MAIN STREET: Here is Main Street, Vermilion, Ohio on a Saturday morning in July of 2004. Sometimes I have dreams of what I want to see in a picture. This was one of them. It's early. It's quiet. It's the way I remember Vermilion when I was young. I always liked to get up early, before the sun evaporated the dew from the long grass, and walk around town. Sometimes it's real easy to take such a mundane scene forgranted. Busy in our little lives we pass things by without giving them look nor thought.

I always think back to the time I spent in the Army in the Republic of Vietnam. I'd have given almost anything to have been able to be where I took this photograph some 40 years later. Back then I wondered if I ever would get there. I did.

THE LAST CAR: This particular issue of "Views" is somewhat specialized. This was not intentional. It just happened.

The Lake Shore Electric line (for whatever reason) fascinates me, and as time passes I begin to learn a little bit more (and a little bit more) about it. No small part of that which fascinates me about this electric line is the fact that there are some very important Vermilion connections to the history of the system.

Frederick W. Coen (1872-1942) was an incorporator and a rail official (actually its chief executive) from the day it began until his retirement in 1940. He came to Vermilion in 1891 with his brother, Edward, to go into the banking business. They started a bank called The Erie County Bank and were major investors in our nation's earliest interurban rail systems.

I view the days of the electric trains as I view the days of The Pony Express. They were both relatively short-lived eras in American history. They were both exciting eras and very instrumental in the growth and prosperity of our nation. And they were both killed by the very thing that made them prosper; advances in the technology of transportation.

LSE Car #167 (pictured) belongs to Birmingham resident, Dennis Lamont and his brother. I've never flesh-met Mr. Lamont. Another friend, Al Doane, who is an LSE historian from Lorain introduced me to him via the net just this week. Dennis sent me the picture electronically with the following note:

"Rich,

I've seen your web site and a lot of your pictures and live right down the road in Birmingham ...but somehow we have never met.

I've attached a picture of LSE167 as she appeared in 1996 when we dolled up the exterior for the steel plant centennial. In addition to all the shots of LSE167 in operation, Al (Doane) has a slide taken in 1938 just after they moved the body to Dr. Ackermans on the west side of town ...the seats were still in it ..and they scrapped them all! They were using the luggage racks for rose trellises. Ah well, they did do a good job of keeping the body protected for all those years and did not modify the interior that much.

Dennis"

I am both amazed and very happy that some folks have gone to both the trouble and expense to preserve remnants of the era. I anticipate being able to see this particular car in person in the near future.

And as I mention all this I will lead thee right into the next series of photos.

WHO CAN REMEMBER THIS: I am truly, truly glad that someone thought enough of this particular place to take this photograph. Mr. Lamont sent this to me. As I said in my opening story,"Sometimes it's real easy to take such a mundane scene forgranted". I, along with many other people probably passed this car a million times when it sat on West River Road (in Vermilion) across the street from the road to the Olympic Outing Club. I do remember two other cars that were once in town. One was located in the gully where the old Post Office was located. The other was on the river where Parson's now have their boat storage and repair busines next to Moes Marine.

Ironically, it was that mention of those cars that led to this and the following two pictures.

Unbeknownst to me Lee A. Mayer (Nick Mayer's daughter) and her husband were the last two occupants of what we now know to be LSE Car #174. And better than all that is the fact that Lee is the video photographer for local Cable Channel 2. She captured video of the day the car was moved and she sent me the following details:

"Hi Rich,

This is Lee Ann Mayer, (from Channel 2 in Vermilion). I was looking at some of your back “Vermilion Views” on the internet. You do a wonderful job telling about early (and current) Vermilion. While reading I discovered a mention about the trolley on West River Rd. (Vol.1 Issue 37, December 6, 2003).

Having lived in the trolley from 1993-96 and still residing on the corner lot at Rolling Meadows and West River Rd., I thought I’d clarify some of the details regarding the interurban (as far as I know).

It was a Jewett car built in Newark Ohio in the early 1900’s. The car was #174 and primarily ran between Cleveland and Toledo. It was on the main line into the 1930’s.

Car #174 was sold at auction in Sandusky, Ohio June 20, 1939. That summer the car was moved to West River Rd.

Families of ownership were: Franklin Haber 1940, son Arland Haber, daughter Karen (Haber) Scott. The Bill Barthel Family purchased the car in 1978. My parents, Nick and Rita, bought it in 1993 and my fiancé Jeff and I moved in. The plan was for us to live there for a few years and then tear it down and rebuild. While living there Jeff and I enjoyed our experience of living in the trolley and thought that it was a historical piece and hoped that the landfill would not be its final destination.

In the fall of 1995, by a weird turn of circumstances, the trolley would start its long way home.(a stranger knocked at the door-we didn’t answer; he went to the Police Dept, to ask about the trolley; Silvia Kurtz was our neighbor at the time and a dispatcher at the PD working for Nick (then Chief) … Silvia knew that we looking to find the trolley a home and gave the man our info.)

This man was Howard LeFevre, he and his partners had recently purchased the original Jewett factory and were looking to create a museum. Car #174 was a prize find because there was a foundation and partial basement below it and a roof above it. This kept the car in better shape than most other interurbans. After having an “expert” come and inspect the trolley- (the man could hardly contain himself- he was thrilled with the condition) a deal was made. In the spring of ‘96, we would move out, and tear down all of the attached buildings, remove the roof and prepare the car for transport. The trolley was being donated to the Newark Historical Society and wo! uld be restored to its original condition.

April 19, 1996 the crane arrived, picked up the trolley, placed it on a flat bed semi and off it went to Newark Ohio. (I have videotaped the whole process of the crane lifting the car!) After the trolley was removed, we proceeded to build a ranch style home over top of the same basement.

Then the invitation arrived inviting us to the opening of the Institute of Industrial Technology where Car #174 is on display. It has been restored to its original condition and it is beautiful!!

Nick and Rita have been to the museum and I have pictures of their visit. The exterior is painted orange and yellow, the interior mahogany and leather seating is all replaced. I hope to make the trip to see it myself soon.

Sorry for the length of the story…just thought you’d like to know.

Sincerely, Lee Ann"

CAR #174: And this, ladies and gentlemen, is LSE Car #174 as it is today at the Institute of Industrial Technology in Newark, Ohio. I believe you will agree that the changes are dynamically startling.

I did, absolutely, wonder what exactly had happened to this car and now I, as well as you, know. I thank Lee for these pix. They are, in a word, Wonderful!

MITIWANGA: This is a beach and a place of which I know very little. This is that which stood behind Ruggles Dancehall - but it was long long gone before I came along. I do recall having gone to the beach behind what became the Note back in the early 1960's - but it was nothing like this. Having been so familiar with the beaches in Vermilion, such as Nakomis, Linwood, Lagoons, Main Street, and Dickason's I suppose I no cause to visit beaches further east or west early in my life. But like the beach I've seen pictured behind the Vermilion-On-The-Lake Clubhouse I am impressed by its size. It seems so impossible that Lake Erie could have eroded these beaches away in such a short period of time - but it is what happened. I assume that the beaches we are familiar with today will not exist a hundred years hence. Enjoy them while you gots 'em.

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.

Tomorrow is the official reunion day for VHS Class of 1944. My friend, Dale Wendell is in town. He' been to our home at least once, but I've missed him. I saw "Tootie" Risinger the other day and she told me that Dale called her. And Carol Bechtel emailed me to tell me that Dale and his wife visited with her during the week. Dale's really making the most of his journey from Arizona. I hope they have a good time.

As news regarding VHS reunion activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. So stay tuned.

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

Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix
History of Linwood Park
Vermilion Community Orchestra
Vermilion Chamber of Commerce
Vermilion's Oldest Church
Vermilion Visitor's Advisory (Satire)
Gore Orphanage History
The Lester Pelton Story
The Wreck of The Niles #152
Vermilion Views Archives

"I do not have power of attorney over first graders." ~ "Chalkboard" Bart Simpson

Vol.2, Issue 18, July 24, 2004

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© 2004 Rich Tarrant