ALTA: 1907 did not descend gracefully upon Linwood Park in the Village of Vermilion, Ohio. Oh, the weather was pleasant enough - but it was perhaps too pleasant. A sere, and rather brisk April wind caused an errant spark from a chimney of one cottage in the park to silently light upon the roof of another with rather disastrous results. Thirty percent of the park’s 70 cottages were reduced to ash. Were that the sum toll of misfortune for park residents that year it would have been quite enough. But it was not.

Linwood Park took its name from a great tree (8 foot in diameter, and 85 feet high) which overlooked, and shaded, the Linwood Hotel. The hollowed-trunk of the tree had provided generations of youngsters with a place to play unfettered by the busy world around them. The shadow of the great tree was cast across the earth long before white men knew this land existed. However; it was deemed to be, by the powers of that “busy world”, an ageing risk and was, thusly and forever, laid low.

As spring turned to summer the sounds of hammers, saws, and jovial voices could be heard throughout the park as folks worked to recoup some of which they had lost. And quite suddenly and subtly Linwood came to life again. Summer residents removed the shutters from their homes and waved to their neighbors, and smiling visitors filled the rooms of the hotel along the beach. Among them was a pretty 17 year old girl from Ragersville, Ohio. Her name was Alta Weiss.

Ms. Weiss was the second of three daughters born to Dr. George and Lucinda Weiss. Alta was a young lady of remarkable talent. She was an excellent student. She played the piano, the violin, and had a wonderful singing voice. But those things were not uncommon among girls of her age in 1907. What was truly extraordinary about her was her love for outdoor sports. This included hunting. But more importantly it included playing the game of baseball and, specifically, having an ability to play it better than more than a few of her male counterparts.

Her talent at the game was so remarkable that her father had established a two-year high school in Ragersville to allow her the opportunity to play on a school team. Moreover; he built a ball park for the town team. Alta was playing first base for the town’s second (string) team (consisting of men) when she was but 14.

Thus, it should suffice to say that by 1907 baseball was more than just a game to Alta - it was a passion. And, thus, it should further be of no surprise to anyone that upon settling in at Linwood for a vacation she would, and did, seek out a means to exercise her skills at the game.

Happening upon a group of boys playing catch she asked to join them. Whether this amused them, or they were just being courteous, or both, the boys agreed. And the rest is history.

The Mayor of Vermilion in 1907 was a fellow named H.R. Williams. The “Squire” (as he was called) and his family were among those who kept a summer home in the park. Among his sundry interests was the game of baseball. And as fate would have it he saw the 17 year-old Alta setting fire to the gloves of the aforementioned group of boys in the game of catch.

Immediately recognizing her talent the Squire suggested to Charles Heidloff, the manager of Vermilion’s semipro Vermilion Independents, that he sign her to play for the team. He initially scoffed at the idea. But after watching her play in a game the Squire arranged to be played between two local teams, with Alta pitching, he scoffed no more. Alta Weiss, with her father’s permission, took the mound at Vermilion’s Crystal Beach ball park on September 2, 1907 and pitched her way into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The following year Dr. Weiss purchased the team and renamed it the Weiss All-Stars. Alta is pictured (in the middle) surrounded by her team-mates (an amalgamation of players from both Vermilion and Ragersville).

In 1910 she, in effect, left the field forever when she entered the Starling-Ohio Medical College in Columbus. She graduated from med-school in 1914 - the only woman in her class. Eventually she returned to her home in Ragersville, retired from doctoring, and spent the rest of her life tending to her ten cats, reading three newspapers every day, driving her 1940 Buick to and from the store, and watching children play ball on the street in front of her home. And there she died in 1964.

Back in Vermilion, Ohio Crystal Beach has disappeared, replaced by a bank, a gas station, and a number of apartment buildings. And just a hop, skip, and a jump to west - in Linwood Park - an empty ball field waits in anticipation of days to come, and quietly recalls a yesteryear that began very badly but ended quite marvelously.

A special meeting of the Village Council was held last Thursday evening. A Wm. Roff of Cleveland was present and asked that the ends of the streets near the old Duplex Heater Works be vacated. Mr. Roff has an option on nearly all the property bounded by Huron and Main streets and the river and lake and says he would build up residence there if satisfactory arrangements can be made for closing the streets, which divide it. He did not seem to favor opening a street right-of-way along the river to the pier.

Mr. Russell of the Lake Shore Ry., was present and said the proposed proposition for paying all the cost of lighting the crossings did not meet with the company's approval and offered to pay half of the expense.

No action was taken either case.

Last Thanksgiving Benny Sutliff, who had been at the Light And Hope Orphanage for some seven years, left that institution without leave and came to Vermilion. He took up his residence at Peter Hahn’s, where he is at present. The people at the home have endeavored to locate him, but until lately have been unable to do so. This week the home authorities made application to judge Hinman of Lorain County for the appointment of Mr. Boyd who is stopping at the home, as guardian without giving the boy an opportunity, is alleged, of making a choice, as allowed by law, he being 14 or 15 years old. Several Vermilion people went to Elyria Wednesday, but the Judge firmly refused to give them any satisfaction other than to advise that the Guardian whom he appointed would do well to leave the boy with Mr. Hahn as it is a good home. A rehearing of the case was asked but without result.

It is alleged that things are not what they should be at the home and the boy in question complains of ill treatment at the hands of those in charge. This is not the first time such allegations have been made and it was reported that another boy is in or near Vermilion, having run away. Some are of the opinion that an investigation is in order.

One peculiar situation in question is, has the boy a right to choose his own guardian? Is he a resident of Lorain or Erie County? According to law a man would be after having lived in the county the same length of time.

The home authorities claim that the boys were enticed away by some person or persons who were at one time at the home - that they were unruly. They also say that the story of the treatment is not true that they are as a rule too lenient, if anything, with the children, and that they are cared for as well as possible under the circumstance.

[NOTE:This is the beginning of the end of Light And Hope orphanage. It is also the beginning of the urban legend “The Gore Orphanage”.]

Arrangements have been completed for the band concert to be given next week Thursday evening.

Messrs Fred N. Krapp and Paul Thompson will give the vocal selections. Both gentlemen have excellent voices and we are sure they will please…

Boys! When you are 73 years of age, do you think you can hold such a record is this man does for work this fall? P.J. Havice, who is 73 years of age this month, has kept a record of the hogs, cattle, etc., he has dressed the fall and it is as follows: 205 hogs, 17 head of cattle, 20 sheep and 10 calves. Who can beat this in any kind of work?

Through the publication of the marriage license issued to Grover Austin Troxel and Miss Mary Fitzpatrick last week the father of the bride Jas. Fitzpatrick learned of the whereabouts of his wife and children. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick were separated some 14 years ago. He has spent part of the time in St. Louis.

[NOTE:I’m not sure I understand what this means. Was Mr. Fitzpatrick the father of the bride or the groom? I think what it means is that Mary Fitzpatrick was one of his children. But it certainly is a very foggy report.]

H.L. Beesing is assisting Frank Heussner in the nursery business.

B.S. Gillette was injured while getting out of a sleigh Thursday.

The funeral of Mrs. Martha Dellefield who died Wednesday evening at her home was held on Saturday at the St. Peter's Evangelical church. Rev. Lindenmeyer officiating. The remains were interred in the Cleveland Street Cemetery. Five children survive her.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sage of Brownhelm Thursday, January 14th, a son.

Mrs. Charles Baughton underwent an operation at the Lorain hospital Thursday is getting along as well as can be expected.

The funeral of Mrs. Bachmann an aged resident was held Sunday. Mrs. Bachman died at the home of her son Philip at Brownhelm Station on Thursday night.

Edward Leuzler was quite seriously injured while drawing logs Thursday. The ligaments of his left foot were strained and torn.

The outlook for a prosperous year is growing brighter every day at the quarries. Good-sized orders are coming in every day and by spring the quarries will be started with their full force.

BORN – to Mr. Mrs. Martin Kreuck Sunday a daughter.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kreuger Sunday.

Lorain is to have a police court. The bill has been introduced in the legislature providing for the same.

Reports from Lorain indicate that the Knox syndicate owner of Oak Point is renewing the leases to the farmers. So we will still have the Oak Point mystery with us.

President Roosevelt has been the cause of more bad words than any president we have yet had. Probably he has trod upon more corns – exposed more frauds and underhanded dealings than any other.

Unless the action of the Senate is turned down by the house William Howard Taft will draw salary of $100,000 per year and will be obliged to pay his own traveling expenses. The Speaker Of The House and President Of The Senate will receive $15,000 each instead of $12,000. The salary of the Chief Justice was increased from $13,000-$15,000, Associate Justices from $12,500-$14,500, Circuit Judges from $7000-$10,000. A new office has been created, that of Undersecretary Of State.

Mr. Geo. Shoop was born of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shoop July 13, 1850 and died January 14, 1909 age 58 years, six months and one day. He was born and lived in Vermilion. He leaves four sisters, wife and three children to mourn their loss.

Funeral services were held Monday at 9:30 AM at the residence of J.A. Englebry. W.P. Murray of the Christian Church officiating.

Otto Blattner, born April 15, 1858, died January 12, 1909. Age 50 years eight months, 28 days.

Mr. Blattner was born in Cleveland came to Vermilion in early youth, from boyhood up to 12 years ago he sailed on the lakes. February 19, 1893 he married his brother's widow who had been left with four children through the untimely death of her husband, Capt. Blattner. To this union were born 2 children who with their another and 4 other children survive to mourn the sad death.

The mother of the deceased, two brothers and two sisters also are heartbroken over the untimely death of a member of the family.

He was found dead near Sunnyside about 8 a.m. on January 13th. He was last seen alive Monday evening at 6 o'clock when he left the Lake Shore Electric car at above-named station.

Friday funeral services were held at the Reformed Church, conducted by the pastor A.G. Lohmann.

The election of directors and officers of the bank of Vermilion Company, held on on the 4th resulted in the retention of those who served last year.

Infirmary directors F Seigell and G Mergel were in town Tuesday and with director Morris went to the Wakefield Brass Company's plant to purchase fixtures for electric lights for the Infirmary. Before leaving a nice order was left with the Wakefield Brass Company. The directors were well pleased with courteous treatment received from the Wakefield people.

At the meeting of the stockholders of the Vermilion Telephone Company, January 19th, the following directors were chosen: E.L. Coen, H.B. Kishman, M.E. Lawless, G.P. McConnelly, C.H. McGraw, C.L. Kuhlman, R.F. Quigley, C.L. Phelps, Edwin Fledderjohn, George P. Wahl, E.B. Welch and L.W. Stone. The selection of officers resulted as follows: Pres. E.L. Coen, 1st Vice President R.F. Quigley, 2nd Vice President G.B. McConnelly, Treasurer, C.H. McGraw, Secy. M.E. Lawless.

Miss Mrs. Lizzie Wright who fell and broke her hip recently is recovering as fast as can be expected.

Gerry Paxton and Mrs. Waterman are slowly recovering from an attack of typhoid fever.

The littlest son of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Smith fell downstairs and broke his collarbone Friday.

A defective flu in the tobacco store of F. Weitzman was the cause of a small blaze in that building on Wednesday afternoon. The department was called out and soon had the fire under control.

The horse which has been used for carrying the mail between the depot and post office for a number of years was found dead in the stable Wednesday morning.

The Kishman Fish Company commenced preparing its twine for spring fishing this week.

John Bowers has purchased a fine black horse.

Mr. Alphias Shattuck, a pioneer resident of Brownhelm, died last Sunday and was buried Tuesday. He leaves a wife and three sons who all reside in Brownhelm.

Mrs. Will Sanders was in the scarlet fever is a little better. The little girl was a great deal better.

Sleighing is fine here in this vicinity. A few inches more snow would make it the best ever.

Five people are sick with typhoid fever at Ernest Baker’s, Henrietta.

People here were greatly shocked to hear that Bonnie Snyder had had his wrist crushed in a shaft last week. He reached over the shaft and a setscrew caught his coat sleeves. Amputation was necessary. His arm was taken off just below the elbow.

BROWSING: Wow!

WRITING IS THE EASY PART: Scanning through some of my old photo files I came across the accompanying pix of a 1904 basketball team. I’m sorry to say (and embarrassed to admit) that I don’t recall where it came from or who gave it to me. But as one can see it needed to be put back together.

At the time I probably viewed the task as being both a challenge and a novelty. I really like to work with digital hardware and software in relation to photographs. And while I read an awful lot about different techniques I don’t often have opportunities such as the one presented by this pic. So I naturally saw it as, again, a challenge as well as an opportunity. Moreover, I don’t recall that there was any pressure on me to see if I could accomplish the job. That always makes everything easier.

Actually, given the right tools, piecing this pic back together was rather easy. It was much like doing a simple jigsaw puzzle. The touchiest part of the deal was making it appear as though it had never been broken. Though I don’t recall exactly when I did this, looking at it now I would judge the finished product as being respectable.

Most times writing about the subject of most photographs is the easy part. Working them – making them legible – is often very time consuming.

BEECKEL’S MIRROR: Nancy Kneisel (sorry, but I don’t know her married name) came by the museum this week with a whole bunch of things. Among them was this little 10”x10” advertising mirror from A.E. Beeckel’s furniture (and many other things) store.

Thought Vermilion is spelled here with 2 ells I don’t believe that the misspelling would accurately date the piece. It could be from the 30s or even the 40s. Ofttimes an advertising company would (and still do) issue samples of their work sans accurate spelling. I think this was one of those sample items.

Nonetheless, it is a keeper – a great artifact from Vermilion’s yesteryear. I have another, much larger, mirror I keep above my work desk at the museum that is also a Beeckel Furniture piece. It’s nothing fancy, but I cherish it.