US: As previously mentioned Georgi and I have been wed 44 years. And as mentioned a number of times before in "VV" we have recently moved our household to the Olympic Outing Club. When we were first married we worked as Caretakers at the club for several years. Part of the compensation for the work was a rent free house at the bottom of the hill. It was an interesting experience.

Now after all these years I came across this pic of us as we then appeared. In it we are standing near that home at the bottom of the hill that leads into the club. We were married very near this site in 1972. Like good ol' Arnold S. - We're Baauck!

…SPENT LAST WEEK IN 1867: Some people go on river cruises. Some go to Amish country. Some go to Maine or Yellowstone. I spent a good part of my life last week in 1867. It wasn’t in Vermilion though. Well physically it was. But mentally I was inside a diary written in Milan, Ohio – kept by my maternal great-grandfather Caselton Roscoe.

“Cass” was 32 in 1867. Home after spending 4 years in the Union Army during the Civil War he seemed to be at peace with things. His daily entries were, for lack of a better description, rather mundane. [e.g. Wednesday January 2: “At home all the forenoon. Afternoon went to mill and staid until night. Eve attended masonic meeting.”] Being accustomed to reading detective novels I kept reading waiting for an “Aha!” moment. But not being one of those thrillers the “Aha!” moment, of course, never came. However, I did further my education about both great-grandfather and life in mid-19th century America – at least in Milan, Ohio.

Like his father Levi, Caselton was a skilled carpenter and millwright. Thus, his earnings were just a bit above average. [e.g. Friday June 7: “Worked for A. Page on mill dam all day… $2.50.”] Bear in mind that – skilled labor or not – he did not have steady employment. Nor was he always paid the same wages from one job to another. [e.g. Friday April 12: Worked for Tim Washburn building smokehouse. Worked all day…$2.00.] But however poorly that may seem to us today most inflation calculators will show that a dollar in 1867 would be equal to around $16 today. So Cass was actually making a pretty good buck – when he worked that is.

In the meantime he worked the family farm. It was located along a bend in the Huron River in what folks in those days called “North Milan”. After his marriage to my great-grandmother, a schoolteacher named Helen Forster in 1868, (both pictured in 1900) his father sold him part of the farm for $5. [Incidentally, I came across the actual deed for the sale after reading the diary.] But I’m getting ahead of myself.

On the farm he cut down trees and burned some stumps. Some of the trees he formed into sleds. He trimmed grape vines, hoed and planted sorghum, took up wheat and oats, cut weeds, slaughtered hogs and some cattle, and took the horses to town to be shod.

In his spare time he went fishing in the river, went to Huron for “a swim in the lake”, and “went up town” or to Norwalk to “Lodge meetings”. While in town he’d often purchase some “smoke (35¢) and / or chewing tobacco (25¢), or a cigar (10¢). One time he bought a keg of beer ($2), and another time a new pair of boots ($4.75). On Sundays he attended church. He seldom missed a Sunday. He also sang in the choir. Being a musician (guitar and fiddle strings 50¢) he played for dances in Milan and Berlin Heights. Sometimes they lasted all night. He played the drums for the 4th of July celebration “up town”. And on August 3, 1867 he joined the Milan chapter of the “Sons of Temperance”.

Following the American Civil War numerous fraternal organizations flourished in the light of Free Masonry. The Sons of Temperance founded in New York in 1842 was one. While Freemasonry deliberately avoided any formal insurance program, other organizations, like the Sons of Temperance, made it a central part of membership. Though it did promote the temperance movement its constitution required members to pay thirty dollars to cover the burial costs of any brother who died. In short, it acted as an insurance company – but one with an altruistic mission of course. Anyway my great-grandfather became a member in good standing.

On Monday October 10th he went to “Clide” [Clyde] and caught the train for Cincinnati to attend a Masonic convention. He missed the first train, but got the next one. For the next several days he attended Grand Lodge meetings “forenoon”, and “walked around the city, and went to the theater or visited the Masonic Temple” during the evenings. By Saturday, October 15, he was back home working in his “…sargo mill all day.”

The mill referred to is a sorghum mill. Sweet sorghum was widely cultivated in the U.S. in the 1850s and 60s for use in sweeteners, primarily in the form of sorghum syrup. He recorded selling over 100 pounds of sorghum molasses between September 29th and late October when he put the mill to rest for the winter.

On the last day of the year, Tuesday December 31st, he wrote: “Milan, Ohio: At home. Went down to the woods and chopped until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Eve. Went up to sis Harriet’s [his sister]. Danced the old year out and the new one in.” And that, by and large, ended my visit to Milan, Ohio in 1867. I arrived home on Sunday June 22, 2014 refreshed from my journey into the yesteryear with my great-grandfather. We had a fine time.

_{Ref: Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 6/26/14.}

Vol. XII, No.18. - VERMILION, OHIO, THURSDAY, October 8, 1908

SEWERS and ELECTRIC LIGHTS

_{These Are The Principal Topics Discussed At The Council Meeting Tuesday Evening}

The Council met in regular set session Tuesday evening with all the members present excepting Mr. Wahl. A large number of visitors who were interested in various subjects, sewers, electric lights, sidewalks, etc.

After the reading of the minutes of the last meetings the matter of sewers was brought up and a representative of the Board Of Health who was present was asked what he found in his trip about the town. He severely criticized the present order of things and said that the South street was in a deplorable condition. That it was a water course and should not be used for sewerage purposes and that he asked and that no sinks, or stop basins or closets [i.e. water-closets / toilets] should be permitted to be drained into it and that those now connected to be cut off. The matter of draining into the river was impracticable and would be objectionable. The only remedy is a sewerage disposal plant. He advised the Council to get the engineers to run over the ground and submit several plans on the location of such a plant. He gave some other information in regard to the matter.

If we understood him correctly, the present nuisance of draining into the sewers must be abated or the state will take a hand in the matter. The only way out is [a] system with a disposal plant.

F.W. Wakefield offered to take the council to Lakewood to see the plant there in operation so some idea could be obtained as to how it is operated. The invitation was accepted and Friday afternoon will be spent viewing the plant there. Pending this trip the matter was postponed.

The next important matter was the presenting of an electric lighting franchise. Also a petition asking the passage of a franchise signed by a number of businessmen and other citizens. The franchise called for permission to wire the town, etc. It was developed from the fact that a number of businessmen asking the L.S.E. Ry. company to furnish them lights. The purpose was not to extend the system to cover the whole town unless the town wanted arc lights. Lights could be furnished for $60 per year per light without regard to the usual moonlight schedule. The price of the incandescent lights would probably be $.10 per 1000, which we believe very reasonable.

The sentiment of the citizens present pointed toward lights for the town as well as for private individuals and it was agreed to have franchises drawn and adjourned meeting held Monday night to further discuss the matter.

Cloudy Noel was present and offered to furnish the town with gravel and 50¢ per yard delivered on the dock at Huron st. A trial contract for 100 yards will be entered into and an account kept to compare with the present method.

After ordering the payment of the bills, the meeting was adjourned until next Monday evening, at which the electric lighting and sewer questions will come up for further discussion.

COURT NOTES

Mary E. Stiwald has brought suit for divorce against Raymond Stiwald.

Mrs. Emma Miller has brought suit for divorce and alimony from T.C. Miller. The parties live in Sandusky.

J.W. Henry has brought suit in justice court against Erie County Agricultural Society for $125 to which amount he claims he is damaged because he was not allowed to operate a merry-go-round at the fairgrounds during the county fair. He claims he was entitled to the privilege and because he did not get it he was of damaged to the sum for which he has brought suit.

George Champney was found guilty of contempt of court by Judge Washburn on Friday morning because he had failed to pay his wife the alimony as ordered by the court. Mrs. Champion was allowed eight dollars a month by the court for the support of a junior minor child and she claims that Mr. Chapman was in arrears to the extent of $32.

The amount was paid to Mrs. Champney Friday morning and during a discussion of the case it came out that Champney had failed to pay the bill of $320 to the Diamond Cheese Company.

He claimed that Mrs. Champney had not paid certain bills she was supposed to take care of and that he had not paid the bill because of the indebtedness on her part.

Judge Washburn decided not to punish Mr. Champney until he was satisfied that he did not intend to pay the bill due the cheese company.

Correspondence

AMHERST

Miss Lydia Kuss has resumed her position at Ludwig's shoe store.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Barber, September 30th, a son.

Miss Caskey, who is a teacher at the Foster Park school, fell and sprained her ankle Thursday, and is unable to walk.

The Central School have been practicing on the fire drill an on the last Thursday the children, over 400, left the building in one minute 10 seconds.

The funeral of James Donachie who died at his home Thursday was held Saturday afternoon from his late home on Church St., Reverend Black of the M.E. Church officiated. The burial was made in Crown Hill Cemetery.

A union temperance meeting was held in the Congregational church on Sunday evening at which a large crowd was in attendance. Rev. Sheldon was to have been the speaker but was unable to be present and Rev. Harding, Foster and English gave some very interesting talk. Appropriate music was furnished by the choir.

BROWNHELM

Mr. Byron Wellman has been helping the Gordon Bros. to cut corn.

Mr. Fischer expects to move into Mr. Pippert's tenet house the latter part of the week.

Mr. George Snyder of West Liberty is packing apples for A. Sweet and D. French, they are hauling their apples to Vermilion.

Letters may be sent to Great Britain for 2 cents.

Seneca County will hold a local option election, October 19.

Hearing County will hold a local option election not later than Nov. 25.

The candidate he kissed the baby, rubbed the hands of Sam and Sue; he swore the twins were beautiful and wish that he had two – but that doesn't count. He asked about the cornbread that he vainly tried to chew, and forthwith begged a recipe; of course, that tickled maw – but that doesn't count. But just before he left he winked and it closed up his jaw, and slipped out behind the barn and took a drink with pa – and that's what counts. [NOTE: Cute, but likely true.]

The many friends in both parties of Conrad H. Nuhn, the popular proprietor of the Red Cross pharmacy are pleased to learn of his nomination for treasurer of the county. He should be well supported especially in this part of the county as he will make a good man in the office. He has served in the capacity of village clerk for several terms and when the state inspector was here he found no fault whatever the manner in which the books had been kept and commended Mr. Nuhn highly for his work. He said they were the best books he had ever seen on his tour of inspection. We think this a first-class record recommend and we believe that he is capable of following out the work in the same systematic manner as county treasurer. He is a good man for the office.

No Cause For Alarm

Some people were badly frightened Sunday when it was stated that two Vermilion young ladies had been exposed to the smallpox. The simple facts of the case are that Misses Lydia Wakefield and Clara Copeland were at Fostoria last week guests at the home of J. Mathews. They returned home Sunday morning. Shortly after their arrival, Health Officer Delker received a message to the effect that Mrs. Matthews was thought to have the smallpox and to act accordingly. The young ladies were told to remain at home until the time at which the disease develops has passed. Later message from Fostoria states that Mrs. Matthews has a very light case of the disease. The ladies were not aware that they had been exposed to the disease until informed by the health officer. The young ladies have not as yet developed the disease and may not have it all and it is to be hoped that any rumor to the contrary will be promptly suppressed. Did you ever stop to think that many of us are exposed to various diseases and dangers quite often and as no bad of results, we know nothing of them. But occasionally they develop and then we wonder where such and such a disease came from.

Locals.

The friends of A. Monroe will be pained to learn that he has become insane has been taken to the hospital. After leaving the Vermilion Milling Co.'s employee he purchased a farm near Garrettsville, O., where he has resided for several months.

N.A. Foster's new home, which is located just west of his residence is nearing completion. When we saw him last he was industriously studying a color card trying to decide on the paint for it.

L.J. Stranahan of Chagrin Falls Exponent, one of the oldest newspaperman in this section made a pleasant call Tuesday evening. Mr. Stranahan has owned the Exponent for some 35 years. With his brother of the Stranahan Bros, the well-known caterers, spent the day fishing here.

Mrs. Charles Trinter underwent a slight operation at Cleveland hospital last week for an obstruction of the nose.

The many friends of Miss Anna Steffen will be pained to learn that she is quite ill at the home of C.C. Baumhart at Oberlin and has been unable to attend college for the past week. Her mother Mrs. Simon Steffen visited her yesterday.

Mrs. A.L. Irey and children of Berlin Heights are guests of friends here today.

District No. 3, Vermilion Tp. school taught by Miss Emma Nuhn, has been closed during the past week on account of the scholars being exposed to diphtheria. The school will probably be reopened next Monday. The school became exposed by a sister of L. Ackerman taking her children with her on a visit to his place at Ceylon. It was found that Mr. Ackerman had the disease. Several slight cases have been reported.

NOTICE

I will keep my hardware store open evenings as I have heretofore for the benefit of my customers. – G.H. Blattner.

[NOTE I’ve noted for the last few months that the NEWS in 1908In has become rather sketchy. News from outlying areas like Axtel, Brownhelm and Birmingham has all but disappeared from its pages. Even the local news has been wanting. I don’t know the reason for this (yet). But I’m sure it’ll change. In viewing the paper years after 1908 I know it got newsier. I just don’t understand the reason for the lull. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…]

BIRMINGHAM BURNS AND BUILDS: I thought I was being clever when I joined the accompanying photos together. My initial thought was that the upper photo was taken before the lower. While somewhere in the back of my brain it did occur to me that my thoughts about them could be wrong, it was not until I took a closer look and further researched the upper photograph that I realized that was indeed the case. The only good thing about my mistake is that the photos are – to some degree – related; they’re both of downtown Birmingham, Ohio. I just misjudged the order in which they were taken.

Several days previous I had been looking through a box of books and old papers and came across an old edition [12/28/1961] of the Vermilion News. Reading through the paper I happened upon a report about a meeting of the Birmingham Methodist Church Men’s Club. The subject of the program for the eighty-eight persons in attendance was Birmingham History. Residents Starr Truscott and Alton Hermon had collected pictures from persons in the vicinity for the program. Among the many historical thoughts about the town presented was the fact that in “the great fire of 1891” the entire main street on the “Edison Highway” (Route #113) was “wiped out”.

This caught my attention because I’d found the post card picture (bottom photo) of the “Ruins of Birmingham, O. 1891” last November and had tried, with very little success, to gather much more information about the conflagration. While I was aware of other big fires in Birmingham this one was new to me. And due to the obvious damage it caused I assumed it would have been widely reported in newspapers of the era. But it wasn’t. I believe I found one small mention of it – just in passing – in a Sandusky daily. Anyway, as the photo very graphically illustrates, Birmingham’s downtown buildings; a hotel, blacksmith shop, saloon, clothing and dry goods store, and bakery all disappeared in clouds of smoke.

My original intent was to use the upper photo to illustrate what was lost in the fire. But when I began to research the names of the business owners of the shops located on the ground floor of Birmingham’s Masonic Temple building I discovered that the owners of those stores – Mrs. Carrie Gibson and Conrad Schisler didn’t operate them until about 1900. Additionally, I found a report in the Sandusky Daily Register from January 3, 1890 describing a December 31, 1889 fire in Birmingham wherein the furniture rooms of one H. Heimsath along with the local Masonic Temple had burned to the ground with nearly all their contents. Consequently the Masonic building pictured was probably fairly new when its portrait was captured on glass around 1901.

These turn-of-the-century fires in Birmingham as well as Vermilion speak loudly of the dangers inherent in the old wood buildings of the yesteryear. Heated by wood / coal stoves and lit by kerosene lamps, once a fire got a good start extinguishing it was nearly impossible. Ironically, Starr Truscott, the gentleman who had opened the aforementioned meeting had begun by quoting the surveyor of the Birmingham district who in 1808 said, in part, that he “…ran [his chains a] mile west and set a post in hell”. He was, of course, just kidding: Or maybe not.

_{Ref: U.S. Census data; 1880, 1900-10-20; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 03/20/14.}

QUICK BACKUP: I pulled this pic out of my proverbial hat at the very last minute. It is the back of a 1922 photograph of the Vermilion High School football team. Next week I may use the photo that is on the other side. But, as indicated, this was a very last minute thing.

For a good part of the week I've been working on a slideshow using unfamiliar software (i.e. Adobe Lightroom). The result is that I was remiss in preparing things for this edition of "VV".

Nonetheless, this is a very REAL artifact.