Sweetwater: I call this photograph Sweetwater. It is a picture of our cat "Sweetie" stealing a drink of water from the water-filter on our kitchen sink. I set my camera to record pictures of better quality and was testing it. The subject matter being rather mundane I manipulated it in photoshop and derived something that pleased my eye. The camera is very talented.

As ye peruse this conglomerated mess of pretty pixels (72 to be exact) let me toss in a few things that have absolutely nothing to do with the cat pic. Firstly, (a word pregnant with psedo-sophistication) there may be some poor souls who have happened upon this page because they were looking for the historic picture page. If that has happened to you it is because I have pointed my domain vermilionohio.orgto this page. From here one can link to the history picture page using the link provided below. Or one can tap www.mr1cooker.com and you will get there. If these domains were land I'd be dirt poor. I also own www.mr1cooker.org.

Lastly, (another of those words) I have begun to develop a correspondent section for this page. Ergo; if you've got something interesting and "homey" to send me do it. I'd be more than happy to add it to the page. That's both fun and interesting.

Now you can forget my stupid picture.

Believe it or Not: This should not be. But it is. This is a mimosa. This is a tree/shrub usually native of tropical regions. It is also called a Silk Tree. It lives in the tropical yard of my neighbor across the street. Not only are the light pink blossoms beautiful, they are very aromatic. My neighbor's mother planted this tree a long time ago. It's a fast grower. When she lived in the home she used to cut it to the ground every fall. And in the spring it would grow right back. The plant has not been trimmed back like that for several years now. I have also noted that it's sows it's own seeds. I now have a small one next to my house. It's really worth experiencing when in bloom.

Regatta Time: Another postcard photograph from my friend Bill Hlavin. Once upon a time regatta's in Vermilion were well attended functions. It's hard to imagine all those people out on the pier. That doesn't happen today. Nor do many people pay any attention to those races/games.

I don't really remember when all of that stopped. It was most likely about the same time the mayflies disappeared from the lake ~ mid to late 50's (perhaps). The town held games on the river in front of the waterworks. There were swimming and diving contests, plus canoe water-fights. In the evening there were street dances on Division (now Main) Street between Liberty Avenue and the railroad. "Lefties" Tavern (a.k.a. Eland's Cafe) did a land-office business, and "Fergie's" Bowling Alley and Bar helped.

I will always remember the night when the old fisherman "Skin" Backus (sp?) got a snoot-full, went back to the tug he called home, and missed the step down into the boat. Morning came and the crusty fisherman had disappeared only to turn up floating in the river. Truly a Huck Finn type of story.

Nothing Dramatic: This is not a dramatic photograph; just nice. This building infatuates me. Because the News Office was behind the Town Hall and the Congregational Church beside it I spent a great deal of time here. Long ago the city jail was at the back of the structure. In the warm months of the year only the barred jail door separated the crooks from the non-crooks. While I found prisoners to be a curious sort I kept my distance. In brief, I was afraid of them. I don't know, perhaps I thought they were killers. More than likely, they had been locked up because they'd had a tad too much to drink the night before.

The fire escapes on the sides of the building were also very interesting. Again I was deathly afraid of the wrought iron stairways. I didn't appreciate looking down and seeing the earth below me every step I took.

A Note From Our Vermilion Correspondent: Another new voice:

The Beat Goes On: The page is generatedby 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 comeback 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

Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix
History of Linwood Park
Vermilion Community Orchestra
Vermilion's Oldest Church

Vol.1, Issue 8, May 17, 2003

© 2003 mr1cooker@centurytel.net