WOLVES AT THE DOOR
SHOPTALK:Okie Dokie. The rewiring of the museum apartment is done. All the fixtures and switches have not been installed – but the re-wiring (taking the place from the early 20th century into the 21st century) is done. All the “knob-an-tube” wiring is gone.
K&T wiring was an early-standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, commonly used in North America from about 1880 to the 1930s. It consisted of single-insulated copper conductors run within wall or ceiling cavities, passing through joist and stud drill-holes via protective porcelain insulating tubesknob insulators. Where conductors entered a wiring device such as a lamp or switch, or were pulled into a wall, they were protected by flexible cloth insulating sleeving called loom. The first insulation was asphalt-saturated cotton cloth, and then rubber became common. Wire splices in such installations were twisted together for good mechanical strength, the soldered and wrapped with rubber insulating tape and friction tape (asphalt saturated cloth), or made inside metal junction boxes.
K&T wiring was eventually displaced from interior wiring systems because of the high cost of installation compared with use of power cables, which combined both power conductors of a circuit in one run (and which later included grounding conductors). Currently, new knob and tube installations are permitted in the US only in a few very specific situations such as certain industrial and agricultural environments.
In the case of the museum the old K&T would (I think) have been grandfathered in. (When the building was built in 1904 there was no electricity.)But the wiring was old and made us nervous. But setting that aside, our plans for the Vermilion history part of the museum require new improved electrical access. Some of the old K&T is still visible on the walls of the print shop part of the museum.
I need mention the name of the electrician. His name is Jim Traut. He’s the owner of a rather successful business called “Electrical Accents” based in S. Amherst, Ohio. He lives in N. Amherst. Jim wanted to do the job at the museum, and because he did he did a majority of the work by himself. He’s really been helpful with his suggestions.
VISITORIUM: Among those visiting the museum this week were my nephew Bruce and his son Jack who live in Toledo. Jack’s getting his driver’s license and needs practice. Ergo, to Vermilion they came.
Then, Tuesday, my Ol’ buddy Tom Rodgers stopped by. He was on his way to Avon Lake to have lunch with a cousin. Tom currently lives in Lima and is a retired corporate attorney.
A bit later another Ol’ buddy – and my good friend – Al Crozier came stopped by to chat. Al still lives in town. He’s a very, very, very interesting person: one of the most intelligent people I’ve known.
MUSIC & MARQUEE STUFF: In addition to other things this webpage also features music each week. I have learned, however, that only certain browsers will read the music: Microsoft I.E. and Firefox are two (I also use) that will. I have been using a Seamonkey browser for years, and until very recently I could hear the music. But for some reason it won’t read it now. (Go figure.) I suppose that’s what happens when one tries to stay current with whatever net browser one is using.
I’ve also been making use of a marquee at the bottom of the Seamonkey page (also for years) wherein several quotes and the title and performer of the musical piece used are displayed.
In this case I was aware that many browsers don’t exhibit the marquee. Consequently, about 99% of those visiting the page never see it.
To eliminate this problem I’m adding a new marquee at the top of the page with the same information. I don’t know if I will like it – nor if it’ll work. But I’ll give it a try.
ORAL HISTORIES: Georgi and I conducted our first oral history interviews using the camera we recently purchased with grant funds from the Sandusky-Erie County Community Foundation for that purpose.
Our first subject was the very charming Rev. Myrtle Howell Eppler. She is 98 years old and livelier than I am at 69 years. [To borrow a K. Kvach expression: Yikes!]
Among other things Mrs. Eppler was the first (or very nearly the first) female minister in Vermilion. I believe she said she was ordained back in the early 1940s.
What brought her into the service of God is quite an interesting story. But her entire life story is interesting.
When I’m finished editing the video I’ll give Rev. Eppler and her family a copy, and provide the Vermilion Area Archival Society with a copy as well.
Our interviews are not exactly 60 minutes quality – but we’ve got to start somewhere. In the past we’ve done several dozen interviews. But this is the very first where both the video and audio quality is good. I’ve had trouble with the audio quality in the past. But now we have the proper equipment.
LASTLY: The pic below is a shot of the back of the museum as it looks after most of the painting has been completed. It appears pretty much the way I’ve seen it in very old color pix. Beautiful.
Now – if we could only afford to paint the whole building. It’s high on our wish list.
FIVE-OH-ONE-CEE-THREE: It’s now official. The museum is officially a 501(c)(3) organization. Consequently, all donations to the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011. (Thank heaven. Now I can fret about something else for months on end.)
VISITING HOURS: We are located at 727 Grand Street in Vermilion across the street from Vermilion's historic E&R Church. The museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM. On Saturday the museum it is 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. Phone For Special Tours: 440-967-4555
We are not open on major holidays.
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. most everyday. If you see a Chevy Silverado in the drive with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
Historically,
From the Star-Register
F.W.W.: This piece speaks / reads for itself. I took it from a June 1934 issue of the Sandusky Star-Register.
Tis a bit difficult to read. But that’s all right, because the piece isn’t entirely accurate; the names of some of the children are incorrect. But I wanted to use it anyway because it’s illustrative of the esteem that area folks had for the very dapper F.W. Wakefield. And it’s also illustrative of the fact that you just can’t believe everything you read – whether on the “net” or in the newspaper. But no matter, most of it is right.
I have seen the obituary that appeared in The Vermilion News upon Mr. Wakefield’s demise, but have not copied it (yet). When I do we’ll compare, and see how accurate it might be.
SOMETHING ABOUT VERMILION’S KANE FAMILY: The way all this began was simple enough. A fellow named Bill Brandon, whom I only know via that thing called the Internet, emailed me a photo of six young ladies (top photo) that he said were “the girls of class of 92”. Initially, I took that to mean that it is a photo of the girls of the Vermilion High School class of that year. But I must not have understood him correctly. For after looking further into the matter I’m certain that’s not the case.
Bill also told me that one of the girls in the middle of the group is a Vermilion girl – his relative – named Alice Kane. She also appeared in another photo (middle photo) that he’d forwarded to me many months ago. In it we see Alice, her mother Sarah L. (Jones) Kane, her brother Robert, and their seamstress (name unknown) in the yard of the beautiful Kane home (lower photo) on the northwest corner of Decatur and Liberty streets. From it my assumption is that Alice is the fourth girl from the left in the first photograph.
Anyway, my search for information about Alice led me down several one-way streets, in addition to some rather fascinating “cul-de-sacs” of historical interest. However, setting all that aside for now, I eventually found that Miss Kane had actually graduated from Vermilion High School on June 1, 1894. Commencement exercises back then were held at the Opera House atop the Vermilion Township Hall. According to a report filed by Dr. F.M. Hughes for the Sandusky Register, the place was “filled to overflowing with men, women, and children.” Given the fact that only three students graduated that day it appears to have been an impressively large turnout. The other graduates were Albert Henry Krapp, and George Naegele.
Now back to the Kane family. The William Kane family migrated from the Isle of Man to Amherst, Ohio in 1840. Alice’s father Edgar and his brother Eugene were the first children born to William Kane. Edgar served in the Civil War, and following the war came to work in a Vermilion grocery store owned by a local entrepreneur with the fascinating name of Orange Leonard. Mr. Leonard was the first son of a lady named Sophia Leonard who later married Vermilion pioneer Josiah Pelton. A lass named Sarah Jones, who was the daughter of Orange Leonard’s then deceased first wife Eliza met Edgar in the grocery, and the couple eventually married. During the early years of their marriage they built the aforementioned Decatur Street home seen in the lower photograph. Edgar served as Vermilion’s Postmaster during the latter part of the 19th and very early years of the 20th centuries.
Alice was born in Vermilion in 1877. She worked for a time as a schoolteacher. She later married a fisherman named Frank (coincidentally) Jones. He died in 1938. She had an older brother, William “Bill”, and three younger brothers, Warren, Robert (in the middle picture) and Roy.
Robert Kane eventually became Treasurer of the Wakefield Brass Company. (Robert’s daughter was Bill Brandon’s grandmother.) Robert’s son, Bill, married a gal named Polly Line. He worked on the lakes and later for Lyman Boats. Polly’s mother, Nellie, owned 40 acres west of town. She sold the property to Vermilion’s Kyle family for their car dealership etc.
As previously said, “The way this all began was simple enough.” It was just a photograph of six pretty ladies in a yesteryear. While I’m still puzzled about Mr. Brandon’s characterization of it: “Girls of class of ‘92 with their best hats on…” that’s not a complaint. For were it not for the photo I’d still be in the dark as it pertains to Vermilion’s Kane family.
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. IX - NO.8– Aug. 3, 1905.
Government contractors are at work upon the west pier. The work as now being done is creating considerable comment among the fishermen and sailors. The plan is to slant the stonework 12 or 15 ft. into the river narrowing up the channel nearly that much. At the bend in the pier line this will be especially dangerous so it is claimed. A meeting of the council was held one evening of this week and committee of three consisting of Messrs W.L. Coen, Geo. Fischer and N. Parsons were appointed to visit Major Kingman at Cleveland and see what could be done about the matter. These gentlemen left on the 8 o’clock car this morning for this purpose.
It is suspected that Vermilion will have a north and south electric railroad. It will fill a “long felt want” viz open up the country south of us to the lake and giving the people there better facilities for reaching our splendid transportation facilities, also access to the finest summer resort parks on Lake Erie.
To gentlemen, Messrs E.T. Snyder and J. J. Hillier, officials of the C. & S. W. have been town and have taken several trips over lines from this town to North Amherst and Birmingham. It is also intimated that parties will soon be out after right-of-way. The farmers are much pleased at the prospect and the right-of-way men will, in all probability meet with welcome from the farmers.
Mrs. Mary Heidloff, formerly of Vermilion, died very suddenly at her home in Cleveland Tuesday. Hemorrhage of the brain is given as the cause. Mrs. Heidloff was forty-nine years of age and leaves a husband, two sons, and four daughters. She was the daughter of Mrs. Witty and sister of Mrs. Martin Leidheiser of this place. The funeral services will be held at Cleveland tomorrow, (Friday) at 2 o’clock. Rev. Klein will preach the German service.
On Thursday night of last week the postoffice [sic] at this place was broken into and a small amount in stamps and money taken. Entrance was gained by prying open the rear window. A drawer containing stamps was pried open and looted of its contents. A small amount of money was in a showcase in the front of the office, which was also taken. There is no clew [archaic variant of clue] as to who done the job, but suspicion rests on a person living not many miles away. – Berlin Hts. Budget.
Recorder Eric Hartman had at his office Friday a deed made out in 1845, which had not been recorded.
The deed [this portion of the document is unclear] was made out on a blank had been printed at the ___ine office, Milan, O. It was _____w with age and careful…was necessary to preserve it in…
The…, six and one-half acres of land in Milan township were transferred by P.R. Hopkins and Mary Hopkins to Loraina Washburn.
The deed was acknowledged on April 1, 1845, before Justice of the Peace Levi Wilcoxen. – Register.
The ladies of the Congregational church will serve a 15-cent supper in the church parlors on Wednesday, Aug. 9th, commencing at 5:30.
The Lakewood Yacht Club has made plans for their annual Labor day yacht races here. A program will be published soon.
The days program may be completed be completed [sic] by by [sic] a grand display of Paine’s fireworks if about 4150 can be secured. This [sic]
This feature alone wiould be a great drawing card.
Souvenir Post Cards at News Office.
Several new phones have recently been placed in the homes of our country residents.
Mr. and Mrs. John Carr are rejoicing over the arrival of a son who made his appearance Monday July 31, 1905.
It is said that Miss Lottie Humphrey will today become the bride of Andrew Greenoe. May their path be strewn with roses.
The Ida E. of Alpena brought brought [sic] a load of lumber into port Friday for Geo. Fischer Lumber Co. [VV Ed. Note: They really could’ve used spellcheck back then.]
Rev. Stroup, of the First M.E. church at Lorain is reported ill with typhoid fever. Mr. Stroup was formerly presiding leader of this district and is well known in Vermilion.
O.K. Todd leaves tomorrow for a six weeks trip in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. He expects to visit Yellowstone Park and the Lewis & Clark exposition at Portland, Ore., en route.
Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Irey have had for their guest the past week, their friend, Miss Maud Roland of Ada, O., Principle [sic] of the Ada School of Arts and Crafts.
Governor Herrick and a number of State officials will leave Sandusky 9:30 A.M. Saturday, Aug. 5, on Lake Shore Electric for Linwood Park where they will be the guests of Farmers Picnic.
165 guests registered at the Lakeside Inn between July 19 and Aug. 2. Among those there at present are Dr. Weed and family and Com. Wakefield and family of Cleveland and Captains J. Beeman and Geo Eroe of the same city. A party of twelve Pittsburgers are expected Saturday.[VV Ed. Note: this is of some interest because Comm. Wakefield would later come to town with his lighting factory, and build his “Harborview” home in a lot very close to the Lakeside Inn (now the Gilchrist House).]
Mr. Geo Dickel is reported very ill.
Supt. J.C. Seemann is out of town for several days on business.
Stmr. Thos. R. Scott with a deck load of shingles from Port Robinson on the “Soo” for the Fischer Lumber co. is in port.[VV Ed. Note: The locales in this snippet are rather foggy. Then again, maybe I just misunderstand.]
Next Saturday, August 5th, 1905 the Farmer’s picnic will be held at Linwood Park, Vermilion, Ohio. This annual picnic is a reunion of Lorain, Huron and Erie County farmers and a few city people. In years gone by ten thousand people assembled at the annual picnic and Linwood Park has been crowded to its limit. Three hundred new hitching posts have been added this year, so the accommodations will be better than ever. The Norwalk brass band will give a concert both morning and afternoon. The music of this band is always good. The guest of honor this year will be Governor Myron T. Herrick. Ohio’s Governor will address the picnic about 1 p.m. His talk will be his experience as a farmer, and how the great state of Ohio owns its greatness principally to the farmers.
Let us all arrange to join the crowd at Linwood Park, August 5, 1905.
Thomas A. Edison is going to take an automobile tour through Ohio.
Wm. Hinde, Sr., of West Huron died late Thursday night, aged ninety-seven.
E.C. Loofborrow, former city engineer of Lorain, fell fifteen feet at the National Tube Works last week and sustained a fractured skull. He will recover.
Nine lives were lost in the mines of Ohio in July and forty-three on railroads. None of the latter were passengers; twenty-six were trespassers, sixteen employes [sic] and one a traveler on the highway.
The L.S.E. expects to shorten the time between Cleveland and Toledo one-half hour in the near future.
A famine is feared in Russia. Reports state that in 41 of the 60 provinces of European Russia the crops are a failure.
The contract for the new dry-dock for the American shipbuilding company at Lorain was let Monday and work will begin soon. It will be 72 feet long 125 feet wide, 100 feet longer than any dry-dock on the Great Lakes, and will cost $300,000.
Frank Lamkin has sold the Norwalk Evening Herald to A.W. Lawson of McKeesport, Pa. and will devote his time to mining interest in Mexico.
Scattered Ohio and West Virginia coal, railroad and dock properties said to be worth $50,000,000, and largely owned in Columbus, have been combined into one company. The combination is one of the largest coal coal [sic] corporations in the world and will be known as the Sunday Creek company. [VV Ed. Note: The Sunday Creek Company still exists.]
Crowds coming every day.
Milan Sunday schools picniced [sic] here Tuesday. About 200 came over in two specials on the L.S.E. and everybody had a good time.
Amherst people are enjoying themselves in camp here this week.
Miss Mary Duse of Columbus is at the park.
Born – To Mr. and Mrs. C. Wortheim, Friday, July 28,1905 a son.
Mrs. Leimbach, who has been the guest of her daughter, Mrs. H. Baxtine in Vermilion, returned home recently.
Miss Lambert, a returned missionary from Turkey occupied the pulpit at the Cong’l church last Sunday and gave a very interesting talk about her experience with the little orphan children in the country.
Mrs. Sam Bacon is ill with typhoid fever.
O.G. Jump is the possessor of a new buggy.
Benjamin Lee who has been quite ill is on the gain.
The remains of Earl Holhauer [sic], son of A. J. Holzhauer, who was drowned in Black river Saturday were brought here for burial the first of the week.
The milkmen have come to an agreement and milk is again selling at 5c a quart.
Mary Keating who is employed in the Elyria Canning factory left her watch, jewelry and some money in her pocket book I the cloak room of the factory one morning last week. When she returned to the room an hour later the pocket book and contents were missing.
R. R. Russell is quite poorly.
The Church of God are [sic] holding Gospel services in a large tent on South Pleasant street.
An invitation is extended by the evangelists to visit the meeting held every evening on on South Pleasant street. Rev. Mrs. Fleming, Elders C.C. Maple, G. W. Turner, W. M. McBroom and others are preaching each night.
Captain D. H. James, a prominent attorney of Toledo, has completed articles of incorporation for a new interurban line, which plans to have through electric car service between Toledo and Columbus. The nominal captal stock is $10,000. The road will be known as the Toledo Southern Railway, and will pass through the counties of Lucas, Ottawa, Seneca, Sandusky, Wyandot, Crawford, Marion, Delaware and Franklin.
[VV Ed. Note: I’ve been puzzling some about the meaning of the term “union church services” that often appears in the early 20th century Church News reports (though I use them rarely in “VV”). Anyway it apparently meant that they were interdenominational services. While that may be obvious to some readers, it is not a term currently used – and I wanted to make that clear to those unfamiliar with either term.]
Hmmmmmm....
BILLS HOUSE: “T’weren’t” always Bill’s house of course. But that’s how I still think of it. Bill is William Howard “Bill” Ream who currently lives in New Port Richey, Florida. We became friends -as school chums - about a million light years ago, and we still keep in touch.
In any case, I always found “Bill’s house” to be interesting. Before Bill’s parents, “Doc” Howard and Helen, purchased the place the Oscar Farrell Family lived there. And before that it belonged to the Charles “Charlie” Trinter Family. And before that? I’m not sure. The house is nestled in the middle of the block on the west side of Perry Street between Liberty Avenue and the railroad. Today it is occupied by the Green Family.
Some folks have told me that “in the beginning” it, as well as the house directly to the south, were parts of a much larger house. That house stands just east of the current Vermilion Police station on the south side of Liberty. Whether that is gospel or just wishful thinking is something yet to be determined (on my part). However: the larger house (the one next to the Police station) was built by a lake Captain named Fred Bailey sometime during the 19th century - so it very well could have been a much bigger home. Bill always told me that his parents used to kiddingly refer to the smaller house (next to theirs) as being “the servant’s quarters”. Perhaps it was.
This software sketch (i.e. the accompanying photo) was made from a photograph taken in 1948 when it was the C.A. Trinter home. It’s fairly easy to see why I have always considered it to be one of Vermilion's “great” homes. I always admired the tile roof. And when I was a guest in Vietnam (1966-67) I was constantly reminded of home because many of the big villas there had tiled roofs just like "Bill’s house" back in Vermilion, 0.
The interior of the house - as I recall - was very nice. It had hardwood floors, oak woodwork, some bevelled glass windows, and high ceilings. There was a nice fireplace in the living room; and a set of very nice french doors separated the dining room from what may have served some as a den / family room at the very front of the house. (That room is the one with all the slender rectangular windows.) When this was “Bill’s house” the room served as a beauty salon for Mrs. Ream’s cosmology business. It had / has its own entrance.
The garage was likely built long after the home for one of Charlie Trinter’s wonderful automobiles. Charlie is the only person I know of who had a 1934 Chrysler Airflow. The design might have been dynamic for the times but it didn’t catch on. It was discontinued after only 3 years in production (1934-37). The reason I mention it is because the interior of the garage had a wall with a significant number of old license plates nailed to it. Unlike today folks bought new plates every year. Every year was a different color. Mr. Trinter saved his.
Another feature of the home that was fascinating was the basement. It, of course, was ideal for a group of boys, who more often than not, were up to only heaven knew what. Rumor had it that there were “secret tunnels” in it. But to the best of my recollections it consisted of three rooms; one large laundry / storage room; a room that had very likely once served as a coal bin; and another small room that could have been a pantry / fruit cellar in former times. Bill often used that chamber as a poker room where neither the blue language of the losers, nor the jocularity of the winners, could trespass into the rest of the home.
I never got to the attic. But in a recent communiqué Bill wrote: “We were in the house a for few years when Dad was working on the chimney in the attic and found a small room between the attic floor and my bedroom closet ceiling that he thought might have been used to move freed slaves to Canada - creative, romantic and noble so it's a good story but who knows? It's entirely possible that room was used to stash the booze but it would have been a pain to drag it up those narrow stairs. Ship builders built the house so those attics stairs were identical to what would be found on a ship - steep and narrow.”
By and large I don’t believe this house - either in whole or part - is old enough to have served as a station on the underground railroad. But it certainly is old enough to have had a room wherein bootleg whiskey might have been stored during Prohibition (1919-1933). Whatever the case, “Bill’s House” was an interesting place in a yesteryear, and remains so to this day.
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.
…For explanation of the following tablet he reader is referred to the Lyme history:
[VV Ed. Note: The aforementioned “tablet” has been omitted from this transcription. It is exceptionally detailed and would be difficult to transcribe accurately.]
As early as 1815, Daniel L. Coit, son of Joseph Coit, had become, by heirship and purchase, the owner of the township of Norwich, excepting apportion of the first section. The proprietors of this were: Frederick and Thomas Kinsman, William Leppenwell, and possibly others. In 1815, Daniel L. Coit sold sections two and three, comprising the north half of the township, to Judge Canfield, of Connecticut, who soon after sold the same to James Williams, Phillip R. Hopkins, and David W. Hinman.
In the spring of 1816, Messrs. Williams, Hopkins, and Hinman surveyed the two sections into one hundred acre lots. These were in size one hundred and sixty rods east and west by one hundred rods north and south, making five tiers of eight lots each in a section, and numbering from the southeast corner of the sections. Hopkins was the surveyor. These gentlemen also laid out a village. It was named Barbadoes, and was situated on the west and of lot thirty-eight in section second, and the adjoin portion of lot six in the third section. The survey was completed in June. The surveying party built a small log house, the first in the township, on lands now owned by Kinsman Bowen. The same year, John Williamson put up the walls and roof of a hewed log house on the village plat, near where Durwin Boughton’s house now stands. That was long known as the “village house,” though no other was built on the plat.
Williamson neither finished the house nor occupied it; in fact, nothing further of his history is known.
A small band of the Seneca Indians, with Seneca John at their head, sometimes made their camp in the township. John could speak a little English. He was honest and trusty, but others of the tribe were drunken and thievish. Their dead were usually enclosed in a bark coffin, and buried near their camp. There were a few conical mounds in the southeast part of the township when first settled. There were believed to have been burial places for the dead, and have long since disappeared.
