A BAD DAY: This photo was taken this a.m. (6:30 - 6-19-04) in front of the Great Lakes Museum on Main Street. It's a bad photograph of a bad day. The wind switched around during the night. It's now coming hard out of the northeast. The humidity is gone and it's cool. Actually it's not such a bad day weather-wise. It's rather pleasant. But I had a few problems getting this pic.
I started out the door with my still camera and dropped it on the concrete front porch. I've not had time to check it - but something is wrong. So I used my video camera to take some still shots. Not being used to the fast shutter speed most of the pix were useless - or nearly useless - as is this one. But it is indicative of the day. What one can't see are the small craft(s) trying to enter the harbor. Now you and I can plainly understand is that it probably isn't a real good day to go out on the lake to fish or to take a ride with a 10 or 15 foot outboard boat. But some folks will not be deterred from such venture. That is until they get on the lake. It is then that the obvious occurs to them and they crawl (and I really mean c-r-a-w-l back into the harbor.
When I got into my car to leave the beach two fellows parked behind me with their small boat on a trailer to take a look at the lake. My assumption is that they came from somewhere inland expecting to hit the lake early. I'll bet they planned all week for their outing. But at least they had enough sense to take a good look at the waters before they launched their boat. I have no idea as to what those folks who went out on the lake had in mind. It could be a good day for seasoned sailboaters (there were a few sails on the horizon) - but a real bad day for small pleasure/fishing boat crafters.
JUST UP THE HILL: Just up the hill and around the corner from where I took the previous photograph stands the house in this picture. Today Laura and Dan Roth own it and run a bed and breakfast therein. They call it the Gilchrist House. Gilchrist was a lake captain - but I need add that the house has more history behind it than just that fact. There are a series of things (that I won't go into right now) that make this house interesting. At the time of this photo is was known as the Lakeside Hotel. My impression of this particular picture is that it was a promotional piece. It is from a postal card.
Looking about the area there are at least 3 additional inns of this nature. Nearly across the street to the south of this house was the Steamboat Hotel. Down the same street to the west was the Pelton Inn. That, for the sake of historic knowledge, was owned by a relative (probably an uncle) of famed Vermilionite Lester A. Pelton.
And a few blocks south was/are the old Wagner and Lake House/Maudelton Hotels. Dan and Laura also own those buildings as well.
JOHN ADAM KLAAR: This is a photograph of Vermilion's harness-maker, J.A. Klaar take in his shop on Liberty Avenue (now Jon Clark's Vermilion Insurance Agency; a.k.a Wagner's Gift Shop; a.k.a.the Schooner Restaurant, etc.) taken in 1915 after the shop had been renovated because of a fire. Part of the picture appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal (May 6, 2004) with his story - but it was a true shame that only the partial picture was used. This detailed photograph is worth a great deal more than anything I could write. Looking through the glass on the door behind him one can see his sewing machine in the work section of the shop. The number of harnesses and whips on the walls amazes me. And, for whatever reason, there are a good number of neckties also on display.
For those who missed the newspaper story; Mr. Klaar eventually gave over this trade when America was consumed by automobiles. Being both a political and precise man he eventually was elected as the village clerk and handled investments. On February 3, 1936, while at work in his office at the Vermilion Township Hall, he was overcome by natural gas fumes from a heater whose flame had been blown out by high winds, and died. It was a loss that literally shocked village residents.
VERMILION TOWNSHIP HALL: This is the aforementioned Township Hall where Mr. Klaar died. The photo was taken in the late 1940's by my grandfather PRoscoe. It is somewhat blurred. Much like the one I took this a.m. at the lake.
The picture is significant to me because it is nearly identical to one he took some 40 years earlier with his old graphlex glass negative camera before there were fire escapes on the building. That picture appears on the Vermilion Historic Pix page that can be found in the links below.
To lessen the obvious blurring of this picture I applied a coloring technique using Adobe software. I think it was successful.
At the time of this photo the Congregational Church (next door) was really thriving. Before the late 50's there were perhaps only 3 major churches in the village; The First Congregational; The Evangelical & Reformed (catering to folks of German descent); and St. Mary's Catholic.
The Congregational connection is a very relevant factor in the settlement of the village and the region in general. Folks who settled the area were from Connecticut, and before that Massachusetts. They were descendants of some of the first peoples to come to the New World.
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. Roger informed me that he now uses some Vermilion pix from some of my websites on his electronic newsletter. 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. On Friday evening (August 13) there will be a tour through old Vermilion High School (Decatur Street). Afterward folks will gather for dinner and refreshments. On Saturday afternoon (August 14) there will be a picnic at the VFW on Poorman Road. That evening there will be a buffet dinner at the AMVETS Hall on Route 60. On Sunday afternoon there is a tentative picnic scheduled at Mill Hollow. Ruth's email address is: Ruthbt45@yahoo.com
We're getting close folks, so stay in touch with your friends.
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 13, June 19, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant