_{Just Daisy being Daisy}

FROM WAKFIELD NEWS: Way back when the Wakefield Brass Company had its own newspaper. Daisy’s son, Frank, supplied this pic and article that appeared together:

Here is one of the first eight foot louvered units we have made. It is for Hart's Drug Store in Vermilion, an institution always alert and up to the minute in everything. Daisy Homitz is doing some of the final assembly. We had quite a job with some of the parts for this eight-¬footer as we were not what is called "completely equipped" to manufacture the long channels. However we did right well, and the lights will give Hart's a wonderful visual environment in which to sell drugs, sundries, etc.

_{ABELL GIRLS & FRIENDS}

HISTORIC & FUN:

_{NOTE: If anyone should wonder why so many of the Yesteryear columns as of late have referenced Vermilion’s Abell, Naegele, Jeffery, Eyman, and Rathbun families it’s 1.) Because these families are deeply rooted in the history of Vermilion, Ohio; and 2.) It’s because members of these families have kindly allowed me access to a plethora (and I mean a plethora) of photographs that help better delineate that history. Aside from that they are just great pictures.}

One of the photographs (i.e. the one in the middle) appearing with this week’s essay was the subject of a previous column some years back. The one beneath it is new to me, but was apparently taken on the same day in a slightly different location. I would guesstimate that both portraits were taken around the year 1901. While the girls’ clothing is indicative of that period knowing two of the women pictured is also helpful.

The lady pictured on the left in all the photographs is Hattie Abell Rathbun. She was born in Vermilion in 1883 (d.1945). Just to her right in the middle photo is her older sister Ollie Abell Naegele (b.1881 – d.1946). The sisters and their friends all appear to be in their late teens or very early 20s. And though it is impossible to say exactly what the occasion for such dress might have been – for this was certainly not their daily wear – the early buds on the trees around them, as well as the fact that they were comfortable sitting on a sidewalk in the lower photo, suggests that it was a warm spring day – perhaps Easter.

For several years I puzzled over the location of the lower photographs. One Sunday morning I actually jumped into my vehicle and cruised around the northern part of town in search of something that might help identify the spot; But to no avail. And then…

A month or so ago a member of the Naegele family allowed me to develop the top photograph from a glass negative that was taken by Vermilionite barber / photographer Jacob Abell. [Note: The inset pictures were not on the glass negative, but were added by myself for this particular printing.] In this photo the young lady on the left is Hattie; and the one to her right is her sister Ollie. The corresponding insets portray both girls when older. The identity of the little girl sitting on the lawn is unknown. And the lady reading the newspaper on the porch one might safely assume is the girls’ mother, Philipena (b.1858 – d.1931). This photo is probably c.1896 and was taken in the yard of the family home on Washington Street. The same house is plainly visible in the background of the bottom photograph. Consequently, and finally, it is safe to say that all the photographs were taken on the west side of Washington Street between Liberty, Ferry, and Huron streets. It is also safe to say that much has changed along those streets since those shadows were captured.

To be sure these photographs help better delineate / explain / define the history of our community. But even if they didn’t they’re still fun to look at.

Vol. XI, No. 21. – VERMILION, OHIO, THURSDAY, October 31, 1907

Rev. Goetz daughter, Ill

Georgia Mary, daughter of Rev. George Goetz, 422 Reed St., is ill with diphtheria. The house quarantined and Rev. Goetz is the closest attendant AT his daughter's bedside. The public of the Evangelical church will be filled temporarily with a supply pastor. -Lorain News.

NOTICE

On and after November 10 ‘07 the price of setting horseshoes will be 20c for new shoes 40c. – J. I. Howell – Stevenson and Becker.

A WARNING

Wednesday Mayor Williams visited the public schools and warned the children to refrain from Halloween depredations. Remember that there are two kinds of fun; harmless pranks and the destructive kind. Refrain from the latter or something worse than the "goblins will get you". Some children have the mistaken idea that they can do anything on Witch’s night and a "law" cannot reach them. They should remember that the "arm of the law" is always ready to those who transgress.

DAVE GREEN DEAD

Dave Green, the eccentric character who for many years has lived south of town, is dead. For some time past he had been hard of hearing and of late could hardly understand anything that was said to him. This was caused by an abscess in his head. When it became known that he was in a serious condition he was taken to his brother’s near Florence where he died last Thursday. One of Mr. Green’s peculiarities was his fondness for telling "yarns", snake stories, etc., of an amusing character, and nearly everyone has heard some of them. However they were harmless and were taken for what they were meant.

Didn't Get Home Until Morning

Capt. Bert Mattison met with a breakdown with his new tug last week, which left him out in the lake. When it was discovered that he should be in port a boat was sent out after the hell is going on here he was brought into port after being out nearly all night. The machinery is being repaired in the boat will be in commission again in a few days.

COURT NOTES

John Krapp has brought suit for divorce from his wife Lydia Krapp.

A transcript of the record of Justice Green, of Florence Township, in the case of S. A. Willard versus J. K. Riblet, executor of the last will and testament of H. K. Riblet, deceased, has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The plaintiff secured a judgment for $35.65 in Justice Green's court.

Dynamite Explodes At Lorain

_{About Half A Ton Of That Dangerous Explosive Lets Go Thousands Of Dollars Of Damage Done}

About 2:30 people of Vermilion felt a jar as of an explosion and it soon became known that there'd been an explosion at South Lorain. The Kranz Hardware Company had a quantity of dynamite stored outside the city limits in a concrete building. The amount is said to have been from 1000 to 1200 pounds. It is supposed that a hunter fired into the building, the shot penetrating the door, which was made of light iron. The facts will never be known however as the man or men were picked up in a basket. A few scraps of clothing and a part of the soul of a shoe was all that was found excepting the scraps of flesh and bone. A foreigner is missing. When last seen he was going hunting.

In South Lorain hundreds of windows were blown out and the plate glass fronts of the store suffered also. At the tube mills some damage resulted. Very little damage was done at the North end of town but people rushed into the streets and all was confusion for several minutes.

Correspondence

AMHERST

Harry Gawne is seriously ill. A trained nurse is in attendance.

Adam Jaeger is recovering from his recent illness.

Mr. Osborne will start his moving picture theater Thursday evening in the room adjoining the German bank.

The funeral of Michael McFarland, who died at the infirmary, was held at the Catholic Church here Monday.

Mrs. J. R. Miller passed away Saturday night after a long and severe illness. Funeral was held Tuesday, Revs Black and English officiating.

The remains of Orlei Blake formally of Brownhelm was taken to that place for burial Tuesday. Mr. Blake's death occurred in the central part of the state. He was 39 years old.

The most horrible accident that ever occurred in this vicinity was the one in which Charles H Schumacher Jr., lost his life. Mr. Schumacher was engaged and sawing lumber and was standing on the carriage near the swiftly running saw. In some manner he slipped and fell forward and struck the saw on his left side and was cut almost in two lengthwise. Theodore Wilson and other workmen witnessed the accident. He lived nearly an hour. He was 36 years old and leaves a wife, three children, and aged father and three brothers.

HURON

Conrad Frye raised over 4000 bushels of onions this year.

Mrs. Louise Rockenbauch underwent an operation Sunday.

The Standard Oil Company is making arrangements for a tank here. The oil and gasoline heretofore has been hauled from Sandusky.

Mrs. Henry Hull who underwent an operation at a Cleveland hospital several weeks ago is now able to be out.

Alvin Klasen returned home from McKeesport Pennsylvania this last week quite badly crippled, the result of a fall he received while it work.

The funeral of Mrs. Lavina Ochs was held from the late home Thursday and internment made in Scott Cemetery beside the husband who passed to the great beyond just six months ago.

Mrs. E. Toomey and son Frank attended the funeral of the former's father, Samuel Grow whose death occurred at the Soldiers Home Friday night. The remains were interred in Oak Harbor.

EAST SHORE

L. A. Braun threshed his grain Monday.

Mrs. George Risden attended the Washburn auction sale at Axtel Saturday.

There are 13 pupils enrolled in our school, which are doing nicely under the management of Miss Rath of Elyria.

Mrs. Henry Haber went to Sandusky to visit her husband who is a cook on the steamer Weeks, which was loading coal there. Friday.

Strong’s Corners

There was quite a shock in the neighborhood when the news came that Charlie Schumauck was killed.

ASHMONT

Mrs. John Lee is seriously ill at this writing.

A. Shoop has purchased the cow of Charles Richter.

Lawson Shoop was absent from school a few days last week on account of sickness.

A couple of young men accompanied by their young lady friends of this place attended the dance at Prof. Hasslet’s Dance Hall at Sandusky one evening recently.

A spark from the chimney alighting on the roof of William Hauff’s home started a fire, which burned a large hole in the roof before being extinguished.

Capt. William Dayman died at his home in Port Clinton Friday.

Miss Lea Mather has confessed to burning their home in Steuben, O. to get the insurance. She is 52 years old.

RITTER CHALLENGES

Vermilion, O., Oct. 29, ‘07

Mr. H.R. Williams, Vermilion, O.
Dear Sir: – I beg leave to call your attention to the fact that the election day of this year is near at hand.

No doubt, you are aware of the fact that, as your opponent in this election for the office of mayor of our village, have adopted as my platform, "Law enforcement without favor or prejudice." During your term of office, from the beginning down to the present day, you have knowingly and willfully allowed a certain element to disobey the law.

This brings to our attention the fact that your actions are directly opposite to the platform that I have adopted and publicly declared. This brings about an issue.

It is very essential that the issue so brought about be placed before the voters of our village so that they may know our policies.

It has been urged and it is my belief that a joint debate would be a most excellent method to place the aforesaid issue before the public.

Therefore, I have decided to and hereby do challenge you to a joint debate using the said issue, "Law enforcement without favor or prejudice" as the question for discussion.

Should you decide to accept this challenge, the time, place, and rules can be determined upon later by mutual consent at an early date.

Kindly let me hear from you at once so that I may have time to make such arrangements as the future may require. Awaiting which, I am, Very truly yours, Geo. W. Ritter

_{[VV. Ed. Note: This is very interesting. I’m anxious to see if there was such a debate – and if there was who won. I already know who was elected and it wasn’t Mr. Ritter. I was always of the impression that Lawyer Ritter was above such nonsense. But I guess I was mistaken.]}

A Woman's View

A few more days and the time for election will be here. Again I wonder how many of us have stopped to think about it. Of course, according to accepted theories in tradition, woman does not think, so what can she know of politics? Our friends of the stronger sex have thought it two superfluous to enlighten us. If you doubt this, just ask one of your masculine friends to explain to you some phase of political economy you do not understand. He’ll probably pay no attention to you; or if you insist on knowing, he will circum-rotate (without once getting merit) until you either become disgusted, or give it up for lack of time to pursue it.

And truly, the ways of the politician are past finding out. The things he is going to do before election and the things he does not do after election, you all know.

But have you given a thought to the man you are going to vote for? To you, my sisters, I am talking. You may say, "O pshaw, what's the use of bothering; we can't vote." Even though you can't vote, you have husbands, brothers, or very dear friends who can; and you can be the "power behind the throne."

Our mayor is our official head, our representative and of him we expect much. Has he done all you could do expected of him? Has he enforced the laws fearlessly and bold in spite of criticism and opposition? If you think so, then by all means, elect him again; but if he has been a moral coward, afraid to do what is right, then do not return up; let your conscious speak. -A VERMILION WOMAN.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Women did not receive the Right To Vote until the 19th Amendment to our Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920. Given the similarities in sentiments express by this lady and those of George Ritter I can’t help but wonder if some Vermilion women might have play a part in his candidacy. Part of the problem I would’ve had with Ritter running for the office is the fact that he didn’t really live in Vermilion. He may have kept a Vermilion residency, but his work and life was in the city.]}

The price of Meat, Groceries, in Clothing as well as other articles have advanced during the past year. The merchant is obliged to advance the retail price in order to stay in business. The prices of paper and other material have advanced and the printer has but to follow the Grocer, Butcher and Clothier and others in the advance. Isn't this reasonable?

F. W. Coen, Secretary and treasurer of the Lakeshore electric railway has been selected for general manager of that road to succeed manager Stout, deceased. Mr. Coen, will still retain the office of treasurer. The office will remain at Norwalk, it is stated.

Last night was Corn Night – tonight thw "Witches" are supposed to be rampant.

The new bank building is beginning to show up in fine order.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: The “bank building” in this little blip refers to the Bank of Vermillion that was built next (east of) to the Liberty Theatre. For many years after the bank closed it was used as the Williams Law Offices. Currently (2015) it is a wine bar called the “Wine Vault”.]}

LOCALS.

The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Englebry is reported quite ill.

The party who took the package from the post office is requested to pay the postmaster for the same at once and avoid trouble. It was valued at about 75c.

Rev. Charles Balson met with an unfortunate accident one day this week. While using the hatchet he struck his left thumb lengthwise laying it open to the bone. The services of the surgeon were necessary to dress the wound. It will, however, not interfere with his southern trip upon which he and Mrs. Balson expect to start Friday.

Last Thursday night a singular accident occurred at the L. S. & M. S. Ry. Station. A quantity of fish was being loaded on the evening train when a heavy freight pulled through. The train was on the eastbound track and a runway had been placed across the westbound track to slide the heavy boxes over the cars. The freight struck this runway and boxes of fish were scattered about in profusion. It is contrary to regulations for a train to run between a train at station and the station so the train crew of the freight will probably have occasion to remember this as episode.

John Swartz, 71 of Lorain shot and instantly killed his wife age 62, at their home on Camp St Thursday. He was probably insane. The couple were the parents of the Swartz sisters who gave a concert here last spring.

Perry Smithheiser, aged 25, of Fremont was electrocuted while at work on the L. S. E. near Ceylon Jct., Friday. He had a long steel pole, which was used on the machine upon which he was working, which came in contact with a high-tension wire as he was crossing the track. His hands were horribly burned and holes were burned in his feet. Death was instantaneous.

Brief and breezy

(By our associate editor.)

Mr. Roosevelt would find a good many more bears in Wall Street.

The President must have credit for refraining from saying how much more pleasure would be to hunt Indians.

Carrie Nation as a star in "10 Nights In A Bar Room," will run the risk of doing a great deal of damage. Some theatergoers are easily driven to drink.

_YIKES!

Still, the harsh things they are saying about George Washington, today, are very mild compared to what was said about it while he was living.

Every labor leader is confronted with the fact that it is easier to start a strike didn't finish it.

Carrie Nation has become enemy to temperance. Her very name drives people to drink.

AXTEL

Dr. Quigley has been calling at the home of E. Farrell every day for the past five days. The Ferrell children have been quite sick with measles.

D. B. Bartholomew is still unable to work on account of his arm.

W. F. Washburn's sale on last Saturday was well attended. We regret very much to lose our old friends and neighbors. They have lived in this vicinity for the last 30 years. The best wishes of their many friends will go with them to their new home in Vermilion.

Albert Smith is on the sick list.

George Fey’s beautiful new home is now completed and expected to be ready for occupancy in a few days.

L. S. Harrison as sold the stock of goods to Arthur Hayes of Ogontz.

The Wallace children are sick with measles.

Fred Coleman is busy baling hay.

BROWNHELM

Mrs. Shaffer, is seriously ill in her home on the Ridge.

John Ruppe for many years a resident of this place died of heart of heart failure, in Elyria Saturday. He is survived by a wife and four children.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leimbach a son Oct. 24 – 07.

The remains of Orville Blake Fulton Ohio were brought here Wednesday for burial, funeral being held in the Cong’l church, Mr. Blake formerly lived here and was a brother of Mrs. Harry Sage of this place.

Mrs. Will Henning receive the sad news of the death of her brother-in-law S. Waziski [sic] in Lorain. Mr. Maziski [sic] fell from a scaffold at the steel plant about 20 feet. He landed on his head and broke his neck death resulting almost immediately.

Mrs. H. King is slowly improving from her serious illness.

_{9 June 1949}

LIFE IN VERMILION BEFORE DIGITAL CAMERAS: F.Y.I: In a previous column (VPJ 09/03/15) I mistakenly wrote that late Vermilion banker W. Earl Childs was born in 1835 and died in 1953. I suppose it would’ve been an astounding bit of Vermilion trivia if, in fact, he did live to be 118. But the truth is that he was actually born in 1884 and died in 1953. He was only 69.

ONWARD: On the morning of 9 June 1949 in Vermilion, Ohio – someone standing near the front of “Doc” and “Ding” Jeffery’s Park Market on the south side of Liberty Avenue spied a scene they considered worth memorializing and thusly captured the Kodachrome (color) photograph that accompanies this essay. Do not be mistaken. It is not a great photograph. It’s not even a good photograph. A generic cell phone photo would have been so much better. Nonetheless, it is both a wonderful and extremely unique portrait of life in “downtown” (i.e. the central business district of) Vermilion before digital cameras.

Visually, not much seems to have changed over the last 66 years except, perhaps, the cars along the street. And Furgie’s popcorn wagon, the police department / chamber of commerce booth behind it, and the water fountain are long gone; yet, by and large, most everything looks the same today. But no matter how subtle, much has changed over the years.

Hart’s Corner Drug Store is now Big Ed’s Soda Grill. The newsstand next to it is now the Olive Scene. Paul’s Snack Shop sandwiched between the newsstand and the barbershop (that is still a barbershop) is now a little gift store. And George Rathbun’s wonderful grocery store has morphed into a restaurant called Simple Pleasures. Next to it was the White Inn restaurant with its “castle-like” façade. And between the White Inn and another restaurant to the east of it called the Dairy-Bar (now the Old Prague) was a house with a big tree in the front yard. The White Inn and the house were eventually dematerialized and have been reborn as a paved parking lot.

During these years parking was allowed on both sides of Liberty Avenue – at least from Hart’s store westward. The exceptions were the spaces near the corners on both sides of the street near Main / Division streets. Those spaces were reserved as Greyhound bus stops. Bus tickets were available at the newsstand that was also the town’s bus depot. It was a busy place. In fact, this entire section of town was always a very busy place.

On summer afternoons and evenings old and young persons alike were drawn to the place many Vermilionites still refer to as “Rubberneck” Park; formally known as Exchange Park (i.e. the one with the big cannons); so nicknamed because “rubbernecking” is what denizens of the park did as they sat talking with one another watching traffic. When Route 6&2 was “the” major artery across northern Ohio watching cars and trucks that passed through town was actually quite an amusing pastime. Late Sunday afternoons were the best because traffic coming from Cedar Point and islands to the west was usually very heavy and slow. Consequently, it afforded the rubberneckers not only an opportunity to get a good look at all that passed, but also allowed them to share a few words with beleaguered travelers. It was an extremely entertaining way to pass time. Add to that an ice cream from Hart’s soda fountain, a box of 10-cent popcorn, or a bag of fresh roasted peanuts from Bob’s stand and few could’ve asked for more.

While it is true that digital images are generally of better quality than the faded Kodachrome shadows of a yesteryear it is extremely unlikely that they will exist 60 years from the day they were captured, as was this snapshot. For this snap was not preserved because it was a picture of great quality. It was saved because it is as unique as the memories it was intended to provoke in the minds of those who remember life in Vermilion before digital cameras.

_{Ref: Special Thanks to: Joi and Kevin Murphy for the snapshot; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 09//03/2015.}

LET’S BOWL: This patch is (to my knowledge) quite unusual. Back in the 50s when Vermilionite Daisy Homitz (see the “Faces” section) worked for Vermilion’s Wakefield Brass lighting fixture company she was on their bowling team. Above is the patch the ladies attached to their bowling shirts / dresses. When they changed styles they just removed their patches and sewed them on to their new outfits.

While many folks may have saved their team shirts from those days I’ll bet that very few saved their patches. Ergo, this is a rarity. Very cool.