Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: The pic on my shop desktop this week was a mistake. As I was flitting around about to take a picture of the item on the shop desk I inadvertently captured this pic. I probably couldn’t knowingly capture such an image. But it’s kind of interesting.
It shows all the desktops available to me at one time (top). Generally I’ve been only using three – sometimes four. They’re convenient because I can move from my work desktop to one on-line very quickly. It’s nice if you happen to be researching something on-line and writing at the same time. I can also go from one internet portal to another very quickly because I can have two or three open at the same time.
Sometimes when I’m doing this webpage I need to use another portal to make use of an online app. For instance, I often use an online “text to html” app to change a Word document to an html document. While I normally do this before I begin working on the website sometimes I’ve forgotten.
If I didn’t have this capability I’d have to save my work, sign off the website where my page exists and sign on to the “text to html” site to acquire the proper text format. But with the other desktops available to me I can just open a different web portal, find the “text to html” site, sign, change the text, copy it, move back to my webpage files and place the translated text on the website. It’s very useful.
At the bottom of the shoptop are apps that I frequently use. On the desktop (as you can see in the 2nd little desktop image at the top of this pic) these apps are not visible. But all one has to do when you’re looking for some app is place your mouse arrow at the bottom of the page and they appear. They can also be placed on the left side of the page if a person wants them there. Or, if you don’t mind having a messy desktop you can put them all right on your desktop.
Anyway, that’s what all this is.
On my home desk this week is a pic of an area we’ll never see as it is in this photo again. I took it a few years back after the old Walker / Baker auto dealership along Liberty Avenue had been razed to make way for a new addition to the Ritter Public Library. A short time later the garage on the corner was also torn down to make space for a little sitting park. A hundred years from now it is altogether likely that these spaces will be reclaimed once again for some reason or another.
No matter what we may believe, new ain’t always better.
ADAPTING: Over the years I’ve found and acquired some reference sites on the web that I use with some regularity. They’re not free. But for research they’re invaluable.
The pic above is taken from one of those resource sites. Until just recently I’ve been able to download material from the site in the PDF format. But just lately they’ve quit offering PDF downloads.
In many respects that is a problem. That’s because with the PDF document I could take my time looking over any article I was interested with and not stay online while doing it. Ergo, the new policy didn’t make me happy (to say the least). I contemplated not renewing my subscription. And then:
I have some software currently known as “CAPTO”. It used to be called “VOILA”. With it I can capture anything and everything on my desktop. That’s the software I use to capture my desktop pix every week.
For some time now I’ve also been using it to copy receipts when I purchase something online rather than printing them out and using paper and ink unnecessarily.
Anyway, instead of downloading a PDF document from the aforementioned reference site I just take a pic of it with CAPTO as you see in the photo above.
I don’t really need a “true copy” whatever article / document I find for any other reason than the info contained in it – so this works just fine for me when I’m researching something.
And I nearly panicked and cancelled a good source. By hesitating I was able to adapt.
Historically,
THOSE WACKY OLYMPIC CLUBBERS: During the 1930s the men of Vermilion’s Olympic Outing Club used to challenge the men of Vermilion to a baseball game at the club. While I am unable to fathom the reason both teams used to dress up in clown-like uniforms for the games.
I’ve several pix of the Vermilion teams dressed like these guys. This is the first that I’ve seen of the OOC guys. And a good time was had by all…
CICCO: Just out of idle curiosity I began doing some research into the life of late Vermilionite Lewis Cicco. Some readers will recognize the name because Mr. Cicco once had a popular restaurant near the lake on West Lake Road just a mile or so from town. The place was destroyed in a spectacular nighttime fire in December 1958. At the time it was being renovated into a private residence. Cicco had sold the place two years earlier. Until I began researching I was under the (wrong) impression that it was still a restaurant.
In any case Cicco was, if I may be so bold, the “real deal”. Born in Italy on April 5, 1902 by 1908 he was living in Lorain, Ohio with his father Pietro and mother Mary. His father worked in the steel mill. By the time he was 17 he had joined his dad at the mill. But by the time he reached his 28th birthday he was working at the Lorain shipyards (i.e. the American Shipbuilding Co.) Some sources indicate that he worked for American Ship for 30 years. If that is true he may have continued working for them after he purchased, and was operating, his restaurant in Vermilion.
Here is another bit of information that I was unaware of until I began my research: In 1928 he was a member of Lorain’s Prohibition Enforcement Squad. On September 27 of that year he fired 3 shots at an auto he thought to be operated by bootleggers on the East 31st Street Bridge. One of the bullets evidently ricocheted and struck a passenger in the back seat. It was a 22 year-old girl named Betty Heywood. The incident was widely criticized and publicized. As a result Cicco was charged for the shooting and immediately suspended from his law enforcement job. After a jury trial he was fined $5 and costs for the infraction. Though he eventually got his job back he resigned.
Described by some as a big, friendly guy with a knack for making friends and cooking. Those traits made him a “natural” for the restaurant business. Thus it was no big surprise when he opened a place he called Cicco’s Edgewater Restaurant just outside Vermilion proper in 1938. The eatery did rather well, quickly earning a reputation as a great dining spot especially for its spaghetti & fish dinners. The restaurant also catered dinners for local social and civic organizations.
In 1956, after almost 20 years in the business, Mr. C. sold the property to a Lorain man named John Kochan. Then, in late December of 1958, as plumbers were in the process of repairing the heating system for residential occupation, the place went up in flames. Although volunteer firemen from Vermilion, Huron and Berlin Heights worked tirelessly to stop the fire, inclement weather made the task impossible.
Several months thereafter, while at work at the Vogue Room Restaurant on Colorado Avenue in Lorain he fell ill; and two weeks later, on April 15,1959 – ironically his 57th birthday - Lewis Cicco died. He was laid to rest at Maple Grove Cemetery near Vermilion, O. He left behind his wife, Edith, and two children Harriet and Richard. Edith died in Oberlin in 1973. Son Richard followed in 1985. Harriet (aka) Ketti, Kettiluigina Maria died in 2014.
Although I never knew Mr. Cicco or his wife I did know both Richard and Ketti quite well. Both were extremely interesting persons. In short, they both lived their lives at what I can only describe as being “full speed ahead.” When Ketti died she left an epitaph that I believe speaks quite well for her as well as both her brother and father: “I was here, I made my mark, and now am gone.”
God bless them every one.
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...
Car No. 22, Conductor – Jacobs and Motorman Howe bound for Vermilion from Lorain at about 1 o'clock this morning left the track at Undergrade and crashed into the abutment of the Nickel Plate bridge.
The motorman was instantly killed and five passengers are in St. Joseph's Hospital Lorain.
Mrs. Kate Jones, who lives nearby, with her son and daughter took in the injured and cared for them until a Green line car took them to the hospital.
The story is told of one of the passengers who was sitting with Henry Ries broke out of the car and ran to the Elyria Water-Works station to phone for help. He fainted when he got there and as the man in charge thought he had been in a fight paid little attention until he had recovered sufficiently to tell them what was the matter. Then a hurry call was sent in and help soon arrived.
DAN HOWELL, Toledo, motor man.
R. A. Osborne, Elyria, right arm fracture.
E. C. Stiwald, Amherst, arm and hand cut.
P. E. Nielsen, Oberlin, back injured.
Gus Jacobs, Lorain, Conductor, hand cut.
Henry Ries, Vermilion, arm and hand bruised.
All the injured were otherwise badly bruised and scratched.
The Motorman had lived in Lorain but two days ago moved his family consisting of his wife and two children to Toledo.
The car was badly damaged the front being battered in, every window broken and the seats broken loose. The car was taken to the shops for repairs and passed through Vermilion about 10 o'clock this morning.
The cause of the accident is not known.
George Shelton, a conductor on the L.S. work train met with an accident Saturday afternoon which might have resulted very seriously.
In some way his foot caught and his train dragged him some distance. He managed to kick himself loose but his head and shoulders were badly cut and he was bruised and cut all over his body. A surgeon dressed the wounds and Mr. Shelton is as comfortable as one can be when one has such a shaking up. He is the son of S. T. Shelton of this place.
The lawn and cherished belief that the appraisers and the Township trustees had the right to finally fix the value of sheep killed by dogs was upset by an opinion from the attorney-general to prosecuting attorney O. W. Kearns, of Van Wert County. There the current County commissioners reduce the value of certain sheep $4 a head after the value had been fixed according to what was thought by law. The attorney-general holds that the commissioners have the final authority in the premises. – Ex.
Anton Ferralli is Salvatore Toma of Canton, and Giuseppe Maro of Bellevue, who were arrested here on complaint of countrymen and charged with robbery were dismissed by the probate judge Saturday. Prosecuting witnesses seem to have changed their mind and gave very favorable testimony for the defendants. Prosecution contended that the witnesses have been threatened.
It was claimed they were soliciting funds for a friend who was in a Cleveland hospital.
Immediately after their release they were rearrested charged with carrying concealed weapons. They each drew a fine of $50 in cost and 30 days in jail.
J.A. Plato who is very sick is reported as some better at this writing.
Dr. Powers of South Amherst is the owner of a fine new automobile, which he purchased a few days ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Short a rejoicing over the arrival of the baby boy.
The Sunday schools hold a union picnic at Linwood Park on August 4.
Joner Kaser fell on the sidewalk while roller-skating Monday and broke her wrist.
The funeral of Walter Nieding was held on Thursday afternoon. The interment was made in the Cleveland street cemetery.
The funeral of Charles D. Davis, whose body was brought here from Portland Oregon, was held here on Tuesday afternoon. He was a brother of Mrs. B. Wellman of this place.
James Nichols one of Amherst’s most prominent citizens passed away at 11 o'clock on Monday morning at the age of 54 years. Mr. Nichols has suffered a general breaking down ever since last winter, for the past seven weeks has been confined to his bed. A wife and five children and a host of friends are left to mourn their loss.
Mr. Nichols was born at Drummingsville, Canada, and married to Miss Ellen Hutton who still survives him. The funeral was held on Wednesday at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev. P.F. Harding.
The Sunday school picnic has been postponed until Saturday.
A new heating apparatus will be placed in the high school building this fall.
The dog poisoner is at work in Huron.
BORN – to Mr. Mrs. Jacob Frye a daughter July 24.
BORN – to Mr. Mrs. J Riley a son July 23.
C.L. Witty has sold his restaurant and ice cream parlor to Elder Phelps.
Mr. Albert Pease had the misfortune of getting his foot smashed by a piece of timber while helping Mr. Kuehlman [sic] Monday afternoon.
Last Saturday just as the wind was blowing the strongest Mr. E.H. Welch's house formerly known as the Sutton house was seen on the fire when in an instant a large volunteer force was on hand to save some of the goods in the house which was occupied by Mrs. Chas Humphrey and children, but were it not for the quick work of those around Mr. H.C. Porter's house would have gone also.
Notwithstanding that we have been accused of favoritism in the Ministerial Mix-up, and of setting ourselves up as judge and jury, we will continue the policy outlined by us some weeks ago, and shall continue to extend to the churches the same privileges as heretofore. If the news of your church is not published, your minister and he alone is the one who is not furnished it to us.
FOR SALE – Dwelling house on East side of Washington Street, price for quick deal, $950.
The L.S. & M.S. Ry. officials are having some trouble in securing property south of their right-of-way through town. While some options have been secured agreement is not been reached with several at may require the courts to settle.
The fish tug Rainbow picked up the body of a man about 4 miles off Oak Point Friday afternoon and took it into Lorain, where Wickens Co. took charge of it. The man was probably about 30 years of age. A bill book issued by them Metzger and Richardson Co., and a silk band with the initials M. A. N. was all found to identify him.
Hammocks at cost at Davis store.
Wm. E. Copeland of Birmingham, England arrived here this week and is at the guest of his mother Mrs. Emily Copeland. He will probably locate in some nearby city where [he] will follow his trade of engravers proofreader, and send for his family in the near future.
Considerable excitement was cost downtown Wednesday by a woman beating a child, presumably her own, with a cane. The child was about four years old. Her name could not be ascertained but the woman came from Cleveland with a picnic crowd. She narrowly escaped arrest for disorderly conduct. A man also one of the picnickers was arrested and a sister came from Cleveland this morning and paid his fine.
Lorain now claims the largest fire engine in the U.S.
A gusher oil well has been struck at a depth of 1850 feet near Gibsonburg, 150 barrels daily is the report.
Butchers of Gibsonburg have automobile call wagons in which they haul purchases made of farmers.
John Dunning, 80, died at his home at stop 49 on the L.S.E. Friday evening. He had resided on his farm there for 70 years, and celebrated the 54th anniversary of his marriage recently.
An attempt to rob the Baker and Ebbs stored Amherst was frustrated early Friday morning.
Harlan day, Elyria met death in Lake Erie near Lorain Thursday. He was and Oberlin senior. The funeral was held Sunday.
Karl, 12-year-old son of most of Moses Kolb of Carlisle was kicked in the head while harnessing a horse at his father's barn Thursday. He is not expected to live.
This is reported an exceedingly good onion year in Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Starr Gardner and daughter Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Myers and son were guest of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Berlin Heights Sunday.
Mrs. Trazy Broughton, 70 of Beach Park was burned to death Thursday morning while preparing her breakfast on a gasoline stove. Her clothes caught fire in some way. She was alone at the time.
Jos. Beardsley, 58, Dover Center committed suicide by shooting himself, Wednesday.
And epidemic of heart trouble seems to have struck Massillon, two deaths and several ill is the report for Monday.
The post office at Niles, O., was robbed of $800 in cash and stamps Monday night.
Hmmmmmm....
BACK IN 1881: Some very interesting items...
Trudy can be contacted at: tla8849@aol.com
…lawful part failed to impress the court so favorably. Could that military court have had a chance at Davis just then he might have got a taste of "lawful belligerent" medicine that might have surprised him even if it did not seriously endanger his "health."
John Yates Beall, the leader of this bold attempt at rescue, was a Virginian by birth, a native of Jefferson county. He is said to have possessed, at the time of the breaking out of the war, a large and valuable plantation, and was a young man of large means and great promise. He organized and became captain of a company attached to one of the regiments in Thomas J. Jackson's command, the latter general being a person none other than the intrepid "Stonewall" Jackson, the idol of the Confederacy. Beall was engaged in several battles prior to his conception of the idea of rescuing the rebel officers on Johnson's Island.
His depredations on the Ohio frontier have been by some writers characterized as "piratical," but such seems hardly to have been the case. He sought to effect the rescue of the prisoners and in that attempt adopted such measures as he thought would most surely accomplish that result, but he did not seek to, neither was he charged with any attempt at plundering any vessel, or of stealing any money or merchandise for the purpose of gain, except the act alleged to have been committed in New York State, and that was, if true, an attempt at train robbery and not piracy. His personal motives are pretty well shown in a letter written his brother on the evening prior to the day of execution, an extract from which was as follows: "Remember me kindly to my friends; say to them that I am not aware of committing any crime against society. I die for my country. No thirst for blood or lucre animated mien my course. My hands are clean of blood, unless spilled in conflict, and not a cent enriched my pocket. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will repay.' Therefore do not show unkindness to the prisoners; they are helpless." Having digressed somewhat from the narrative of events to relate the adventures and exploits of Captain Beall and his associates, we may now return to the general history of affairs at Johnson's Island and the regiments there on guard.
"Soon after the arrival of the Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps considerable detachments were sent from it for provost and other duties elsewhere, for of those who remained, infirm as many of them were by wounds and disease, the climate and exposure proved too severe, so that all who remained for guard duty did not make good the absent detachments of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth. The Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps left the command early in 1865.
"In view of the contingencies on the frontier, and in order to hold these posts with a less force, the United States Engineer Crops, under the direction of the war department, began the construction of three forts in the fall of 1864; one on Cedar Point, at the mouth of Sandusky Bay opposite the island, and two…
A RED TRUCK: To my knowledge I have very few pix of myself as a babe. I stumbled across this one several years ago. It was taken in the yard of our home on Perry Street – probably in 1945.
I’ve always liked pickup trucks (I’ve had 4) and never thought about the reason. I guess it’s because I had one when I was just waking up to life. I don’t know for sure, but I’ll bet this one was red
"It's just too hot to wear clothes today," Jack says as he stepped out of the shower, "honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?"
"Probably that I married you for your money," she replied.
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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Vol. 15. Issue 21 - July 29, 2017
Archive Issue #750
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