Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: This week the desktops feature people who attended Vermilion schools.
On the shoptop is one of Mr. Calvert’s basketball teams. I’m think this pic is from about 1939. I’m sure that older Vermilionites will recognize more than one of the faces and names. Ivor Ford and Keith “Doc” Jeffery are two guys I remember quite well. This was among the Roy Kneisel (also in the pic) slides given the museum by his daughter Nancy.
On my home desk is an older pic (1924) taken outside the State Street building. I knew several of these guys as well. I see Howard Bogart, Richard “Ben” Whitt, Art Copeland, John Trinter, Orson Kuhnle and several others.
For some reason I don’t know any of the girls in the photo.
CRAZY It is thought by some that when a person does something over and over again always realizing the same result that they might not be playing with a full deck.
Well, welcome to my world.
This week I repeatedly tried to make a DVD of the film videos of the 1969 flood that I was loaned and scanned. The videos will play on a computer from either a disk or a flash drive – but I just couldn’t transfer them to DVD to view on a television.
While I did succeed once (just once) I was unable to duplicate the process. So Don’t bar the door Katie! I’m right on the edge.
[NOTE: As said, I tried and tried and tried. And finally I succeeded!]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week I came across a clipping that mentions moving the local Shell station from the area of the Vermilion Country Club at Orchard Beach to the northwest corner of Liberty and Washington streets.
To accomplish that task required moving a house that apparently sat on that corner, back so it faced Washington Street. It was once the home of a fella named Henry Miller.
Mr. Miller had died in 1911. He was a Civil War vet. I don’t know who owned the home when it was moved in 1935. But my point is that it was an old home. If you grew up in Vermilion in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s you may remember the little house behind the gas station. It (as well as the Shell station) was eventually torn down to make way for the library parking lot.
I guess this is just a historical / hysterical footnote.
Historically,
OUR MWB DOES IT AGAIN: Urbanna author and 35 year columnist for the Southside Sentinel, Mary Wakefield Buxton, has published a comedy based on her own life titled “Tripping: A Writer’s Journeys.” This is her 14th book.
“I love to write comedy,” she said of her new book, “and this book pokes fun at me as it honors my husband, Chip, and my 56th year wedding anniversary of our “North-South” marriage. It may not be so rare today but in 1963, when we were married, it was unusual to jump the Mason-Dixon line when one said “I do.” Neither of us had any idea what we were in for.”
“We came from totally different backgrounds and hilariously “fell in love” while arguing over the Civil War only to realize on our honeymoon that our ancestors were literally shooting at each other and not so very long ago!” Buxton explained. From there the blissful new couple became aware of very big differences in religious and political affiliations followed by a year living in California (a foreign country) then Japan with their infant daughter while Chip served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Their humorous adventures continue jaunts exploring the Wild West, London, and Paris.
“They say writers are born out of conflict and I often wonder if I would have ever picked up a pen and written even one word if I had stayed in my small town, Vermilion, Ohio,” Buxton reflected. “The Colonial Virginia and southern heritage I married into has gifted me with more tolerance and understanding…especially learning first hand of the tragic chapter of slavery, terrible suffering for both whites and blacks during the War between the States and the Jim Crow Era that followed. Such awareness has humbled my pen.”
Buxton attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College, is a graduate of The College of William and Mary and holds a MEd from the George Washington University. She and her husband and Cocker Spaniel “Dandy” reside in Urbanna.
Signed copies of her new book can be purchased for $15.00 at the Southside Sentinel office or by mail by writing Rappahannock Press, Box 546, Urbanna, VA and adding $6.00 to cover mailing costs and tax. Contact:glongest@ssentinel.com.
SOME DREAMS DO COME TRUE: Every now and then, I dream of those years: Riding my bicycle up down the streets of town with a newspaper bag over my neck filled to the top. It was so long ago. This was a time when newspapers; weeklies and dailies were still a primary source of news. In the morning it was the Cleveland Plain Dealer. In the afternoon it was the Cleveland News, Cleveland Press, Lorain Journal, Sandusky Register or the Elyria Chronicle. And every Friday it was The Vermilion News. And that was just in Vermilion.
I didn’t deliver all these newspapers – only the three Cleveland papers and the weekly News – but it was enough. It was a job. I’ve often lamented (mostly to myself) that youngsters don’t have the work opportunities I had when young. I, like my siblings, started delivering my parents weekly when I was about eight or nine. It was a good deal. The paper was a nickel.
