IN PLEASANTVILLE: I almost fell out of my chair the other day after I received a very brief note from a local "Viewer" who ended his very brief communique thanking me for sending him last week's "Views" by signing his name and then "Pleasantville a.k.a. Vermilion" (or perhaps it was vice-versa).
Note the photo sketch of Liberty Street above. "Road Close To Thru Traffic" indeed.
My friend, Frank Homitz, and I drove the AlCan Highway to Alaska in 1964 and I can testify that many, many streets in Vermilion simulate that experience. And that is not an exaggeration.
The winter has surely been hard on the streets throughout Northern Ohio. But I have never - in the six decades that I've lived in Vermilion - ever seen the entire place as bad as it is currently.
I suppose I could bitch about this forever - whatever good that might achieve. So I decided I'd try to look on the brighter side with my camera and some of my photo software. If one makes everything look like a comic book illustration it acutally looks better.
From this perspective things don't look so bad. The torn up side walk by the old hardware store (now Winterstein Realty) on the left looks rather rustic. The orange barrels add a bit of character to the scene. Note that one can actually almost see the old "Mailpouch Tobacco" sign that is all but faded away from the side of the building.
And I'm positively impressed by this illustration of the Masonic Temple Building (on the right) amid all this mess.
As an illustration it really looks inviting. The colors are vivid and the features of the building are greatly enhanced and somewhat dramatic.
Would you believe that it is probably the oldest building on that block?
Most Vermilionites would likely agree that the rebuilding of the infra-structure beneath the streets of the town is, was, and continues to be in order. And whether or not a complete face-lift for this part of town was really necessary is debateable. But on the other hand, I would not, of course, had any reason to take these photographs if nothing was taking place - in "Pleasantville".
VHS ALUMNI CLASS OF 1924: I don't know if this was all that was left of the Vermilion High School Class of 1924 when the pic was taken on June 4, 1949 - but these folks were, at least, a part of it.
I've no idea as to the locale of the photograph. It has me puzzled.
Pictured are:
Back Row Standing L-R:Marion Kishman Brod, Ruth Krapp Tigges, Amelia Miller Trinter, Lucille Kishman Poyer, Ella Roscoe Tarrant, Ethel Reifert, and Golda Bogart Barber.
Front Row Seated L-R:Jay Knittle, Chan Thompson, Paul Mehnert, Bill Harris, and Fred Friday.
I knew several of the people pictured. (My mother - of course.) But I remember Mrs. Barber quite well. Her husband, Chuck, was a custodian at South Street School, and the family lived right down the block from us on Perry Street.
I believe that "Irvie" Howell was also a member of the class.
...An interesting photo.
ALWAYS QUESTIONS: This pic comes from CA. "Viewer" and friend Bobbi Riley. We know who two of the people in the photo are. The fellow to the far right of the group is Miller Wilber. And the lady right next to him is his wife Harriet.
Some "Viewers" will recall that the Wilber's once lived with the mister's parents in the, now famous, Rosedale mansion in Swift's hollow. Mr. Wilber owned and operated a hardware store on Division Street in Vermilion. Their four little children died within two weeks of each other of diptheria in 1893.
But placing all that aside - both Mrs. Riley and I wonder if anyone knows 1.) the locale of this photo? We believe it was taken in Berlin Heights. Perhaps on the Kellogg farm. And 2.) does anyone recognize any of the other folks pictured?
Obviously, these were friends and family. But it would be nice if someone could actually identify some of these folks.
MOES BOAT YARD: This had been an extremely good week for pictures (for "Views"). This pic was but one of several given me by my friend Frank Homitz. Because this is been a rather busy week for me I've not spent a great deal of time looking at the detail of these pix - but I do know where most of the shadows were captured.
This snap was taken at the Moes Boat Yard. And right off the proverbial top of my head, I'd venture to say that it is c.1940.
Note the rails in the photo?
I remember that Tom Moes - co-owner of the yard - telling folks at a gathering that the rails were acquired after the Lake Shore Electric interurban railway was dismantled (c.1938-39) in Vermilion. They may have been the brain-child of the legendary Captain "Big Ed" Lampe when he was still about the village.
The building just to the left of the photo might have been a part of the Fischer Lumber Company. But I'm not entirely certain. Tis something I'll have to think on.
And in the background one can just see the virgin land that was becoming the Vermilion Lagoons.
This is a great snap. And I'll have more in coming weeks.
LSE STOP ONE, TWO, THREE: Thanks to the tenacity of the Lorain, Ohio historian Albert Doane we may someday discover the fate of Vermilion's Loyola Institute on the Lake.
Al uncovered this pic of the Lake Shore Electric (interurban) stop for the Loyola Institute, along with this pic (right) of the drive into the place
and was kind enough to pass them along.
The Loyola Summer School of Science was once located on the St. Ingnatius College property along the lake shore east of Vermilion and Vermilion-On-The-Lake. The area is currently being developed as the Vermilion Shores Waterfront Luxury Condominiums just north and east of Sunnyside Road.
Although the name suggests that it was a "Summer School of Science" the best I can determine is that it was actually a retreat site for clergy - call it what ye will.
What many folks would like to know is exactly what happened to the place. For whatever reason no mention of it appears in any area newspapers. And this, friends, was a rather large structure. It would have housed a substantial number of persons.
Exactly how does such a place exist (anywhere) without acquiring some attention from local folks?
Tis one of Vermilion's great mysteries of history.
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
"A snippet from the clip..."
PODCAST #72: This week the is a pass through our nearly completed familyroom. Pressed for time - and not wanting to skip this segment of "Views" for fear of getting to lazy and quiting it altogether - I put a very brief piece of mundane material together for this week.
Stay tuned.
For the benefit of all - kindly take note of the fact that I have produced an archive (that can be found in the "Links" section of the page) that will allow "Viewers" an easier way to access all past podcasts.
Note: (1)that the podcasts are in the archives; (2)that one can easily listen to them on-line and / or copy them (for free) to their PC or Mac for later listening; and (3) that all have also been preserved, by myself, on a separate hard-drive and on CD's. Anyone unable to listen to, or acquire the audios on-line and wishes to acquire a copy of any of these audio casts and / or recordings of persons who have spoken at a Vermilion Area Archival Society meeting during the last 12 months can do so by contacting me, and paying a small cover fee for recording materials.
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. Always
Incidentally, "Viewer" Larry Hohler who is a big part of the Hope Home in Kenya wants folks to know that the children they are assisting are safe - midst the turmoil raging around them in that country. Methinks all "Viewers" should take a good look (go to the links section of "Views" for a virtual tour) at how the project really, really helps underprivileged children in this 3rd world nation. It is sincerely a worthwhile effort.
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
"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?"-Charlie Brown
Vol.6, Issue 5, April 19, 2008
© 2008 Rich Tarrant