AUTUMN 2007: Well, here we are again. It's autumn. Sometimes the months go so fast it makes one dizzy.
Last weekend was a busy one about town. The annual Woollybear Festival and parade were held on Sunday. Thousands upon thousands of folks flocked (that is the correct word) to town for the activity - Whilst several hundred natives left town to avoid the flocking flocks.
The Olympic Outing Club held their annual Clam Bake on Sunday afternoon. The clams were (as usual) wonderful.
On November 3rd the club will be holding their annual George Diener Fish Tournament. I don't fish - but this is normally a pleasant affair whether one is an angler or not. This is a tournament for true sport fishermen. Sport fishing is, and should be, a recreation not a profession.
And all is well as Autumn 2007 begins in Vermilion, Ohio.
VHS FACULTY 1949: There is nothing terribly unusual about this photograph. Persons who attended the Vermilion Schools during the 40's, 50's, and 60's will find all of these faces familiar:
Willis Gebhardt, Al Shroeder, Sarah Welker, Mary Chadwick, Paul Tuttle, and "Doc" Howard Ream.
I Don't know for sure - but I believe that Miss Mary (Chadwick) is the only one of the group still living.
These photos (as noted) were taken from the VHS Log Annual of 1949. And whilst there were other teachers in the school at the time these folks comprised the central core of Vermilion Academia then, and remained so for decades to follow - although their specific roles would change.
"C.K." Cletus DeWitt was, of course the Superintendent. He had worked his way up in the Vermilion system and was held in high regard by most folks.
Willis "Gebby" Gebhardt was a hard-nosed, but good, teacher who eventually became the High School Principal. He ran a good ship - but it had several leaks.
Al Schroeder also became the High School Principal. He was a decent fellow. And his "ship" had fewer "leaks" than did "Gebby's".
Sarah Welker was hard working, honest, and much smarter than she looked. Students who thought they put one over on her would some time later conclude that to have been an illusion. She helped many, many students on their way in life.
Miss Mary Chadwick was an excellent teacher of language. She gave each student an opportunity to learn the subjects she taught. Whether they opted to take advantage of that opportunity or not was strictly up to each student.
Paul Tuttle was essentially an Agriculture teacher during his career. Several systems shared his services. By the time I knew him as a teacher his career was winding down and he was teaching Driver's Education. I recall that he was a heavy smoker. (Teaching kids how to drive may have had a little to do with that.) But, Mr. Tuttle was a very nice - down to earth - person who was well liked by those who knew him.
Howard "Doc" Ream I only knew as the father of my friend, Bill Ream. He was a Science / Chemistry teacher and that sort of thing was not my forte. But all the persons I ever knew who took his classes really liked him. I always knew him to be a rather pleasant person.
The collective role this team of folks played in the lives of thousands of youngsters who passed through Vermilion's education system over a period that spanned at least 40 years is (obviously) memorable and was quite substantial.
THE OLD STOMPING GROUND: This week the music is Chicago bluesman /guitarist /singer Eric Lugosch singing a piece entitled "The Old Stomping Ground" from his album "New Traditions'" (2006).
After 20+ years of performing, this guitarist who won a national finger-picking championship in 1984. Says the Chicago Reader, "While Lugosch's voice isn't particularly strong, he masterfully exploits his prodigious finger-picking skills, embellishing his simple, flowing songs with appealing baroque flourishes that sound homey rather than flashy." Lugosch made his first European tour with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, picked up the guitar, studied voice and music at Temple University, and did his first show at 21, opening for Leon Redbone (he was "still wearing [his] Arco overalls from [his] day job at the oil refinery.") He moved to Chicago in 1988. He recently signed an international contract with the German label Acoustic Recordings to distribute his most recent album in Europe and Japan.
Methinks you'll like this piece. It reminds me of home.
ENGLEBRY ICE PLUS: I Believe this photo also appears in my Vermilion Historic Pix site. The primary reason it's being used here is to point out the sign on the building to the upper left of the photo that advertises a Tailor Shop. That shop is the one that was owned an operated by the parents of George Ritter - the gentleman who gave Vermilion its beautiful library.
The photograph was taken from the site that is now the approximate location of the Vermilion Hardware Store on Grand Street. All the buildings in the background are now gone.
This is a great pic.
CRYSTAL BEACH TRAIN: Following all those pix that appeared in "Views" and elsewhere of Alf Buell's wonderful "Puffer Belly" train a "Viewer", Electric Historian Dennis Lamont, sent me this snap of the train that operated at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Until I saw this I had all but forgotten about it.
Neat stuff!
PODCAST #44: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #44Vermilion Views Podcast #44features a very brief reading of a few years in Betty Trinter's wonderful history of Vermilion - The Way It Was.
And please take note. I have produced a new archive that will allow "Viewers" an easier way to access past podcasts. You will find that link in the links section below.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): Below is another new form that I've added to the site. With this form you will be allowed to preview your comment/question as it will be sent to me. After that just come back to this page and clear the form.
Well, folks I've got to say that this form is working wonderfully for me. I'm receiving good questions and comments on a regular basis. So it's exceeded my initial expectations substantially.
Keep all the questions and comments coming. I really appreciate them.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS ETC. (?):
Well - ENOUGH!!! Some European spammers finally got the best of me by using the email form which used to be available (here) in "VV". They hi-jacked the form for purposes I am unable to fathom (I don't gamble and I'm not in the market for Viagra). Ergo; I dropped the form and ye can simply drop a line to me by tapping on my name below:
RICH TARRANT
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Looking for the latest 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 links. 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.
If you're looking for my old links section (pictured) I've replaced it with a pull-down menu (visible in the small box next to the word "Go"). If you're looking for links to more Vermilion history check that menu.
How the old links menu looked
For Persons who would like to donate 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 already donated to the cause. I doth certainly appreciate it):
Rich Tarrant
1041 Oakwood Drive
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-4459
"If something is too hard, give it up. The moral my boy is to never try anything." -Homer Simpson
Vol.5, Issue 28, September 29, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant