Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: On my shop desk this week is a nice picture of Hattie Delight Abell-Rathbun. Hattie was the youngest, and second, daughter of Phillipena / Persia Heilman and Jacob Abel. She was born on Christmas Eve in 1882. She married a local lake man, tug Captain, named George S. Rathbun on the 2nd of February in 1907. Although some records don’t show it Hattie had been a school teacher. In fact this photo is that of her as a teacher. It was donated to the VHM by her granddaughter Diane Rathbun-Boisclair. The museum has other pix of Hattie and her older sister Ollie Abell-Naegele who married Vermilionite George M. Naegele on Hattie’s birthday in 1902.
Hattie and George had two sons – Robert and Harold. Hattie died in 1945 and husband George followed in 1968. Robert married a local girl named Dorothy Haine. Their son Dave and, as mentioned, their oldest daughter Diane still live in the area. Harold went to Illinois (I think). And though he has not passed on his children still (to my knowledge) live there.
On the home desk this week is a nice color snapshot of the Ryser Boat Livery headquarters along the river c. 1966. The business was then operated out of an old Lake Shore Electric interurban car. The old cars were, at one time, scattered all around town and other places throughout northern Ohio. Initially (I think) Warren “Smitty” Smith had the place. Sometime following Ryser’s departure from the business Vermilionite Don Parsons took it over. Today the old L.S.E. car is gone but Don Parsons Inc. Marina is still there. Don’s marina occupies the same footprint his father’s and his grandfather’s business initially made on that site. The Parsons family goes back into the origins of the place we now call Vermilion in Ohio.
Coincidently, Don stopped into the museum right after I wrote the above piece. He’s retired, but still there captaining the tour boat Mystic Belle one of the towns premier tourist attractions.
Larry’s Sister: I wasn’t aware of it until a week after the fact, but my friend Larry E. Howell’s sister, Etta Howell-Hipp passed away July 31st. She had married a Norwalk, Ohio guy (Don) and lived there for most or nearly all her married life. She had four children. One passed a few years back, as did her husband. Etta graduated from VHS in 1958 and had taught children with special needs at the Monroeville High School near Norwalk.
I mention Etta, not only because she’s the sister of my friend, but also because she was part of our family gang growing up in Vermilion in the 1950s. Etta and my sister Ellie were school mates and friends.
Gosh, how time slips by. And the ranks of my family and friends grows slim. But, damn, we had a good time getting here.
O-DEER: The other morning Geo and I spotted this doe and her fawns in the field outside our home at the Olympic Club. This is the first time we’ve seen them on the grounds. They came down the hill went over by the river and went back up hill into the wood. It was in the morning – but not really early – about 8 a.m.
It beats having plastic lawn ornaments.
Historically,
THE GREAT SNOW OF 1954: I remember this storm quite clearly because it was such a big and unexpected storm. I was ten years old. The day before the snow the weather had been exceptionally mild and very windy. I was, in fact, so windy that we strapped on our sidewalk skates and went up the tennis courts behind South Street School where we could let the wind blow us across the blacktop courts at a good clip.
It snowed that night stopping auto, bus, truck and train traffic on Lake Road between Cleveland and Sandusky. The electricity went off and I remember watching the electric lines along the NYC tracks spark in the snowy nighttime sky. The town ran out of bread. And as one can see in the accompanying pic truckers had to lay up along Liberty Avenue for a few hours before going to their destinations. In this pic the trucks are stopped along Liberty in front of the Kroger (now Buyer’s Fair). In the background the roof of the old Maud-Elton hotel is visible.
THE CITY OF CASKS: As a boy I was always fascinated with carnival ideas. I loved Calvert’s Crystal Beach Amusement Park with its sleek shiny Space-Ship ride, the dark Fun House, the Dodgems and the like. Toward East Harbor it was Mystery Hill where water ran uphill and, of course, the Blue Hole. At the Ohio State Fair I can remember the fairway barkers hawking kitchen gadgets much like the “as seen on TV” doohickeys of today, and the Cow-made-of Butter sculpture (squirting a stream of butter sculpted milk into a cat’s mouth). I even saw the “biggest man in the world” at the Calgary Stampede in Canada back in 1964 on a return trip from Alaska with my friend, Vermilionite Frank Homitz. But, there was one novelty right here in Vermilion that I, perhaps, passed a thousand times without a thought.
Travel about a quarter mile west of town on Route Six (aka. West Lake Road) and just before reaching the Darby Creek you’ll come across the Lake Pointe West Condominiums on the north side of the road. On this lakefront site once sat 22 six thousand gallon wine vats that served as vacation cottages. The place was called (appropriately enough) Cask Villa.
Sometime in 1918 a gentleman by the name of W.J. O’Neill purchased part of the Phelps’s Farm west of town and constructed a cottage on the lake shore near the mouth of Darby Creek. Two years later the United States Congress passed the 18th Amendment to our Constitution and “Prohibition” - The Great Experiment became the law of the land.
During the early months of the 20th century the Mitchell Cooperage Company in Sandusky, Ohio had manufactured giant wine casks for the Shuster Wine Company of Cleveland for $1,200 each. After prohibition began those casks sat idle at Shuster’s warehouse with no prospect of being utilized in the near future. In 1925, with the help of his father, Fred E. Cash of Berea, and Warren “Red” Brooks of Vermilion, O’Neill purchased some of the casks and brought them to his Darby Creek campground. By this time the cost of making such vats had more than doubled.
The casks were made of solid oak staves two/three inches thick, and were bound together with metal hoops and other fixtures to produce a combined weight of 5800 pounds each. Most of the casks were placed in a row on concrete pads on the bluff overlooking the creek. But a few were located below near the stream. Two windows were cut into the backs of each vat, and a window and a door were cut into what would become the entrance. The exterior of each was fitted with a screened in front porch.
The interiors were fitted with a folding bunk on one side, a folding table opposite, a kitchenette, an icebox (i.e. refridgerator), running water, toilet accommodations, and electric lights. Additional bunks could be arranged on the porch to allow room for a small family or a party of friends. A trap door in the center of each unit allowed a place for storage of various traveling paraphernalia carried by tourists.
At the time it was constructed Cask Villa was one of the few state-inspected camps in Ohio. Visitors to the place had their choice of “cask or tent”. By the summer of 1928 O’Neill’s campground had become one of the most unique, picturesque, comfortable, and popular camping grounds in the United States. It was so popular that not all the folks looking for a “cot and cask” experience could be accommodated that season.
Several years later the “Village of Casks” known as Cask Villa would be immortalized in a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not publication. [People from all over our nation have contacted me via the internet looking for pictures and more information regarding this local phenomenon.]
In the mid to late 1960’s the world had become oblivious to what was once the most unique campground in America. Lake Road was no longer the main thoroughfare across northern Ohio. It had been, or was in the process of being, replaced by four-lane concrete / blacktop super-highways. Places such as Cedar Point had captured the carnival interests of the public at-large. And the “Village of Casks” simply faded into history.
Ref: The Vermilion News, September 17, 1926 and September 6, 1928; Rich Tarrant’s stories of “Yesteryear” rev. 2017.
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...
Great preparation is being made in Vermilion, for the entertainment of the Buckeye band Association August 30, 1911, that being the date set for the 29th annual convention. A summer resort town Vermilion is fully prepared to handle the large crowd expected but this is an event out of the ordinary and special effort is being made. The time chosen is at the close of the summer season when a large percent the summer guests have returned to their houses, but the hotels and boarding houses and places of amusement will still retain their help and the boat liveries and pleasure craft will still be in commission so the members of the bands and their friends will have all the advantages of the summer visitors.
Committees are being busy arranging for the entertainment of the guests and nothing will be left undone which will contribute to the pleasure of the visitors. Provisions have been made for the bands obliged to come the night before and ample lodgings and meals will be furnished.
The Program in brief is as follows:
Evening of August 29, reception of bands and concerts in parks.
Morning of August 30. Reception of bands, etc.
10:30 sharp forming of parade, parade followed by mass concert Park.
Dinner.
Afternoon: Meeting of convention followed by short concerts by visiting bands from stands in town and at Linwood and Crystal Beach.
Various amusements, boating, breathing, dancing, etc.
An attractive feature of the meat is a concert in which a number of well-known soloists will play, Ackley’s band of Sandusky, furnishing the accompaniment.
A number of prizes have been donated by various music houses, and others and they are our well worth competing for. Announcements will be made full as soon as the program has been completed.
15 bands have already responded to the invitation to attend will be here sure and some dozen or more have as yet not settled upon anything definite. The committee is very anxious that all bands will notify the secretary W. E. Childs, at Vermilion, of their intentions as soon as possible.
Some are planning to take advantage of this gathering for an outing of several days and we can assure them a most delightful time.
Not only are the bands invited but it is expected that a large number of people will “follow the band” and Vermilion will have a crowd like of which has never been here before.
The village council held its regular meeting Monday evening. After the reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting several committees reported. The contract with Mr. M. Callen for concrete crosswalk from the corner of Buster’s News Depot to Exchange Place was approved
Upon suggestion motion was made and carried that tile instead of concrete used for the floor sidewalk of the comfort station.
A contract with F. Schomer for a sidewalk on the north side of Liberty from Main to Exchange St.
Several sidewalk matters were discussed, also street repair work. The Lake Shore Electric Ry. Company was ordered to place a wider crossing on the Shore Road west of town, the clerk being directed to notify the company of the same.
It was reported that several aspects excavations for pipe had been made in the street without necessary permit being issued by the Mayor.
After some other discussions and the passing of the ordinance for payment of the bills, the meeting adjourned.
Any further credit extended to Mrs. Martin Ackerman, I will not be responsible for, anyone holding an account against me will kindly mail same to me at Springfield, Ohio.
Signed, Martin Ackerman.
Miss Mae Nau, who has been conducting a millinery store here the past few seasons, has closed out her business here and will open up in Huron about Sept. 1st. Miss Nau is a thoroughly up-to-date milliner and her many vermilion friends wish her success.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gilman, a daughter, Monday, August 7.
Mrs. August Slumsky is reported quite ill.
A large crowd from here attended the farmers picnic at Crystal Beach Saturday.
BORN – Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Dute, of Wellington, a son, Saturday, August 5. Mrs. Dute was formerly Miss Ella Pemberton of Amherst
John Nickel had had the misfortune to have three of his fingers smashed while at work steel plant one day last week.
The funeral services of Mrs. J. Beller were held from St. Peter’s Church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. Lindenmeyer officiated. Mrs. Beller was 76 years of age. She leaves to mourn their loss three daughters and one son.
Rev. Seith and family of Cleveland who have been visiting relatives here left on Tuesday for Linwood Park where they will spend a month before returning to their home Cleveland.
Mrs. Helen Truscot has been under the weather for the past week.
Seems strange how the Sandusky Register, still persists in the statement of “mob violence” in connection with a recent Vermilion case.
Mrs. Jacob Abell Mrs. Geo. Rathbun were Sandusky visitors yesterday.
A number of summer people will enjoy a lawn fete at the Lakeside Inn tomorrow evening.
Dr. Heinig is reported getting along very nicely at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The NEWs was in error last week in stating that Mrs. Sullivan had lost entirely the sight of one eye. While her sight is greatly impaired it is not entirely gone. She was home for a few days this week returning to Lorain today to continue treatment.
Glenville troup of Boy Scouts passed through Vermilion Tuesday afternoon on their way home. A horse and wagon with tent and camp equipment accompanied them on their hike. The boys looked as if they were enjoying their outing.
Mr. Lanning, Supt. of E. B. C. Was quite seriously injured while riding his motorcycle the first of the week by colliding with a buggy. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Mrs. J. I. Howell who has been suffering from nervous trouble for the past several weeks, was taken to Sandusky this afternoon for examination and will probably be taken to the State Hospital for treatment.
Work is progressing nicely upon the comfort station.
E. T. Bottomley is enjoying a week’s vacation from duties at the NEWS office. It is spending the time on the lakes.
[Mr. Bottomley is my maternal grandmother’s father.]
Mrs. Haylor, aged 77, mother of Mrs. G. E. Whitmore of Vermilion died Saturday at her home in Sandusky.
[G.E. Whitmore and his son Robert were responsible for starting The Vermilion News. Mrs. Haylor was is mother-in-law.]
One thing quite noticeable at the Farmers Picnic Saturday was a large number of autos in the park and especially the number of Studebacher [sic] E. M. F. 30s, there being six machines of this particular make. H. H. Patton has the agency for this machine.
[NOTE: In early 1911 E. M. F. Company and The Studebaker Automobile Co. formerly The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Co. merged to become The Studebaker Corporation with John M. Studebaker as chairman and Frederick Fish as president. For a short time The Studebaker Corp. continued marking automobiles under the existing brand names, but by 1913 all its cars bore the Studebaker name.
H.H. Patton started out in Vermilion selling ice. He was also part owner of the Southwest Fish company.]
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Chas. A. Heidloff an eight pound daughter Thursday, Aug. 4, 1911.
Aviator Atwood starts from Milwaukee Saturday to sail the air to New York City. He is scheduled to stop at Sandusky and Lorain.
Com. F. W. Wakefield and son Albert are enjoying a trip to Georgian Bay with Com. Brody on the “Wing and Wing.”
The Farmers Picnic at Crystal Beach last Saturday was one of the most largely attended ever held here. Fully 4,000 people were on the grounds. Sen. Pormerene could not come but Judge King gave a fine address.
John Winnie, the tramp who was convicted of attempted assault on a little Vermilion girl a few weeks ago was unmercifully scored by Judge Reed and sentenced to three years in the pen. He began his term yesterday.
Mrs. Calvin Sperry, who had been the guest of her daughter, Mrs. E. G. Cooper W. 22nd St. pastoral weeks, was removed to her home south of Vermilion today in Fey’s auto invalid carriage. Mrs. Sperry has been in ill health for the past year. – Lorain Times Herald.
Mrs. Schaefer, formally Miss Josie Semple, well known in Vermilion, died Sunday at her home in Elyria, at the age of 29. Mrs. Schaefer has been a victim of Bright’s disease the past two years, but was seriously ill but a few days. She was a niece of Mrs. Towne of this place. The funeral was held Wednesday.
[NOTE: Bright’s disease is a non-hereditary kidney disease that in the past was, as it was in Mrs. Schaefer’s case, fatal.]
There has been a sudden decrease in size of the lifts of fish by large tugs from this port. Summer fishing has been unusually good and at the Kishman plant one day last week the catches ranged between 2 to 3 tons per boat. The Driscoll company had about 10 tons the house for one day’s fishing. The fish were mostly Herring. Wednesday the entire receipts in the three houses would probably not exceed three tons and if the lifts are as light today all nets will be pulled for a short time.
The new tug C. A. Mattison left for Grand River Monday morning and tugs Sloat and Rainbow leave for the same point today. The gas boats Chester, Mary and Trinter will also go down the lake to fish.
Mrs. C. Sperry was been spending some time with her daughter Mrs. Cooper of Lorain in hopes of recovering her health returned to her home in Fey’s invalid carriage Tuesday.
Our road superintendent Mr. Coxie certainly believes in having good roads. He is now employed in cutting brush on the roadside which has obstructed our highways for a long time.
Mr. Wm. Miller has purchased a fine buggy.
The threshing machine will be at the park Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Trinter were callers at the park Sunday.
A. R. spent last week at his farm going from there Monday to Toledo on business for the Lake Carriers.
Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Bradley, Cleveland stopped at the park for a short time Monday on the way home from the yacht races it Detroit.
…that office until 1873, and it was during his incumbency of this office that he entered the United States army service, leaving the work of his office to be performed by a pro tem. appointee. For a number of years Mr. Cogswell has held the position of United States commissioner; also, for many years he was one of the cemetery trustees.
Aside from his professional work he has dealt somewhat in real estate, and is otherwise interested in the Kelley's Island Wine Company, and in the ice business at Sandusky.
Hon. E. M. Colver. Judge Colver was born in the Empire State, but while yet young his parents moved to Ohio and took up their residence at Norwalk, the county seat of Huron county. Here our subject received his early education—at the common schools and academy. In the year 1858 he entered the law department of the Cincinnati College and was graduated in 1859. He had read law under the instruction of Hon. Caleb B. Smith, a member of Mr. Lincoln's cabinet during his first administration. In April, 1859, Mr. Colver became a member of the legal fraternity, and soon thereafter located for practice at Perrysburg, Wood county.
On the 2d of September, 1861, he was mustered into the service as first lieutenant of Company B of the Third Ohio Cavalry. From the rank of lieutenant he was, in October, 1862, promoted to captain of Company K, and as such was in command of the Third Battalion. In December, 1863, he veteranized with the regiment while at Pulaski, Tenn. He resigned in November, 1864, and came to Sandusky city for the purpose of recruiting a cavalry regiment under orders from the war department. Others were engaged with Captain Colver in this work, and it was but a short time before they had enlisted a regiment of cavalry thirteen hundred strong. Captain Colver did not again enter the service, but opened a law office in Sandusky city, where he has ever since resided.
In 1868 he was elected city solicitor and held that position two years. In 1869 he was elected to the office of probate judge of the county, taking his seat in February, 1870. He was twice re-elected and served in all three terms of three years each. Upon the expiration of his last term Judge Colver formed a law partnership with J. L. De Witt, which was continued until the last-named person was elected mayor of the city. A new partnership was then formed with Philip C. Schenkel, under the name of Colver & Schenkel, but subsequently Edmund B. King became one of the firm and the style was then changed to Colver, Schenkel & King. Mr. Schenkel died in 1886, since which time the remaining partners have been associated professionally, and are now recognized as one of the leading law firms of the city and county.
Omar Bailey was born in Vermont, the Green Mountain State, on the 18th day of December, 1834. When less than a year old his parents moved to Ohio, and became residents of Lorain county. Omar attended the common…
AN ARTIFACT (OF SORTS): I consider this pic a personal artifact because it is only one of two photos I have of my paternal grandparents, Frederick and Eleanor (Lynch) Tarrant.
My grandfather was born in Stokes Poges, Buckinghamshire, England in 1870. My grandmother was born in Nova Scotia, Canada around 1875.
I don’t know to what organization my grandfather belonged. So the clothing he’s wearing is a bit of a mystery to me. During his life he migrated from England to Canada and, finally, to the U.S. As best I have been able to determine he worked as a gardener, a teamster and a longshoreman.
Again, this is one of only two pix I have of the couple. Wish I had more.
After the fifth-graders studied the history of the Alamo, they were given a test with this bonus question: "What was the famous battle cry that later helped spur on independence for Texans?"
One student's response: "Remember the alimony!"
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 23 - August 10, 2019
Archive Issue #856
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