BEATING DEAD HORSES: This photograph also appeared in this weeks edition of Vermilion's Photojournal (only in B&W). These are the shelves of our local food pantry. From these shelves do we feed those in need in our community. This is what we have left after our last mass distribution.
I've been involved in this project for ten or more years now. During this experience we've seen many many families. But never ever before have we seen the numbers who now come for food. During the last 12 months the number of families served has increased by over 50%. More importantly, contributions to the project both in terms of money and food have substantially decreased during that same period.
I am not in any position to analyze the problem beyond recognizing the fact that there are simply fewer and fewer jobs available that pay over minimum wage, and there are fewer and fewer full-time jobs. For any young family with two children the going gets a bit rough even if both parents are working.
I note with very little surprise that Cleveland, Ohio is now rated as the poorest major city in the United States of America. It's no surprise because little Vermilion appears to be reeling from similar - but not nearly as severe - problems. In brief, the cupboards are bare.
I have continually implored folks to understand that problems of this nature are not seasonal. They exist at all times throughout every day of every year. It just happens that at this moment it is a particularly severe problem. And as much as I feel for the peoples in all nations on our planet who go without I am a believer in the tenet that tells us that charity begins at home . If we can't help ourselves we are certainly in no position to help others - In Africa, in Asia, and certainly not in the Mid-East. What's happening here is very near being criminal.
So consider this horse to be well beaten.
JUST LOUISE: Louise Baumhart Giddings. What more can one say? This portrait is the work of none other than the late local photographer Dick Koontz. If I should ask how many folks knew this lady I know what the response will be. It will be substantial.
I knew (how could I not?) Louise all my life. I never heard her play her piano. But I've heard tell that she was wonderful.
Some of my memories of this lady are a bit obtuse. I can recall one dark summer evening when my friends and I met her on the corner of Ohio and Perry Streets. It was hot. She was dressed in a rather formal dark dress. Around her shoulders she was wearing a fur stole. It's the type of thing that catches your attention.
I consider one of her daughters, "Tootie" Reisinger, to be a good friend. Tootie has some great stories about her mother.
One might be surprised to know that Louise was part of the impetus that led me to write about Vermilion. She, of course, wrote a column, "Letters From Louise" in the local paper for many years. I found those letters, about the people and places in Vermilion, to be extremely entertaining. They were extremely subjective in their view - which does little to preserve historical fact/truth - but goes a long long way in exposing the very honest and forthcoming character of the individual doing the writing. They afforded folks a rare glimpse of a reality few share with others.
Tootie once told me that she enjoyed my writing. She said (something like), "It's like my mother's except without the gossip."
I don't know whether that's a good review or a bad one. But it sure requires a smile.
Thank God for people like Louise. She'll never be forgotten.
COLIN DUSSAULT: I got a big surprise the other day when I got this email:
Hello, came across your site while browsing for anything on our new CD - review wise. Nice on the bridge story. I think I remember that night...
Thanks for including me on the site. Very cool recollections.
Colin
The new CD jacket is pictured above, and those who have the capability to hear the sound bytes I open this page with can hear part of a track from that CD, I Walk The Line, which is a tribute to the late Johnny Cash.
The "bridge story" he refers to can be found somewhere in the "Past Views" archives where I mention the night he (and members of his band) were playing at the old McGarvey's Restaurant. Feeling quite well they took the cordless mike and went up onto the bridge and proceeded to blast the people in the Lagoons out of their beds with some blues tunes.
It was a night to remember. Something fun - although I doubt that some of the sleeping Lagoon residents would agree.
Dussault still plays in and around (Cleveland) town. He's been at the Red Clay numerous times, and he's about the region constantly. I would guess that he works 7 days a week and nearly 365 a year. This is a man who loves what he does, does what he loves, and does all of it well. It's good stuff.
THE COASTER: I was really happy to get all the information I received from Dr. Norman "Jack" Dean in Maryland about Vermilion's Crystal Beach Roller Coaster and the park. This is a great pic of the ride from the top. It didn't scan good enough for me to use in the print media, but I believe it shows well on the net. I never rode the ride (and still wouldn't if I could) but I do know folks who have and enjoyed it.
Dr. Jack's brother, Jim, emailed me with this little tidbit of information about the ride when they were tearing it down:
Hi Rich: I enjoyed the article. Just wanted to make a couple comments.
When my dad and I took the cars off the coaster, I remember one fellow from Lorain bought one, and to get it home he hooked it to the back of his car with rope and drug it right down Lake road! That was when it was only three lanes. Also I remember the big cast iron gear at the top of the coaster that the chain was on to pull the cars up. When we pulled that section over the gear was so heavy I think it must have went three feet in the ground! Dad said "What are we going to do with it now?" I said we would worry about it tomorrow. Well, when we came back the next day it was gone!
We had a lot of work to tear it down, but we had a lot of fun too. Did you know that thing sat on big wooden pads, not concrete.
I find all this information to be wonderfully interesting. Three weeks ago I knew very little about the coaster or the park. Internetworking can be extremely productive.
HILLTOP DRIVE: As I spend a great deal of time writing and looking at pictures of old time Vermilion life goes on. This is a photograph of Hilltop Drive in Vermilion, Ohio. It is for the benefit of old and current residents of Vermilion alike.
Hilltop Drive is a new road east (and off) of Highbridge Road (north of the Conrail tracks), and west of another relatively new road called Woodside Drive.
This is a new development by Ken Cassell. It looks to me that several of these new structures are condominiums. It is a very pleasant-looking neighborhood. I was aware that Mr. Cassell was building in the area, but had not taken a look at it until the day I took these photographs. Very nice.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Again members of the Vermilion High School Class of 1959; your class reunion will be held between October 8 and 10, 2004 here in town. Those looking for more information on the subject can now visit the Class of '59 website by clicking on the highlighted text. To my knowledge Roger Boughton is responsible for this site. I will mention that a visit to this particular website is worth ones time. Roger informed me that he now uses some Vermilion pix from some of my websites on his electronic newsletter. Maybe you didn't belong to this class, but I'm sure you know someone who does. And I think you'll enjoy reading some of their memories of those days. Note that Roger will not be sending out a newsletter by snail-mail any longer. The webpage will be the reunion notification/information center from now on. He's got new stuff on line as he gets it - and it's interesting. So take time to go there.
Also Buffalo Bill Hlavin has asked me to find a 1958 football program for him. I'll look. But I'll also ask class members tuned into this site to also look and let Bill, Roger, or myself know if you have one.
Persons interested in having their VHS (and vicinity) reunion plans posted on this site are welcome to do so. I can't provide anyone with webpages to post their activities in depth, but I can provide a link to existing pages and/or post some activity items here. All anyone need do is contact me at my email address and pass along their material electronically.
As news regarding VHS reunion activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. So stay tuned.
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the dreaded Macintosh Computer and is written and designed by (me) Rich Tarrant. It will change weekly ~ usually on Saturday. Bookmark the URL (Universal Resource Locater) and come back at your own leisure. Send the page to your friends (and enemies if you wish). If you have something to share with those who visit this page, pass it on. And if you see something that is in need of correction do the same. My sister, Nancy, is a great help in that respect. It only takes me a week to get things right. And follow the bookmarks. You might find something you like. If you experience a problem with them let me know. Also, if you want to see past editions of this eZine let me know and I'll send them to you.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.2, Issue 23, August 28, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant