Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: Here are some local trivial questions: Which of the 2 parks pictured is named Victory Park? And which one is also known as “Rubberneck Park”?
ANSWER: The park on my home desk is Exchange, and the one on the shoptop is “Victory” (aka. Rubberneck).
I really like the pic of Exchange Park. It was probably taken in the early 1940s. What a comfortable place it was for local guys to spend a nice Sunday afternoon in the summer. It’s hard (at least for me) not to be jealous.
I am, however, fortunate enough to have spent my share of time in the park with my friends – talking and watching the world go by. I don’t see too many folks enjoying the park as many did in past years. [Too bad. For them.]
VICTORY: And when I was very young I loved to spend time in Victory Park as well. We spent fun times playing around the old brick bandstand that was once the focal place in the park. I am also very familiar with the “Founder’s Stone” that was placed in the park in 1937 – the same time as the accompanying photo was taken.
Vermilionite George Harris’s Drum and Bugle Corps is apparent in this pic along with the Vermilion Boy Scouts. They obviously performed for the dedication ceremonies that day.
I recall being in the park for Decoration / Memorial Day ceremonies and on the 4th of July. I remember being excited when the band played several of the old Sousa march tunes. In my time there were big swings on the south side of the park. Today’s park hardly resembles the one I knew.
But time, like the band, marches one.
OPENING THE MUSEUM: The plan is to open the museum again this coming week (July 1st). While we had several visitors last week (when we weren’t really open). This will be the first time since March that we’re officially open to the public. However – if Covid-19 starts making a comeback we’ll not hesitate to turn that sign around.
We want this thing to be over. But if folks won’t cooperate and follow health protocols we could be in it until next year.
Everyone is certainly entitle to the rights guaranteed by our Constitution, but they don’t mean much unless we’re alive to enjoy them. This not a political matter. This is a matter of health and common sense and common courtesy.
Historically,
CHUCK: This is a pic of one Charles James Hamman that his son, Jim (Hamman’s Bakery), loaned me last Wednesday. And it is “Chuck” the guy I knew many years later. This photo was taken in 1935 when he was about 12 years old. And as you can plainly see he was standing on the boardwalk along the river at the Helfrich restaurant (that eventually became McGarvey’s).
I believe that this snapshot is one of several others taken on this site at about the same time. I have those pix. But I did not, for some reason, have this one (until now).
Chuck was born in Lorain to Jesse Q. and Lola Helfrich-Hamman on October 3, 1923. Lola was (as should be obvious) the daughter of Charles and Gertrude Helfrich who, long ago, owned and operated the café behind him in this photograph. When Charles Helfrich died Chuck’s dad basically took over the operation to help his mother-in-law.
Chuck worked for the Crow Lumber Company for 33 years. I remember him walking to and from work every day from his home on Huron street. He likely had a car, but I never saw him driving. He married a girl, June, and had four children. Jim is now the only surviving member of his immediate family.
I remember Chuck as being a quiet person – very unassuming in his demeanor. What I didn’t know until now is that he was a Sergeant in the Army during WW2 and was the recipient of seven bronze stars.
That’s a long way from having been a smiling boy holding a fish on the dock of the Helfrich restaurant so, so very long ago.
HELD OVER: The video held over this week is quite long. You may want to get 2 boxes of popcorn before you start watching.
AND THAT’S HISTORY: I was in the process of cleaning off some shelves in the bindery room at the print shop museum last week when I came across a June 1918 copy of The National Geographic Magazine – Gilbert S. Grosvenor, Editor. The name “Bernice Jump” is written in ink at the top of the cover in my late mother’s handwriting. Bernice was the older sister of Wilmer Jump (VPJ 07/12/12). I’ve no idea about why or how the magazine found its way to the print shop to be lost on a shelf all these years. But I’m glad it was there.
In 1918 WWI was being waged in Europe. My Pa was then somewhere in France taking cover in some lice infested trench. In fact, the lead story in that volume was called “Cooties and Courage”. They were not the cooties of our childhood where one might "catch" them via close contact with an "infected" person or worse; from a person of the opposite sex of the same age. The “Cooties” in this case were actually another name for lice. And the bugs were so prevalent in the trenches of that war that the army actually had delousing machines (i.e. hot water tanks) mounted on the backs of trucks so the troops could get a hot bath and have their clothes washed in hot water to get rid of them. Hot water was the only practical way to get rid of the pests at the time. It must have been miserable. Just thinking about it makes a body itch.
There are four additional articles in the volume. All deal with the Great War. And just like today’s “Nat Geo” magazines there are many interesting full-page advertisements. One of them was for a beautiful automobile called the “Locomobile” – manufactured by the Locomobile Company of America (est.1899). The name was a combination of locomotive and automobile. That’s because when they were first built the autos were powered by steam. But by 1903 they began producing internal combustion-powered luxury touring cars. They were beautifully crafted autos. But they cost about $10,000 while the average Model T Ford Phaeton cost $300. The company did make some adjustments and started producing more affordable cars – but too late. The company folded in 1929.
Another ad that caught my eye is the one accompanying this essay for Beemans chewing gum. I had, by pure coincidence, come across some mention of the same Dr. Beeman, while traversing through the lush jungle of information in the October 25, 1906 edition of The Vermilion News that day. It simply read:
“Dr. E. Beeman, a famous chewing gum man of Cleveland, is a wreck mentally and physically and has been removed to a sanitarium. Dr. Beeman formerly resided at Wakeman and Birmingham.”
Edwin, E. Beeman was born in LaGrange, Ohio in March 1839, and he came of age in Lorain and Erie counties. After studying two years at Oberlin College he began reading medicine under the tutelage of his father, Julius. He attended the Cincinnati Medical College and was graduated in 1861. In 1862 he married Mary Orrilla Cobb, a daughter of Ahria Cobb who lived in a brick house on Main Street, in Birmingham, Ohio. He worked with his father in Cleveland until about 1864, when he went into private practice in Birmingham for 12 years. Afterward he practiced for 6 years in Wakeman. Specializing in digestive disorders, the doctor found that pepsin, an extract from hogs' stomachs, provided relief from indigestion. By 1883, Beeman had returned to Cleveland to manufacture pepsin starting the Beeman Chemical Co. in 1888. Originally, he sold bottles of powdered pepsin, which people took to aid in digestion. Then, in 1890 it is said the company bookkeeper, one Nellie M. Horton, suggested that the doctor add pepsin to chewing gum. It was a good suggestion. By 1898 company gum sales topped $400,000. That would be about $11 million today.
Originally the gum was sold in a wrapper with a picture of a pig on it along with the slogan, “With Pepsin You Can Eat Like A Pig”. But the gum sold a good deal better when that wrapper was replaced with a picture of Dr. Beeman on it. In 1899 the company was sold to the American Chicle Company. Regular production of the gum ceased in 1978 when sales dropped. But the Cadbury Company periodically produces the gum along with several other historic confections.
Less than a month after the little blip about his illness appeared in The News Dr. Edwin E. Beeman died. (November 6, 1906). He is interred in Cleveland’s Harvard Cemetery. But his invention – his chewing gum – lives on. At least it does on occasion. It was the gum enjoyed by prominent pilots of a yesteryear, such as Howard Hughes, Amelia Earhart and General Chuck Yeager to ease inner ear pain caused by air pressure. In several movies Beemans Gum also shows up as homage to the historic test pilot Yeager as well as the Mercury 7 astronaut gum chewers. In the movie “The Right Stuff” the person portraying Yeager turns to a fellow pilot and asks, “Hey Ridley. You got any Beemans?” He did. And that’s history.
- VPJ: 9/14/14; Rev. 06/21/20
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...
Auditors Diest and Prosecutor Hart were in Vermilion Tuesday evening and met with the village and Township officials in an endeavor to adjust the tax levy. To come within the law which requires the levy to be on the basis of the 1910 levy plus 6per cent it was necessary to cut on some of the funds. The Council finds that it will be necessary to be very economical for the next year. It had been the intention to make a substantial reduction in the indebtedness of the village represented by notes for money borrowed from the local banks for several years past but may not be able to do so. There are some $4000 in notes outstanding.
It seems that the law is rather inadequate in limiting the levy to the sum levied in 1910 plus 6 per cent as in an instance cited by the prosecutor where a certain school board, having sufficient funds in 1910 can now, under the law, make the same levy only, plus 6 per cent. Problem, 0 plus 6 per cent leaves what?
Milan and the several other villages of the county are in the same predicament as we are. In Milan several improvements are to be abandoned for the present.
A. R. Rumsey entertained at his summer home last Wednesday a large party of Lake carriers men and their wives. Among the guests were vice-president Shaedle and wife, Secy. Geo. Marr and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Collins of the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. Their host entertained them royally and in departing all wish him many years of happiness in his beautiful home.
Last week we spoke of the excellent strawberries grown by Mr. Sherwood, and of the food industry and opportunities for the development of fruit growing in this section of the state. To prove that we are right, Mr. Koppenhafer, the fruit man brought us in a quart of strawberries of the Chesapeake variety, we believe, which were so large that it took only 32 fill the box. These berries are especially fine for table use, we imagine that both gentlemen can command the highest market prices for their products. We believe in our home state, as a most wonderful fruit producer if her citizens use the care that others do in the so-called fruit states.
Mayor Wakefield and the village council of Vermilion spent several hours in Amherst Monday inspecting a sanitary sewer system.
Vermilion now has a number of storm water sewers discharging in the river and lake. Since the waterworks has been built many people have drained their sewage into the storm water sewers. The state Board of Health has notified the village to abate the new nuisance at once, thereby making it necessary to build sanitary sewers at once.
Vermilion officials were very favorably impressed with our system, especially the sewage disposal plan.
A similar plant could be built there for about half the money the Amherst plant cost on account of having plenty of sand and gravel close at hand. – Ex.
A collision between an eastbound local and westbound limited on the Lake Shore Electric occurred Tuesday afternoon, about 1:30 o’clock near the Soldiers Home, Sandusky. Edgar L. Brennan, motorman of Sandusky Limited stuck to his post was so badly injured that he died. Among the injured are: Miss Lillian Leibach, Huron, Mrs. Stevens and three children and Mrs. Conrad Boehm, Sandusky, Arthur Carey, Lorain. Several others were cut or bruised. Both vestibules were demolished.
C. A. Trinter, Vermilion real estate agent, through Henry Hart his attorney, has instituted a suit in the court of common pleas again at Catherine Goodsell, for $100. Trinter says in his petition that he paid the defendant this sum to bind a bargain for a Vermilion lot for Edwin A. Hill, but that she did not only refuse to sell, but also return the money.
Street gas lamps were first used in London in 1807.
Germany is about to experiment with the Naval aeroplane.
The earliest record of a marriage contract was in 310 B. C.
Call gas first was used as an illuminate just 100 years ago this month.
A whistle blown by air compressed by an electric motor has been patented by a Chicago man.
The condition of Conrad Siebert is now considered as being very grave.
The funeral of Elias Peabody was held on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock from his late home, Rev. Lindenmeyer officiated. The remains were interred in the Evergreen Cemetery.
The funeral of Mrs. Lavina Keiger, aged 63, was held on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. from St. Peter’s Evangelical church of which she was a member, Rev. Lindnmeyer officiated.
Miss Catherine Ruth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ruth was thrown from a motorcycle one day last week. When picked up she was unconscious and taken to the Oberlin hospital. Her right leg was broken in two places and she was otherwise seriously bruised.
David F. Nye, a prominent young attorney of Elyria, died suddenly Sunday of heart failure.
Hugh McGill, 19, of Elyria was struck by a baseball over the heart Saturday afternoon while playing with the Church of Christ team against the Baptists. A blood vessel was ruptured and death was almost instantaneous.
Vermilion has had more cases of typhoid fever this spring then at any one season in a number of years. An attempt is being made to locate the source. The state officials report the city water O. K. so it must be from some other source.
[NOTE: As village officials were talking about installing sanitary sewers because folks are dumping waste into the storm sewers the answer to that question should have been obvious.]
Miss Alta Weiss, the girl pitcher, will twirl for the Garford team in its game with the Lorain Independents at Elyria Sunday.
Mrs. Conrad Boehm of Sandusky who was injured in the L. S. E. wreck near the Soldiers Home on Tuesday afternoon is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G Nolte of Vermilion. She had several teeth knocked out and was badly bruised about the head and face. The family formerly lived at Ceylon.
A party of about 400 picnicked at the Olympic club grounds up the river Sunday.
The Vermilion River is becoming a famous fishing ground. Within the last week one Catfish weighing about 18 lbs. was caught at the piers and another, 15 pounder up the river, while a large number of “small fry” ranging from 3 to 10 pounds were landed.
Nick Mahler has been on the sick list for the past week.
It was reported in outside towns that a party of pleasure seekers were drowned off Vermilion Sunday. So far as we can ascertain it was a fake story.
While some of our Parkersburg, West Virginia, friends, Mrs. J. S. Lewis daughter and children were rowing on the river Monday they were greatly surprised and at first alarmed when an oar threw a fish onto the boat. It proved to be a Bill fish or Gar about 18 inches long. At first the ladies thought it was an eel or a snake.
Kenneth Mehnert fell from a tree while picking cherries on the Hughes place Saturday and broke his arm.
About the finest cherries ever brought to this office was brought here Saturday by Mr. Anna Grobe, who resides on the Ridge south of here. Cherries are good crop in this section and are commanding good prices.
A “bo” was picked up this morning and jailed. His condition is aptly described as “crazy” drunk.
The Village Parks are rapidly filling up with summer guests. Several good-sized picnics have been held during the past week.
The Southwest Fish Co. is the name of the new concern which has erected a new building on land recently leased of H.H. Patton, just above the road bridge and are now engaged in the fish business. Ed Lampe is one of the owners of the company and operates the gas boat, Chas. A. Trinter.
Mrs. Crosier of Huron St. is reported quite ill.
Mrs. D. L. Coen was able to return to her home Monday and is gaining slowly.
Mrs. Harry Trinter of Ohio St. is very ill and expects to enter Providence Hospital, Sandusky next week for another operation.
Vera Wittmer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Wittmer has been suffering for the past week from brain fever which is reported a slightly better.
Harry Wakefield is still very ill at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Wakefield on South Street. He is suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever.
Mrs. Mayme Dunn who has been very ill at her home on Douglas St., the past week is reported “not much better.” Her many friends will be sorry to learn of her illness.
VERMILION IN 1884:Vermilion was a jumping place - even back then.
Jacob Schmied, a son of Jacob A. and Catharine (Meyer) Schmied, settled here in 1838. He was born in Oberendingen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland, on June 8, 1820, and came with his parents to this country in 1829. They settled on a farm. Jacob came to Sandusky in 1838, where he worked as a cooper for many years in Post & Co.'s employ. He was married in 1857 to Margaretha Rivers, and ten children were born to them. He died in 1884. His widow now resides on Washington street.
Johann Caspar Ritter. The day-book of this unfortunate man is before me. It gives in twenty-four pages an accurate account of his trip across the ocean. It is dated April, 1837, and well preserved. I take the liberty to copy from it as follows:
(Translation) “My name is John Caspar Ritter, merchant. I left Burgsinn, Hessen, on April 3, 1837, with my wife, Wilhelmine Charlotte, a daughter of the game-keeper, Jungerman, of Mittelsinn, and our four children: Christiane Elizabeth, age nine years; Emilie Frederike Margarete, seven years; Wilhelm Heinrich, five years; Ernst Christoph. Three years. . . . . We reached Fulda the same night Rothenburg the next day, and Cassel on the fifth of April, 1837. . . . Weather-bound; the oldest inhabitants cannot recollect a storm of such severity. Snow, reaching up to the middle of the windows, and no living soul to be seen on the streets. . .. A damper, but we are determined to move on. and regret only the delay. Victuals cheap, especially beer, and it is excellent. The officers are very polite; everybody is addressed by ‘sie' (you.) In presenting my passport I was offered a chair, and repeatedly insisted upon to make use of it. . . . Goettingen, April, 10th snow five and six feet deep in the streets; regular tunnels are constructed at the crossings; it looks like a labyrinth. Nordheim, 11th, Einbeck, April 13th, and Bremen the 14th. Left Bremen May 1st on the sailboat " Isabella," Captain F. Meyer. . . . May 16, my wife Emilie, Wilhelm and Ernst are seasick, Christiane and myself are in good health and eat double rations. Ours are the only children on shipboard. . . . May 20, Emilie's birthday; I gave her a crown dollar as a keepsake. . . . Our board is excellent, and many wish the voyage to last a year. Arrived at New York June 12, where we boarded on John street, paying $12 per week for the family. My wife was confined on St. John's day, (June 24, 1837) in this place. The mid-wife, Caroline Collman, was skillful, and was educated in an institute in Wuerzburg. I paid her fifteen gulden for her services. We left New York July 6, and arrived at Buffalo July 14, reaching our destination, Huron, on the 16th, at 2 P. M. . . . . "
This is only a meagre abstract, but the original written in a bold hand testifies in numerous instances of the great kindness and love Ritter had for his family. Well educated, and in possession of means, he would, undoubtedly, …
CHILD'S ROCKING CHAIR: My sister, Ginny Wilkes and her husband Dave, have downsized, moving to a smaller living place. Over many years they, like many of us, have collected many things. This antique child's rocking chair is one of those things. They donated it to the museum and my wife, Georgi, made the seat cover for it. Ain't it a keeper?
Psychiatrist: I see you're over a month late for your appointment. Don't you know that nervous disorders require prompt and regular attention? What's your excuse?
Patient: I was just following your orders, Doc.
Psychiatrist: Following my orders? What are you talking about? I gave you no such order.
Patient: You told me to avoid nuts who irritate me.
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. 18. Issue 17 - June 27, 2020
Archive Issue #902
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