IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS: On April 15, 1933 Henry and Katherine Weigel came from the Cleveland area to take the job as Caretakers of the Olympic Outing Club. The Weigels had four children, George, Henry Jr, Robert, and a daughter Ruth. George and his wife, both 29, were married in July. Ruth was also married and had an infant daughter named Katherine. Henry Jr. was 18 and lived at home at the club with his younger brother Robert.
Henry Sr. had been a member of the club since 1902, when the club was born. Living in Vermilion, and working for the club was a dream and opportunity of a lifetime. When Mr. and Mrs. Peake, who formerly took care of the club left Henry and Katherine readily took on the job.
When we look back to 1933 in Vermilion, Ohio we need understand that none of our railroad crossings had signals. At that time the state employed men as watchmen at each of the crossings. When they were notified of a train approaching they lowered large gates to keep foot, auto, and horse traffic off the tracks. We also need understand that there were three sets of tracks on the New York Central rail line. One track was a work track, another was a slow track, and the third was the highspeed track. The final thing to attend to concerns the fact that the watchmen only worked from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. The rest of the time the tracks were unguarded.
The summer came and left. All was quiet at the Olympic Club. A majority of the members were Clevelanders who spent their summers in Vermilion and wintered in their homes in the city. Christmas approached. The Weigels were happy. They invited their children, George and his wife and their daughter Ruth Werle, to spend Christmas with them and their two younger boys at the club. George and his wife came from Reading Pa. Ruth (Weigel) Werle came in from Cleveland with her 20 month old daughter. Ruth’s husband was disabled so he couldn’t come.
As Christmas Eve neared Mrs. Weigel made plans with her daughter, daughter-in-law, and her three sons to attend the midnight mass at St. Mary’s church on Ohio Street. Husband, Henry opted to stay home with infant Katherine while they attended the service. What a wonderful way to begin the Christmas celebration. It doesn’t take much imagination (for myself at least) to understand the true magic of attending a late evening church service on Christmas Eve.
Mrs. Weigel was driving. After the service she and her family headed north on Division Street toward the NYC tracks to go home. The reason for her decision to go home this way will never be known. They could have simply headed west down Ohio Street to West River Road home. Three days later (Thursday,December 28, 1933) this would be the headline on the front page of The Vermilion News: Funeral For Train Victims Held Today.
At about 1:20 Christmas morning their car was hit broadside and completely demolished by an eastbound flyer, Engine No. 22, at the Division Street crossing. Mrs. Weigel, her daughter, and her daughter-in-law were killed instantly. George and Henry Jr. still hung to life. A westbound train was halted and they were placed on board to be taken to Providence Hospital in Sandusky. George died while being transported, and his brother Henry passed a few hours later. Miraculously, Robert was thrown from the auto as it was pushed east of the railway station received a broken leg and numerous bruises.
Hundreds of parishioners were at the scene of the accident. They heard the sickening crash, and rushed to help. But there was little to be done, but pray. Mrs. Henry Andress, walking home, was knocked to the ground by a piece of the automobile but received no great injuries.
The silence of that majestic night had been broken in the flash of a second.
I (among others) have known about this particular tragedy for may years. It came a bit closer to me when I was contacted by Robert’s daughter two or three years ago. She wanted me to research the article in the archives of The News and send her a copy. She lives and works in San Francisco. Her father is still alive. The one thing she told me that really touched my heart is that her father never mentioned that accident to his family until she was well into her twenties. What a great tragedy to keep to ones self.
Having lived in Vermilion all my life I am very familiar with train mishaps. I am always cautious about crossing tracks. I understand the power of the locomotive and the Diesels that pull/pulled these great loads. I know what can happen in an instant.
In September of 1934 the Ohio Public Utilities people recommended that flashing lights be installed at most of Vermilion’s NYC crossings. They also mandated that all trees growing near the railroads be removed, and that crossing watchmen be kept at the crossings 24 hours a day until further notice.
In January of 1935, over two years after this tragedy, flashing lights were ordered to be installed at two of the crossings. It would be some 50 years (and many accidents) later before PUCO would order gates installed at all crossings in Vermilion.
UPDATE ON "THE SUPER": Last week I puzzled about the life of George R. Snyder - the former Superintendent of Vermilion Public Schools through the 1920's into the 1940's. Afterward several people contacted me with information about his life in and out of Vermilion, O.
My sister Nancy (Emery) said, "Mr. Snyder's years also went into the 1940's as I was in Junior High and he was still there…I use to baby-sit his grandchild as his daughter lived at home while her husband was in the service…WW II."
(I had thought that his tenure only went from the 1920's into the 1930's.)