In the fall of the year 1816, Chauncey Woodruff and Wilder Lawrence, with their respective families, left Saratoga county, New York, for the wilderness of Ohio. After a tedious journey, they reached Trumbull county, where they rested until the severe months of winter had passed. Chauncey Woodruff and his son, George H., came on the Norwich and selected lots for future homes. The son remained at New Haven while his father returned for the family. On the 8th of February, 1817, Woodruff and Lawrence arrived in New Haven; and, on the 10th, started, with their families for Norwich. Accompanied by a few friends, they journeyed on, and before night arrived the “village house” before mentioned This consisted of but the walls and roof; holes had been cut for a door and fire—place. Oak puncheons had been prepared for a floor, and lay near by under the snow, which was then about one foot deep. A few were soon fished out and placed in position and a fire started. Blankets were hung up for a door, and supper prepared, over which the company made merry. In laying in stores for the occasion, a jug of the “ardent” [i.e. liquid spirits] had been procured, and doubtless added much to the jollity of thee evening within the cabin, while without the wolves made night hideous with their incessant howling.
Lawrence and Woodruff remained the “village house” until they had cleared and planted a field of corn, on lot seven, and erected for themselves log houses. Mr. Lawrence took up two hundred and twenty acres of land, in sections two and three. He built his house on lot thirty-three, in the form sections, and upon these lands he died, January 8th, 1847; his wife died five years later. The children were nine in number: Sarah, Maria, Wilder J., Hiram, Susan and Lydia, are dead. Ebenezer married Clarinda Bly, and lives on the old homestead; has two children, a son and daughter. Anna married Levi Reed, and lives in Reed township, Seneca county, Ohio; and charlotte married Edward McGloan, and lives in Henry county, Ohio.
Jesse Woodruff soon followed his brother, Chauncy, into the township, and began life in the wilderness, erecting his log cabin on lot six, section three,…
Excerpts from: The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio; W.W. Williams - 1879 - Press of Leader Printing Company, Cleveland, Ohio
A VERY ROYAL TYPEWRITER: I wrote of this machine in last week’s edition. This is the long carriage typewriter donated to the museum by Vermilionites Del Orwig and his wife. Originally it belonged to another Vermilionites – the late Doris Feiszli.
As these machines go it’s not terriblyold. But it’s old enough, and in very good shape. Though it needs a ribbon it’ll probably function like [excuse the expression] ”like a well-oiled machine”.
Among other things, Doris used it to keep records for the Maple Grove Cemetery. Ergo, its work was of [please excuse another poor pun] “grave importance”.
When in Vietnam I used a long-carriage typewriter similar to this in my work as a classified document specialist. While the mortars fell and the bullets flew I was locked in a cage with 10,000 secrets and my typewriter too.
The pad of paper on the carriage (here) is a pad of forms used by the cemetery trustees donated to the museum by Frank and M.L. Myers-Homitz. The News presses printed it. (I, instinctively, recognize the type on items printed by The Vermilion News.)
V'Lanta'la'mana'ma'nisha Sha'Nay Nay
Congratulashayla
Barackisha
Obamaniqua
Koolaidria
Spongebobeeshia
Beetovenice
Watermelondrea
Cellularphoniqua
King'Kong'Quisha
Fri'Chickenisha
Colla'Greeniqua
Grapedrankisha
La'Taniana'Bo'Vanashrianiqualiquanice
NADA AGAIN AND AGAIN...: I may begin doing the podcasts again; but I'm thinking of just doing audio readings. The videos on-line are just becoming too redundant unless they really show something special. The short videos that appear on the VNPSM Facebook page are more purposeful. You might want to check them out.
I've not forgotten about this part of "Views". I've just been busy. But I will get back to it.
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.
Another great book with Vermilion Roots is, "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.
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.
How the old links menu looked
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.11, Issue 17 - July 13, 2013
© 2012 Rich Tarrant