THE OLD PICTURE SHOW: Formally it was called the Liberty Theatre. But I just called it “the picture show”. Bob and Lucille Nuhn ran the place when I was a kid. And what a wonderful place it was.

If you got there early they played songs that I’ll never forget: “Grandma, poor ol’ grandma. Why’d they have to shoot poor ol’ grandma. She lies ‘neath the clover – someone caught her bendin’ over (pick’n up a daisy).”

Multiply my memories of the place by a thousand and you’ll have some of the memories that folks of my generation still have about the old picture show.

PURE HAPPENSTANCE: It was pure happenstance [a circumstance especially that is due to chance]. I like antique prints – nothing specific or especially valuable – just prints of people, places and things long past. Consequently, it didn’t take much for me to become enamored with one that I came across several years ago on the floor of the attic atop the family print shop. I found it on the floor covered in dust. And though it was in a nice frame the glass had long ago been broken. But other than that it was in fairly good condition.

In the frame was a colored print of a lady (top photo) that I assume to be (by her hat) of Dutch heritage seated on a stone garden bench beside a large spray of white flowers. There is a stone cottage in the background, and beyond it is a little village.

When I removed the print from the frame to replace the glass I discovered that the print was taken from a Wickens Furniture Store Calendar from 1905. I believe a Lorain man named George Wickens kept the store and funeral parlor on Broadway in Lorain “way back when”. In any case, I replaced the glass in the frame, re-matted the print and hung it on the wall with several other old prints.

Some time later I was busy developing some of my grandfather’s glass negatives when I happened upon the lower photograph of my grandmother (L) Elizabeth “Bessie” Roscoe seated beside my mother Ella G. Tarrant. Seated below and between them is my great-grandmother Clara Bottomley. The baby is my oldest brother William Roscoe “Billy” Tarrant. Baby Billy was born on March 25 in 1928. Ergo, these shadows were likely captured in April or May of that same year.

As family pictures go this is obviously “a keeper”. It’s nice to have a portrait of 4-generations of the same family. It was taken in the living room of the family’s apartment above the print shop on Grand Street. Quality-wise it’s a decent photograph. Not all the glass negatives produce such fine images. So I was pleased with it. And then…

When I look at antique photographs I’ve developed a habit of looking at details surrounding the intended subject(s). You never know what you might find. In one old photo, for instance, behind the photo of two young men was a little building that long ago served as Rudy Moc’s Sunset photo studio on Grand Street. To my knowledge no other image of that building exists. And in this case I was amazed to see the Wickens calendar photo hanging on the wall behind my family. The other photo, by the way, is my mother’s high school graduation photo (VHS 1924).

What actually amazes me is that this is not some rare or expensive work of art. It’s just an old print cut from an old calendar that was likely sent out as an advertising gimmick a hundred or so years ago. It probably hung on the wall until my grandparents passed in 1946. After that it was taken down, hauled up to the attic and tossed on the floor after the apartment was let. And there it stayed for the next 60 years – until I rescued it.

I’ve no idea who in my family thought the print so nice that it deserved framing and placement on the living room wall. And it has crossed my mind that were it not for my affection for antique – or at least antique-like – prints this one might have ended up in the trash. So it is a matter of pure happenstance that it was preserved – not to mention that I would also find this glass negative with it so prominently displayed.

_{Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 11/30/17.}

Vol. XIII, No.28. - VERMILION,OHIO THURSDAY, December 16, 1909

School Board Meeting

The Vermilion Village Board of Education held a regular meeting Monday evening.

It having been found necessary to have a truant officer, Melville Gross was appointed to serve until the next regular meeting when the subject will again be taken up.

Arrangements are being made for heating the new rooms properly.

Owing to the time of commencing school the payroll could not be acted upon until after the regular meeting. This caused an adjournment until another week. The regular bills were ordered paid. After the beginning of 1910 this condition will cease.

A Narrow Escape

To break through the ice and be rescued when about to go down for the last time and after he had gone underneath the ice was the experience of Russell Knott, son of John Knott, Jr., Saturday.

While upon the river Russell went through the ice and finally under the ice, but his hand went through and was seized by Lloyd Leidheiser who had crawled out on the ice it being too thin to bear his weight otherwise he with the assistance of Emerson Andrews pulled the Knott boy to safety. But for the presence of mind of Messrs. Leidheiser and Andrews the river would have claimed another victim.

Reception For The New Pastor

Reception was given at the Reformed Church, Wednesday evening for Rev. A. C. Pretzer and family. The affair was in the nature of a surprise to the new pastor and he wishes to express his thanks for the cordial greetings with which he was received.

Rev. Pretzer was greatly pleased that so many of those whom he knew during his former pastorate here, came to this reception and with a large number of attendance. A nice lunch was served and all spent almost pleasant evening.

The fire department was called out Wednesday on account of an alarm sent in from the Brass Works but were recalled as the fire had been extinguished by the company's equipment.

An explosion of gasoline was the cause of the fire. No damage was done to speak of, one or two belts being scorched. Everybody was at work again in a few minutes.

Wakeman is to have a flowering mill. Last Saturday afternoon F. A. Denman, George Snyder and Kerry Gibson started for Readville, Perry County Ohio to remove a gristmill from that place to Wakeman, where we understand it will be set up at Mr. Denman's elevator. Wakeman has been without a mill for many years we are glad that it is to have one in the near future, and hope it may be a grand success. – Wakeman Press

COURT NOTES

Henry Randell, seventy years old, a farmer residing near Vermilion was awarded a judgment for damages in the sum of $3000, without interest, by a jury in the Court of Common Pleas Thursday afternoon, against the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company, the defendant will, it is understood, seek a new trial.

Randell, last July, was driving a mowing machine over the tracks of the company, near his farm. He was on a public highway. He was caught on the crossing, hurled from his seat, and although he was at first thought to have been killed it was found later that he had sustained only a broken rib, a gash in his head and several bruises.

Randell claimed that the railway company was negligent in view of the alleged fact that its employees did not take such steps as in his opinion they should have to prevent a collision. The Lake Shore Electric, on the other hand, contended that it was Randall who was negligent, and that he never should have ventured upon the tracks without first making sure that there was no danger.

Mary A. Quigley was on Friday, appointed administratrix of the estate of Reber F. Quigley.

A number of Vermilion people were in attendance on the case of Thos. Ball vs. Dan Thompson, Admr. of state of Mrs. Emma Thompson to recover money loaned the deceased for her care up to the time of her death a period of about three years. The case was settled out of court. The plaintiff agreeing to accept a specified sum of money and pay costs.

Killed By A Train

Henry W. Fisher, 67, of Sandusky, engineer of the plant of the American Crayon Company, of that city was struck and killed early Friday morning by a train on the L. S. & M. S. Railroad. He was a brother of Mrs. Mary Marchus of Linwood Park. The funeral was held Monday.

Correspondence

AMHERST

35 men were laid off at the Ohio Quarry Friday afternoon.

The bridge at Mill Hollow which is been under construction for some time is nearing completion.

The high school gave a party on Thursday evening in honor of their senior member, Elmer Gibson. A delightful evening was spent.

Joseph Wesbecher hardware merchant who was injured on last Wednesday afternoon is still suffering a good deal of pain.

John McCormack, a married man of Amherst was brought to St. Joseph's Hospital at Lorain suffering with pneumonia.

The play "Phyllis and the Farmer's Daughter" put on by the Brownhelm high school Friday evening, was well attended. The proceeds will go toward a new piano.

The funeral of John Rahl, age 65, was held at the family residence east of town on Friday afternoon, Rev. Lindenmeyer officiating, internment was made middle Ridge Cemetery.

Chris Farney made a misstep Monday night while on his way home. He stopped stepped off the walk over Beaver Creek and fell down the embankment breaking his right leg and bruising himself considerably.

HURON

Mr. Charles Weitzman, age 72, died at his home here early Sunday morning. A wife and three sons Charles, Frank and Howard and one daughter, Mrs. Lucian Lavoo, survive.

WEST VERMILION

A Christmas tree and exercises will be held next Thursday at school District No. 3, stop 143.

It is reported that two of our residents are preparing to go either to Bluefield, Isle of Pines or Alaska gold fields. Charlie and Vern have not yet decided which place to go.

Dr. Tuttle with his wife of Berlin Heights were Sunday visitors at the park.

One of the finest dog kennels in the country is being billed for A.R. at his summer home.

Locals

Frank Stone who was lost in the Conneaut Carr ferry disaster was a son of a former Vermilion jeweler, who will be remembered by some of the older Vermilionites.

An unknown man met death on the L. S. & M. S. Tracks just east of the bridge sometime during last night. His remains were found this morning. His head was cut off and the body terribly mutilated.

It is reported that the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Gerard was smothered to death recently in a fire, which consumed their home. The mother will be better known as Lena Knott. We are not able to verify this report or get particulars.

The firemen are preparing for the 11th annual ball to be given on Friday evening, December 31. Tickets $1.00 per couple including supper. Extra supper 25c. – All are cordially invited to come and dance the old year out.

The Chamber of Commerce meeting has been postponed until Friday evening, December 17.

Never before have the store windows of Vermilion merchants been better decorated. Just take a look around and see the numerous beautiful things displayed and also note there is plenty more inside.

A padded cell will probably be placed in the Lorain County jail at Elyria in the near future for insane patients, who must spend a short time therein.

Strong's Corners

A number of this place have done their butchering for the winter.

John Arend of Brownhelm butchered for Jacob Reinhardt last Wednesday.

AXTEL

Mr. E. C. Wasem butchered several of the finest looking hogs in this vicinity one day this week.

Miss Ruby Dean taught school at Furnace Corners Thursday during the absence of Miss Trinter.

Mr. Capt. Hiller of Geneva spent Sunday with Earl Welch who is on sick on the sick list but slowly improving.

Mr. L Levengood was an Axtel visitor Tuesday, he is having fine luck breaking colts and enjoying himself immensely especially these last two weeks.

Mr. O. K. Todd left Tuesday for the South, by way of Washington as he intends calling on a friend in Virginia from there he will go to Jacksonville, Florida to join Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Todd and with them spend the winter in St. Petersburg.

BIRMINGHAM

Mrs. Hales has been quite sick but is improving slightly.

Mrs. Carl Reighley's baby is somewhat ill with a severe cold and throat trouble.

Mr. William Porter of Henrietta center is very ill with nervous trouble.

We hear the son of George McCready of Henrietta – jump from his chamber window, Sunday night and cannot be found. The boy's mind was slightly unbalanced.

The remains of Alfred Howard a former resident of this vicinity and recently of near Wakeman were brought from a Cleveland hospital where he had undergone four different operations. This last terminated his life. The funeral was held at Mr. Henry Grezenbach’s his wife's father. Mr. leaves two children, a boy and a girl and their mother to mourn his death, also two brothers live in California.

NOTE:During the closing months of 1909 The Vermilion News obtained a new typesetting machine. I’m not certain what it was called or how it operated. What I do note in reading through these files (now) is that sometimes the type is rather small and crowded. It’s not set as neatly as it has been in past issues.]

COOL STUFF: Of interest here is that fact that Vermilion's population in 1888 was 1,090. It was truly a time when everyone in town knew everyone.

RAY F: This photo is not (of course) an artifact. But the vessel – the Ray F. – is. I don’t know what happened to all these boats when the fishing industry in Vermilion closed. I know they weren’t all destroyed. They’ve just been relocated.

I like these old pix of the fish tugs along the river. They remind of my younger days in Vermilion.