Wine Event and the Founder's Stone
SHOPTALK: SHOPTALK: Ah, you know what I have on my shoptop this week. This will be the last time I use it. The event will take place next Saturday so I’ll have something else on the desktop in that edition.
On my home desktop this week the Founder’s Stone in Vermilion’s Victory Park. Set and dedicated during the town’s centennial in 1937 generations of young people (myself included) have sat, crawled and stood on this rock.
The stone now referred to as the “Kenton Stone” (behind Vermilion’s Ritter Library)was discovered in the woods south of town just before the centennial. Some proposed that that stone be used in place of this one. But the idea was not accepted.
Actually that was a good thing. Because as it turns out the Rock inscribed “S. Kenton” is very likely bogus. Biographies of Kenton’s life illustrate to all who would bother to read them illustrate that Kenton was never held by Indians in this area. He was captured and held by them in the western part of the state.
JOURNALISTS VISIT US: Karen Cornelius and Candy Barczyk from the Vermilion Photojournal visited the museum Monday (10/27/14). I think they were positively impressed. (Or at least I hope so.)
Aside from touring the museum they were looking for some sage quote from me. Unfortunately, I’m fresh out of sageness. I can only say to anyone (and I do) that I am an extremely fortunate person.
An old friend once said to me, “You’re the only person I know who could fall into a pile of sh-t and come out smelling like a rose.”
That’s a great thought (and there is some truth to it), but I don’t believe local newspaper readers would fully appreciate or understand the sentiment. So Karen and Candy had to walk away without a quote. But I believe what they experienced at the museum will speak for itself.
It’s really a town jewel.
I REPEAT MYSELF - SO I REPEAT MYSELF: Between 7 and 9 p.m. the museum is sponsoring a wine tasting benefit to help support the museum. It will feature wines from around the world.
You can purchase tickets in advance for $25 by sending your check to:
Tickets will also be available at the door.
For additional information you can call Margaret Wakefield Worcester @ 440.967.2495 – or you can email me (Rich).
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,
TWO PEAS IN A POD: I came across this snapshot just yesterday (10/31/14) while breezing through things. My best guess is that it was taken in December 1976 in the room atop Vermilion’s Fire Hall. It is (of course) myself and one of my older brothers – Phil. Everyone in our family called him “Bud”.
Every December our family would celebrate our father’s birthday with a “get-together” at the hall. After my father’s death that event became our family’s reunion (only it is now held in August).
Bud was born in 1930 and died (rather young) in 2001. He was, as was our oldest brother Bill, a veteran of the Korean War. After the war he went to work for the Vermilion Post Office. Because his time in the service went toward his retirement he was able to retire at age 55. So he did have some good retirement years.
He was, like all my brothers, a real talent. He made all sorts of leather items – and introduced me to the Tandy Company before it morphed into Radio Shack. After it became Radio Shack he became interested in computers. They weren’t as common as they are now (2014). Thanks to him I actually learned some programming fundamentals - not dreaming of the way things in the digital world would eventually develop.
Just before he died he was living in Wakeman, Ohio. The reason I mention that is that I now remember that one of the electronic things he was playing with at that time was a listening device that would and did pick up coyotes howling at night. It was a very odd (to my way of thinking) device. I couldn’t quite see the point. In that respect he was somewhat eccentric.
I guess people (including myself) are apt to be eccentric sometimes. Two peas in a pod.
Museum Changes:: I just happened to be looking through some more pix a few days ago and came across some old ones (perhaps 2 years old) of the living room in the museum apartment living room. Because I'm around the place every day I don't often give thought to just how much things have changed.
It's truly amazing.
“BUNNY”BOND – FORTUNE AND FAME: His Christian name was Frank Lewis Bond. He was born March 4, 1887 the son of Vermilion’s pioneer physician Dr. Benjamin F. and Sarah Bond.
On the 19th of May in 1913 he married Elizabeth K. “Lizzie” Ankert-Bohner in Cleveland, Ohio. The couple had 2 children; Geraldine born in 1915; and William Frank born in 1924. Mrs. Bond had 2 daughters by a pervious marriage – Evelyn and Ethel.
Following Frank through his working days it appears that he was one of those human beings (such as I count myself) who was “a jack of all trades and master of but a few”. As a young man he had earned his livelihood as a day laborer. In 1906 he was working for the L.S. and M.S. at Erie, PA. [VN 11/22/1906]. 1917 found him toiling as mason’s helper for a well-known Vermilion brick mason named Anthony P. Decker. Three years later he was employed as a fisherman out of the port of Vermilion. At the turn of the following decade he had his own plumbing shop. And he must have done quite well for himself because by 1940 he was operating a café on Liberty Avenue local persons knew as “Bunny’s Place”.
Frank’s bar was on Liberty Avenue across from the Walker Dodge-Plymouth dealership. Today (2014) Bunny’s Café is Rudy’s Bar and Grill. And the auto dealership has long since been erased from the cityscape – replaced by a large addition to Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library.
”Bunny’s” café building, by the way, is one of the oldest wooden structures in town. Originally it served as Dr. Benjamin F. Bond’s office, and was located in the area we now know as Exchange Park across from the old Lake House Hotel (later moved and renamed the Maud-Elton Hotel).
The house / building next door (east) of the café was the Bond Family home. Over the years the building has been home to numerous businesses. Currently (2014) most of the building is being used as a custom shirt shop. But that could change tomorrow.
Bond’s son, Billy, was killed in France in 1944 at the age of 20. Daughter Geraldine “Gerry” married and fella named Wilmont Baker. The Baker’s had two children; Catherine “Katy” and William “Billy”. She died in 1993. Gerry’s son Billy died during the Asian Flu Epidemic in 1957. Her daughter Katy still lives in Vermilion, and has worked at the local bowling alley for many years. But back to Frank.
Frank died in 1946. His wife Elizabeth “Lizzie” passed in 1978. The Bond family was, once upon a time, one of the best-known families in the bustling village of Vermilion, O. But as time passed memories of them faded – just as they will for each and every one of us. In the poetic words written by Henry Van Dyke in his poem “The Talisman”:
IN WEEKS TO COME: Taking the place of the technical textbook stuff about Lester A. Pelton's invention this spot will feature various pix of his invention.
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.27 – December 13,06
George Fischer, who recently sued the village of Vermilion to enjoin the opening o streets through property he claims to own has filed another suit in the court of common pleas to enjoin the village from collecting special assessments for sidewalk improvements. Judge Reed has granted a temporary restraining order.
The Harrison ditch in Vermilion township was the subject of a hearing before the county commissioners on Tuesday. The matter will again be taken up on Jan. 2d.
Transcripts in two criminal cases have been filed with County Clerk Stoll by Justice Casey. In one S.C. Backus is charged with false pretenses in a horse trade, and in the other George A. Harmon is charged with forging and counterfeiting a promissory note.
The Duplex Machine Co., of Vermilion, has filed its answer in the common pleas court in the action recently brought against it by the Cady Machine Co. to recover the value of certain dies sold to its predecessors. The defense set up I the answer is that the dies were unsuitable for the purpose for which they were ordered and would not perform the work require of them.
On account of the cut in wages and shorter hours several quarrymen struck last week. They were given notice by the company to be in their places Tuesday morning or to have their names laced on the black list at any of the quarries. This cut and shorter hours is an annual procedure as the machinery will not work during the cold weather and the men are employed during the winter in making preparations for the opening of new quarries during the summer, therefore the necessity for the change.
The men at the Big Six the largest quarry in the world in the world, have refused to join the strikers.
The meeting of the village school board Monday evening was of importance, as teachers were to be hired to fill vacancies caused by the resignations of A.L. Irey and Miss Anna Baxtine.
The committee had two applicants from which to choose for the position, which Mrs. Irey held; A Cleveland lady and Miss Loretta Brown of Port Huron, Mich.
Miss Brown was selected although there was little choice between the two. This lady is a graduate of the University of Michigan also of the Normal training School and comes highly recommended.
The resignation of Miss Anna Baxtine was accepted and Miss Bertha Nieding elected assistant in the place of Miss Kane who will take Miss Baxtine’s room.
The matter of drainage is puzzling the board at present. The old system of drainage has become clogged and the basement has been flooded several times of late, which not only makes it disagreeable for the janitor but unhealthy. A new system of drainage will be put in as soon as [a] suitable outlet can be secured.
Mrs. Frank Smith is reported quite ill.
The young son of John Batch has typhoid fever.
BORN – Sunday Dec. 9th to Rev. and Mrs. McIlwain a daughter.
BORN – To Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Jenkins a daughter Saturday Dec. 8th.
Howard Wertzman was severely injured Sunday by being violently thrown from a car upon which he was working.
A foreigner employed on the Wabash railroad met with quite a serious accident early Friday evening. He was walking along the Lake Shore tracks and was unaware of the opening in the bridge between the tracks and fell through sustaining a fractured limb. He was not found until morning when he was taken to the Lorain Hospital. The accident occurred at the Cooley bridge.
The members of the Cong’l church will give a chicken pie social Wednesday evening at the home of S.W. Wilsons.
The four months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Claus died Tuesday morning after an illness of about four weeks. The funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 A.M. at the house. They have the sympathy of the community.
Miss Jennie Carter who is teaching one of the schools of Florence is home with the mumps for company.
A gentleman from Armenia talked to those who were fortunate enough to hear him about his country and its religion and the terrible trouble the inhabitants have experienced. He told of the three thousand who had gathered in a large church for safety. The church se on fire and the whole number perished.
He mentioned that most the trivial affair would be turned against an Armenian and used for an imprisonment of punishment anything to get rid of them.
[VV. Ed. Note: This is reference to The Armenian–Tatar massacres (also known as the Armenian-Tartar war and the Armeno-Tartar war and more recently, the Azeri-Armenian war. It refers to the bloody inter-ethnic confrontation between Armenians and Azerbaijanis (at the time commonly referred to as "Tatars’) throughout the Caucasus in 1905–1907. It’s hard to know, in such instances, just who was right and who was wrong.]
Rumor has it that a petition will soon be in circulation for another appropriation from Government to improve our harbor. This is a good thing. Let us push it along by singing the petition and by all other legitimate means. It is of vital interest to every resident in the vicinity.
Miss Margie Goodsell of Ashmont was in town Friday.
Mrs. Francis Pelton returned from Altamont, Ill. Saturday where she has been to attend the wedding of her niece Miss Blanche Yates.
FOR SALE – The Geo Egerer farm consisting of 18 acres working land, 10 acres woodland. Also a horse, one horse wagon and some hay. Enquire Mrs. Egerer. 1 mi. S. of stop No. 134 L.S.E.
The bridge at Huron, Ohio, which has been undergoing repairs, is now closed for the season. There will be no further interference or delays for passengers via the Lake Shore Electric. From now on the cars will run through without change.
Rebecca A. Phelps was born April 29, 1825, in Carrol County Maryland, died Dec. 8,1906, aged 81 years 7 months, and 9 days. Her early life was spent in Baltimore and Philadelphia. At the age of 16 she came to Ohio with her parents Dec. 19,1844 she was married to Russel T. Rumsey. Eight children were born to them; five of them survive her, namely; Albert R. of Cleveland, Carrolton S. of Vermilion, Alice L. Todd of Vermilion, Ida R. Wilcox of Topeka, Kansas; and Ellen R. Hamlen of Vermilion. She survived her husband about four years.
For over 65 years she was a resident of Erie Co. Ohio, and most of this time a resident of Vermilion. She united with the Methodist Church at the age of 13 (68 years of service for the church and for the Lord.) She lived an earnest consistent Christian life. She was a loving mother forgetful of self – ever ministering to others, retaining her cheerful manners, and her face shone with the brightness of assured belief of soon meeting her dear ones in a better world.
The blessings of her quiet lifeFell on us like the dew:And good thoughts where her foot-steps pressed Like fairy blossoms grew.
Albert J. Trinter to Irma E. Derr, lot No 75 Vermilion village $2,450.
[VV. Ed. Note: As best I can determine lot 75 would have been where the “Olive Scene” is currently (2014) located; on Liberty next to (west) the “Main Street Grill”. Later the first Erie County Bank would be located in the building.
Krapp’s Market for Mince Meat.
Phil Baker is quite sick with an attack of typhoid fever.
G.E. Whitmore has accepted a position at the shipyard at Lorain.
[VV. Ed. Note: Mr. Whitmore was one of the original owners / editors / publishers of The Vermilion News.]
Miss Louise Lohr resigned her position with the Vermilion Telephone Co. last week and has accepted a position with Geo Clark and Son at Lorain.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mills of Akron are rejoicing over the arrival of a son Wednesday. Mrs. Mills is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Miller of this place.
Mrs. Blakeman was brought to the home of her mother Mrs. Dr. Bond on Friday very ill; She was accompanied by her husband. She was taken to Colorado from Toledo early last fall for her health but has received no benefit.
Miss Clara Wakefield is spending the week in Cleveland.
Mrs. Tuttle of Berlin Heights was in town Tuesday.
[VV. Ed. Note: This refers to Emma Rood Tuttle wife of Hudson Tuttle. Both were nationally recognized lecturers, authors, and spiritualists.]
Miss Monroe has accepted a position at the local telephone exchange.
Among the Captains and Sailors to return for the winter his week are W.H. Blattner, W.H. Moody, H. Walper, and Geo Blattner, Jr.
Charles A. Fletcher has filed suit for divorce from his wife Eliza Fletcher. The parties are residents of Berlin Heights.
The severe storms on the Lake yesterday washed away considerable part of the bank at Kishman’s siding six miles west of the city and resulted in the placing of the side track there out of commission. Nickel Plate trains are forbidden to use the siding and as a consequence are being delayed to a considerable extent at the station and Vermilion. – Times Herald
BORN – To Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Marsh of Pittsburg, Pa. Sunday Dec. 9th, 06 a daughter. Mrs. Marsh was formerly Miss Alice Horton of this place.
