HERE WE GO (AGAIN)!!: This was taken out the backdoor of our home at 8:25 this morning (1-22-005). It wasn't too bad at 6:30, but the snow began to pick up speed as the hours passed. Those in milder climes will appreciate this. I doubt that our Michigan and Minnesota "Viewers" find this weather unusual. But, thus far, this year the weather in Vermilion has truly been wintry.
This comment is made because for the last several years the winter weather has been rather mild. I've no explanation. Other parts of Ohio have not been as fortunate.
As an aside I would note that our friend, Barbara (Hays) Ruggles, her husband Chuck, and their son and daughter-in-law were supposed to go to Detroit to catch a flight to Mexico this morning. Here's hoping they got ahead of the weather.
COMING SOON: This is a photograph that has appeared on the page before of Crystal Beach Amusement Park on the east-side of Vermilion. The previous pic was not as clear as this copy I recently received from Brownhelm resident Bill Cutcher. (Note that Bill and his wife Bonnie were long time proprieters of the Cutcher Store on the corner of Baumhart and North Ridge Road in Brownhelm. They are active members of the Brownhelm Historical Society.)
Bill shared this picture because it plainly shows the drying fields for the trap nets just to the east of the amusement park. You can see the nets in the field.
The reason the photo is being applied to this page this week is to announce that I'll be working on a webpage pertaining to old Crystal Beach in the next few weeks. I, admittedly, don't know everything there is to know about Crystal, but I intend to put what I do know into a special page for the park.
Understandably, many many folks have an interest in the place. And via the net I get a substantial number of requests for information about the old park. So - I think it would be nice to have something on the net about it.
This will be a new page presented in a new style. Keep in mind that I'm new to this technology and it takes me a bit of time to grasp the fundamentals. Sometimes the weight of the technical presentation is heavier than the information being presented. Once the technical aspects of the page are set it's easier to detail the history.
Those who revisit my the Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix site during the next few weeks will begin to better understand my intentions. As I become more familiar with the technology and acquire more information about the subject matter the sites are improved. One intended function of the sites is make them useful as reference tools for those interested in local history. I am, for instance, well aware of the fact that many school children visit My Gore Orphanage History site to help them with school report assignments (and, of course, because it is a curious urban legend kids love). But it works.
And that is what I would like to do with a Crystal site. I would very much like to have addtional pictures and information. Hopefully, that will come from "Viewers' like yourselves.
WHEN IT SNOWED: The electrics/interurbans in general, and the Lake Shore Electric rail line, specifically, continues to hold my interest. As a novice/dreamer I have held this romantic idea of what these trains were like as they coursed across the landscape of northern Ohio. What sometimes escapes me is the, not so romantic, reality of what it was really like when they were the main source of transportation in the region.
This photograph, borrowed from the Bill Volkmer Collection, shows a reality of the line as it was on a day much like today. This is how they cleared the track. Somewhere in time I had almost completely forgot that snow was very capable of stopping all rail traffic - both electric and steam. This photo brings that thought back to me. The scene is frozen in time from a winter day in 1906 somewhere in Sandusky. It's a fascinating picture that tends to add a bit of realism to an/my otherwise naive historic perspective of such things. A great photo.
THE HERO : Jimmy Moses picture, and story, has appeared on this page before. This particular picture appeared in the very first issue of the Vermilion Photojournal on August 26, 1959. Vermilion resident, George Radosovich, was the editor.
As some folks may remember, Jimmy Moses was responsible for saving the lives of all the kids in the picture when their skating party became stranded on an ice floe off Ruggles Beach 10 years earlier. He received many awards for heroism, including a Carnegie Medal, and appeared on a radio broadcast.
In this photo taken in Vermilion's South Street auditorium in 1959, Jimmy is reunited with his friends (many of whom you might know), as they learn about his adventures during the decade following their rescue.
While in the Navy Air Corps he bailed out of his jet 35,000 feet over Florida shortly before it exploded. And he was aboard the U.S. Ticonderoga in 1956 when six airmen were killed in an explosion.
Today Jimmy is retired and still lives in the area.
BARN RAZING: This photograph appears on an unmarked postcard owned by Warren and Anita Mehnert. When scanned 200% larger than the card the details are intriguing. There are some 16 men and one boy in the picture. The barn, filled with hay, appears to have collapsed, and is being supported by a crane. There appears to be a motorized winch also attached to the bottom of the barn. By all indications (i.e. the planks stacked about the area) it looks like the barn is being razed after it partially collapsed.
In the background a set of stairs appears to lead into a ravine behind the structure. And further back (across a field) several larger barns a barely visible.
What the import of the picture may have been to Mehnert's parents is unknown. It might have been (just as we can see) an interesting photo. Unless there is someone about who can recognize either the location or someone in the picture not much more can be said about it.
What do you think?
THE KISHMAN HOUSE: Tis another snapshot from Bill Cutcher. More and more these Kishman photographs (especially color ones) are rare. Very soon there will be youngsters and residents new to Vermilion who have no idea as to what this area looked like before the condominiums existed. They will not know what complex set of circumstances fashioned the town and/or its people.
And but for snapshots of this nature they would be unable to fathom the workings of the fishing industry in this town. Great, great stuff.
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.
Bruce Eldridge tells me that he and John Hunter just secured the Amvets hall for their 45th 60,61 & 62 class reunion. The reunion will be Sat. July 22, 2006. John Hunter, class of 1960, will be starting a web site in May or June of 2005. Bob Wolford, class of 1961, will be sending out a letter to all the classmates who attended our 40th class reunion asking them to update their E-Mail and help find other classmates.
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. We've updated our newsletter and have some new pictures from Linda (Peck) and Bill Smiley from our reunion held last October. Keep the pictures coming as classmates who were not able to attend are enjoying seeing "old" school mates. Also, you might want to send us news from and about your family and we'll include it on our web site. Our survey clearly indicated that most wanted our reunion held in Vermilion in 2009. Thus, we'll be celebrating our "special" occasion (50th Reunion) in September of 2009. Put it on your calendar and plan to join the fun. Remember our web site is located at: Class of '59 and I'll update it as 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 44, January 22, 2005
© 2004 Rich Tarrant