From the lake to the table...
SHOPTALK: On the home desk this week is a “backdoor” pic of Vermilion’s Old Prague Restaurant from a few years ago when I was doing a “The Backdoors of Vermilion” photo study.
Most of my backdoor pix aren’t very attractive – and I suppose the backs of most places aren’t intended to be. However, with a little bit of help from my software the pix aren’t half bad.
I know this building quite well because I spent a good deal of time (5-6 years) working in it when I was a kid. Than it was called the Kountry Kitchen. Dick Johnson, now living in St. Louis, owned the business and lived upstairs. He was a great guy to work with.
Eventually Dick married a Vermilion gal (Rachel Dusho). They had a son and eventually moved out of the state. The couple parted ways several years ago. I’ve not seen nor talked with Dick since 1965. But Rachel stopped by the museum last summer with a friend.
Anyway, it was a great restaurant. Dick was a real talent. He was a college grad, a meat-cutter, a cook, a baker and a real hard worker. He greatly influenced my life. And I appreciate it.
On the shoptop this week is a pic many persons may be familiar with: Russ Eberle with the great sturgeon caught by the Kishman nets back in the 1950s. This is one of the most widely published Great Lakes “ big fish pix” ever captured. It’s a Paul Ludlow photograph.
I don’t have the “stats” on the exact size of the fish, but I can say that Russ (as I recall) was probably near 6 feet tall – and it’s obviously much bigger than him.
I do have access to several other Lake Erie “big fish” photographs. None, however, are as large as the one Russ caught.
DIGI-NIGHTMARE: I don’t’ Suppose many folks want to hear it – but I really messed things up with my computer last week; How very frustrating; and very stupid (for / of me).
Sparing all the details let it suffice for me to say that somehow, while trying to keep all the software on my iMac current, I managed to make my Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop applications inoperable. These are apps that I use a lot (to say the very least).
Well, it took me a good deal of time to get most of them back and operating (in fact several days). And that is the reason last week’s edition of “Views” was both late and unfinished. The experience was truly a nightmare – and I mean that in a very literal sense.
On the “up” side of the event I learned a good deal more about my computer(s) and the software.
ALWAYS MOVING: After the digital nightmare last week we got back to work at the museum.
One of the things we did was begin installing insulated curtains on the windows in the shop itself. They, of course, don’t really gibe with the original experience (for all I know) our past heating bills have been out of sight so we needed to do something.
After we purchased the building we had a new low-pressure steam boiler installed to replace the old coal (modified to gas) burner boiler that had been in the building since 1905.
The old boiler was not being used when we purchased the place. My brother had installed electric baseboards in the apartment. This was a DIY project, and they were eventually removed.
But the radiator control valves, not having been used for so long, made adjusting the heat difficult to impossible. As a consequence it was often hotter than blazes in the apartment while it was cool in the shop.
We are currently waiting for the control valves to be replaced. But I did spray the old ones with WD-40 (oil), and it appears that we can control several of them to some extent for now. It has not, however, been terribly cold as of yet so we wait to see what the next gas bill will tell us. Last year we were on budget - $239 a month. Ergo; the curtains.
THE DARK ROOM: It is a very dark room – now. Don’t be confused by the white walls. I did my research and many darkrooms have white walls.
Actually, this pic was taken inside the room with the door closed during the day. And I can testify that it is one very dark room.
It’s an exciting development (pun intended).
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,
BASIL NEWTON HENRY: If you go through the micro-files of The News you will find the name Basil Henry listed as “Associate Editor” of The Vermilion News right around 1916-17. So who was this fella?
Mr. Henry was born in Winchester, Virginia, 16 July 1888. I don’t – and probably never will - know how or why he came to be in little Vermilion, but I do know he didn’t stay too long, eventually returning to his home in Williamsburg, Virginia. 1930 found him in Morgantown West Virginia where he was working as a printer in an unidentified print shop. [Perhaps he owned it.] But by 1940 he was back in Williamsburg, Virginia working as printer in a daily newspaper.
His first marriage to a lady name Myrtle Kreme in 1911 apparently failed. But he later married a lady named Lula [I could not discover her maiden name] and the couple had a son they named Forest, born in 1923.
Basil died January 1, 1966 and was laid to rest in Williamsburg Memorial Park, James City County in Virginia. Lula died in 1998 and is buried at his side.
I’m guessing, of course, but it may be that he was just learning the newspaper trade with Roscoe when he worked for THE NEWS. As indicated he wasn’t here for any great length of time. I note that most guys his age were in the service during his years in Vermilion. This leads me to think that he may have had some health problem that kept him from serving.
I came across his pic some time back at the print shop museum – which led me to look for more information about him. We also have his marriage certificate from his first marriage that he probably left behind when he departed Vermilion – on purpose.
SUBTLE CHANGES: I suppose the changes to Grand Street in Vermilion - just south of the railroad tracks - are not as subtle as I first thought. For one thing the street is now paved and the houses on the west side of the street are gone. But other than that - if one looks to the north and west the scene is actually much the same. That big home on the north side of the rails is certainly a beauty.
VOICES OF XMAS PAST 1: Late in November of 1922 my grandparents, the late Bessie and Pearl Roscoe, thought it would be a great idea to ask some older Vermilion citizens to share their memories of Christmas' past with readers of the News. They selected (at random) "people who helped make Vermilion in different walks of life." This resulted in their publishing the memories of a doctor, a preacher, a teacher, a farmer, and housewife. The editors prefaced those stories with the thought that, "By comparison with the past we may be able to appreciate better the present and hope for more in the future." In the weeks leading up to this holiday season I will present some of those stories, some whole and some in part, as they appeared in The Vermilion News 82 years ago.
To begin is to borrow the insights and observations of Northern Ohio and Vermilion from a village carpenter named Edwin C. Rust. At the time he wrote his thoughts he was 85 years old and lived on Washington Street. His parents came from Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was born in Ohio one year before Vermilion was incorporated.
His earliest recollections of transportation systems was "principally ox teams as there were no railroads in rural sections, but few horses, and coach lines between cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh, New York and Albany to Buffalo westward leaving once a day... The Ohio Canal, Cleveland to Portsmouth; (and) the Maumee Canal, Toledo to Cincinnati afforded means for carrying heavy freight...”
About travelling throughout Northern Ohio back in the mid 19th century he wrote, "Roads were plenty (such as they were) often winding through thick woods, with many a crook and turn to get around 'a fallen tree or a deep mud hole. Hills, ravines (often called Gulls), swamps which were crossed on Corduroy Rail Roads constructed by laying down logs about ten to twelve feet long, and eight to ten inches in diameter, side by side and covering them with a light covering of dirt. This made a very good driveway for a few years."
And about the early settlers Rust wrote that usually the first thing they did after they built their cabins and barns, " ... was to build a log schoolhouse and in many places it was used as a church especially on Sundays and perhaps a prayer meeting on some evenings during the week ... The teachers then as now, were good, some not so good, and some of them seemed only to care to put in the time and draw the pay."
His early reflections of Vermilion include a vivid description of the "poor" state of its streets; there were ... "no sidewalks, worthy of the name. Crosswalks (were) slabs from the shipyards laid in pairs at the intersection of a few streets (less than five in number). If you had to travel about town after dark a lantern was a very good thing to have with you.
The New York Central railroad [Conrail 2004] was then only a one-track railroad with a mixed train each way morning and evening extending from Berea to Sandusky with weeds growing between the rails, luxuriant hedgerows of briars and bushes adorning the right of way, (and) a fine scarecrow of a depot on the south side of the track between Division (now Main) and Grand streets."
He goes on to observe that, "When you remember all this, go over the same ground today (1922) and see what a change has taken place in a few short years. Two streets are paved and more in progress. Stone sidewalks and cross walks on almost every street in town, and realize that you are living in (an) age of progress ... Think of all these things. Stop your knocking and Boost for your home town."
Mr. Rust's recollections of those days now sets the stage for some voices of Vermilion's past Christmas' to be sounded.
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.31 – January 10,1907
It is poor policy to make charges that you cannot back up with ample proof and sometimes very costly. Last week we mentioned that charges had been brought against one of our township teachers, Presdee Morgan, by a Mrs. Slocum who had him arrested and taken before a Sandusky justice and fined for assault. She claimed that the teacher had given her a severe beating, in fact, so the repot of the trial stated that she was not fit to be seen and consequently could not et out to have him arrested. The report also goes on to say that the teacher was cruel and beat the pupils over the head with a brass bound ruler until the blood, flowed, etc.
Mr. Morgan’s friends did not believe this story. It appears that he did slap the woman in consequence plead guilty to the charge of assault.
At the regular meeting of the township board of education held Monday afternoon the matter was brought up Mrs. Slocum was asked to appear and make her charges and also bring proof of their truth. Mr. Morgan was also asked to appear with his side of the story. It is needless to say that Mrs. Slocum failed to appear, probably her wounds from the severe “beating” had broken out again and she was not “fit to be seen.”
However this may be Mr. Morgan was there with his proof; and he was not slow in producing sample evidence that the charges were without foundation. It seems that he did punish the Slocum boy for telling him a falsehood. It was not the first time that the boy had told “stories” and consequently the punishment was a little more severe. His method was to use a short, light, leather strap, which would produce more noise than hurt. This strap he exhibited. The Slocum boy’s mother took the matter up and went to interview the teacher and attempted to do so in the presence of a number of the pupils. Mr. Morgan remonstrated with her, as any teacher knows the demoralizing effect of having an irate parent appear before the pupils to give the teacher a “calling”. Mrs. Slocum called the teacher names, some of which would look rather out of place in the columns of the NEWS. Mrs. S. was told to leave the schoolhouse and grounds but would not do so and continued the abuse. This at last, so angered Mr. Morgan that he slapped her face. Finally Mrs. Slocum and a son who had accompanied her and who had made things very unpleasant by swearing, etc., left the place and went home. The same day the woman went to Justice Sanders but as she would not procure an affidavit he would issue no warrant.
After various performances, such as interviewing the Township Superintendent and members of the board, she finally had the teacher brought before Justice Dietrick at Sandusky and fined for assault. It was stated at the board meeting that Mrs. Slocum’s face was slightly discolored under one of her eyes for a day or two as a result of the blow but as to being laid up from the effects of a severe beating this statement seems to be without foundation. Township Superintendent Nuhn had four of the older scholars present who made very similar statements concerning the fracas, only using different words in expressing what they saw It was also proven that the alleged whipping of pupils with ruler was false and malicious as Mr. Morgan had not thrashed or even struck one of the girls and with one or two exceptions had not used his strap on the boys. No such ruler was in the schoolhouse. Several other charges were refuted. We omitted to mention that Mr. Morgan had plead [sic] guilty of assault before Justice Baumhart.
This is the story in brief, as heard at the meeting of the township board of education.
The charge against Mr. Mason that he brought the Slocums to the school the day of the trouble was not true, as his son drove the rig that day but did not know of the trouble bruing [sic] or he would not have carried them. Mr. Mason has the contract for conveying the pupils from the closed district No. 8, where the trouble occurred. Mr. Mason also refuted the charge as to the condition of this horses, which has been brought to the notice of the Humane officer.
While the members of the board do not approve of the slapping of Mrs. Slocum by the teacher, they are all satisfied that the charges made are false, and exhonorate [sic] Mr. Morgan. They have also ordered their truant officer to enforce the law in regard to the Slocum children attending school.
It appears that enough has been said concerning this affair in both newspaper and verbally to make a volume the size of the ordinary novel, but not half so interesting when the facts are known.
The trails of the average teacher are many and very seldom come to light except on such occasions as this.
[VV. Ed. Note: I must confess that I’d scanned over this article several years back, but didn’t really understand the particulars until now. Having known P.B. Morgan in later years it is very hard for me to believe him capable of whacking a woman. (It sounds like he gave her a black eye.) On the other hand, it is equally hard for me to envision him as a schoolteacher. The main reason I believe this article was so subjective is because the Morgan family was one of the town’s premier pioneer families. They were extremely active in the life of the local Congregational Church. P.B. and his sister, Lucy, were very well educated. As such this event was truly out of character. (i.e. P.B. was not a monster.)]
