VIEWS ON THE MOVE: So. I've begun to take a big jump - moving "Views" from the Yahoo/Geocities host that I've been using for about the last decade to a new host StartLogic.
Essentially this move is an attempt to acquire more space/memory as economically as possible - and (hopefully) improve both access and the appearance of information provided.
But, as indicated, this is a "big jump" for me. I have over 5000 files to move to complete this process. How long this will take is anyone's guess.
Now I understand the reason some folks have secretaries and interns.
This is not difficult work. It's clerical stuff - very repetitive. It requires some knowledge of "ftp" systems/nuances, and that one pay some attention to little itsy-bitsy details. Tis just time consuming.
Whoosh me luck. Moving 5000 files is but a portion of the entire process. The rest (i.e. learning a new system of linking files and folders with a new host) is yet to come.
Note that I've developed a new "Views" banner. I don't know if I'll keep it. It is a bit whimsical. It obviously came from the photo of myself (below the banner).
That's not an ego thing however. I was actually playing with Photoshop type techniques - as well as my camera - and it sort of just happened. The lettering - the distortion with shadowing was just to see how it could be done. And the pic was taken, also, just to see how it is done.
I took the pic of myself by using a shutter delay on the camera. I didn't have to run to pose. But I walked - quickly.
This fishing pole, bird, and the dog were simply afterthoughts. It worked out okay.
Well, I'll have to ask thee to bear with me whilst I move all the files, and get them situated with this new host. Those who are looking to use some of the links contained on this site will have to be patient. The can still be accessed via the old host site. I've not abandoned it entirely - for that very reason. But in the near future all anyone will have to do to access this home "Views" site and all that comes with it is go to www.vermilionohio.org.
It should be easy to remember. Again, stay with me. This weeks edition is short. But next week things should be back, over very close, to normal.
STEVE AND LOUIS: This is a closer-up view of a photograph which appeared in "Views" some time ago. It is, of course, a pic of Steve Martin and Louis MaKay behind the meat counter in Martin's Store (now Bicycle Bill's) on South Street.
Again (as per usual) this was an experiment of sorts. It is a new scan of an old photo. The object was to acquire essentially that which is seen; a closer, better, view of both Steve and Lou.
I've been wanting to do a bio on Steve for some time but there's not a great deal of information about him - that I found readily available.
I know that Martin was born in Yugoslavia; that he had a brother named John; a sister (Mrs. Andy Subich); and, of course, I was familiar with his immediate family; his wife Margaret, and his daughters Gerry and Marlene.
But that ain't much to know.
His mother was named Theresa Martin - and that's okay to know. But I'm 99.99% sure that Martin was not their original name; that it was either corrupted when the family entered this country or changed sometime thereafter.
Ancestry.com gives me nothing. Steve intially lived in Lorain, Ohio and moved to Vermilion in about 1931 when he was 28 years old. But there are no census records of Steve in either Lorain or Vermilion census records available via Ancestry.com.
Some folks have told me that at one period of his life he worked for the steel mills in Lorain and was badly injured in a fall. Out of work he tried selling fruit from the orchards on land he once owned on Ohio Route #60 south of Vermilion. Eventually he purchased the store on South Street.
I note that he built, or was building, a very substantial brick home on the corner of Martin Avenue and State Street just before he died in 1953. But I don't believee that is where the aforementioned orchard was located.
Last week a fellow Vermilionite named Michael Havrilla Sr. passed into the hands of God. Mr. Havrilla and his wife live(d) in a house just south of the Vermilion City Limits along Route #60. And I do recall that there were (at one time) some orchards near that domicile. Havrilla, at one time, cut meat for Martin. Ergo; I think it's safe to conclude that Martin once owned the property. And I do know, from real estate transfers that appeared in old editons of The Vermilion News, that Martin owned a good share of property about the town and township.
But there's more to it than that...
Mr. Martin died at age 50 at 1:35 a.m. on a Sunday near Christmastide in 1953 - and the village lost a jewel of a man. He was, by all appearances, one those rare individuals whose enthusiasm for life was contageous.
And so should he be long remembered.
GANDY DANCERS: This is an interesting pic acquired from local resident Jim Fischer. The original is relatively small. It was enlarged so that Jim's father, Henry "Hank" could try to identify some of the fellows in it.
The i.d.'s to some extent are tentative. Hank said that they are from
L-R:Louis Wagner (Sam Law's great uncle), (3rd) a Boone, (4th) Joe Wetzler, and (6th) Fred Fischer
The one I'm unsure of given Hank's identifications is Joe Wetzler. I have other pix of Joe and they don't resemble any of the men in the photo. But it may be the angle of the shot that throws me a curve.
In any case, the pic was taken just east of the NYC Depot between 1920-1925. The poles in the background hold telegraph lines. The section boss at the time may have been a man with the last name of Aufdenhide (sp?). It's an interesting photograph.
PODCAST #31: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #30Vermilion Views Podcast #28Vermilion Views Podcast #30 offers a continuation of readings from Betty Trinter's history of Vermilion - "The Way It Was". Short and sweet!
HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): I am (as may be obvious) rather swamped at this time during this move - and I'm about a dozen questions behind. But stay close. As Arnold was wont to say "Ah'll be baak."
And while ye wait - if anyone has any further questions... [Note this link is working now.]
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for information about VHS Class Reunions, The Vermilion Area Archival Society, Eden Valley Enterprises events, and Hope Home in Kenya? Follow the link to the Vermilion Locals page. Something new (mit a few new pix added) for your enjoyment.
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. (Kindly note that not all these links will be working properly for now. They can, however, be accessed from the old "Views" page @ Vermilion Ohio Historic Pix History of Linwood Park Vermilion Visitor's Advisory (Satire) Gore Orphanage History The Lester Pelton Story The Wreck of The Niles #152 The History of Crystal Beach Vermilion Views Archives Vermilion's Pioneer Woman; Charlotte Sturges Cloudy; Vermilion's Ferryman The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church Dedication Sermon of Jotham W. Goodell, 1843 The Last Time I Saw Charlie Hope Childrens Home Kenya A Profile of Rich Tarrant Vermilion Biographies Vermilion - Village of Lake Captains Vermilion's Youngest Minstrels
For Persons who would like to contribute to the cause (to keep these "Views" on-line you can send whatever you would like to me at the following address. And THANKS to everybody who has contributed to the cause. I doth sincerely appreciate it):
Vol.5, Issue 16, July 7, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant