Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: Different pix on my desks this week. On my home desk is an odd pic of my grandmothers that, I guess, were on a camping trip. My great-grandmother, Clara Ellsworth- Bottomley and my grandmother, Elizabeth “Bessie” Bottomley-Roscoe were both Minnesota natives. I further guess that they were on a trip from Vermilion back to Minnesota when this pix was taken. The auto, as best I can tell, was a 1925 Chrysler. I doubt that the tent-like addition was standard equipment but rather something added by my grandparents for their journey.
I have never really liked this photograph – never saw it being remarkable in any way. But after looking at it on my desktop for a week I started looking closer and got an uncanny feeling of actually looking through a glass (window) lens at the scene in real time.
On the shop desk this week is an interesting pic of the interior of the Cicco Restaurant that was likely taken in the late 30s or early 40s. It was a popular restaurant. And as you can see it was also a rather nice place. In 1956 Lewis Cicco sold the restaurant to a man named John Kochan. Kochan was in the process of renovating the place for residential use when it caught fire and was partially destroyed. I don’t know if Kochan intended to use the restaurant part of the building again – but it was never rebuilt. The residential portion of the place was salvaged and still stands along the lake west of town in-between Orchard Beach and Volunteer Bay. Blink – and you’ll miss it.
Mr. Cicco was what one might call a colorful character; as were his children Harriet “Ketty” and Richard. The restaurant is long gone, but none of these folks will soon be forgotten.
THE MARTIN GIRLS: Jill (Young) and Marcia Martin dropped by the museum on Thursday. Their mom was Jayne Krapp and their father was Glenn Martin. Their older sis, Gail, who now lives in Maryland was having an arthritis problem with her hands (unfortunately more than a few of us share that malaise) and was unable to visit at this time.
Their mother (Jayne) was the oldest daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Homegardner-Krapp. Albert was the son of a Vermilion meat-cutter named George Krapp (b. 1844 in Germany) and his wife Elizabeth Stevens (b. 1846). The Krapp family was a very prominent local family, and anyone involved in the late 19th and 20th century history of Vermilion will frequently come across the name. It is pronounced “Crop” (as it would in German) locally. But in some other communities it’s pronounced as it appears. In fact, the girls told me that when they would say “O-crap!” about something around their mother, she’d jokingly scold them telling them not to use her family name in vain.
Their father, Glenn, was both a well-known and popular person around Vermilion and Norwalk where he grew up. He sold cars for a living – having his own dealerships in Vermilion for a time. But he will likely be better remembered as a sports guy. He sponsored and coached a semi-pro basketball team from Vermilion. Off-hand I don't know the year this team played, but they were probably very good. I believe they were semi-professionals. And all were Vermilionites.
Glenn also had 10 brothers and I believe 2 sisters.
Glenn and Jayne are also among some of our hometown people who will not soon be forgotten.
Historically,
1959 VHS VARSITY CLUB SENIORS: During the week Vermilion expatriate Bill Hlavin was in town with his wife Nancy to attend a 3-class reunion (not his). He donated a number of items to the museum. Among them was this pic of the VHS Varsity Club in 1959. Some good person wrote their names on the back of the photo. And some of the guys even signed it. I assume this was one of Bill’s keepsakes.
Hopefully, some readers will recognize a few of these faces. Several, like Kenny Tucker, John Herchler and (of course) Bill Hlavin can often be found somewhere around town. Bill doesn’t live here but does visit on occasion. He’s been a big collector of all things Vermilion. He’s also got some great stories about his time as a Huron City Police officer.
Anyway, I took a few minutes and searched for some of the other guys in the pic. Some I knew about like Monte Hildum and Lofty Loucks. But I didn’t know much about Mike Blakely or Carl Rogers (until now).
Lofty’s story is a terrible story. After high school he joined the Air Force. On leave, several months after joining he was apparently hunting woodchucks along the NYC tracks near his home and Barnes road west of town when a speeding mail trail hit and killed him. He was 21.
I don’t know the specific details about the other three guys, but I’m sorry they’re gone. Monte died in 2006, Mike Blakely died in 2014 and Carl Rogers took the leap in 1989. I remember all of them. They were the Big Guys the ones I looked up to when I was in Junior High.
HADDY, HODDY OR HANDY: While casually looking through one of the file drawers at the Print Shop Museum I came across the following letter to the editor. Although I’m not entirely certain (at this time) who wrote it (because it was not signed) – from the context it appears to have been written by Vermilionite Alice Howell Fleming back in the 1960s.
