PEOPLE & PLACES
SHOPTALK: (MONDAY)Right from the top this week I need to mention some changes that have occurred on my end of the page that necessitate my making some changes to the page as well.
The switch from my long time webpage provider, Yahoo Small Business, to Aabaco Small Business has changed the way I need prepare / code the page each week. As a result, I am trying to adjust my routine(s) accordingly. I’m not really sure just how much tech stuff I’ll need to learn before I get things back to “normal”. But I will bumble through.
Another change that I’ve decided to implement beginning this week (so long as I’m experiencing changes) is that the dates of the “Briefs” section of the page will now be made to coincide with the current month dates as close as possible. To do this I’m repeating some of the old briefs beginning with November 21, 1907 this week et cetera. The old newspaper clippings will continue until the New Year when we pick up things on January 2, 1908.
TUESDAY: – And I’m still trying to access the control panel for my website. Everything was supposed to be ready and workable by Monday – but I’ve had no success. The transition from one company to another has not been seamless. Right now I’m on hold (listening to music) waiting for assistance. I’ve been on hold for about 20 minutes. I’ll wait for another 10 or 15 and then forget it. I’d try looking on-line but I can’t sign-in to get help. It’s a real Catch 22.
I’m not real happy. I gave up the proverbial ghost after an hour passed.
WEDNESDAY:Spoke (or tried to speak) with a Aabaco tech rep on the telephone finally and got nowhere. He told me to try again after 24 hours has passed.
Some service.
THURSDAY:Again waiting in a long line of callers to talk again to a tech to see if I can migrate my site from Yahoo to Aabaco. It says there’s a 30-minute wait. Ok. So I wait. I don’t have much hope.
I hope this isn’t a sign of bad things to come.
AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR: Contact, but no resolution. The rep tech was very hard to understand (his accent was so thick) but he finally gave me to understand that I wasn’t the only one experiencing the problem I was experiencing and he assured me that if I waited a few more hours the engineers will have corrected the difficultly.
I’d like to believe him but it’s been a problem since Monday (11/16/2015).
In any case, I think that it will be impossible for me to update the “Views” page this week (11/21/2015). This will be the first time in 12 years that I’ve had to miss published an issue on time.
I will eventually publish that issue but it may go directly into the archives depending on how long it takes me to access my control panel.
Shoot!
But stay tuned. I’m sure there’ll be more on this issue before I publish again.
FRIDAY:Well, I’ve waited for hours and nada. If I don’t hear from someone by Saturday morning I’m going to go with a new web hosting company. And when I get the chance I’ll move / migrate all my files to a new company.
I expected changes – as is obvious with my opening statement – but a change to nothing is unacceptable. I don’t know how much business the new hosting company is going to lose but it will be significant.
TUESDAY PM (A WEEK LATER): Finally after an extremely frustrating week I was able to re-aquire the website. I was unable to change every part of the page from last week’s edition - but at least things now seem to be working properly. (I’m still not confident.)
ABOUT THE DESKTOPS:While I wait I suppose I should mention that on the shoptop this week is a pic of my great-great grandfather’s store on the Milan (Ohio) Square back in the 19th century.
E.T. Bottomley was my mother’s maternal grandfather. He was born in Woodlesford, England (1857) and migrated to America with his family when he was about seven years old. While he married my great- great grandmother in the east they moved to Minnesota afterward to live near her family. Their five children (my grandmother was the oldest) were born there. But the family moved to Milan in the latter years of the 19th century where E.T. went into business with his brother (ergo, the store in the pic).
The family eventually moved to Vermilion where their daughter (my grandmother) and her husband Pearl Roscoe lived and, of course, owned and operated a weekly newspaper and print shop. He died in Vermilion on May 4, 1916 at the age of 59.
I have a large photo portrait of him at the museum. He was quite a handsome fella.
On my home desk this week is a Richard Koontz portrait of what I believe were members of the Vermilion Women’s League back in the late 1940s or very early 1950s.
This portrait may have been taken in Okagi’s Restaurant. (Not having ever been inside the place I’m just guessing about that.) But no matter, I do recognize many of the ladies pictured and I’m certain that many readers will also. I see (not in order) a rather young Mary Raprich, Dorothy Litman, Dayle Rodgers, Dorothy Koontz, Eleanor Orth, and many others.
I never really gave it much thought until now, but it occurs to me that women really own a strong block of votes in any given election. I wonder how it is that a woman has yet to be elected President? There certainly are many woman qualified to hold such an office.
MUSEUM 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.Cell:440.522.8397
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,
REV. BIDLE: There are still a few folks left on the planet from Vermilion who remember Reverend Jim Bidle. I was doing some genealogy research the other day in one of the few old morgue NEWS files a few days ago and happened upon the piece pictured. I like this little article because it provides us with a little background on Jim that some may be unaware of.
Rev. Bidle was in Vermilion several years back when the church (i.e. now the UCC Congregational) building on State Street held its 50th anniversary celebration ceremonies (2007). He really seemed to be the same guy we all knew way back then. He even looks much the same. He now lives in Michigan.
Among other things, he talked about coming to be interviewed for the job at the old Congregational Church on Division / Main Street. After then pastor Reverend English and several other church members interviewed him life-long church member Presdee Morgan then interviewed him.
Morgan asked him if he was a Mason. When told him that he was Morgan recommended that he be hired.
And he was.
AT THE CORNER OF 60 & SOUTH ST: I’ve been wanting to do this for a number of years. I find the changes that’ve taken place on this corner since Roscoe took this wide-angle pic back in the 1930s fascinating.
Some of the trees, for instance, are gone. Yet, some that were quite young when the old pic have matured quite nicely.
Both houses on the right side of the street (the old Howell residence and the Goetz house next door) still look much the same. The house on the opposite corner was built back in the 1950s. But the Maurer home behind it – as well as the old Koontz home – appear much the same today.
I’ve often been mystified by the fact that when one looks down the road to the south from this vantage point the road appears to be so flat. It’s very hard to tell (both then and now) that the road rises some when it meets the old Nickel Plate Railroad tracks up the street.
This is among several of rather confusing street corners in Vermilion for persons unfamiliar with out town.
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...
Any action brought by J.L. Zeisinger and others against the Duplex Stamping Company of Vermilion the court has ordered that the companies officers within 10 days from November 11, to file an inventory of all the assets, a list of the stockholders, their places of residence, the number of shares owned by each and each and the amounts paid therefore, and also to furnish a statement covering all outstanding contracts undertaken by the company, is encumbrances and debts.
A transcript of the record in the case of B. F. Bond versus Daniel E Thompson, administrator of the estate of Emma Thompson, deceased, was filed in the clerk's office Wednesday, being brought up from Justice Sanders court in Vermilion Township. The amount involved, including interest and costs, is a little over $40.
A motion for a new trial has been filed in the case of the village of Vermilion against the Lakeshore Electric. There were originally two causes of action involving repairs to streets used by the railway company and the cost of maintaining crossing lights. The first matter was settled out of court and to the second the defendant demurred and was sustained in this by the court. The motion for a new trial alleges that judgment for the defendant was contrary to law.
Dr. E.J. Hill of this place has associated himself with several Cleveland gentlemen and organized a company for the purpose of starting a sanitarium in Vermilion. The Lakeside Inn has been purchased and will soon be fitted up. The articles of incorporation for the company will probably be issued sometime this week. The institution will be called the Bellevue Sanitarium. Not only will the drug cure be given but other cases will be taken. The building and grounds are well located for the purpose for which it is to be used and the prospects are that the venture will be successful. The company will be capitalized for $50,000.
Tuesday night a fire was discovered in the engine room of the building occupied by the Kishman Fish Company at Huron, and before the fire department had arrived had gained considerable headway. The lay brothers fish house adjoining soon caught fire and in a short time both buildings and contents were destroyed. The buildings were very old and located on the west side of the river. The Lay Brothers establishment was occupied by the Zimmerman Brothers who had much of their equipment stored there. The Kishman company, had about 60 tons of fish as well as some equipment destroyed. As they have a good equipment [sic] here in Vermilion they will not be seriously crippled and will be able to handle all orders. Their loss however is quite heavy and will probably amount to at least $15,000. How the fire originated is not known.
Mrs. Brainard is reported on the sick list William Hart, Senior., Aged 77, committed suicide by shooting himself in the right Temple Saturday while alone. The spot and see over ill health supposed to be the cause. Besides a wife, he leaves 11 children all grown.
The Erie County Mutual Telephone Company has made a big stride forward in the past few weeks, fifty percent of the stock subscribed having been called in. The call is being responded to generously.
Charles Sprowl and Dr. E. Woessner made trip out of town Wednesday looking for switchboard apparatus and phones and were assured that a number of construction companies would seek contracts for furnishing the supplies. Two carloads of cedar poles arrived in here and last week and men were set to work cutting this shains for cross arms. The polls for the principal streets are being shaved and will be painted.
The line will be contracted with modern cable, 10,000 feet being used.
The Shinrock exchange is now in full operation and is connected with many phones in the southern part of the county.
Work on the central office here and is to be started at once. The offices will be most modern. They will be equipped with elegant furniture and there will be rooms for different purposes just like exchanges in the city. – Cor. to Sandusky Register.
Born – to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klein Monday, Nov. 18, a daughter.
A number of large freighters will probably lay up at port this winter.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. John Batch is now under quarantine owing to their little son being ill from scarlet fever.
The ore season here is practically closed and about 100 men have been laid off at the docks. The coal shute [sic] is still running and many more boats are expected here before the close of the season.
Samuel Miller was sentenced to 10 years last week to Sing Sing for stealing twelve two cent stamps.
Mrs. John Lee is seriously ill at this writing.
Mrs. Harriet Gibson is doing housework at John Lee’s at present.
L. C. Kishman hauled some of his potatoes to Lorain this week.
Mr. Geo Risden has a new team of horses.
Jacob Baumhart of Vermilion gave his house on the farm a fine coat of paint. William Englebry of Vermilion did the painting.
Singing school began last night, Mr. Wilson of Oberlin is the teacher this winter. The beginners have an hour by themselves, which makes it much better, giving them a little better chance.
Mrs. Delamaster of Wakeman called on Mrs. William Sanders one day last week.
E. J. Darby has his house lighted with gas from their own well. They will also have enough to heat the house.
W.H. Aiken is still very ill.
Born – to Mr. and Mrs. John Ammenheiser Thursday, a son.
Dick Hauchild had his right leg broken Thursday while at work at Malone Quarry.
John Appleman was it on a hunting trip in the vicinity of Florence last week.
Joe Frank had a finger so badly smashed Friday while what while at work at the quarries that amputation was necessary.
All of the Cleveland stone quarries were closed Thursday afternoon on account of the funeral of the late Mrs. James Nickoll.
Flora Hearn slipped and fell on the floor Sunday evening and dislocated her elbow and strained a ligament in her right arm.
While hunting at Florence George Bauer was injured by his gun exploding. It was a borrowed gun. At the first shot the barrel burst cutting a deep wound.
The Ohio quarries Company paid their men Friday by the use of Chicago clearinghouse certificates. The merchants and banks accepted them and cash in business when on his usual.
A small fire which but for the discovery of Dr. Hall might approve serious occurred in his office Thursday morning. As he was going form from one room to another he stepped on a match had but took no notice of it. A short time later while attending a patient found a couch in the rear of the room a massive flames. With the help of the patient the fire was extinguished without serious damage.
Miss Eliza Beamer who died Wednesday at the hospital arranged the result of an operation for appendicitis was buried Friday. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Lindemeyer from St. John's Evangelical church at South Amherst. Deceased was 24 years old and was to be married in two weeks to Christian Zurcher of Lorain.
S. Barnes is very ill at his home.
Frank Belden is off on a hunting trip.
Harry Standen is laid up with ulcers in his eye.
The affected the various industries in this vicinity have been paying in checks has stopped the money order business at the local post office.
At this season the money order business is very heavy here on account of the money being sent to foreign countries.
A number of Lorain saloonists are forced out of business owing to the pressure of the liquor tax.
Edward Payson Weston, the famous Walker, who is making the trip from Portland to Chicago at the age of 69 passed through Birmingham in Florence Tuesday and reached Clyde Tuesday night.
Carrie Nation, of hatchet fame, visited Cleveland last week and expects to visit Elyria, Lorain and Sandusky this week. She left her hatchet at home and her tongue was the only weapon used on saloons of the Forest City.
Mayor Williams was a sin dusky visitor Monday.
H. S. Miller is moving into the room formerly occupied by the Christian scientists.
Sam edge left Tuesday for the fit for Philadelphia to rejoin his comrades on the US ship Georgia.
By paper napkins for Thanksgiving. A number of beautiful designs always on sale at the NEWS office.
Mrs. Jackson, who has been very ill at the home of her daughter Mrs. Derr is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. Worlie Houseman and daughter Clara of Lorain spent Saturday here.
TAXES – The Bank of Vermillion has textbooks for Eastern Erie County and will receive the taxes this fall.
The funeral of Mrs. Handy was held from the M. E. Church Saturday. Those present from out of town were: Capt. Frank Handy, Dunkirk, N. Y., Mrs. Lydia Bridge, Mr. and Mrs. Biggs, Mrs. William Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Mack, of Lorain; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wood of Cleveland; Miss Guy Riddell of Toledo; Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jones and son, Mr. and Mrs. John Wedge of Sandusky.
Capt. F. H. Rae was at home one day last week.
Capt. Fred Hasenflue is home from the Lakes.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kane is spending the week at Gates Mills.
Geo Clark and Son are preparing for the Christmas trade.
Mrs. William Tischer entertained at cards at her home, Thursday evening.
MARRIED – in Denver, Col., November 11, ‘07 Mr. Josef Montagne and Miss Winnie Allen. The bride is a sister of Mrs. J. M. Delker and well known here. Her many Vermilion friends extend best wishes.
S. J. Nieding has moved his market into the only available room to be had at present. Myers building facing the railroad track almost at the rear of the Wells building. He will have your Thanksgiving turkey ready for you if you will order now. Also oysters, etc.
Mr. William Bodenstein of Port Clinton was killed Thursday noon on the Lake Shore track by a passenger train. He was the father of Mrs. Charles Barber of this place the funeral was held in his home Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barber left here to attend the funeral Friday morning and returned home Monday noon.
A temperance concert is to be given that the Congregational church on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Leman Jenkins fell from a wagon one day last week and broke his leg.
Mrs. Agnes Tuttle was a Toledo visitor last week.
Hmmmmmm....
VERMILION BOYS: If perchance anyone should ever ask you what it might have been like to grow up in Vermilion don’t use words – just show them the accompanying picture.
It is a digitized charcoal sketch that was adapted from a snapshot taken along the lower breakwall on the west side of the Vermilion River probably in 1926. The little building on the far side of the river (right) is the headquarters of Lewis “Cloudy” Noel’s boat livery and ferry service (VPJ 12/08/2011). The Vermilion Lagoons subdivision did not yet exist and the area was luscious, overgrown, verdurous and wonderfully wild.
The identity of the boys in the portrait is not important – not now or then. They were rapt in the business of being boys: Intent on catching not so much a big or mess of fish, but just “a” fish. It would likely be a day all remembered that September when they went back to school, and perhaps all Septembers for the rest of their days.
To afford persons a better idea of where the snapshot was taken it may be of some help to know that Cloudy’s place was situated near the site now occupied by the Vermilion Yacht Club (2015). The boys were fishing in the river just north of the water treatment plant. It appears to have been a very nice summer afternoon. A good day to go fishing.
As they passed the time in the sun on the breakwall the youngsters almost certainly talked about some rumors they’d heard their parents discussing about someone wanting to build houses in the swamp surrounding “Cloudy’s”. (Ha!) And what about those “Janes” from Pennsylvania staying a Linwood Park for the summer? (In your dreams.) They also may have “beat their gums” about a current story in the paper regarding some “bent” that jumped off the Cleveland passenger boat “Goodtime” near Cedar Point. The papers said it was suicide. (Yikes!) There was also a current story about a bunch of kids in Columbus they were calling “Baby Gangsters”. They called themselves “the black-eye gang”. They beat an eight-year old boy senseless because he wouldn’t pay them two cents for “protection”. The leader of the gang was 11. (Jeepers Creepers, and so forth!)
And being familiar with the river and lake the boy’s talk undoubtedly turned to boats and bootlegging – a petite lesson in civics. Was the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution a mistake? The papers had reported that six states were on their way to referendums on the issue. American President Calvin Coolidge in an address to congress had said: “Some people do not like the amendment, some do not like other parts of the Constitution, some do not like any of it. Those who entertain such sentiments have a perfect right to seek through legal methods for a change. But for any of our inhabitants to observe such parts of the Constitution as they like, while disregarding others, is a doctrine that would break down all protection of life and property and destroy the American system of ordered liberty."
Of course the President was correct. But few of the people they knew to be involved in disregarding the amendment – which may have included family members – were really people they considered to be criminals. They therefore concluded, along with a tsunami of others, that the amendment would eventually be repealed. (And as we know it was.)
But after a time their thoughts most certainly turned away from those things, back to the pleasant time they were having. After all they were just kids – Vermilion Boys – enjoying a warm summer afternoon fishing off the breakwall of the river. Who could ask for more?
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.
...more beautiful when resting on the water, or deepening here and there upon an island, than it ever can be upon the level main land. Gibraltar island, a rock in the water, the key to the bay, where Commodore Perry placed his sentinel, is crowned by a villa, whose tower forms a picturesque point in the landscape, and upon its summit is a memorial of the immortal Perry, placed there by Jay Cooke, Esq., overlooking the scene of the battle ofLake Erie.
“Where the great Lake's sunny smiles, Dimple round its hundred isles, And Gibraltar's granite ledge, Cleaves the water like a wedge; Ringed about with smooth, gray stones, Over waters, island strown, Over silver sanded beach. Leaf-locked bay and misty reach, Watch and ward Gibraltar keeps."
AMAZING: As previously mentioned I was doing some genealogy work this week and while do so I came across the above article. A drive-thru bank service: Who’d a thunk it? This little article appeared in the Sandusky Star-Register on April 12, 1930.
When one considers the way many of us do banking today this drive-thru thing seems to have come; been developed; and is gone already. There are probably some youngsters around today who see such service as archaic.
Amazing.
A woman stood inside the front door, her arms full of coats. Four small children scurried around her. Her husband, coming down the stairs, asked why she was standing there.
"Here," she said, handing him the coats. "This time you put the children into their coats, and I'll go outside and honk the horn.
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, "Grandma's 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.13, Issue 37 - November 21, 2015
© 2013 Rich Tarrant