. Mr. Bertoni is also (again, believe it or not) in his 80s. I don’t think he believes it either.
In the coming week he’ll be vacationing in Michigan with his family. When he returns we’ll do the interview. It should prove to be very interesting. He is one of Vermilion’s leading citizens.
There is a process that Georgi and I follow before we do these interviews. Consequently, not all are easy. Nancy, however, was an exception. She’s a great conversationalist.
The novel is based on Pulitzer Prize winning author William Styron’s life growing up in Newport News, his school years at Christchurch School in Middlesex County, and tells a little known story about the early years of this famous native son.
Buxton knew Styron well and based her novel on real characters and what he told her about those early tumultuous years.
The book is available in paper back for $15.00 with tax and can be purchased locally at Buxton and Buxton Law Office in Urbanna, ordered from any book store, Amazon.com or Brandylane Publishing Company. A signed, hard back edition may be purchased from Mrs. Buxton directly for $30.00 by writing her at Box 488, Urbanna, VA 23175 and including $6.00 for tax, postage and packaging.
On July 1st she will be at Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library for a book signing and discussion. This will be a rare opportunity to touch base with one of America’s most gifted authors. So be there.
NEW MUSUEM SCHEDULE: Beginning now the museum will be open six days a week from 11 AM to 3 PM. We will be closed on Sundays and Holidays.
Private tours during those hours and during the evening can be arranged by calling the museum, or stopping in to see us.
FIVE-OH-ONE-CEE-THREE: The museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. Consequently, all donations to the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011.
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 Monday thru Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM. A small admission donation of $3 (for adults) is requested. Children accompanied with an adult will be admitted free. For Special Tours call: 440-967-4555.
We are closed on Sundays and 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,
VHS STUDENT COUNCIL: Mary Ellen Martinek Lydic sent me this pic during the week noting that her father, Bill, is the fella 3rd from the left next to a guy she though might have the name of Snyder. She also thought the photo was from about 1927. She was, of course, correct.
This pic appeared in the 1927 edition the “Hi-Times” – which was the name of the VHS annual book in those years. The person she called “Snyder” was George Snyder. He was the school superintendent. Cletus DeWitt (the guy most of us who were born in the late 30s and 40s knew as the superintendent) was the principal that year.
I was unable to identify any of the other persons in the pic, and the year book does not list their names. They are standing outside the State Street building. What I do know is that all were representatives on the Student Council in 1927.
In addition to being on Student Council William Sinclair Martinek was also Class President. He had served in that capacity since 10th grade. In 9th grade he’d been Vice President. It appears that he was extremely active in all high school affairs. So he must have been quite popular.
He was born on January 12, 1909 and spent his entire life in Vermilion – with the exception of his years at Ohio University where he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
During the war years he worked as a personnel manager for the Trojan Power Co. at Plum Brook Ordinance in Sandusky. He later worked as purchasing agent and officer for Wakefield Brass. At the time of his untimely death, at age 45, he was serving his second term as a member of the Vermilion Board of Education.
Only the good die young.
LUDLOW: Last September (VPJ 09/19/13) a fella named Dave Vormelker was the subject of my newspaper column. To reiterate some: Dave was a writer / photographer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. As I said then, I came to know him because he was a friend of my dad – W.B. Tarrant. I remembered him visiting at both our home and our newspaper office way back in the 1950s. I hadn’t noticed that most of his visits were during the warmer months of the year. I later learned that the Vormelker family kept a summer home in Linwood Park. I also mentioned in that piece that Dave’s son Joel still maintains that home. Joel is a retired geologist and now stays in town, near as I can tell, all year round.
In any case, the picture used with that article was a formal portrait of Mr. Vorlmelker holding his wonderful Graflex camera. A local photographer named Paul Ludlow took the photo. During a visit with me following publication of that piece Vormelker’s son Joel gave me the accompanying snapshot he (Joel) had taken of Ludlow outside his studio on Division / Main Street back in the mid to late 1950s. And while it is hardly a professional photograph (technically) it’s a great candid snap. It is the Paul Ludlow that I, along with many others who knew him, remember. Affable is probably a good word to describe his character. It’s a good character trait for a professional photographer to have – or for anyone for that matter.
Paul, an only child, was born in Cleveland in 1917. He grew up and went to school in Cleveland Heights. His father, Harold, was a District Supervisor for the telephone company. In 1940, while working as a professional musician in a hotel orchestra he and a Spencer, Ohio gal named Anna Louise Bowen were married.
By 1948, after serving in the military during WW2, Mr. Ludlow and his entire family had moved to Vermilion where Paul opened a photography studio. It should be noted that as a youngster Paul’s father, Harold, had developed an intense interest in locomotives, and was in the habit of taking numerous photographs of them. This hobby eventually led him and Paul into the field of professional photography. When Harold retired from the phone company he worked as his son’s assistant in his studio.
I have a number of Ludlow photographs taken of individual persons, classrooms of Vermilion school children, various Vermilion personalities (including my childhood pooch Lassie), civic groups, politicians, church choirs – etc. I even have one really nice portrait of a steam locomotive passing through town before they disappeared altogether. I wish I had more, because it’s hard not to admire both the content and the pure graphic quality of Ludlow portraits. No small part of that quality undoubtedly had much to do with the aforementioned affability of the photographer himself.
But that’s not all. Paul Ludlow was also a “Maker of tobacco pipes”. After breaking one of his favorite pipes back in the 1950s he asked a friend of his – who was running a pipe-making clinic in Cleveland – if it was possible to fix it. Not only did Ludlow learn how to fix his pipe, he learned how to make them. And before too long if he wasn’t taking photographs, developing and printing them in his studio, he was in his basement workshop fashioning unique pipes from blocks of briar and wild cherry wood. Although this was just a hobby the pipes were dispersed as gifts throughout the country and around the world. All are signed. Both Vermilion’s Archival Society and the Print Shop museum have at least one of these beauties. No two are alike.
Ludlow closed his Vermilion photography studio in 1973 and went to work for Lorain Products as a photographer until he retired in 1980. During the early summer of 1983 Paul fell ill. He died on August 20th. I have been told that many of the photographs and recordings that he and his father captured of locomotives through the years are now at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
Paul’s only child, a daughter, Nancy Yahraus, currently lives in Sheffield Lake, Ohio. And while I’ve spoken with her about her father and grandfather I really don’t know if she still has any of his old photography equipment, negatives, or pipes. But I hope she does. Because they belong in a museum – along side the snapshot of her very easygoing father who so long ago posed for young Joel’s Kodak Brownie camera on a warm afternoon on Division Street in Vermilion, Ohio.
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. X – NO.9 – August 9, 1906.
The Trolley Wreck on the L.S.E. at This Place Last Saturday.
Shortly after three o’clock Saturday the people of the town were startled to hear that the west bound limited and the east bound regular had come together near the crossing of the L.S. E. and the Shore road west of town.
The news soon spread to neighboring towns and the parks and special relief cars with doctors and nurses soon arrived.
The wounded were taken to the Hotel Maudelton where local physicians and those from Norwalk and Lorain care for them. Later eighteen were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lorain. The slightly injured either returned to their homes or remained at the hotel all night. Motorman Moody of Beach Park and H.W. Remlinger conductor had charge of the limited. Moody jumped from his car just as the crash came and was instantly killed by striking a pole. Frank Smiley one of the party of 42 of the Lima Y.M.C.A. was found hanging partly out of a window. When removed he was dying and soon passed away.
The section men went to work and the wreck was soon cleared away and cars were running as before, but for several hours a large crowd was gathered around the hotel and station, and the telephones and telegraph lines busy.
The following are the dead and injured so far as known?
Wilbur D. Moody, motorman, Beach Park, O. 40 years old, married.
Frank Smiley, Lima, 22 years old, single.
Jas Yarrick. Elyria.
Harold Gensel, Lima, skull fractured.
Homer Hughes, Lima, head smashed, wrist broken.
Otto McBride, Lima, gashes in head.
Morris Slocum, Vermilion, back and hip hurt.
Silas Young, Beaver Dam, Pa., head badly cut.
Mrs. Beckett, fact cut. Lisle Caldwell, head hurt. Mrs. Tess’s Cullers, side hurt. Miss Lulu Eidenschenk, head cut. Jack Gaffner, leg crushed and head gashed. – Halli, face, side crushed; Mrs. Laura Harrod, badly bruised. Mrs. Horvtitch [sic], back and limbs bruised. Mrs. W.D. Johnson, leg crushed. Mrs. Jordan, face cut and legs and back injured. E.A. McEllhaney, face and back hurt George Mills, bruised. Miss Ellen Nester, back sprained. Mrs. Sarah Roem, hip injured. Fred Rudd, head hurt. Miss C. St. Lete. Bruised: All of Cleveland.
