1957

GUESS WHO: Thursday, these folks visited the museum along with their brother-in-law. While on the tour I mentioned that I had all the old Vermilion High School year books called the “Hi-Times”, and that I intend to acquire a complete collection of the VHS annuals now called “The Log”.

Show them my collection it appeared that I didn’t have a book from 1957. Consequently, they told me that they did have a copy from that year and would see that I got it.

After they were gone I went back to the bindery room at the museum where I do a good deal of my work. As I sat down I noticed a white book sitting atop my scanner. And then it occurred to me.

Just the week before I searching for an old photograph of a Vermilion girl named Mary Ann Wakefield. I found it inside this book – the Log book from 1957.

Oops!

The father and father-in-law of my visitors designed the cover of the 1957 Log and one of these persons was also its editor.I wonder how many readers can guess the identities of my visitors.

_{"The Bible is an authorized King James Version containing the Old and New Testaments..."}

THE COPPIN BIBLE (WITH NOTES): Not long ago my lovely spouse (Georgie) and the minister of Vermilion’s UCC Congregational church, Reverend Bob Richardson, were having coffee in one of Vermilion’s numerous coffee shops one afternoon. As best I understand their discussion touched upon some mention of the interdenominational Christian organization Crusade for Christ. Overhearing their conversation a lady named Shelly Forbes sitting at a table nearby asked if they might know of any one / place that would be interested in acquiring a very old bible that had apparently once belonged to someone who had lived in Vermilion. It seems that one of her relatives had been a collector of such items and she just wanted it to go to a place where it would be both appreciated and preserved. Whether this was an act of Providence or simply coincidence is unknown. What it certainly was, however, was a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moment. Going to her car she returned with a calfskin leather-bound tome inside a clear plastic bag. It had obviously been used with some frequency. And now, as the old radio commentator Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story.”

The Bible is an authorized King James Version containing the Old and New Testaments that were “diligently compared and translated” out of the original tongues. It was revised and published by the American Bible Society in 1863. Multiple issues of this version were released by the society that year. In layman’s terms one would call it a “Civil War-Era Bible”.

As the accompanying photograph illustrates this particular bible, was purchased on December 22, 1863 (after the war) by a man named James Coppin in Sandusky, Ohio. Coppin obviously gave it to a gal named Sarah M. Brown of “Vermillion”. So who were these folks?

James Coppin was born in England in 1795. On March 6, 1835 the Reverend John Keyes “solemnized the marriage between James” and Amanda Richardson in Cleveland, Ohio. By 1850 the couple were living on a farm in Brownhelm, Ohio with their 13-year-old son, John (b.1837). 1860 found the family still living in Brownhelm. But son John was doing the farming and James, according to the Census, was listed as a “Peddler”. A decade later both Amanda and John were gone. What happened within the family during that decade is unknown (to me anyway). But as is obvious by the inscription inside the bible it would appear that James had separated from his wife and son and was developing a close relationship with Ms. Brown in 1865. And in 1870 when James reappears in the national census, as a farmer he is living in Vermilion Township, and Sarah M. Brown is now his wife. He is nearly 20 years her senior.

Born Sarah Root in New York State in 1815 she was the youngest of 8 children. Her father died when she was less than a year old. When she was seven she walked 2 miles through a woods everyday to school. At age 16 she began teaching school for a dollar a week. In 1834 she came to Ohio to visit her aunt Mrs. Joseph Swift. [Note: Joseph Swift had built a particularly beautiful mansion the family called Rosedale along Gore Road in Florence Township. That home eventually became the model for Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library.]

In 1837 she joined the Methodist-Episcopal Church at Brownhelm. She also attended the Milan Institute, later teaching in Florence Township until her marriage to Charles R. Brown (that’s right “Charlie Brown) in 1840. The newlyweds started off their married life in Brownhelm, then moved to Axtel, Ohio in 1853. Charles died the same year leaving her with four small children. At that time there was neither a church nor Sunday school at Axtel. But Sarah, who is described as a woman of both courage and great character, forged ahead and before too long – probably by 1860 – she had acquired both for the little crossroads settlement.