The main reason I believe this article was so subjective is because the Morgan family was one of the town’s premier pioneer families. They were extremely active in the life of the local Congregational Church. P.B. and his sister, Lucy, were very well educated. As such this event was truly out of character. (i.e. P.B. was not a monster.)]
Monday night the Village Council held the first o meeting of the year. After the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting the various committees reported. The finance committee had examined the books of the various departments and found everything O.K.
The Mayor reported on several of the cases in court against the village. The one in which John Miller sought to be detached form the corporation has been dismissed, with costs to the plaintiff.
The Injunction proceedings of Geo Fischer against the town are still on. The suit against the L.S.E. Ry. to pay for lighting the streets on which they run is in a fair way of settlement.
Several appointments were made as the term of office expired with the New Year.
W.A. Tischer was confirmed as Fire Chief H. Schmoll was appointed cemetery trustee.
When it came to the appointment of street commissioner it was decided to ballot. There were three persons out for the position, A.J. Mattison, W.H. Boland and Henry Schmoll. It required but one ballot to indicate that Mr. Schmoll was by far the favored one so he was appointed and his appointment confirmed. He was sworn in and took his office Wednesday afternoon.
After ordering payment of bills council adjourned.
The Village Board of Education held a meeting last Friday evening. Two boys who had been suspended from school for smoking cigarettes on the school grounds were reinstated and the clerk ordered to notify the venders of cigars, tobacco, etc., not to sell to minors.
At the regular meeting of the Township Board of Education held Monday afternoon, Jan. 7, after disposing of charges against P.B. Morgan and appointing a committee to draft resolutions exhonorating [sic] him, the board was reorganized. A.W. Leadrach was unanimously elected president. There being two applicants for the office of clerk of the board, A.D. Baumhart and J.A. Klaar, a ballot was taken which resulted in the re-elections of Mr. Klaar in spite of the fact that in hi application Mr. Baumhart had offered to perform the duties of the office for $60. Mr. Klaar receives $75, which includes the handling of the text books and supplies.
After the ordering payment of the bills the meeting was adjourned.
[VV. Ed. Note: Some years later Mr. Klaar would become Mr. Morgan’s father-in-law. That relationship, however, did not play into any decision made by the board pertaining to the incident involving Morgan and Mrs. Slocum. Klaar’s daughter was married (or about to be married to someone else) at the time. Eventually Mr. Klaar would become Vermilion Township Clerk. One winter morning he went to work at the Town Hall and was overcome by fumes from a gas stove and died.]
Eventually Mr. Klaar would become Vermilion Township Clerk. One winter morning he went to work at the Town Hall and was overcome by fumes from a gas stove and died.]
Seymour Brandes vs. Erie Wood Working company, action for appointment of a receiver. A receiver was appointed nearly a year ago, and the defendant company was later thrown into bankruptcy. The U.S. Court now has jurisdiction.
John Miller vs. Village of Vermilion. This was an action in which the plaintiff sought to have his property detached form the Village of Vermilion for the reason that it does no receive adequate benefits from being in the corporate limits. The dismissal of this case was without prejudice to another action.
Mary E. Pomeroy vs. Central Union Telephone company, money only Dismissed at plaintiff’s costs.
There will be a hot time when the Amherst Eagles No. 1442 will give a private dance at “The Redington” on Friday evening January 18th, 07.
Amherst good newspaper lovers are rejoicing of at last getting a good newsy and snappy paper. Help the cause along by giving the solicitor the new you have long sought for and wanted published.
The local gypsies have sent for thirty-five more from Cleveland. There is too much work for the few that are here now.
Florence Baus, age 14, daughter of Frank Baus, has sued Ed Raufus age 23, in the common pleas court at Elyria for $1000 on a serious charge. Ed Raufus has worked on the Baus farm for the past five years.
[VV. Ed. Note: Yikes! I don’t believe I want to know more about this.]
Harvey Zeroll has resigned his positon as farmer for Charley Baumhardt.
Forty-eight Italians were imported to the Independent Stone Quarry Monday.
Aug. Braun has completed his sewer in Lover’s Lane at the cost of $50. This is a great benefit to the town. Mr. Braun has the first house on the street, which changes the name to Wood St.
The first house in the Ludwig addition built by Mrs. Holzhauer is completed, this being the starter of a settlement known as greater Amherst.
Will Hutton the local ball player, is about to sign a contract with Youngstown. We wish him success.
Gust Sabiers butcher has purchased a 2:16 horse which he would like to try out with any horse in town and will also wager any amount.
Frank Young signed today with he Akron baseball team as a catcher.
Prof. A.H. Ernst the youngest and most daring Hypnotists and Magician in the world, and who has well earned the title of being (King) will give an invitation show at the Amherst Opera House on Friday evening Jan. 25th. He has a troupe of fifteen well-bred actors.
Mud is knee deep on the walks in low places, but business seems to keep up.
Mr. Carl Ernst has purchased a National Cash register which he will use in his barber shop, showing business is increasing in spite of the many people raising beards and mustaches to keep the cold spell off which will pass through here soon.
DIED – The death of R. Hass son of Albert Hass occurred Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Aged 5 years. The cause of his death is not known; several spells of cramps of late thought to be the cause.
Chas. L. Good, the new elected Infirmary director has commenced his official duties.
Henry Lapp will move into his new $5000 concrete house next week, this being the first house of the kind in Amherst, and is a good rule for others to follow.
Commissioner Wagerine met with the town trustees Monday afternoon and discussed the question in regard to the new bridge on North Road Main Street, which caved in several days ago making it impossible and several miles out of the way to reach town.
H. Armstrong, who has taken possession of the old Clans shoe stand is building a $235 meat wagon for Gust Sabiers, making six wagons Mr. Sabiers will have for next summer. He sells about $4000.00 worth in the summer.
The double house built by H. G. Sippel was cemented Wednesday by John Niesing [sic].
B.J. Standen has finished painting and papering the double house built by Samuel Dellifield.
Amherst real estate men are figuring on a big change to take place in the Spring.
Colonel Bryant, inspector of higher explosives of Lorain, was in Amherst Friday and located a site ¼ mile south of No. 9 at East Quarry, known as the old Bothell Quarry for a Cleveland company, which intends to manufacture dynalite.
The substance, while not so easily ignited, is said to have more power than dynamite. It was invented by H. Briggs of Painesville.
There will be eight buildings and will be…by February 1st, employing fifteen men…
William Kelch has the contract for the building.
This will be the first factory put up by the company.
Citizens living near the factory are talking of serving an injunction, saying it is altogether to [sic] dangerous being a short distance from the residence portion in that locality.
Charles C. Baumhart to Geo. E. Whitmore, lot No. 169, Grand street, Vermilion village $700.
[VV. Ed. Note: This lot is on the west side of Grand Street one house south of Ohio Street. There is a relatively new home on the lot currently (2014). The property was owned by members of the Whitmore family until just recently. Ralph Bard was the last member of the family to live there. The home was razed after Ralph took an apartment. George Whitmore and his son Robert were the first owners / publishers of The Vermilion News in 1897.]
George Whitmore and his son Robert were the first owners / publishers of The Vermilion News in 1897.]
Charles Alonzo Horton, 25, Vermilion, and Miss Anna Helena Baxtine, 22, Vermilion.
Flora Elizabeth Riggs was born to her parents in this home June 16th 1870 and departed this life from this same home Saturday evening Dec. 29, 1906 at 10:50 P.M. age 36 years 6 months and 13 days. Her early life was spent in this home until about 21 years of age when she went to Oberlin, Ohio for the purpose of doing for herself. Here she met her husband Mr. E.V. Blakeman to whom she was married Jan24, 1893.
Some time later they removed to Toledo, Ohio, which has been her home until last June, when because of failing health, they removed to Denver, Col. With the hope that the change would be beneficial.
Still failing in health they returned to her parents’ home about three weeks ago to which she found such a welcome by her mother and step father that her last days here were the most comforting ones to her.
Her father and younger brother preceded her some thirty years to the eternal home and were waiting her coming there. Here husband and step-daughter Vera, mother, step-father, Dr. Bond and brother Frank Bond survive her, and together with other relatives and a host of friends today mourn her departure from this life while so young; yet feel that her earth life is finished and it is better to be with Jesus and loved ones gone before; and then await the coming of the loved ones to follow.
The funeral was held from the home of Dr. Bond Wednesday Jan. 2, her Pastor Rev. Redding of Toledo, officiating, A.C. Walters, also of Toledo, assisted the undertaker.
The following from out of town attended: Mrs. H.M. Edson, Mr. and Mrs. Edson, Mr. and Mrs. C. Johnson, J.J. Blakeman and family, Mrs. M.C. Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Endicott of Toledo; Mrs. e. Snyder, Sandusky; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. N. Cook, New London; Mr. and Mrs. C. Blakeman, Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Blakeman, Norwalk; Mr. and Mrs. C. Matt of Huron.
[VV. Ed. Note: This obit is historically significant (at least to myself). That because it affords us some additional knowledge about the family of Dr. Bond. The doctor’s wife was Sarah (maiden name Harris) Riggs was born and raised in Vermilion. Until now (2014) I was unaware of the fact that the Doctor’s residence – the building next to (just east) of what is currently (2014) Rudy’s Tavern / Café on Liberty Avenue across from the Ritter Library – was originally the Harris / Riggs home. I thought the doctor might have purchased the property after his office was removed from Exchange Park. But that does appear to have been the case. Interesting.]
The doctor’s wife was Sarah (maiden name Harris) Riggs was born and raised in Vermilion. Until now (2014) I was unaware of the fact that the Doctor’s residence – the building next to (just east) of what is currently (2014) Rudy’s Tavern / Café on Liberty Avenue across from the Ritter Library – was originally the Harris / Riggs home. I thought the doctor might have purchased the property after his office was removed from Exchange Park. But that does appear to have been the case. Interesting.]
Miss Hattie Abel spent Saturday at Cleveland.
[VV. Ed. Note: Hattie was the very attractive daughter of the local barber. She was a schoolteacher. She would later marry a Vermilion guy named George Rathbun. The museum has her diary.]
Miss Clara Wakefield is attending college at Hiram, O.
Mrs. Mable Halloran has accepted a positon in Hurst’s dry goods store at Lorain.
Miss Charlotte Harris and brother George are guests of their brother at Elkhart, Ind.
Alvin J. Miller, of Route 2, has been a sufferer from an attack of rheumatism the past few weeks. He is again able to attend to duties and renew his subscription to the NEWS.
School commenced Monday after a vacation of two weeks.
Geo. Pelton is seriously ill with Dr. Boss of Birmingham the attending physician.
Irvin, the young son of E.D. Wasen [sic] is a victim of St. Vitus dance.
[VV. Ed. Note: Sydenham chorea – aka. St. Vitus Dance – is a movement disorder that occurs with rheumatic fever. Fifty percent of patients with acute Sydenham's chorea spontaneously recover after 2 to 6 months whilst mild or moderate chorea or other motor symptoms can persist for up to and over two years.]
Mrs. Wm. Hill of Florence who died Saturday morning was well known here.
Mr. Schisler our P.M. is confined to the house by mumps.
Our mail carrier now has to drive two horses and the Dean hill has caved away so as to be impassible.
Mrs. Wirth is very sick with little hopes of recovery.
Married – At Sandusky, Wednesday Jan. 9, Michael L. McGann of Berlin and Miss Sarah A. Harrison of this place.
Hmmmmmm....
THE GILCHRIST ORGAN: It was not the first pipe organ in a Vermilion church. The first had been in the gallery of the old Congregational Church that had been built on Lot 130 in the Vermilion Village Public Square on Division Street (now Main) in 1843. That organ had replaced the lap organ/melodeon F.W. Morgan, his wife Emma, and later their son F.C. Morgan, had played during worship services from 1845 until sometime in the 1870s. When a larger church was constructed on the same site in 1887-88 it found a home in the new church just north of the new (1883) Vermilion Township Hall. The instrument along with the bell from the old building - which had been purchased from the First Presbyterian Church on Cleveland's Public Square in the 1850s - joined some of the bricks and beams of the old structure to become a part of the new. It must have been a joyful reunion.
In the Spring of 1896 one of the parishioners, Mr. J.C. Gilchrist, rose from his pew to impart to the congregation his desire to purchase a new pipe organ, and present it to the church in memory of his daughter, Daisy. It is said the congregation received this news with utmost joy and sang the Old l00th. By January of 1897 the new organ had been installed at the grand cost of $1250.00, and a professor Andrew of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music honored folks with a recital.
The photograph accompanying this column was taken on Children's Day not too long after the organ had been installed in the church. It was, perhaps, 1900. The photo is very clear, and I hope that it shows as well in print. I am enamored by, not only the organ, but by the very ornate glass oil/kerosene chandelier, and sundry other lighting fixtures on th walls of the room.
The beautiful paper on the walls, the plants, and the patriotic decor surprise me. The beautifully carved wood on the piano and the table to the lower left are quite stunning.
As a lifelong member of this particular church, I remember this organ, as well as the church building, very well. Those unfamiliar with the building will now know it as the Millett Auction House. As the years passed the chandelier and oil lamps were, of course, replaced by lighting of a more practical nature (i.e. electric lights). The windows at each side of the organ disappeared and, as the church grew in numbers, were replaced by meeting rooms.
For a number of years my mother played this organ, as well as the one at St. Mary's Church just across Victory Park. I, along with all my brothers and sisters - not to mention probably 25% or more fellow Vermilionites sang in the choirs here. There was, believe it or not, plenty of space in the gallery in front of the organ for a choir of 20 to 30 people. My memories of this place and that organ are very, very palpable. Church attendance in those days was not a requisite thing. It was more than that. It was something people wanted to do. It was a place where people wanted to be.
Today there is another new Congregational Church( 1957) on State Street. Today there is another new organ (1957) in that church. In fact, it has just undergone a major overhaul. What a beautiful instrument. But oddly enough there is also a very old instrument in that church. It also, is very beautiful. Encased in glass, it is the very first organ/melodeon used by the congregation. It is that which still remains of a very precious time and place in yesteryear.
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.
…wife reside in the northern part of the township, on the farm they selected in the wilderness.
John Thompson came from Pennsylvania at an early day, and in 1813 married the widow Hubbard. This marriage was, probably, the first in the township, although the honor is disputed, it being claimed that Lazarus Young and Becky Laughlin have the honor.
In 1811, occurred the first birth and the first death. Milan has claimed Mrs. Millerman as the first child, but Berlin has that honor. Her father, Lazarus Young, was such a moving planet that it is difficult to decide, but there is little doubt that she was born on Berlin soil. The death was accompanied with horrible circumstances. The wife of John Dunbar, while her husband was absent, in a state of insanity threw herself into the fire, made of large logs, placed against one side of the house. Her screams brought Mr. Dunbar to the- house, and he quickly took her from the flames and placed her on the bed while he could go after assistance, but she wildly ran after him. All that day he shouted for help, not daring to leave her, but not until near night did any assistance come to the terribly afflicted family in their remote cabin. She died that evening, and was buried on the banks of the Old Woman creek, where now is the township burying ground. Mr. Dunbar then lived on the place afterwards occupied by Dr. X. Phillips, and the splendid spring which gushes out from the hill was long known as the "Dunbar spring."
Jeremiah Benschooter was a native of Sempronius, New York, as was his wife, Sally Weatherlow, whom he married in 1808. He came to Berlin in 1811, and settled on lot twenty, fourth section. They had thirteen children: Harry, Milo, Ensign, William, Curtis, Aaron, Weatherlow, Harriet, Delia, Betsey, Jeremiah, Sarah and Mary Ann. Curtis Benschooter passed nearly his whole life on his farm, removing to the Heights in his declining age. He died in 1877, at the age of seventy years. His son, Moses M., resides at Stone's corners, and is one of the most successful physicians in the vicinity.
Othaniel Field came in 1810, and purchased section nine, range six, of Samuel White, who had made considerable improvements, by way of clearing. Field was a Vermont man, and industriously devoted himself to corn raising, so much so that the destitute new-comers gave his place the name of Egypt. For a long time he kept bachelor's hall, and his eccentric ways still linger in the memories of those who knew him. He, after many years, married, but had no children. He died in 1850, at the age of seventy-nine, his wife surviving until 1876.
Stephen Meeker settled on lot ten, section four, in 1811, where he resided until his death, in 1849. Having been preceded by his wife by only a few weeks. He worked at blacksmithing, and kept a public house, and for several years held the office of judge. He married Polly Platt, in 170!!. They had seven children: Barney, Hezekiah, Edward, Hanford, Grissel, Maria and George T.
Daniel Butler came to Berlin in 1814, from Cleveland, to which place he came from Massachusetts, in 1811. Losing his wife, he returned to Massachusetts in 1816, and married Jemima Bishop. They had six children, and he had two by his first wife. The children by the second marriage were: Amanda, Climena. Lucinda, Daniel, Charles and Harriet, none of whom are at present living in the township. He was an able man, and was the first who held the office of justice of the peace, or, at least, the second. For many years before his death, which occurred in 1854, in his seventy-fifth year, he had been subject to insanity, which had a religious aspect, and caused him to take his own life. He received a revelation to build a house fifty by one hundred feet, for the second coming of Christ, and not being able to build the whole, built a quarter, and thus, for years, his family lived in this most awkward tabernacle. This building lately has fallen in ruins and been destroyed. His son Daniel inherited his father's tendencies, and at last put an end to his own life, in the same manner, in 1861, at the age of thirty-four.
Samuel Reed came in 1815. He was five weeks on the lake, from Buffalo to Huron. He bought the farm now owned by J. S. Lowry, where he lived till spring, when he went to Milan to work on Merry's mill, his wife working for the workmen. In 1816, he removed to Florence; in 1817, he purchased the lot seven, range two of section two, and made the first clearing on the farm of Juduthan Cobb, to whom he sold it in 1820, and removed to Oxford in this county.
Nathan Harris was born in Berrytown, Connecticut, where he married Betsey Moon, and moved to the then far west, stopping at Perry, New York, and reaching Berlin in 1815. They had eleven children: Thomas, Emma (Mrs. Sanders), Betsey (Mrs. John Meeker), Hiram, Nathan, Anna (Mrs. Storrs). Mrs. Harris died in 1845, and in 1846, Mr. Harris removed to Indiana where he died in 1858.
The war having closed, and no danger to be apprehended from Indians, the tide of immigration poured westward, and the unoccupied lands were rapidly appropriated.
Samuel Lewis came from New York, near Seneca lake, in 1816. He married Elizabeth Hine, and purchased lot nineteen, section fourth, which remained in his possession until his death, in 1851, at the age of fifty-five. He left a wife, now Mrs. Oliver Peak, and six children: Lyman, Charles, Baldwin, Luther. Clarinda, and Mary (Mrs. Raws), none of whom now reside in the township. They had lost four.
Lewis Jones came from New York, Bushkill, in 1816 and purchased lot seven, range five, and after a few years removed to lot twelve, range six; he, after a time, removed to Wood county. His wife, Hannah Ewiliken, was a native of Ulster county. New York. They had eight children: Levi, now living in this…
SPEAKING OF FISH: Russ Eberle certainly snagged the biggest fish the Kishman Fish Company ever caught - but there were other biggies, and this "Mississippi Cat" was one of them.
I like this pic for several reasons aside from the fish. But one of the biggest surrounds the stacks of Kishman fish boxes in it. I sure would've liked to had just one for the museum. But I count my blessings, because I do have some paper form sheets from both the Kishman and Parsons Fish Houses.
Our neighbor used the word hypochondriac to describe the phase her teen-age daughter was going though. One day the girl was convinced that the pain on her left side was appendicitis. Her mother explained that the appendix is on the right.
"So that's why it hurts to much," her daughter said. "My appendix is on the wrong side."
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 38 - November 29, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant