OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Well, this is what it looks like outside my window at 7 a.m. (5-16-04). It's wet and it's somewhat cooler than it has been for the last two days. It's about time. I didn't think it was ever going to warm up.
My asparagus is growing 'mongst my tiger lilies; my snowball bush is snowballing; and every bird in town is using our cars parked 'neath our Maple tree for target practice. But that's okay. Nice days are on their way. The seasonal changes are, like this rain, refreshing. It's Vermilion, Ohio.
NOT VERMILION: I thank Bill Hlavin for this pic of Huron. This is something long lost. Huron was reinvented during the 1960's and today, of course, doesn't resemble,in the least, the Huron in this portrait. The L.S.E. ran down the middle of Main Street at that time. Like Vermilion, Huron was also a fishing village, and fish were shipped via the electric and steam lines to all places east, west, and south.
While I am forever fascinated by such pictures and those times I am not envious. The scene, however bucolic, had its pitfalls. Yet, it was a beautiful place. Curious.
THEM LAGOONS AGAIN: I've been finding some very good photographs of "things" lately. This is but one. Improving my skills with my hardware and software I am able to make some very good real copies of these pictures. What I aim for are larger pix without sacrificing focus. I've no reason to own the orignals, but have use for the copies. Making t-shirts is one. They look rather nice.
I've used a similar pic of the Vermilion Lagoons in preview editions of "Views". The interest here (in case it escapes anyone) is the bridge between the first and second lagoon. It's difficult to put this into some perspective and determine exactly where the bridge once spanned the water. There is osme illusion of a greater amount of land in the area than actually exists.
Another interesting aspect of this particular picture is the existence of the L.S.E. Bridge in the lower left corner. The water-tower is not there. Most of the land southwest of the bridge landing along Liberty Avenue is empty. There is one large building on the corner of Sandusky and Liberty Streets. This is (as you can see) a very good photo.
HELFRICH'S: And at the foot of the Route 6 & 2 Bridge sat the Helfrich's Grill restaurant. Purchasing the land from the Showalter estate in 1925 the Lorain couple established that which would become one of the most famous restaurant sites on the Great Lakes. This particular building was built/remodeled after the new river bridge was constructed in 1929. When Mr. Helfrich became ill and couldn't work the business any longer he called upon a son-in-law, Jesse Hamman, to help the Mrs. run the place. In 1936, when Mrs. Helfrich's health began to fail, Hamman co-leased the building with a man named Andy Daumbaugh from Milan. Daumbaugh owned and operated a restaurant called "Andy's Place" in Milan.
Later a gentelman by the name of Charlie McGarvey would buy the restaurant - and that name became legend.
During the late '90's the tired old building was razed and a new restaurant emerged to the north called The Red Clay On The River. But the site, now publically owned, retains the name McGarvey's Landing.
CASK VILLA: This is hard for some people to believe but it was real. In 1918 a fellow named W.J. O'Neill bought a portion of a farm just west of Vermilion. In 1925 he purchased some huge wine casks that were sitting unused at a warehouse in Cleveland for $1200 a piece an brought them to his property along Darby Creek. And therein did he begin to fashion them into cottages and create a campground that would get the attention of folks all over North America. He cut two windows in the back of each vat and a window and a door in the front. Each were fitted with a screened in front porch.
The interiors featured a folding bunk on one side, a folding table opposite, a kichenette, an icebox, running water, toilet accomodations, and electric lights. Additional bunks could be arranged on the porch, and an additonal storage space could be found beneath the floors.
Eventually the cask cottages disappeared and today a condominium complex, Lake Pointe West, occupies the site.
When I published an article about this place in the Vermilion Photojournal in July of last year a fellow contacted me on the net to tell me that he now owns one of those cask cottages. He offered to have me tour it sometime. I believe I'd like to do that. To my knowledge it is still in the Vermilion area.
THE COMET: Running out of the Driscoll Fish Company of Vermilion, Ohio was the steam powered fish tug known as the "Comet". Obviously sitting below two of Vermilion's river bridges - but I don't know which. I'm not sure of the buildings in the background. I believe the nearest bridge is the old L.S.E. bridge. This photograph is the first of a series of tug photographs published by The News presses. They were most likely photographed and printed by PRoscoe. Sometimes I am amazed at the quantity of his work.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Again members of the Vermilion High School Class of 1959; your class reunion will be held between October 8 and 10, 2004 here in town. Those looking for more information on the subject can now visit the Class of '59 website by clicking on the highlighted text. To my knowledge Roger Boughton is responsible for this site. I will mention that a visit to this particular website is worth ones time. Maybe you didn't belong to this class, but I'm sure you know someone who does. And I think you'll enjoy reading some of their memories of those days. Note that Roger will not be sending out a newsletter by snail-mail any longer. The webpage will be the reunion notification/information center from now on. He's got new stuff on line as he gets it - and it's interesting. So take time to go there.
Also Buffalo Bill Hlavin has asked me to find a 1958 football program for him. I'll look. But I'll also ask class members tuned into this site to also look and let Bill, Roger, or myself know if you have one.
Dale Wendell, in sunny Arizona, told me that his class (VHS 1944) will also be having a reunion this summer. Just this day (1-24-04) Dale let me know that it will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2004 at the Vermilion Fish and Game.
Dale also tells me that he and his wife are coming home by car. They're anxious to visit with their new grandchild in Elyria. Mary Louise "Tootie" Reisinger told me that Dale wasn't coming. Because we communicate back and forth on a regular basis on the net I knew better. Tootie was pleased to know he'd be in town this summer.
As news regarding these activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. So stay tuned.
From a long way around the planet comes a message about the VHS Reunion of the Class of 1954. Their Reunion is planned for the 17th of July, 2004 at the Amvets Post on Route 60. I've also heard (2-14-04) from George Hoffman of this class who now lives in Sandusky. He and four fellow classmates are putting this reunion together.
Also the VHS Classes of 1963, 64, & 65 are still looking for a number of people. Many are around. But it's not real easy to round-up all that information. If you've not yet received a notice re: that reunion count yourself among the missing and report in to either Ruthie Bauman Tanner or me on the net. I will add details later this week (5-17-04). Ruth's email address is: Ruthbt45@yahoo.com
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the 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 bookmarks. 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 let me know and I'll send them to you.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.2, Issue 8, May 15, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant