Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: 4 desktop pix again. Some Viewers will recognize all of them because they’ve appeared in past pages in different places. The choice to use them was just arbitrary. The intent is (or was) just to see how difficult it might be to use four instead of just two in the frame animation. It’s just a combination of play and curiosity on my part. One pic is the street outside our Olympic Club home during a rainstorm a few years back. Another is a interesting pix of a crew laying brick on Liberty Avenue in front of Hart’s Corner Drug Store (now Big Ed’s Main Street Grill). Following it is a pic of an LSE (Lake Shore Electric) interurban car, also on Liberty, nearing the depot on the corner of Exchange Street. The old Hardy Inn visible behind the car was later removed to make way for a new post office building. Looming over all is the building now called the Cargo Warehouse – an exotic department store. The last pic is of an unknown trio in the drive of The Vermilion News office building on Grand Street – now the museum. This pic is of some interest because it clearly shows the public stable building that once sat behind the town hall and the Congregational Church. It’s a little hard to see, but there’s a car in the drive behind the girls – and behind it a garage. The pix are set to change every 20 seconds – forever. Boy that sounds ominous – “forever”. Anyway, in time I’ll try to choose a theme for displaying these desktops rather than just being arbitrary.
Historically,
COULD’A-WOULD’A-SHOULD’A: It has long escaped many: the reason Division street – that part of Main Street from the railroad to South Street - was never extended beyond South Street south to the old Nickel Plate railroad tracks. It seems so obvious a thing for our forefathers to have done “way back when”. After all, the path that takes you down State Street / Route 60 to South Street to a stop where you take a quick right on South and then a quick left on Main Street north, or vice-versa, may very well be a familiar procedure for townsfolk, but it’s clearly a topsy-turvy route for many visitors or unwary travellers to negotiate through town. And signs or no signs, and traffic light or no traffic light, navigating the often-busy corners of State, South and Grand streets can at times be both a confusing and precarious undertaking. Thus it would seem that our Vermilion forebears were not great visionaries; unless, of course, the intention was to bestow upon future generations an enduring headache. If so, they succeeded. But as we all well know hindsight is 20 / 20. So in all fairness we should probably cut them some slack.
Actually there were some folks who did recognize this potential problem – or at least some semblance of it. In the April 6th edition of the Erie County Reporter in 1883 an article about this very subject appeared. It seems that back then there was still time and space to extend Division Street (now Main) to the railroad. The problem arose back then because trains on the Nickel Plate Railroad stopped at the station, then located near State Street, for passengers and water on a regular basis, thereby blocking State Street crossing for a considerable amount of time. Due to the fact that State Street / Route #60 was a principal highway for a sizeable amount of traffic the blockage had become problematic. Consequently, if Division Street were to be extended both the station and the water tank could be located further to the east, and the crossing on State Street would, at least theoretically, always be open to traffic to and from town. It should be noted that the Vermilion grain Mill that would eventually sit on the site where the Mill Manor retirement home currently sits, had yet to have been built. Ergo, it was (at least theoretically) a good plan.
To reinforce this idea the reporter eagerly pointed out that “Now that good building lots” were apparently in demand in the town the time was ripe to extend the street making it into “one of the finest thoroughfares in town.” It was, given the enthusiasm of the article, a win, win situation. However, so often things seem so wonderful, so ideal, and so foolproof on paper. While just as often those things are apt to become “Could’a-Would’a-Should’a” things. As did this idea. Given the tenor or the articles surrounding it, it was plain that in the spring of 1883 the people in the little town of Vermillion had more pressing concerns:
Billy Stokes (some referred to him as “Billy the Kid” had come to town again, and again caused a ruckus. He got drunk, got into a fight and was granted a special appearance before Mayor Charles Summers. Mr. Scrowinsky, the town baker, was in the process of having a new bake oven installed in his place; Adam Trinter was having a grand new home built on Liberty street; a team of horses escaped from in front of Decker’s livery sans a driver and galloped down Division Street until arrested by a shade tree; George Nichols sold one of his three houses and lots on Ohio Street for $500; Some townsfolk celebrated the 102nd birthday of Washington Irving; Burdette Parsons finished building his new fish warehouse along the river; the lighthouse light was about to be lit for the season; several sailing vessels and tugs had been sighted passing by on the lake between the ice and the beach; the streets in the town were being cleaned of the trash that had accumulated during the winter months; the west pier of the wagon bridge collapsed preventing travel from the east. So who cared about future traffic bottlenecks on State Street? Certainly not Hank Englebry as he was putting a new coat of paint on the M.& E. church in the middle of town; and most certainly not the youngster flying his kite high over the swamp from an empty lot near the river. The future would take care of itself.
YESTERYEAR'S NEWS: The following clips were orally transcribed from past issues of The Vermilion News. I think you will find them both interesting and fun...
George Taylor, forty-five to twenty years proprietor of the Forest city hotel barbershop, died suddenly of apoplexy yesterday noon in a little room back of the shop. He had complained of stomach trouble when he came down to work in the morning and had spent the major part of the forenoon in a reclining chair back of the shop. At noon one of his assistants, hearing him groaning loudly, ran back and found him dying.
Black and Wright’s ambulance was called, but before it reached the hotel Taylor was dead.
In the course of his long service at the Forest City Taylor had among his patrons almost every prominent man who has lived or visited Cleveland. – Plain Dealer (Thursday)
Mr. Taylor was a brother of Mrs. John Carr this place and quite well known having visited here a number of times, the last time some two weeks ago, when he expressed the fear that it might be his last visit. A wife survives also his mother who lives in Texas.
Funeral services were held Friday and the remains taken to the old home at New Philadelphia for interment. The Odd Fellows of which he was a member, had charge of the services.
A fine gas well has been completed at the American Dynamite plan.
[NOTE:Now that’s exciting news.]
Miss Hattie Baker who has been very sick for the past five weeks is again able to be out.
Sugar camps are very busy in this section. Mr. John Joseph Whiton brought the syrup the first syrup to town.
On account of the illness Rev. Lindenmeyer there were no preaching services at St. Peter's church Sunday.
H. W. Belden fell on the sidewalk and injured his hip to such an extent that he will be laid up for a short time.
Frank Heusner has rented the Clause blacksmith building and has opened a gasoline power engine and spraying machine store.
Several of the young folks of this vicinity have taken advantage of the beautiful sleighing and several sleighing parties have been enjoyed.
Frank Gatz was arrested and fined $5 and cost amounting to $11.35 Wednesday for making a threat that he would "clean up" the house of Hunkies at Clough quarry of which Frank Sollack is at the head.
When William Burgesky went to the home of Mike Lenz in S. Amherst last week to collect a debt it is alleged that Mike drove him out of the house at the point of a revolver. Justice Shuyler assisted lands three dollars assessed Lenz $3 and costs Monday.
Martin J. Ballback, and aged baker of this place was found dead at his home on Saturday. He lived sort of a hermit's life. After being missed all day Friday and a large part of Saturday, from his place of business, his absence excited comment. His home was visited and found locked, so the door was broken in and the aged man was found lying upon the floor, dead. The coroner was at once notified to view the body. Mr. Ballback was a native of Switzerland and has lived in Amherst sixteen years. His wife died several years ago and seven daughters and fours sons are scattered around in different places, several living in Elyria. The funeral was held from the Catholic church, Tuesday.
We are having fine sugar weather at present.
Mrs. Lizzie Zuercher is seriously at this writing.
Rev. Lindenmeyer of North Amherst is confined to his bed which will keep his pupils back in their studies.
Mrs. Sandford is reported quite ill.
The telephone service is still crippled.
John Thomas is reported seriously ill.
The outlook for ice is rather discouraging as yet. The Kishman Fish co. cut some just west of the harbor last week but Mr. Gustavus has none yet.
The Rasor murder trial at Medina is occupying plenty of space in the dailies at present. Guy Rasor is charged with killing his sweetheart Ora Lee on the eve of their marriage, October 8, ‘08.
One of the crying needs of Vermilion is a number of cottages to rent. Nearly every week we have inquiries for houses. We believe no better investment could be made that someone to build cottages from 5 to 8 rooms. They would rent readily and at prices.
Born – Mr. Mrs. Vaughn at the Maud-Elton Monday, a daughter. The little one died on Tuesday.
Mrs. W. A. Christian suffered a severe fall on an icy porch last week and as a result was confined to her bed for several days. Dr. Pelton attended her.
Mr. Hamil employee of the Wakefield Co., had the misfortune to clip off the end of the finger in one of the machines Wednesday.
We are sorry to state that C. Schwensen who has operated a bakery here for a number of years has closed up his business. We hope it is only temporary, however.
Friday, Mrs. Worlie B. Housman of Ohio Street, planned and executed a very neat birthday surprise in the form of an oyster supper, on her sister, Mrs. Pearl Roscoe. Stratagem was employed in getting Mrs. R. to leave the very important task in which she was engaged, and when she arrived "surprise" greeted her on every hand. Covers were laid for fourteen.
Hally Joslin a nephew of Mrs. H.G. Morse was killed by a mine explosion in Nevada last week. The boy was brought to a funeral held there today.
Mrs. S. J. Nieding is quite ill at her home on South Street.
Mrs. Franc Parsons will entertain the Sorosis on Friday evening.
Mrs. V. Marsh of Brownhelm is reported seriously ill.
Florence McVeen who has been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism and hives for the past several weeks was taken to Cleveland Saturday and placed in St. Luke's Hospital. At last report pneumonia had set in an she was in a very serious condition.
The funeral of Mrs. Garry who died at Toledo was held here on Tuesday. Mrs. Garry was 78 years of age and had lived on a farm south of town for 30 years. She was well and favorably known throughout the section. A few years ago she sold her farm and removed to Cleveland, but later returned to Vermilion. She was a member of the Catholic Church here. Burial was made in Elyria.
Those who were not present at the church last Sunday missed a very good talk on Lincoln.
Owing to the lines being out of order there are not many Axtel items this week.
Mrs. Wm. Dean is still on the sick list. We are glad to learn that she was somewhat better this week.
Mr. Jed Brown is on the sick list.
We are not complaining of dry weather at present writing. Vermilion River at this place is high and still rising from last night's shower.
Mr. Hale has tapped some over 2000 trees in his sugarbush.
Wild geese have been reported as flying north.
Mrs. Fay Durling was united in marriage by the minister to Mr. John Poyer last Monday in the presence of the near friends of both bride and groom at the residence of the groom's parents where Miss Durling his been living for the most of a year and a half except when in school. Thus Birmingham has lost another member of the hand of young people. Mrs. Poyer has the best wishes for her future happiness and Mr. Poyer is to be congratulated upon his choice.
Miss Alice Faust is reported quite ill.
Mrs. Myra Bailey is reported on the sick list.
Saturday evening at the home of his grandparents Mr. And Mrs. Hudson Tuttle occurred the death of Freddy Staley. He had been ill from rheumatism for several weeks and last week pneumonia set in. He was an orphan, his father having passed away about three months ago and his mother about three years ago.
It is reported that a Sandusky woman living on Shelby street kissed her pet dog one day last week and was badly bitten on the face. A physician was called and the case is being watched. No name was given.
Mary Rickmers, 19, Gates Mills while walking to her home from the car Saturday night was attacked by a man who struck her with a blackjack and attempted to choke her. She fought with all our might and screamed for help. The man fled down the road and probably boarded a car for Cleveland. Ms. Rickmers lies at her home with a seriously bruised head and neck and unstrung nerves. The attack occurred about 8 o'clock in the evening.
Christina Barbara Frailey was born and Ropple Houser, Germany, May 31, 1837. Came to the U.S. when sixteen years of age: was married to Henry Nieding of Vermilion in 1858. Died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Henry Leidheiser Sunday Feb. 21, 1909. Mrs. Nieding was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters are living. She also leaves twenty grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Nick Fischer and Mrs. Nick Baatz, one brother john Frailey a score of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Nieding’s home was east of town until about five months ago since when she has made her home with her daughter and during which time she has been ill. She was 71 years and nine months of age. Services were held at the house and Reformed church on Wednesday, attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends. Interment at Maple Grove cemetery. The husband and father died in 1895.
Word was received here Tuesday of the death of Jacob Nieding, age 42, at his home in Cleveland. Funeral services were held in that city Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 23d. He leaves a father, three brothers and a sister. He is a cousin of the Niedings who reside in vermillion, also of Mrs. John Walper.
Hmmmmmm....
BROWSING: His success was to be fleeting...
RAMBLING THROUGH 1899 VERMILLION: ‘Tis fun sometimes - to just ramble through the archived files of The Vermilion News to see (as the expression goes) what was shakin’ among the common folk in some yesteryear. So back to the year 1899 go we...
Tuesday, July 25 - “There arrived on the 4:30 p.m. train what is supposed to be a wild man from the Philippines, which is to be on exhibition at Shadduck’s park. This may be the cause of a number of young people refusing to go to the park.”
Shadduck’s park, also known as Shadduck’s Grove, was the predecessor of the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. It, like Crystal, was a public recreational / picnic park with swimming, a beer garden, and a dance pavilion. But it didn’t offer a tremendous number of amusements beyond those mentioned. Ergo; a wild man from the Philippines must have been a real treat. The feral Filipino, however, was probably born and raised in the Bronx.
On Monday of the same week the paper reported that “seven wagon loads of gypsies came to our town and stopped by the hotel. There were about thirty in number of which five women went to the business places to tell the fortunes of our citizens. One stopped at the [sic] postoffice and told the postmaster she would tell his fortune by holding a dollar in the palm of her hand. Mr Kane gave her the dollar which she took and started out of the door, after a short foot race he succeeded in getting the dollar back. Mr. Kane thinks he will be more careful the next time.”
The “next time”?
Intermingled with these jewels was the inevitable advertisement: “Thomas Roads, Centerfield, O. Writes I suffered from piles seven or eight years. No remedy gave me relief until DeWitt’s Witch Hazel Salve. Less than a box of which permanently cured me. Soothing, healing, perfectly harmless. Beware of counterfeits. C.C. Baumhart - The Druggist.” (Hey, the publisher had to pay the bills.)
Thursday, March 30 - “Marshall Boland reports that twenty-three tramps found lodging at his “hotel” Sunday and Monday nights. He says he will average seven guests per night. They give their residences anywhere from New York to San Francisco.”
The homeless / jobless problem, contrary to what we may currently believe is as Marshall Boland’s 1899 report suggests, nothing new to our society. The difference seems to be that past populations of the homeless were primarily male and constantly in transit.
And then there was the also inevitable editorializing artfully inserted into news space: “Few people realize the importance of the electric line which passes through our town. It is the main line of the largest electric railway system in the country and like the Lake Shore steam road, it will, in time, be double tracked. In all probability it will be extended west to Chicago, and east to buffalo or New York. Unlike the steam road, however, its service will be of a different character and instead of one or two trains each way per day cars will stop every hour or two.”
The editor’s positive vision for the future of the electric railway was, very unfortunately, never realized. With the advent of the automobile public funds were used to accommodate America’s love affair with personal transportation.
The following 1899 report from the Norwalk Reflector is a reflection (no pun intended) of the changes that would eventually sweep over our community as well as our nation: “The old covered bridge at Birmingham, Erie County (pictured), which has survived the wear and tear of about seventy years of service, is about to be replaced by a modern steel structure. The old bridge has a span of 150 feet and the trusses were made of oak timbers, which had a natural crook. Before the days of railroads, in the days of stages, there was a vast amount of travel over the bridge. The contemplated bridge and approaches are estimated to cost $16,000.”
Soon the century would come to an end. Shadduck’s park would be replaced by Blanchat’s Crystal Beach; A gypsy fortune teller would have a seasonal franchise in that park, and keep a running tab with the Vermilion mayor for frequently providing a room for her spirituous spouse in what Marshall Boland once referred to a his “hotel”; The bridge over the Vermilion River at Birmingham would, again, experience “a vast amount” of traffic and be replaced before another new century began; And one must be hard pressed not to wonder if someone in a future generation will look back at us - and smile.
…hundred feet. There is gypsum on the lake bottom south of Put-in-Bay Island.
Next over the Salina is a group of rocks that form a considerable portion of the Helderberg Mountains in New York, and are called the Helderberg group. It is there made up of several distinct strata, mostly earthy limestones. Its lower subdivision is the water-lime. It m a y be identified by its ever present and characteristic fossil, leperditia alta. The water-lime is exposed on the peninsula in Ottawa county, and forms Putin-Bay and other islands in that vicinity.
At Castalia a large volume of water flows up from orifices in the limestone rock, called Castalia Springs. It maintains an equable temperature and volume throughout all seasons, except that a protracted drought affects its volume. The water is highly charged with lime, and incrusts any object covered by it, and has deposited a sheet of travertine, over a large area in the vicinity. The subterranean channels of the stream are in the water lime, the uppermost member of the Silurian system.
This group forms the summit of the Upper Silurian system and completes a circle of sediments which corresponds with that of the Lower Silurian. The history recorded in each case is the same: a submergence of, such portions of the continental surface as now carry the sedimentary strata enumerated; in the progress of each submergence, the spread of shore materials over all the surface covered by the advance of the sea; this sheet being followed first by mixed mechanical and organic sediments, then by those almost purely calcareous deposits from the open ocean, and finally earthy limestones, indicating a retreating, shallowing sea, and a return to land conditions, during which no depositions would be made on the surface, but which was the necessary starting point for a new circle of deposits. One difference in the sediments of these Silurian oceans is, that the limestones of the Trenton group are nearly pure carbonate of lime, while those of the Niagara series (the Clinton, Niagara, and water-lime) are highly magnesian. The animal life of the two seas was entirely different, except two or three mollusks; and this probably is the reason for the distinctive chemical characters exhibited by the organic sediments of these seas. In the Silurian rocks we find a great number and variety of the lower order of animals and abundant traces of marine plants, but in America no vertebrates and no land plants have been discovered in them, while in Europe remains of both land plants and fishes occur in the rocks of the Upper Silurian.
In this country remains of fishes are first met with in the Devonian system of rocks, which are tho.se next above the Silurian. This system is called the age of fishes, as the Silurian is the age of mollusks. The name Devonian comes from Devonshire, England, where these rocks are prevalent. They form an important part of the geology of our country and of the world, occupying a large area of the surface, include one of our most valuable mineral…
A WOW! THING: I’ve seen this pic a number of times in a number of places, but none have been this good. Linwood Park resident Janet Waggoner came by recently with a box of glass negatives and asked me to develop them for her. This relatively famous pic was among them.
The tree is to my knowledge the reason Linwood Park has its name. I have, in the past, been given the identities of those pictured, but I don’t currently have them available (and I did not memorize them). However, I believe that all three – mom, dad, and baby are members of the Goetz / Shanks family.
As one can see the forest in which Linwood Park was built was rather dense. In the background (right) may be the old hotel. I say that because it appears to be a 3-story structure.
I am currently unable to date the pic or to provide any true orientation. We may be looking south and west. But don’t hold me that. It is pure speculation. Janet may have a better handle on the entire scene.
I was very surprised to find this pic among those provided. There are about twenty more. But I doubt that they’ll be as exciting (to me) as this particular photograph.
Wow!
A young woman was suffering badly from hay fever. She was going to a fancy dinner party that night and figured she would need at least two handkerchiefs to get her through the evening. She didn't have any pockets, so she stuffed them both in her bra. Halfway through the night, she had already used up one handkerchief and was rummaging around in her bra for the other one. She was having trouble finding it, and soon she noticed that everyone at the table was looking at her.
"What on earth are you doing?" asked one of her colleagues. She replied, "I could have sworn I had two when I arrived".
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
P.O. Box 437
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-8397
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- Muhammad Ali
Vol. 14. Issue 51 - February 25, 2017
Archive Issue #728
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