Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: The colorful desktop pix are certainly keeper’s (for me). The pic on my home desk is a crayon like representation of a sunrise from the backyard of our former home on Oakwood Drive in Vermilion. The real sunrise was as spectacular as this representation. Folks do sunsets on Lake Erie all over the proverbial place; but sunrises can also be dazzling. Especially in your own backyard.
The pic on the shoptop was adapted from a nice black & white photo that I have always admired. This photo is simply titled “Flowers in the Park”. It was captured on glass by my Grandfather, Pearl Roscoe, in the spring of 1913 at Linwood Park.
This is one of my first concentrated attempts to add some color to gray scale photos. You will note that some of the flowers are actually summer flowers. I made use of them because of the myriad of colors they added to the original. The most difficult part of working with this pic in particular was the path / road behind the group. It’s okay – but not great.
I’m happy with the clothing and flesh toning. Aside from color I also added some texture to my grandmother’s overcoat. All in all it’s a nice photo.
When I colored this pic I also worked on two additional pix that I’ll show another time. My sister, Ginny, thought that I should add color to an old pic of the Wakefield home, Harborview, sometime. Perhaps I’ll try it – “sometime”.
AUDIO EDITING: During the week I was working on an edit of an old audio cassette taped interview / conversation, that I digitized some time ago, between late Vermilionites Shirley “Betty” Reffner (b.1916 – d.2010) and Harvey Krapp (b.1897 – d.1979).
It’s a terrible recording from the 1970s – loaded with a good deal of extraneous noise in the background as well as from the tape recorder. I’ve not done a lot of audio editing so this particular recording has been (to be nice) “a son-of-a-gun” to process.
There is enough good information on it to justify the time used to make it more audible. But thus far, I have been minimally successful despite the time I’ve spent on it. I intend to use it in the Vermilion History Museum Theatre forum for everyone to access, but don’t know if everyone will be able to suffer through it long enough to glean the info therein.
Another problem with the interview is that Betty – whom I assume was not a Vermilion native – was without much understanding of the subject matter.
In it, for instance, Betty has some difficulty understanding that Mary / May McGraw became May Martin and after she married Glenville “Glen” Martin. After she and Martin divorced, she married a fella name Homer Fletcher and became known as Mary / May Fletcher. Betty thought there were two McGraw girls as well as someone named Martin McGraw. I suppose if I had not known May [she was a piano teacher for many Vermilionites including several of the Tarrant children]. I also would have had some problem understanding who was who. In short Betty was, and perhaps understandably, confused. Again, she thought there might have been more than one McGraw daughter. To add to the confusion, May’s mother was a Pelton. But that’s another can of ancestral worms.
So put all this confusion on a bad tape recorder, add some outside noise and my ineptitude with the editing software (i.e. Audacity and Ocenaduio etc.) acquiring a clear recording and following the conversation therein is, as indicated, difficult.
Nonetheless, I plan use it in the theatre forum soon. So be prepared to be confused. Or maybe not.
Historically,
BAD PIC: This snap was taken outside the Vermilion News printshop building c.1950 – and I vaguely remember the day.
The adult in the pic is Milton Karchin who, at the time, was a Vermilion Postman. My sister “Butch” / Zella got the privilege of wearing his hat. My sister Ellie was on the other side of Milt. The little guy on the right was Billy Thompson. At the time Billy lived upstairs in the apartment over the shop. That’s why he isn’t wearing a coat. He must’ve stepped outside just for this pic. I’m the kid on the left all bundled up.
What makes me remember this day is the coat I’m wearing. It was a heavy brown thing with big buttons that always broke off and were lost. The boots we’re wearing were the kind that you put your shoes into while wearing them. I hated those things because I always lost my shoes in them. When I got home, I just threw the outdoor garb on the floor in the closet and walked away. I hated winter and dressing like an Eskimo. I could hardly move.
Milton was a family friend who loved nothing better than to stand in the office at the News and pontificate about the poor state of politics in town, in the state and the nation. I well remember his red-faced rantings. He later worked in the Cleveland Post Office and was constantly writing letters to all the newspapers in Ohio. Setting all that noise aside, he was actually a good – a smart guy.
Of the group I am the only survivor thus far. Sister Butchie. She passed away in November of 1976 at the tender age of 33 years. Ellie died in 2007 at the age of 65. Billy Thompson died in 2004 at the age of 58. And Milton died in 1999 at 73.
It’s an ugly snap of an ugly time. Nonetheless we all seemed happy. Perhaps spring was near.
FEATURES THIS WEEK: Held over at the history museum theatre this week is a video production I put together eight years ago. The featured personalities are Nuggie Cook, Dawn Full, Connie Dropko, Jim Hart, Jim Snell, Lucile Clark, Roger Watkins, John Tuttle, Genevieve Clark, Melba Walker, Tootie Reisinger, Bill Summers and Marie Tansey.
By and large this is an enjoyable piece. And as some folks know a few of those named above are gone now. So I’m glad I still have the video.
Somewhere, amongst all the stuff I have filed away I have entire clips of all the interviews. As soon as I find them, I’ll make them available.
This piece runs 22:08 minutes.
THE SECOND FEATURE:Also held over for another week is a video / slideshow briefly following the First 200 years of the Congregational Church in Vermilion. This is a real nice historical documentary. AND NEW LAST WEEK:Seven years ago (09/14/2009) I had a telephone conversation with J.R. "Dick" and Jeanne Parsons that I asked to record because, among other things, I believed it would someday be historically relevant. After Dick's first wife, Suzanne, died in 1978 he married Jeanne. Both used to sell real estate in the area. My reference to their jobs in past tense is because by 2009 both had retired and had moved to Georgia. But in his early years Dick was, to wax poetic, a mover of buildings, boats and many other big things. There was a time (believe it or not) when folks didn't just tear down perfectly good buildings when they were perceived to be in the way of someone's notion of progress. They moved them..It is an interesting audio file that runs 17.14 minutes. Have a listen...
Enjoy.
It runs 12:40 minutes.
All the video and audio files can be found @:
VOICES OF CHRISTMASES PAST: In late November of 1922 my grandparents, the late Bessie and Pearl Roscoe, thought it would be a great idea to ask some older Vermilion citizens to share their memories of Christmas' past with readers of the News. They selected (at random) "people who helped make Vermilion in different walks of life." This resulted in their publishing the memories of a doctor, a preacher, a teacher, a farmer, and housewife. The editors prefaced those stories with the thought that, "By comparison with the past we may be able to appreciate better the present and hope for more in the future." The following are but three of those stories; the voices of Parsons, Andrews and Howell of Christmases Past: The port of Vermilion was an important and busy place in the mid 19th century. It was not unusual to see ten to twelve canal schooners in port waiting to take on loads of six to ten thousand bushels of grain brought to town from outlying farms. Wagons and prairie schooners lined the northwest corner of Liberty and Main streets by the old Masonic Building, and the Barton-¬Pierce warehouse across the street was a beehive of activity. A block away (just east of Hanover Square) the area was piled high with staves; and butter, eggs, and maple sugar were brought in from places as far south as New London to be traded for fish. Wagon loads of white fish, netted by local fishermen, brought six or eight cents apiece as did a dozen eggs.
These were also busy times for the Lake House Hotel on the southeast corner of Liberty and Division/Main streets. Guest rooms cost $3.50 a week, and a good meal could be had for but a shilling. During the Christmas season a Christmas Ball was held in the hotel ballroom. A committee consisting of one prominent person from nearby towns arranged these affairs assuring that a big crowd would be in attendance. Couples paid $3.50 for the dance, which began at 4 p.m. and lasted until 7 a.m.
With exception of five years he spent in Toledo, George Andrews lived on Huron Street in Vermilion his entire life. When, but a tad, he recalled that "they hung their stockings by the chimney place and were happy in finding the candy, nuts and possibly a toy or two (in the 'stockings on Christmas morn) as were the other kids of the neighborhood".
Almon Parsons began on a sad note by saying that "there is not a boy or girl left of the number that met at my father's home (for Christmas) in the fifties (1850s); My mother died when I was fourteen years old (1858) ... My father was a shipbuilder and left early in the morning to cut timbers from the woods ... We all baked buckwheat cakes and as my father allowed us to play the Euchre cards ... we stole away from home to indulge in the game."
"When my mother was living, we hung up our stockings. Four children passed away in early childhood and two elder brothers were not members of the home at that time. But if our stockings contained two sticks of striped candy and a few nuts and raisins we were happy ... One more thing about our stockings, when they began to make sugar toys of animals if we had a dog or sheep or pear or apple in our lot, we were so happy!"
J.I. Howell who, for years, was well known as Vermilion's "Main Street Blacksmith" had grown up in the south and had returned there by 1922 but wrote to tell of his early Christmases in that region. When he was a small boy, he "never heard of such a thing as Santa Claus, but [noted] he must have come up in these later years for the benefit of the coming generations, for which I am glad ... "
He further wrote, "... living way down South we did not know what a Christmas gift was, but Christmas came once a year as it does now but there was not Santa to ask for all these nice or good candies so we had to be content without the good things. We could rove about in the woods or go with our parents to some party and feel as satiated as if we had all sorts of gifts."
Sharing these memories with readers, be it The Vermilion News and now the Photojournal, meant more to these gentlemen than anyone might imagine. Perhaps, Almon Parsons said it best when he wrote; "Mrs. Roscoe you could not have sent me a more welcome Christmas present than this, for I love to send items (in this case his memories of Christmas) and am ashamed to send all I wish." [Note: He apparently felt he was imposing. But that was hardly the case – then or now.]
Happy Christmas - Everyone.
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...
The Railway Company had submitted an agreement to open a passage across the track at Adams Street. This crossing will be planked to a with 16 feet and while being controlled by the railroad company will be to all intent and purposes of public highway. This crossing is to be maintained for a period of 5 years.
Mr. Miller thought that a provision should be made in the contract for the laying of water pipes and sewer under the track but the Mayor maintained that this could be done without any such agreement. Atty. Handy who submitted the contract was called up and stated that the contract was better as it was and had no authority to make any change but if necessary that matter could be otherwise provided for. The contract was at accepted by a vote of 5 yeas to 1 no.
Mr. Rust, engineer of the Lake Shore Ry., was present and was asked if the work of putting in the crossing could be done before Jan. 1, 1912. He said he thought he could and would hustle the matter. Council can be congratulated that one of their closing actions is to come to an agreement with the Railway Company in regard to a matter that has been hanging fire for over two years and also saving an expensive and long drawn out case in the courts. The case which has been pending will now be closed.
Several other matters pertaining to drainage, etc., were explained to Mr. Rust.
After some further discussions, council adjourned.
The next regular Council meeting will be held Tuesday, January 2, 1912 at which the old Council will close up its affairs and adjourn and the new will take office.
[NOTE: Vermilion trivia enthusiasts people may want to put this in their books: When Adams Street crossing was approved. It certainly was necessary.]
Commodore Geo. W. Gardner Cleveland, once Mayor of that city and a well-known yachtsman and owner of Ballast Island, is dead, at the home of his daughter at Dayton. He was at one time a partner of John D. Rockefeller.
Village Council met on Tuesday evening.
Isaac Regal suffered a stroke of paralysis Thursday and is in critical condition.
Joseph Baxter left Thursday for England, where he will spend the winter at his old home.
The funeral services of the year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Whyte was held Sunday afternoon in the home and interment was made at Crown Hill Cemetery.
The funeral services of Mrs. E. C. Foster were held at Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Rev. Harding of the Cong’l church officiated. Interment was made at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Coming home from Ashland where they have been spending several months, Robert, Gordon, wife and two children, found their home broken up. Their household goods and all of their clothing that they did not have with them, sold and scattered.
Last week Gordon case came to Amherst to pay the rent and look after his worldly goods. Going to the house he could not find a single article. Hunting up Solaska he inquired where his furniture and clothing were and was told the whole outfit had been sold and brought just enough to pay the rent. His landlord had disposed of every article even to the children’s clothing.
They lived in part of the house that Kendigh’s Corners belonging to a man by the name of Solaska who lived in the other part. Several months ago the family went to Ashland to take care of a friend who was ill.
Rent time came around and Solaska was about to start legal proceedings when Mrs. Gordon came back and paid up and arranged to store their goods and furniture.
All this was done without Gordon’s knowledge or consent. Seven. Gordon has sought legal advice and will bring suit for the value of his effects.
[NOTE: This seems a bit confusing. Was the rent paid and the items stored or not?]
John Knot of Vermilion is still busy sawing lumber.
School had their Xmas tree on Thursday and it was well attended.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. C Albrecht of Oberlin, a son, Dec. 13, 1911. Mrs. Albrecht was formally Miss Katie Reinhardt of this place.
Judge Doyle of Akron, listened to the charges made by Mrs. Charles Hahn of Brownhelm, Tuesday morning at Elyria, asking a divorce from her husband on the grounds of extreme cruelty and failure to provide the necessaries of life for herself and her two children.
Mrs. Hahn accused her husband of being intimate with the cashier of the moving picture theater he operated in Wellington several months ago. Mrs. McGill, a boardinghouse keeper, testified that Mr. Hahn was often in the room with the girl until after 12 o’clock at night and that the next morning the room was strewn with cigarette stubs and empty whiskey bottles.
The wife further alleges that one night her husband secured a red hot poker of a coal stove in their home and lifting up the covers of the bed in which she was sleeping burned her severely.
Several months ago Mrs. Hahn applied for a divorce in Erie County but was refused a decree. Later a judge in an alimony hearing granted her money for the support of her two children. She asserts that Hahn then left the city and failed to carry out the courts order. He voluntarily came back and gave himself up, it was said, and then was released on $1000 bond. – Lorain news.
[NOTE: Wow!]
Mrs. Magdalena Decker, wife of Charles F. Decker, died in her home at Vermilion, Dec. 18th, 1911, age 42 years, 2 months and 4 days after an illness of several years duration.
Mrs. Decker was born at Vermilion O., Oct. 14, 1869, and was the daughter of Charles and Katherine Leimbach.
She was united in marriage to Charles F. Decker, Dec. 23d, 1890. To this union were born five children, Ruth, Katherine, Charles Christopher, Pauline and Mary, all of whom are living, But their son, Charles who died Aug.13, 1900.
Besides the immediate family her brother and a large number of other relatives are left to mourn her departure.
The deceased was confirmed in the German Reformed Church, of which she was a member. She was also a member of the order of the Eastern Star and the K. & L. of S.
The funeral service services were held at the home of home Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock conducted by Rev. A. C. Pretzer, pastor of the Reformed church. Interment at Maple Grove.
The floral offerings were exceptionally numerous and beautiful, the last expression of grief and sympathy from her numerous neighbors and friends.
The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Nuhn of the Shore Road was taken suddenly ill on Friday night and died Sunday evening at 11:30, age 3 months and 17 days. The funeral was held Tuesday from the home, Rev. Boch the German M. E. Church officiating.
Mrs. F. W. Wakefield and two children were at Cleveland Tuesday to see Mr. Wakefield who is at a hospital there. Mr. Wakefield is convalescing and it is hoped he will be able to return to his home in a few days. Possibly by Xmas.
George Stump is getting his corn ground ready for next season. George is all right.
Mr. Oster of Oster’s Euclid Ave., Dancing Academy of Cleveland has made arrangements with Blattner and Ortli to teach dancing, beginning Jan. 11, 1911. All who wish to take will make arrangements with Lewis Blattner or Jan. 1, 1912.
School closes Friday for a two weeks vacation [sic].
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Neiding, near Mill Hollow, last Tuesday, a daughter.
Mrs. E. T. Bottomley and granddaughter, Ella Roscoe were guests of W. B. Houseman family at Birmingham Tuesday.
[NOTE: Just keeping tabs on my mom’s whereabouts way-back-when.]
Miss Mae Lawrence delightfully entertained a number of the young ladies of the classes of ‘04 and ‘05 at her home in the Stove Plan Allotment on Saturday afternoon and evening. The afternoon was spent tying off a quilt and fancywork. Supper was served and a jolly time is the report. Those present were: the Mrs. Bertha Nieding, Lydia Trinter, Laura Walper, Elsie Hahn, Georgia Burrows, Louise Lohr, Mrs. Chas. Baldridge, and Mattie Merrill.
Mr. and Mrs. Martinek will entertain the latter’s father, Mr. Morrison and daughter Jean of Kincardine, Can., on Christmas.
Light Keeper and Mrs. J. H. Burns and their guest Miss Clara White spent yesterday at Cleveland shopping and took in the performance at the Hippodrome.
Miss Nellie Klaar was teaching in a business college at Kenosha, Wisconsin, is expected home Saturday to spend the holidays.
The two children of Mr. Mrs. Conrad Alheit who have been ill are reported better. The baby was suffering from an attack of pneumonia.
Capt. J. H. Driscoll of Cleveland is here this week called here by the illness of his brother Fred.
Popcorn, 2 years old at Unser & Seely’s.
[NOTE: I don’t know what to make of this.]
Lieutenant Seipe a Cleveland detective who was arrested last week imitating “Jack the Peeper” plead guilty the first of the week for disorderly conduct and was given the usual “dose.”
[NOTE: I don’t know what that means either.]
The Lady Employees of the Wakefield Bras Co. are anticipating a jolly time at their first annual “Xmas Hunt” which will be held Friday evening at the home of Miss Laura Walper.
Fred Driscoll of the Driscoll Fish Co. was taken ill while on a business trip to Cleveland and was brought home to Vermilion. It was at first thought that he was suffering from ptomaine poisoning, but later it was thought the attack, which had the effect of partial paralysis in a like form, is caused by overwork. At this writing he is some better and it is hoped that rest and quiet from business cares will bring about his recovery.
Mr. G. E. Lindguist was hired to fill the pulpit until June 1912 by the congregation of the Cong’l church on the last Sunday morning. At that time it is desirous to employ a resident pastor.
The churches will celebrate Xmas on Saturday evening there will be a union tree and the Cong’l school will render the program. All are invited to attend.
A SAD DAY: This was one of the saddest days in the lives of many Vermilion people. Both John and Onyx were loved and respected by all who knew them. Souls were shocked that day.
…a large and growing practice at that place. The doctor is unusually well posted in materia medica, a factor of supreme importance in qualifying one for a prompt and successful prescriber. He stood high as a student and maintains an equally high relative position among practitioners.
Dr. David Gillard was born at Venice, O., July 30, 1852; studied medicine with his brother, E. Gillard, and graduated at Cleveland Homeopathic College in 1877, and began the practice of medicine at Port Clinton; moved to Sandusky in the spring of 1882, and moved back to Port Clinton the same year; again moved to Sandusky in July, 1885, and formed a copartnership with his brother, Dr. E. Gillard, but dissolved partnership and returned to Port Clinton in the autumn of 1886, where he is now located. The doctor left a fine practice at Port Clinton when he came to Sandusky in 1885, which involved so large an amount of country business that he hoped to improve his practice, at least in this respect. A year or two convinced him that having too much country practice could be endured quite as cheerfully, and more profitably, than having too little. The doctor has reentered his old field, and has cause to be gratified with the renewed expressions of confidence manifested by the public in his skill and uniform success.
Dr. John Mathews studied medicine with Dr. E. Gillard; graduated and commenced practice at Castalia, and for a while with Dr. Gillard, in Sandusky. He went to California, where he died a year or two ago.
Dr. William Gaylord began the study of medicine in February, 1878, with Dr. D. Buck, of Cincinnati, as his preceptor. He was a locomotive engineer, running night express between Cincinnati and Richmond, Ind., and continued in this employment during his study and college course, until he graduated in the spring of 1883, at the Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, O. The following summer he was made lecturer on history and microscopy and resident physician in charge of the college dispensary; the following year he was made professor of chemistry and toxicology, which positions he held until locating in Sandusky in 1885.
While in some respects Dr. Gaylord's medical education was obtained under disadvantages, yet there were other favorable conditions that more than compensated for the necessity of devoting so large a portion of the ordinary hours of rest to providing the means of support while preparing himself for the profession he had adopted. He had the advantage of a large amount of clinical experience in the office of his preceptor, as well as the college and hospital clinics of any of the professors he chose to attend, and these privileges in an office like his preceptor's, who was at that time a professor, and dean of the medical college, afforded him superior opportunities for witnessing and assisting in a large and varied amount of medical and surgical practice. Dr. Gaylord is the latest addition to the homeopathic fraternity of the city, and is as liberally equipped with the essentials of professional success as any who have preceded him.
MERRY CHRISTMAS: This graphic appeared on the front page of the NEWS in 1911.
.
Eunice went to the dentist the other day. It was discovered that she had a cavity that would have to be filled.
"Now, Eunice," asked the dentist, "what kind of filling would you like for that tooth?"
Without hesitation Eunice replied, "Chocolate, please."
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 42 - December 21, 2019
Archive Issue #875
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