Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: On the shop desk this week is a very old fire fighting apparatus that was very popular with volunteer departments because of the simplicity and reliability of its pumps and engines. It featured rotary gear engines and pumps, which could pump water with a combined total of four moving parts in the pump and engine. The disadvantage to the design was its prodigious appetite for coal because of the very inefficient engine. However, fire fighters were not so much concerned with fuel efficiency as reliability, and this fire engine would almost always perform despite lack of proper maintenance or inexperienced engineers. This was obviously some type of public demonstration. Perhaps it was during one of Vermilion’s several Fire Conventions.
This photo was made from one of Pearl Roscoe’s glass negatives. It’s probably c.1905.
On my home desk this week is an old pic of what was probably one of Vermilion’s Regatta celebrations c.1940. The big barge in the river apparently became part of the celebration. But it was probably there digging a deeper channel for the harbor and / or digging channels for the Vermilion Lagoons. In any case it’s an interesting photograph. You may note in this pic that there are few houses in the Lagoons development as of yet.
You may also note the two guys in a lower part of the photo with their hands on their hips. Their posture got me to thinking as to what they may have been about. Usually when I see someone standing like they’re standing it means they’re about doing – moving – somewhere else to do some work.
Another nice pic.
ON SATURDAY LAST: It began with some connectivity problems re: my wireless mouse, maybe two weeks back. I found it somewhat puzzling. But sometimes everything was okay. So I just lived with the sporadic problem.
But on Saturday last when I was trying to put together the webpage for the week on my home computer I had a terrible time; it was running so slow. I’d have pulling my hair out – if I had any. It was terribly frustrating / difficult.
But I finally (slowly) succeeded.
Afterward I gave it some thought so I went into the utilities program on the computer. I checked and repaired my hard disk. And, presto, everything worked just great.
I’ve had and used this particular iMac for nine years and I like it a great deal. It’s my main workhorse. The one at the museum is good. But it’s fairly slow. I also use a different ISP at the shop, which may account for some of its slowness.
Ah, the travails of technology.
Historically,
SADDLE CLUB: I don’t know if folks ride horses in parades anymore. Back in the 1950s they did – but they were last.
This pic was taken at the corner of Liberty and Grand Streets. This was likely a Memorial Day parade. The guy on the pinto was one of my big brothers – William Roscoe “Billy” Tarrant. I’m not sure about the identity of the fella next to him with his mouth covered. But the little boy behind my brother was Jimmy Nuhn. Jimmy’s father, Bob, is the fella behind him.
Note the Kaiser-Frazer dealership and Gulf service station on the corner behind them. I’d guess this was about 1950. You’ll also note the house in the background.
Both the house and the gas station are long gone now – replaced by the parking lot at the Ritter Library and a park on the corner.
Those were great days in Vermilion.
DAWN: After a recent hip replacement I was grousing about my aches and pains to Vermilionite Dawn Full. She looked at me with a “so what?” smile on her face and said, “Getting old ain’t for wimps.” Well, she should know. On January 28th she will celebrate her 100th birthday.
What follows was the third of a series of oral history interviews conducted by the Vermilion Area Archival Society on July 30, 2011. It was first published in the VPJ on 8/21/2011. But no matter: like last week’s column this one is also worthy of repetition. Dawn is, in short, a very interesting personality.
Born Dawn Narcissa Malson she was the only child of Dr. Totten S, and Montros Narcissa Malson in Akron, Ohio on January 28,1918. Following her father’s graduation from dental school the family moved to Cleveland – “to Shaker” (Heights)- where he established his practice. She attended (photo) and graduated from Shaker Heights High.
Not many people know it but Dawn was a pilot and an Air Traffic Controller. While attending Wittenberg college she recalled, “They had civil pilot training. They had [ruled that] ‘so many boys and one girl’ [would be eligible for the training]. I was the ‘one girl‘ so I got my pilot’s license. And then I worked at the Cleveland airport. Well, no, I take that back. I got my license and I worked at the Springfield airport. And after I graduated the head of the airport said that they were looking for people for airway traffic control because you could either have a pilot’s license or you could have a college degree. And since I had both [it was suggested] that I should send my application in. So I did; and, blithely, took off for Long Island to a wedding. My father [then] sent me a telegram, and said to come home because I was to report to the Cleveland airport in July.”
“I had an airplane - a Taylorcraft with slotted wings - along with some of the fellas in the tower. I was in the airway traffic control and they were in the tower. And so during those days – I can’t remember exactly what the years were – but they were having an air race in Miami. You could fly into different airports and you could get gas and oil and they didn’t charge you for it. So this friend of mine – we packed our bags and we started off. We went to Bucyrus, I think. From Bucyrus we went to Cincinnati. After we took off from Cincinnati we ran into a snowstorm, oddly enough. It was just a freak. So we had to land. And that was one of my first”, she chuckled – “well my first on this trip – my first [forced] landing. So she [her friend] had to take everything out. And I had to fly the airplane to a little airport to pick her up. Get loaded again. Then from there we were supposed to go to…ah…it’s at the top of a hill… Can’t think of the name of it. And we were flying along, and it was getting dark, and my airplane wouldn’t go any higher (chuckle). So, uh, we had another forced landing. This was in a field that at that time it had been cotton. But it had been picked so it was an empty field. It rained that night so you couldn’t get the airplane out because it was all stuck in this mud. We spent the night. We went looking around and we stayed in a house – the only one in the whole group that had paint on it. (chuckle) All the little kids came running out saying, ‘Stay at our house.’ So they took us in and we stayed all night. And then the people from the little airport, which wasn’t too far from there, came and picked us up. One of the men was driving to Miami. So we went with him. The people from the [Cleveland] tower were going to go to Miami so they just arranged to pick up the airplane at the little airport. They picked it up, and they flew it down to Daytona Beach, and put it up on its nose when they landed on the beach (chuckle). I did umpteen forced landings and never did anything to it. “
Her work at the Cleveland airport was no less fateful. In fact it led her to meet and marry a Vermilion man named Ray Full (1918-1985). At the airport she explained, “The airway traffic control was upstairs in ‘Sundorff Hanger’. Down below they had the planes for civil pilot training. My husband was an ‘A&E’ – an aircraft and engine mechanic. I used to go upstairs, and the only thing I’d see was his butt hanging out because he was always working on the engines. My supervisor told him that if he would buy a war bond he would get a date with me. So that was where I met him. He bought a war bond. The funny part was that he was a ‘Star Boater’ years back when Al Wakefield and everybody had star boats. My first date with him was on the star boat. Al had named the star boat the ‘Crack of Dawn’. So that did it.”
Tracing the history of Kishman Fish, which Dawn and Ray purchased from Lester Kishman in the early 1970’s, she stated “Kishman Fish was started by Adam Kishman (1831-1901) in 1864. It was four miles east of Vermilion on Lake Erie. I don’t know exactly where it was. And then in 1905 Henry (1858-1948), Adam’s son, located the business on the west bank of the Vermilion River. It expanded. …Lester (1905-2000) took over in 1931 after Henry’s death. And in 1948 he became president.” Ray then, worked for Lester. “He was his accountant. He gradually started managing the company.”
“In about ’70 the commercial fishing was kind ‘a dying down and they closed gillnetting in 1984.” The gill net tugs, she said, “were those “with the covered body. You weren’t’ allowed to use them after 1984, and that really cut back on fishing. Then you go to trap nets.”
She went on to say that Ray “was on the Fish and Wildlife or something like that; something to do with the government. So we would take two trips a year. One trip would be to Washington and the next trip would be to…Seattle or wherever. I know one year we were supposed to go to Hawaii. And Ray said,’ I’m not going to Hawaii’. And I said, ‘Oh yes you are. The government’s paying for it and we’re going.’ It didn’t pay for me, but it paid for him. So when we were leaving I said, ‘How much money have you got?’ And he said, ‘Twelve dollars and 95 cents.’ And I said, ‘You better go down to Kishman and get some money because you’re not using any of mine.’ After he got to Hawaii he had a wonderful time.” But they did work she said. “They were all conferring with Canada and all the different fisheries. I’m sure they – the whole group – got together and passed different laws.“
There are many accomplishments in Dawn’s life that she didn’t have the time to touch on during this interview. What, for instance, might anyone say about his or her life in 30 minutes or less? As English author Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 1762) so aptly put it “Life is too short for a long story.” And so it is. Happy 100th Dawn!
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...
Last Thursday evening the old members of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce held a meeting, the required quorum being present. A committee was appointed to get up a new set of bylaws. The new members were taken in. The meeting was adjourned until Wednesday evening, February 9.
Wednesday evening the meeting was called order by Chairman McConnelly with A. E. Beeckel as secretary. J. A. Klaar, chairman of the bylaws committee, reported and read the bylaws. The secretary then read each section and discussions followed. So thoroughly had the work of the committee been done, however, that very little change was found necessary. The bylaws were then accepted and adopted - a vote of thanks being extended to the committee for their excellent work.
Under the head of new business Mr. Coen read a letter from a Cleveland law firm seeking location. The letter will be referred to the proper committee.
Then followed the election of officers, which resulted as follows.
President, J. A. Klaar
Vice President, H. L. Minium
Secretary, C. H. Nuhn
Treasurer, S. W. Simons
Trustees, F. W. Wakefield, G. B. McConnelly, E. L. Coen.
After some discussion the feasibility of incorporating the matter was left in the hands of the committee to report at some future meeting.
The new officers then took charge, after giving a few minutes for payment of dues.
Mr. Klaar, in a neat speech thanked the organization for the honor conferred upon him and stated that he would do his utmost to fill the position acceptably.
It was then proposed to appoint a special committee on membership. Messrs C.H. Nuhn, C. A. Trinter, and Guy S. Davis.
Pres. Klaar announced that he would be obliged to postpone the appointment of committees until the next regular meeting.
The meeting then adjourned.
The Council of the village met in regular session Monday evening. There being very little business to transact the bills were ordered paid.
Henry Schmool was appointed street commissioner for the ensuing year.
Council then adjourned.
Mayor Williams received the following dispatch today:
Washington, D. C. February, 1009.
Mayor Vermillion, O.
Were successful in securing a survey in River and Harbor bill for Vermillion.
C. C. Anderson, M. C.
13th district.
Word was received here Wednesday that Charles Lumley of Clyde had died. Mr. Lumley was formerly a resident of Vermilion, having moved to Clyde a few years ago. He is a brother of John Lumley of this place.
George Corning, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Shadduck died Monday at their home east of town after only a few days illness from pneumonia. He was two years old in November. The funeral will be held Friday at 12:30 at the house. Mr. and Mrs. Shadduck have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement.
Miss Nellie Griswold will open an evening class in the parlors of the M. E. Church, beginning Monday evening, Feb. 14. Each session from seven to 9 o'clock.
Reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and grammar will be taught.
Pupils in the seventh and eighth grades needing special help will find the school a benefit.
The school will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings of each week. An admission of 10c will be charged at the door.
[NOTE: If I’m not mistaken Ms. Griswold worked at the Hope and Light Orphanage until it was exposed for the ill-treatment of the children. I don’t, however, believe she had anything to do with said treatment.]
Saturday, Feb. 5, Mrs. Catherine Brooks passed the 80th milestone of life’s journey. She is spending a few weeks with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Risden west of town and had for her guests that day her two daughters, Mrs. A. G. Davis and Mrs. A. E. Parsons of Oberlin. Two other daughters expected to spend the day with her but were prevented by illness. Mrs. Brooks is enjoying the best of health this winter.
The Erie County farmers Institute is in session at Brownhelm.
John Sabiers called on his brother who is confined in the Lorain hospital, Friday.
The funeral of Charles Swain, was held from the late residence at 10 a.m. and interment made in Evergreen Cemetery.
The Independent Quarry, which has been closed for two years, was open Monday which is good news to the Amherst quarrymen.
News was received here Friday of the death of Louis Reichart’s father at Cleveland. Mr. Reichart and family left for Cleveland Saturday.
William Burke of South Amherst has in all probability established a new high water mark for the price of a hog. He recently sold the Mischka brothers meat market of Amherst a porker which tipped the scale at 605 pounds. He was paid ten cents a pound for the hog which netted him $60.50 which is perhaps a banner price. The pig is said to be the largest, which has been raised in Lorain County for some years. – EX.
A. B. Stewart sold a team one day this week for $400.
Messages have been received by the relatives of Walter Curtiss announcing his death on January 24th at his home near Marietta, Georgia. He died from pneumonia after seven days illness, leaving a wife and two children. Mr. Curtiss was well known to older residents of Florence and vicinity.
Reports to the state railroad commission show that 97 persons were killed on the rail in Ohio in January 66 on steam lines and one on the interurban. But one passenger lost his life. That was on a steam line.
The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce starts out in its reorganization with good prospects. Some 32 have signed for membership. The officers are all good men, who, we believe have the interest of the town at heart, and no doubt something will be accomplished. Every person who has an interest in the progress and growth of the town should become a member of this organization. The yearly dues are $2.50. Vermilion is a very desirable place for manufacturing concerns. We have many advantages including a healthy place in which to live. Now let's push.
The value of the wireless telegraph has again be been demonstrated. The captain and 40 men were taken from the Stmr. Kentucky just before she went to the bottom of Cape Hatteras.
Hurrah for the flag of our own native land
Clothed in most beautiful hue
The pride of our nation, it ever too shall stand
Our beautiful red, white and blue.
There are many flags of many lands
All bright and beautiful too,
But to us there is none, they can take the place
Of our own red, white and blue.
Its azure field stands for the true,
its Crimson for the Britain,
it's snowy bars and bright stars too
May they forever wave.
Gladys A. Risdon.
D. Barnes has got his barn moved.
Quite a number of our young farmers talk of going on the lakes this spring.
C. W. Kishman is very busy these days attending to his numerous customers on his farm tool trade.
It is rumored that we are about to lose one of our oldest residence. We hope it is a false report but time will tell.
Ms. Rose Sprunk is assisting clerk at the store.
Carl Fey is reported on the sick list.
Milton Leadrach was absent from school Tuesday on account of sickness.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heidloff will undergo an operation at a Cleveland hospital this week. The adenoids and tonsils will be removed.
Mrs. Eliza driver spent Saturday and Sunday at Lorraine the guest of her sister and family.
Dr. E. J. Hill has received appointment, as successor to Dr. Englebry is examining surgeon for the Woodman's Accident Assn. He has also been appointed as medical examiner for the M. W. of A.
According to report received by relatives the first of the week there was a slight improvement in the condition of Mrs. N. Fisher who is ill at the home of her daughter at Cleveland. Mrs. Patterson of Kentucky who arrived here there last week is also in the sick list.
Mr. and Mrs. George Rathbun are spending the day in Cleveland
Joseph Smith King was born in Florence township, Erie county, O. August 15, 1827, and passed away January 30, 1910, aged 82 years three months and 1315 days. He was united in marriage to Malone a the. Masters January 1, 1850, who passed away Sept. 5, 1891. To them were born three children two of whom survived, Mrs. Newton A. Andrew's Andrus of Florence Township [sic]. He was again married to Mary Alice Myers, April 18, 1895. To this union one child was born, Marguerite L. King. Mr. King was a kind husband and father, a good neighbor and will be greatly missed in the home and community where he has lived his whole life.
Charles Lawhead, thirteen, was instantly killed Saturday afternoon and Carl Berger, seven, so seriously injured that he cannot recover in a coasting accident near Birmingham. The boys, inmates of the Light and Hope orphanage, with a number of other companions were coasting on a steep hill, when the sled on which they were riding collided with a wagon at the bottom of the hill. Lawhead's head was dashed against the iron tires of one of the wagon wheels. He was steering the sled and it is believed did not see the wagon. Death was instantaneous.
Berger his companion on the sled was rendered unconscious and it is believed is fatally injured.
Charles Lawhead was from Van Wert, where he has an invalid father, his mother being dead. The body was sent there for burial.
The dwelling of E. J. Phelps, one and one-half miles east of Huron on the line of the Lake Shore Electric, was totally destroyed by fire late Saturday night. The flames gained a good start in an unoccupied bedroom before they spread to other parts of the house defective flue is said to have been the cause. Mr. Phelps was sleeping soundly. The shepherd dog which acquaintances say he declared once was not worth taxes woke him up by its howling and barking. The dwelling, a structure costing about $3000 was ablaze. Mr. Phelps and his family were forced to get out in scanty attire. A Ceylon bound car came along and passengers, jumping out, assisted Phelps and removing a small amount of furniture from the dwelling. The Huron firefighting apparatus was sent four but arrived too late to be of any help. Phelps loss is partially covered by insurance.
Hmmmmmm....
JANUARY 1, 1900:Last Saturday, A. D. Baumhart purchased of S. J. Nieding his business property on Liberty street, now occupied by W. Leidheiser as a saloon. The price paid was $1,500 Mr. Baumhart intends^ to occupy it as a supply rooms for his increasing business. The purchase is regarded as a reasonable one, consider location and price.
On August 9, 1862, the brigade participated in mthe fight at Cedar Mountain and suffered some loss. Again at the Second Bull Run, on the 30th of the same month, they lay in support of a battery when the rebels appeared on their flank, with who they at once engaged and continued until dark when the whole line fell back to Centreville. After this the regiment went into camp for a few days on Munson's Hill, but on September 22, returned to Centreville. From this point a number of reconnaissances were made but no general engagement was participated in until the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, with the Eleventh Corps, to which it had been assigned. In the Chancellorsville fight the Fifty-fifth lost one hundred and fifty three men in killed, wounded and missing. The regiment was then assigned to the Second Brigade of the Second Division and so remained until the end of its term of service.
From Brooks's Station the Fifty-fifth with its brigade marched to Gettysburg, Pa., where it again was engaged, first being posted on Cemetery Hill, but afterward moving to the left of the Baltimore Pike. While not in the regular battle line, the regiment was continually exposed to a severe fire and lost fifty men. The regiment joined in pursuit of the retreating rebel forces for some days and on July 25th went into camp at Catlett's Station, when it was assigned to picket duty.
In September the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps left camp, and by a series of movements by rail and marching, reached the battle ground of Mission Ridge where they were engaged on November 25, and suffered a slight loss, their position being on the extreme left After this the Fifty-fifth entered on the Knoxville campaign. This was made in the dead of winter, without tents or blankets. On the 1st of January following the Knoxville campaign three hundred and nineteen of the men of the Fifty-fifth re enlisted, and thus became veterans. They were granted an extended leave of absence, and it was not until the early part of March 1864, that they again encamped in the Lookout Valley. At about this time the Eleventh and Twelfth army corps were consolidated and denominated the Twentieth, of which the Fifty-fifth formed a part of the Third Brigade of the Third Division.
Then commenced the Atlanta campaign, and in it the regiment participated. The month of May witnessed a succession of active operations, commencing with the affair at Buzzard's Roost Gap, Ga., on the 5th; again on the 15th came the engagement at Resaca, where the regiment was under heavy fire and lost nearly one hundred men. From May 19 to the early part of June, the Fifty-fifth were in a series of maneuvers about Cassville, Dallas, New Hope Church and Marietta, and the 9th of June found them engaged in the operations at Kennesaw Mountain, which continued during the best part of the month.
MYSTERY TOOL - LINOTYPE JUSTIFYING SPACER: Would you believe that this little tool from the 1920s is worth about ten bucks?.
Four older ladies are sitting around playing bridge. The first lady says," You know girls, I have known you all a long time and there is something I must get off my chest. I am a Kleptomaniac. But, don't worry, I have never stolen from you and I never will; we have been friends for too long."
The second lady says, "Well, since we are having true confessions here, I must get something off my chest too. I am a Nymphomaniac. But don't worry, I have not hit on your husbands. They don't interest me and never will; we have been friends for too long."
"Well," says the third lady, "I, too, must confess something. I am a Lesbian. But do not worry, I will not hit on you. You are not my type. We have been friends too long for me to ruin our friendship."
The fourth lady stands up, says, "I have a confession to make also. I am an uncontrollable gossip, and I have some phone calls to make!
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
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
I'd let just about everybody in, except the English."- Calvin Tillin
Vol. 15. Issue 49- February 10, 2018
Archive Issue #778
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