Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: DEAR OLD GOLDEN RULE DAYS...A facsimile of this (old) photograph has been in circulation in the Vermilion area for years. The photo was among several given me for the Vermilion Area Archival Society archives by Vermilionite Rita (Ratcliff) Mayer. While it’s not - technically speaking - a particularly attractive portrait it is - historically speaking - a significant one. Significant because (1.) The schoolhouse is still standing; (2.) because one of the individuals in the photo took the time to write down the names of all the persons in it; and (3.) because that person also provided the date the shadows were captured. This is a great find. For an amateur historian such as myself this is akin to discovering gold in my backyard.
Currently the old one-room school is a private residence. For a good number of years it was the tidy Tony Buersken (PJ 10-02-08) home. It is located on the sharp curve on the most southern end of West River Road - just south of town. Aside from some very subtle alterations the exterior of the schoolhouse appears very much the same today (2010) as it did when the portrait accompanying this essay was taken.
The photograph was taken in 1906. The teacher’s name (behind the children) is Miss Babcock. And the children (from L-R) are Dorothy Aston, Helen Risden, Bertha Hull, Ruth Kneisel, Edith Poyer, Anna Mayer, Floyd Hull, John Mayer, and Roy Sherwood.
The person who so conscientiously provided this information later in life was Edith Poyer (5th from the left). Edith Rae Poyer was born in 1900. She was the eldest of the three children born to Dwight and Frederica Poyer. In 1927 she married a Brownhelm / Rugby fruit-farmer named Ralph W. Niggle. Eventually the couple retired to Scottsdale Arizona where Edith died in 1976. Ralph followed in September of 1982.
But moving on: In addition to the names she also wrote that Helen Risden and Roy Sherwood were brother and sister who were adopted by two local families. Records show that their natural parents were Austrian, but no record of their last name was available (to this writer).
Helen / Hellen, born in Ohio in 1898, was the adopted “granddaughter” of a Brownhelm township couple - George and May Risden. The reason she is called an adopted “granddaughter in official records is both unusual and unknown. Her brother Roy, born in Pennsylvania in 1894, was the adopted “son” of another Brownhelm couple - Charles E. and Ellen Sherwood.
There were, in this group, two other brother and sister sets: Bertha and Floyd Hull and Anna and John Mayer. The Hulls were children of John and Anna Hull born in 1892 and 1899 respectively. The Mayer youngsters were the children of Joseph E. and Anna M. Mayer. Anna was born in 1898, and her brother in 1900. Both families still have a plethora of descendants in the Vermilion area. Floyd Hull, for instance, is the father of Vermilion’s darling Lucile Clark; and grandfather of Vermilion attorney / businessman Jon Clark. And the prominence of the Mayer family in the development of the place we know as Vermilion , O. is well known.
The smallest cherub, Ruth Kneisel, was the eldest child of William and Christina Kneisel. She was born about 1900. Her father was a master carpenter who built many a home in the area. Information about Dorothy Aston - the blurry figure on the far left of the group - is proven to be as obscure as her visage in this photograph.
Also included with the photo is a hand-written note which reads “West River Road One Room School ‘1837’”. [All the other information was, incidentally, typewritten.] If this is, indeed, true it means that even in the yesteryear - 104 years ago - when this photograph was made the West River Road school was olden. Or perhaps better said it was, and remains, “Golden”.
-Ref: U.S. Census data, 1900, 1910, 1920; Special Thanks to Rita Mayer and to the late Edith Rae Poyer-Niggle; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 7/29/10; Written 7/25/10 @11:23 AM; November 27, 2010 8:22 AM.
DISTRICT SCHOOL #4:When South Street School opened it�s doors in the 1927-28 School year the rural schools - the one-room school houses in Vermilion�s hinterlands - were forever closed; and Vermilion�s education system officially entered the 20th century. Initially the new, state of the art, building only had room for the upper six grades. The lower grades occupied the rooms at the old State Street School. But by 1939 an additional wing on the new building made possible for all youngsters in the district to (again) attend one school; albeit a far cry from their pastoral antecedents. And call it what one may - an upgrade, enhancement, improvement, or even a necessity - there were, undoubtedly, a few students who would not have applied any of those terms to the change they experienced. As American writer Ellen Glasgow so aptly observed; �All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward�. Nevertheless the change did come.
The bucolic setting in the photograph accompanying this essay was District School #4 on the corner of Joppa and Darrow Roads just a few miles to the south and east of the Village of Vermilion. The approximate year of the photo is 1920. It was the same year that the Treaty of Versailles ending the first World War - �the war to end all wars� - was ratified; Jim Thorpe had been named the president of the American Professional Football League; the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed granting women the right to vote; and an Ohio boy - Warren Harding - was elected in a landslide to become the 29th U.S. President. At the time Ohio was also very near the geographic center of the United States - population-wise. Ergo; this photograph is, very literally, a vintage portrait of �middle American� school children of that era.
And thanks to the thoughtful individual who owned this copy of the photo most of the persons in it have been positively identified. Photographed by J.R. Leiter, 37 W. College St., Oberlin, O. they are:
1st Row L-R: Ivan Myers, Earl / Ernie Fichtel, Louie Kovacs, Fred Fichtel, Milton Sanders, Myron Shoop, Henry Fichtel, and Wesley Myers.2nd Row L-R: James Sanders, Frank Wlodarsky, Ora Crum, Edith Crum, Stella Wlodarsky, Ruth Baker, Catherine Sanders, and Claudia Hauff .
3rd Row L-R: Teacher (Miss K.?), Catherine Fichtel, and Louise Baker.
The detail in the photograph is to be appreciated. These youngsters walked to school and shoes were apparently optional. That the group knew their picture would be taken on this day is very likely. For some of the boys wore neckties for the occasion, and two of them are sporting lilac boutonnieres. Two of the younger boys (Henry Fichtel and Wesley Myers right front) are wearing faux civil war era military uniforms. One (Fichtel�s) even has a calvary insignia on the collar. The young ladies are all dressed quite nicely with ribbons in their hair. (All of them are wearing shoes.) The schoolhouse (I am told) still exists, and is currently used as a private residence.
Many of the names of those photographed are well known about the area. The Wlodarsky family was from Poland. The Fichtels were of German origin. Some like Kovacs were Hungarian. Their precise reasons for settling in this particular area are not known. Whether it reminded them of their homelands, or whether they just arbitrarily settled where family / friends from their homelands settled is also an unknown. But the positive impact of their presence in the community is well known by many. Perhaps that impact had something to do with what they were taught in this one-room school on Joppa Road in that yesteryear - before a tide called progress came along and swept them away. But perhaps not.
-Ref: U.S. Census 1920; Special Thanks To: Norris Latteman, Ruth Tanner and Rosemary Kovacs; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 4/29/10; n 4/25/10 @ 10:49 AM.
STILL DISTRACTED:I remain distracted this week - learning the ins-and-outs of video production and green-screens. Nonetheless I opened the museum on Thursday and have had several visitors. I guess I can do two things at the same time - and enjoy it.
Historically,
ENCORE FOR MIRANDA LEE: This was one of two pix I took of Jen and Kevin Smith’s youngest daughter, Miranda, a long time ago. I used a companion pic here a few months back but would have used this one had I been able to find it. Miranda is standing in what used to be the church office at the UCC Congregational church. Her mom was then the secretary. I liked Miranda’s smile. Would you believe she is now 23 years old? (I can’t.) Her mom always called her “Mandawee”. It was a name that certainly fit.
AT THE THEATRE: There are over 30 videos / audios available at the theatre. I'm adding to the collection as the months pass. During the Covid (or anytime) - it's a good place to visit. I will be adding more this week. During this virus thing I've been learning a good deal about video productions.
I continue to add videos - they keep on coming. Keep watching.
AND I THOUGHT THINGS WOULD NEVER CHANGE: When I was young, I thought Vermilion a dull place. Nothing ever changed. The days dragged by. I remember holidays when one could have very literally shot a cannon down the middle of Liberty Street without hurting a soul. I really don’t know what, exactly, I was expecting. But it wasn’t that. Anyway, I didn’t own a cannon. I suppose that perceived dullness is the reason I found school as (at least sometimes) so appealing. I wanted change. I was way too young and historically illiterate to know how much things in Vermilion had, in fact, changed over the years.
The photo atop the A&P Food Store picture in the accompanying composition is the Lake House Hotel (c.1898) when it occupied the southeast corner of Liberty and Division / Main streets. It is, by the way, one of the oldest photographs of the hotel that I’ve yet seen.
When it was taken the main entrance was on Division / Main Street. It was later moved down the hill to Exchange Street, where only a reasonable facsimile of it sits today (2020). The north side of the hotel became the main entrance after the Fischer building was built in 1915. From all the bicycles parked outside the place and all the folks sitting in the shade of the trees in front it was undoubtedly a very popular place.
The Fischer Building (below), was as said constructed in 1915, on the corner of Liberty and Division (now Main) streets. It was and remains a substantial structure. One of the very unusual features of the building (among many) is that it is built on, a hill. It is rather unlikely that many contemporary construction firms would build a heavy duty building on such an incline. The ground would had to have been leveled, and in the leveling the hotel would also have been leveled. And I mean that literally. Late Vermilion historian Don Englebry wrote that when the hotel was moved down the hill that (believe it or not) none of the plaster in the building cracked. When it was first built by his father George, Elton Fischer and a friend, Albert (Waddy) Stone, co-owned a new Buick Agency on the lower floor. That didn't last too long, and the building was split into several different business spaces.
As is obvious the A&P Market later occupied the largest portion of the building on the southwest front of the structure. Some of the other stores in the building that I recall were Ann's Lunch, Ed Meese Realty, Sidney “Ding” and Keith “Doc” Jeffrey's Park Market, Wilmer Jump's (now the Encore Shoppe) Variety Store, and the Vermilion Post Office.
Upstairs housed a variety of things over the years. The part I remember best was the main part where the Vermilion Court was once located. But way before my time it had been a roller-rink. The floors are beautiful hard wood. I attended Kindergarten in the room. Ginny Haine-Osberg was the director and have a plethora of memories of it. One day (in the early 1950's) when the Leidheiser fish house burned to the ground along the river I watched with wide, wide eyes from an upstairs window of the building. It was the beginning of the end of one era in Vermilion history. (And I thought things would never change.)
Just a block away – on the southeast corner of Liberty and Grand streets once sat a beautiful Methodist-Episcopal church. The steeple of the church was not just a figurative “landmark”. It was a fact. Persons familiar with many historical photographs / postcards of Vermilion village as it appeared in the yesteryear, whether it be by land or sea, people knew it.
As I wrote of the church before (VPJ 10/27/16): “Without knowing the precise date the church was founded and built I believe it is safe to say that it was a well-established institution in the town before the turn of the 20th century. Many of Vermilion’s best-known citizens attended, were married and buried by its pastors. As time passed the church grew and the building just to the east of it (seen in the lower picture as the Butler Restaurant) was used for dinners and recreational purposes. I suppose that adjoining building was akin to what most churches now call their Fellowship Hall”.
“By 1926, however, the numbers of the congregation had significantly decreased, and a proposal was made for them to merge with Vermilion’s First Congregational Church. Thus, with the approval of state officials regarding such matters, the Vermilion Congregational and Methodist-Episcopal Churches voted to unite. That was in 1927. They united under a Congregational policy adding 118 members to that church.” That was about 90% of their congregation. At that time the Congregational church minister, Rev. Earl T. English, was a Methodist minister. Those who did not transfer to the Congregational church opted to join Vermilion’s Evangelical & Reformed church. This made some sense because some services at the M.E. church had been conducted in German.
Eventually the empty building was leased to Ben Taylor a local plumber. Then, in what late Vermilion historian Betty Trinter once described as a “spectacular nighttime fire”, the church building with the landmark steeple that once so proudly cast its long shadow across the townscape of the lively Village of Vermilion Ohio was destroyed.
A short time later the Standard Oil Company of Ohio purchased the lot and built a service station on it (lower photo). Many current Vermilionites, of a certain age, likely remember the site as “Fulper’s Corner”. Currently the entire area has been cleared making way for yet another story, for another day and another young person yearning for change. Change that never comes soon enough.
- rnt - Sunday, September 27, 2020
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...
J. E. Seeley, of Berlin Heights former infirmary director of Huron County, has been sued for divorce by Sarah L. Seeley, of Wakeman. Extreme cruelty and gross neglect of duty are charged and that the defendant violated his marital vows.
The Seeley’s were married at East Townsend May 14, 1890 and have two children now living, Edna M. Seeley, age 20, Ethel L. Seeley, age 16.
In addition to divorce Mrs. Seeley asked for the custody of the of the minor child and alimony and the property of the defendant which she says is valued at about $10,000, which, she avers, was accumulated by the efforts of both the plaintiff and defendant. Seeley recently resigned as infirmary director when he left Wakeman and located in Berlin Heights.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Streicher, son, Thursday, Sept. 26, ‘12.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. G. Hauff a son, Monday, Sept. 30, ‘12.
The tug Fred Driscoll of Driscoll of the Kishman fleet and the Ames of the Driscoll fleet, arrived from down the lake Wednesday.
Capt. Moody spending several days at home. His boat met with an accident while going up Black River, which necessitates a trip to drydock.
Lieut. D. A. Henkes of the 16th infantry U.S. Army, wife and daughter Frances, are visiting at the home of A. A. Kishman and family. Mr. Henkes recently returned from Fort Seward, Alaska, where he has been stationed in the past four years. He is a brother of the late Mrs. A. A. Kishman.
Miss Martha Bulger is on the sick list this week.
The people of Vermilion were shocked Wednesday morning to hear of the death of C. C. Anderson, in an automobile accident on Tuesday night, when this machine turned turtle near Fostoria, his home, and crushed his life out. Mr. Anderson had many friends here. He was what is called a self-made man and greatly loved by the people of his hometown as well as met his many friends all over the country. The veterans also were his friends and appreciated his efforts in their behalf. He was one of the most active members of the House and would have probably been reelected this fall.
His funeral will be held at his late home in Fostoria Friday at 11 A. M. Interment at Fremont.
Burglars entered the store of Waugh & Gilch Monday evening and liberally help themselves. A report is that 15 pairs of shoes, $30 worth of silk thread, candy, cigarettes and tobacco were taken. They entered the store through a back window, having pried open the blind with of Clate Stephenson, north of the river. Sheriff Bevins of Elyria arrived with two bloodhounds about 9:30 Tuesday morning and attempted to track the thief or thieves but failed.
Wm. Newberry has just been having his silo filled.
It is reported that Chas. Baldwin of this place has purchased a new engine and grater with which he expects to open up a cider mill on his farm this fall. Plans are also being laid for the erection of a new office building. Mr. Baldwin will be glad to see all of his old customers again.
Mrs. Milton Fraze is in Sandusky with her uncle who is in a very critical condition.
Roy E. Cole formerly of Birmingham has undergone an operation St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lorain.
Miss Julia M. Carmen was absent from her duties as teacher, one day last week on account of illness.
Luman Hitsman was at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Lorain, has been doing nicely since his limb was amputated.
The Birmingham people extend their sympathy to E. J. Darby on his ill luck, having lost almost his entire flock of sheep which consisted of over 100, through the carelessness of someone, unknown to us, who gave the sheep sugar of lead in place of salt. It is thought to be an accident.
Miss Harriet Ives, assistant principal in the public schools still on the sick list and is unable to teach.
Chas. Van Thorne is been on the sick list since last week, but is some better now.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sarr, a daughter, Saturday, Sept. 28, 1912.
A. M. Baille whose arm was so severely wrenched by being caught in a shaft of the machinery at the stone quarry last week is improving nicely. It was discovered that the arm was not only twisted but that the shoulder bone was also fractured.
ROSCOE'S DAUGHTER'S OBIT:Last week I had my grandfather's obituary here. During the week I came across one for his daughter - my mom. Only the good die young.
…boom. After many a fierce battle laws were passed by a Democratic body to enable a settler to pay for his land almost with the yield of the first year's harvest. These liberal concessions were opposed by Clay, as leader of the Whig party.
If we furthermore consider, that at that time the amalgamation of the National Republican and the Whig party took effect, and that in the new-born party the first nativistic doctrines came to the surface, it is not surprising at all that the German element en masse cast their lot with the Democratic party. To bring about a more effective and uniform action, German societies of various natures were organized in every town in Ohio, wherever they had any representation to speak of The German element became a potent factor in political life, but it would have been impossible to perpetuate and preserve for any length of time harmonious action, had not circumstances of a specific nature come to its relief The Germans were at all times considered unruly by the leaders of political parties as a nation not easily harnessed or controlled by an autocratic wish or will. Even the far-seeing Franklin laments that the Germans will outnumber the inborn element in a little while, and that the political power will pass into their hands. In this respect though Franklin's fears were ungrounded, the inborn jealousy of the different German nationalities, not to speak of the difference of opinion in religious matters, excluded such presumptions plainly. It cannot be denied that the Germans tipped the scales more than once in national elections. At the least provocation, if ever they mistrusted that customs and ways of their own were endangered, they made a solid front; in all other respects they were reliable, consistent and loyal. They never were wax in the hands of party rulers, and the most eloquent appeals of politicians would never have persuaded them to follow blindly their dictations had personal or principal interest combined not made a stronger appeal. The nativistic movement of 1836 and 1838 strengthened the knees of those that had become stragglers and drove them into the flock for mutual safety and protection. The power and strength of the German element was well known even in those days to the inborn American. An editorial extract from the American, published in New Orleans in 1838, may find a place here:
"Ohio is ruled by ignorant Germans who have inundated sections of this glorious State. The votes are cast, and the results are known as endangering our government and the welfare of all concerned; This trouble will not end unless the privilege of voting is restricted."
As far as the ignorance of the Germans — God bless them — and the endangering of the government and general welfare are concerned, the editor was a poor prophet, but he came nearer to the mark in predicting laws aimed against the Germans to make use of the royal privilege as voters. The ghost of nativism was banished for another decade, the liberal party gained a victory in 1844 and the German element was instrumental in bringing it about.
A HUNDRED YEARS ON A TABLE: There is likely 100 years of history laying on this table. 100 years of photographs; 100 years of information on discs inside the carrying case - and a magnifying glass to see it all. This is my temporary history work table...
"The Jewish people have observed their 5761st year as a people." the Hebrew teacher informed his class.
"Consider that the Chinese have observed only their 4695th. What does this mean to you?"
After a reflective pause, one student volunteered, "Well for one thing, the Jews had to do without Chinese food for 1066 years.
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 31 - October 3, 2020
Archive Issue #916
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