LARRY & ALICE: This is a nice pic of a very young Larry Howell and Alice Mae Thompson. It was taken by an unknown photographer in front of the Vermilion News print shop probably about 1948.

Just like today – Larry got around town and knew just about everybody.

Alice did not fare so well. Plagued by a persistent mental health problem she eventually went to live in a group facility in Gallipolis Ohio. She passed in 1968 at the age of 30.

MAPPING VERMILION: Accompanying the Yesteryear column this week is a “partial” view of a map of the business section of Vermilion (i.e. Liberty, Main, and Grand streets) from the year 1904. While it is hardly as legible as one might prefer, it is nonetheless informative.

For nearly a decade now I’ve been transcribing bits and pieces of news from Vermilion’s former weekly newspaper, The Vermilion News, beginning in 1897. I do one issue a week and I’m currently transcribing from the September 1909 issues. As I’ve worked I often come across names with which I am familiar; but I am often at a loss to know locations - the sites of homes and businesses way back when. Consequently, I have come to deem old maps of the town as priceless resources. I can tell you, for instance, where all the “big” things were, like the M.E. Church and the Lake House Hotel, but about the sites of smaller places such as saloons, drugstores, meat markets and barbershops I have only been able to speculate – until now.

This particular map is like a window into the history of our town. One can see, for instance, that in a building on the east side of Grand Street several doors behind the M.E. Church that there was a print shop and a “milly” / milliner shop. The print shop was the one my grandparent’s purchased in 1901 from George Whitmore. It was moved to a new building to the south, just across the tracks, the same year this map was made. The Tailor shop next to it was that of John Ritter the father of Vermilion philanthropist George Ritter.

It may interest some to note that there were four saloons in this part of town: three on Liberty and one on Main Street – not to mention one in the Lake House Hotel on the southwest corner of Liberty and Main. In 1904 the building where Big Ed’s Soda Grill is currently located was split into two shops, and the west side of the building housed Wagner’s saloon. Next (west) of it was the first Erie County Bank. Working west down the block away from the bank was the little shop that was used as the Mayor’s office, Jake Abell’s barbershop, and the old George Rathbun grocery that had been recently vacated by A.D. Baumhart. Baumhart had moved his shop to that location after a fire destroyed his store in 1903.

The post office was located on the south side of Liberty next (east) of the M.E. Church in a building that some years later housed a popular restaurant. Going east from there along Liberty was another tailor shop, George Wahl’s sewing machine store, a rather large fraternal lodge room, another saloon, a restaurant, Krapp’s meat market, a cigar store, a sausage factory, John Klaar’s Harness shop, a boot and shoe store, another saloon, an empty lot and finally the Pelton-McGraw General Store on the corner. The Pelton-McGraw aka Nuhn-Trinter store was torn down in 1922 to make way for today’s Full Building.

Moving south from the corner of Liberty and Main was another split store that housed Nuhn’s Drug store on one side and a boot shop on the other. When local pharmacist Albert Hart started in business he was in the Nuhn store location. Next to Nuhn’s was another drugstore where A.D. Baumhart relocated after leaving the Liberty street location. Upstairs over all the buildings on this corner was the Masonic Hall. Next to these stores was another millinery shop, and another barber. Between those shops and jewelry store was an empty lot where Mr. Baumhart eventually built his new store. The last building on the block was a hardware store that shared the room with another grocery store.

Just across the street was a business that many folks wish still existed; the Schwensen Bakery; just north of it was another saloon; and next to it the Lake House Hotel. Across the street was an empty space that would someday become Exchange Park. Below the park along the river were the B.N. Parsons and Buckeye Fish houses.

Even though this is a “partial” map of one part of the town there is a good deal of detail that I’d like, but am unable, to mention here. One, among many other things that surprised me was the horse shed the map indicates that once sat in an area just south of the Wagner Hotel (now home to Dr. Suszko’s office and the Vermilion Photojournal). But it makes sense – a parking garage for business patrons.

Considering the fact that in 1904 Vermilion was but a village with a population of 1200 people the number of business concerns would seem to indicate a very strong economy. The principle industries in town at the time were fishing and tourism. Boat building had long since moved to larger ports. And though lumber was still being processed and shipped from the port it was on the decline. Change was in the wind. Before two years had passed a local contractor named John Gegenheimer was busy building a factory building just south of the Nickel Plate tracks on Water Street / West River Road. It was being built for a Cleveland inventor named F.W. Wakefield. And the map was about to change – again.

_{Ref: Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 09/21/17.}

Vol. XIII, No.19. - VERMILION,OHIO,
THURSDAY, October 14, 1909

IT RAINED FISH

AN UNUSUAL OCCURANCE AT VERMILION

For about two minutes, at about seven o’clock Tuesday evening it rained fish at the L.S. & M.S Depot and vicinity. Fish of various sizes and kinds were picked up. It is stated upon good authority that there ws about three tons in all. Some ice and a quantity of grapes etc., also fell. The result being given, in a phenomenon of the kind of the cause is sought. In this case it is easily found.

The evening east bound Express train was being loaded at the station, when a heavy west bound freight came down and crashed into the three trucks loaded with fish and other express. The result was the demolishing of the trucks and the above mentions shower. The fish were shipments from the fish companies here to their various customers. The loss will be considerable.

It is needless to say that there were many fish dinners in Vermilion Wednesday.

Fine Pictures Coming To Crystal Theatre

Mrs. Leimbach of the Crystal Theatre has arranged to give her patrons the pleasure of a trip through Yosemite Valley and the Marposa Grove of "Big Trees". This is one of the most prettiest films ever shown and everybody, especially the children, should see it. The pictures are necessarily true to nature and it is difficult to make oneself believe he is not in the actual presence of this wonderful handiwork of the creator.

Among the many interesting views are shown that Verdant, Bridal Veil, El Captain and Three Brothers Falls, Cathedral Rock, Cathedral Spires And Sentinel Rock. The Royal Arches, Washington's Column, North And South Domes, Glacial Point and Mirror Lake, Liberty, Nevada Falls and [unreadable] Falls. Keep watch for the date, which will be duly announced.

NEW TELEPHONE COMPANY

The Farmers Telephone Company of Vermilion was incorporated at Columbus Friday with a capital stock of $10,000, by George W Shattuck, D. M. Poyer, W. J. Newberry, George F. Lieber and H. W. Church. The new concern will erect and maintain an exchange.

COURT NOTES

The coroner in the case of Adda Saeger, the Tiffin girl who died in the office of Dr. Rose, Sandusky dentist several weeks ago, has rendered his verdict, viz death due to carbolic acid poisoning. The verdict, together with a transcript of testimony at the inquest and about 30 letters written by Dr. Rose to the girl were forwarded to the State Board Of Dental Examiners by Prosecutor Stevens who has asked that Rose be disqualified from practicing dentistry.

A verdict of" guilty" was returned by the jury in the case of John Gallagher, tried in the Court of Common Pleas upon an indictment for burglary and larceny. The jury, out until 1:45 Friday morning returned a sealed verdict which was opened and read when court convened. Gallagher broke into the cabin of the steamer Grandon and stole property belonging to the Captain Freyensee and others.

NEW DIRECTORY NEXT WEEK

The new directory of the Vermilion Telephone Company which was announced some time ago and delayed on account of the company making some important changes, is now in the hands of the printer and will probably be issued to the subscribers the first of next week.

MOVING

The building in which the post offices located is being moved this week. Hereafter it will be located just 3 feet west of its former location. George P. Wahl’s buildings will be also be moved the same been occupying 3 feet of land belonging to the lot upon which L. Englebry’s clothing store is located and this is about room enough to place a stairway for the second floor of the building. Henry Rumsey is moving the buildings.

Correspondence

AMHERST

Frank Guild, superintendent of the Electric light plant quietly left.

[NOTE: I wonder what that means??]

Mrs. August Ehlert was taken to the Massillon Hospital for treatment the latter part of the week.

The funeral of the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Belden was held at the family residence at 1 o'clock Thursday.

The funeral of Miss Nellie Davis was held Monday afternoon at home at her home near Wellington. She was a member of the Amherst High School. Several of the members of the class attended the funeral. Interment was in Pittsfield Cemetery.

Mrs. Hiram Faxon died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lem Bacon at Ridgeville, Sunday night. Interment was made at Brownhelm Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Faxon was the mother-in-law of Judge Hinman of Elyria.

Mrs. Frank Reynolds of South Amherst went violently insane Friday, her condition being so serious that the services of several attendants were necessary.
Mrs. Reynolds only a few days ago was remarried to her former husband. Her second husband Sam Long died a few months ago and shortly after his death she again met Reynolds and the ties broken long ago were renewed with the result that they were again wed.
Mrs. Reynolds has not been well for some time but her condition was not considered serious. She will be taken before Judge Hinman on an insanity charge.

Strong's Corners

Several of the neighborhood are working in the quarry.

Seymour Lembach called on his parents Sunday.

Mrs. Faxon Dead

The death of Mrs. Hiram Faxon of North Olmsted occurred in that village Sunday night following an extended illness, which the infirmities of old age could not withstand.

Mrs. Faxon was 88 years of age, the mother of the late Mrs. D. H. Hinman of the city, and the wife of Hiram Faxon who is at present time 92 years old.

The deceased lived in Brownhelm for over 50 years of the three scored eight years, which she and Mr. Faxon had been married, but recently they moved to North Olmsted where they resided with her daughter, Mrs. Lemuel Bacon.

Mrs. Faxon was identified with the Congregational Church of Brownhelm, in which village she will be buried, where her many years of labor made an impression on the character of the younger generations.

The funeral was held in North Olmsted at 9 o'clock Wednesday.

She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Lemuel Bacon and Mrs. Nellie Hopkins of North Olmsted, three sons, Eugene of Michigan, Arthur of North Olmsted and George of Elyria.

Since their golden wedding which occurred 18 years ago, the wedding anniversaries of Mr. and Mrs. Faxon have attracted unusual attention each year, and particularly since they obtained the unusual record of three score years of married life. It is doubtful if any couple in Lorain County has live to enjoy so many seasons of connubial happiness.

HURON

Miss Elizabeth Dllon was taken to the Infirmary Saturday.

The funeral of Aaron Scott who died at the Infirmary Thursday was held Saturday from the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Harris. He was 76 years old and is survived by six children and one brother.

PRES. HAYES BIRTHPLACE TO BE RAZED

The birthplace of President Rutherford B. Hayes at Delaware, O., is to be torn down in the near future to make way for a candy factory.

Repeated but fruitless efforts have been made to have the state or the national government purchase the property. The building, which is located near the business center of the city, has been purchased by W. C. Diven, candy manufacturer, who will erect the four-story factory building on the site. The old homestead is today as it was at the time the late president was born. The building is in two parts, rear constructed of hewn logs over 100 years ago, and the front part of brick built some 10 or 12 years later.

AXTEL

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Welch a daughter, Wednesday.

It is reported Mr. Aubil is to arrive home this week.

BIRMINGHAM

The work of enlarging the Town Hall is progressing as rapidly as possible.

Mr. Henry Berk has sold his place here and has moved to Vermilion. Mr. Oscar Haise is the purchaser.

Mr. Vernon Arnet has started a barbershop in the old pool room next to the “Nau Hotel”.

Mr. and Mrs. Crandall attended the funeral of his younger brother in Toledo Tuesday.

Locals

Capt. Fred Bailey was reported quite ill at his home here first of the week.

Mr. Fairchild had previously fixed the field for ball playing and had invited the boys to use it. Now he has made a will, which devotes it to that purpose for all time.

The goodwill shown by the boys of Brownhelm High School who recently saved the house of Ray Fairchild from fire, has been rewarded by the permanent bequest of 4 acres as a ball ground for the boys of the school.

For many years Vermilion has had no public signal for morning, noon and night. It seems strange to persons used to hearing either a factory whistle or bell at the times mentioned.
During the past year there has been such a signal. The ringing of the bell of St. Mary's Catholic Church. James Nolan has been the faithful one to perform this duty and atd 5:30 mornings and evening and at 11:30 standard the bell has sounded. People are becoming accustomed to regulate their rising and working hours by.
Mr. Nolan informs us that a change will now be made in the time of ringing. Thereafter the bell will ring at 7 AM, 12 M. And 5 PM.

VERY INTERESTING:A few pieces of the past bring history into focus.

SUNDRY THINGS: The most significant item in this pic – aside from the bureau, the Edison phonograph case and two Brownie cameras – is the old camera on the right. It was probably my grandfather’s first good camera. It’s an incomplete artifact (some parts are missing), but his tripod is still at the museum (sitting in a corner).

Among all these items (hardly visible) is a BOSE radio. It’s a bit out of place here.