GOD'S EYE: It was hotter than blazes Tuesday afternoon (7-26-05). I was standing on the deck in the backyard, looked up, and this is what I saw. Very soon thereafter the heatwave in northern Ohio was ended.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning I am told that there came a tremendous storm. Some wary folk took refuge in their basements fearing the worst. Others arose and watched the storm pass with all its flashing, booming, glory. But I missed it.
I sleep very soundly. I sometimes get the impression that I'm like the guy in the cartoon who is walking down the street - a piano falls from a 5th story window - it just misses him - crashing onto the concrete walk behind him - and he's none the wiser.
EARLY BEULAH BEACH: Somewhere amongst all the papers about me I have a brief history of the place in this photograph - Beulah Beach - that I cannot (right now) find. It is a Christian retreat site/community owned by the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. It is about 4-5 miles west of Vermilion on State Route 6 (Lake Road). It is one of several Christian beach communities surrounding the city. But Beulah Beach is, perhaps, the most extensive and progressive.
In addition to the retreat site it has, during the last several years, added nursing home and an assisted living facilities (The Inn at Chappell Creek) that have earned nothing but rave reviews from all those who have reason to visit and/or use them.
This particular photograph was given me by former Vermilion resident Dorothy Koontz, who now lives in nearby Huron, Ohio. The notation on the back of the photograph tells me that it was taken by one Clell Myers, brother of Rhea Koontz, uncle of Richard Koontz. The late Richard "Dick" Koontz was Dorothy's husband. He was also a professional photographer. Dorothy gave a number of his photographs taken in and about town to Vermilion's Ritter Public Library. They are, to say the very least, wonderful.
This photo of early Beulah Beach is very interesting. To the very left of the picture is the Beulah Beach Institute. Last week a color postcard picture of the buiding appeared in "Views". But what I find curious about the photo is the location where is was taken; how did the photographer get above the landscape? I can't think of any big hills in the vicinity. So was there a tower somewhere? I don't know. It's just very curious.
In addition to this I want to point out that the size of the picture is about 9"x 24". My scanner is 8"x 12". Thus like some of the maps I've scanned this photo required some "stitching". The software that allows this to be done is absolutely amazing.
And one other thing. This photo is now in the custodial care of the Vermilion Area Archival Society. This is a very good example of someone giving/lending a photo they have preserved to the society in order that it can be preserved and shared with interested parties throughout the community now and in the future. Thanks Dorothy. Thank you very much.
VHS 1914: And here is Vermilion High School's Class of 1914. This is not a wonderful photograph. It is a copy scanned from a copy from a microfilm file from The Vermilion News of Thursday, May 23, 1914. But it is legible. Of the 13 students pictured all but two are, in some way, familiar to me.
Ray Crosier is one person that I still remember. He is the father of Vermilionite Arlene Stockham. She still lives just a pebbles throw away from her childhood home on Huron Street here in town. Ray used to ride a bicycle everyday to his job at Wakefield Brass. And perhaps the only reason I remember that is because his bike didn't have a chain guard, and he used to tie his pant-leg up so it wouldn't get tangled when he rode.
The only two names I don't recall are LeRoy Malcomson and Joanna Stevenson. This picture was taken (as many were) on the steps of the State Street School. Very interesting.
THE WONDERFUL GRANDON: She was built by the Craig Ship Building Company of Toledo, Ohio in 1893 for H.D. Fiefield of Toledo. She was the steamship Grandon; and she was a beauty when this photograph caught her debarking passengers at a dock in Put-In-Bay, Ohio in 1895.
When Lake Erie legend, Captain "Big Ed" Lampe purchased the steamer several years later he did the following:
This very telling momento from the late Larry Shafts who crewed on her after "Big Ed" transformed her into a fish tug was loaned me by Larry's nephew, Milan, Ohio resident Dale Hohler. It both illustrates and tells how Captain Lampe modified the craft, who crewed it, and gives some of its history.
Captain Lampe is a Lake Erie folk hero who I hold in very high regard [who could guess?]. While I have probably written of him more than any other person connected to the history of Vermilion I have not finished that story. No small reason for this is that I don't know exactly what happened to this particular boat or "Big Ed".
The good captain died in the marine hospital in Cleveland during the early '50's. And the Grandon was listed as "abandoned" in 1945. But I can't help think that there is more of a story there - somewhere.
I know a great deal about Captain Lampe (some good and some bad), and I think I know him well enough to understand that he would never just leave his wonderful Grandon to rust in a lonesome harbor somewhere without good reason.
AT WATER STREET: Last week I wondered (aloud in writing) where Water Street in Vermilion could have been. I knew the answer to the question almost the minute I'd written it. But I left it as it was writ, and I'm glad I did.
"Electric train" historian Dennis Lamont forwarded me this photo. And as it illustrates Water Street is the section of what we now call West River Road that runs from Liberty Avenue south to South Street.
In this pic we see a LSE car just west of the river bridge that was located just below the present day landmark water-tower.
One of the things I caught in this photo was the little icehouse just to the right of the electric car. Even as late as the 1960's there was an ice house in that location. Other things changed (i.e. buildings were constructed and destructed, and the LSE railroad disappeared) but the ice house remained.
FLORENCE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: I don't know too much about this church near Florence corners across from their octagonal sandstone township hall except that it still exists (with a number of improvements). I believe the home next to it also remains. It may have been the parsonage. If memory serves me well this is a photo loaned from the collection of Erie County Commisioner Sparky Weilnau come to me (again) from Dale Hohler.
This church is still famous in the area for their annual Turkey Dinners. While most churches in the area have abandoned "doings" of this nature because the women who used to sponsor them have passed, and younger generations have, by and large, lost an ability to cook the folks at this church are still hanging in there. Neat!
WHAT'S A FOOT: The Vermilion Area Archival Society 2006 Historic Calendar is now available at several locations around Vermilion for $5.00. These are new calendars that feature Vermilion's fishing industry.
"Antiques and Artists" will display their wares in Exchange Park next Saturday (August 6th). Might make a nice afternoon activity.
Family day at Linwood Park, when a car load is $20. is now extended to Mondays through Thursdays June through August.
Also, visit (or re-visit) the Hope Children's Home site linked below because there are some additions there that you might find interesting. With all the bad things happening on the "dark continent" it's really nice to know that there are some places where the light does shine brightly.
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: "We are planning the 45th at the AMvets Hall on route 60 in Vermilion. The date will be July 22, 2006. Bruce Eldridge, John Hunter and Bob Wolford will serve as chairmen with the committee consisting of Buzzy Young, Shirley Mayer, Sue Opperman, Judy Gutman, Denny Owen as well as Tom and Judy Williams." Their website can be found at the following link: Classes of '60 to '62.
From Roger Boughton comes the following note: Thanks to Gail Lyon and Pat and Glenn Owen we have some additional pictures of our reunion held last October. Take a visit to our website and see what's new. Memories of this October are only a click away. Enjoy and remember.....if you send pictures we'll share with others on our website. Mary Ann is busy writing stories for her Virginia paper. You'll want to visit the site and read her thoughts on Liberty. 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 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.There are some new pix on that site now (7-2-05).
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.
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.3, Issue 19, July 30, 2005
© 2005 Rich Tarrant