Roy Boose, and two Daniels boys, Milan, slightly bruised. Mary Conroy, Wakeman, bruised. Roy Fletcher, Lima, head injured. R. Fres, Chicago, head and chest cut. Andrew Gerrgruend [sic], Pittsburg, head cut. H. Hadde, Toledo, heat cut. Geo Hoffman, Shinrock, face cut leg hurt. Myrtle D. Howard, Berlin Heights, body bruised. – Huttenbocker, Berlin, internal injuries. P. Lawrence, Lima, bruised. A. Ludwig, Norwalk, arms and face cut. H.W. Remilinger, Norwalk, conductor on limited, hand hurt. W.L. Risely, Lima, face cut, arm injured. Chester Rieddener [sic], Lima bruised about body. Charles E. Rush, bruised about body. Charles E. Rush [sic] Heno [sic], leg bruised. Russell Sampson, Woodville, back and shoulders bruised. Emma Ott, Norwalk face cut. Allan Shaw, Lima, head and face bruised, left leg injured. W. Sheppard, Lima, face and arm cut. William Slocum, South Vermilion, head cut. N.L. Snyder, Norwalk, arm hurt. C. Stulz, Bellevue, face cut. Rev. F. M. Traub, Lima, head cut. E.T. Warren, Lorain, eight-eight years old, head and leg crushed. Mrs. C.W. Washburn, Lorain, hip crushed. Eugene Weisenburg, Fremont, left ankle broken. Gales Wells, Willoughby, head, chest and leg injured.
The coroner will investigate the affair with a view of placing the blame although it is the talk on the streets that Moody failed to obey orders to stop at the switch a short distance east of where the accident occurred.
Many of the injured are pleased with the way they were treated and cared for by Vermilion people and at the hotel. Everyone did all in their power to aid.
Several of the wounded were reported dead but such reports have proven untrue.
[VV. Ed. Note: A story about this accident with pix can be found in the Links section of “VV” below. It’s called “The Wreck of Niles 152”.
Lewis J. Hart of Huron has been cited to appear in the court of common pleas Friday morning to answer a charge of contempt of court in failing to pay alimony to his wife Jennie F. Hart.
The county commissioners on Monday awarded a contract for a ne bridge to be erected on the Haise road in Florence township. The successful bidder was the Moddern Construction company, of Fremont. The contract price of the new bridge is $250.
The so-called “Christmas present” case has been decided against Gustavus Graham and if the decision stands Mr. Graham will have to return nearly $2,000 which was paid him by banks with which county funds were deposited.
Charles a. Cheesman, 35, cigar dealer, Amherst, and Anna Mrs. [sic] Martin, Vermilion. Rev. C.F. Johnson.
Charles King Clary, Berlin Heights, machinist, and Miss Helen E. Stone, Berlin Heights.
The following were granted teachers certificates at the examination Saturday, August 4, 1906;
Bertha Nieding, Vermilion – 1 year. H.C. Spore, Florence – 5 years.
The L.S.E. co. is preparing to double track between Elyria and Lorain this summer.
It is stated that the Garford factory of Elyria may be moved from that city to South Bend Ind. the near future owing to lack of traction facilities and sewerage.
Amherst is enjoying a boom. Two new brick blocks are soon to be erected in the business section and property is soaring. $5000 has been refused for a house and lot, which sold for $2,500 last week.
E. Urbahns, of Bellevue, has brought suit against the L.S.E. for $15,000 damages. He claims to have been injured while walking on the sidewalk by a car running off the track owing to a misplaced switch on Oct. 20, 1905.
Mrs. W.P. Carey and children of Chicago are spending the summer in Vermilion.
The Criterion Club of Gallion [sic] is in camp at Shadduck’s Park.
H. Baumhart and family of Cleveland are spending some time here.
Gibson Hall of S. Amherst was destroyed by fire early Monday morning.
Cort Simons and Frank McConnelly are enjoying thei vacation at Detroit.
FOR SALE – Force pump and pipe also kitchen sink enquire of Mrs. F.H. Rae, Vermilion.
The launch which H. Black has been building for Huron parties was launched this week. It is a 28 footer of ample beams, and will be a good boat for both fishing and passenger service.
The Agricultural Society picnic at Linwood Park Saturday was a very successful affair. The governor and Congressman Mouser were present and gave short addresses. One of the largest crowds ever in Vermilion was in attendance.
Hon. Rudolph Keller and family from Attica are spending short vacation at the home of Rev. J.W. H. Brown. Mr. Keller is a member of the Ohio Legislature and was a strong advocate for the Aiken Temperance bill last winter.
It is reported that the League team of Washington D.C. will play ball at Shadduck’s Park Sunday. The Vermilion-Norwalk game will follow.
O.K. Todd, who is traveling in Europe, writes that he expects to sail for home the 28th.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas Kishman and children spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Blattner.
Mrs. Fred Coen and children of Cleveland are spending the week among relatives and friends here.
Miss Hattie Abell and her guest Miss Margaret Conson, and Miss Clara Wellmes spent Tuesday at Cleveland.
The Village Council held a regular meeting Monday evening. Adjournment was taken to Friday evening.
Guy Brown and Miss Bertha Yesse of Cleveland spent part of last week with P.J. Miller and family.
Early Childs is enjoying a vacation of two weeks, spending a part of the time in Toledo, Detroit and Pt. Huron.
Miss Alice Parsons, who has [a] position in Pittsburg, Pa., is enjoying a two weeks vacation at home. She was accompanied by friends.
English camp meeting is being held this week and part of next, including Wednesday, at Linwood. Fremont, and Tiffin districts of the Ohio Conference are represented.
The ice cream social given for the M.E. Church of Axtel at the home of John Feiszli last evening was a well-attended and very pleasant affair.
The remains of W.D. Moody, motorman of the wrecked limited car, were shipped to Cleveland Monday and later to Braddock Pa. for burial.
Hubert Crandall, an Elyria electrician in the employ of the Elyria Telephone Co. was killed Friday morning by a fall from a pole. He leaves a wife and one child.
David Dillon of his place and Mrs. Clara Spaulding of Port Clinton were married Thursday morning at the Catholic church.
The Presbyterian Sunday School enjoyed their annual picnic at Linwood Wednesday.
Angus Cole is quite sick.
Mrs. M. Breckenridge lost a stack of wheat early Friday morning by fire. The fire company responded to the call and managed to save the remainder. Tramps are thought o be responsible for the fire.
Miss Bernice Wood was a passenger on the car that was wrecked at Vermilion Saturday, bur fortunately she escaped with a few slight bruises and a badly torn dress.
Miss Edith Biehl, of Sandusky is the guest of her friend Miss Nelle Baumhardt.
Miss Armina Baumhardt is spending he week in Berlin Heights with her sister Mrs. H. Ferber.
Mr. and Mrs. John Krapp of Vermilion were he guests of Mrs. and Ms. Phil Darley Sunday.
Mrs. John Hoffman and children of Vermilion spent last week with A. Hull.
W.F. Kneisel and family of Vermilion were callers on this road Sunday.
Misses Edna and Estella Kurtz of Milan spent last week with Miss Berth Hull.
Edna Kneisel spent a few days of last week with W.F. Kneisel and family of Vermilion.
[VV. Ed. Note: You might have noticed that the number of items appearing in the NEWS this week in Vermilion’s history have increased in comparison to those of previous weeks. I accredit this to the NEWS acquiring a new gasoline engine for the line-shaft that powered its presses. Initially I thought that the decrease in news might have had something to do with Pearl Roscoe’s mother’s illness along with the birth of his daughter (my mother) in May of 1906. But it certainly appears that Roscoe was having big trouble with powering his printing presses. Once resolved – the number of news items printed picked up. I find it commendable that Roscoe kept things together despite his power problems.]
Hmmmmmm....
Every now and then I stop and think how fortunate we who grew up in small town, America in the 40s and 50s were. My small home town was Vermilion, Ohio, just one of many small towns across the nation that provided me with such a rich childhood.
But first, let me define “rich.” I know in today’s often shallow and materialistic world one tends to think “rich” means accumulation of fame, money or power. But I’ve read Thoreau enough to know what he thought of the quality of life lived far away from nature and I agree with him. Fame, power and money are not what I’m referring to when I use the term “rich.” Being so lucky to have been raised in a small home town is rich.
Living rich for girls in my day meant growing up like “Tom boys”… free to be insatiably curious in the pursuit of answers to every question and to develop freely, just like boys. Father often told us three daughters he didn’t know how to raise girls so he raised us just like he and his brothers were raised in Vermilion a generation earlier.
“River Rats” is how he labeled his gang of friends that once ran wild in their youth along the Vermilion River. I could hardly speak of my generation with such terminology because we certainly weren’t wild but we had plenty of freedom to explore the world back then when it was much safer than it is today. Not only our extensive family but dozens of caring villagers kept a steady eye on us to make sure we didn’t get into too much trouble.
I came from an immediate family of three girls, Alice, Georgia and myself, I being the second daughter born just two years after Alice, and Georgia coming 8 years after I was born. I always thought we girls were lucky we grew up with a father who spent a lot of time with us exposing us to the great outdoors with minimal time spent inside on traditional womanly activities…cooking, cleaning, raising children, caring for the house and garden and learning how to sew. (Horreurs!)
Living rich meant being raised in a family with lots of laughter where we were allowed to be ourselves and yet be tolerant of our individual differences. It meant enjoying the simple pleasures in life far away from what was then radio and TV (and what has now addicted so much of humanity today… all those high tech gadgets like cellphone, iPad, Skype, Google and Tweet.
My major source of wealth as a child besides my two sisters was my dog Timmy; a black and white springer spaniel mix and it was he who taught me that life simply couldn’t be lived without a trusty dog by one’s side. Two dogs, if possible, were even better because when it came to dogs, the more the merrier. Timmy and I were inseparable until the day he died and was quickly replaced by another beloved four footed friend. Timmy loved to scare our Aunt Grace Parsons Ming back in the 40s when she would visit from her home in Lakewood. Timmy, sensing a city person had just pulled into our long winding driveway back to our home on the lake that Father named “Slimacres” (because it was a long and skinny piece of property), somehow sensed there was good fun at hand. He would see Aunt Grace; pick up a handy snake found sunning itself in the McKege corn field next door and, with it still writhing in his mouth, chase Aunt Grace as she ran screaming back to her car. It was great fun to scare Aunt Grace. I shudder now that legions of Americans grow up today without a dog with a snake in its mouth to chase after a favorite aunt simply because they either live in the city where there are no snakes (other than the two legged varieties known today as politicians) or there is no one at home during the day anymore to keep a dog. In today’s world a child has to have a more practical pet…like a gerbil or a bowl of fish. Being rich is simply growing up with a dog.
We had a “Girls–Only” treehouse that Father had fashioned for us out of scrap wood high in the old apple tree that took me into the Green World where I could sit for hours dreaming wondrous summer thoughts. The tree came with a supply of green apples in the summer that I collected for ammunition when Robbie Kane, the boy who lived three cornfields, tried to gain entrance by climbing up the ladder.
That’s a treasure in itself; having an unending supply of apples to provide fine bullets in which to zing marauding boys who try to enter one’s treehouse. A girl in a treehouse can make a boy dance with a bucketful of green apples and send him off to the cornfields again.
Running through the corn was a major source of wealth. In those days the farmer planted corn in rows wide enough for a child to run in the green world forever totally hidden from the world. What exquisite freedom I knew running through the corn! But how many children today have a chance to run through corn? There was a creek on the property which I could cross on a one- board bridge over to the Youskivitch property on the east of us. I never knew for sure if it were a “crick” as Father said, or a “creek” as Mother said, but Mother’s pronunciation was probably correct because she came from “old New England stock” as she put it which she claimed made her a cut above the upstart, handsome Wakefield’s. She called the Wakefield’s who “came over” in 1872, mere “immigrants” reminding us the Parsons’ were far more respectable because they had “come over” at least two centuries earlier. To this outrage, Father responded (to our gales of laughter) with deep reverence that no Englishman could ever be considered an immigrant and that was the end of the conversation. How we laughed at Father’s proclamations as he, being a first generation “Englishman,” was a real anglophile who loved the Union Jack and the English poets. You can bet we children grew up knowing we had English roots. I well remember telling my first grade teacher, Mrs. Francis, who would shout “shut up!” at us when we were too noisy and clap her hands for us to be quiet, that I was quite sure that I was not a “C” for “Caucasian” as she instructed me to fill out on a form, but an “E” for “Englishman.” Finding I was a “C” and not an “E” was just one of the many traumas I faced when I went to school.
