RUGGLES BEACH: I am always on the look-out for new views of the area. Things have been getting rather slim lately. Methinks the fad - the inclination to collect and exhibit historic views of the area - has run its course and is about done. However; everytime I believe this is true something else surfaces. This is one such view. It is likely that there are a thousand of these circulating about the vicinity, but I've not seen this before.
My friend, Barb Ruggles, thought enough of me to get this for me last weekend at a Huron, Ohio garage sale. This is a great postcard reproduction done on 8.5x11 photo paper. Barb gave me this along with color prints of the Wagner Hotel and the L.S.E. passing over the Huron River. I reproduced (exactly) two of the photos with my scanner using an "art magazine mode" and the scans were (as you can see) exact. Using Adobe Photoshop I further enhanced their color and tint, then printed them out on satin finish Kodak Ultima Picture Paper. The results were super.
Folks who are interested in reproducing photos may be interested in knowing that the Kodak "Utima" paper won't smear when touched, nor yellow over time. Sometimes pictures printed with home printers (I'm using an HP 6122) tend to smear when touched.
I especially like these rather large photos because I can use them on t-shirts and aprons when inclined.
The picture of the old dancehall with the Lake Shore Electric train is a jewel. One of the things I like about the pic (aside from the obvious) is the detail of the train tracks. Some pix over glamorize the era and one is inclined to forget the basic utility of it all (at least I am). The untidy track bed brings me back to reality, and I am inclined to try to imagine what it might have been like inside that great dancehall in the background. I'm then thinking that the overhead area on the building must have been a utility factor related to cooling. I assume the many windows were kept open in the summer to catch the breezes off the lake, and the 2nd story would allow the breezes to push the warm air up and out of the hall. But don't take my theory for gospel.
A great great picture.
THE CRYSTAL HALL: Here again is another dancehall on the lake at Crystal Beach - on the other side of town. Not being as smart as I'd often like to think I really didn't know that this particular building existed until just a few months ago. The Dean boys actually brought it to my attention. I understand that the older boys grew up in a house just to the west of the park in Nakomis - and I believe they were living there when this hall burned.
Ironic (or no) both the Ruggles hall and this one met the same fate. I suppose there's some logical reason for their fates. Smoking, wiring, heating? Major fires are not uncommon in Vermilion. This fact may explain the reason for the town's strong volunteer fire department.
I would point out that the Ruggles Hall bit the proverbial dust long after this one at Crystal. I would also mention that after I used a picture of the inside of the Ruggles facility some weeks ago I received a notable amount of email about that hall. I expected numerous comments about Crystal - but Ruggles Beach was a very popular place.
And slowly, ever slowly, I am getting a better picture of the history of the area. It's really fascinating.
THE OLD AND NEW HOUSE: Last week I wasn't entirely sure about the old house above. I was just guessing. So the next day I took a look and this picture. It is the same house. Actually the old picture is the "new" house and the new photo is the "old" house. And then yesterday I received a telephone message from Marlene West who confirmed the fact that this is her house when it was new.
I like both. I really liked the original front porch, but I surely believe the modifications made over the years are wonderful. The one thing I do wonder about is that, although that great wrap around front porch was both stylish and nice, the great feature of this home is the view of the lake - so why would the front of the house not have faced that direction?
I can, of course, answer my own question. Both the architectural thinking and the mores of the times in which it was built would have compelled one to situate the house so that it faced the street. Strange how we humans often find it difficult to see (as they say) "beyond the box". The evolution of this house presents an interesting study in both the 20th and 21st century American thought processes.
Fascinating, truly fascinating. I should subtitle this week's issue "Fascinating".
FRANCIS T. HANDY: Those who know me know that I spend the best part of every morning in the basement kitchen of the Congregational Church cooking. What has evolved, over time, is something I call "The Kitchen Cabinet Church of the Lower Ministry". Sounds ominous. But this is a meeting place. There's coffee, cold pizza, candy, baked goods and conversation. And therein, and thereby, are all the problems of the world discussed and settled. Some of the attendees of the cabinet are Barb Ruggles, Jennifer Smith, Delores Adkins, her husband Franklin, Larry Howell, and any other victim--I mean person who happens upon the kitchen.
And it was here that Larry Howell showed me this picture of his Great-grandfather Francis T. Handy.
Handy was an early Vermilionite. Before I saw this photo Larry had lent me a log book he kept through the late 19th century telling of his sales of things like eggs and fish. I believe there was also some record of weather conditions. Larry told me that Francis was born on a fishing boat in the Atlantic in 1834. Using my powers of deduction I assume that his mother was not a passenger. I further assume that she was probably a cook. I know that on the Great Lakes woman were often employed as cooks on the larger boats.
Francis joined the Union Army on August 6, 1862 and served as a Private in Company E in the 100th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. In the census of 1880 he lived in Avon, Ohio and worked as a carpenter. At that time he and his young wife (he was 45 and she was 29) had 5 children.
Francis is buried next to his wife in Maple Grove Cemetery. I would like to write more about this gentleman, but at the moment I am without more details. The photograph is intriguing. In fact, it is fascinating.
THE TOBERMORY LEGACY: I caught sight of this vessel a few weeks ago while driving west over the Vermilion River Bridge. The name caught my eye, and I wondered aloud who might own this boat. A few days later I thought I saw young Ted Wakefield walking on the deck, but I wasn't real sure. And then last Friday I espied Betsy Wakefield (Ted's spouse) painting the bottom of the boat.
The boat captured my attention because I was aware of the first Tobermory and have, in fact, flown pix and written about it in past issues.
The original boat was an all metal craft F.W. Wakefield had built in 1924. It received a great deal of attention at that time (I think) because of its all steel construction.
After conferring some with my friend, Alice Wakefield, I learned the following: "Grandpa built/named his TOBERMORY in 1924 after the town in Ontario on Georgian Bay. He was up there exploring on earlier boats. Daddy (George Wakefield) said he carried a victrola and played it for the native Americans who were amazed. Uncle Ted named his trawler TOBERMORY, as did we name one of our sailboats." Alice also told me that the first Tobermory "...was a diesel too. That boat is still running up in Saulte Saint Marie. It had sunk and a young man raised it and restored it then took us all for a ride through the locks in 1994, 70 years after original launch. Daddy was 84 and enjoyed every minute."
I believe my friend Buffalo Bill Hlavin will be especially interested in this information. It is, in a word, fascinating.
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 plane. They're anxious to visit with their new grandchild in Elyria. Dale also tells me that he intends to visit with some "Tarrants" when he gets here. 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. And it won't be long.
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. Today is the big day for these folks - so - HAVE A GREAT TIME MATIES!!
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 17, July 17, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant