Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: Back to a 2-desktop pic this week. More than that really isn’t worth the trouble. The pix are easy. The captioning is not when one is busy.
So – on the shoptop this week is a cool pic of both sides of a token from the old Furgason Pool and Bowling Alley that once occupied the store behind the old A&P grocery on Division / Main Street.
“Furgie’s” was still in operation when I was young, but I never went into the place. To me it was just another beer joint – like Lefty’s, the old Maud-Elton and Maggie’s. I never cared for the aroma that emanated from those places. It was a mixture of tobacco and booze. You could easily pick up the smell from the sidewalks outside.
I knew some folks who set pins in the bowling alley. But I never met anyone who mentioned playing pool in the place.
While I’ve never investigated I have wondered how many lanes “Furgie” had in the place. I can’t imagine it having any more than two.
On my home desk this week is simply a photograph I like. I guess I could call it Looking Back to Look Ahead. I miss nice summer days in Vermilion.
The pic isn’t too old (a couple of years). But it allows me to feel, hear and smell the summer day pictured during a snowstorm. Although it’s been a very mild winter in Vermilion thus far one can’t help but look forward for days like that.
It won’t be long (I hope).
LINWOOD THINGS: Recently I purchased a copy of the Karen and Ray Boas book “Through These Gates”. I had one some time ago, but I don’t know what happened to it.
In any case, I never took the time to read through it before. I just thumbed through it. It may have been during my youth when I thought I knew everything. [It’s hard to admit one’s arrogance. But there it is.]
The book is really full of local history. It’s both a vital and substantial reference book for all persons interested in Vermilion history. It’s well researched and written. If I had to complain about anything regarding it, it would be the quality of paper on which it is printed because it doesn’t do justice to the photographs.
Nonetheless, it’s an extremely valuable and useful local history publication.
MERCI ALL: I want to thank everyone who helped establish contact with former Vermilionite Amy Shanks Miller. She both emailed and phoned me very quickly after my request appeared on the page.
I wasn’t stalking her. My reason for wanting to speak with her is because she owns the old church bell that once called folks to church at the old Congregational Churches on Division / Main Street. The bell beckoned parishioners to services in Vermilion’s first church (built in 1843) from about 1853 and was moved to the one that replaced it in 1888 – now the Millet Auction House. When the church was sold to a local Baptist ministry (c.1960) the bell remained. And when that ministry moved Amy’s parents purchased the bell later shipping it to their new home in California. [NOTE: By the way, Amy told me that it was carried by the Mayflower (the moving company not the ship). That’s actually very ironic because the ancestors of the Congregational church arrived in America aboard the Mayflower.]
In a recent presentation re: the History of Vermilion’s Congregational Church that I stumbled through for the Vermilion Area Archival Society (VAAS) at the Ritter Library I mentioned the fact that Amy now owns the bell. Afterward several persons approached me and asked if I might find out if she might consider selling it back to the church because they would be more than happy help finance such a transaction. The thought is that because the 200th anniversary of the church coming up next year that it would be nice to reunite the bell with the church.
Although I’m not entirely certain, it doesn’t appear that Amy is terribly interested in selling it. But no matter, it’s nice to know that someone from Vermilion has the old bell. So it’s not just idly sitting forgotten, collecting dust in some stranger’s warehouse at some unknown location. She tells me that she makes a point of sounding the old bell every 4th of July.
May it forever ring...
OUT OF SORTS: I’ve been sort of out-of-whack since our move to our new / old home at the OOC. Again, it’s less than half the size of our other home and I just can’t seem to adjust. I have all my history books / writing stuff etc. and most of my clothing in one room along with my computer, scanner and printer. I’m not claustrophobic – just crowded.
On the other hand it may simply be the arthritis in my hip that’s been making me so negative. I didn’t know it until now, but about 52.5 million adults in the US, about 22.7% of the population are reported to have a form of arthritis. It’s a wonder that anything gets done in our world given that much hurt.
In my case I’ve not really wanted to do much because of the pain – even sitting hurts. Consequently, I’ve not taken the time to arrange things properly.
Vermilionite Dawn Full whose is 99 tells me that “Getting old ain’t for wimps.” I’m inclined to take her word for it. In a few weeks I’m going to see a specialist. I hope they’ll shoot me with something that will reduce the pain.
I actually started having unpleasant visions of myself in a wheelchair. But I think not. Who knows? Maybe by April 1st I’ll be running a marathon - or at least limping. Is there such a thing as a limping marathon?
Historically,
MARCH 1927: The world was changing. The “War To End All Wars” - W.W.I (1914-18) - had come to an end and Americans seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. By 1920 the U.S. Census indicated that a majority of American citizens had become urbanites. In January of the same year Congress approved the 18th Amendment to our Constitution, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the nation. It was summarily ignored by more than a few very law-abiding citizens. In August of 1920 Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote in all elections. This law was not ignored. By the end of the decade automobiles, telephones, radios, and electric washing machines would become part of nearly every American household. The vice president of the DuPont Company and General Motors, avowed that persons investing only $15 a month in the stock market could easily make $80,000 in 20 years. It was a decade historians and romantics would come to call the “The Roaring Twenties” .
Life in the bustling Village of Vermilion, Ohio wasn’t likely “roaring” during those years, but it was at least humming. In August of 1922 the Spanish War Veterans Association of Cleveland purchased the old Johnson Farm a few miles west of town with intentions of building a “planned community” for veterans and their families they would call, appropriately enough, Volunteer Bay. In September of the same year Lyle Tischer purchased the old F.V. Pelton grocery store on South Street (now Bicycle Bill’s) from C.A. Nuhn. The Bank of Vermilion was paying 4% interest on savings accounts, and urging folks to invest in commodities. Vermilion’s High School registration records (1922) showed it to be the largest high school in Erie County. And although the South Street School didn’t officially opened its doors to the upper six grades (approximately 250 pupils) in the system until the 1927-28 school year the VHS Class of 1927 used the school’s new auditorium for their graduation exercises. Yessiree - things were humming along aright.
Atop the building that is now home to the Old Prague Restaurant on Liberty Avenue in Vermilion the word “humming” would have been a literal term describing activities there in 1927. It was the telecommunications center for all businesses and families in the village. A single supervisor oversaw the activities of two female operators manning two switchboard consoles (pictured). It appears that the tasks being performed by these operators was neither easy nor glamorous.
A work area like this today would most certainly be unacceptable. It does not appear to be well lit - although the presence of the fan atop the large console indicates that electricity was available. However; the oil lamp on a shelf near the wall suggests that the electric lighting was not extremely dependable. The absence of protective coverings on all the connections to and from the switchboards, etc. - while not allowable today - was commonplace when Vermilion News editor Pearl Roscoe took this photograph in March of 1927. There is, however, a fire extinguisher hanging on the wall in case of an emergency.
Yet, be all that as it was, the three ladies in the photo (whose identities are unknown) appear to have been in tune with the fashions of the times. Gone were the days of full-length dresses and long hair replaced by shorter skirts and short "bobbed" hair. Although some mistakenly assume that all dresses of the era were short, both dress and coat lengths of the period were actually calf length and quite long for most of the decade. Note the chiffon-sleeved dress worn by the supervisor, her fur-trimmed coat hanging on the wall, and her stylish cloche hat just above her desk. These may not have been signs of extreme wealth; but they surely indicate that some measure of uniform prosperity had been achieved during the decade.
While this photo hardly affords anyone an alluring / romantic view of the “The Roaring Twenties” as it touched the lives of persons in our community - Roscoe’s undistorted portrait of that yesteryear serves as an accurate historical record of the epoch as it unfolded in the heart of America.
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...
Mr. Geo. Feick, the well-known contractor, will within a week or two begin the erection of the first skyscraper in the county. The building will be of cement and iron construction, 8 stories high and front 66 on south side of Market St., opposite the Bazaar in Sandusky. The first two floors and basement will be occupied by the Mayer Lebensburger Co., Clothing Merchants and the remaining floors will be converted into office rooms.
The Kishman Fish Company has received two car-loads of ice from Bay City. Leidheiser Bros, and The Driscoll Fish Co. have ordered a quantity of the ice from the same place and expect it to arrive at most any time. The ice dealers are also making arrangements to have ice shipped in. Of course it may be possible but not probable that we will have some ice here or it will drift near shore on the lake. But no reliance is being placed upon it.
On Monday evening, March 1st, ‘09 in the presence of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Delker and daughter Jessie and Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Pelton and daughter Flora, Miss Margaret J. Delker became the bride of Albert J. Trinter. The ceremony was performed by Rev. George E Merrill, pastor of the Cong’l church in the upstairs rooms of the residence of Wesley Pelton, which had previously been fitted up for occupancy by the young couple. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Trinter need an introduction, having lived here all their lives and have the esteem and best wishes of the whole community for success and happiness.
In the matter of the estate of Maria Lyons deceased, late of Florence township, the inventory in appraisement was filed Friday with Judge Sloan of the probate court. George Jarret and Walter D. Summers and A. B. Todd were the appraisers. L. S. Harrison is the administrator.
The regular meeting of the village council was held last Monday evening. It had been rumored that Marshall Delker would resign so that when his resignation was read it was announced that there were eight applicants. After the resignation was accepted the list of applicants was read. It was then decided that the council select a man by ballot. H.T. Baldwin was the one elected. He was sworn in Tuesday. Mr. Delker will engage in the fishing business. He has made a good and efficient officer.
In the matter of lighting the railroad crossings it was agreed to charge the railroad companies $40.00 per light per year. This proposition will be submitted to the companies.
Owing to the numerous broken limbs hanging in the tops of trees the street commissioner was ordered to remove them as they were dangerous. He was also ordered to trim off some of the lower limbs.
The matter relating to the raising of the railroad tracks by the Lake Shore was brought up but will be acted upon at a special meeting. After the payment of bills the Council adjourned.
Word received from the bedside of Florence McVeen yesterday was very discouraging. Her father was called to Cleveland.
Miss Blanche Livinski of Cleveland was been at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hofrichter’s for the past several weeks while walking along the front of Crystal theater Tuesday night suddenly fell to the walk. She was taken to M. Wilbur’s store and medical aid summoned. It was some time before she was able to be taken home. The next morning she was taken to a Cleveland hospital and at last report last evening was in a precarious condition. It was said that she was injured in a streetcar accident some time ago and her illness may result from that.
A great many rumors have been and are floating around concerning the alleged treatment of Mrs. Vernon Marsh who died at her home in Brownhelm last Wednesday. The rumors were so strong that the coroner of Lorain County decided to hold inquest and the following verdict was rendered according to the Telegram of yesterday: "a verdict of death from septic poisoning and peritonitis was rendered by Coroner Miller in the Marsh case today. He said that the evidence of possible foul play, while extensive, was not conclusive, and pointed to no one in particular."
She was a sister of the Baetz brothers of Lorain.
An unknown man evidently a foreigner was struck by a fast Lake Shore train just west of Brownhelm Station Monday about noon. His body was given in charge of undertaker Beeckel. While the man bore no mark of the identification, he was a cigarette smoker as his pockets contained a quantity of tobacco and paper for making them. 80c in cash was also found. His body is still being held at Beeckel’s Morgue.
The new German Parsonage on Northridge is now completed
Miss Mable Hengen is quite ill with pneumonia.
BORN – to Mr. Mrs. Jacob Brown Thursday, Feb. 25 a daughter.
Mrs. E. H. Nichol attended the auto show at Cleveland Thursday.
BORN – to Mr. And Mrs. Chris Elersaid of S. Amherst, Thursday, Feb. 25 a son.
Arthur Pearl of Norwalk is assisting in caring for his mother who is very low.
Quite a number of Amherst people attended the automobile show at Cleveland.
The Bell Telephone Company have begun in earnest distribution of new poles to replace those broken during the storm.
A son was born to Mr. And Mrs. William Gleason of S. Amherst on Friday.
Amherst will have one more saloon making eight saloons, which will open April 1st. Ernest Schacifeki of Lorain has leased the Ehart building on Tenny street and will be its proprietor.
The two Waitzkowsky girls were taken to the Detroit Monday by their aunt, where they will be placed in an orphans home. Their mother was recently taken to Massilion.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. A. Haas, Saturday a Son.
Robert Patterson received word this week of the death of his younger brother George at Natal, South Africa.
Chas Walton made his second sale of fur trapped this winter on Tuesday. He realized $40 from the sale.
Burt Hamel run [sic] a black thorn into his hand some two months ago. The wound healed nicely and nothing was thought of it until last week when the hand began to swell. He went to Cleveland Monday to consult a physician.
The Thomas Lee property on Seminary St. has been purchased by the trustees of the Cong’l church and will be used as the parsonage.
Will Cady was home from Ann Arbor Michigan over Sunday.
After 11 hours over the worst roads ever traversed by its occupants, the Maxwell, model K, four-cylinder roadster that left Cleveland about 7 o'clock Friday morning, arrived at Sandusky about 6:10 o'clock in the evening. The car was spattered with mud while W. K. Hadley and Howard J. Spohn, its occupants looked but little more presentable.
The car came to Sandusky by way of Norwalk. From Cleveland to Elyria the trip was a fairly pleasant one because the roads were sufficiently hardened to allow some good roadwork. This side of Elyria, however, the roads were in deplorable condition. There seemed to be no bottom to them and the wheels sunk far into the mud. Time and time again Spohn and Hadley were compelled to pry the car out of ruts. The roads between Norwalk and Sandusky were as bad as any on the trip. It was certainly an endurance test in which the Maxwell car made good.
After taking supper at the Sloane, Spohn and Hadley started on that remainder of the trip to Toledo, getting away from here about 8 o'clock. A supply of gasoline was secured here. The working parts of the car were sealed, as was the toolbox.
Mr. Hadley is one of the most experienced auto men in the country and has been with the Maxwell people since the auto industry was in its infancy. Mr. Spohn is a representative of the Toledo Times. – Sandusky Star
The home of F. D. Witt prop., of the Talking Machine Store, Lorain was burglarized one day last week while the family was absent.
Jas. Hoffman of Fremont asked for divorce from his wife Edith, charging desertion.
BORN – on the 25th of February to Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Nicholas of Elyria, a son.
Frank Peters a Petersburg was in town on Friday and made a short call at the NEWS office.
Mrs. Kishman is reported quite ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Haber.
Weather permitting Mr. Schmoll, will commence the gathering of rubbish next Tuesday. Don't forget it.
Ms. Mr. Miles Edson is convalescing after a severe illness.
Lewis Englebry our clothing merchant will start a twenty day set of clothing on Saturday which ought to sell almost all his stock.
The Vermilion volunteer firemen wish to thank all the people of the neighborhood who were so kind to them during the Dr. Hill fire, furnishing them with places to get warm and with hot coffee.
Dr. Maynard of Elyria was called yesterday to the bedside of Dr. R. F. Quigley and a trained nurse from Cleveland went on duty there this morning. At 4:45 this afternoon his condition was reported about the same. He is a very sick man.
Mr. Norris Welch and lady friend were in Sunny Brook Saturday evening.
Mrs. H. Baxtine has been quite ill the past week the victim of a severe cold.
Mr. Beesing of N. Amherst was in Brownhelm Tuesday selling spray pumps.
Mrs. Ed Neiding has been quite seriously ill but is some better at this writing.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Claus little daughter age 7 died Friday morning.
Mrs. V. Marsh died Wednesday Feb. 24 and was buried Feb. 28. She leaves a husband and four children, a mother, one sister and five brothers to mourn their loss and a host of other relatives and friends. Burial was made in Brownhelm Cemetery.
Catherine Hart, nee Faber, was born in Germany in 1831 and died at the home of her son Peter Hart on 26th February 1909. She came to this country with her parents took up a homestead south of Vermilion O., in 1834. She was united in marriage to John Cropp [sic] in 1850. Three children were born to this union all of whom our living.
In 1857 her husband died. Two years later she was again married to Jacob Hart who died in 1887. Three children were also born to this union, two of whom are still living, one dying in infancy. She leaves one brother, four sons, one daughter and many relatives and friends to mourn their loss.
For over 40 years she was a respected and honored member of the German M. E. Church of Vermilion.
She was a good mother to her children and a kind devoted Christian.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. W. Bockstahler.
A flock of wild geese were seen Monday going west, that is the sign that spring is coming.
The farmers are quite well satisfied with selling their cream, it is far better than selling their milk.
Nellie, daughter of Henry and Anna Claus of Brownhelm Township died Friday morning, Feb. 26. She reached but the age of six years seven months and seven days, but in the short life she was a great sufferer and while she suffered greatly she endured it like a lit little heroine. She complained not, she was not impatient.
She was laid to rest at the Brownhelm cemetery after services being held at the Brownhelm Reformed Church. Rev. Bockstahler of the M. E. Church spoke in German and the pastor Rev. A. G. Lohmann spoke in English. The parents and three brothers feel the loss of all the more it being their only daughter and sister. The sympathy of the community go out toward the bereaved families.
Hmmmmmm....
BROWSING:This was located in the building where "Big Ed's" Soda Grill is today (2017).
SUPPOSITION: I could be entirely wrong about this particular snap – but I believe it was taken aside Hart’s Corner Drug Store (Big Ed’s Soda Grill) back in the 1920s.
I acquired this snap from Linwood Park resident Janet Waggoner so I surmise that all the girls are Linwood girls.
What caught my eye here was the Coca-Cola sign on the building to the left. I believe that was on the side of the drug store. The awning may have been on the side door of the building. And the building in the background would be Wagner’s Hotel.
I would herein note that Nicholas Wagner was a Linwood person. At one point in time the Wagner’s not only had their hotel but Mr. Wagner also had a harness shop / shoe store and a saloon in the corner store now know as “Big Ed’s”.
My thoughts about this pic in particular are reinforced by the fact that the snap was contained among many that were taken in Exchange Park and around the old Vermilion Lighthouse. There are some males in some of those pix – but mostly are of fashionable young women such as those pictured.
23-skidoo!
…staples (petroleum) as a characteristic ingredient, and contain many strange forms of ancient life.
The lowest formation of the Devonian system is the Oriskany sandstone (so named from a New York locality), and is a coarse mechanical sediment. A thin belt of sandstone seen near Castalia and on the peninsula in Ottawa county is the equivalent of the Oriskany.
Over the Oriskany is a calcareous sandstone from which the lime is dissolved by exposure, leaving it a rough porous rock resembling the Oriskany, but containing different fossils. It is called the Schoharie grit. It is not found here.
The most interesting member of the Devonian system is the Corniferous limestone—so called from the balls of hornstone contained in it. It is a massive, calcareous rock, containing a very small percentage of earthy matter, and abounding in fossils, especially corals, which in some places may be regarded as ancient coral reefs. In this State it forms two belts of outcrops on opposite sides of the Cincinnati upheaval. It is an open sea deposit, the calcareous center of a group of sediments, the product of a great submergence in the Devonian age; the counterpart in its general features to those which are found in the parallel deposits of the Upper and Lower Silurian series.
The fossils of the Corniferous are very numerous and of unusual interest, the most striking being the remains of huge ganoid fishes, similar in general character to those of the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. This is the most interesting and important rock in this county. It is the rock on which the City of Sandusky stands, and that which forms Marblehead and Kelly's Island.
At Sandusky the upper layers of the Corniferous formation are composed of a blue limestone of from twenty to twenty-five feet thick, and is known to the geology of the State as the Sandusky stone. It is largely used for building and flagging. The High School building is of this stone and numerous other buildings and dwellings in the city. It makes an excellent flag-stone but long wear renders it dangerously smooth. The lime industry at Sandusky is large. The lime is made from the lower courses of the Corniferous exposed at Marblehead, and is burned there and at Sandusky. This stone is white and has a larger percentage of lime than even the Kelly Island stone, which is the same. The white limestone lies too deep at Sandusky for economical purposes.
Overlying the Corniferous is a series of shales and limestones called the Hamilton group. In Ohio is usually a soft blue limestone. In this county it can be seen at Prout's Station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It underlies a narrow belt of territory extending southwesterly from the lake shore at a point half way between Sandusky and Huron to the Lake Shore Railway, between Monroeville and Bellevue.
The Hamilton is overlaid by a great mass of black shales called the Huron shales. It forms the banks of the Huron River at Monroeville and below. It…
THE KODAK TARGET BROWNIE SIX-20: is a metal box type camera with 2 brilliant viewfinders and either a black front. [On its counter-part, the Target Brownie Six-20, there was an art-deco design on front panel.]
It featured a sliding f/stop tab for a choice of around f/11 or f/16 and a "B" setting tab for time exposures. This camera evolved into the very popular Brownie Target Six-20. [Confusing – yes?] However:
The camera used roll film size 620. It was introduced to the pubic in April of 1946 and cost $2.75. It was made in the U.S. – featured a Meniscus lens and a rotary shutter. It produced 2 ¼ x 3 ¼” pix. Many were made and sold, but just how many is not known.
This particular gem came from my sister Ginny and her husband Dave Wilkes. It’s in pristine condition.
A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on."
The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now."
The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me! Mommy said we came from monkeys."
His father replied, "No, your mother was talking about her side of the family."
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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- Franklin Pierce Adams
Vol. 14. Issue 52 - March 4, 2017
Archive Issue #729
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