RATHBUN'S
FROM MY DESTOP TO YOURS: Ah, what a treat. This week’s desktop pic (many readers may remember it) is the interior of George Rathbun’s store – currently morphed into the Knotty Pine restaurant. Vermilionites, and the current owner of the building, Margaret Worcester was kind enough to send several Rathbun pix to me on Saturday last.
To make this photo I combined 2 snapshots. It is – as best I remember – the inside of the Rathbun store. The only thing missing is the pleasant odor of the establishment and, of course, George himself seated in the chair at the back.
I can’t adequately say just how much I appreciate having these photographs.
BACK TO THE WAR CASUALTIES: What follows is the remainder of Vermilion’s WW2 casualties. When I conclude with all these names (I hope no more are added) I’ll have just a bit to say about these persons. Anyway, I really believe it’s important for some formal record to be made – and kept – of these particular people.
U.S. Marine Lt. Elmer Leimbach of Amherst / Brownhelm was killed on 16 June 1944 at Cherry Point, North Carolina when the plane he was piloting slipped on the runway and crashed into a tree. He was 21 years old.
Private Richard N. Floyd of Mitawanga, Ohio joined the U.S. Army on 22 October 1943. He was killed on 7 July 1944 during the American drive on St. Lo during the Normandy invasion. His remains were not returned home to his wife and young son until July of 1949. He received a military graveside funeral, and is interred at Scott Cemetery in Huron, Ohio.
Private First Class Jacob J. Karchin enlisted in the U.S. Army in Toledo, Ohio on 14 October 1942. He served in the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division. He was badly wounded during the invasion of Normandy at Cherbourg after 22 days of intense fighting. He was hit in the back when a phosphorous smoke shell burst a few feet behind him, and was later struck by a piece of shrapnel. There was some doubt at that time that he would ever walk again.
He was hospitalized for a long time in both France and the U.S. After his hospitalization at Crile (Veterans) Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio he tried to work – but never fully recovered from his wounds. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1945 receiving several decorations for bravery in combat including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Back home but forever in pain, in early April of 1947 he took his own life. He was 31 years old.
Private First Class Elmer C. Miller of Brownhelm, Ohio died of wounds he received in Luxembourg on 17 January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. He had enlisted in the U.S. Army in Cleveland, Ohio on 13 January 1943, and had been overseas since June of 1944. The 26 year old soldier was married and had a young daughter.
Private James F. Judge was killed on 8 April 1945 in the vicinity of Oberhof, Germany. Prior to entering the service in March, 1943 he had worked at the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio. Once in the Army he received training as a ground crew mechanic at Sheppard field, Texas, with the 303rd Training Group of the 11th training squadron. He went overseas in January 1944, and was stationed in England with the 813th bomb squadron for the next 14 months. In February of 1945 he volunteered for duty with the 359th infantry of the Third Army.
Once in Germany he was advancing well ahead of his company through a wooded area, and routed three enemies from their positions, killing one and wounding the remaining two. As he moved on, he encountered two more of the enemy and pinned them down with accurate rifle fire. When a machine gun opened fire on him and, at the risk of his life, he returned under intense fire to his platoon to obtain a bazooka. Although wounded he led a bazooka man over the same hazardous route and, by directing effective rocket fire, destroyed the machine gun nest. He was later killed by sniper fire.
On December 12, 1945 his mother, Mrs. Loretta Judge was presented the Silver Star for her son’s bravery in action.
Historically,
Kids is Kids
MAYBE SOME THINGS DON'T REALLY CHANGE: On Thursday last (08/23/12) my wife (Georgi), daughter (Shannon), and the little girl from across the street (Brittney) hosted a "back-to-school" party for all the youngsters in the neighborhood in our driveway. They played games and enjoyed refreshments (i.e. hotdogs & fruit punch). It appeared that all the kids had a good time.
When I took their picture I was reminding of the old pic (beneath it) of all the neighborhood kids that was taken behind the E&R Church back in the 1950s. In the old pic the children had put on a stage production for their friends and neighbors just before the school year was to commence - and, they too, had a grand time.
Gosh, those were great days. And while I looked at the pic I took of our neighborhood children this week I got to thinking that maybe some things don't really change. Kids is still kids. Wonderful.
WHISTLES (AND HORNS) NO MORE: Most everyone knows the old question: Is your glass half empty or half full? The intent of the question is, of course, to point out that our attitude(s) accompany our perceptions. As I sit in my home office writing this piece, the windows are open and I can, now and then, hear train whistles. They don’t bother me. I grew up in a house right next to the railroad tracks on Perry street. I was actually born there. So it is more than likely that the first loud noise I ever heard in this world was that of a train. But today it occurs to me that very soon I will hear those whistles and horns in Vermilion, O. no more.
Trains have had a long history in Vermilion. Would you believe that they’ve been running along the lakeshore through the town for nearly as many years as the town has been officially incorporated? It’s true.
The first steam engine rolled through the village on the Junction Railroad in 1853. The line would later become the LS&M (Lake Shore and Michigan Southern), then the NYC (New York Central), and then CSX/Conrail/Norfolk-Western. The Nickel Plate rails (those passing through the southern part of town) were laid through the village during the late 19th century.
With the trains came prosperity; economic development and jobs flowed in the wake of the rail lines all across the nation. Before the advent of the “horseless carriage” trains were the most efficient source of land transportation for people and the goods they produced, needed, or wanted. Many a town in the land envied the towns that had trains running through them. And some actually died because they refused to have them. But there was a trade-off. The noise was one thing. The most noticeable thing, then however, was the smoke released from the coal-fired boilers of the engines as the trains passed through town.
Sometime during the mid 1950’s the steam engines began to disappear and were gradually replaced by the diesel-electric locomotives that we know today. It was, to say the very least, an immeasurable technological, environmental, and social upgrade. [Note: The social upgrade was, in no small part, when the ladies of the town no longer had to worry about having the items they had washed and hung out to dry becoming soiled by the soot from the steam engines.]
Then, of course, there were the mishaps. The deaths. Vermilion has had its share; three doctors - Buell, Englebry, and Jeffery - as well as a significant number of others lost their lives on the rails. All tragedies. Such tragedies are, in fact, the very reason for train whistles. However; given the tone of these whistles, the frequency of trains passing through town, the number of grade crossings in proximity, and the time of day (night) of occurrence, nearby residents sometimes feel that the whistles have a serious detrimental effect on the quality of their lives. Ergo; the new quad grade crossing gates; the closure of the Perry street crossing; and a quiet, whistle free, zone is established in Vermilion.
But there is one more little thing. While growing up along the railroad it was never the whistles, bells, nor even the smoke from the locomotives that was really bothersome. Those things came and went with the passing of each engine. It was the noise and motion of the trains themselves that was more significant. Just how many discussions were suspended whilst the dinner plates clinked on the table, and the windows of the house rattled, as a train swept by our home will never ever be known. Now THAT was annoying.
Well, it’s certain that the train whistles and horns will soon be, like the old steam locomotives, relegated to their place in the yesteryear. Whatever the case, one really has to wonder about the real significance of the trade-off. Is the proverbial glass, as a consequence, half empty or half full? Only history will tell.
SHOPTALK: The museum desktop this week is another scan made from a metal plate used in letter press printing. As is fairly plain in this pic the letterpress pix were composed of a series of dots. Today we digitalists use pixels – which are tiny squares to make our pix. This particular photo is that of my grandmother (Bessie) and grandfather (Pearl) Roscoe on the occasion of their wedding in 1901. It’s the same year they purchased The Vermilion News from George Whitmore. When they purchased the business they lived in Lorain and used to commute on bicycles.
Bessie had been a schoolteacher in rural Milan and Huron schools. Roscoe (my grandfather) grew up, and graduated from school in Milan, Ohio. He learned to print while a young man in Milan, and moved on to Norwalk where he worked for the Lanning Printing Company for a time. After leaving Norwalk he went to Oberlin, and then to Lorain. Before coming to Vermilion he was the printing foreman for the old Lorain Times.
