VERMILION VALENTINE: It's home: Hart's corner. The old bank building across the street. Fulper's. Bailey's. Exchange/Rubberneck Park with the cannons, and the brick restrooms. Wakefield's [Main Street] Beach. The old willow - still there today - for climbing and jumping in the sand. Victory Park. The old conceret bandstand. The big boulder. The swings supported by telephone poles and 4 by 4's. Martin's/McKay's Store on South Street. The smell of spices in the air from Basic Foods in the old State Street School. Pickle smells by the pickleworks. The old garbage dump across the street. Ryser's, Parsons, Kishman's by the river. Plywood Plaza - Langfitt Street, Devon Drive, little Sanford Street. Mark's Welding. South Street and Decatur Street Schools. Football games, Band practice. Smith's woods. Sterling Smith's hybrid nut trees. Sleep-outs. Anne's Lunch. Corky Harpley. Miles Shilling. Gene Boyd whistling along with Les Paul and Mary Ford on the midnight jukebox. Park Market. Jumps. Englebry's. Naegle's. Okagi's. The White Inn. The Dari-Bar. The News Stand. The Grayhound buses. Cedar Point Traffic on a Sunday afternoon. Furgie's Popcorn Stand. Nuhn's Liberty Theater. The Goody-Goody Bar. Wagner's Gift Shop. The poolroom. The Rhode's jewelry store. Leftie's Tavern. Schwensen's on Saturday mornings [get a number]. Miller Hardware and liquor store. The A&P. Kroger's. F.E. Baker. Sharpnack. Kyle. George Robert's Shell. Harry Hays Bridge Sohio. McGarvey's. The Schooner. Paul's Snack Shop. George Rathbun's. The barber shop. Gould's. Perry Street. The Vermilion News. Mrs. Goetz. Sophie. Street Dances. Linwood Park. Crystal Beach. The Congregational Church. The Townhall. The jail. Ed Benson. The police station stall in the park. The library on Grand Street. And so much more.
Vermilion. My home.
DIVISION SOUTH: There's nothing startling or new about this picture - it's just a good view of Division Street [now Main] between Liberty Avenue and the NYC/Conrail tracks. This was apparently taken a few years after the turn of the (20th) century because it appears that the Maudelton Hotel has already been moved down the hill where it is today.
As Vermilion changes one can't help but wonder (aloud) if there is any real good reason for that building [the Maudelton] to remain standing. The ground it occupies is most likely of more value than the building [as it sits]. Although it would be [historically] a shame to raze the structure one, nonetheless, must wonder about the value of an empty building. That's not an idle concern. But time marches on.
THE NILES WRECK: This map is not new to this page. And although it is not of vital importance to know exactly where The Wreck of The Niles #152 actually occured, it may have some historic value. At the time of this mishap it was the worst in the history of the Lake Shore Electric. It is also one of the worst accidents that ever took place in Vermilion. A significant number of people were injured. News reports of the day tell readers that the screams of the passengers could be heard all over town.
After looking through reams of historical information I ran across a statement that places the wreck at "about Bluebird Beach". I believe that is an accurate statement. The Niles missed the Lake Siding just west of Edson Creek, the conductor tried to warn the motorman, and the trains collided. It would have been very near the place where the LSE slowely curved [ie. Ackerman's Curve] to the south, and crossed the West Shore/West Lake Road to run parallel with the steam rail tracks.
Former Vermilion resident Bruce Eldridge had the site pinpointed from the beginning - and it makes a great deal of sense. Vermilion's Mayor, Squire Williams, was one of the first persons on the scene - so one can very safely assume that the accident was not far from the center of town. Were it much further to the west I doubt that the voices of the passengers would have been audible.
VERMILION'S POLICE: Here are Vermilion's finest circa 1962 at the steps of Vermilion Township Hall. Harry Lechner was the chief.
Harry was a good guy. He actually didn't keep the job too long. He just decided to quit, and do something else with his life. Harry's parents owned and operated a laundry business located in the Sail-loft where the Vermilion Dental Arts, the French Restaurant, and Henry Kishman have their businesses today. It was a rather pleasant place. Later in his life Harry's father took rooms in a house that used to exist across the street from The Vermilion News on Grand Street. Harry died some years ago. At the time he was either retired from, or may have still been working for, Harrison Manufacturing in Birmingham.
Ron Fleming, who would later become chief, is in the picture. So is Joe Mayer, Kenny McDaniel (who recently passed away), Harry Troxel (long passed), Paul Ries (formerly township constable), Pete Huttenlocher, and a few whose names I can't recall at this time.
I believe that Harry was chief when the police station was moved from the public restroom building in Exchange Park to the empty library building on Grand. That was a big moment in Vermilion Police history.
In a belated email from Vermilionite Truman Ellis on 1/15/2010 I found the idenities of the following men pictured:
1st row left side is Bill Estes 2nd row left side is Jerry Butcher and 3rd row left side is Allen Thompson
CLOUDY'S GERTRUDE: This is the very first picture of Louis "Cloudy" Noel I've ever seen. Last week I wrote about his 20 foot flat bottom ferryboat Gertrude. I thought that it was the one pictured but I was wrong. This is she. In Karen and Ray Boas' book about Linwood Park Through These Gates Cloudy is described as a dark-tanned French-Canadian who always dressed in bib overalls and continually rankled the hell out of Linwood Park administrators, but endeared himself to park visitors, with his less than sterling character and charm. Park elders wanted his concession but could never get it because Cloudy was always two steps ahead of them.
What a wonderful wonderful photograph.
FREE AT LAST: Hither is a snapshot from the Bill Cutcher collection that is worth a thousand words. The note on the image was Toledo Fish - but that doesn't really matter. If one has ever been out on Lake Erie and cut loose with a boat the feeling is captured in this photograph. I can hear the motors and smell the air. T'aint nothing like it. It is freedom itself. No earthly bonds exist at this moment.
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 47, February 12, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant