PEANUTS & CHEESE
SHOPTALK: On the shoptop this week is the whole picture of the Diamond Cheese factory at Axtel, Ohio. For anyone unfamiliar with this scene the brick building / house is still standing. Heading south as you come up the rise to Axtel Corners (Mason Road and Route #60) this house is on the right. It’s hard to miss.
I’d date this pic as around 1904-05. It really provides a great view of the whole road going up to corner. It’s one of my grandfather’s wide-angle pix.
On my home computer desktop this week is a Peanuts cartoon. I believe Charles Schulz to be one of the greatest humorists of the 20th century.
I suppose Lucy’s concerns about ageing is something we all think about now and then. But as Lucy’s brother Linus suggests – it’s no big deal (whether your nine or ninety).
RATS!
STUCK IN THE 19TH CENTURY (AGAIN): One of the things I’ve been doing in my spare time for the last several weeks is continuing to research the “Free Love” society that once existed in Berlin Heights, Ohio. I find to be a very compelling story.
Last week I wrote about it some – but that was just touching the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I’m attempting to develop an “angle” on the story that is fair – and I don’t know if that is possible – at least for me.
It’s a serious subject that, from what I can tell, has rarely been objectively recorded - except by an author named Joanne E. Passet. Ms. Passet is an assistant professor of history at Indiana University East and is the author of “Cultural Crusaders: Women Librarians in the American West, 1900-1917”, Sex Radicals and the Quest for Women's Equality and a coauthor of “Aspirations and Mentoring” – and has likely written much more. I have read her account of the Berlin experiment but await the delivery of one more book that might help widen my view of this very interesting chapter in American and local history.
Truth be told, though I’m not terribly interested in contemporary issues facing woman in American society I am, as a card holding member of the human race, interested in the Berlin experiment.
WORK CONTINUES AT THE SHOP: During the week VNPSM board member George Spreng painted the exterior of our new storage shed. A little white trim will be added to it, some latches added and it will be finished. It looks great.
My wife, Georgie, put up some nice curtains in the bath and painted the door to the bath closet as well as the window trim. Georgie took some old shutters and made a door for the closet. She also installed the door. Everything looks really wonderful. We are an equal opportunity volunteer agency.
Work has commenced in the master bedroom as well. Most of the furniture was removed from the room; the curtains and blinds trashed; the walls received a base coat of paint; the floor was sanded and stained, and the woodwork was washed and painted. Next the room will be papered. Methinks it will look very nice.
AND ONE LAST THING: Vermilion “expat.” Earl Lee Tischer was up from Florida and dropped by the museum Friday. An interesting guy he.
Earl’s got some great stories about his life in Vermilion (and Lorain). [Who knew, for instance, that former Vermilion school superintendent C.K. Dewitt like shiny shoes?] He also said that he’d been meaning to send me some things about his family – he is “Dad” Tischer’s grandson, Lyle’s son, and there’s a plethora of other relatives that are relevant to the development of life in Vermilion.
I don’t believe he was going to be in town very long. Earl is one of those folks whose oral should be recorded. [Perhaps it could be done by telephone?]
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. 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.
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 and memberships for the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011.
Memberships for the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are always 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,
REBER QUIGLEY: DR. Dr. Quigley doctored for Vermilion citizens during the latter years of the 19th, and early years of the 20th century. He was born in Ohio in 1850. His pic (this pic) has appeared in past editions of “VV”.
Currently I don’t know the date of his demise. But it was likely sometime in the 1920s. I knew his son Dean. Dean was an artist who did some very nice silk screenings and designed several boats.
This pic of his father, the doctor, is very rare.
IF YOU WANNA DANCE…: Observe the upper snapshot accompanying this monograph and, go ahead, gripe about the condition of your street. Yikes! I have a late model 4-wheel drive truck and I seriously doubt that it could’ve negotiated the mud river that was Vermilion’s Ohio Street eighty plus years ago. I’m sure my grandpa’s c.1915 Ford Model T Touring car eventually made it through the muck (that’s mainly because I have other pictures of it). But, you know, when folks talk about “the good ol’ days”? I don’t think this was one of them.
That I found these photographs grouped close together in a mélange of prints leads me to believe that their grouping was intentional; the time had come when the Village of Vermilion, O. had to consider improving its streets. When it rained folks had mud to contend with; and when dry – it was dust. While I have no official record (currently) of the precise date when the process began the lower two snaps of Grand Street (looking both north and south) appear to provide a pictorial record of it as it was being prepared for a stone (macadam) surface c. 1925.
John McAdam of Scotland developed macadam, a type of road paving, in the 18th century. It was composed of a compacted subgrade of crushed granite or greenstone designed to support the load, covered by a surface of light stone to absorb wear and tear and shed water to the drainage ditches. Today macadam construction consists of crushed stone or gravel placed on a compacted base course and is bound with asphalt cement or hot tar. A third layer to fill the spaces is then added and rolled. Cement-sand slurry is sometimes used as the binder. Grand Street would have received a surface similar to the original type of macadam paving.
I would mention that it took a bit of time to identify the pictured locales. In such instances it certainly pays to have easy access to a good computer, scanner, and photographic software as well as an automobile. The “computer stuff” was used to enlarge and enhance the photographs to acquire a better look at the details in them. The automobile was used to drive to tentative sites to see if they could be confirmed or discounted as being those in the photographs.
Over the years things do, of course, change. And occasionally the changes can be significant. In this particular case such changes made the location of lower two photographs especially difficult to recognize. This is because both the house and the barn type structure next to it (seen in both of the lower photos) are now gone. The “identifier” for these rather unremarkable snapshots was (thanks to the “computer stuff”) the house at the very end of the street in the lower picture. It is the house that still occupies the southwest corner of State and South streets.
To be sure it’s fun to reminisce and ruminate about the yesteryear. I spend a good deal of time in its study. And in that study I recognize the fact that my grandparents – and probably yours too – worked hard to improve the place where they lived. They saw the needs and responded them – whether it was eradicating muddy streets, acquiring natural gas, electricity, or the installation of water and sewage systems. But in so doing they understood one thing for sure: “If you wanna dance you have to pay the band”. And the streets were paved.
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.15 – September 20, 1906.
Another citation for contempt was issued by the circuit court on Tuesday in the case of Lelia Seton Wilder vs. Henry Fisher et al. In this case the plaintiff obtained an injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with her taking sand from his beach at Ceylon. Since the injunction Fisher erected a barrier and prevented access to the beach for which he was cited for contempt a week ago and fined $10 and costs. According to an affidavit filed on Tuesday against Fisher and Katharina Fisher, the defendants as maintaining a closed gate across the roadway which is the only means of access to the beach. The citation is made returnable for 9 o’clock Thursday morning when the defendants will be called upon to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of court in closing the roadway contrary to the former orders of the court.
The Novelty Stove & Manufacturing Co. of Vermilion, defendants in a suit brought by George B. McConnelly et al., has filed an answer in the court of common pleas. The answer is in the form of a general denial of the claims of the plaintiffs and there is a cross petition for $10,000 damages for alleged breach of contract. The defendant claims that it has carried out all the conditions of the contract on its part to be fulfilled and avers that before it located at Vermilion plaintiffs notified it that 108 lots had been sold in the village addition, according to the terms of the contract, for $10,800, whereas they were not all sold, the amount received being $2,200 less than that amount. By reason of this the company claims that it was compelled to cease operations and suffered loss to the amount of $10,000 for which it claims judgement.
The will of the late John C. Black of Vermilion township which was admitted to probate on Tuesday bequeaths all the personal property of the decedent to his wife Mary Black, also a life estate in the real property. On the death of Mrs. Black the real estate is to be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided among the children, except that Herman Black is to received $200 more than the others. The children are William H. Black, Albert G. Black, Herman Black, Edwin Black and Ida A. Willer. William H. Black was nominated as joint executor with his mother, but as Mrs. Black declined the trust executor’s letter were issued to William H. Black alone.
The village of Vermilion has filed a motion in the court of common pleas in the case of common pleas in the case in which George Fischer recently brought suit to enjoin the village from interfering with his property in the opening of street in which it asks that the temporary restraining order be dissolved. The grounds set up in the motion are that the allegations of the petition are untrue and also that they do not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
[VV. Ed. Note: While I certainly don’t know the specifics of this action well enough to state for a fact which party was right, I do know that this thing went on for some time. I’m guessing that Fischer was probably right because the family lumber business had been located on the contested property for quite a long time. On the other hand the village had mapped out their streets at the very beginning before the lumber mill was located in the village. Actually the squabble reeks of bruised egos. But that’s life in small towns.[
The appeal case of August Leadrach against Lawson W. Taylor which involves a dispute over a line fence in Vermilion township was taken up Monday afternoon.
It has been decided that the case against Gustavus Graham for the recovery of presents from Sandusky banks is appealable. The case will be taken up today.
The Coroner of Erie county held an inquest at the Town Hall last Friday to enquire into the cause of the terrible trolley wreck here August 4th. The inquest did not attract much attention very few being present excepting interest parties.
Atty. G.A. Resek of Lorain and Claim Agent Rimelspacher of Fremont were present in the interests of the L.S. E., and Atty. C.H. Olds of Cleveland represented Mrs. Moody, widow of Motorman Moody who lost his life in the wreck. Mrs. Moody was also present.
A number of witnesses were examined including Supt. Burge, E.K. Burk train dispatcher, Conductor Remlinger of the wrecked limited, Motorman Rudd of the regular car, also conductor Caldwell of the same car, Martin Ackerman chief train dispatcher, H.R. Williams, Henry Abell and Fred Backus who saw the accident, and Conductor John Scovill who was taking train orders at Ceylon.
The testimony of the witnesses and the orders seem to point to Motorman Moody as the cause. Whether he forgot or disobeyed the order to pass the regular at siding 38 will never be known, but his conductor, it seems used every endeavor to stop the car when he found that they passed the siding. He says he rang the bell twice, then tried to reach the emergency valve with which his class of cars were equipped and failing in this started for the trolley rope when the crash came. It also developed that the car, which was running at 40 miles per hour was checked down to about 20 before the crash came.
There were about 100 passengers on the limited at the time. The seating capacity was 54. Conductor stated that he had taken up 140 fares on a similar car.
The coroner has as yet rendered no decision in the case but the evidence seems to point to the dead motorman as the cause of the accident. Apparently it was his first and only mistake.
[VV. Ed. Note: I’ve known about this mishap for several years now – and have thought about it at length. If I were I on a jury reviewing the accident I would probably concluded that L.S.E. officials were at fault for allowing this car (or any car) to be loaded so far over its capacity. The noise and other distractions must have been terrific. (i.e. the motorman didn’t hear the conductor’s repeated alerts) Consequently, I would not place the entire blame on the dead motorman.]
MARRIED – On last Saturday evening Mr. Chas. J. Sholl [sic] of Lorain and Miss Eva May Lynn at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Hatch on Ohio street. It was just 7 p.m. when the happy couple stood in the well-lighted parlor of the Hatch home and Rev. J.W. H. Brown spoke the words that made them husband and wife. At 8 o’clock that stated on their wedding trip to Cambridge, Columbus and other points. Mr. Sholl is a railroad man and Miss Lynn was one of Vermilion’s most esteemed young ladies. They will make their home in Vermilion after their return from their trip. Many friends wish them happiness and success in life.
Mr. L.B. Gibson of Brownhelm had a narrow escape from death in a quarry hole Saturday night. He was going to his home on the Ridge from the Station and in the darkness missed the path and fell over an embankment. He landed on a ledge of hole over 50 feet deep. He called for help but no one responded. He finally managed to crawl up the bank and get home. He was badly bruised and suffered a sever chill but is recovering as fast as can be expected.
Misses Bertha Hull and Belle Patchett are attending school at Vermilion this fall.
Mrs. Joe Zunt is on the sick list.
Miss Nora Aston is attending school at Brownhelm this fall.
The change of time on the Lake Shore Electric, which when into effect Sunday, has made the service most unsatisfactory to patrons east and west of town. Many of the young people are attending school here and they must get here either an hour and a half early or half an hour late. We hope this condition may be changed before the cold winter months set in, as it is a serious drawback to the rural districts.
Capt. John H. Aldrich, aged 90, of Clyde was sentenced to three years in the Ohio Penitentiary by United States Judge John E. McCall at Toledo, for participation in the alleged pension frauds. Pending good behavior, the sentence was suspended on account of his age. He will be compelled to pay a fine of $200 before he can secure his liberty from the Lucas county jail, and in case of the least misdemeanor he will be obliged to serve his term at Columbus.
The grading for the new double track of the Nickel Plate between this city and Cleveland is rapidly advancing. It is practically completed between here and Avon and ties are being distributed along the route. – Lorain Times Herald
The August pension report shows that 524 old soldiers died during the month.
The Jewish New Year began yesterday.
O.F. Hatch who has been very ill is able to be out again.
[VV. Ed. Note: While I know little to nothing about Mr. Hatch I was curious about him (he lived on Ohio Street), so I looked for him on Ancestry.com. What I do know is that he was a machinist at the F.W. Wakefield Co.]
F.W. Coen and family of Cleveland spent Sunday in town.
F. W. Coen, was the vice president and general manager of the Lake Shore Elec¬tric Railway Company. He was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, June 15, 1872, a son of W. S. and Caroline Coen. The father devoted to agriculture. Coen received his education in the public schools of Rensselaer and after graduating from the high school in 1890 taught in the country for one year. He then worked as a clerk with the Columbia National Bank for a short time and then went to Vermilion, Ohio to work for The Erie County Banking Company as bookkeeper, remaining with them for two years and a half. In 1893 he became associated with the Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk Electric Railway Company as cashier. In 1895, he became as¬sistant secretary of the Lorain & Cleveland Railway; the name was changed in 1901 to the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company. In January 1906, he became secretary and treasurer; in October of the following year he was made treasurer and general manager; and in January, 1908 he was made vice president and general manager. Mr. Coen was also connected with others of almost equal importance. He is a director in the Sandusky Gas & Electric Company at Sandusky; is vice president and general manager of the Sandusky, Fremont & Southern Railway Company and of the Lorain Street Railway Company. He was also elected a director in the Electric Depot Company of Cleveland. In 1898 Mr. Coen married Miss Marion D. Rae of Vermilion, Ohio, and they had three children: Marion, who is nine years of age; Helen who is seven; and Douglas, who is five. The family occupies a fine residence in Lakewood, where a generous hospitality is extended to friends. Politically, Mr. Coen was a member of the Republican Party.
Jas. Quigley and Paul Leimbach left for Columbus this week to enter the O.S.U.
O.K. Todd has returned home form his trip to Europe.
Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Bottomley were Cleveland visitors Friday.
L.U. Todd was in Sandusky yesterday.
L.M. Kean of Milan, editor of the Ledger made the NEWS office a pleasant call Tuesday.
Mrs. Catherine Black and daughter, Miss Pearl have returned from a trip through Yellowstone National Park.
Miss Fanny Rumsey leaves tomorrow to begin her last year’s study at Columbus.
Notice is hereby given that the hauling of sand and gravel from the lakefront of property of F.W. Wakefield is prohibited. – F.W. WAKEFIELD
Hmmmmmm....
LETTERS FROM HELL: June 4,1864. Bermuda, Virginia. “I am on the James River above the City Point, fifteen miles from Richmond, VA. We have been here a month today and have had two hard battles, and lost a great many men in both battles, but we won them. Since then we have fallen back in our entrenchments and they have tried to drive us out, but can’t. The last news is that General Grant’s Army is within seven miles of Richmond. All day yesterday the heaviest cannonading I ever heard was going on, and it kept up until ten o’clock last night.
I had letters from Levi and Chauncy. They were in Fort Cass, near Washington, D.C. they had been ordered to move, have gone to reinforce General Grant’s Army. I have been with the Hospital Department, helping care for the sick and wounded since the battles on May the 10th. [Note: This is in reference to The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – May 8-24, 1864] The Hospital is back of the trenches, out of range of the enemy’s guns. I am up most of the night. Am again troubled with the dysentery, but have only four more weeks to stay in service. Three years is a long time to be away from one’s home ties, and I have never been away on leave of absence since I joined the Regiment two and one-half years ago, not even a day, and never been sick, so as to go to the hospital.
I give thanks to my Father above, who has gone with me through it all and am very anxious to get home to see you all.
Hoping this cruel War will soon be over, the sight of so much bloodshed and mangled bodies makes me sick. I am sick of War.”
These heartfelt words appear in one of the letters written by my great-grandfather Caselton Roscoe to his parents, Levi and Eliza Stockwell Roscoe who lived in Milan, Ohio during the American Civil War. The letter is in a booklet prepared by my great-aunt Ellen Angeline Smith Roscoe and printed by my grandfather Pearl, Editor / Publisher of The Vermilion News, in 1930. The men he mentioned – Levi and Chauncy – were two of his seven brothers. Another brother, Ransom, also served in the Union Army during the war. All survived.
That war (as many already know) was the deadliest war in American history. An estimated 750,000 soldiers, as well as an undetermined number of civilians, were killed during the conflict. Some historians estimate that nearly ten percent of all Northern males 20–45 years old, and 30 percent of all Southern white males aged 18–40 were killed during the four-year struggle between the states.
Though Caselton held the rank of musician – he was a fifer – while in the service he was hardly immune from the abject misery of the experience. While garrisoned at Fredericksburg, Virginia in May of 1862 he wrote, “I still have my cough, but have stood the marching as well as any of them. We have to play the fife all the time on marching, if not we will be put in hand-cuffs.”
Despite the fact that the primary duty of the field musician was one of boosting morale on long marches, on the battlefields their duties, as previously indicated, also included carrying stretchers and assisting medical staffs. This duty is especially reflected in a June 24, 1862 letter as he described his experiences at the First Battle of Winchester (Virginia): “Before we left Winchester we had an awful battle…General Shields had his left arm broken. This was the most terrible sight I ever saw. Regiment after regiment charged up all the time, yelling and hollowing amid (the) awful roar of cannons and muskety [sic]. It was at this time one of our homeboys fell, Henry Gibbs. He was shot through the left lower jaw, passing clear through cutting his tongue, and when I found him, had been carried and layed [sic] in an old brick building, alone in a corner, on a little hay with only a bit of oilcloth thrown over him. I tried to make him as comfortable as I could, then I had to go and help others, as I had to go back of the firing line and help the nurses carry in the wounded.” [Note: Mr. Gibbs survived his wounds, returned home to Milan, and was appointed Postmaster in 1873. He died in 1879.]
Caselton served three years and nine months with Company K., of the 67th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He mustered out of the service in January 1865. Although the war had exacted a significant toll on his health, upon his return home he eagerly took up work as a carpenter and millwright (occupations he pursued for nearly 50 years thereafter), married, and had a son. In 1904 he supervised the construction of a building on Grand Street in Vermilion to be used as a newspaper office, print shop and home by his son (my grandfather) Pearl Roscoe. And it was there, shortly after the break of dawn on a Wednesday morning in May of 1918, that he passed quietly into the yesteryear. Though his war is long over it is yet to be forgotten. Perhaps tis best that none ever do.
THE FIRE-LANDS: I found the following information re: the early inhabitants of our area to be extremely informative. Methinks you will also.
I am getting better at transcribing these passages so there are fewer mistakes. But I like to read as I go - and sometimes I fill in the blanks. So tread carefully this trail through yesteryear.
The following series will take thee to the townships south of Vermilion. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
…The Columbia road was opened the same winter, from the east side of the month of the river to the east line of the Fire-lauds, where it joined a road from Columbia township, Lorain county.
In the spring of 1811 another road was laid out in the western part of the township by Jabez Wright, Jared Ward and Charles Barnum. It lead from the lake shore, west of the mouth of the river, southerly past the farms of Wright and Ward, to the residence of Charles Parker, in the fourth section of Milan, and thence up the river to Monroeville, and from that point southerly to New Haven, on nearly the same line that is traveled today.
In 1816, say several accounts, (but in 1817 as shown by the records in the court house), Ebenezer Merry, who came into the township in 1814, laid out the town of Milan, originally known as Beatty after the first owner of the land. He also began the same year, or perhaps the previous year, in company with Isaac Tupper and Job C. Smith, the erection of the first gristmill in the township, upon the site of the present mill. Before the mill was completed he purchased his partners' interests and thus became sole owner. Previous to the building of this mill, people had to go a great distance for their grist, or grind it by some rude method at home. The mill brought people to this locality from all directions and was really the nucleus around which grew the village. The location of the village, too, was a pleasant one, and people being quick to appreciate this fact, and to expect a fast growth, the lots were soon sold off. By the year 1819 quite a number of houses had been built. The first stock of goods was brought in the same year by James Williams, P. R. Hopkins and David W. Hinman; A large distillery was built by William B. Mason and Moodey Mears; F. W. Fowler began keeping a public house—the first one built—in 1831. Joseph M. Choate set in operation a carding machine and fulling works. Needham Standart, afterwards of the firm of Standart & Hamilton, opened a store in which he did a large business for years. Ralph and George Lockwood, who were doing business in Norwalk township (Gibbs' Corners) opened a store in a large double dwelling house. Mr. Ralph Lockwood became postmaster of Merry's Mills, as the place was then called, and remained seventeen years in that office. Henry Lockwood began the hatting business in 1824. The Lockwood block, afterward burned, was built as early as 1837. In 1833 there were ten stores in the place. The Eagle tavern, which occupied the present site of the townhall, was opened in 1824.
These facts afford something of an idea of what Milan was during the first few years of its existence, but there are others, relating to the vessel building, to the great grain trade, and in her commerce, that make a still more favorable showing of her importance.
A meeting of the citizens of Milan, and the township adjoining, was held at the house of F. W. Fowler, as early as 1833, to take into consideration the project of building a harbor at the mouth of the Huron, for the safe entrance of all lake craft. As a committee to examine into the feasibility of this plan, the following men were appointed: George W. Choate, Philo Adams, N. P. Mason, Schuyler Van Rensselaer, David Gibbs, Frederick Forsyth, N. M. Standart, James Williams and Ralph Lockwood. A meeting was subsequently held, at which this committee made a report favoring the project, and a company was regularly organized to prosecute the work. Five directors were elected, as follows: Jabez Wright, Philo Adams, H. N. Jenkins, N. M. Standart, B. N. Adams. The work was begun in 1824, under the superintendence of Charles Wheaton, of Milan, and when he died, the following fall, Zebulon Stevens, of Huron, was elected to his place. The work was carried on until the company's money was exhausted, and shortly after the national government took it up and completed it.
We have been thus particular to speak of this enterprise, because, though not strictly belonging to Milan township, it, nevertheless, was a project in which, as shown above, Milan people were interested, and one which did much to develop the town and bring about other improvements.
Vessel building was commenced in Milan in 1837. In that year Benjamin N. Abbott built the schooner Mary Abbott, and in 1839 loaded her with produce, which he took to New York city, by the way of the lake to Buffalo, and thence by the New York and Erie canal. He returned with a cargo of merchandise. This was the first vessel to make the trip, and the only one. About the same time H. N. Jenkins built the schooner, Louisa Jenkins, at Lockwood's landing, and upon her maiden trip took a load of wheat to Buffalo.
The legislature at its session of 1838 granted a charter for the formation of a company to build a ship canal from Merry's mill pond to the navigable waters of the Huron, and a tow path on the bank of the river to its mouth; the commissioners, named in the charter, for receiving subscriptions being Jabez Wright, Ebenezer Merry, Ralph Lockwood, George Lockwood and Timothy Baker. In the summer of 1831, books were opened at Milan for subscriptions to the Milan Canal Company's stock, and a sufficient amount was immediately secured to warrant the perfection of the organization. At a meeting held at F. W. Fowler's house August 37, 1831, the following five directors were elected: Ebenezer Merry, Ebenezer Andrews, George Lockwood, Daniel Hamilton and F. W. Fowler. The work was commenced in 1833, but, for want of means, was not completed until 1839. The Fourth of July of that year was a gala day for Milan, for it was so realized by the passage of the first boat through the canal. Early in the morning…
KICKING UP MEMORIES: For some folks (especially myself) it doesn’t seem that long ago that George Roberts had his Sinclair – or even his Shell – service stations in Vermilion. As a consequence it might seem that this little souvenir key chain is irrelevant. But it’s not. For it brings back many memories to many people.
Chris Cutcher sent this scan to me during the week and I’m glad he did. He wrote:
“Hey, I've been following your site and enjoying seeing the old town. We were going through some of my grandpa's stuff after he passed away and came across a keychain from Vermilion. It was going to get tossed but I figured that you might be interested in seeing a scan of it since it has an old Vermilion business on it. It's not real old like some of the things that you have posted, but I think it's becoming one of those forgotten Vermilion business.
We were going through some of my grandpa's stuff after he passed away and came across a keychain from Vermilion. It was going to get tossed but I figured that you might be interested in seeing a scan of it since it has an old Vermilion business on it.
It's not real old like some of the things that you have posted, but I think it's becoming one of those forgotten Vermilion business.
I think he’s right. George’s place is becoming one of those forgotten businesses. I think a place called “Miles” auto repair occupies the shop today (2014). I hope Chris doesn’t throw this little artifact out. It may be small but it’s not insignificant.
On a family vacation one summer, we crossed Wyoming and noted several historical points of interest. The children were especially interested because they enjoyed the computer game "Oregon Trail," which gives players a taste of the hardships the pioneers endured.
We stopped at the famous South Pass to look at the wagon tracks still visible in the dirt. Squinting out over the desolate, wind-swept landscape, my daughter nodded and said grimly, "This is where my oxen always die."
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.
MARY WAKEFIELD BUXTON’S LATEST BOOK “The Private War of William Styron” 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.
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 22 - August 9, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant