Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: Cask Villa is better known to older Vermilionites as the place where someone used old wine casks to make little summer cottages. Today it is the site of some pretty condominium homes. But as ye can see by these pix it also had a fairly nice beach and swimming area.
I have looked at the pix on both the shoptop (then) and my home desktop (& then again) for some years and promptly ignored them until now.
As best I can tell the pix were taken on the same day of the same people. I’m guessing (of course) that they were taken in the 30s. I doubt that the beach is anything close to what is seen in these pix. But like these past several days in Vermilion it was apparently very warm: A good time to go for a swim.
The pier / breakwall in the background reminds me of the one that was (and still is) at the foot of Main Street in the heart of town. The logs or old poles were used to form a crib of sorts for the stones.
The one at Main Street is still there, but is invisible (under water) at times. I’d be willing to bet that the one in this scene still exists as well.
Those wool swimsuits must have been heavy when they got wet. It makes me wonder just how much swimming one could actually do wearing one of them.
Cool pix for hot days.
REMOVING A BANDAID: I really don’t know exactly what to say without feeling like a gossip, but I’m troubled by some recent events in Vermilion pertaining to its newspaper.
Late last week the Editor of the local weekly came to see about something (i.e. the “Cloudy Ferry token” that appeared here last week) and proceeded to tell me that the wife of the publisher had walked into the office that same day and “let her go”. There were only two workers on the news staff: the editor and the advertising sales person. Ergo, it’s hard to know what to think after hearing something like that.
The Editor was understandably shocked and upset. After 20 or 30 years working for someone one would think that as a matter of professional courtesy a little lead time should have been allowed to transpire before one lowered the boom considering that it involved the loss of a job and all that goes with it.
Perhaps it’s like yanking a bandaid off a cut: It’s always best if it is done quickly.
Nonetheless, it still hurts.
SPIT IN ONE HAND…: I’ve not mentioned it in any detail before, but it has been said that the old Wakefield home “Harborview” might be razed in the near future. Without going into the finer details as to the specific reason(s) that total rehabilitation has been deemed impossible, that is in fact and in deed the case.
I know for a fact that razing this structure is viewed by many Vermilionites (myself included) as being unacceptable. But my thought is that when any committee makes up its mind to do something – like it or not – it happens. So, in this case, I have more or less, written saving the structure off as impossible. The Lord’s will be done.
AND THE DELUGE BEGINS: The rains have arrived in Vermilion and at the Olympic Club in the river valley / flood plain this Saturday morning (09.08.18). Some predict from about 3 to 5 inches of water will fall between now and Monday. Georgie (me wife) spent a good deal of time yesterday morning putting stuff up in the basement. Although our home is about 10 or 12 feet above ground and about 150 – 200 yards from the river a heavy rain is very capable of helping the river crawl across the field and the road to our home and those beside us.
I will definitely leave my truck at the museum this weekend. Actually, I often leave it there on weekends because parking can sometimes be at a premium here if there’s something going on at the clubhouse. If we see it flooding we can put our car atop the hill for a while. I don’t expect a major problem. That’s just life in a flood plain.
YOU’RE INVITED TO A CLAMBAKE: On Saturday October 6th the Vermilion History Museum is sponsoring a Clambake fundraiser at the Olympic Club. Board member and Club member Terry Diener will be the chef – and he’s darn good at it.
The bakes are $30 each ($10 for extra bag of clams) and must be purchased before the event. They can be obtained from any board member, or at the museum (T-440-967-4555). Tickets are limited. So be the first on your block to get one (or two, or three).
Historically,
SPEAKING OF RAIN: Last Sunday was an odd day. It was hot, and when it commenced raining and thundering the sun was still shining.
I went out on our porch at the Olympic Club and took this pic to illustrate. This is a friend, Don Whitt, right after he dropped his brother (Richard) off at his cottage in the rain.
As one might suspect golf carts are all the rage around the club (and Vermilion) these days. We're even thinking of getting a 6-seater at the museum to give tourists guided tours around town just as Don Parsons takes folks on guided tours up and down the river.
Anyway - Sunday was a strange day in good ol' Vermilion.
DON’T LET THE SMOKE GET IN YOUR EYES: A jillion years ago – when I was young – I loved the fact that there was a soda pop factory in our town. When “they” burned it to the ground back in the 1950s – as the late great newsman Walter Cronkite might have put it – “I was there.” I was on the grassy knoll next to the tracks overlooking the factory with two of my older sisters and tearfully [only from the smoke of course] watched the place go up in smoke. We had a Kodak Brownie camera and took pictures. It was a day to be memorialized. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened to those snapshots. So much for our “memorializing” things.
But no matter, back then my pre-teen brain rationalized, we still had our own amusement park to enjoy. That was Crystal Beach. And that, thought I, would never ever disappear. Well anyway, that is what I thought.
In 1906 a Lorain businessman named George H. Blanchat had purchased a picnic grove along Lake Erie just a few “klicks” east of Linwood Park from a fella named George Shadduck with the intention of stepping things up a notch (or two or three). It is said that during an initial inspection of the property with his wife, Josephine, she took up a handful of sand from the beach taking notice of its “crystal-like” qualities as it ran through her fingers and; on May 30, 1907 the “Crystal Beach” Park opened for business.
As the years passed, and business flourished, a merry-go-round, shooting gallery, ice cream parlor, boat rental and landing, bowling alley, a bigger refreshment facility, a prodigious water toboggan slide (from the cliff into the lake), and additional amusements and rides (e.g. a roller coaster – “the Thriller”) were added to the park.
The park was both vibrant and resilient. In 1925 the beautiful Crystal Garden Dance Hall opened at the front of the park (Currently the site of Key Bank). And during the years that followed crowds would come from miles around to spend a summer evening happily dancing to the music of Guy Lombardo, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Prima and Lawrence Welk – and many, many other big bands of the era. And when In April 1947 a great fire destroyed the pavilion / penny arcade / roller-skating rink on the lakefront, less than a month later a new one rose from its ashes
Then, in October of 1962 it was announced that a group known as the Crystal Development Corporation of Vermilion had tentatively purchased the property. In mid-November 1962 the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram ran an article headlined: “Crystal Beach roller coaster takes last dip.” In short the coaster with 12 coaster cars, a four-room cottage, along with 20 frame buildings, the empty Dodgem house, rifle gallery and items from the Penny Arcade, ad infinitum, had been sold to the highest bidder at auction. Heading the company were three Vermilionites; James Fischer, E.L. Creel and G.B. Kimmick. But by April of 1965 another local company, Klingshirn Builders that had built most of the homes in Vermilion’s Valley View subdivision, had acquired the property and 15 two-story garden-type apartment buildings were planned for the park site. The only buildings not sold on the-23 acre park site were the Blanchat home, the Crystal Gardens Dance Hall and the refreshment stand. All these structures were located at the front of the park on the north side of Liberty Avenue. Yet, before too long they too would be gone.
And poof! By 1967, when I returned from the War in Vietnam, everything was gone. This time there was no smoke in the air to explain watering eyes. But fortunately, the site of the park and the rides it contained, unlike the old beloved pop factory of a yesteryear, would not be completely forgot.
Several weeks ago Vermilionite Marlene Calvert Feldkamp visited the local history museum and told me that on September 22nd at 10 a.m. memorial plaques celebrating the park and several of the rides that once so thrilled thousands of visitors will be placed on several of the foundations / pylons that, believe it or not, still exist in the green areas of the Crystal Shores garden apartment complex. The plaques will include carefully etched photographs of the rides as well as their names (i.e. the Rocket Ship, Tumble Bug etc.). Marlene and her sister, Sandra Calvert Mueller, granddaughters of George Blanchat, will be in attendance during the dedication. And for a real treat the “Rocket Ship” car that many former visitors to the park might remember as having been a popular ride at the park, will also be there. So whether you are a Crystal Beach aficionado or not, reserve the date and prepare to be treated to one final (or perhaps your first) ride in the Rocket Ship from Vermilion’s very memorable “Crystal Beach” Park. Don’t let the smoke get in your eyes
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...
The village council met in regular session Tuesday evening with all members present. After reports of various committees and under the order of new business the matter of Macadamizing State Street from the South line of the Nickel Plate right-of-way to the Corporation line, was taken up and discussed. It was finally decided to advertise for bids for the placing of 10 inches of 2 in. crushed limestone dressed with 2 in. of 1 in. stone the grading and banking to be done by the town. The width of stone work to be 12 feet.
The two carloads of crushed stone were ordered to be purchased for the street repair.
It was decided to arrange for having a signal whereby, the Marshal can be called during the night. This is to be worked out later.
After taking care of the bills the meeting adjourned.
Quite a fleet of powerboats and yachts of the Lakewood Yacht Club in Lakewood Boat Club were in the harbor Sunday and Labor Day. At Foster's boathouse some 12 or 14 of the L. B. C. were tied up and the "crews and passengers" were having a good time despite the fact that the some of them had a stormy passage up from "river" Saturday night.
The entire fleet of twelve boats were caught in the storm of Saturday evening and six were forced after a severe buffeting of the seas and inconvenience of a drenching rain to put into Lorain Harbor for the night. The Majestic's engine went out of commission and things look serious for a time in that craft until the Pelican a much larger boat came along and took them in tow into Lorain. The boats sheltered here were: Majestic sailed by John Knipper; Pelican, Will Foster; Dodo, Ray Theis; Olathe, Frank Nagle; Agnes E. Joe Ballash; Marion H. William Gaul. They arrived at Vermilion Sunday morning.
The Myrtle, Jen Hutchison; Ben, Ben Duperro; Argo, Thomas Marlitz; Spray, Frank Sherbarth; Truant, Hugh McMann; Beulah M., Geo. Myers, arrived after dark Saturday night the occupants drenched, but happy at making port.
The Cynthia, Schroeder and Krowars, the Kate II and several other well-known craft also came in.
Monday several yachts of the L. Y. C. raced off this harbor but little interest was taken as an as no announcements had been made.
Vermilion is getting to be more and more an important harbor for pleasure craft. Here they can come and find a safe harbor and the owners can have a good time.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Cox and children left for their home in Parkersburg, W. Virginia, Tuesday, after a visit with the former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Rathbun and other relatives here, and a trip to Duluth. Mr. and Mrs. Cox and one of their children had a narrow escape from the in the trolley wrecked near Norwalk Sunday while returning from the West. They were in the rear end of the limited and escaped with only a few bruises, but were covered with blood when they reached Vermilion on account of assisting the injured. Mr. Cox said he had seen several bad wrecks but nothing like this one.
Sam Denman, stop 69 on the Lake Shore Electric had his hand and arm badly burned yesterday at the Avon Beach powerhouse. While wrapping a dynamo his hand came in contact with a live wire causing a short circuit. Dr. Cox was called and dress the injury. – Lorain news.
The eastbound Lake Shore Electric Limited which leaves Norwalk at 9:15 and the westbound local which arrives at Norwalk about 10:00 AM came into collision at a point slightly west of Willow Brook Park, Sunday morning. The motor man of the limited had admitted that he forgot about meeting the local at at Alling's Corners and was running at full speed, so was the local when the cars came in sight of each other. Both motormen reversed but the cars came together, the heavier local telescoping the limited.
Those who were not injured, at once took hold to help the wounded and the word was sent to Norwalk station to the general offices. A number of doctors were rushed to the scene and the injured taken to the hospital. The wreck was cleared by 1 PM and cars running as usual.
The wreck is one of the worst on the electric line and second only to the one at Vermilion in August some five years ago when there were over 100 injured.
The following is a list of injured as given by the Norwalk reflector:
Early Monday evening Miss Margaret Coe, matron of the hospital informed the Reflector representative it was expected that all of the 11 victims of the excursion and remaining in the hospital, including J. K. Martin, colored, of Toledo, one of the most seriously injured and who, it was feared Monday morning would not live, were expected to recover. [sic]
The victims who still remain in the hospital are:
J. H. Martin, colored of Fremont unlimited car; left leg broken below knee, right foot crushed, scalp wounded, face scratched; finger on left hand scratched. Right foot was amputated after being taken to the hospital.
Frank Hawkins, Norwalk, unlimited car; right leg looked broken below knee; face badly bruised.
August Jacobs, Lorain, conductor on local, broken ribs; was thrown violently against car and seat and badly squeezed; at first thought to be injured internally; hand cut
Miss Arvena Miller, 137 Foulk St. East Toledo, unlimited; badly bruised about head, hips and legs.
Amil Miller, Toledo, unlimited leg scratched and bruised somewhat about body. Returned home Monday.
Leonard Knabel, 1415 E. 61st St., Cleveland, on limited; nose badly hurt, also bruised about back and legs. His wife and baby came to Norwalk Monday morning to see him.
Louis Krause, Havana, 18 years old unlimited; ankles crushed and bones slivered, also bruised on nose and elbow.
Frank Nedro, Chicago Junction, unlimited; leg skinned below the knee, and nose and face badly bruised.
George Kerruish, 9222 Edmonds St., Cleveland, unlimited; had badly bruised and hurt about nose.
Lucius Hunt, Fremont, unlimited, leg skin from knees down, face skinned and back wrenched.
James Eckert, Havana, unlimited; head hurt, nose and leg skinned. Will be out of hospital in a few days.
F. D. Brooks Sandusky, motorman on local; left wrist broken in jumping from his car.
Other victims of collision who were able to return to their respective homes by Sunday night were:
The following named persons who were taken to the hospital [from] the wreck, had their injuries attended to and were able to leave for home Sunday afternoon:
Mrs. H. Thomas, Cleveland, arm and back injured.
J. Thomas, same address not hurt.
Mrs. H. T. Kennewell, Cleveland left leg injured.
Jerry Jagos, East Toledo, on local, wrenched and bruised.
Rosa Halick, East Toledo, on local; leg hurt below the knee.
Joe Drall, East Toledo, leg hurt and body bruise.
Anna Migota, East Toledo, on local; knees injured.
Frank Ondrush, East Toledo, on local; face and hands cut by flying glass.
D. H. Kronehauser, Cleveland, back car; badly bruised about body.
Mrs. E. E. Jackson, Fremont, nose broken, bruised about body.
Others injured in the wreck were Leon Fiesinger, Norwalk, three gashes in the leg, requiring 19 stitches to be taken. It is now at his home on Whittlesy Avenue.
W. J. Strayer of Lorain, formerly of Norwalk, legs and arms and back bruised, chest injured. Mr. Strayer is a brother-in-law of Mrs. Rose Lee, of the city. He went to his home in Lorain on Sunday and Mrs. Lee received word Monday morning that his physician fears he may be injured internally.
M. H. Leylin, of Massillon, formerly of Norwalk, neck hurt, teeth knocked out.
Mrs. A. B. Mahn, chin cut, possibly internal injuries.
Virgil Weisenberger, druggist, Defiance Ohio, on limited; badly bruised on chin.
Lucius Hunt, 76 years old of Fremont, was on his way to Cleveland on the Limited car. He had received word at his home in Fremont that his sister, a resident of Cleveland, was dying, and he was hastening to her bedside. He was badly, but not seriously injured about the body, and was able to resume his journey later in the day.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Bogart, a son, Thursday, September 1, 1910.
BORN – two Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nero of South Amherst, a son, Friday, September 2, 1910.
The public library is closed this week during which time it will be cleaned and varnished.
Warden and Arthur Tolhurst won first prize of $20 for the best display of fruits and vegetables and farm products shown by any Association at the county fair last week. Arthur Tolhurst won first prize for best display of garden vegetables and his brother was a close second.
The children of this vicinity are preparing to begin school Tuesday, September 6, after the long vacation, which was greatly enjoyed by all, many of them spending a part of the time visiting relatives and friends in other sections. The schoolhouse has been prepared for the occasion by Miss Effie Slocum of this place and Roland Starr of Huron. The new teacher is a miss Shadduck of Vermilion.
The stack at the pumping station was struck by lightning Friday and damaged to some extent. A tree near R. Strahley’s house was struck during that same storm. Herman Clark's barn near Ceylon was burned about the same time.
Jacob Seitz, sign painter of Cleveland was killed near Slate Cut Wednesday morning by falling from the L. S. Engine on which he was riding.
Charles Kendeigh, 14, of Amherst went to feed the horse the other evening the animal bit them through the lip.
Call 19 when you have an item.
The boat Visitor is in port here for a week.
The Vermilion public schools opened Tuesday. We could not obtain the enrollment this week.
The band concert Wednesday evening was considered by many to have been the finest yet given.
A force of telephone lineman are in town this week setting poles and stringing wire.
Mr. F. W. Wakefield spending this this the week in Canada.
Allen Darby of Cleveland is spending the week at Upton Darby's.
Mrs. Robinson, head cook at the Lakeside Inn, is enjoying a week’s vacation.
James Cuddeback returned Tuesday from St. Joseph's Hospital and is getting along nicely.
Wells Comstock, of the Naval Academy is enjoying a week’s vacation here. He has lately returned from a cruise in European waters.
Electric cars change this week. See timetable.
Miss Lyda Wakefield is reported on the sick list at her home on South Street.
Mrs. J. M. Delker was in Cleveland yesterday afternoon to visit her son Charles who is ill at his home in that city.
Clarence Walper has accepted a position as bookkeeper at the Wakefield Brass Factory. Mr. Walper is a recent graduate of the Elyria school.
Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Cuddeback are storing their goods and moving in with Miss Garry today where they will do light housekeeping until the completion of their new home on Huron Street.
SHERWOOD – At Vermilion, Ohio Thursday, August 18th, 1910, George Washington Sherwood, of Kipton, Ohio, age 22 years and 11 months.
George W. Sherwood, youngest son of Frank and Augusta DeReemer Sherwood, was born in Kipton, O., September 18, 1887, and was drowned August 18, 1910, in the Vermilion River, while attending the Kipton Sunday school picnic at Linwood Park, Vermilion, O.
In 1903 he united with the Baptist Church in Kipton, and was a faithful member at the time the Master called him home.
He leaves a mother, three sisters and three brothers to mourn the departure of a kind brother and son.
The funeral was held and largely attended at the Union Church at Kipton, Sunday, August 21, at 2 PM, Rev. J. W. Wynn officiating and the body laid at rest in the Kipton Cemetery. – Wakeman press.
Tuesday morning saw Axtel's children busy hurrying to in fro getting ready for the first day of school. Miss May Hamilton is teacher of the upper grades and Miss Florence Eddy of the primary school.
Hmmmmmm....
…Theodore Geesey, died October i, 1862, at Louisville, Ky.
…annihilation or capture only by a rapid retreat to Memphis, nevertheless, many were killed and captured. After this disastrous campaign the regiment, or what was left of it, was attached to the First Brigade of the Sixteenth Corps. It next participated in the battle at Tupelo in which the rebels were defeated, as they were also at Tishomingo Creek. In both of these fights the brunt of battle fell upon the brigade of the Seventy-second, and its loss amounted to twenty-five men. The regiment then joined the Atlanta expedition, but Mower having charge of the division, was ordered to Arkansas to resist Price, but failed to meet him. It then marched northward continuing eighteen days, and finally reached the Mississippi, where it embarked on transports for St. Louis, thence moved to Jefferson City. It then pursued Price's cavalry as far as Little Santa Fe, and then turned back to St. Louis, which point was reached on the 16th of November.
The Seventy-second next participated in the battle at Nashville, December 7th and 8th, and also at Walnut Hills soon afterward. McMillan's Brigade in this battle numbered less than twelve hundred effective men, still they captured two thousand prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery, but sustained a loss of one hundred and sixty of its own force. The division then moved to Eastport, Miss., and went into camp. In February, 1865, the brigade moved to New Orleans and camped on the old battle-ground. On the 28th of the same month it went to Dauphin Island; moved to the east side of Mobile River on the 19th of March, and on the 27th laid siege upon Spanish Fort, which was evacuated on the 8th of April. The next day it captured Fort Blakeley. It was then ordered to Meriden, Miss., where it was assigned to garrison duty. In September the Seventy-second moved to Corinth, and soon afterward to Vicksburg, where it was mustered out September I1, 1865, after which it returned to Camp Chase and was paid and discharged.
James Fernald, captain; mustered out with regiment.
William C. Biddle, first lieutenant; promoted to captain; transferred to company E.
John H. Poyer, second lieutenant; resigned December 3, 1862.
Jacob M. Beecher, first sergeant; promoted to first lieutenant in U. S. Colored Infantry, April 17, 1864.
Jonas Stanbury, first sergeant; wounded at siege of Spanish Fort, Ala.; mustered out with company.
George Downing, sergeant; mustered out with company; veteran.
Charles Hawes, sergeant; mustered out with company; veteran.
William P. Shilk, sergeant; mustered out with company; veteran.
George Taylor, sergeant; mustered out with company; veteran.
Robert Dalzell, cor
NOT JUST ANY OIL CAN: This tiny oil can was used at the old print shop to place oil (where else?) in tiny places.
When I was very young part of the busy work duties about the shop assigned to me by my father and older brother was to go about the presses and oil the moving parts with this can.
I deemed myself to be very proficient at this task. And when I sat down on an old wooden box to enjoy a cup of Mrs. Grass chicken noodle soup for lunch I felt like I’d earned it.
Security and peace of mind were part of the reason we moved to a gated community.
Both flew out the window the night I called a local pizza shop for a delivery.
"I'd like to order a large pepperoni pizza, please," I said, then gave him the address of our condominium.
"We'll be there in about half an hour," the kid at the other end replied. "Your gate code is still 1238, right?"
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)
Vol. 16. Issue 27 - September 8, 2018
Archive Issue #808
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