Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: On the shop desk this week is a pic of one part of Vermilion’s Baumhart family. A.D. sr. is the dapper fella in the straw hat holding a cigar in one hand and his son Charlie’s with the other. The lad dress in white is his eldest son A.D. “Dave” jr. A.D.’s wife. Effie Clara is the lady standing behind A.D. and Charles. The ladies in the hats may have been Effie’s relatives and / or friends.
I am always amused when I see a pic of young Charlie. I swear that the look on his face stayed with him all his days. They only thing different in those old pix is that he’s not smoking a cigar like his dad.
Two years following the time this photo was taken Effie fell – a victim of the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. I, of course never asked, but Charlie probably didn’t remember too much about his mom. It was a tragic thing for such a little guy.
Charlie was one of a handful of my very favorite Vermilion guys of the yesteryear.
And on my home desk this week is the Vermilion Lions club c. 1960. I don’t know where time went, but I remember nearly all these guys like it was just yesterday: Al Schroeder, Dick Hunt, Bob “Scoop” Hallet, Woody Wheeler, Dick Baker etc., etc.
I not absolutely certain but it looks like the boys were about to play baseball – perhaps on the grounds of the Olympic Club. You will note that their shirts spell out “Vermilion Lions”. I think I may have acquired this pic from a guy named Ernie Mello because his father is one of those pictured.
SOMETHING TO THINK ON: In a conversation with a lady just this week we touched on the fact that while it’s wonderful for everyone to have historic items – pix, etc. – but one hopes that they won’t someday wind up in the trash, a flea market somewhere, or on the wall of a Cracker Barrel type restaurant in Boise, Idaho or some other far flung place. The Vermilion Area Archival Society and the Vermilion History Museum in partnership with Vermilion’s Ritter Public Library would be more than happy to help preserve any of those items for the benefit of future generations, both to display and to help educate the public at large. If one does not want to loan them to any of these entities you might consider allowing a visual record to be made of them in case they are someday lost.
It’s important.
The society and the museum are both 501(c))3 non-profit agencies with boards of directors that will insure their precise missions pertaining to collecting, preserving and maintaining historic artifacts and records will continue for generations – years after the current board members have bitten the proverbial dust.
Historically,
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER: During and following WW2 Vermilion citizens – being on the northern border of the U.S. – were placed on guard to watch for enemy aircraft entering our national air space.
To facilitate the watch a tower was built behind the South and Decatur street schools abutting the football field. The watchers were volunteers manning the facility when they had time.
Inside the tower there were samples of different aircraft on the walls. There was also a telephone that would immediately connect a person to authorities. You couldn’t make any other calls. I don’t believe there was a dial on the device.
By the time I was old enough to climb the stairs to the tower the probability of air attack had faded a good deal. But people still manned the tower.
The only faces I readily recognize in the crowd beneath the tower in this pic are Gene Boyd (the guy pinning a medal the young boys shirt) and his wife Yvonne (the lady in the light-colored dress on the far right of the grouping).
This was the beginning of an era know as “The Cold War”.
THERE ARE PLACES I REMEMBER: Among the millions of things I’ve always wanted to do is to find a way to acquire and put together images of the Village of Vermilion as I knew it when, I was a “yoot” (aka. youth). Those were days when the house that was, until just lately, known as “Old Jib’s” on the southeast corner of Liberty and Perry streets was Mary McGraw-Martin-Fletcher’s home. It was a Wonderful, always with a capital “W”, house. Mary, a pretty, petite lady, was a musician who taught many a youngster how to play piano in her parlor. I, unfortunately, was one of her few failures. Mary’s father was the McGraw of the Pelton-McGraw General Store that at one time occupied the southwest corner of Liberty and Main streets. Her grandmother was a Pelton. I was never really enchanted about her house becoming a store – it was, again, such a beautiful private residence.
Directly across the street was a duplex that in those years was owned by late Vermilionite (plumber) Dick West. Dick and his family may have lived in half – the west side - of the home during that time. My big sister Nancy Alice and her husband Howard “Jerry” Emery lived in the other half of it for a time. When they later purchased a home at Orchard Beach Reverend Louis and Janet Bertoni lived there. Next (east) of that home was another real nice house (pictured to the left of the filling station). I don’t know who owned it. But for a short time I remember that Vermilion Village Mayor Charles Baumhart lived there after he and Petra “Pete” June Carey-Brandt were married. While West’s house was eventually razed, the house where Baumhart’s lived was, with a good deal of difficulty, moved to a site on Cemetery Road.
Next to that beautiful house was George Roberts’s Shell station. I must say of George that he was earnestly one of Vermilion’s nice guys. He was active in sports and civic affairs around town and as a consequence was very popular. Two things I remember most about his gas station are his pop machine and his free air pump. His pop machine was one of those where you had to lift the lid of a chest cooler filled with icy water and work the pop bottle around through a maze of sorts and pull it up through a mechanism that would only open if you put your dime into the machine. Gosh, that pop was so cold and wonderful on a hot day.
The free air pump was great for kids like myself who didn’t have their own air pump. But they were not great for kids, like myself, who failed to pay attention to how much air he or she was putting in a tire. And as I was happily filling my bike tire one bright and sunny afternoon, without paying requisite attention, the tire exploded like a stick of dynamite next to my ear. Suddenly everybody in the area was paying attention. And my ears rang for a week thereafter. I was so traumatized by the experience that I think of it every time I very carefully put air in the tires of my vehicle.
Before Mr. Roberts operated this station, he had a very small one on the corner of Decatur and Liberty where the Vermilion Police Station is today (2019). Recently I came across a news article stating that the Shell station he later operated – on the corner of Liberty and Washington streets (pictured) had originally been moved to that location from Orchard Beach. That was in July of 1935. [Note: I doubt that the filling station was literally moved to the new location. It was simply a figurative reportage.] Also, a little home that had previously occupied the site was moved back and turned to face Washington Street. That little residence, just visible to the right of the station in the photo, was that of an old Civil War veteran named Henry Miller As is obvious Miller’s little home, along with the gas station, and the Baumhart and West homes have disappeared – replaced by the library parking lot.
Well, those were just a few of the places I remember from my pre-adult life in our town. Realistically, I suppose the only way I’ll ever actually “acquire and put together images of the Village of Vermilion as I once knew it” will be restricted to my memories of it. Unlike much of the area today there was nothing exceptionally attractive about the way things appeared back then. It was all very utilitarian. Nothing was professionally landscaped or painted according to someone’s idea of the way it might have looked in the yesteryear – but never really did. It was just part of a busy little town where people worked and were happy. It was home. It was Vermilion.
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...
If you can appreciate the pleasurable trip on one of the smaller craft of the Great Lakes and it is not to be wondered at that year after year the already large fleet of pleasure craft is increasing. One of the enjoyable trips to the Yacht Races at Put–in–Bay was taken by the party on the Driscoll Fish Cos tug, Wm. D. Ames, Wednesday. The trip was made on good time without incident except accepting the feeling of unrest in the food lockers of two or three who are unused to the writhing twist of a boat under certain sea conditions. After the tug headed into the seas, upon reaching Middle Island, this unrest disappeared and a feeling of exhilaration took its place, finally ending in an enormous appetite at suppertime.
After landing at the steamer peer at the Bay and finding every available dock in use upon invitation, the tug was taken to the government docks at the fish hatchery tied up alongside of the O. H. Perry.
A foraging expedition went downtown and soon returned with arms full of various assortment of eatables.
Engineer E. J. Law, proceeded to prepare the fish, which had been brought along, fisherman style, we dare say that no party ever set at banquet more delicious and satisfying. Commodore Wakefield, owner of the “Lotus” was the guest of honor, expressed great pleasure at being present at so delightful a repast. There was no cut glass or fine silver, or linen but what of that, neither were there any toasts, only expressions of satisfaction and the joy of living.
After supper the party proceeded to inspect the various craft in the harbor, listen to the music of the band on the flagship etc.
At a late hour all sought to hold thankful that they had a quiet place to bunk. But the quiet was soon broken. There was a noise not unlike the combined efforts of a buzz saw in action, overworked foghorn and one of the big locomotives on the Lake Shore whistling for crossings at Vermilion on a Sunday morning. Someone then remarked – “Say you, turn over on your side – I can’t sleep with such snoring –TURNOVER.” Only response – increased action of buzz saw, etc. A few more remarks then a shaking up and all were awakened and the noise ceased for at least 5 minutes. “Say, how can you fell sleep, and make such a noise?” Then follow denials such as, “I don’t snore“, etc. Whether there was any more snoring or not “deponent sayeth not,” but all were ready for breakfast early Thursday morning .
The forenoon was spent in visits to the fisheries, caves, and other points of interest in witnessing the aquatic sports.
After dinner the party went out to see the power boat races. This was a wonderful site. Small powerboats with the speed of express trains, hundreds of craft from huge steamers and large yachts to the smallest “dinky” all filled with people interested in the sport. Shortly after 3 o’clock we started for home which was reached a few minutes after six o’clock.
The Ames party consisted of Capt. Adam Lapp, Engineer Law and two sons, Capt. Fred Driscoll, of the Driscoll Fish Co., John Jackway, of the tug Chester, Jacob Baumhart, H. W. Church, of the Maud-Elton, W. A. Fisher and P. Roscoe.
There were, it is estimated some 300 boats at the bay from the 140 foot “La Belle”, owned by Commodore Winton to the little power boats.
The illumination Wednesday night was beautiful, the numerous lights twinkling on the bay, searchlights and the music, making it something never to be forgotten.
One disappointment was reported. The fastest speed boat of them all “Reliance III” was destroyed by the fire early Thursday morning. It is said by incendiarism. This boat it was claimed could make anywhere from 30 to 40 miles per hour and was to try for a record Thursday.
George Lapp, who for many years has been a resident of Vermilion, died at his home on Ohio St., Tuesday, July 25th, 80 years 4 months and 3 days.
Mr. Lapp was born in Blankenheim, Kreis, Rothenburg, Germany, March 22, 1831 was married to Katherine Elizabeth Leimbach in 1856. To this union were born 12 children, nine of whom are still living.
They came to America in 1860 since that time Mr. Lapp and family have lived in or near Vermilion.
In 1891 Mr. Lapp married Miss Margaret Alexander. Besides a widow, five sons, four daughters, 37 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive.
Funeral services will be held at the Reformed church at 10 o’clock Friday morning, conducted by the pastor.
William Sweeney was taken to Lakeside Hospital, Cleveland, Monday, after an illness of long duration.
BORN – Mr. and Mrs. Joe Capuske, a son, Friday, July 21, ‘11.
August Bunn left Tuesday for California where he expects to work.
Mrs. R. C. Edward and two sons spending a few days camping at Linwood Park.
Joseph English of Delaware is the guest of his brother Rev. English for a few days.
[NOTE: I hope the Reverend gets along with his brother better than he does his brother-in-law.]
The Jackson Hotel will soon be enlarged water, gas and bathrooms.
A special meeting was held Tuesday evening the purpose of opening bids the Macadamizing the portions of the S. Amherst roads that have not been improved.
Henry Knott spent Sunday at Crystal Beach.
Frank Barnes was in Huron Monday to get his new automobile.
Ernest Berger purchased a new motorcycle.
Because of the ice famine there was no lemonade at the Robinson circus in Elyria Friday The circus offered $50 a ton for ice but dealers refused to sell, not having enough for regular customers.
Mrs. J. A. Heys and son, Ethel Mildred Heys, Mrs. Walter Sprague and children are camping at Ruggles Beach for two weeks.
Mrs. Lucy Stone for many years a resident of this passed from earth’s life July 5th at the home of her daughter at Oberlin where she spent the last few years of her life.
Mrs. Grace McDonald has purchased a new piano player.
Miss Mae DuRand sister Mrs. Clara Post enjoyed an outing at Ruggles Beach Saturday and Sunday.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer devotes over a column to the experience of two yachtsmen who were capsized in small squall off Vermilion Tuesday afternoon. The writer of the article could certainly spread it on especially as to the heavy seas and the inability of boats to reach the ship wrecked men and their refusal to make the attempt. There are now some dozen seaworthy boats in the harbor with crews who have experienced some of the heaviest weather which ever stirred old Lake Erie, and to whom this squall Tuesday was merely nothing.
The squall caught S. K. Millman and Harland Newell, Cleveland students, while off Vermilion and capsized their 21-footer. They were in a perilous position and some one and a half miles from Vermilion. As soon as they were seen and it was found they could not get to shore Wm. D. Ames, of the Driscoll Co’s fleet went out and picked them up. The yacht was also brought in. The young men were nearly exhausted and had not help been near might have drowned. However, had the seas been too heavy for the tugs we must not forget that Lorain now has a lifesaving state and a large first-class power life boat as well as other lifesaving equipment and could have come to Vermilion in half the time the P.D. stated men were “battling with the waves.”
But as far as our tugs are concerned, they are manned by men most of who know no fear of the elements and it is a storm indeed which compels them to stay in port.
Not a season passes but someone or more are rescued from perilous situations or saved from drowning and several Carnegie medals would be permanently located with Vermilionites were the true stories known. But then our sailors are as reticent and bashful as they are fearless.
[NOTE: Methinks, P. Roscoe took some issue with the P.D. report.]
Mrs. E. B. Welch and daughter Velma left Tuesday for a visit at Lakeside, O.
The Union Sunday school picnic which was held at Linwood Park last Wednesday was well attended
We are glad to hear that Master Robert Bartholomew who has been seriously ill for the past two weeks is slowly improving.
Mr. E. C. Wasem our road Supt. has a force of men at work improving our roads which is badly needed.
The Misses Margie Wahl and May McGraw are spending the week at Warren.
All two-story buildings have been authorized to put up fire escapes. As result of this order, many cottages are undergoing change.
The injunction against the L. S. & M. S. Ry. prohibiting them from erecting poles and wires on certain property in the village by Dan Thompson and A. H. Leimbach was sustained by Judge Reed, Tuesday. Unless the company comes down with $1400 cash they will have to go around. Wires are being moved today on each side of the strip.
Mr. A. W. Copeland spent last week at Put–in–Bay the guest of F. W. Wakefield.
Mrs. August Nieding died very suddenly at her home west of town Monday. Funeral services were held today, Rev. A. C. Pretzer Reformed Church.
The heavy storm Monday prevented fish tugs from making lifts, all those leaving port returned before reaching nets, excepting J. H. Driscoll, which came in with 2500 lbs. A large crowd watched the boat come in. Fred Driscoll took the boat out.
E. G. Giddings purchased a 21 ft. boat of T. J. Ball and it is being finished and will be ready for use in about two weeks. A two cylinder 8 hp Vim will furnish motive power. The Ball boats are gaining a reputation for quality. Another boat will be built for a Huron fisherman as soon as this one launched.
[NOTE: The Vim Motor Co. was incorporated in April 1907 with a capital stock of $25,000, and built gas engines in Sandusky, Ohio. It is interesting to note that Vim had developed a complete line of marine engines in only two years, including setting up a machine shop and sales organization.]
The lake shore railroad workmen are busy driving spiling preparatory to making their cut for the undergrade crossing just west of the bridge. The old bridge abutments are being torn down and considerable of the grading is being done. The moving of the telegraph line was stopped between Division and Grand Streets by an injunction by owners of property. The work of moving the depot is in progress.
[NOTE: I believe that the original depot was between Division (now Main) and Grand streets. The move was being made to make way for an additional track.]
O. A. Priest was at Loudonville over Sunday returning by auto with his brother Ray Priest.
An eight-pound baby girl, Mildred Bernice arrived Tuesday morning July 18, ‘11 to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. George Sahl.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. F. Philhart Monday, July 24, 1911, son.
A 12-pound son is born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce of Celina, O. last week. Mrs. P. Was formerly Miss Stella Johnson of Vermilion.
Frank Bachman is again able to be out after a long siege of typhoid fever.
[NOTE: Frank Bachman would likely be Vermilion Ford Dealer Frank Baker’s great-uncle. Ergo, the name “Frank” appears to have been a family name.]
Capt. E. A. Hill has sold his residence on Exchange street to Peter Kothe and purchased the Goodsell property on Ohio Street at present occupied by A. L. Irey.
[NOTE: I find this of some interest because the house in question occupies the northeast corner of Ohio and Washington streets. Now I, at least think, I know where Goodsell once lived.]
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Reed last week, a daughter.
Mr. Chas. Capin who has been ill for the past summer departed this life Monday night.
Mr. Swartzlander, L. S. E. Agent at Berlin station has been sick and confined to his bed for the past week.
Body the body of Mr. Frank Chapman of Toledo was brought here for burial last Saturday afternoon. A short service was held at the cemetery.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rimms was born in Moundsville Va. 1836. In 1886 she with her family came to Berlin Heights where she has remained until her death which occurred July 19, 1911. I She leaves a husband, three sons, one daughter, two brothers and four grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the home Friday afternoon July 21st conducted by Rev. A. G. Rupert.
Soon the wedding bells will be ringing; groom 73, bride 75.
Mrs. Daniel Myers quite sick.
Our new Zion church nearly completed.
The new bridge is progressing very fast, being half completed.
Lena Adams is reporting quite ill and a Cleveland hospital.
We are looking for very busy times at the wheeling docks this fall.
Herman Bruns of Rye Beach was severely injured one day this week by being kicked by a horse.
Wm. Shephard is building a new power boat for the fishing trade.
There are at present eight autos holding here, prices ranging from 400$400 $23.
The Gessing Bros. enterprising young merchants from Lorain are giving good satisfaction in their grocery store.
Landlord Frey has several guests at his hostelry lately. Good beds and good meals. Success to you.
There the county commissioner is rebuilding the bridge on the Sandusky road. It is closed to traffic at present.
…and remained there one year. He then left and entered Yale College for a regular collegiate course, being received, on account of his advanced standing, into the sophomore class. From Yale Mr. Phinney was graduated with the class of '64, after which he entered the scientific department of the sanitary commission, under Prof. B. A. Gould, and was engaged in the recruiting department for the navy in New York city, but one year later was transferred to Washington and Alexandria, where he remained until late in the summer of 1865. In August of the last named year he assumed charge of the Chester Academy, Orange county, N. Y., succeeding Prof. Edward Orton, the geologist, now of Ohio, but who was former principal of the academy. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Phinney came to Sandusky to take charge as principal of the High School, which position he held until the spring of 1870, when he resigned. He then became a student at law in the office of Homer Goodwin, esq., where he remained one year, after which he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, but was not graduated from that institution. At Columbus, on the 3d of December, 1872, he was admitted to practice.
The next year he formed a law partnership with Judge S. F. Taylor, of Sandusky, and so remained associated until the death of Mr. Taylor in 1882. In 1884 the present law firm of Phinney & Curran was formed.
Samuel C. Wheeler was born in Fairfield county, this State, on the 16th of September, 1828. At the age of fifteen he commenced alone to fight the battle of life, and being dependent for a livelihood upon what he could earn, his early education was necessarily limited. He learned the trade of a saddler and worked at it for some years. In 1853 he came to Sandusky and, following the advice of A. W. Hendry, became a law student in the office of that gentleman. After a course of study of three years duration he was, in the year 1860, admitted to practice.
On the 3d of June, 1861, Mr. Wheeler enlisted in Company E, of the Seventh Ohio Infantry, and served with that regiment until at the battle at Port Republic, Va., on the 9th of June, 1862, he was wounded. He then re turned to Sandusky, but was not discharged from the service until March 26, 1863. Some years later he again resumed practice and has so continued to the present time.
Lewis H. Goodwin. Major Goodwin was born in Burton, Geauga county, O., on the 29th of December, 1833. He was educated in the schools of the county, and at the age of sixteen entered the Western Reserve College at Hudson, but at the end of his sophomore year the college was broken up on account of a difficulty between the president and faculty. He then taught school in Geauga county for some months, after which he entered the junior class of Marietta College, from which institution he was graduated in 1854, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
VERMILION POSTER: I think I was vaguely aware of these posters. I guess I’d seen this one somewhere in the past. It had slipped my mind until Susan Backus Starr sent me this pic during the week.
The artist was Eleanor Blanchat-Calvert daughter of George Blanchat, the man who purchased a place once known as Shattuck’s Grove and developed it into Vermilion’s Crystal Beach Amusement Park.
I have seen some of Eleanor’s work before in one or two the old Vermilion High School Annuals called the “Hi-Times”. She graduated from VHS in 1924. Vermilionite Marlene Calvert-Feldkamp is one of her daughters.
I wonder if she did many other posters?
An American visiting in England asked at the hotel for the elevator. The porter looked a bit confused, but smiled when he realized what the man wanted. "You must mean the lift."
"No, if I ask for the elevator, I mean the elevator."
"Well, over here, we call them lifts."
"Now, you listen here. Someone in America invented the elevator."
"Oh, right you are, sir. But someone here in England invented the English language."
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 “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 21 - July 27 2019
Archive Issue #854
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