STAYING WARM: When the days turn cold (as they have during the last 36 hours) it's nice to be able to look back and remember what summer was like. It's 27 degrees in Vermilion this A.M. And as W.C. Fields was wont to put it, "T'ain't fit fer man n'r beast".
Thursday it was nearly 70 degrees. Flooding seemed imminent - but it didn't happen. Areas all around us had some problems, but we dodged that bullet (for now).
The lighthouse photo was taken one morning last summer. The early sunlight gave it a uncomfortable color cast - although the morning was pleasant enough. With the help of Adobe Elements the color was adjusted some and a cross-hatch brush filter was applied to make it easier on the eyeballs. Myopic vision has a way of (ironically) giving insight into photographic manipulation(s). In short,this is a clearer representation of what some folks see without their glasses. It is, at least, warm.
THE PARAGON LAUNDRY: Some photographs just make me happy. This one of Whitmore's Paragon Laundry is one of them.
Whitmore's are the folks who came to Vermilion toward the end of the 19th century and went into the newspaper business. Their venture was called The Vermillion News. It began in the building in this photo which was located on the east side of Grand Street just north of the brick building that once housed Vermilion's library, and later the police department. For those who may not remember this building - it was across the street from the present day Vermilion (Bailey's) Hardware Store.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore (I think his name was George, and her name could have been Hattie or Rebecca) were true entrepreneurs. The Mrs. was a seamstress and, logically, the laundry business would have been connected.
I'm thinking that Vermilion's popular folk artist, Hattie Ries, was a Whitmore. Those familiar with a local gentlemen named Ralph Bard may know that Hattie was his mother-in-law.
In 1900 Pearl and Bessie Roscoe purchased the newspaper from the Whitmore's, and by 1905 had moved the business to a brand new building just across the tracks to the south.
This photograph was probably taken at the very beginning of the 20th century. (Sounds impressive doens't it?)
ANOTHER ELECTRIC MAP: This map just came to me from Kathy Dickason Kvach who now lives in Clarksville, Maryland. [It is 15 1/2" x 27 1/2". Thus did is present some scanning difficulties.]
Last week we looked at a map of the LSE as it passed through Vermilion from Decatur Street west. In that map I made some guess about where Lake Shore Siding #38 used to be, and where the place called "Ackermen's Curve" was located. This map shows exactly where the siding was (follow the rail diagram to the left). It was probably right in front of what is now Doc Adams house (formerly Doc Dickason's).
It also shows Jefferson Street continuing on to the lake - and a drive from old Lake Road that would have led to the property where both doctors located west of Edson Creek. Old Lake Road (now abandoned) is at the bottom. It's a very intersting document.
Kathy also wrote that there was once "a long wire tht hung down the 'cliff' on the west side of Edson Creek" that her father told her was relic from the old electric line. She added that "it was a great thing to use to repel down what seemed to be a huge cliff."
On "Ackerman's Curve": I've been told by several folks that the curve in question was in the vicinity of the Bluebird Beach area. I've no reason to doubt the validity of the information. For whatever reason I thought that where the electric line and Lake (West Shore) Road crossed was further west. But if the electric line curved at Bluebird that is where the crossing had to be.
One thing that puzzles me is that the Conductor on the Niles #152 Car never mentioned a curve on the track. And although the Niles wasn't up to full speed (by any means) at the time of the wreck implicit in his testomony is the fact that the car had the potential of going faster that it was. That led me to believe that they were on an open and straight stretch of the road before the collision. A better map of the rail line west of Vermilion would perhaps settle that mystery.
It's something to think about.
NOT THE ELVIS GENERATION : This is the very first graduating class of Vermilion's State Street High School. The year is 1891. The names (from L to R) are: Addie Rust, Ruth Cuddeback, Edna Parsons, Mammie Dunn, Body, Eva Horning, Sutliff, and the boy is Will E. Kane. Some of the names may ring a bell to some "Views" readers. Rust,Cuddeback, Parsons, Horning, and Kane are rather familiar Vermilion names.
Graduation ceremonies were held at the Opera House (at the top of Vermilion's Township Hall) as were many town events at that time. I have only had the pleasure of visiting the place once, but it is a very striking place. At the time of my visit Vermilion resident, Amos Feiszli, was there and recounted a time when he took part in a play held there. I think he, too, graduated from VHS at the old Opera House.
THE WHITE DINER: In 1936 it stood on the northwest corner of Ohio Route(s) 60 & 113 in the place we know as Birmingham, Ohio. My Milan, Ohio friend, Dale Hohler, recently emailed me this photograph of this lowly restaurant worker (Dale's father) outside the diner. It was snapped sometime in 1936.
At the moment I have no idea as to who owned/operated the place. All I know is that Dale's father and his aunt, Dorothy Hohler Seiler both worked there during that year. Mr. Hohler managed the place for the Collingwoods who also owned the Collingwood and Howe garage next door.
At the time this was taken the intersection must have been quite busy. Route 60 was a main route to places south, including Columbus. And 113 was a major east-west route for the entire region.
This is in an old Cleveland-Southwestern Electric Car (the Green Line). The line ended operations in Birmingham in 1925 and automobile traffic had become substantial (ergo; making this a particularly good spot for a restaurant). Actually it still is a decent location for an eatery. Today a small restaurant (the Woolly Bear) is just east, across the street, of this spot. And a service/convenient station is across the street to the south. The day of the automobile had certainly arrived.
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. There's not much going on right this moment, but 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 43, January 16, 2005
© 2004 Rich Tarrant