Friends For Life

SO THE STORY GOES: As previously mentioned Carolyn Hill dropped by the museum a few days ago and loaned us some pages from her Aunt Bitsey’s (Mary Jane Fischer-Laucaitis) old photo album.

The story goes that one nice day in 1944 “Bitsey”, “Tootie” (Mary Louise Reisinger) and another girl friend rode took a picnic lunch and rode their bikes to Cooper’s Hollow to spend the afternoon and have a picnic. They obviously took a camera with them.

This is one of the pix of “Bitsey” (left) and “Toot” (right) on the old bridge in the hollow. The bridge is gone now – and the hollow is no longer accessible.

For those who’ve never had the privilege of visiting the hollow it is (as I recall) a rather pleasant place. The river is rather shallow there, and there’s quite a bit of land on either side of the river to explore. I don’t know how the place was lost to the public, but it was.

_{"...he '…ran [his chains a] mile west and set a post in hell'”.}

BIRMINGHAM BURNS AND BUILDS: I thought I was being clever when I joined the accompanying photos together. My initial thought was that the upper photo was taken before the lower. While somewhere in the back of my brain it did occur to me that my thoughts about them could be wrong, it was not until I took a closer look and further researched the upper photograph that I realized that was indeed the case. The only good thing about my mistake is that the photos are – to some degree – related; they’re both of downtown Birmingham, Ohio. I just misjudged the order in which they were taken.

Several days previous I had been looking through a box of books and old papers and came across an old edition [12/28/1961] of the Vermilion News. Reading through the paper I happened upon a report about a meeting of the Birmingham Methodist Church Men’s Club. The subject of the program for the eighty-eight persons in attendance was Birmingham History. Residents Starr Truscott and Alton Hermon had collected pictures from persons in the vicinity for the program. Among the many historical thoughts about the town presented was the fact that in “the great fire of 1891” the entire main street on the “Edison Highway” (Route #113) was “wiped out”.

This caught my attention because I’d found the post card picture (bottom photo) of the “Ruins of Birmingham, O. 1891” last November and had tried, with very little success, to gather much more information about the conflagration. While I was aware of other big fires in Birmingham this one was new to me. And due to the obvious damage it caused I assumed it would have been widely reported in newspapers of the era. But it wasn’t. I believe I found one small mention of it – just in passing – in a Sandusky daily. Anyway, as the photo very graphically illustrates, Birmingham’s downtown buildings; a hotel, blacksmith shop, saloon, clothing and dry goods store, and bakery all disappeared in clouds of smoke.

My original intent was to use the upper photo to illustrate what was lost in the fire. But when I began to research the names of the business owners of the shops located on the ground floor of Birmingham’s Masonic Temple building I discovered that the owners of those stores – Mrs. Carrie Gibson and Conrad Schisler didn’t operate them until about 1900. Additionally, I found a report in the Sandusky Daily Register from January 3, 1890 describing a December 31, 1889 fire in Birmingham wherein the furniture rooms of one H. Heimsath along with the local Masonic Temple had burned to the ground with nearly all their contents. Consequently the Masonic building pictured was probably fairly new when its portrait was captured on glass around 1901.

These turn-of-the-century fires in Birmingham as well as Vermilion speak loudly of the dangers inherent in the old wood buildings of the yesteryear. Heated by wood / coal stoves and lit by kerosene lamps, once a fire got a good start extinguishing it was nearly impossible. Ironically, Starr Truscott, the gentleman who had opened the aforementioned meeting had begun by quoting the surveyor of the Birmingham district who in 1808 said, in part, that he “…ran [his chains a] mile west and set a post in hell”. He was, of course, just kidding: Or maybe not.

_{Ref: U.S. Census data; 1880, 1900-10-20; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 03/20/14.}

Vol. IX – NO.52 – June 7, 1906.

COURT NOTES

Two wills were filed for probate with Judge Sloan on Friday. The late Conrad Heidloff, of Vermilion, in a will dated October 16, 1905, gives his wife in lieu of dower, the use during her life of all his real and personal property and he directs that at her death the same be equally divided among his five children. In case the widow requires more money than the income form the property provides, she is empowered to use the substance of the personal property. John Weaver of Lorain is appointed executor.

Herman Schafer, of Florence township, who was recently sued by Anna C. Conner for $5,000 for alleged breach of promise of marriage, has filed his answer to he plaintiff’s petition in the court of common pleas. He denies all the material allegations of the petition and says that he hired the plaintiff upon her application as a housekeeper and hat eh paid her weekly wages for her services. For a second defense Schafer claims that in February last he paid the plaintiff $40 in a certain case pending before a justice of the peace in Florence township, inconsideration of which payment she released him from al debts, dues and demands that she had.

F. Danzey

Mr. F. Danzy [sic] was born in Cambridgeshire, England, July 26, 1826, and died at Vermilion Friday morning June 1, 1906, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 6 days. He came to America in 1852. December 15, 1859, he married Miss Elizabeth Rippon. He leaves in bereavement of the immediate relatives this companion of nearly half a century, two sons, Albert and Charles, of this place and Mrs. A.W. Parsh, of Elyria and a brother, John Danzy of Toledo.

Soon after doming to America, Mr. Danzy entered the employ of the L.S. and M.S. ry. and continued in it until his death, his last work being done for it only five days before his death. Kipton was his home 36 years, Huron a short time and for nearly 12 years Vermilion.

In 1868 Mr. Danzy united with the Disciples of Christ church and was a member of that church many years, being warmly attached to it. In 1894 he joined the Congregational church here and was made a deacon. He was rarely absent a Sunday and will be greatly missed by the congregation in which so long he has been such a familiar figure. The funeral services see held at his late residence Monday afternoon conducted by Rev. Geo. E. Merrill assisted by Rev. Charles Balson. Tuesday morning after a prayer at the home the remains were taken to Wakeman and buried in the beautiful cemetery of that village. At the Monday service a deserved tribute was paid to the venerable crossing tender whose faithfulness and friendliness had made him so familiarly and favorably known in our town. He was a zealous churchman, but his religion was not of the sobre [sic] kind. A goo man has passed from earth’s activities into the other life.

ASHMONT.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Holister and Mrs. Garner Barnes and children Nellie and Halbert of Berlin Hts. Spend Sunday in this place the guest of Mr. C. Barnes and family.

Ross Waldron and Arthur Hays of Ogontz were in Ashmont Sunday.

Clark Sarr, of Ogontz spent Sunday with is friend Wilmer Jump of this place.

Lucile Shoop who has been in Berlin Heights for the last week visiting her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Lee returned home in this place Sunday.

The soap club met with Miss Vedah Lee Friday.

BROWNHELM

Miss Mina Baumhardt was the guest of her niece Mrs. John Werner of Amherst.

Chas Knisel [sic] and Miss Perline Eisnman were married at the home of the former Tuesday May29, ‘06 by Rev. Klein.

Born – to Mr. and Mrs. Chas Baumhardt of Amherst May 29, a son.

Mr. Joe Blake was taken suddenly ill while in Lorain Tuesday and lies ill in a critical condition at the home of his daughter Mrs. W. Warner, 309 First Ave.

Mrs. J. Blake was called to Lorain by the illness of her husband.

KANE-BURROWS

Thursday evening, May 31, 1906, Mr. Robert G. Kane was united in marriage to Miss Leah Burrows at the home on Decatur Street that had been prepared for them to begin their wedded life in, Rev. Geo. E. Merrill, officiating.

Mr. Kane’s home has always been in Vermilion and he is our quick and accommodating post office clerk. Miss Burrows has resided in here about five years. She has been a member of The News family and also a stenographer at The Erie County Banking Company during this time.

Cordial congratulations are extended and a hearty wish for prosperity.

Locals.

The Steel walk to the Light house has been completed.

Died – At her home on Division street, Wednesday evening June 6th ’06 Mrs. C. Schwensen.

Mrs. B.T. Mitchell of Cleveland visited at the home of Geo Showalter the Union Boat House this week.

Mrs. Wm. Klein was called to Cleveland today on account of the serious illness of her father.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kane experienced a very pleasant shower at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Quigley Tuesday evening.

O.K. Todd will go to New York city next Thursday and Friday he will sail for Europe He expects to tour Spain, Italy and Switzerland.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: O.(Otto) K. Todd was born in 1879. Consequently he was only 27 in 1906 and on his way to Europe. I have noted that he did a great deal of traveling throughout the U.S. during his lifetime – which was, by and large, rather short. He died when he was only 42 years old. As near as I can tell Otto was the oldest son of Woodward and Sophie Todd. Woodward was Lewis Todd’s older brother.]}

Excursion to Put-in-Bay on Steamer City of the Straits next Tuesday from Lorain. 50c and 24c round trip.

Married – Wednesday evening at the Reformed Parsonage by Rev. Klein officiating Mrs. Catherine Banning to Burt Hamet of Amherst.

F. W. Wakefield’s Gasoline boat the Lotus has been launched. The boat has been greatly improved by a house over the engine and painted.

The sudden death of F. Danzey last Friday morning was a great shock to all. A few minutes before he had been talking to John Parsons one of his neighbors.

The mails were delayed Friday morning on account of a collision on the Lake Shore just east of Sandusky. Several were injured but none seriously.

The Vermilion H.S. Baseball team defeated th Wakeman H.S. team last Saturday, by the score of 8 to 7. The Vermilion H.S. team have won 4 of the 6 games played.

Although we have not had the pleasure of visiting the pant of the Wakefield Brass Co. during working hours we hope in the near future to give our readers a description of this model plant, which we believe is one of the finest of its size in the country.

The death of F. Danzey has made considerable change in the gatemen on the Lake Shore Crossings. Albert Danzey will have the tower; Chas Minick and John Parsons the Grand St crossing and O. F. Hatch and Lon Pelton the Division St. crossing.

Wm. Bunny and family have returned to their former home near Hamilton, Ontario, where Mr. bunny has employment. They were called to Vermilion by the promise held out by the Erie Wood-Working Co. and have made many friends while here who are sorry to see them go.

E.M. Neff and wife of Crestline were the guest of Mrs. Elizabeth Alexander the first of the week. Mr. Neff is a dry goods dealer of that city and was here to make arrangements for a summer outing for his family.

Brief and Breezy.

Snow fell in St. Louis and ice formed in Wisconsin recently. Miss May is still a great flirt. And so far Miss June seems to be a very dry joker.

It is becoming more and more difficult every day to secure material for a series of articles on “self-made men,” without colliding with the report of some grand jury or investigating committee.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Some things never change.]}

There may be an honest difference of opinion as to the canal question but Panama hats should be on the level.

Some of the grafters have come out of the Pennsylvania railroad investigation as much begrimed as if hey had just emerged from a bituminous coal hole.

SPECIAL NOTICE!

We have now passed the 300 mark in number of Telephones in service. A larger number than anyone expected when we built the exchange. This growth, which is very gratifying to both subscribers and company – to subscribers because added value of service and to the company because of the substantial evidence that its efforts are appreciated – brings an embarrassing feature in the fact that we have outgrown the original plan of numbering party line telephones. It has been found necessary to adopt a new plan and we begin with this Directory the use of what seems the best yet devised – one now used by a great many of the larger and newer exchanges.

ALL PARTY LINE telephone numbers have therefore been changed and subscribers and operators should be patient with each other for a few days while all are becoming familiar with the new numbers.

The printer expects to deliver these Directories to us so they can be mailed to subscribers Tuesday morning, the 12th when the use of present numbers will be discontinued.

A Long Tramp

While in Vermilion H.S. and Brownhelm H.S were playing ball Saturday they were not aware that they had for a spectator a boy of 18 who is taking a trip from Williamsport Pa. to San Francisco. Being somewhat weary he stopped to rest and witness the game.

He left Williamsport on May 15th and is to be in San Francisco six months hence. He is to have no money only what he can earn by selling trinkets and is not to beg. He is to walk every step of the way excepting across rivers where there are ferries. He expects to make from 25 to 30 miles each day and although sunburned he is apparently in good health. From here he thought he would go to Toledo via Norwalk. There he expects to secure a supply of trinkets to sell for his support.

_{"... the 3000-pound bell was transported to Vermilion by two yokes of oxen."}

VERMILION’S REVERE BELL: Aside from his famous 1776 “Midnight Ride” warning folks in the towns of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts that the king’s men (i.e. “the regulars”) were coming many people also know that Paul Revere was also a very prosperous and talented silversmith. What some folks may not know is that Revere’s interest in metal work went far beyond gold and silver. After the Revolution he opened an iron foundry in north Boston that made fireplace tools, window weights, and sundry other implements of a practical nature that were in common use and demand at the time.

It should be of little surprise to learn that his success in the manufacture of iron products in the aftermath of the war brought forth a demand for cannons, which he happily filled. But about the same time a Protestant revival moment – historically known as “The Second Great Revival” – swept across the new nation, and in its wake brought forth an equally heavy demand for church bells. By 1792 Revere and his sons, Paul Jr. and Joseph, were among the foremost casters of church bells in America.

In 1843 a beautiful New England–style Presbyterian church building – the first church in Vermilion Village – was built near the center of town. For nearly eleven years the belfry of that church stood empty. Then in 1854 a churchwomen’s group called “The Bell Society” raised enough money via church suppers and sunbonnet and shirt sales to purchase a bell from the First Presbyterian Church on Cleveland’s Public Square. It was a Revere bell. And though there is no record of the price it was noted that the 3000-pound bell was transported to Vermilion by two yokes of oxen. In 1868, the congregation voted to change from the Presbytery to the Fellowship of the North Central Association of Congregational Churches, and the Vermilion church became the First Congregational Church. In 1885, the little church having become an old church, its bricks crumbling, a committee was appointed to solicit funds for a new and larger church building. The following year, the walls were pulled down at a cost of $50 and the bricks cleaned and readied for use in the new foundation. The bell was removed and polished for re-use in the new steeple. And construction was begun on a new building for the church on the same site next to the new Vermilion Township Hall. On Sunday January 15, 1888 the old Revere bell called the congregation to services for the first time in their new house of worship. In 1956 when a new Congregational church was built on State Street the bell was left behind. For several years thereafter it served at least one more congregation occupying the old church. But I was told that it was eventually sold to a church or persons unknown in California and departed town without any fanfare. Like yesterday’s news memories of it faded and had all but been forgotten until early January of this year when I received the following communiqué:

“Dear Rich, My name is Amy Miller. My parents, Robert and Jeannene Shanks lived in Vermilion from 1958 to 1983. I graduated from Vermilion High School in 1973. My parents acquired the Revere Bell, which hung in the First Church in Vermilion. I saw a picture of the old church and a picture of the Bell. I have the bell in California where I live. Can you aid me in gathering historical information on the Bell? Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks, Amy Miller.”

I readily complied with Ms. Miller’s request along with a request of my own for a photograph of the bell. She agreed to that, and in her reply told me, “It sits in my garage.... and has for many years. My parents are deceased and I became the custodial keeper of ‘the bell’." I anticipate the arrival of that photograph. And perhaps the day will come when the bell finds its way back to Vermilion.

_{Ref: History of Vermilion’s First Congregational Church, Betty Trinter; VNPSM photo archives; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 03/06/14}

RAM COIN: I’ve not idea as to the age of this coin. I inverted the pic of the piece because it shows better this way. The original is copper colored – like a regular penny. But it’s as big as a half-dollar.

I found the coin in an old tin with sundry other memorabilia that belonged to my father. I can’t say how old the coin might be. I know it celebrates the granting of the charter for the Wakeman Chapter No. 177 of the Royal Arch Masons in 1903 – but I’m not certain that it was the reason for the coin. It may have been minted at a later time.

Nonetheless it’s an interesting historical artifact.