DESKTOP - 09/10/11 - THE WELCOMING ARBOR
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: Geo and I have been working a bit at the old Vermilion News Print Shop this week. The boiler in “the shop” was originally fired by coal. Sometime back in the 1960’s my brother-in-law Jerry (Emery), who was a plumber, transformed the boiler from coal to natural gas. Sometime – perhaps in the late ‘90s - my brother Al found the system inefficient and shut it down. He has been using electric baseboard heat in his apartment above the shop. Geo and I are having the old boiler replaced. So the place will, again, be heated by steam as it was originally.
In any case, while working in the old coal / boiler room we found four or five bottles of wine underneath a pile of junk on the floor. Some of the wine is from the Lonz Winery on the Lake Erie Islands. It is dated 1970. I don’t know how the wine got there or who placed it there and (probably) forgot about it. I do know that it wasn’t me. That’s because it wasn’t Boone’s Farm wine – and the bottles were full.
I don’t know how many folks read through the “Briefs” section of “VV” each week, but I’d suggest that everyone take a look at them if you have the time. Sometimes it’s just little things that will catch your eye.
This week I noted in the Real Estate transfers that Albert R. Rumsey purchased acreage from James Risden, and sold acreage to Silas Hitchcock. The property Rumsey purchased may be that which became “Rumsey Park Farms”. And the property he sold may have been his family’s farm.
It’s also interesting (at least to me) how the people of the village handled the smallpox epidemic. For many – or all – those struck down by the disease the funerals weren’t held until some weeks after they were interred. Can you imagine how that type of thing weighed on the minds of their families? I would suppose that families of the 9/11 victims even have it worse than that. Many don’t even have a specific spot – aside from the site of their deaths– to quietly remember their loved ones. C’est guerre.
Historically,
"MARTY"
SERENDIPITOUS THINGS:And, again, going through things at the old News office I came across this photograph of Vermilionite Martha Klaar. I haven't seen Martha (I think) since high school. She was about a year older than myself, so I'm thinking she graduated from Vermilion High School around 1962.
This is a great pic of her. I assume it was taken upon her graduation from a nursing school in the Cleveland area back in the 1960s. I remember her as a slight girl, with a great smile. She was from one of Vermilion's older families. I recall that her father was a very friendly person.
Finding the pic was a very serendipitous event.
"Under the 18th Amendment, intoxicating liquor was essentially “prohibited” within the United States."
HOW PROHIBITION HELPED COMMERCIAL FISHING: During the early years of the 20th century the numbers of Lake Erie freshwater herring and whitefish harvested by commercial fishermen were on the decline. Industry statistics show that the herring catch went from eleven million pounds in 1919 to six by 1923. Whitefish went from two million to less than four hundred thousand. Both types of fish were high-value, high-profit commodities and this nosedive in production for the fishing industry was both an unexpected and devastating development. In essence a combination of things; a rapidly changing environment; commercial exploitation; and the absence of any coherent fishing management agreement among the states and the Canadian province bordering the lake caused it. Given these circumstances the consequence was - at least in retrospect - no big surprise. And then along came a thing called “The Volstead Act”.
The Volstead Act was a piece of legislation passed by federal legislators in 1919. It enabled the United States government to enforce the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and is formally known as the “National Prohibition Act”. Under the 18th Amendment, intoxicating liquor was essentially “prohibited” within the United States. In the meantime, across the lake in Ontario, Canada a law had been enacted that made drinking alcohol illegal while the manufacture and export sales of alcoholic beverages was perfectly legal.
Now, the aforementioned circumstances combined with the fact that Lake Erie was the longest unprotected border in the world opened the door for a new kind of commerce on the lake; smuggling. [Pictured is the tug “C.A. Trinter” docked in front of the Vermilion's Southwest Fish Co during Prohibition.]
Before organized crime (most notably Detroit’s Purple Gang and Chicago’s Al Capone) assumed control over a vast majority of rum-running operations on the lakes some small operators in the numerous towns and villages scattered across the northern shore of the lake naturally took some advantage of the situation. And some stories indicate that Vermilion, O. had at least a small role in these spiritual escapades. For it was not impossible for a single load of booze from Canada to bring in $10,000 for any person bold enough to dodge a few machine-gun bullets while navigating his vessel at top speed through a thick fog, or during the dead of night. Yet however glamorous that may seem, more often than not, most smuggling operations were somewhat less profitable and uneventful. The bottles were simply placed in the bottom of fishing totes beneath a small catch of fish and ice and brought to port.
One story of those times told by local resident Hank Fischer recounts a time when a load of booze destined for Sandusky came into port. Authorities had roadblocks set up on nearly every road between Vermilion and Sandusky to intercede with any such shipments. But the fellow in charge of shipping them westward was confident that he could accomplish the task without a problem.
He was so confident that he asked some of the locals if they would like to put a wager on the task. Everyone of the locals saw a great way to make a few bucks, and laid their money on the line.
When the bets were down the bootlegger packed the booze in his vehicle, and called a tow-truck. The tow-truck came and hauled his vehicle with the booze inside to Sandusky without a problem.
Another story concerns a rather substantial load of illegal alcohol that was uncovered by Vermilion’s Marshal. To safeguard the booty for the night it was placed in the lockup at the back of the Vermilion Township Hall. When the Marshal came to collect the evidence in the morning it had disappeared. Further investigation revealed nothing.
Toward the end of 1933 the 18th Amendment to our Constitution - which had probably created more problems than it ever solved - was dismantled. And oddly enough the interlude was of some benefit to the fishing industry. The pause had allowed the watery fields of Lake Erie to be replenished. And that is how "Prohibition" helped preserve commercial fishing on Lake Erie in a yesteryear.
AGAIN - ANOTHER NEW (NOW OLD) THING: Initially I said that "This will not take the place of the "Macabre" stuff all the time - but will supplement whilst I search for more macabre stories to tell." But methinks that it's carved out a niche for itself and the "Macabre stuff" with have to find another.
So stay tuned...
August 27, 1903 – Volume 7 – Number 13
A large concourse [sic] of people gathered at the M.E. Church Sunday evening, to listen to a Baccalaureate address by Rev. A.G. Rupert. He gave a fine talk to the young people, which was well appreciated by the older ones as well.
The members of the Subscribers Library will meet at Mrs. Franc Parsons Monday evening at 7 o’clock. A full attendance is desired as important business is to be transacted.
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all friends who so kindly assisted us in sickness and death of our wife and mother. John Nieding and Family.
John H. Way, Sergeant of 128th O.V.I. visited Chas. W. Andrews last week, on his way home from the reunion of the Co. at Sandusky. This was the first meeting of the two comrades since they were mustered out in 1865.
Wednesday while Mr. J.B. Baumhardt was at the side of the house feeding her chickens some unknown person entered the kitchen door and ransacked the bureau drawers and bed, where he secured $4.25 in money and a gold bracelet belonging to Nellie. Mr. Baumhardt saw the fellow walk out of the yard, but supposing that his wife was in the house he did not think of hi being a thief. Nothing was thought of it until Nellie looked for her money and found an empty purse. It appears that he had stopped at every house down the road and when he found any one at home he would insist upon cleaning their gasoline stove and look at the stove even if they did not want it cleaned.
Last Thursday the Brownhelm Station Sunday School picnicked at Linwood Park, which is considered one of the finest parks on this side of Lake Erie. The day was an ideal one and the crowd a happy joyous throng. Many of the children with their parents and invited friends made it a day long to be remembered as it promoted a genial sociability and a united interest in the work, which tends to a greater zeal in the Master’s cause.
The set of pictures which have been on exhibition in Nuhn and Trinter’s Drug store will remain another week to give everyone an opportunity of seeing for themselves the result of taking different views of our Volunteer Firemen at the Annual Convention of Volunteer Firemen, which was held at No. Amherst on Aug. 19th. There has been a great demand for the pictures as same will be kept as memoirs of that occasion. Two of said pictures were taken at Vermilion viz. – Nuhn and Trinte’s Stars and the Vermilion Steam Fire Engine.
James Risden to Albert R. Rumsey 61 acres; sec. 3, lot 68, 15 61 – 100 acres, sec. 3, lot 9 Vermilion township, $5,000. [Views Ed. Note: This may have been the property that later became known as “Rumsey Park”.]
Albert R. Rumsey to Silas Hitchcock, 61 acres, sec 3 lot 8, Vermilion township, $450.
Nicholas Fischer to E.L. Coen and G.B. McConnelly trustees 11 68-100 acres sec. 2 lot 27, Vermilion village, $1,200.
The great and only Barnum’s show will be at Sandusky Sept. 2d.
The last dance of the season will be given at Shadduck’s Lake Park Saturday evening Sept. 5. It will be a German and Confetti dance.
Capt. Blattner expects to take out the new boat, Lewis Woodruff from Lorain Saturday.
Myron George Krapp was born on the 27th day of July, 1900 and was baptized on the 3d of March 1901. He took sick on the 26th day of May and passed away on the 6th day of June of this year. We pain fully miss his curly locks and smiling countenance but live in the blessed hop of seeing him again. The merciful Savior heartily invites him yea, urges us to come to where hi is to that land of joy and blessing.
Memorial services were held at the Reformed Church last Sunday and our hearts were comforted by the words of the Scripture found in Romans, verse 28; “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” May we allow all things work together for good to us.
John Nieding was struck by a train yesterday afternoon and thrown about fifteen feet. He was considerably bruised and shaken up but not seriously injured.
Stetson’s Uncle Tom’s cabin show entertained quite a crowd last evening. The tent was pitched near the Lake Shore wagon bridge on the east side of the river.
Hmmmmmm....
The name “Tobermory” was derived from a town in Ontario, Canada.
THE POWER YACHT “TOBERMORY II: The Tobermory II was the first of its kind on the Great Lakes. It was commissioned to be built by the Crossley Lead and Machine Company, 16 West Fifth Street in Erie PA. for F.W. Wakefield of Vermilion Ohio. It was built in a vacant lot next to the Crossely Company in 1924. When it was finished it was 50 feet long with a 13-foot beam and weighed about 35 tons. It was launched from the foot of State Street (in Erie) into the waters of Presque Isle before a cheering crowd of 1000 spectators. And as the boat slid into the water the builders daughter, Elizabeth Crossely, christened it with these words; "I name you Tobermory II. May you bring success to the owner and to the builder."
The name “Tobermory” was derived from a town in Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula and lies at the very tip of the Peninsula in Ontario - a strip of land separating Lake Huron from Georgian Bay. It is considered to be a “paradise” by many naturalists, photographers, divers, hikers, kayakers, and leisure-seekers. The natural beauty of that place may very well explain the reason Wakefield found the name so appealing.
This was possibly the first power yacht on Lake Erie that was constructed entirely of galvanized sheeting. The first “Tobermory”, a Matthews, was a “woody” built in Port Clinton. It had one of the first diesel engines installed in a pleasure boat on the Great Lakes. The second Tobermory was, of course, also powered by diesel. Mr. Wakefield and his sons accomplished all the detailed finishing of the craft after it was brought to port in Vermilion.
The same year (1924) it was built Wakefield and his family returned to Georgian Bay on a vacation / fishing trip. The image “ghosted” in the foreground of the photo of the craft as it looks today is that of F.W. Wakefield flanked by two of his sons, Ted and Ernest, proudly displaying a good-sized Pike they had snagged while aboard their freshly finished yacht.
In time the Tobermory II, like a good many boats familiar to local sailors around Vermilion’s busy harbor, simply disappeared. Few persons asked its whereabouts - and it was all but forgotten. One of F.W.’s sons (Ted) named his trawler Tobermory. And another son (George) also gave the name to one of his sailboats. But the years passed and the memories of the 50 foot beauty began to fade. Then, one day a young man found a beautiful old yacht sunk in the water somewhere near Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. It was the Tobermory II.
In 1994 Vermilionite, George Wakefield, along with several members of his immediate family, took a ride through the locks at Sault Sainte Marie aboard a newly restored vessel called the “Gerald D. Neville”. Seventy years had gone by since the octogenarian had stood on the deck of the vessel beside his father and brothers. Seventy years of memories trailed in her wake. Only the name of the vessel had really changed. As Will Shakespeare sagely put it; “What's in a name? that which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet...”
But it is said that even today when the Summer sun sets along the coast of Lake Superior if one looks very closely at an old, but stately, yacht moored near the shore you can almost make out the name “Tobermory II “ neatly printed on the sides of her bow.
Phantom limb pain (pain in a person's non-existent limb) plagues an estimated eighty percent of the world's ten million amputees. Scientists believe that phantom pains are caused by the brain still sending signals and commands down to an amputated limb, which no longer exists. To eliminate this pain, twenty-five feet of embedded thermo-resistive wiring is connected to a lithium-ion battery pack inside of a below-the-knee prosthetic socket. This allows concentrated and controlled heat to stimulate severed nerve endings in the residual limb, effectively stopping the brain's signals down to the amputated limb. This thermal biofeedback works to stimulate a patient's severed nerve endings, as well as to force the brain to focus on the heat, rather than to send signals and commands to the former limb. The concentrated heat also works as a muscle relaxant for the residual limb. This treatment has the potential to be very effective as it takes into account the underlying factors producing the pain, does not use expensive (and largely ineffective) medications, holds no potential addiction factor, and has the ability to be produced in a portable and easily accessible environment.
THE FIRE-LANDS: I found the following information re: the early inhabitants of our area to be extremely informative. Methinks you will also.
I am getting better at transcribing these passages so there are fewer mistakes. But I like to read as I go - and sometimes I fill in the blanks. So tread carefully this trail through yesteryear.
The following series will take thee to the townships south of Vermilion. Methinks you'll find this history quite fascinating.
…sand dollars. Three hundred dollars were furnished by the New England Congregational Union, and the balance was raised by subscription. The church is, at present, in a very prosperous condition, and has a membership of over sixty persons. The pastor is Rev. A. H. Leonard; deacons, John Carney, J. H. Donaldson, J. C. White; Sunday school superintendent, John Carney; assistant, Enos L. Marsh: secretary, Louie Carney. The church trustees are: A. Hostler. D. S. Bell, E. L. Marsh; clerk, John Carney; treasurer, Ambrose Frayer.
The first Methodist class in the township was organized at General Barker's house some time during the year 18.35. Eev. James Wheeler officiated. The class remained in existence for some time, but no record has been kept, from which the names of the constituent members or other matters of interest can be obtained. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was organized November 14, 1862, the service upon that occasion being conducted by the Rev. L. S. Johnson, then of Plymouth. The original members were F. C. Paine, Mary A. Paine, Sarah Truxell, her son, Homer Truxell, and daughter Mary Truxell, Hannah Long, George Robbins, Olive Jane Robbins, her daughter Kate Robbins, Atwater Hough and Mary Hough. F. C. Paine was the first class leader. William Robinson succeeded him two years after the organization of the church. The pastors of the church down to, and including the present, are as follows: L. S. Johnson, three years; J. T. Kellum, one year; A. K. Owen, three years; H. G. Du Bois, one year; C. C. Ball, one year; George MacKillipps, one year; John McNab, one year; John McKeen, one year; J. F. Brant, one year; C. J. Russell, one year; P. F. Graham, one year. The whole number of persons connected with the church since its organization has been one hundred and fifty, and the present membership is one hundred and twenty. The trustees are: S. E. Peck, M. K. Stotts, J. C. Boardman, Atwater Hough and J. C. McLaughlin; stewards, J. C. Boardman and E. H. Inscho; class leaders, E. H. Inscho, Joseph Gleason and John Hale.
The Sabbath school union of Ripley township, auxiliary to the county union, was organized February 6, 1875, since which time, meetings have been held quarterly for the consideration of modes of Sunday school work. F. C. Paine was the first president of the society, L. S. Gibson, secretary. The present officers are: S. E. Peek, president; J. J. Carney, vice-president; A. Frayer, treasurer; Mrs. Belle Gates, secretary. The union is, and has been, one of the strongest, most active and most useful in the county.
Mrs. Harriet Russ, formerly Miss Harriet Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Joseph Edwards, then living in Greenfield, taught the first school held in the township, in the year 1827, for the sum of fifty cents per week, paid not in money, but labor at clearing land. This school was in the southwestern section of the township. The first school meeting was held also in 1827. A school house was erected in 1832, near the northeastern corner of the township, principally through the efforts of Daniel G. Barker. Sallie Fowler was the first teacher at this, school.
The first practitioner of medicine known in the township, was Dr. Moses Saunders, of Peru. He, for a number of years, had the whole of what little practice there was in the settlement. Afterwards, Dr. Wm. M. Ladd, of Fitchville, and Dr. Morton, of Greenwich, practiced in the township. The only resident physician of any note, in Ripley, was Dr. Cyrus Paine, who began here in 1833 and continued in practice for about five years, giving very general satisfaction.
Delphi was once quite an active little village, and its future looked roseate enough to satisfy nearly all that it would one day be a thriving place. It had two or three taverns or hotels, in its most prosperous days, and several well-stocked stores. The railroads, however, developed other places at the expense of Delphi, and for the past score of years or more, its interests have waned. It has, at present, two stores, kept by "Uncle William" Robinson and George E. Miller, a wagon and blacksmith shop, kept by James Irwin, and another by Charles Harrison. The first store in Ripley township was opened here by Uvat Close.
For a number of years after the first settlement was made there was but one road in the township upon which travel was possible. This was the one running east and west through the center. The timber had been chopped along the line, but the road was unimproved, and it was only with difficulty that vehicles could be moved over it. The road cut through the township for Harrison's army to pass through, was grown over with bushes and small timber, and it was allowed to remain in this condition for some time after the settlement was commenced. Many of the early settlers cut their way into the township through the primeval forest.
There was a mail route through Ripley before the township was settled, upon which a man went once a week, between Mansfield and Norwalk. The first eastern mail was carried from New Haven through Ripley, Greenwich, Ruggles and Sullivan. For a few years the settlers were obliged to go to the older settled townships for their mail; but about 1830 a…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
CASEY'S: This artificat isn't exceptionally old, but it's something that many persons who lived in Vermilion, O. during the early '60s might remember.
Casey's Drive-In is, of course, long gone. It was the predecessor of modern "fast food" restaurants - kind of in between the '50s drive-in restaurants and McDonald's. I believe it was located on Liberty next door to the South Shore Shopping Center. Over the years the restaurant has housed several other fast-food places. Today it's a sports-bar / rib / pizza place. Anymore it's hard to keep track of who was where and when at that site. Back in the '40s I believe it was also the site of a drive-in. But back then it was only open in the summer.
• A car comes up behind you, flashing his horn. Aaron Colwick • A carpenter was the low rung on a totem pole. Charles Hodge • a heart as big as gold Kathy Scott • A leopard can't change his stripes. Al Gore • A rolling stone is worth two in the bush. David Beck • A stitch in time is worth a pound of cure. John_Nutting's ex-girlfriend • Adam wasn't always the brightest tool. Darrell Ankarlo • An automatic process failed. I'm going to have to kick it off by hand. The Russler • and, for the cherry on top, great sound & production that's crisp like a crunchy apple. Alan_Caylow • [as if] it would somehow bring the public school system crumbling to its knees. Mark Davis • as proud as pea soup The Russler • As we consider the road that unfolds before us . . . Barack Hussein Obama Jr. • beyond the question of a doubt Doug_Yochum • biting the hand that rocks the cradle Sherri Barber • ¡Botó la casa por la ventana! (It threw the house out the window!) Latin American saying used when someone throws a lavish party • Brilliant sunshine rained down on Fort Collins. Rush Limbaugh • But one has to tidy up the loose ends. Agatha Christie • Button your seat belts. Rush Limbaugh • Can't you read the handwriting in the wind? Frank Burns • Change is now baked into the fabric of EDS. Dick Brown, cooking & sewing expert
PODCAST #0:This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #0 is none existant - again. I'm waiting until I've got something nice that's easy to load.
Persons interested in the history of the Lake Shore Electric Railway (which was the subject of a recent past podcast series) - "the greatest electaric railway system on the planet" may want to go to Amazon.com and purchase a book called "Images of Rail - Lake Shore Electric Railway". It was put together by Thomas J. Patton with the help of my friends Dennis Lamont and Albert Doane. It'd make a nice gift.
Also, please note that all the video (MP4 and MOV) podcasts (when used) are done in the "Quicktime MP4 / MOV" formats. If you don't have a "Quicktime" it's easy to find and free to download.
NOTE NOTE:Past podcasts are not 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 me and I will place it on a disc and send it to ye for a minimal fee.
LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: After giving it much thought this link has been "put-down". During the last year most of the folks who used to use this page as a bulletin board have acquired their own and, consequently, no longer need this forum from "Views". I have, however, kept links (in the links section) to Larry Hohler's "Hope Homes" in Kenya - and to Bette Lou Higgins' Eden Valley Enterprises sites. They are historically and socially relevant projects. I suggest that you visit these sites on a regular basis to see "what's shakin'".
THE BEAT GOES ON: This page is generated by a 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.
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Vol.9, Issue 26, September 10, 2011
© 2011 Rich Tarrant