As the inscription inside the bible tells us, James and Sarah had developed a relationship by the year 1865. And though her 1902 obituary in The Vermilion News says that Sarah Brown and James Coppin were wed in 1857 all available records seem to refute that fact. The true year of their marriage was more likely 1867. [Note: A simple stroke of the wrong key can sometimes dramatically alter our understanding of history.]

In any case, by 1880 Sarah and James had been married for some time and, believe it or not, James had become a minister. He was 84. He died the following year. Sarah died on January 16, 1902 at the Furnace Corners home of her daughter Mrs. Jennie Pelton. She was 87. The evening before she passed her daughter read the line, “At evening time it shall be light.” She quickly replied, “It is light now: all is well and very well. You think this is my deathbed? Tell them all to meet me in heaven…” I suppose they have. And that is the story of The Coppin Bible. [Note: The Bible can be seen at the print shop history museum.]

_{Ref: The Vermilion News 01-16-23-1902; and U.S. Census data 1850 through 1880; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 06/19/14.}

Vol. X – NO.10 – August 16, 1906.

A Wreck Echo

The letter from a Lutheran Minister of Lima may give us an idea of how some of those who were in the Electric Railway wreck felt after the reaction: Through the courtesy of Rev. Brown we are permitted to publish the letter.

Lima, Aug. 13, ’06.

Dear Brother and Sister Brown,

I suppose you are wondering how the Camp Neely boys whom you befriended not long ago, are getting along.

I can only speak for myself, for most of last week I was in bed, and have seen none of the boys who were hurt.

It seem the excitement of the Wreck kept me buoyed up until I reached home Sunday evening, and then the reaction set in. On Monday, I though my head would split from the pain from the pain in my face, eyes and temples. This gradually decreased during the week under the hands of a good nurse - my wife, and a doctor.

Now am up and around, but doing very little work for my left eye is very weak.

When I came home Sunday, the left eye was (b)lack; on Tuesday the right one began to discolor, and the Dr. and neighbors jokingly hinted that my wife gave it to me. Said I would make no disclosures until I was able to get up and defend myself.

Mr. Shepherd is still in bed. The doctor at first feared blood poisoning from the wounds in his back but I think he will be around soon.

The body of Frank Smiley was brought home last Monday and buried Tuesday morning I was asked to preach the sermon, but of course could not leave my bed.

Last Tuesday the claim agent of the Trolly [sic] Company called on me, but I was in no shape to talk business so he said he would call a week later.

My “little Flock” were very much alarmed last Sunday when they learned that their pastor was in the wreck. The superintendent said the Sunday School could talk about nothing but the rumors floating about the city concerning us fellow who did not get home Saturday night and at six o’clock when we did arrive I think half of my people were waiting at the trolly [sic] station. They hardly knew me with my swelled face and black eye.

So far as I can learn all the fellows are recovering very nicely, so, slower than others, because hurt more. I am still light headed and my face and ear bear their marks.

Yet withal, I am thankful to get off as well as I did.

And again I want to express my thanks and gratitude to you for the kindness shown to us fellows. I hope in the future I may be able to requite you as you deserve. You surely were a Godsend to us when we most needed a friend.

Remember me to Mr. Neff and MacWilliams [sic] when you see them.

Praying god’s choices blessing upon you and your family, your work and your church, I am.

Very sincerely,
F.M. Traub.

Council Meeting

Pursuant to adjournment the village council held a meeting Friday evening with all members present, Mayor Williams absent and Pres. Wahl in the chair. Several committees handed in their reports which were accepted and placed on file. Several new sidewalks and some needed repairs will result if the report of the sidewalk committee is complied with.

Chief Tischer of the Fire department was present and invited the council to attend the convention at Elyria on the 22nd.

The request of the Linwood Park Company for the loan of 200 feet of fire hose was discussed and it was finally decided to let them have 150 feet of old hose and purchase 100 feet of new in its place. The old hose being strong enough to stand the pressure used at the park but hardly that of the town service. The Park Company has purchased 200 feet of new hose and the 350 feet of hose will give them a fair fire protection.

The payment of bills and discussion on street work etc., took up the balance of the evening.

A New Office

The Lake Shore Electric has created the office of trainmaster which official will have general supervision of the dispatchers on the line. The position corresponds to that of chief train dispatcher on steam roads.