And, then, from my old friend Dale "Tulip" Wendell way out West came the following:
"Rich:
I remember Mr.Snyder very well,had him for some class. He always told us in class if we missbehaved he would bring in his helper in his office (Margarite Ball) and we all were afraid of her. Snyder lived on that short street between Perry and Washington,on the side by the water. He then built a new home over in the lagoons, before leaving for Toledo to teach (if I remember it right) at the college. He was too smart to teach in VHS,but was replaced by Dewitt, a very good teacher, and DeWitt was replaced by Gebhardt, another very good teacher. Snyders had one child(Marty Snyder Rose). She is listed as a teacher in Florida. She and her friend Virgina Fischer Ohler would give us guys that played down at Wakefields Beach and swim at the Piers problems (but we all had a good time). My wife and I were invited up to Toledo to see Jim Stone and wife(Old Neighbors) and while there they took us over to see Snyders. He remember(ed) me when I walked in as "Tulip" (Never will loose that name). We had a very nice visit with the Stones and Snyders..."
I need thank my sis and "Tulip" for these bits about the "old super". I just found it strange that a fellow who had been so much a part of the community had virtually vanished from local history books (so to speak).
If "Views" has no other value it is an extremely good tool for discovering (or, perhaps better said, re-discovering) the past.
Cool!
The Top 30 Dick Cheney Huntin'Songs
30. S.H.O.T. in the U.S.A.
29. Let It Be (a Quail -- Please, God, Let It Be a Quail!)
28. Born to Gun
27. Bullet the New Guy
26. Let Him Bleed
25. You Give Aim a Bad Name
24. He Blinded Me With Birdshot
23. Pour Some Bactine on Me
22. Careless Trigger
21. The First Shot Is the Veepest
20. Stop Fraggin' My Heart Around
19. Gun Fun Fun
18. I've Just Shot a Face
17. Dickie, Don't Shoot That Lawyer
16. Spinball Wizard
15. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, 246 Pellets,
One More Cocktail, 14 Hours,
a Couple of Tap Dances, a Fox Interview
and an Apology From the Guy I Shot
14. Hit Me With Your Buck Shot
13. Cheney I'm Amazed
12. The Washington Press Corps Heard It Through the Grapevine
11. It's Only Lock 'n' Load (But I Like It)
10. Gettin' Triggery Wid It
9. Got to Get You Into My Sights
8. I've Shot You Under Your Skin
7. I Put a Shell in You
6. Harper Valley NRA
5. You've Shot a Friend
4. Huntin', Shootin', Drinkin'
3. The First Time Ever I Shot Your Face
2. (Don't Fear) the Veeper
and the Number 1 New Year's Day Carol...
1. Dude Looked Like a Birdie
SOMETHING WONDERFUL: During the week local resident John Trinter contacted me asking if the Vermilion Area Archival Society would be interested in obtaining an old safe located in the basement of a property now owned by the Vermilion Boat Club. The safe was originally owned by the old Fischer Lumber Company who were previous owners of the property. It has their name on it. Mr. Trinter said that it is about 5 1/2 feet tall, 4 feet wide and is on wheels. It probably weighs about 1500 - 2000 lbs.
Whilst I could not really speak on behalf of the VAAS (I am no longer an officer in the society) I opined that I didn't believe the society could handle the piece. Currently the VAAS has rooms above the old Hull Building on Main Street, and moving it from the boat club to the Hull building would be an extremely formidable task. But I passed the message along anyway.
John also mentioned that he had a bunch of old pictures and negatives of Vermilion I would be happy to share with you or give" to me. These I accepted. And they (with the exception of some old postal cards his daughter wants to keep) will become the property of the VAAS.
The snapshot seen above is one of the items John contributed. And tis a beauty. I've no idea just who the old fellow with the sack slung over his back might be. I don't believe he's a bum - but just an interesting looking fellow who happened to be walking by as someone took this pic.
I'm thinking this pic is c.1940. And it provides a great views of the street back then.
This is just wonderful stuff!
Podcasts - "forever under construction..."
"A snippet from the clippet..."
PODCAST #78: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #78 offers further readings from Betty Trinter's book "The Way It Was" beginning in 1915 along with some historical pix to facilitate the reading."
Also note that this is an "MP4" podcast done in the "Quicktime" format.
Stay with me on this project. Things will get better. (I pro-mize.)
NOTE NOTE:Past podcasts are no longer available in the on-line archive. They just take up too much disk space. But if one really, really, really wants to acquire a copy of a past cast it can be had by contacting moi - and I will place it on a disc and send it to ye for a minimal fee.
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. And if ye can spare a few bucks it can certainly go a long way.
Tis an old recipe that I know folks have been looking for...
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
"Necks hate to exercise. If necks were feet, you'd never go anywhere."-Snoopy
Vol.6, Issue 11, May 31, 2008
© 2008 Rich Tarrant