They worked The Vermilion News from ’01 until they passed in 1946. They saw Vermilion grow from a dusty-musty little town on the lake to a very busy fishing, vacation, manufacturing, and farming village. Though we’ve all witnessed our fair share of changes during our life spans I don’ t believe our experiences have been as dynamic.
PAPER WORK, PAPER WORK: I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time during the last week on paper work.
First the IRS contacted me to tell me that they needed an amendment to our nonprofit filing with the State of Ohio – and they provided me with a deadline. I immediately called the Secretary of State’s office to see which forms I needed to fill-out and submit. They were real helpful. But they also told me that they were “backed up” and it would take some time for them to approve my amendment. They told me that I could ask for an extension from the IRS – and I tried. But I was unable to contact my contact. So…
I got the proper forms, paid an additional fee, and put a rush on the filing. It worked, and I got it back on Thursday (8/23/12). Hooray!
But then I still had to add some additional information the fed’s requested, and send it off with a copy of the deed for the shop.
I couldn’t find the deed. So I called the title company, and they emailed me a copy. (They mistakenly forgot to include it when we purchased the property.)
But at last I got all the proper documents together and have sent them off to the IRS in Covington, KY in haste. I really want to get this behind us.
DISPLAY WORK: I’ve been working on improving the displays in the museum. Very soon some of the exhibits will be self-explanatory. I’ve also been working at lighting the displays a little better, and have added some additional photographs etc.
Next week (for sure) I’ll be getting into the bindery room at the back of the shop. I’m anxious to open more of the museum up for visitors. But, alas, all of this is going to take some time. Fortunately, I’ve some to spare.
NOW & THEN: My book, “Now & Then” has been inked and can be purchased at the museum along with the new VAAS calendar. It’s not a great book. But it sure is pretty.
VISITING HOURS: Starting Monday June 25th the museum will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM. On Saturday the museum will be open from 11 AM to 2 PM. A small admission donation of $3 (for adults) is requested. Children under the age of 11 will be admitted for free.
POST OFFICE BOX: Please note that the MUSEUM has a post office box now. Now we won’t have to use our home address, nor the one at the shop for mail.
MEMBERSHIPS: Memberships to the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are now available. Funds generated will go toward the aforementioned renovations and maintenance of the shop.
If you would like to become a member the VNPSM you can send a check or money order to:
Vermilion Print Shop Museum P.O. Box 792 Vermilion, Ohio 44089
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:Take the time to visit us on Facebook. Click on the badge below and stop in. We'll keep adding pix as we go along. If you're in the area come on in. I try to be there in the a.m. If you see a Chevy Silverado out front with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
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...
VOL. VII. NO. 16. – September 22, 1904
Friday the circuit court rendered a decision in the case of Wm. H. Ackerman et al., vs. the Village of Vermilion, an action to detach farmlands. It was ordered that lands be detached, but no relief given for L.S. & M.S. ry., Nickel Plate Ry. and the Lake Shore Electric Ry.
The September term of common pleas court was inaugurated Monday, Judge Reed, of Sandusky, occupies the bench.
The docket for the new term was called in the presence of almost every member of the Erie county bar and orders of assignment entered in accordance with the desires of the representatives of the various parties.
The case of the State of Ohio vs. Frank Minchler, the confessed assailant of Jackson Spahr a Leipsic, O., man in a boxcar near vermilion. Minchler was bound over by Mayor Molter. The circumstances surrounding the case are too well known for repetition.
A marriage license issued to Henry A. Funk, aged 32, farmer, of Hamilton, O., and Miss Anna Dellefeld, aged 24, Birmingham, O., was returned to the probate court Saturday. The parties were married by the rev. William Smith of the 14th of September.
Judge Curran, of the probate court, has granted the application of Septa carrier, of Milan, for relief from the blind fund and a quarterly allowance of $25 was ordered.
One of the interesting sights to a person visiting Toledo is the Naval Reserve ship, Essex. A person can form some idea of the ships used in the Civil War. The boat lies just below the Cherry street bridge. All the guns have been removed but a one-pounder modern high power rapid-fire gun is used for practice. It is one of the traditions of the navy to keep the names of famous ships alive by giving them to some of the more modern craft. It is claimed that the engines in this ship are the ones taken from a former Essex.
Taxpayers of Vermilion township have asked the commissioners to extend the Niersberger ditch and have filed a petition with the auditor as required by law. A hearing has been set for Oct. 11.
C. Cooke has been awarded the contract for grading the shore road from the corporation line of Huron to Old Woman’s Creek.
A transcript of the record of Justice Levi Saunders of Vermilion township, in the case of the Kaul Lumber company vs. The Geo. Fischer Lumber company has been filed in the office of the clerk of courts. The Kaul Lumber company claims there is due from the defendant, the George Fischer Lumber Co. a total of $111.89. Judgement for this amount is sought.
C.C. Baumhart vs. H.R. Williams et al.; appeal; defendant given leave to plead by Saturday.
In the future the county commissioners will allow sheep claims once a year instead of quarterly. In case of an insufficient amount being at their disposal in the fund raised by the dog tax to meet future claims in full, they will be apportioned pro rata out of money available.
In the case of Wm. H. Ackerman, et al., vs. the Village of Vermilion, decided by the circuit curt last Friday, the L.S. & M.S. Ry. Co., one of the parties plaintiff, has filed a motion for a new trial based upon four grounds of alleged error.
Missouri farm of 160 acres to exchange for vermilion village or farm property. Enquire of E.J. Hill, M.D.
The Democrats of Vermilion Corporation will hold a Caucus at the Town Hall, October 1st, at 7 o’clock p.m. for the purpose of nominating Corporation officers and such other business as man come before the Caucus. – By order of the Committee.
Ed Law of the Stmr. Sitka visited his family here last night.
Fishing has been fairly good off Vermilion for the past two weeks.
Geo. Harris has been very ill since Friday. He is very little better at this writing.
A marriage license was issued to Edward M. Luezler [sic], Brownhelm and Norva Petty, Henrietta.
C.C. Baumhart, who has been conducting a drug store in Odd Fellows Temple clock for several months, has decided to remove the stock to Vermilion. – Norwalk Reflector.
Call 19 when you have an item of news.
The water-works will be tested the latter part of this week.
WANTED – A correspondent from Axtel, Ceylon and Florence. Write for particulars to the NEWS office.
Despite reports to the contrary published in a Sandusky paper, the Erie County Fair considering the bad weather was very successful.
The apple crop seems to be very good through this section of the country, especially in the country around Brownhelm. The younger orchards seem to bear the largest portion of the crop.
Daniel Tyler a brother of Post Master Tyler of Huron had both of his legs broken and is suffering from concussion of the brain as the result of an accident at the Lorain steel plant.
John Fey, the oldest person in this section of the country, died at his home in Vermilion at 5 o’clock this morning. Mr. Fey was born in Germany and has been a resident of this place for about 45 years. His wife died about six years ago and since that time his only child, a daughter has cared for him. She is a deaf mute, which made this task harder. Funeral services will be held at the Reformed Church Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Fey was born in Dumbaken, on Bischofs Heim, Baden, May 18, 1811, and was 93 years, 4 mo. and 22 days old. He had two brothers and one sister in Baltimore several years ago. He has lived in the house where he died about 43 years and had been in America about 57 years.
We hear nowadays considerable about “nerve.” The nerviest act we have heard of lately occurred on a L.S.E. car near Oak Point recently. G.E. Whitmore of this place left an umbrella and several packages on a car seat while he occupied another with a friend. A young man boarded the car at the point and left it at undergrade [sic]. As he went out onto the platform a lady passenger told Mr. Whitmore that his umbrella went with the young man. He succeeded in recovering it just as the thief umped from the car, which was fortunate as it was a stormy day. There seems to be an epidemic of thieving all over the country and even an umbrella is not safe unless chained to the owner.
A. Clouse is drilling for gas.
MARRIED – Mr. Edward Lenzler and Miss Petty, Sept. 14, 1904.
G.E. Whitmore returned to Cleveland Tuesday where he is employed as a carpenter. [VV Ed. Note: Whitmore was once the owner / editor / publisher of The Vermilion News. Pearl and Bessie Roscoe had purchased the business from him in 1901. Mr. Whitmore was truly a craftsman and entrepreneur.]
The body of John Frederickson, the Huron man who was drowned at Lorain last week was found Monday and taken to Huron for burial.
The South Cleveland football team having organize for the season is ready to play and 150 pound team in Vermilion on Saturday afternoons game to be played in Vermilion.
For open dates and rates, address F.W. Hildebrand, Mgr., care of Cleveland Telephone Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
What might have proved a disastrous wreck occurred near the Linwood Park crossing of the Nickel plate one day lastweek. A train consisting of traction engine, tank and separater [sic] broke in two going up grade at the point and had it not been for a “friendly” telephone pole would have gone down the embankment. As it was some delay was experience in getting the train started again.
Capt C. Young is reported still very ill.
About 30 Oberlin football enthusiasts are at Linwood Park training for the coming fray.
The Duplex Stamping Co.’s building is nearly ready for the roof.
The test well which is being drilled south of the Nickel Plate bridge has reached the depth of about 600 feet. As yet a small quantity of gas has been struck but no oil. It is being sunk at the rate of about 30 ft. a day. [VV Ed. Note: Editor Roscoe mentioned the drilling of this well in last week’s paper as was taking a “stroll” around town.]
STRAYED OR STOLEN – From Ruggles’ Grove, Wednesday night, Sept. 15, a black pony, mare, had about 25 ft. of rope tied to her halter. $5.00 reward for her return to Ruggles’ Grover or Oberlin. – E.P. Johnson.
The board of public affairs will soon give out the rates that will be charged for water and making connections with the mains. They have had so much to look after especially during the past week or two that they have not had an opportunity to properly consider the matter.
Seven of the twelve Bellevue grocers have adopted the central union delivery system, which went into effect Monday. There will be four deliveries a day.
Mrs. Margaret Hermes wife of former Mayor Peter Hermes died at St. Alexis Hospital, Cleveland Sunday. The remains were taken to Huron for burial, which took place Wednesday.
A farmer from Henderson county Texas, has recently sent to the fair at St. Louis a cucumber weighing fifty pounds. It is said to have grown from a seed planted in the dark of the moon.
This would compare with the pumpkin on exhibition at Krapp’s Meat Market.
Daniel Clifford, an old soldier, applied to the Clerk McGory at Sandusky Monday for transportation to friends in Toledo. He claimed that while waiting for a train at Elyria a few days ago he was knocked down and robbed of his pension papers and $72 in cash. Transportation was furnished.
Hmmmmmm....
As ye can plainly see this is not the house during its best moments.
OUR HOME ON PERRY STREET: I had always wanted a photograph of our family home on Perry Street. I guess that's understandable. Because it’s where I, and many of my siblings, first opened our baby blues to this world - and heard our first locomotive. That’s a joke, of course. But the house sat just south of the M. & S. (N.Y.C.) railroad tracks on the west side of Perry. Consequently, the trains - the old steam locomotives trailing their plumes of black coal smoke, and later the beautiful streamlined diesels of the mid 20th century - were so much a part of our lives that we really and truly barely noticed them. I suppose folks who live next to a volcanic mountain must be inured to an occasional eruption or two too.
Anyway, I always wanted a photograph of the house. And though I’d seen a postal card picture of the place taken before the turn of the 20th century when it was fairly fresh and new - it was hardly the home that I recall. So, when my big brother, Al, found the accompanying photo of the house and gave it to me along with an assortment of other family pictures I was pleased. Or at least I was somewhat pleased.
As ye can plainly see this is not the house during its best moments. But also understand that this is not the house during its last moments either. This photograph was taken by my grandfather Roscoe for, perhaps, a local news piece during the early years of the last century. Though I’ve not yet come across the story that goes with this picture I’ve examined the photo in some detail. And by applying my very elemental sleuth-like knowledge to it I believe I can safely say that the fire was a chimney fire. A detached coal stove heater sits just outside the backdoor of the home along with a coal scuttle. Moreover; upon seeing this photo I vaguely recalled seeing some charred beams in the crawl space in the upper part of the house (where the fireman is working) when I was very young.
Our family didn’t come to the home until sometime in the mid 1930’s. By then the smoke had, of course, cleared; a nice porch had been built on the front of the house; shrubs had been planted; a buckeye tree shaded the porch on the north side; and lilacs bloomed “in the door yard”. It was a pleasant place to grow up.
A large yard on the south side of the home allowed plenty of room for children to play, as well as a nice garden. Sugar maple trees shaded the yard toward the back fence line. A carriage house - barely visible in the photo - sat just south and west of the home. During my lifetime it was used for storage, and served as a playhouse for my older brothers and sisters until my sister, Ginny, jumped out an upper window and broke her arm. It disappeared shortly thereafter.
The little building at the back (to the right) of the house with the chimney was a summer kitchen, the purpose, of which was to keep the main house cooler in the summer by putting the cooking and cleaning duties in a separate building. Though the buildings were, in this case, connected - a substantial wall separated the summer kitchen from the main kitchen. Though it had long fallen into disuse by the time I was born - the advent of safe gas and electric appliances making them obsolete - relics of the old summer kitchen remained well into my early years. A wooden “ice box” with stainless latches was something that always amazed me. To think that at one time everybody had to buy blocks of ice to cool and / or preserve their food was hard to imagine. But there it was.
As distressing as this particular portrait of my birthplace is it is nonetheless much better than having none. Moreover; it’s really not too difficult for me to (at least mentally) remove firemen, smoke, and debris from it and remember it as it was when I knew it; Sunday afternoons around the dining room table (at 1 PM) with family and friends; enjoying summer rainstorms on the front porch; burning leaves on Saturday afternoons during autumn; peering out through frosted window panes during winter snowstorms and appreciating the warmth of kin and hearth; and in the spring the sweet scent of lilacs filtering in through open windows and screened doors.
I would admit that this picture of a house on fire in a yesteryear ain’t much. There’s nothing terribly pretty nor unique about it - other than its age. But for me it’s not what it was in this portrait - it is what it later became. They were wonderful years. Who could ask for more?
As electric typewriters came into widespread use after World War II, Bette Nesmith Graham and countless other secretaries let out a collective groan. The new machines did make typing easier, but their carbon-film ribbons made it impossible to correct mistakes neatly with a pencil eraser. As a result of this predicament, Graham ended up inventing one of the most widely used office products of the 20th century.
Born in 1924 in Dallas, Texas, Bette Graham dropped out of high school at the age of seventeen and went to secretarial school. By 1951, she had worked her way up to the position of executive secretary for W.W. Overton, the Chairman of the Board of the Texas Bank and Trust. It was at this time that Graham and her colleagues at the bank began experiencing trouble with the new IBM electric typewriters. Tired of having to retype entire pages because of one small error, Graham determined to find a more efficient alternative. Little did she know her frustration would lead to her becoming one of the most famous women inventors of the 20th century.
The impetus for Graham's breakthrough came as she observed painters decorating the bank windows for the holidays. Rather than remove their mistakes entirely, the painters simply covered any imperfections with an additional layer. The quick-thinking Graham mimicked their technique by using a white, water-based tempera paint to cover her typing errors.
When the other secretaries realized how well the invention worked, they flooded Graham with requests for their own supplies. The now-famous woman inventor sold her first batch of "Mistake Out" in 1956, and soon she was working full-time to produce and bottle it from her North Dallas home. Her son Michael – who would later achieve fame as a member of the pop group The Monkees – and his friends helped to fill the growing number of orders for Mistake Out.
Graham continued experimenting with the makeup of the substance until she achieved the perfect combination of paint and several other chemicals. The refined product was renamed "Liquid Paper" in 1958 and, amid soaring demand, Graham applied for a patent and a trademark that same year.
Graham's Liquid Paper Company experienced tremendous growth over the next decade. By 1967, the company had its own corporate headquarters and automated production plant, and sales were in excess of one million units per year. In 1975, Graham moved operations into a 35,000-sq. ft. international Liquid Paper headquarters building in Dallas. She sold the company to Gillette Corporation four years later, just six months before her death in 1980.
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.
Mr. Case was, during the whole of his long career, one of the most prominent men in the work of developing the resources of the country, and was always actively engaged in some labor to advance the interests of the community. Some idea of the respect that was entertained for him by the people among whom he dwelt may be obtained from the fact that he was the first justice of the peace elected in the township of New London, and that he held the office for thirty-five years. He was the first postmaster in the village and his son the second, each of them holding the office about four years. He died in 1851.
Tracy Case was married June 1, 1828, to Emeline, daughter of John Knapp, and they became the parents of three children, one son and two daughters: Lorinda, Eliza and Isaac P., two of whom are still living. The oldest daughter died in 1854. Isaac P., the son of Tracy Case, was married in 1852 to Mary L. Sutfin, and Eliza was married in 1850 to Stewart Parker, and moved to Michigan.
Tracy Case married his second wife, Mrs. Augusta M. Stewart, January 24, 1879.
Mr. Case has held the office of justice of the peace, has been twice elected township trustee, and has also held the office of township clerk. He has been a practitioner of medicine since 1841, ten years of the time elapsing since that date having been spent in Charlotte, Michigan.
The family of which he is a representative was the second in New London. As such it is identified in an important manner with the history and growth of this community, and various facts in regard to the father and son will be found in the chapter devoted to New London.
of New London, the son of Hoel [sic] Perkins, an early settler, has been long and favorably known as a resident of the village where he now lives. His father (born December 17, 1794), and his mother, Mary Perkins, (born May 7, 1795), came to Ohio from Greene county, New York, in 1835, and first located in the township of Fitchville. Two years later they went to New London, where they lived until after the mother's death, June 29, 1839, when Joel Perkins removed to Michigan. From that State he went to Iowa, where he died. May 1, 1875. They had ten children: Laura, Sally, Jesse, Lucy, Harriet, Harman, Russell, Amos, Harlow and Ward.
The subject of this brief biography was born April 16, 1832, in Greene county. New York, and was, consequently, thirteen years of age when he came with his parents to Ohio. He grew up under the usual circumstances of a farmer's boy, and possessing fairly good advantages. Making the most of his opportunities, he has met with the reward that naturally follows, and has been successful in nearly all of the affairs of life. He has followed industriously the occupation of farming, and also the carpenter and joiner's trade. The house, of which a view is given upon another page, was built by him, upon his farm, in 1874.
Besides his application to his own business affairs, Mr. Perkins has given considerable attention to one or two public enterprises, and has taken a part in, and been occupied to a certain extent, with politics, although he is by no means a professional politician or seeker of place. He has held office several times in the township and corporation lists of New London, and since its establishment in 1878 has had the management of the grounds of the New London fair association, which he was instrumental in bringing into existence.
Mr. Perkins married, in 1857, Jeannette Thom, daughter of Alexander and Isabel Thom, natives of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, but then, and since 1837, residents of New London. The father, who was born February 13, 1799, is still living in Ruggles township, Ashland county, and the mother, born March 26, 1798, died April 23,"l873.
Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have been the parents of five children: Darwin, now in Kansas, Albert, Lena, Leona and Freddie. Lena Perkins died July 7, 1863.
of New London, is a quiet, unassuming gentleman whose life has been an eventful one, full of varied experiences. He was born October G, 1828, "of pioneer parents, Charles and Jemima Curtiss, at Mendon, Monroe county. New York. His parents lived for a short time in Rochester, and then returning to the…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
1922: I've had this little booklet sitting on my desk for several weeks. It is, of course, self-explanatory. It's really a nicely preserved artifact. The booklet is bound with a piece of brown ribbon fastened to a small piece of brown leather.
From what I can tell Miss Addie A. Rust was the oldest alum at the banquet. She graduated from Vermilion High School in 1890. George Parsons (VHS) 1895 gave the toast, "Action Not Words".
A a good time (no doubt) was had by all.
Question: Name a former President that most people would say is honest. Worst Answer: Nixon
Question: Besides San Francisco, name a city that begins with the word San. Worst Answer: Seattle
Question: Name a slang term used for important people.. Worst Answer: Buddy
Question: Name something packrats have a hard time throwing out. Worst Answer: Corn
Question: Name something that might annoy a gardener. Worst Answer: Not getting paid on time
Question: Name a reason a man might send his wife flowers. Worst Answer: Happy divorce
Question: Name a term used in football. Worst Answer: Fastbreak
Question: Name a special request people ask for when making a dinner reservation. Worst Answer: A menu
Question: Name someone you wouldn't want to get a phone call from. Worst Answer: Your son
Question: Name a classical music composer everyone knows. Worst Answer: Julio Inglesias
Question: Tell me something specific you should drink a lot of when you're sick. Worst Answer: Alcohol
Question: Name something you'd hate to find at the end of your nose. Worst Answer: Lint
Question: Name the worst kind of shoe to run a marathon in. Worst Answer: Scuba flippers.
Question: Name something a person wouldn't want living in their house. Worst Answer: Mold
Question: Name a musician who goes by one name. Worst Answer: Reba McIntyre
Question: Name something you'd buy for more than a thousand dollars. Worst Answer: Pleasure equipment.
Question: Name something you think would be difficult about being a waiter. Worst Answer: Falling down
Question: Name something a woman would find in her boyfriend's apartment that would make her think he was cheating. Worst Answer: Used condom
Question: Name something a teenage boy can do for hours at a time. Worst Answer: Masturbate
Question: Name a unit of currency used in a country other than the US. Worst Answer: Ampere
Question: Name a reason why a woman might not want to kiss her boyfriend. Worst Answer: She doesn't love him that much
Question: Name something you do in front of your husband that you probably never did when you were dating. Worst Answer: Make out
Question: Name a complaint you might have about the pizza that was just delivered. Worst Answer: It went to the wrong address
Question: Name an animal many people are scared of. Worst Answer: Boar.
Question: Name something you need to play Scrabble. Worst Answer: Dice
Question: Name the age when a man might start to lose a lot of hair. Worst Answer: 14
Question: Name the best month to schedule a wedding. Worst Answer: Summer
NADA AGAIN THIS WEEK: This week no podcast again. God is still talking and I continue to think about this section of Views - looking for a better way to present these videos.
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.
I need add here another great book with Vermilion Roots called, "Grandmas’ Favorites: A Compilation of Recipes from Margaret Sanders Buell" by Amy O’Neal, Elizabeth Thompson and Meg Walter (May 2, 2012). This book very literally will provide one with the flavor of old Vermilion. And ye can also find it at Amazon.com. Take a look.
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.
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'".
WHERE IS THEY (?):The VHS class of 1957 is having their 55th reunion Sept 15th. They are still looking for: Dana Hamrick, Ed Hendershot, Jim Henry, Neill Marcason, Peter Meckel, Sherry Meier, James Putnam, Paul Shover, Bob Delong, Bill Brown, Ron Roughton. contact Shirley Lehky @ 967-6536.
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.
How the old links menu looked
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.10, Issue 24 - August 25, 2012
© 2012 Rich Tarrant