When we delivered the weekly to a place like the Maudelton Saloon (it was located in the basement of the Old Maudelton Hotel that had been closed for years) on an early Friday morning there were always a few fellas in the place drinking their breakfast who bought a paper. [“Hey kid, gimme a copy of the “Bugle”.] We were allowed to keep the nickel. But that wasn’t the big thing. The guys always insisted on having the bartender fill a paper bag with popcorn and candy to give us before we got out the door. The popcorn we could eat right away. But the candy had to wait because our parents prohibited candy eating in the morning. And surprise of all surprises – we obeyed them. Maybe we only made a quarter on that route once a week, but the fringe benefits made the task worth it (at least after the noon hour).
When I was eleven going on twelve I got my first “real” paper route delivering the Cleveland News and the Cleveland Press after school. As these things go it was a difficult route. It covered the entire village which meant that it went from Bluebird Beach in the west, Nokomis Park to the east, north to the lake and south to Haber Road / Maurer Lane. It was a chunk of real estate. Moneywise, it would not have been a bad deal if – and that’s a big IF – there had been a whole bunch of subscribers. But there weren’t. And during inclement weather it was worse.
One winter afternoon I was actually unable to peddle my bike down Langfitt Street in what was then a new Vermilion subdivision some facetiously referred to as “Plywood Plaza”. The wind was blowing about 200 mph out of the west, and was colder than a witch’s kiss. It was so vicious it made me cry. And there were other problems as well. One time as I was being chased by a German shepherd whilst riding down one of the streets in the Vermilion Lagoons (of course the only subscriber lived at the very end of the street) a kid I knew (namely Ronnie Roskilly) shot me in the leg with his bb gun. He apologized. But it still hurt. I got a real break when the American Newspaper Guild went on strike in November of 1956. While I did deliver those sheets when the strike ended I luckily acquired a new, bigger and better, route delivering the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Plain Dealer route was, at least for a twelve or thirteen year-old kid “big money”: Twenty bucks a week. Moreover, I didn’t have to collect. I worked out of the local newsstand (now the site of the Olive Scene on Liberty Ave.) and subscribers paid at the store. The downside, if there was one to this route, involved the number of subscribers. Unlike my afternoon route the PD route had 50 or 60 morning subscribers during the week and about 150 to 200 Sunday customers. The weekly route was doable for a kid my age. But the Sunday route was another matter. There was no way for me to carry more than ten or twenty Sunday Plain Dealer papers at a time using a bicycle. Back then Sunday newspapers were thick and weighed three or four pounds each.
That is when my mother became my unpaid business partner. So, in addition to her already full-time job as a mother of eight children, co-owner / publisher / writer of the local weekly she also became the best newspaper delivery person in the whole darn town. Fortunately (for her), I eventually decided to give it up turning the route over to another local kid named Jimmy Mason.
But as ye might gather from the fact that I still dream of those days [sometimes I remember that I missed a delivery at the Mayor’s house just around the corner or at one of the customer’s homes on Division Street]because it was a big part of my life when I was a kid. Moreover, in all those days when I navigated the streets of our town on my bike in all sorts of weather, I dreamed of a day when instead of delivering papers I’d be writing for them. Some dreams do come true.
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...
While on his boat the Hazel H., Saturday, then hospital of Ashtabula that arm severely injured. While the boat was running he attempted to reach under the shaft for something when a starter set screw caught his arm and threw him down to the shaft. A gash for 5 inches was torn in his forearm in the flesh badly lacerated. He was taken to Dr. Heinig’s office where the wound was dressed. Later he went home, his wounded arm seem to be getting along nicely but it will be a long time before he can work.
The Council held a meeting to open bids for public dock and comfort station Monday evening. There were two for each. The meeting was adjourned until Friday evening when action will be taken.
It is hoped that favorable action will be taken on the comfort station in preference to the dock if both cannot be provided this year. Not only is the former greatly needed in Vermilion but the building will be an ornament rather than otherwise. The plans call for cream brick with red tile roof. If Vermilion is to have large crowds of summer people we must care for them. It may be a little late when the building is completed yet it will be before the largest crowds are here.
The band gave a rather short concert last Friday evening. The invasion by the swarms of “Canadian Soldiers” rendered it almost impossible to proceed with the full program, so after playing a number of selections the bank gave it up. We suggest a screen over the bandstand.
Judge Reed, in the Court of Common Pleas Monday granted Richard K. Staley of Huron a divorce from Mildred Staley, on grounds of gross neglect of duty. The parties were married at here on April 3, 1909 and have no children.
John Winnie, who was brought before the grand jury and to indictments returned both for assault, one at Huron and the other at Vermilion.
The Ethel J. One of the gas fish boats broke down out in the lake Thursday off Lorain and it was late Friday afternoon before the engine was repaired and the craft brought the port. Fortunately the lake was very calm all the time. The crew witness the fireworks at Lorain and their lights burned as the distress signals received no attention as those who saw them mistook the display for part of the fireworks. The crew consisted of Geo. Myers, Joe Bartlett, Tom Hauk and Ray Conklin.
It has been some 30 years since L. J. Decker associated with his brother Philip in the livery business. About 20 years ago John Lenz purchased the latter’s and interest in the business and up until the present time the company has conducted a successful business at the stand on Liberty Street. A short time ago it was determined to sell and Tuesday E. L. McQueen and William Krapp purchased the business including the stock carriages. hacks etc., but not the real estate. Mesers. McQueen and Krapp are [to] take possession July 29. The retiring liverymen will devote their time to management of their farm.
Children’s Day was observed in the various churches here Sunday.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ludwig daughter, Saturday, June 24, 1911.
Word has been received here of the sudden death of Chas. Norton, a former Amherst boy who left for the West in 1893 has been engaged in the real estate business at his home in West Hollywood, Cal., a suburb of Los Angeles, Cal. Besides his widow mother, brother, Seymour of Amherst and a sister, Mrs. Geo. Snyder of Lorain are left to mourn their loss. His death was caused from heart failure. His remains were interred at West Hollywood, Cal.
For four days and four nights at Aemiel Kolander of South Amherst located in the western part of Lorain County, has eluded a posse of ten men headed by Sheriff Bivan, which is endeavoring to place him under arrest for killing of Ernesto Gurski, of that village, whom Kolander stabbed to death early Tuesday morning. The tragedy followed a celebration proceeding a wedding in which Kolander was to have been one of the principles, but during the festivities, his intended bride, Mary Kitchul, is said to have fallen in love with John Ulrich, a guest, and he with her. An agreement was reached between the two men by which Ulrich was to pay the expenses of the celebration and marry the girl, which he did.
[NOTE: No kidding. Truth is indeed stranger than any fiction.]
Mrs. August Elrick L Ehlert, 36, a well-known Amherst woman resorted to a most horrible way to end her life Saturday afternoon when she carried a featherbed into the yard at their home and lying down on it set fire to the feathers. She was soon a mass of flames and died soon after being brought to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The woman after remaining on her fiery bed until most of her close have been consumed and her flesh burned to a crisp ran to a field of timothy and rolled in the grass. Wrapping a sheet about her she ran screaming down the road leaving a trail of flesh and blood. George Deuschle hearing the woman screams caught her and summoned the doctor. She was rushed to the hospital but only lived about an hour. She remained conscious and stated that she wanted to die. Mrs. Elhlert is survived by a husband and a five-year-old daughter. Before setting fire to spare herself she locked the child in the house. Her husband was at work in the quarry at the time. Two years ago Mrs. Ehlert was taken to an insane asylum but was discharged a year ago and pronounced cured. Recently symptoms of insanity were again noticed in the action of the woman. It is said Mrs. Ehlert was of the impression that her neighbors were jealous of her new home recently built on Lake Street. Funeral services were held Monday from the home.
Several from this place attended the ice cream social at S. Amherst Saturday evening.
Mr. Conrad Reinhart of the U. S. S. Dixie, N. Y. is spending a few days at home with his parents and friends.
An unknown Negro was shot and killed by a posse of Lyndale farmers after he had shot and fatally wounded John Decker, a fruit grower, of Lyndale. Decker was shot down when he ordered the Negro out of his fruit orchard. The posse of farmers at once started in pursuit of the Negro opening a running fire. Over fifty shots were exchanged before the Negro was killed.
[NOTE: This is a reflection of how the general public saw things a century or so back. Today the race of the person trespassing in the orchard would now be irrelevant. If this guy had been a white person his race would not have been mentioned.]
Mr. C. Schisler the merchant, was in Cleveland on business Tuesday.
Mr. Chas. Grezenbach has moved his market over close to the barbershop.
Mr. Jake Stickreth of Florence was found dead in his bed Tuesday morning and said to have committed suicide by taking strychnine.
17 men, supposed to be union structural iron workers of Cleveland swooped down on the non-union bridge crew building the new bridge of Huron River last Thursday afternoon and drove them from the place. Several were severely beaten. The village marshal was notified but the trouble was over and the attacking party out of the way before his arrival. A Chicago firm has contract and has been advised to be union men on the job. However they have not done so. Guards have been placed on duty.
The many friends of Geo. and Nelly Clark will be pleased to learn that they are making good in their chosen fields of labor. Both finished the course at the Elyria business College several weeks ago. Geo. has a position, as bookkeeper for Mr. Harrison, an auto dealer and garage proprietor and Miss Nellie is perfecting herself in the teachers training department of the college. She is at present engaged teaching in the bookkeeping department and expects to begin work in the shorthand department soon.
Crystal Beach will celebrate the 4th, and an unusually large crowd is expected.
Frank Jones is been very ill the past week. It was at first feared that an attack of typhoid fever threatened but today hopes are entertained for an escape. He rested well last night reported somewhat better today.
Luella Sennhenn daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Sennhenn fell from a tree this morning and broke an arm. A doctor was called and made her as comfortable as possible.
The engine of their loss disabled, a party of six Clevelanders who left that city yesterday morning enroute to Vermilion, drifted on Lake Erie greater part of yesterday afternoon and last night were washed ashore four miles east of the city at 3 o’clock this morning. Capt. Greisser of the life savers was telephoned and he towed the boat into port. The launch was badly damaged. The name of the launch is the “999”, but the members of its crew left for Cleveland before their names could be secured. They told of the engine breaking down about three miles out and despite their efforts to summon aid they were unsuccessful. Many times they say the craft came near capsizing before it was finally washed ashore. – Lorain News Wednesday.
T. H. Bottomley has accepted a position at the drugstore of H. M. White.
Twenty-five young people were confirmed and received their first communion at St. Mary’s church last week. Bishop Farretly of the Cleveland diocese was present and conducted services.
Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Dell Edson. Mrs. Edson’s home was in Toledo but she was a guest at the home of Burton Parsons in Pittsburgh at the time of her death which occurred two or three weeks ago. Mrs. Edson was a frequent visitor well known in Vermilion her husband Mac Edson died while on a visit here several years ago.
Charles Wagner spent Monday night fishing at Vermilion, but he did not get a bite all through the tedious hours. After daylight had broken, the fish commenced to nibble and the tonsorial trimmer brought home a seven-pound catfish, and a string of perch and bull heads. – Elyria Telegram.
Clarence Walper left yesterday morning for Grand River. He is an employee of the Driscoll Fish Co., as bookkeeper.
The many friends of Mrs. Geo H. Blattner please Tuesday by her arrival home from St. Joseph’s Hospital. She is getting along as well as can be expected under the care trained nurse.
Mrs. Geo. Young is enjoying a trip on the lakes with her husband.
Members of the W. R. C. wish to express their thanks to F. W. Wakefield for taking them to the G. A. R. encampment on his launch “Lotus.”
The baggage of W. P. Carey and family of Chicago arrived here today and the family are expected this week.
Miss Bertha Hart is spending a few days at Ragersville, O., The guest of guest of Miss Alta Weiss.
Miss Charlotte Goodell of Berea, Kentucky, is spending the summer with Vermilion and Lorain relatives and friends.
A young man, magician, and juggler gave an exhibition on the square Monday afternoon.
Miss Louise Sanford who was at St. Luke’s hospital for a few days was brought home Monday afternoon apparently no better.
Mrs. W. H. Lippus went to St. Vincent Vincent’s Hospital Saturday and had a critical operation Monday. Mr. Lippus accompanied her. She is reported getting along as nicely as could be expected.
Our Axtel correspondent resigned last week on account of the other duties and we were unable to secure another in time for this issue, hence the dearth of news from this neighborhood. We have the promise of another and a regular letter may be expected next week. When you have company from away, or visit in another town, have a birth, marriage, death, good crops, fire, anything of interest to friends and neighbors, don’t be afraid to give it to our correspondent or to us for this column. Be assured we appreciate it. – Ed. Note.
Miss Clara Porter attended a reunion of her classmates at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Schnaitter at Slate Cut Huron last Wednesday.
A. R. entertained a number of auto people Sunday.
The farmers around here are very busy cultivating corn and getting their haying done.
The workmen at the Park cleaning up and getting everything in good shape for 4th of July.
Capt. Marsey of Duluth came up from Cleveland on Thursday and brought A. R’s. valuable Blue Paul Irish Bulldog Dudie, also his fine Boston Bull Terrier Dandy.
Mrs. Carlton Rumsey of the Eastside Mrs. Brooks of the Park visited Miss Alice Rumsey at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Wednesday, and found her very comfortable.
Jacob Strickreth, 33, committed suicide at his home in Florence Tp. North of Florence sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning, by taking strychnine. He had been mentally unbalanced for about three years. He believed that the world and everybody in it was against him and had complained accordingly upon a number of occasions. He was despondent much of the time and is thought that in a fit of melancholy he secured and swallowed the poison. It was when he failed to get up Tuesday morning that his aged mother Mrs. Elizabeth Strickreth, with whom he lived, went to his room and found him dead.
…-mon Pleas for the fourth judicial district. Judge Lane died at Sandusky on the 28th day of October, 1878.
Alonzo W. Hendry, better known as Judge Hendry, from the fact of his having been, from 1863 to 1870, the probate judge of the county, was born in Erie county, N. Y., and came to Lorain county in 1834. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and came to Sandusky in 1843. He is now virtually retired from practice. At a period earlier than that mentioned Mr. Hendry was prominently before the people of the county, as he was from 1848 until 1852, the prosecuting attorney of the county. Besides his political holdings Judge Hendry has been for many years a prominent figure in the affairs of the city.
George Reber is remembered as a good trial lawyer, and although he seems not to have been conspicuous as an office holder, he nevertheless enjoyed a fair share of the legal practice and was connected with many of the leading cases. He is now dead.
John J. Finch has been a member of the legal profession for many years but the greater part of his time has been devoted to other pursuits. At the present time he holds the responsible position of collector of customs for the port of Sandusky.
William Tilden had, at the time of which we speak, an office at the corner of Market street and Columbus avenue, where he practiced for some time. He afterward moved to Cincinnati and is now deceased.
Lawrence Wier was another of the old bar, and had an office at No. 66 Railroad street.
Another of the old firms of the city was that of Converse, Giddings & Bigelow. Only one of these partners, J. G. Bigelow, is now known to the profession in the county, and he is retired from its active, arduous work. John G. Miller had an office on the same floor as is now occupied by the city fathers. He is not now living.
The firm of Camp & Leonard was composed of John G. Camp, jr., a son of Major Camp, one of the proprietors of the town, and Cuyler Leonard. Their office was located at No. 128 Water street. Neither partner of this firm is now living in the county.
There were others, of course, who were in active practice at the time, 1855, and all are mentioned in some manner in this chapter. A majority are joined with “the great majority" while a few are yet in practice. These latter will be found mentioned in the sketches of the members of the present bar.
Hon. E. B. Sadler[since deceased]. Judge Sadler certainly stands today, the senior mem-…
IT WAS INEVITABLE:”To prepare for the end of al rail service, in August 1937 Lake Shore Coach created two new subsidiaries, the first being the Lorain Transit Co. to replace all rail and LSE bus operation in the Lorain-Elyria area. Lorain-Elyria interurban buses were run via Pearl Ave. because the rail route on Grove St. south of Lorain was on private right-of-way.
Second, Lake Shore Coach Lines Inc., was chartered to replace LSE interurban rail service from Ceylon Jct. to Toledo via Norwalk and Clyde, plus the rail line from Sandusky to Fremont with two bus routes: Sandusky-Bellevue and Sandusky-Clyde, both connecting with the Ceylon Jct.” - Robert Korach
This photo was one of my grandfather Roscoe’s rare color photographs and was likely taken around 1940. Here are two Lake Shore Coaches on the the northwest corner of Liberty and Grand streets in front of the old Gulf Service Station.
Aside from the street and sky, none of what you see in this photo exists anymore. The service station and the house next door (among sundry other things) are long gone. And, actually, that was the beginning of the end for the Lake Shore Electric.
After interviewing a particularly short-spoken job candidate, I described the person to my boss as rather monosyllabic. My boss said, "Really? Where is Monosyllabia?"
Thinking that he was just kidding, I played along and said that it was just south of Elbonia.
He replied, "Oh, you mean over by Croatia?
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'".
Rich; it is our 60th reunion and will be very informal. It looks like this at the present time; Tuesday, JULY 9, 2019.
-4pm Boat ride Vermilion River and Lagoons (Parsons)
-5:30pm Drinks and music on the Patio-Vermilion Boat Club
-6:30pm Dinner - order off the menu Vermilion Boat Club
Replys can be sent to;
Roger Boughton
2205 1th Ave. SW
Ausitn, MN. 55912
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 “Tripping: A Writer’s Journeys.” Signed copies of her new book can be purchased for $15.00 at the Southside Sentinel office or by mail by writing Rappahannock Press, Box 546, Urbanna, VA and adding $6.00 to cover mailing costs and tax. Contact:glongest@ssentinel.com.
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. 17. Issue 17 - June 29, 2019
Archive Issue #850
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