Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: Well, both desktop pix this week show the midtown / downtown portion of Vermilion as I knew them. On the shoptop the road is obviously being resurfaced. But other than that, everything appears is as I remember.
This pic was probably taken early in the 1950s. The auto pictured appears to have been from the late 1940s. I’m not sure of the make. Furgason’s popcorn stand is in the pic – along with Hart’s, Rathbun’s and (I think) Tony’s Shoe Store. And I see the booth that Chief Ed Benson used as a HQ behind the popcorn stand too.
It’s not a “pretty” picture, but there are many memories therein.
On my home desk is what is essentially a “terrible” snapshot of some of the southeast part of the Fischer building, etc. This pic is c.1960.
In it I can just make out Jack McKeown’s (realtor) sign and a Zenith sign at Erie Electronics just along the block of the Fischer building. I’m thinking that “Doc” Jeffery’s market and Ann’s Lunch were somewhere in between them.
The VPD was, by then, using the Comfort Station as their HQ – having moved up from the booth on the corner. I also note the telephone booth in the park. I would have totally forgotten about that booth until I saw this pic.
I seriously doubt that many younger persons today will know – much less understand – what a phone booth was about. Again, I’d almost forgotten myself.
I wish this has been a better photo.
AND THE OTHER FOOT DONE DID FALL: Thus far 2021 is beginning to turn out somewhat worse than the end of 2020. Setting aside the outrageous conduct of persons who mistakenly believe they have a right to violently overthrow our government; and setting aside (but only slightly and momentarily) the dire seriousness of the pandemic; the museum boiler quit again and so did our refrigerator at home. I don’t know what else can go wrong. But I’d rather not find out – at least not until next summer – or maybe next year - or never. (In the meantime, I’ll check the loose change jar.)
But seriously; I long ago realized that most things in life are beyond my immediate control. So as much as I find these things to be extremely distressing, I also know that stewing about them won’t change anything.
Ergo, I’ll just move on down the road putting one foot in front of the other, and if there is anything I can do to remedy the situation – I will. C’est la vie amigas and amigos – C’est la vie.
CONTINUING WORDS OF APPRECIATION: I really need to thank those kind and very generous persons who have contributed to our cause. While I do keep working everyday at the museum (the radio people on "Folk Alley" keeping me company) I do miss the old days - when the sign on the door read "OPEN" and it was warm inside. We are in hopes that by early spring that will happen. In the meantime visit this page, the Theatre Page and my personal Facebook page for updates - historic and otherwise. Have a Happy, and Safe New Year. And please stay well. We look forward to seeing each of you very soon.
Historically,
PHIL’S GRANDSONS: I received the pic on my cell phone from which this photo-painting is based earlier this week. These are my brother Phil’s grandsons Will (William Basil II) and Jack Tarrant. I don’t know where this pic was taken or who might have taken it. (At that I can only guess.) But I liked it, so I made it into the pic you see here.
Will (on the right) is an attorney – as is his wife. The last I knew Jack was in college. At one point in time, he was looking at joining the FBI as a numbers guy. But he, too, might be headed into law like his brother.
Both are serious kids. [NOTE:I refer to them as kids because I’m an old man.] I hope that they will stay out of politics. I maintain that the world has enough attorneys in hopes that they’d hear me and perhaps join a circus or run a carnival ride somewhere rather than ever consider a life in public service. But I doubt that they give a damn about what I think.
Their Grandpa would be proud of them. (And I can hear him joyfully go “Hah!” from wherever he is in eternity.) God Bless 'em.
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've not added anything for a time. But there's a good deal there to enjoy. Take a peek.
H.H. BERK & SON: VERMLION FLOUR AND GRAIN CO.: In April of 2005 (VPJ 4/28/05) I wrote a story about the Birmingham Mill. Shortly thereafter I turned my attention back to what was once the tiny hamlet of Vermilion and to the Vermilion Flour and Grain Company (Mill) that in a yesteryear occupied the southern end of Exchange Street. Ironically (or not’’) both mills were completely extirpated by fire in the early years of the 20th century. The beautiful Birmingham mill was lost in 1906. Vermilion’s Mill survived it by another decade.
Built in 1898 by D. & A.T. Christman it was one of the town’s foremost industries. This was, in part, because it was one of the only plants of its kind in the immediate vicinity. In 1910 Henry H. Berk (b.1850) purchased the business (about the same year shown in the photo), and went about making needed repairs, built some additions, and installed up to date equipment. This gave them an ability to produce some of the best grain-based products in the region.
The same year Berk bought the mill he hired a gentleman by the name of W.B. Houseman to manage the business. According to an early advertisement that appeared in The Vermilion News during those years they offered consumers, “high grade Flour, Graham, Buckwheat and Pancake Flour, Bolted Corn Meal, Feed and Grain” , and they “ground on Tuesdays and Fridays - unless otherwise notified ”. (Mr. Houseman was, by the way, one of my great uncles. His first name was Worley. But I called him “Uncle Whirly” – it was more fun.) But back to the mill:
At 3:30 am on Tuesday the eighth of August 1916 State Street residents, Mabel E. Halloran (1882-1971) and John Walper (b. 1859 & PJ: 4-7-05), discovered the mill ablaze. Both alerted local fire-fighters.
All efforts to save the building were futile. No sooner had the firemen thought the fire well under control in one place than it would break out again in another, and then another. This continued through the night. And in the early morning light, when P. Roscoe (my grandfather) arrived with his trusty camera, it burned still.
When it was all over damages were estimated to be at least 20 thousand dollars. Aside from the total loss of the building and all the machinery within some 1000 bushels of oats, four to six thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred bushels of corn, and substantial amounts of flour and livestock feed were destroyed. Two train car loads of grain had been saved when a passing Nickle Plate locomotive noted the blaze and transported them away from the flames - one was already burning.
The cause of this spectacular conflagration, which was apparently visible to residents living miles from town was, and remains, a matter of some speculation. Some folks were of the opinion that ancillary lightening from an intense midnight rain storm may have sparked the blaze. Others guessed that spontaneous combustion might have taken place due to the hot and humid weather conditions they had experienced that Monday evening. But most everyone agreed, and were certain, that were it not for the drenching rain of the aforementioned storm the fire might have spread to the homes nearest the mill.
There was also some speculation as to whether or not the mill would be rebuilt after the fire. Nearly one century later we need wonder no longer. The mill was rebuilt, and it had both a lucrative and illustrious career as a business concern in our town until somewhere in the middle of the 20th century. In fact, if I knew nothing of this fire I would sincerely depone that the mill in this 1910 picture is the very same mill I remember visiting as a boy in the 1950’s. But today it is long gone and nearly forgotten - and Vermilion’s very pleasant Mill Manor nursing facility occupies the site.
Ref: The Vermilion News; 8-10-1916; Ancestry.com; U.S. Census 1920; VPJ; 05/01/2005; Rev. 01/10/2021; ©2021 RNT.
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 Board of Education of Vermilion village held its regular meeting, paid bills and adjourned, Monday night. The board was then called order by clerk Trinter and reorganized as is the custom.
A. E. Beeckel was reelected president, Mrs. F. V. Pelton, vice-president and C. A. Trinter, clerk.
After talking over matters pertaining to the schools the meeting adjourned.
One feature of this meeting was a surprise and that was that there was sufficient money to pay the bills. For several years past the board has found it necessary to borrow money at their January meeting. This year this is found unnecessary.
Nearly everyone has a hobby. We don’t know how many in Vermilion have hobbies, but M. S. Stevenson, has a hobby for collecting guns. He has kept at it for a number of years and now is the possessor of quite a collection from small pistols up to the high-power modern gun. Many of the guns in this collection are queer looking and all bear evidence of service. You will see the old time long heavy rifle and a light fowling piece. All these have been artistically arranged at Stevenson’s barbershop. Revolvers and pistols are in one collection in a frame and the other guns are fastened to the rear wall. They make a fitting decoration for a gun club headquarters. A collection of other curios is being made and will be placed on exhibition.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Allsop, a son, Thursday, Jan. 9, 1913.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Ennis, a son, Sunday, Jan/ 12, 1913.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Trunits, a daughter, Sunday, Jan. 12, ‘13.
C. H. Miller has received three gray squirrels that were caught in the Holmes County mountains and tamed at Smithville, O.
In operation was performed on the hand of John Raezler, Sr., on Thursday with hopes of saving the arm from amputation.
Jno. Gresovitz a quarry worker was killed Saturday morning. He was at the top of the quarry and fell to the bottom a distance of 180 feet. He was 45 years of age.
Dr. W. A. Purcell of Doylestown O. will move his family to Amherst in the near future, he having purchased the business of Dr. B. A. Purcell.
The funeral of the 3 mos. old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kalando was held Thursday morning from the Polish Catholic Church at Lorain and remains interred in the cavalry Cemetery.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Burton Parsons, a son, Jan. 13, 1913.
The Lake Shore Electric is preparing to put in a double track in Fremont on State Street and make repairs to the street which is been in controversy for some time.
777.
Claims to the amount of Ten Million Dollars have been filed against the owners of the “Titanic.”
Mr. Charlie Mahler on the farm is very sick.
Caselton Roscoe is among those on the sick list this week. He is suffering from the effects of a severe cold.
[NOTE: This was my g-grandfather.]
J. Hornig of Vermilion underwent an operation at Ingleside Hospital, Canton, O., Last Thursday. He is reported as getting along nicely.
John A. Englebry who has been quite ill at his home on Liberty Street, is reported on the road to recovery. He sat up a short time Wednesday for the first time.
Mrs. C. A. Heidloff and children who have been spending some time past in Cleveland returned home Monday. Mrs. Heidloff is somewhat improved, and health and it is hoped that she will now gain more rapidly.
The prospects for a supply of ice at this port this winter are not at present very bright. Some of our fish companies have a small supply on hand. It may become necessary to have the supplies shipped in.
The gas boat, C. A. Trinter came in from Erie Pa., Sunday. A two-day trip was made. The boat laying off at Fairport during a heavy snowstorm one night. The boat was somewhat iced up but came through in good condition.
Mssrs. Cort Simons, Clarence Stevenson, and Misses Bertha Hart and Myrta Moore formed a theater party at Cleveland Friday evening. [NOTE: In time Cort married Myrta. I remember both.]
Catherine Elizabeth Wittig, nee Gaermroth, was born July 18, 1828, in Rockensies, Hessia. Came to America and settled in Vermilion, Ohio, in 1850; was married the following year, 1853, to Conrad Wittig, with whom she lived 15 years in the state of holy wedlock, when her husband died in August 1868; to this union five children were born, of whom three preceded her in death. For 44 years Mrs. Wittig lived as a widow, loved and respected by all that knew her. She was one of the charter members of the Reformed Congregation in Vermilion, and as long as she was in good health was faithful and very regular in her attendance of all church services.
In the feebleness of old age, she found every attention, comfort and care in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emma Leidheiser.
Having attained the age of 84 years, 5 months and 18 days she was called to her eternal home in Heaven on the 7th of January, 1913. She leaves the following to mourn her demise one daughter, Mrs. Emma Leidheiser, one son, Charles Wittig; one sister, Mrs. Tischer; fifteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren.
The funeral services were held Sunday, January 12, and were attended by many of her relatives and friends. Interment took place on the in the family burial lot in Maple Grove Cemetery.
The following out-of-town people attended the funeral: Mrs. Gaermroth, Elmore; Mrs. Reiber, Mr. Rahe and son Henry Henry, Mrs. Dr. Rodgers, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. William Ries, Mr. William Hyde and family, Mr. Adam Heidloff and family, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Heidloff, Mr. Thaler, Mrs. Fish and Mr. Chas. Wittig of Cleveland; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Smith of Elyria; Mr. Dute of Birmingham; Mrs. Myers and daughters of Lorain; Mrs. K. Knittle and Mrs. M Knoch of Solon, Mrs. Bipper of Oberlin; Mr. and Mrs. J. Nuhn of Shinrock; Mr. and Mrs. George Schaub and Mrs. F. Knittle of Berlin Heights.
Miss Della M. Prince is again up on the sick list.
Robt. Vedder is suffering from a severe attack of quinsy.
Walter Murphy, grandson of Mrs. Huttenlocker was very seriously burned last Friday as a result of a gasoline engine explosion.
The Birmingham people extend their sympathy to the Delafield family for the death of their father Mr. Anthony Delafield.
Mrs. Ella Andress, of Berlin Hts., who has been keeping house for her son, Chas. K. Clary for the past few months, fell last Friday breaking both bones in her ankle.
George Knott had the misfortune to fall off a ladder in his barn and is not able to be up around.
We were sorry to learn of the accident befalling Mrs. Ella Andress in the breaking of two bones in her limb near the ankle. Mrs. Andress was at the home of her son Chas. south of Birmingham to which she had gone to spend the winter in the absence of his wife who was spending the winter with her people in California.
The boys are quite proud of their new scout suits. They surely do present an attractive appearance. We celebrated their reception by marching in a body to the picture theater last Wednesday night.
CHARLES: This obit announces the death of one of my favorite Vermilion personalities. He was among the most intelligent persons I've ever encountered in my life. I still remember his baritone voice loudly opining, "Women! They aught to take 'em all out in the street an' Shoot 'em."
Charlie was a Ladies' Man. But it seemed that after a time, his Ladies' did not concur. But, my-o-my he was otherwise such a great guy.
ERIE county has never achieved a standing of any special importance in the political history of the nation or of the State of Ohio; but to the county itself its political history has been as important as that of any county in the State to itself In the year 1838, at the time the county by Legislative enactment was created, there existed but two recognized political parties, the Whig and the Democratic; but there did exist at that time a strong anti-slavery feeling in the hearts of a few, and but a few men, whose chosen, fearless and out-spoken champion was Francis D. Parish, who had then had a residence in Sandusky of some sixteen years. At the time of which we speak the cause of the Democracy was championed by Colonel Hanies, at one time collector of the port; William H. Hunter, at one time member of Congress; William B. Smith, Horace Alpin, II. W. Conklin, Zenas W. Barker, John S. Campbell, and others, who, though less active, were none the less zealous in their labors. The Whig principles were advocated by Elentheros Cooke, Oran Follett, Colonel John N. Sloane, Colonel Abner Root, William Townsend, Joseph M. Root, John Weeden, John Wheeler, Philip R. Hopkins, Judge Caldwell, Judge Farwell, Major Camp, David Campbell, and perhaps others equally prominent whose names cannot now be recalled.
The political complexion of the county at that time was Democratic, and nearly, if not quite all, of the first officers were of that party. Horace Alpin was recorder, H.W. Conklin was auditor, William B. Smith was treasurer, Zenas W. Barker was clerk of the courts, Harvey Long was sheriff, and John S. Campbell was prosecuting attorney, and each was elected on the Democratic ticket. At the next election, however, there seems to have been a decided change in affairs, brought about in part by the increase in the Whig ranks, and in part by the fact that General Harrison was upon the ticket as a candidate for the presidency, and his personal popularity rallied to his support the entire Whig strength and drew largely from the opposition party. In that year the Whigs elected C. B. Squires for recorder, William Neill for auditor, Zalumna Phillips for sheriff, and Francis D. Parish for prosecuting attorney. Mr. Parish affiliated somewhat with the Whigs, that party coming nearer to his principles than any other.
But during the first ten years of the county's political history the majority for the successful party, which ever it may have been, was very slight and liable easily to be overthrown by the unpopularity of a nominee. General Harrison, as is well known, died soon after entering upon the discharge of his duties as president and John Tyler succeeded him. His administration was…
ONE VIEW: I look at this as though it is like peeking through a window into the museum into to one of the rooms therein. I guess, in an abstract sort of way, that is exactly what it is.
In truth, I just liked the way it looked in the dim light and shot the photo. There surely is lots to see though.
A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the back seat. The two women just won't leave the poor man alone. His mother-in-law says, "You're driving too fast!" His wife says, "Stay to the right!"
After several more orders from both of them the man breaks down and barks at his wife, "Who's driving this car, anyway, you or your mother?"
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.
DAVE’S NEW BOOK: Views readers might remember Dave Schwensen’s humor column, “Something To Laugh About” that ran in the Vermilion Photojournal, Sandusky Register and others. Dave has chosen 144 of the columns that he still thinks “are funny” and compiled them into his new book of the same name. It’s available through Amazon.com and other online sellers in paperback and eBook. If you’re interested in a signed copy click on Dave’s email @ DAVE.
To purchase the book on Amazon click here: SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT
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 45 - January 16, 2021
Archive Issue #930
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© 2017 Rich Tarrant