NOTE: Recently the sister of the person who apparently wrote the letter passed away at the tender age of 100. Many Vermilionites knew, respected and loved this little lady. Her name was Reverend Myrtle Howell Eppler. My wife (Georgianne) and I were privileged to have been allowed to interview and produce a video “oral history” recording with Mrs. Eppler when she was just 98. That’s of interest here because one of first things Mrs. Eppler talked about during that interview was the very same story that appears in her sister’s letter:
“While reading the souvenir book about “charter days” I noticed that the first settler was said to be “William Haddy”.
They may be right and there may have been a Haddy, but from some of our old family records I’m inclined to think it should have been Handy.
My Great-Great grandfather came here from Connecticut in 1837, according to some old writings by his daughter-in-law. They travelled in a covered wagon and my grandfather was a little boy of three years. He was born in 1834.
His name was Francis, his father’s name was Thomas and his grandfather’s name was William.
Thomas was the captain of a sailing vessel that travelled up and down the coast and my grandfather (Francis) was born at sea.
Tiring of the sea Thomas agreed to go “west” with his father and mother. He took his wife and children with him. His wife’s name was Lydia. So was his daughter’s. The daughter married Alonzo Pelton who was also an early settler.”
[NOTE: ALONZO SHEPARD PELTON was born May 15, 1838 in Vermilion, Erie County, Ohio, and died May 02, 1907 in Brownhelm, Ohio. He married LYDIA HANDY May 18, 1861 in Vermilion. She was the daughter of THOMAS HANDY and LYDIA ARNOLD. She was born September 10, 1842 in Black River, Lorain County, Ohio, and died May 27, 1907 in Vermilion. She is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery.]
"I have heard my aunts tell the stories their grandmother told them about their trip. Lydia was a tiny baby but survived. When they arrived here there was nobody but Indians around.
“My mother was (Vera Howell) Barnes. Lillian Handy 3rd from youngest Francis’s children. She is Lillian Howell now.”
Whether it was William Hoddy / Haddy or William Handy who first came to Vermilion is not something that can be positively determined – at least not at this time. But one thing is very clear: Members of the Handy family were certainly among the first families to settle in Vermilion in the 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...
Last Friday while a picnic was in progress at Ruggles Beach, the enjoyment of the day was marred by the drowning of Clarence Roe of Peru, Huron Co.
Just after dinner Roe with Chas. Carpenter, procured a boat and went out into the lake a little distance from shore, just about on a line between the Mitawanga and Ruggles, to bathe. The men began to dive off the boat and Carpenter warned Roe stay in the boat when he dived, so that one would be in the boat all the time. Roe disregarded this warning and dived after Carpenter had done so and upon both coming to the surface discovered that the boat had been driven some distance away. The men started to swim for their boat. Finding it too much of an effort they called for help and before a boat from shore could reach him Roe sank. Carpenter was rescued. Mr. Roe’s aged mother witnessed the accident. Caretaker F. Peters and others attempted to find the body but without success. Saturday, F. M. Curry of the Lorain Life Saving Station was sent to the scene and succeeded in recovering the body at 11:25 A. M. This is the eighth that Mr. Curry has found this season. The coroner was notified and later the body was taken to Norwalk.
I will offer for sale at public auction, the following described goods and chattels to wit:
One bay mare five (5) years old.
One bay gelding eight (8) years old.
One team wagon.
One brass trim harness.
Taking on a chattel mortgage in favor of Martin Henes.
Sale to take place at the livery stable of McQueen & Son, formerly the L. J. Decker & Co.
Time of sale, August 12, 1911, 9 A. M.
W. H. Boland
Dr. E. J. Heinig was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lorain late Monday evening suffering from a severe attack of appendicitis. He was operated on the same evening and at last report is doing as well as can be expected. His many friends extend sympathy and hope for a speedy recovery.
Mrs. Horace Fisher, formerly of Vermilion was struck by an electric car in Cleveland Thursday, while she was about to board a suburban car to visit her sister in Oberlin. She was seriously injured and taken to a hospital.
The many friends of Mrs. Kate Sullivan will be sorry to learn that she has lost the site of one eye. She is still taking treatment at Lorain and hopes of saving the sight of the other eye are entertained.
Upon the application of the County commissioners, Judge Reed in the Court of Common Pleas Friday enjoined the Nickel Plate Ry. Co. from diverting the course of Old Woman Creek in Berlin Tp., and also from constructing a fifteen-foot abutment over the creek and the roadway in the immediate vicinity.
The commissioners represented to the court that the change changes contemplated by the company would work damage to a county bridge not far away, and that acres of land would be underwater during wet season.
The construction of an abutment thirty-six feet wide is demanded by the commissioners, who also asked that the railway company be prevented from filling in a ditch running near the scene of the controversy.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bechtel, a son, Sunday, July 30, ‘11.
Misses Esther and Mabel Baker are spending the week at Linwood Park.
The funeral services of the two-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. John Ahmenhouser was held Sunday at the home at 11:30 Sunday.
Eli English, over 90 years of age died Saturday evening at the home of his son Rev. C. F. English. He was here on a visit from Delaware.
Ed Zimmer passed away Sunday evening, death due to tuberculosis. The funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon at St. Peter’s Church, Rev. Lindenmyer officiated.
Word was received here of the death of a former Amherst resident Thos. Nugent, now of Cleveland. He married an Amherst girl, Miss Leafy Gibson, who is left with several children. He has a brother John Nugent who resides here.
Carl Knizel is working in the box factory at Berlin Heights.
Coon Schuster is quite ill at this writing.
Mrs. Edna Bacon, Gertrude Wellman and Della Ruth and Mr. Rayin and Bacon who have been attending school in Wooster returned to their home Sunday.
Swings have been placed in the parks for the use of children.
Thieves entered the coop of Jno. Komerack Saturday night and made way with 40 choice chickens.
Mr. Clyde Huessner is teaming for the waterworks at Amherst
Mr. A. Morris is suffering from a painful wound, being bitten on the hand by a mad dog.
Aldora Jeanette Crom was born in Vermilion Township, one-half mile east of this village, December 18th, 1861. September 9, 1880, she was united in marriage to August W. Neiding. To this union were born one son and one daughter.
At age of 6 and one-half years, scarlet fever, that dreaded enemy of children, claimed a little son for its victim, April 24, 1887.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Neiding first located Toledo, then moved to Dundee, Mich. They returned to Ohio and located on a farm within one-half mile of their present home which they have occupied for twelve years.
July 24, 1911, in the early hours of the morning the summons came. Father called and a faithful wife, loving mother and devoted grandmother was taken to the home not made by hands, Eternal in the Heavens.
The cause of her death was apoplexy, age 49 years, 7 mos, 5 days.
Naturally a gentle disposition, she possessed all the qualities of which make a kind Christian mother and friend. Although she had never fully united with any church, she was a constant reader of the Bible and beloved and trusted in God. With her we feel that all is well.
She is survived by her husband, daughter, son-in-law, three little granddaughters, five sisters, four brothers and a large circle of relatives and friends.
Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep,
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last of foes.
Asleep in Jesus, Ah, for me,
May such a peaceful slumber be,
With Holy confidence to sing,
That death has lost its venom sting.
A couple of Axtelites took a trip to Detroit on the F. E. Kirby.
Mr. D. B. Bartholomew was reported on the sick list.
A number of from this place who have been spending the week at Lakeside return home Tuesday.
Mesers Zimmerman and Levengood drove to Berlin Heights to have their trotter shod Tuesday preparatory to Lorain race Saturday.
Linwood Hotel is overflowing with summer patrons.
English camp meeting convenes at Linnwood this week. A goodly number is in attendance.
The Amherst and Brownhelm Sunday schools are holding their annual picnic at the Park today.
One of the hotel guests was very ill last week and was under the careful attention Dr. Heinig until he could be conveyed to his home. His condition is very serious.
A party of eight from Kansas City are at Linnwood for a six week stay. In the party is a gentleman eighty years of age who stood the trip well.
The rainfall yesterday was general over Central Ohio, but did not extend west to Toledo. It rained at Buffalo and in a number of sections of South Cleveland. At Norwalk, O. the heavy rain caused the rivers to swell, washing out roadways and streetcar tracks. Only the arrival of 15-year-old Homer Fletcher of Norwalk prevented a serious accident on the Lake Shore Electric near that town during the afternoon. A dispatch from Norwalk last night said that a heavy rain approaching a cloudburst report portions [sic], fell shortly after noon causing many streams to swell beyond their banks. Willow brook, east of Norwalk, was one of those and its mad rush tore out about 30 feet of an embankment of the Lake Shore Electric half a mile east of the city limits. Young Fletcher, whose father is Norwalk agent for the Lake Shore Electric, discovered the washout a few minutes before the two o’clock car was due to pass. Taking his coat for a signal ran down the track several hundred feet displaying his improvised danger signal.
The car was stopped only a short distance east of the washout. Where the washout occurred as a short distance west of a curve. For fifteen ft. the rails and ties were suspended in midair the earth nearly washed away for another fourteen feet. The last car to pass over the point of danger was an eastbound limited. Passengers were transferred around the washout during the remainder of the day. A dozen auto parties eastbound stopped at Norwalk hotels last night on account of bridges being washed out on main thoroughfares.
Robt. Parsons had returned from sailing and accepted a position with Trinter & Unser.
Mrs. G. E. Whitmore was called to Sandusky Monday by the serious illness of her mother Mrs. R. B. Hayier.
Our band boys have spent the past two Saturday evenings in Oberlin giving band concerts.
A brother of Mr. J. H. Hauser is assisting him the past week in the building of a new barn on the premises lately purchased of F. M. Elson.
Mr. Chas. McQuay who a few weeks ago had the misfortune by a slight fall to injure his leg while painting at the Oliver Tillinghast country home, is now on the convalescent road. At this writing he is able to walk about with the aid of crutches.
The funeral of Mr. Geo. Capin living east of town was held last Thursday afternoon from the home. Services were in charge of Rev. Bartlett of West Berlin. Mr. Kaplan had been in ill health for long time. The family has the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Post are planning a tour to Colorado in their machine.
Mr. Harvey Lennord an old resident of this place, died suddenly Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Dart at Oberlin.
Mr. Chas. Hiedrich’s horse was frightened by an automobile Sunday and the horse was scratched quite badly on a barbed wire fence and Mr. Hendrick was slightly jarred up.
Born – to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Parker, son, Saturday, July 29, ‘11.
…After graduation Mr. Goodwin came to Sandusky and became a law stu dent in the office of his brother, Homer Goodwin, esq., where he remained until April, 1856, when he was admitted to practice. He then went to \Vabash, Ind., where he practiced law for something like sixteen years, and until the outbreak of the war.
In September, 1861, Mr. Goodwin enlisted as a private in Company B of the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, but while in camp and before going to the front he was elected to the captaincy of the company. He served in this capacity until October following, when he was advanced to the rank of major. At the battle of Champion's Hill, May 16, 1863, Major Goodwin was wounded, but did not retire from the service.
In the winter of 1863, his ranking officers being temporarily absent, Major Goodwin veteranized the regiment, and this was among the very first of the regiments engaged in the service that were made veterans. In the month of December, 1864, our subject was mustered out of service, after which he re turned to Wabash and resumed the practice of law, which he continued until 1874, at which time, on account of the fact that the climate disagreed with his family's health, he removed to Sandusky and formed a law partnership with his brother, Homer Goodwin, esq., of that city. In 1886 Linn W. Hull came into the firm, which is now styled Goodwin, Goodwin & Hull.
Frederick W. Cogswell. The subject of this brief sketch was a native of the “ Nutmeg" State of Connecticut, and was born at Woodbury, Litchfield county. His early education was received in the common schools and the academy, after which, in 1843, he entered Yale College for the full course, and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1847, and this notwithstanding the fact that during this term he was prevented by sickness from prosecuting his studies one full year.
In 1848 Mr. Cogswell became a law student in the office of Hon. Gideon Hall, of Winsted, Conn., and so remained about one year, when he was compelled by ill-health to retire. He then came to Cleveland, O., for medical treatment at the water-cure in that city. After about two years, his health being restored, Mr. Cogswell came to Sandusky and became a student in the office of Beecher & Leonard, and afterward with Homer Goodwin, esq. At Norwalk, in the fall of 185 2, he was admitted to the bar. He soon opened an office in Sandusky and practiced continuously until the year 1864, when he enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry. This was a hundred-day regiment, and with it our subject served until the term of enlistment expired, holding during the term a commission as second lieu tenant. During his years of practice in Erie county Mr. Cogswell has not been without some political holdings. For several years he held the office of city clerk; in 1860 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the county and held…
POOL AND BOWLING: It may be that I’ve shown a photo of a token similar this one in previous issues. But if I did it was from a photograph I had of it – not the actual artifact. This token was donated to the Vermilion History Museum – along with a good number of other artifacts – last week by Vermilion expatriate Wm. “Bill” Hlavin.
By and large tokens such as these tokens have little monetary value. But in relation to the history of Vermilion Ohio they are actually priceless. They tell a story of what some folks did to entertain themselves in a little lakefront village in Ohio during the early to mid 20th century. Furgie’s pool hall and bowling alley was located in a store on Division / Main Street at the back of the Fischer building. There are still a few guys about who worked setting pins at the alley.
I should qualify that thought with the fact that Furgie (the owner) was also the purveyor of liquid spirits.
Her minister told an eighty-year-old woman that, at her age, she should be giving some thought to what he called the hereafter.
She said to him, I think about it many times a day.
Oh, really? said the minister. That is very wise.
It's not a matter of wisdom, she replied. It's when I open a drawer or a closet, I ask myself, 'What am I here after?'
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 22 - August 3, 2019
Archive Issue #855
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