BROWNHELM SCHOOL: This is a photo painting of Brownhelm School on North Ridge Road in beautiful downtown Brownhelm Ohio. The photograph was taken Wednesday, February 4th in the midst of some of the strangest weather one might imagine.
The area had been immersed in fog for several days. It was strange because it was like being in a snow storm without snow. Everything was covered with a coating of ice.
This particular picture was taken with a Canon Powershot A75 Camera and affected in Adobe Elements 2. It looks better on the net (colorwise) than it does if printed.
But about the school itself: It was built in 1889 and essentially served as a highschool for 10 district schools that existed in the towhship of Brownhelm (Ohio). By 1897 it served a grand total of 29 students. Among them were names like Baetz, Hasenpflug, and Emmerich.
The building went through major renovations twice over the years; once in 1905 when a substantial addition was built on the west side; and again in 1922, when it was further enlarged and a Classical/Georgian Revival facade was added to enhance its appearance.
The last class graduated on May 27, 1954. Dick McQueen was class President.
Tis a place that holds a million memories for many many people.
DECKER'S: A growing city needs materials to build with, coal with which to heat, and ice to keep things fresh. And this is that which Decker/Englebry went about doing in the early years of the 20th century.
The shack toward the lower left side was moved to a temporary site behind the Vermilion's old State Street School by Vermilion's Harbour Town organization a few years ago. That building was (at least for a time) used as an office for the business. Beside it (on the south) was a weight deck where wagons/trucks loaded with sand and/or stone could be weighed and then charged for their loads.
This particular business was one of the last lucrative family businesses to disappear from Vermilion. It may very well be that Bailey's Vermilion Hardware is now the only business of that type in town now remaining. Corporate America has claimed many victims.
HULLS: And some years later Decker/Englebry's concern became Hull's Coal/Building Supply. In my lifetime Mrs. Hull was the person who ran this company - and she did a damn good job.
When the Ford Motor Company located its new plant on Baumhart Road during the late 1950's and early 1960's there was a great housing boom in town. The fields and vineyards on the very southeast corner of town grew into what native Vermilionites remember as Plywood Plaza [a name, I would mention, that the architects of the project take exception to], then rolling over into what most people recognize as the Valley View section of Vermilion.
These were prosperous times for Hull and all the building trades in the area.
One thing of note in this photo is the apparent existence of the Crystal Theater building that can just be seen over the top of the trucks on the west side of Division/Main Street.
When this photo was taken (perhaps in the early 1930's) the building no longer housed the theater - but had become a furniture store.
Today (as previously indicated) only memories of this business remain.
THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY: This is a very interesting photograph acquired from the scrapbook loaned "Views" by area collector/historian Dale Hohler (i.e.The Hohler Collection).
Many of the faces in this photo are familiar; Larry Shafts, Steve Martin, Mr. Feldkamp, Joe Mayer (as a boy), etc.
This was a Catholic Fellowhip group of some kind. But more than that I don't currently know.
Photographs like this are seldom taken anymore. With the advent of better and less expensive photographic materials and equipment the role of the professional photographer in everyday life has nearly disappeared. For many reasons this is really a shame. The professional quality of group photographs, in particular, cannot be matched by the amateur regardless of the quality of one's camera. This seems to be especially true in the case of group pictures.
Long live professional photographers!!
CLOUDY'S FERRY: What a wonderful photograph. On my Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix page I use a picture of Cloudy's taken by my grandfather, Pearl Roscoe, that I really like - but I like this one also.
I'm not savvy enough to know which of Cloudy's boats is that in this pic, but I'd gues by the age in which it appears that it is his first ferry, a flat bottom boat, named Gertrude. When that boat wore out he had local boat-builders, Jim Brooks and George Goetz build a round bottom strip planked [a "Big Ed" Lampe breed of boats] craft he called the Mary N.
Ferryman and French-Canadian "Cloudy" Louis Noel was (in the words of late Vermilion historian George Wakefield) "a clown who danced a jig, sang funny ditties and laughed his way back and forth on the river like a pro."
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 46, February 5, 2005
© 2004 Rich Tarrant