Harry Fraser of Fremont, one of the oldest and most reliable employees of the road, has been appointed to this position and will immediately enter upon the discharge of his duties. For the past year he has been employed as motorman He will exercise a general supervision of all the cars on the system.

The departure has been in the minds of the officials of the road for some time, and is a move to assure perfect safety to the passenger traffic.

Electrolysis put about 600 phones out of business in Lorain last week.

Hunting season opens Sept. 1, two weeks from Saturday. Squirrels and ducks take notice!

The Wabash Ry. co. is making extensive improvements at Huron. The Wheeling branch is being double tracked from that village to Norwalk.

The city of Lorain has through Mayor King taken an option on the property of the defunct Citizen’s Bank for the city hall purposes. $24,000 is the price to be paid for the building and fixtures.

The residents of Elyria are panic stricken over the appearance of Asiatic Cholera in their midst. John Stark died from the disease there Monday and a number have been exposed, but physicians say there is no danger.

North Amherst citizens are considering the questions of extending the corporation limits of that town. The proposed extension will make the corporation square and increase property value from $560,000 to $760,000. The people residing in the territory covered by the proposed extension are anxious for it.

DIED – Wednesday Aug. 14, ’06. John C. Black, age 87 years. Funeral services at residence at 12:30 Saturday.

Congregational Clippings

20 years ago next Sunday the corner stone of our present building was laid.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: The stone would have been set, of course, in 1886. The building is not the Millet Auction House behind the museum.}

Sunset picnic in front of church and town hall tomorrow, Friday.

LINWOOD NOTES

As usual, Pittsburg is well represented at Linwood Park this year.

The Stocks sisters are again occupying the Duquesne Cottage, where Mrs. Todt and her daughter, Edna and son Albert, as well as Mrs. and Wm. Hamilton.

Mrs. Coleman and family of Allegheny, have a cottage this year, and have the Misses Lollie Greiner and Margaret Gratz as roomer.

Mrs. John Aufderheide and family have rented the Marion Cottage.

Mr. and Mrs. John Urban and daughters; Mr. and Mrs. Freiberger with their son Charles; and Mr. and Mrs. Geo Hershey and daughter, with Mrs. J.A. New are all guests at the Linwood Hotel.

Charles and Walter Haller are at the Wagner Hotel.

The Misses Bertha and Mathelda Haller are guest at the Linwood Hotel.

Mr. Alfred Laschinger spent a few days at the Park. He is on his way to visit hi parents at Berlin, Ont.

The Misses Dickey and Doenheinm are staying at the Fassenger Cottage.

Howard Dice and Elizabeth Smith are at the Wiegand Cottage.

Rev. Seith and family of the Zion Evangelical Church at Pittsburg, arrived on Tuesday, and are occupying the Rella Cottage.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: I believe this is a relative of Rev. Bill Seith who (still) currently lives at Linwood. I don’t’ know if it’s his father or grandfather (or some other relative). Bill’s a great guy.]}

LOCALS.

Don’t fail to attend Cecil Comedy co., Monday night in a big tent.

C. Erbskorn of El Paso, Texas and J. Erbskorn, of Toledo, visited their brother, Ed. Erbskorn, and wife a few days last week.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Somewhere I have a snap of Ed Erbskorn and his wife. They lived on Exchange Street in one of homes behind the Fire Hall.}

The German Camp Meeting at Linwood commences next Monday. The prospects are that a large crowd will be in attendance.

Tin Fruit Jars at Bailey’s for canning Fruits.

Saturday evening a grad concert will be given at Linwood Park under the direction of Prof. Wettach of Allegheny, Pa. No admission will be charged excepting the regular gate fee of 10c. Concert begins at 7:30 Standard Time.

Madeline Chapter, No. 204, O.E.S. will be inspected Tuesday evening August 21st. Inspecting officer, Mrs. W.H. Pollock of Huron will be present. All officers and members are requested to be present.
- Mrs. J.C. SEEMANN, W.M.

Miss Ethel Bottomley is spending the week in Lorain, the guest of her sister Mrs. W.B. Houseman.

The Lake Shore Electric will make special reduced rates during the entire week.

N.A. Foster has just received a Hudson River model canoe. If you enjoy canoeing try it.

Mrs. Capt. Hasenflue spent Tuesday and Wednesday with her husband at Conneaut while his boat was in that port.

The Spanish American War Veterans to the number of 5,000 will hold their annual convention and encampment at Cedar Point this week. There will be military parades, military band concerts, prize drills and a host of other enjoyments.

A new departure by the Management of Cedar Point will be a grand carnival week, commencing Monday, September 3 and ending Saturday September 8.

BROWNHELM

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Claus, a son, Aug. 11, ’06.

Parker Baird is quite ill with an attack of typhoid fever.

There will be an ice cream social at the home of S. Bacon’s Wednesday evening Aug.15th.

Mr. and Mrs. Chas Knishle have rented Mrs. Blakes’s house.

AXTEL NOTES.

A party of five young girls the Misses Pauline Leadrach, Ruby Dean, Flora and Ella Miller and Surette Bartholomew spent a very pleasant day last week the guest of their former Sunday School teacher Mrs. E.G. Cooper of Lorain.

Miss Anna Fey of this place sprained her foot quite badly a few days ago.

Mr. A.W. Leadrach and family are spending a week at Lakeside.

ASHMONT.

Miss Vora Barnes of Avery is spending her vacation at home.

Several from this place spent Saturday at Cedar Point.

Miss Ruth Minkler of Lorain who has been visiting friends here returned home Wednesday.

R. Hays and family spent Sunday at Ruggles Beach.

John Crum was in Vermilion Saturday.

Norris Welch called on his brother Sunday.

[VV. Ed. Note: If you’ve been following this part of “VV” you have likely noticed an increase in the news over that reported during most of June in 1906. Finally Roscoe got a new motor to power his presses and his wife (my grandma) was back at the news desk. The increase is quite notable.]

_{Sweet Mary @ 16}

GROWING UP RICH - Part 2
Memories of Small Town, America
By Mary Wakefield Buxton

Memories of Vermilion, Ohio in the 40s and 50s are extraordinarily rich and now, at 72 years of age, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. But, let’s be honest about true wealth. To be really rich, a child had to have more than a dog, treehouse and a cornfield.

Like a lake or pond to jump into and cool off at the end of a hot summer’s day. Or a muddy river to dive into and swim across to the other side as if sharks were snapping at your heels and jubilate mightily if you managed to edge in ahead of elder sister, Alice.

But wait, real wealth was the old pig house left over from meat-rationing coupon days during WW 11 when Father kept pigs and chickens to feed our family. In 1947 Father converted the pig house into a playhouse for Alice and me to use throughout idyllic Ohio summers.

Before I adjusted to the playhouse conversion, however, there was big trouble. When I came home from school one day and found the three little pigs were suddenly missing, I immediately suspected foul play. Worse, even at six years old, I smelled murder. I stormed into the house to demand of Father what had happened to my three little pigs. He stammered a bit about how they had found a new home but I knew instantly what had happened and when pork chops showed up that evening at the dinner table, I flatly refused to eat even one bite. I was a principled girl.

Father allowed dissent from his daughters and even passionate dissent. He listened carefully as my sisters and I spouted off on many subjects, as if he were truly interested in what girls had to say. Yet, I learned how quickly children recover from the shocking behavior of adults and I soon lost my principles for a new play house.

It was adorable. Father had moved it from the peach orchard to underneath the apple tree, given it a good scrub down, coat of fresh paint, two windows dressed with curtains Mother had fashioned, and steps to the front door. The poor three little pigs were quickly forgotten and Alice and I spent many happy days and nights in the pig house.

Then, at the foot of the property, a rugged beach on Lake Erie that ran in two directions depending on what an adventurous girl was up to that day. A favorite direction was east to the foot of the Vermilion River and the long pier where one could sit (if one could sneak by the gruff homeowner who shouted if he saw me trespassing on his beach) at the base of the harbor light and watch the endless convoy of boats coming in and out of port.

I loved boats and I wasn’t particular. Any kind of boat would do. I spent my childhood traveling up and down that river in anything that floated. One wintry day Alice and I once even set off along the frigid shore with two long poles on a huge chunk of ice that had broken off from the mainland. Fortunately, when our “raft” turned out to sea, we were able to hop off onto solid ice before it was too late.

Or, I could have a good run with my dog west on the beach toward Huron. Three cliffs over Alice and sometimes neighbor, Shelly Kane, would join us as we built terraces like we learned in school that the Incans did in Peru did in order to grow crops. If an Ohio cliff could be an Inca terrace, than the dog at my side was surely a llama. How rich is that? Another source of wealth was my old run down blue bike. I am sure it was originally Alice’s bike passed down to me but once I had possession, it had daily workout. I would come home from school on the school bus, jump into play clothes, hook a dime from Mother’s change purse in the kitchen drawer, (I had to open the kitchen drawer carefully so she wouldn’t hear me from the living room) hop on my bike and head for town.

Freedom! Some of the way I had to ride on 6 and 2 which was always busy with speeding traffic but at Blue Bird beach I connected to a sidewalk. There was a little store at the corner where I stopped to buy a package of Hostess chocolate cupcakes. Woe to me if they were out of chocolate and I was stuck having to eat the coconut strawberry cupcakes. No good! But I ate them anyway and continued my journey to town for a spin around the village.

My kingdom for a beach! What splendid treasures were found on the beach! Beautiful seashells that could be strung into necklaces, lucky stones to carry in secret places or pebbles, when wet, became vibrant gems, pieces of polished glass worn fine by the sand, fine jewels suitable for a queen and given freely from the sea, exotic driftwood animals in all shapes and sizes, and smoke wood which Father taught us could be “smoked” like real cigarettes. Alice and I built forts on the beach with the many uprooted trees from the storm driven coastline. One day someone wrecked our fort. We suspected our tough cousin, Don Parsons, who lived on the lake east of us but everytime we tried to pin the crime on him, he only laughed.

I skated with Alice every winter on Sherrod’s Creek, four cornfields away, and a long run for two girls thick in winter clothing and skates slung over shoulders. Bessie Sherrod had been Father’s first grade teacher and I could tell he had really loved her because everytime he mentioned her name he spoke softly and had a special look in his eyes.

There were thousands of fireflies to capture on summer nights and seal in a bottle with holes punched through the lid that we could take to our bedroom at night and light up our dark bedrooms with golden sparkles. And wild violets that grew in the field to pick for Mother or wind into flower necklaces. The modest dandelion was a royal bloom, especially the first one spotted in springtime that Father picked and brought inside to gently rub against our noses. “A yellow nose means a happy girl,” Father would tell me as I ran to the mirror to see if I were happy.

There were wild daisies to twine into chains, honeysuckle to suck for its sweet nectar, grapes and wild red raspberries to eat, the north star in the night sky to point to in wonder, and try for the umpteenth time to locate the big dipper.

Then, freighters were free for the asking; Father called them “Big Boys,” that passed on the lake’s far horizons often leaving only a trail of smoke off their vanishing sterns. At night, I might hear the lonely wail of the foghorn at Huron and imagine “Big Boys” steaming silently by my bedroom in the dark fog. To sleep, perchance to dream, with the roar of waves crashing against the shore in a storm or the gentle lap as the lake kissed the shore on a placid lake and only a stone’s throw away.

And the long wails of freight trains blowing their whistles all night long as they sped through sleeping northern Ohio, sometimes in the night it seemed one wail would fade away as a new wail began. When I left Vermilion, oh how I missed the trains.

And sun burned noses, freckle- dusted skin, a look in the eye that suggested a Vermilion girl might know what it was like to jump into the cold lake sans bathing suit, that she should keep a shiny buckeye found at the foot of Grandfather’s house in her pocket at all times for good luck, and when she found a baby bird to return it gently to its nest hoping the mother bird would come back, not to mention the zillions of saved pink baby mice and bunnies retrieved from the soft mouths of so many beloved dogs only to live again in the magical world in my Ohio of red skies and rising suns.

IT’S A GRAND OL’ FLAG: This is a pic I took of a flag we have on display on the loft railing at Cottage #3 at the Olympic Outing Club.

The flag (among other things) are items saved and stored away by my wife’s father George Diener. It’s (in case you’ve not yet notice) a 48 star flag. It’s not really rare. Just unusual.

When I was a little guy our nation only had 48 states. It seems like it was only yesterday when they added two states to our union and the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.