Mrs. Hattie Haven has returned home after a visit of several weeks with her granddaughter Mrs. John Ries at Lorain.
[VV. Ed. Note: Hattie’s granddaughter was also named Hattie. Mrs. Haven was also known as “H.A. Haven” named as the publisher of The Vermilion News in 1897. She was actually George Whitmore’s mother-in-law – and George ran the early newspaper. His son, Robert, actually started the paper, but George took over when Robert (apparently) lost interest.]
The anti-saloon address at the Town Hall Sunday evening was well attended and Rev. Rutledge held the attention of the audience until nearly 9 o’clock at which tie he was obliged to take the car for Cleveland.
His address not only showed up the evils of the liquor traffic but told what had been accomplished by the league in the way of local option and other laws in regard to this business.
The noticeable lack of ranting against the saloonkeeper was spoken of by many and even those opposed to his views listened intently to what he had to say.
Some have heard him preach and were not disappointed in the able manner in which he handled the subject.
He is one of the most eloquent speaker of the Anti-saloon League.
[VV. Ed. Note: Folks may have very well “listened intently” to the good Rev. Rutledge, but we all know how that worked out.]
Hmmmmmm....
CICCO’S: [VV. Ed. Note: I really need to preface this article by pointing out that it was written 14 years ago. I want to make sure that is understood because Kettie passed on just a year or two back. She was, like her brother, a real honest-to-goodness character. She was pretty, honest, and was not afraid to express her opinion when called upon. She was hard not to like.]
As you breeze out of town to the west on Lake Road you pass the Vermilion Country Club on the south and head toward Volunteer Bay. Before you get there, there's a great big house on the north side of the road. I believe a doctor named 'Adams had his office and residence there for a time.
A long time ago, and far away, Cicco had his tavern and restaurant there; Very famous. Very respected. I believe Louigi (Louis) Cicco was Italian (just kidding). This man was a real restaurateur. I never knew him, but I knew his kids; Kettie and Richard.
You look at the photographs of the restaurant and you can see it was a class place. Fast food, it was not. It was nice, nice place. And then one evening there was an enormous fire. The restaurant burned to the ground. I remember this disaster. It lit the sky back in the '50s. The house stood. The restaurant was gone forever.
Kettie is still about. She lives in Wakeman. That's who gave me these photographs. Richard passed away some years back. I knew him well. And I sincerely love Kettie. She's a great person. I'm very sorry I never knew her father. I would have appreciated knowing him.
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.
…character of nearly every early pioneer. Their power of enduring hardship and privation, the cheerful and determined fortitude of their onward struggles, without a thought of looking back, but always looking ahead with unyielding determination, seem to be almost universal characteristics of the early Fire-lands pioneers.
How hard it would seem to any of our well-to-do neighbors of the present day, to be set back into the rude log cabin with only one room, eighteen by twenty feet, a log fire blazing on the hearth; would we be as happy as we can imagine the early pioneer to have been when thus situated? In our imagination we can see a pioneer family enjoying the rude comforts of such a primitive condition. The family consisting of father, mother and half a dozen, or more, children. The sturdy head of the family sitting at a rough table, after a hard day's work, reading from a much-worn old family Bible. The mother with knitting-work in hand, and half a dozen, or more, children respectfully listening; and later in the evening, we can see the boys climbing up the ladder on their way to bed in the chamber overhead. The mother hearing the "now I lay me down to sleep." and affectionately tucking up the covering of three or four little fellows in their trundle beds. But, oh, how swiftly time flies, and w^ often feel that it matters but little how swiftly. We may recall the pleasant memories of the past and of our youth, but seldom find the man who would wish to live the same life over again.
IT’S A ZENITH: This Zenith – 6S632 AM / Shortwave Radio – Manufactured by the Zenith Company, Chicago, Illinois c. 1941 is the museum’s newest acquisition.
The radio was donated to the museum by Robert “Hungarian Bob” and Esther Laczko of Chardon, Ohio along with additional artifacts pertaining to the printing business.
Those artifacts included several boxes of etched photo printing plates and cast advertising plates. Esther’s brothers, Zigmund and Antony Lewandoski, owned and operated the “Unique Press” in Detroit, Michigan.
About the Med school entrance exam: When I was young my intent was to go to an American medical school, but I was confused by the entrance exam.
One of the questions was, "Rearrange the letters P N E S I to spell an important part of the human body that is more useful when erect."
Those who spelled SPINE became doctors.
The rest, no doubt, ended up in Congress.
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 34 - November 1, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant