Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: “Nojo demis trux” – Atop my home desk this week is an old pic of the Englebry-Hull truck fleet. It was probably taken in the 30s for advertising purposes. I wish I knew the names of the drivers.
The old weighing station / office building is directly behind them. That building is now behind the old State Street School building where it is slowly decaying.
Also of some interest in this pic is the little building across the street just left (south) of the larger one. When this pic was taken it was part of Beeckel’s Furniture Store – serving as a small warehouse. But at one time it housed the town’s moving picture theatre; the Crystal Theatre. Looking at the site today I can’t help but wonder how big a crowd the old picture show could hold.
On the shoptop this week is the whole picture of the Diamond Cheese Factory along State Road / Route #60 in Axtel, Ohio. I’ve used parts of this same pic on the page in the recent past.
Among the wondrous things that caught my eye in this wider view is the trash along the highway. Seldom do I think of such things when I’m reading or writing about historic things. I’m assuming that much of this trash just fell off wagons as they passed. But perhaps the slats of wood were used to help people get through the mud when it was wet.
Whatever the case, it’s an interesting pic.
SLOW WEEK – AMAZON WEEK: It’s was kinda slow week in Dodge this week so I took time to set-up Alexa in the shop using an Android cell phone. I’ve had this Amazon device for quite some time now, but never used it at our new old home at the OOC. One reason was I couldn’t – for one reason or another – get it to work there. For persons unfamiliar with it, Alexa is an intelligent personal assistant developed by Amazon. From my point-of-view it’s an electronic toy. But it’s a useful one.
I can walk into the shop in the morning and say, “Alexa, play some jazz” and jazz begins to play. I can ask for a news update, the time or to define a word and Alexa will respond. She even knows my name. The sound quality is very good so using the device to provide background music without interruption makes it quite useful to me.
I sometimes wonder what life will be like a hundred years from now.
I’ve also been working at installing new software on my old Amazon Kindle reader. I use this device everyday and have done so for many years. I’ve appreciated it because I didn’t need to have a specific internet connection to use it. It’s a 3G device with its own connection. But that is also the problem I’m having with it. I didn’t update it automatically last March so it would continue connecting. Consequently, I have to do it manually – and I’m unfamiliar with the process. But I’m learning.
I should have it back (working properly) today.
WWGGT – What would my great-grandfather think?
Historically,
PAINTING AMERICA: This is a simple photo painting of America 2017: Friends and neighbors surrounded by uncertainty in our times: Pensive, vocal, and forever hopeful.
GHOST CARS OF THE LSE: Like the Pony Express the Lake Shore Electric (LSE) railroad was here one day, and gone the next. It was once one of the greatest electric railroads on our planet. It ran across the southern shore of Lake Erie from Cleveland to Toledo, and then on to Detroit. With an additional web of tracks south of the shore it provided people in towns like Elyria, Berlin Heights, Norwalk, Clyde, and Fremont economical and easy access to towns that had, until its advent, been just out of their reach. After a run of some 38 years the tsunami of the automobile age had come and the LSE railroad disappeared from the landscape of northern Ohio. It was almost as though it never existed.
In Vermilion the LSE ran just north what are now the Conrail tracks from Lorain crossing the east side of the river at what is now part of Romp’s Marina and landing on the west bank just below the place where Vermilion’s landmark water-tower now stands. At that point it met Liberty Avenue at Water Street (now W. River Road) and ran down the middle of Liberty through the village. The tidy red brick LSE depot still stands at the foot of Liberty hill on the southeast corner of Exchange Street. On the west side of town the electric left Liberty at Decatur Street, running past a siding just west of Edson Creek and followed a course very near the shore of Lake Erie. It then curved back south toward the steam rail tracks just east of Bluebird Beach where it slowly turned west just before it met those tracks and ran on to Ruggles Beach, Ceylon Junction, and beyond.
As previously mentioned; with the exception of some of the old LSE stations in scattered sites across the region few traces of this magnificent electric railroad remain. But among those “few traces” were (and are) some of the cars, which ran along those rails. In Vermilion there were at least 5 cars that survived the 20th century transportation holocaust.
Late Vermilion Police Chief Nick Mayer and his wife Rita last owned the first car pictured. It sat on the corner of West River Road and Rolling Meadows Drive across the street from the entrance to the Olympic Club. The Jewett car #174 built in Newark Ohio in the early 1900s, was purchased at a Sandusky auction on June 20, 1939 and promptly moved to the W. River location by the Haber family. Members of the Haber, Barthel, and Mayer families used the car as a home until the spring of 1996 when it was purchased and donated to the Newark, Ohio Historical Society where It has been restored to its original condition.
The next car was a retired LSE Freight car that local entrepreneur Warren G. “Smitty” Smith purchased and transformed into a riverside boat livery and bait shop during the late 30’s or early ‘40’s. It was located along the river just west of the old Parsons Fish Co. At the time of this photo it was called Ryser’s Boat House. But it served the same purpose and clientele as “Smitty’s”. Sometime after the Great Flood of July 4, 1969 it disappeared.
The last photo is that of LSE car #064. It was built by the J.G. Brill Co. of Philadelphia, PA in 1903. How it got to where it is pictured (on the hill behind the Parsons Fish Co) or what happened to it is something I, honestly, don’t know. But it’s a wonderful raw photograph of an old electric car.
The last two LSE cars located in Vermilion were placed at the Ackerman home just east of the present site of Kyle Motors sometime in 1938. My friend, interurban historian Dennis Lamont of Birmingham and his brother, purchased one of them, LSE car #167, and have restored it. It is also a Jewett car, and was built in 1915. With the help of another electric historian, Albert Doane of Lorain, this car may be put back into use around Lorain’s harbor in the near future. A ride in one of the ghost cars of the old LSE would be, for me, a real thrill.
YESTERYEAR'S NEWS: The following clips are dictated transcriptions from past issues of The Vermilion News. I think you will find them both interesting and fun...
George Baumeister a L.S.E. conductor has invented and patented a device for turning pages of music automatically. The device is composed of a nickel-plated tube, suspended from the top of the piano. From the center of the tube four “hands" or pieces of nickel metal extend, each of which is clasped onto a sheet of the composition. Fastened on the end of the nickeled tube is a rubber to which runs down the back of the piano under it to a bulb or pedal. The musician, when he or she wants to turn the page, presses the ball with the foot, and the air forces small rod down the middle tube Automatically this strikes one of the “hands" and the latter turns the page. The rod is brought back to its former position by the air suction and it is already [sic] to turn another page.
The case of R. F. Brandt vs. Geo. Fischer was called before Judge Reed and the petit jury in the Court of Common Pleas Tuesday, but before the trial had proceeded far, the jury was withdrawn at the request of the plaintiff, for further consideration of the question involved. Brandt’s petition was defective. He must amend it within the next 10 days and pay the cost accrued to date.
Brandt sues to realize on a meat bill which Fischer says was contracted by the Maudelton Hotel at Vermilion some time ago. The hotel was thrown into the hands of a receiver and Brandt failing to get his money, sued Fischer.
The Kelly’s Island “Lime and Transport Company" was sued for $10,000 damages by Edward Perkinson, son of Michael Perkinson, who, while working in one of the defendant company's quarries on Kelley's Island on Sunday, September 12, is alleged, was struck on top of the head by a stone blasted from another quarry and died the next day.
His son says in his petition that the defendant was negligent in failing to provide for the protection of his employees.
A verdict for the defendant was rendered Wednesday in the case of James A. Dempsey vs. the Kelly's Island Lime and Transport Co. The plaintiff as administrator of the estate of Luke Lucas Volk failed to substantiate by evidence the allegations set forth in his petition. Volk was killed while at work quarries.
It is alleged that 27 autos were driven through Elyria faster than 15 mph, the speed limit and Tuesday warrants were issued for the drivers of the machines. David S. Troxel, Mayor of Elyria and Judge Washburn of the Common Pleas Court head the list. A similar number of prominent Clevelanders are among the summoned.
The funeral of Mrs. Morgan Kelly was held on Sunday afternoon at her late home, Rev. Harding officiating and interment at the Evergreen Cemetery.
The funeral services of Mrs. Louis Zimmerman was held on Friday afternoon from the home of Charles Zimmerman. Interment at the Cleveland street Cemetery.
Little Esther Krause while playing around the tables and counters of C. G. Aschenbach’s store last Wednesday fell and broke her arm at the elbow. Drs. Wiseman and Foster were called and the bone set.
SIMONS – at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. W. Coon, in Florence near Wakeman Ohio, Sunday, September 19, 1909, Mrs. Mary Jane Simons, age 82 years, five months 16 days.
Mary Jane Taylor was born near the Clarksville, Huron County, April 3, 1827.
She was married September 10, 1846 at Huron in Ohio, to cure Truman Simons. To this union were born four children, two of whom survived her; Mrs. A. W. Coon, with whom she was living at the time of her death, and S. W. Simons, of Vermilion O.
She became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1838, and remained loyal to her faith.
Mrs. Simons was always ready to help with any who were in need, and because of a kindly disposition and cheerful life, was respected and loved by all who knew her. All who came in touch with her felt the influence of a godly life. For her to live was Christ, to die with gain.
The funeral was held from the home of A. W. Coon, Wednesday morning, Rev. A. G. Rupert, of Berlin Heights, officiating. Burial was in Wakeman Cemetery. – Wakeman Press
After November 1st it will cost 10c extra to register a letter, instead of 8. A 12 cent stamp will be issued.
Three boys 11 – 8, were killed on the overhead bridge crossing Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Saturday by L. S. passenger train.
Charles L. VanCleve, superintendent of the Toledo schools died very suddenly Sunday from a stroke of appoplexy. Up until a few hours of his death he was seemingly in perfect health.
Mrs. Olive Foote of Amherst was granted a divorce from Waldo Foote and custody of 8-month old baby on grounds of extreme cruelty and habitual drunkenness by Judge Washburn, Friday.
Hartman Holzhauer, who on June 16, mysteriously disappeared from his home near Oak Point, leaving a note which gave the impression that he had drowned himself, returned last week as quietly as he left. He said he had worked at Birmingham in Detroit and later gone sailing.
Samuel Mann, 70, of Canton dug a grave beside that of his wife then went home and shot himself.
While putting away a target rifle with which her boys had been using, Mrs. L. E. Smith, wife of a Marietta evangelist was shot through the stomach, probably fatally.
The Perry's victory commission will ask the general government to appropriate $250,000 and Ohio legislator $30,000 for the celebration in 1913. It is proposed to erect a permanent memorial building at Put-in-Bay to cost about $50,000. A meteorological and a wireless telegraph station is also planned.
The abutment is finished in the ironwork will soon begin.[This was for a railroad bridge.]
Farmers are very busy cutting corn and digging potatoes.
We have had to hard frost visit our neighborhood which makes us think of winter.
Harry Miller, has been visiting at Cleveland returned home Saturday.
Mrs. Charles Spring has been reported ill. May she soon recover.
We're certainly having a good stiff breeze in this neighborhood and not any too warm. Must be that the North Pole has something to do with it. If it would make a change I suggest they look for the South Pole.
Among the improvements in vicinity was another large sewer, which the cemetery trustees had just put in. Two years ago they placed 800 tile and now again about 390 feet of sewer pipe which is certainly improving the grounds making it a very satisfactory burial place.
Gen. manager F. W. Coen, of the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company, left Thursday evening for a three-week trip in the west, on which he will combine business with pleasure, says the Sandusky Star Journal. With busy man of the interurban lines like Mr. Coen, vacations are few and far between and he intends to get as much rest as possible during his absence from his office. It is, in reality his first vacation in 11 years. He has been identified with the interurban business for 16 years.
Manager Coen’s trip will be as far west as Denver, Colorado, where he will attend the sessions of the American Street and Railway Association, which meets in convention there from October 4 to 8. Mr. Coen will go from this city to Chicago, and will leave their next Wednesday for Denver.
The Council of Amherst has granted a water works franchise.
FOR SALE – Motor Buggy – $525 Economy 12 horse power. Used 2 months. Good condition. Price $350. Dr. R.P. Pelton.
FOR SALE – Dwelling house on East side of Washington Street, price for quick deal, $950. – Enquire of C. A. Trinter.
Mrs. Geo. Rathbun and son returns Sunday evening from Erie, where she has been the past several weeks.
Mrs. C. Roscoe, Mr. and Mrs. Pearl Roscoe and daughter were guests of Milan relatives Saturday and Sunday.
Mrs. William Carey and family, who had been spending the summer at their summer home here, have returned to their home in Chicago.
Mrs. L. J. Martinek and son returned home Friday after a few months visit with her parents and friends and Kincardine, Canada.
Starr Gardner who for the past year has been employed at the Krapp meat market resigned last week to accept a similar position that rain. Starr was a general favorite at the market will be missed by its many patrons.
The first meeting of the Sorosis for the year will be held tomorrow Friday evening at the home of Miss Addie A. Rust, assisted by Miss Boss.
The attendance of each and every member of the society is especially desired at this meeting. The program is in charge of the president and we may expect something good besides the pleasant social hour always enjoyed of these meetings. Each member will make a special effort to be present.
Mrs. James Halloran and daughter returned Sunday from. Pa., where they had been spending several weeks.
Capt. F. H. Rae was obliged to leave his boat at Duluth on account of illness arrived home Friday evening. He is on the road to recovery will probably be ready for duty in a short time.
Jacob Meyer, Gen. Manager and Mr. Hicks of the Lorain Daily News, made this office a pleasant call Tuesday afternoon.
Report reaches us from California that M. E. Nuhn has purchased a lot will have a house built for himself and family. Nuhn secured a position in a grocery and likes it there very much. Wm. Blattner is also getting along nicely.
John Naegele and engineer took their tug to Erie Tuesday night where they will fish for a few weeks.
The heavy winds are taking off the apples.
Mr. Lord is making cider known and doing a little sawing.
Mrs. Mordoff has been quite sick but is better now.
Work among apples began this week, picking and sorting for market.
Farmers have begun to cut corn and there was a slight frost here.
Ed McAllister, Ashtabula, shipping master of the Lake carriers Association received two serious knife wounds Monday.
Selma Lewis, 10, was seriously and probably fatally injured while feeding acorns to black bears in Idora Park near Youngstown. The bear reached his paws through the iron cage, grasping the child around the neck.
Hmmmmmm....
VERMILION FIREHOUSE #1:I hope this is legible. If not I'll have to rearrange it. But it is interesting...
Caselton (my great-grandfather) as you will discover over the ensuing weeks was a musician / fifer in the Union Army during the American Civil War in Company K, 67th Regiment of the OVI. As you will also discover everyone (and I mean everyone) had it tough during that war.
One of the things I found exceptionally interesting while reading his diary is his humanness view of the experience. He was neither a hero nor an enemy of the Republic. But the range of his emotions – his views of the conflict – may be an eye-opener for persons who’ve never had the unfortunate experience of war.
Anyway, in his words…
THE ARMY LIFE OF CASELTON ROSCOE PT.7: We have heard great news from General Grant's Army; He has given Gen. Bragg one of the confoundest lickens a man ever had, and scattered his men in every direction and took twenty to thirty thousand prisoners. Our Colonel called us out in line, and we gave hearty cheers three times, such as only the Buckeyes from our noble State know how to give. The fleet and all the land Batteries gave five salutes, it sounded like an awful battle being fought, and we cheered until we were hoarse.
It has been quite cold, it froze ice, some say one half inch thick. I am feeling fine now.
Jan. 21, 1864. We are still at Hilton Head, South Carolina, and it has been very nice and warm here today, but the weather is as changeable as up North. The small- pox has broken out in our Regiment. and some have been carried to the pest house. I have been vaccinated and my arm is pretty sore just now.
May 2. 1864. Glouchester [sic] Point, Va. We are living in our little shelter tents, lying on the ground with our extra clothing taken from us, and by so doing I have caught; a very hard cold and felt downright sick. The climate is so much different here from that at South Carolina, here it is cold and rainy. We had a grand review by Major General Butler.
May 13, 1864. In the Field. The 10th, our Regiment, the 39th, Illinois, and the 85th Penn. were sent out on the turnpike that runs from Richmond to Petersburg (to guard it while the rest operate against Petersburg. The Rebels came down from Richmond and attacked us, with three or four Brigades, we held them. They charged on us, but were driven back with terrible slaughter. The battle lasted three to four hours. Then the woods caught on fire from the musketry, it was in our favor, helping to drive the Rebels back, a great many of the dead and wounded were burned, as well as some of our men. The woods being pine it added to the horror of which I will not try to tell.
Our regiment won a greater name than ever before. They stood the blunt of five to one and their ground. It was at: this time that our home boy, Comfort Ruggles, was struck on the knee with a spent ball. He is with us…
…Hiram Smith, musician; discharged at Columbus, O., October i6, 1862, by order of war department.
Harrison L. Allen mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
Albert Andrews discharged at Columbus, 0., August 9, 1862, by order of war department.
William H. Andress, wounded at battle of Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862; discharged March 28, 1863, by order of war department.
George Anners wounded at battle of Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862; discharged January 9, 1863, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
John Atwater, wounded at battle of Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862; also at battle of Port-Republic, June 9, 1862; discharged August 28, 1862.
Ormer E. Andrews transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 2, 1864, by order of war department.
William F. Bartlett, captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; returned March 13, 1863; wounded at battle, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., November 24, 1863; mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
John Bark captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; returned March 13, 1863; mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
Lyman Blakeslee, captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; returned March 13, 1863; mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
Robert W. Blakeslee, captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; returned March 13, 1863; mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
Edward Billings mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
James M. Butler captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; died in parish prison. New Orleans, December 27, 1861.
Reuben Beers, captured at battle of Cross Lanes, Va., August 26, 1861; paroled May 27, 1862; no record of muster-out found.
William Baker, discharged at Columbus, O., September i, 1862, by order of war department.
George W. Bardett, discharged at Gauley Bridge, Va., October 6, 1861 on surgeon's certificate of disability.
Henry T. Benton captured at battle of Dumfries, Va., December 27, 1862; returned March 13, 1863; wounded at battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863; discharged March 7, 1864, by order of war department.
William L. Benton, discharged at Williamsport, Md., June 1, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
Joseph Blake, discharged at Columbus, O., July 5, 1862, by order of war department.
Leander Butterfield, discharged at Fort Royal, Va., June 20, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
James J. Cronk, mustered out with company July 6, 1864.
THE LAST CAR: “Ma, watch me push the car up the hill” said Mr. Hr. Harry S. Earl to his neighbor. Mrs. Hardy, “Wish I had your picture” replied Mrs. Hardy. “Alright” said Mr. Earl - “I’ll set the camera and you ‘shoot’ it. Mrs. Hardy doesn't’ know much about Kodaks but she tried it and the above is what she got. Not a bit too early either, for a day or so, and the old yellow cars passed forever from Vermilion, so the last car Harry pushed up the hill was near the last to run over the Lake Shore Electric Road.
Mr. Earl started work with the L.S.E. in 1916 at Hicksville, later worked out of Bellevue and twenty-one years ago came to Vermilion, serving for a few years as sub-station supervisor, but the greater part of the time as local station agent, which position he now holds for the Lake Shore Coach Company.
“Ma” got his picture all right but Mr. Earl will doubtless be somewhat surprised to find that “he made the first page.”
President Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. president (1923 to 1929) was a man of very few words. One Sunday he went to church, but his wife, Grace, stayed home. When he returned, she asked, "Was the sermon good?"
"Yup," was Coolidge's brief reply.
"What was it about?" Grace asked.
"Sin."
"And what did the minister say?"
"Seems to be against it."
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 30 - September 30, 2017
Archive Issue #759
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