Of course, I knew all the major quotes from Kipling and Hamlet at an early age and that the “The sun never sets on the British empire” and “Only mad dogs and Englishmen went out in the noon day sun,” and what Father always recited each spring with great passion and sometimes even a few tears glistening in the corners of his eyes Browning’s famous line…”Oh, to be in England, now that April’s here!” I still can’t read Browning with remembering Father. (To be continued...)
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.
…ment, near the county poor house John Beatty in 1817 or '18. It was built by John Beatty in 1817 or ’18.
In the spring of 1817 the settlers voted at Bloomingville. In October following, an election was held in the log schoolhouse near Jesse Taylor's. John Freese, Julius House and Eleazur Lockwood were judges, and John Beatty and Richard P. Christopher, clerks. In the subsequent spring the township election was held at the same place. John Beatty was elected clerk; Eleazur Lockwood, John Freese and Julius House, trustees: William R. Bebee and Roswell Hubbard, constables: John Dillingham and Harvey Covell, fence viewers. The first justice of the peace was Julius House, who officiated for many years.
The first sermon preached in the township was by Rev. Mr. Montgomery, a Methodist minister, then residing in Cleveland. This was in 1816. Many of the colony that came in the fall of 1815 were of the Methodist faith, and a class was organized, it is thought, the same fall. This has been continued without interruption from that to the present time. Among the preachers of an early day who occasionally visited the settlement were: William Gurley, True Pattie. James McIntyre, and Harry O. Sheldon, of the Methodist, and Alva Coe, the noted missionary among the Indians, who was of the Congregational church. It is believed that no religious denomination other than the Methodist have ever had an organization in the township.
The first Sabbath school was organized in about 1830 or 1831 by Judges Moors, Farwell and F. D. Parish, of Sandusky.
The next winter after the arrival of the colony, a log school house was put up near the present corners, and a school was kept in it that winter by Dr. Richard P. Christopher, a graduate of Yale college. His compensation was sixteen dollars per month, which was paid by the patrons of the school in proportion to the number sent by each family. The next summer the school was taught by Miss Ann Beatty, who afterwards became the wife of James Johnson.
To the credit of this Yankee colony it should be recorded that schools have been kept open eight months in each year from that time to the present.
The first to settle in Perkins township was Dr. Richard P. Christopher, who was cue of the company that came from Connecticut in 1815, as above related. He was a man of liberal education, being a Yale graduate in the class of 1814. Among the graduates of that class were many men of mark in after life.
Dr. Christopher acquired a wide and lucrative practice. He died many years since, in the neighborhood where he first settled and practiced.
Elizur Bell, one of the colony of 1815, was from Middlebury, Connecticut, and was a ship carpenter. In the township of Huron, some two miles west of the river, lived a man named Montgomery, and with him, Abijah Hewitt. These men conceived the idea of building a small schooner, and approached Mr. Bell to build it for them. It was proposed to build it near Montgomery's house, about one and one-half miles, in a direct line from the lakeshore. And it was finally constructed, where desired, during the winter and spring of 1816. The craft being ready for its destined element, the question of pressing importance recurred, how shall she attain to her destination. To avoid obstructions lying in the way, it became necessary to convey this boat, which was of some seventy-five tons burden, a distance of about four miles, to the bank of the lake, to do this, runners were affixed to the craft, rollers were prepared to place under the runners, forty yoke of oxen were attached, twenty yoke to each runner, and in due time the lake was reached and the "Polly," named in honor of the wife of the master builder, safely launched upon its placid bosom. What ultimately became of this craft is not definitely known, except that she was, in 1818, seized by the United States collector, at Sandusky, for alleged breach of the revenue laws, and lay for some months in the cove of Sandusky Bay.
NO BIGGY – BUT INTERESTING: I came across this program while looking through the VHS annual “Hi-Times” from 1927 A.D.
I have seen one of these before, and may have used a similar pic in “VV” before – although I’m sure anything I’ve seen before was not as in as nice a condition as this. Because it was kept inside the annual for years it’s in pristine condition.
This program (of course) celebrated the opening of Vermilion’s beautiful South Street School. Closed now it will eventually (if reports are accurate) house one class of prospective electricians.
We’ll see. I really loved this old school. And I’m sorry someone with a better vision for the future of the building didn’t acquire the property. But at least it won’t stand empty.
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.12, Issue 16 - June 28, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant