Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: On the shop desk this week is an old pic of a flower in our garden when we lived on Oakwood Drive. My wife has a better eye for particular flowers than me. This was such a delicate beauty. I can almost smell it.
On my home desk this week is a (probably) c. 1910 pic of a person who may have been my grandmother’s father E.T. Bottomley with his buggy and team of horses in beautiful downtown Milan Ohio.
Ernest T. Bottomley was born in England in 1857 and came to America sometime about 1861 with his family. His mother (Elizabeth) died while crossing the Atlantic. He married Clarissa / “Clara” Elsworth at Westfield Massachusetts when she was 18 and he was 21.
Eventually, the couple moved to Chaska, Minnesota where Clara’s father (Ezekiel) was working as a carpenter. They left Minnesota and came back east to Milan Ohio where Ernest joined his brother in the grocery business.
Ernest died in 1910. Clara took leave of this life in 1941.
BOSCH: American author Michael Connelly’s L.A. Homicide detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch is a favorite character of mine. I’ve read all the novels where he appears and was delighted when I discovered that Bosch had been made into a television series (Amazon Prime). Bosch is played perfectly by actor Titus Welliver.
I’m a sucker for good detective novels. Of course I’m a James Patterson fan – as well as John Sanford, Lisa Gardner, Dan Ames, Lee Child, Douglas Preston, C.J. Box, Rachel Amphlett, Robert Crais, Jonathan Kellerman, Scott Pratt, ad infinitum.
I guess you now know how I spend much of my time.
Historically,
THE GRANDON (AGAIN): For most folks this tug has not significance. But for me it’s the most famous one to ever navigate the waters of Lake Erie. This is the Grandon. It was the property of Lake Erie legend “Big Ed” Lampe.
Most people didn’t know it (including me) but Big Ed was initially a farmer. Both his mother (Mattie) and his father (John) were from Denmark. They owned and operated a fruit farm on Ohio’s Catawba Island.
For a time Ed and one of his younger brothers (Arthur) did some grain farming (c.1910) in Arkansas. But by 1920 he and his brother (Gilbert) were both running fish tugs out of Vermilion.
Ed died at the Marine Hospital in Cleveland on 23 September 1947. The Grandon was abandoned, sunk and scrapped in the Vermilion River. She was, as one can see, a real workhorse.
It was a long way from where she started as a transport vessel moving visitors from places like Sandusky to the islands. After Ed bought her he re-fitted her…and, well…you can see what happened.
AN ANOMOLOUS SNAPSHOT: Like numerous other things I find, I came across the negative that produced the accompanying photograph while looking for something else entirely. Before it was developed I was hoping to see another tableau altogether: something a bit more exciting. But when the scene became visible I was (believe it or not) pleasantly surprised. I don’t know who captured the scene – much less their reason(s) – but after some reflection I’m real glad they did.
On the surface, it is a rather unremarkable portrait. While the auto appears to have been the primary subject – it still doesn’t seem sensible. That’s because there is obviously nothing particularly unusual about the car; it’s neither rare nor hardly what one might consider being a beautiful vehicle. Interestingly enough, I have seen another photo of a similar vehicle that was more interesting. It was sitting near the old Kyle Motors garage (currently the Vermilion Council Chambers) on Decatur Street. But that one was pocked with bullet holes. And though this snap was taken less than a block away from that site I’m absolutely certain it is not, fortunately or unfortunately, the same auto. That’s because I know this one belonged to my parents. To my knowledge they were never involved in any shoot-outs. At least none that involved anything more lethal than water pistols. So what about this photo?
This photograph was taken from the porch of our (the Tarrant) family home at 510 Perry Street around 1947. I believe the auto pictured is “about” a 1939 Pontiac. Originally it belonged to my maternal grandparents. When they passed, both in 1946, my parent’s inherited the car. I was somewhat taken aback to learn that they did not have an auto prior to that time. On the other hand, when one lives but two or three blocks away from their workplace and sundry other places of business and schools, having an automobile would have been more of a luxury than a necessity.
Several years after this snap was taken Vermilionite Alva E. Boone built a new house just across the street. The house visible on the right in the picture belonged to Alva’s parents. Initially Mr. Boone, his wife Esther, and their family lived there with his mother, Rosella. During the 1950s he built (he actually did most of the work himself) a tidy house just to the north of the older home. I mention this because both the older Boone home, and the new one, are still standing. These homes are just south of the railroad tracks on the east side of Perry Street north of Ohio Street. But to my dismay, the house from which this photograph was taken (i.e. my birthplace) no longer exists. So wonder no longer about the reason I was happy to see this photo. It’s like coming across a portrait of a long-lost friend.
It was a house aside the very busy New York Central railroad tracks. When the trains rumbled and flew by on their way to New York or Chicago, the dishes rattled in the cupboards and conversations about the dinner table grew louder. Occasionally a hobo would come to the backdoor looking for a handout. Sometimes in the heat of summer a railroad gang would seek the shade of our buckeye tree at lunchtime. But despite such things the doors were never locked. In fact, I’m not sure it was even possible to lock the doors. Anyway, while the house was hardly the best or most attractive one in town it was a good deal more than just a house. It was home.
The front porch was the pièce de résistance. If ever there was a family gathering place (aside from the dinner table and the piano) it was the front porch – especially during warm summer nights and thunderstorms: One did not simply “watch” a storm from beginning to end, one “experienced” it. And later, what could be better than to be speaking in low tones on the porch at twilight amid a chorus of crickets patiently waiting for dark to fall replete with flickering fireflies amid the cool breezes of a summer evening?
As one can see, the walk in front of the home is broken. It was broken then, and it remained broken forever. It was never fixed. But no one tripped and no one fell. I still don’t know how that could be. But it was so. Times were different. They were times of broken sidewalks, unlocked doors, steam trains that rattled the dishes in the cupboards, beautiful summer storms, cricket chorales, fireflies in the night, all recorded by rather anomalous snapshot of one late afternoon in a Vermilion yesteryear.
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...
Saturday evening the Village Council held a meeting to consider the L. S. & M. S. Ry. franchise and take final action upon it if possible. Attorney Handy and the Company's engineer was [sic] present and the different phases of the ordinance discussed.
As the ordinance now stands it would be possible for the Railway Company to raise their tracks 6 inches but no more, unless for a separation of grades. A sewer would be constructed on or near the south line of the right-of-way commencing with the 12-inch tile at Division Street, and enlarging to 36 inches at Grand. Maintaining that size to its outlet. This, the representative objected to, thinking that a 24 inch pipe was large enough for a portion of the way. The streets to the to be graded to at 4 percent grade on all of the them west of Division Street, to full width of the street, on the surface. This was agreed to accepting the, “on the surface" - this it was claimed might involve some difficulty with property holders.
Several other things were said to be objectionable, but the thing at which the company balked was the 8th section. After retiring for a private conference the Council decided to stand pat on this. It is to the effect that if the Railway Company sees fit to elevate their tracks again, they should raise them to such a height as to separate the grades and should do so at their own expense.
When Mr. Handy was asked concerning this, and his reason for objecting he said it would prevent them from raising the tracks and inch or so, and that the company would not stand for that clause.
After more discussions on the subject the ordinance was read. The rule requiring an ordinance to be read at three separate meetings was suspended. The vote on the passage of the ordinance was a 4 for 1 against. There not being the required four-fifths the motion was declared lost and the ordinance passed to the second reading, which will be given at this at the regular meeting next Monday evening.
During the private session Mr. Minium objected to the provisions of the 8th section, stating his reason for doing so, and as only five of the six councilman were present, (Madison being out of town) Mr. Minium voted against the passage, the others for it.
The Council then adjourned.
A. D. Baumhart, one of our druggists, has come out as a candidate for state representative on the Republican ticket, subject to the primaries, May 17. Mr. Barnhart is well known in Erie County, especially in this section, and while his candidacy is in the nature of a surprise he can and will fill the position very acceptably if chosen as candidate and elected. It is evident that he desires his friends in this section to know about it as he has placed a card and in the NEWS, recognizing that it is the only Erie County paper having a general circulation in the eastern portion of the county.
Benjamin Seymour Horton was born in Hanover Center, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., July 29, 1830; died April 26, 1910 in the 80th year of his age.
When a boy of 16 he went to college at Fredonia, N. Y., and remained in school, pursuing a collegiate course until he was 18 years old. He then went to Buffalo and engaged in the lumber business and after about four years went to Marine City, Mich., and again resumed the lumber business.
In 1858 Mr. Horton was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Drummond of Marine City, of this union seven children were born – five girls and two boys, all of them living.
In 1869 Mr. Horton moved his family to Detroit, and resided there until 1878, and then moved to Vermilion, where he resided until death.
He was a man with a bright mind, a great reader, and a thinker as well. In war times he was elected to the Michigan legislature and served his state in the capacity of a legislator.
In politics a Democrat – and religion, a Methodist, unwavering in his devotion to his party and his church, and yet he was broad-minded, liberal in his thinking, caring more for men than parties, and more for Christianity than for church.
12 years ago Mrs. Horton died. For the last several years he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Franc Parsons. For the last five years he has been an invalid, but loving hands ministered to his every need.
He retained all his faculties to the last, and although well nigh 80 years old, his eyesight, hearing and memory remained with him.
The funeral service took place from the home of Mrs. Parsons on Thursday morning – the funeral sermon was preached by his pastor, Rev. J. W. H. Brown, from 2 Timothy, 4th chapter and 7th verse: "I have kept the faith." Interment at Maple Grove Cemetery.
A number of ladies of the village and surrounding country are endeavoring to organize a Woman's Relief Corps to work in conjunction with the G. A. R. A meeting will be held Saturday afternoon April 30, at the home of Miss Carrie Boss on Grand Street for this purpose and all who have signified their intention to become members are urged to be present.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Grugel, a son, April 20.
The funeral service of Fred Cherclefskie, – a quarrymen who died Friday, after an all winter's illness from tuberculosis, was held Monday afternoon Rev. Samuel Lindenmeyer officiating.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Magyor a daughter, Monday, April 25.
News was received here on Friday of the death of Mrs. Ida McFarlane, of Los Angeles Cal., on April 16. She was 57 years old. She was well known in this section Amherst being her girlhood home. She leaves a husband and four children in California and a host of friends and relatives in the section.
Our mailman has a trotter at prep present and we get our mail in a hurry.
777.
39 divorce cases have been filed in Lorain County since the 1st of Jan.
$75,000 was voted by the Ohio legislature toward the celebration of Perry’s Victory Memorial at Put-in-Bay.
The Norwalk post office has been raised to that of second class, with a salary of $2800. The business transacted for the year ending on April 1, amounted to $30,213.10.
Gov. Harmon will issue a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May is Mother's Day, and calling for a general observance of it.
Mrs. Harriet W. Hammond, a well-known and highly regarded lady aged 86 years old, died Thursday morning at 8 o'clock at the home of her son, Edwin Austin at Berlinville. She leaves three sons and one daughter, all residents of Erie County, besides a sister, Della Peabody, of Birmingham.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of her son, George Austin, Berlin Heights. – Huron Co. News.
The council is standing pat on the franchise for the Lake Shore Railway. It seems to be a question with some, however, as to the advisability for leaving the section in regard to the separation of grades in this franchise as it stands. Can the Railway Company by process of law, move their tracks without a franchise? That is the question. If they can, the town will get nothing out of the deal, except the expense of a lawsuit, drainage strictly as required by law, crossings no better than at present, even if as good,. It’s the principle rather than cost that the railway companies fight for. If, the company cannot move its present tracks without a franchise, then the issue is not to ask for more than it is thought the courts will hold as reasonable and just. Just so sure as we do, it will mean long drawn legal fight. There remains the question, “what will be considered reasonable and just?" We have already had some experience in the courts and landed about where we started in. Now it is a good thing to “stand pat". It is here that the wording of section 8 of the franchise could be made to express the meaning in a way something like this: “Should the Railway Company ever desire to raise their tracks more than 6 inches as herein provided for, excepting it be – inches for ballasting they shall raise them to a height necessary to separate the grades," etc.
A barn and storehouse, the property of El Harris was gutted by fire Sunday. It is claimed that several boys were amusing themselves with an air gun and some matches with the result that some oil became ignited. The fire spread rapidly and the oil made it a difficult one to extinguish. Most of the contents were destroyed.
A large band of gypsies passed through here Saturday.
Mrs. N.A. Foster is suffering with a very severe attack of inflammation of the eyes.
Mrs. Harry Trinter of Sandusky whose illness has been mentioned in the NEWS has suffered a partial relapse and is again confined to her bed.
GET OUT YOUR RUBBISH FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
WATCH FOR “TOM PINCH" THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAY TO BE GIVEN SOON.
Rev. Alonso Early who has filled the pulpit at the Cong’l church here several times, has resigned his charge at Chardon and accepted a call to Medford Okla.
Miss Mary Carr has been very ill for the past two weeks but under the skillful treatment of Dr. Tidd, and a trained nurse of Lorain is recovering as fast as can be expected.
The Vermilion Marshal was notified to keep a sharp Outlook Friday afternoon for William H. Edwards, a colored man, guilty of shooting his roommate, Moses Smith and in the right lung. He was captured at Oak point, confessed and was bound over to the grand jury under $1500 bonds. He was taken to the county jail at Elyria.
Another snowstorm. What is next – more of the same thing? We certainly hope this is the last.
Census taker Clinton Ennis visited this neighborhood last Thursday.
Strawberries are blossoming now. Now this is no time for freezing weather.
Mrs. William Sanders has returned home from taking care of her uncle, Wheeler Washburn, the next morning after her arrival she was taken down with tonsillitis and her sister from Henrietta came down to take care of her and as soon as Mrs. Sanders was able to sit up her sister contracted the same disease. They are both better at present.
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Henry took a drive toward Wakeman Thursday afternoon and encountered the worst roads of the season.
Mr. Webster has purchased and moved the building that stood on the main street and was once used as a bakery and barbershop, to his lot near the Town Hall and is intending to open an office for his business. That is an optician.
There is a great deal of discussion about the fruit crop. Some thinking that it has been killed by the severe frost and some by the snow destroying the pollen, still others think the apple crop is all right.
Charles Kuhl is on the sick list.
The fruit seems to be all right in this locality since our recent severe weather. Oats are a little slow but the wheat looks fine.
A. R. Rumsey celebrated his 62nd birthday Tuesday by throwing his house open to all his friends and relatives which are numerous. Here's to you A. R. May you live another 62.
This wet weather is causing our clay banks of along the lake to slide off. Several feet have gone recently.
A band of gypsies passed through here Saturday telling fortunes, trading horses. They were a hard looking crowd.
Hmmmmmm....
….John West, corporal; discharged July 23, 1863 on surgeon's certificate of disability.
John F. Wheaton, corporal; discharged September 22, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
John Altman, musician; mustered out December 31, 1864, at expiration of term of service.
Henry Baxtine, mustered out with company July 11, 1865; veteran.
Jira Burt, no record found.
Joel Baker, drafted, mustered out June 5, 1865, by order of war department.
Frederick Bellman, mustered out June 9, 1865, by order of war department.
Lewis Bellman, died July 11, 1862, at Cumberland, Md.
Peter Balser, drafted, died March 23, 1865, at David's Island, N. Y.
Thomas Banning, discharged May 15, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
Sewell C. Briggs, discharged November 22, 1863, for wounds received August 30, 1862, at Bull Run.
Samuel Briggs, no record found.
Thomas E. Buckley, discharged March 3, 1863, for wounds received August 30, 1862, at Bull Run.
Erastas Barrett, died April 5, 1862, at Grafton, W. Va.
Thomas Brumby, died August 23, 1863, of wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va.
Sefen Brabert, no record found.
Robert G. Courtney, drafted, wounded March 19, 1865, at Averysboro; mustered out June 9, 1865, by order of war department
William Callen, captured October 30, 1864; exchanged; discharged June 20, 1865, by order of war department.
Michael S. Coppman, mustered out June 15, 1865, by order of war department.
Henry Chulip, drafted, mustered out June 9, 1865, by order of war department
William E. Childs, promoted to hospital steward November 21, 1861.
John Coppins, died July 28, 1864, at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hospital; veteran.
William Clinton, discharged November 21, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
William F Crapo, discharged October 13, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
MARY LYNN’S GARAGE SALE: I don’t know when her sale will take place, but at least once or twice a year Mary Lynn Homitz has a terrific garage sale at her home on Adams Street. These pencils will be among the items she is selling. They’re very collectable.
One is marked Spencer Fireworks Co. – Polk, Ohio – “Let us Forever Celebrate the Glorious Fourth’ – WE CARRY A COMPLETE STOCK THE YEAR AROUND.
I’ve no idea what year these trinkets were made available to the public. But in searching for the company online I happened across the incident that appears in the article below.
For those unfamiliar with Polk it’s a little place about the size of Axtel – just south of Vermilion. They have a few more houses and a store. But blink as you pass through and you’ll miss the place.
Anyway, they had a real hot time in Polk that night.
A little girl was wearing one of those Medical Alert bracelets. Someone asked her what the bracelet was for. She replied, "I'm allergic to nuts and eggs."
The person asked, "Are you allergic to cats?"
The girl said, "I don't know..... I don't eat cats."
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
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Vol. 16. Issue 8 - April 28, 2018
Archive Issue #789
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