THE DAY VERMILION STOOD STILL: It was the month of March, 1954. It was one of those very very unseasonably warm days when pseudo-summer came to visit. The wind was warm and so strong we put on our old roller-skates and went to the basketball/tennis courts behind South Street School, held our jackets out to the sides, and let the wind blow across the blacktop like magic. That night everything changed.
It snowed, snowed, and snowed some more. From our home near the NYC railroad tracks on Perry Street we watched as the electricity danced along the power lines on the poles along the tracks. The electricy went off. Because we had gas heat we were in the dark - but warm. The snow was heavy and deep. The trains were unable to run. And as you can see all the traffic on Route 6&2 also came to a halt. The town ran out of bread.
Through a 10 year old boy's eyes all this was just fine. It was so strange to see the world just stop - if only for just a little while.
I don't know who, exactly, was responsible for this particular photo, but surmise that it was either Dick Koontz or Paul Ludlow - both well known Vermilion photographers. In any case, it is a day that I, along with many others, will never forget.
Footnote: Look outside Vermilion - it's happening again.
GLENN RISDON: This photo of Vermilion native Glenn Risdon was (as is indicated) taken on Thanksgiving Day of 2004 by one of his daughters outside the "Big K" in, perhaps, Sandusky. Many folks should easily recognize this gentlemen because he worked as a custodian for the Vermilion Schools for many years. He is now 91 years of age. And what some folks may not know is that Glenn's family is one of the oldest families in the Vermilion, Ohio area.
I went to speak with him last Saturday. Obviously, I didn't have that opportunity. However; I intend to see him sometime this week. He's got a wealth of information/experience to share with anyone interested in local history.
When I went to see him the workers in the Kingston facility he now calls home had me wait as they went looking for him. They told me that he likes to move around the facility and talk with folks throughout the day, so he is never too long in any one place. Wonderful!
So stay tuned. I'll be speaking with him very soon. (When I can catch up to him.)
LSE MAP: From my friend Dennis Lamont of Birmingham comes this map of the Lake Shore Electric track through Vermilion. I used a photograph he forwarded me of the Jewett Car #166 stopped at Lake Siding #38 just west of Edson Creek in the Vermilion Photojournal last week because that particular siding was the one that the Niles Car #152 was supposed to stop at just prior to its fateful wreck near what we now recognize as Sherod [share-id] Park on the west-side of town.
Later in the week a fellow by the name of Ron Burns (son of one Leon Burns) asked me if I knew where a place called "Ackerman's Curve" was along the LSE route. I hadn't heard of it before. But according to Dennis (Lamont) this is the spot where the Niles collided with the east-bound electric.
Using the map, in conjunction with news reports, I tried to determine (more exactly) where the wreck took place, and this is how I marked the map. There is a small stream that runs through Sherod Park so it appears that the wreck was just a bit east of the park. I am aware (also from news reports) that the electric and West Shore (as West Lake Road was then called) Road crossed in this vicinity, and, due to other accounts of the accident, (namely the fact that reports screams being heard by folks in town) believe that the wreck took place before the crossing - near town.
In any case, I appreciate seeing this map. It's the most detailed rail map of the area I've yet seen. I intend to include this in the Niles page that is linked at the bottom of this page.
THE ELVIS GENERATION (CONTINUED): And here is another part of the Freshmen Class of VHS in 1953/54. I'd almost forgotten some of these people.
Larry Howell I'd never forget because we've become good friends in the last year - so I see him nearly everyday. And Jean Lindsley Miller, and Nancy Lee Fulper I see with some regularity. They all look the same. Only older.
Who would've thunk?
Jimmy Kidd became the CEO of a bank. But where oh where did Sue Knittle, Biff Langfitt, Doug Keith, the LaFollette girl, and the Guthrie boy go? I hear about the Jackson girl, and see Rolly Harris now and again. The years fly by, but the faces remain essentially the same. And if I didn't know any of these kids I'd think I was looking at an old still photo of an Ozzie and Harriet episode.
BREATHTAKING: If, in my little life, I ever take a single picture as simplistically beautiful as this I would be greatful to have owned a camera. This is not a professional photo. It was not staged nor enhanced by anyone (other than myself). What a great composition!
This picture comes to me from Brownhelm's Bill Cutcher in a series of photographs regarding the local fishing industry. It is, of course, a Huron portrait: The men come in from the lake sitting at the dock going over the day. And all is well with the world.
Mr. Cutcher has forwarded me a wealth of fishing related pictures that most folks - whether interested in the subject matter or not - may find exceptionally fascinating. The industry was once very much the life-blood of Lake Erie shore villages. The photographic records alone tell a powerful story of those people, and those days.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES:
Ray Beursken tells me that the VHS class of 1955 has scheduled their 50th class reunion on September 10, 2005 at the Boat Club. Class members of 1955 should put this date on their calendar. They're hoping for a good turnout.
I've been in contact with Bruce Eldridge and John Hunter from the Class of 1960, and it looks like they'll have a website up for their class reunion very soon. When its done the link will appear on this page.
A gal named Shelly from the Class of 1985 tells me that "the VHS class of 1985 will be having a 20 year reunion in the summer of 2005......no further details. The name of the organizer is Kim Schultz."
From Roger Boughton comes the following note. His class just celebrated their reunion earlier this month (October): Some classmates have inquired if there are pictures available from our reunion weekend. Yes, and if classmates would send copies to me either through the internet or mail I'll make sure they are placed on our web site for all to see. This would be helpful to those who were not present but would like to see pictures of classmates who were present. Jessie Spring (Sharon Stark) and Mary Lou send their regards and promise to be at our next reunion when ever that might be. There has also been some discussion as to when to hold our next reunion and if we should move it around the country. We'll have a questionnaire that will come out within the next 30-90 days providing you an opportunity to respond and provide your views on what should happen next. Remember our web site is located at: Class of '59 and I'll update it as soon as I receive enough new pictures and information from our classmates to make it worth reading. So send me any information that you would like to share with other classmates and we'll put it up for all to see and view.
I've visited Roger's website and it's fun.
Persons interested in having their VHS (and vicinity) reunion plans posted on this site are welcome to do so. I can't provide anyone with webpages to post their activities in depth, but I can provide a link to existing pages and/or post some activity items here. All anyone need do is contact me at my email address and pass along their material electronically.
I should add that some of the people who are noted in this part of the page are good resource folks for all types of information if one should be looking for some long lost friend. I won't give out contact information unless I have permission from those named, but I will contact them on your behalf if you desire.
As news regarding VHS reunion activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. So stay tuned folks.
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the 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 bookmarks. 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.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.2, Issue 42, January 8, 2005
© 2004 Rich Tarrant