LABOR DAY 2004: What you see (above) is something I see a lot. This is the morning sky over Vermilion at dawn. This is taken at the Lake Side Shopping Center on the east-side of town early (7:15 a.m.- ish) on Friday last. The sky is breath-taking, I happen to have my digital (Canon Powershot A75) camera with me, and can't resist going back to the car to get it and take a picture of this sunrise. Later, using Adobe Elements software, I crop the photo, remove the light poles in the parkinglot, enhance the color (though it didn't need much), and sharpen the picture to allow better definition of the clouds (which is some of that which caught my eye). What you are unable to see, and (ergo) know about this scene are the gulls. The gulls settle in the lot and on the metal roof of a nearby furniture store in the mornings. It's their job. I believe that God placed them there along with the sunrise to make me feel like I'd just won 40 million dollars in a lottery. And with that attitude I go forth into my days of labor. Happy.
UNCOMMON COMMONS: If the city of Vermilion had a commons this would be it. Perhaps more than any other sight this one is that which most people who now live, or have lived, in town identify with when they think of Vermlion.
I had a great deal of luck with the particular picture when I exploded it (i.e.increased it's size to 300 pixels) for this page. I wanted it to be larger than the original I worked from because it is so so interesting.
I can't get a precise date on it but I would guess that it was taken between 1920-25. No earlier and no later. The Erie County Bank is plainly visible in this photo (I can't - off the top of my head - remember the date it was built), and so, too, is the old M&E Church (where Fulper's Auto Parts now sits). Another building in the picture captures my eye too. It is the red brick building where the Liberty Theater was located. Earlier in the century it housed Lewis Englebry's Drygood Store.
Hart's store is the prominent structure (of course) on the corner, and one can plainly see the awning over (what may have then already been) Mehnert's News Stand, and the facade of George Rathbuns Grocery store. I search (in the pic) down the block past George's store for a glimpse of Adam Trinter's house, but I can't find it.
Another thing that comes to mind as I look at this particular picture is an item I recently read (perhaps in the files of The Vermilion News) that mentioned a house that once stood where the old Liberty Theater/Englebry's Store (now a music-type shop today) was/is located. I doubt that any photographs of that period of time in Vermilion exist (1840's-50's).
Most photos I've seen of this particular scene are older (circa 1900). That's what makes this picture relatively unusual.
MISSIONARY ALLIANCE CHURCH: This is a sister photo of a Richard Koontz photograph I used in the current issue of the Vermilion Photojournal. It is, of course, the church now called the Vermilion Church of God located on Decatur Street across from South Street School. It was built in 1949 by a fellow named A. Lee Winston with the help of his brother-in-law, Edward Englehardt. They were both ministers in the Missionary Alliance Church.
The Vermilion News article from which I wrote the PJ article mentioned that Winston's (then current) church was located on State Street. I did not have a clue as to where that church might have been located. And then my friend, Larry Howell, told me that the church was originally on the bottom floor of what may now be considered the third house from the corner of South and State Streets - on the southeast side of State. It is my understanding that Dick Koontz's mother lived in the upper part of the home, and she apparently rented the lower part to the fledging M&A congregation until the new church was built.
Larry lived across the street from the house and knew - I believe he said - one of the Winston and/or Englehardt children. Larry also told me that he thought that the Reverends' Winston and Englehardt built several new homes along both Decatur and Jefferson Streets during their stay in town.
These are interesting footnotes to the newspaper article that, unfortunately, won't get published immediately. That is part of the difficulty I have with the hard type medium of communtication.
BIG ED: Captain "Big Ed" Lampe is my very favorite old time Vermilion person. I really really wanted to publish his story in the local newspaper - but that project was derailed by circumstance and my own stubborness. However; his story (as complete as I can get it) will appear in my book.
I don't recall if I've ever used this particular photo in "Views" before, but it is a wonderful portrait.
The Grandon was not his only boat, and it was not his greatest boat. But it is the one best known by young and old fishermen up and down the shores of Lake Erie. And the life and times of Captain Lampe is the stuff of which legends are made. He is no less than the Paul Bunyon of Lake Erie.
Just for the sake of story-telling let me tell you (truthfully) that the Grandon was one of the last steam tugs in Vermilion. In it's last days Captain Lampe tied her up in front of the waterworks. And when he cranked her up for a trip on the lake all the ladies in the vicinity were extremely vocal with their protestations. They didn't like the shower of cinders and black smoke which are very much a part of making steam powered engines work.
Times - they were a'changin' - and folks near the river were very partial to the gasoline/diesal powered motors on the newer tugs. Somehow I doubt that Captain Lampe ever heard (listened to) those complaints. His life was the lake not the land.
EVALYN: It was 19 and 28. Evalyn was graduating from Vermilion's High School on State Street. Class President was a fellow named George Wakefield. Evalyn Burrows was Vice-President. Paul Naegele was the Secretary-Treasurer. The class colors were green and white; the flower was the white tea rose; and the class motto was "Lifting Better Up To Best". Other class members (to name a few) were Amos Feiszli, Orson Kuhnle, Charles Horton, Lenore Grant, Elizabeth Krapp, Howard Bogart, Art Copeland, Eleanor Blanchat, Richard Whitt, and John Trinter.
Would you say that these folks lived up to their class motto? Methinks I would.
Yet, I believe what really strikes me about this photo of Evalyn Burrows French is her pure beauty. It's haunting - mesmerizing. What was she thinking those so many years ago? What was ahead?
From the list of persons named only one, my friend Amos, still survives. Most of these folks, however, did have notable careers and live out relatively long lives. One exception may be Lenore Grant.
I mentioned the PJ article about the church built by Rev. Winston. In that same newspaper article I mention that Lenore knew Winston and his wife from college days. She married a missionary named Rev. Pitman and went to Brazil with him where she died less than 20 years after she graduated with this class.
There's always a sad story...
GEORGE WASHINGTON: Hither is a great snapshot of one George Washington Howell taken in the early 1940's. George is the son of J.(Jerius)I. Howell, Vermilion's early blacksmith, and father of Irv (Irvin G.) Howell, Larry Howell's father. George worked for the railroad, but as a young man worked along with his father as a smith.
This photo taken in the 1940's shows George aside his house on Jackson/Adams Street with a 25 pound catfish he's just snagged from the lake. Those who knew Erv, his son, know that he was a rather small fellow. It is my understanding that George, here, was smaller. He wore a size five shoe and had to shop in the kids section of the shoe store for shoes. Also - anyone who knew Erv can easily see the resemblance between him and his father. This is a wonderful picture.
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 24, September 4, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant