_Lois

MILESTONE: My brother’s bride, Lois Stockman-Tarrant, passed quietly into the hands of God Wednesday evening. She and brother Bill were married 57 years. We’ll all miss her – greatly. She was a wonderful cook and an even better person.

”Those who Know God, Know Peace.”

_{"Neither Alice nor I were in the least bit interested in becoming accomplished pianists.”}

ONE WOMAN'S OPINION: M.W.B. sent this piece with the following note: "Rich, I thought I would send you my columns whenever I write of my memories of life with father and growing up in Vermilion." I'm happy she did.

A Short Run at Oberlin

Mary Wakefield Buxton

Urbanna, VA.One day Mother decided that my sister and I needed exposure to a far higher caliber of piano teacher than what our home town in Ohio offered. A cousin had gone to Julliard; this had left great impression on Mother. Surely her daughters could reach such lofty heights if only provided proper prod?

Neither Alice nor I were in the least bit interested in becoming accomplished pianists. But neither did either of us want to tell Mother that bitter truth. We decided, as most children do, to let Mother learn for herself exactly how her daughters would become accomplished.

So off we trooped each week to instruction from a professor of music at Oberlin College, which Father thought to be a “hot bed of liberalism” and far beyond his approval. Apparently, however, he finally decided a little carefully contained exposure to Oberlin, (but not much) might be appropriate for his daughters.

Our instructor was quite odd as professors tend to be; brainy, pale from so many hours hunched over the piano, and with her hair drawn up into a tight bun. She wore shapeless clothing and no makeup and she had a look about her that suggested she dwelled in a world of profound thought. There was never any laughter. What was funny? The two young ladies from Vermilion plunking away on her elegant grand piano as they demonstrated their skills in piano?

Alice and I were immediately corralled into the chambers of classical music; I was assigned Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” rather a step up from my rough- shod renditions of “Silver Threads amongst the Old” and “Songs that my Mother Taught Me,” not to mention “Chop Sticks.”

Oh, how we suffered through those long and hideous lessons! But at that time in Ohio, it was deemed proper that young ladies must become proficient in piano in order to become lovely wives one day for a certain sort of man. But what kind of man, I dreaded to think at a mere 10 years of age, would ever wish to sit after a hard day’s work at the office and listen to his wife’s rendition of “Clair de Lune?”

After the lessons ended, we hurried across the street to meet our parents who awaited us at the old, creaky, wood -floored Oberlin Inn. What marvelous fried chicken awaited us finished off with Father’s favorite dessert…peppermint ice cream with hot chocolate sauce, served in delicate glass cups and saucers. It was the best dessert of all, perhaps because it was chocolate or… perhaps merely because Father loved it best.

Then, what I had so patiently awaited, my reward for my weekly drubbing from Debussy, I would excuse myself and head for the gift shop just outside the dining room. There, a lady with thick eye glasses peered at me as if I were some exotic bug that had just landed on her arm as I stood in front of her illustrious collection of miniature china dogs.

Such a difficult selection as I gazed fondly at every breed of dog on display. I would usually end up choosing a lab, retriever, or spaniel for my dog collection at home. Dogs, in flesh or china, were always the top of my list of the most adored.

One day, as I was cadging through Debussy and Father was waiting for me to finish, he chanced to pick up a book on the professor’s coffee table filled with colored illustrations of Renoir’s nudes. What? What? Father complained all the way back home to Vermilion that there were pictures of nudes in the studio where his daughters were studying music.

I, however, immediately perked interest in piano lessons. Drat Debussy, I wanted to see the Renoir nudes! At the next session I insisted Alice’s lesson go first while I impatiently eyed the coffee table. When Mother and Father exited to the Oberlin Inn, I hit the books. Bonanza! Three books into the pile were the Renoir nudes.

My eyes popped as I regarded Renoir’s ladies sprawled on velvet sofas and cushions without a stitch of clothing. But what funny looking women! I was astounded, as only a 10 year old could be, at the small breasted, large bellied women that were considered beautiful in France.

Unfortunately (or fortunately,) over lunch, I held forth on my opinion of Renoir nudes and how they held up to my definition of female beauty. My parents listened in stony silence with what now can only be recalled as horrified expressions.

That was the last piano lesson for me at Oberlin, Debussy, Renoir nudes and all such exposure to what I imagined was anything “French.” “Liberals!” Father always snorted in disgust whenever the college was ever mentioned in his presence. As for me, it was a very short run at Oberlin, indeed.

_{Courtesy Mary Ann Wakefield Buxton and the Southside Sentinel in Urbanna, VA.}

Vol. X – NO.3 – June 28, 1906.

COURT NOTES

The case of Bellford [sic] Crosier et at. Vs. the village of Vermilion has been settled and a decree entered for the plaintiffs by consent.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Bellford Crosier was the son of P. and Mary Crosier. The family lived west of the village (proper) in 1860. By 1910 it was known as W. Huron Street. Bellford and his brother Theodore were ship carpenters. Their father was a “mechanic”. He was born in 1851 and died in 1912. The Crosier brothers were well-known in the area, and highly respected ship carpenters. I don’t know what the beef was between Bellford and the village – but Bellford won.]}

Two of the bridge men who were recently found guilty by Judge Reed and sentenced to pay fines of $500 an costs, appeared in the court of common pleas on Saturday and furnished bond in the sum of $1000 each for the perfection of proceedings in error. Their cases are being carried up to the circuit court. The defendants who appeared were H.C. Webster and J.H. Hilton. Other bridge men are engaged in a bridge case a Lima and will be here in a few days to plead.

Norwalk has an opportunity of securing one of Jackson’s underwear factories if 150 girls can be secured who wish to work therein

The people of Berlin Hts. are either too busy or don’t’ realize where they’re at. At a recent election a proposition to issue bonds for repair and building purposes for their school building ws defeated. A proposition to bond for $2,000 was voted on the other day. Only 55 votes were cast 39 in favor and 16 against.

BIRMINGHAM

Still no rain in this section. We hear about the blessed showers but are not the favored ones.

Born – to Dr. and Mrs. Boss a daughter, Wednesday.

Work on John Larch’s Barn is progressing rapidly Coon Laterman [sic] has the job.

Ralph Cole, who lives with Mr. H. Thompson, fell from a ladder while picking cherries and was hurt quite seriously. He is able to be about now the ladder was a long one and broke under his weight.

In the baseball game the Birmingham team beat Florence 1 to 0 in favor of Birmingham, they play with the Berlin Heights next Saturday June 30th here.

AXTEL NOTES.

Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Leadrach and family spent Sunday in South Amherst.

We are glad to see that Mrs. F.C. Kuhlman has recovered sufficiently to be able to be home again.

Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Champney of Oberlin, attended the funeral of Mr. Grover.

Mr. Sam Leadrach made a flying visit to Axtel Sunday.

Axtel people wake up! Get ready to behold the wonderful display of fireworks to be given on the evening of the fourth.

A Lorain County young man was out driving with his best girl Sunday. An auto driven by a well-known Amherst man chanced along and the young man drew a revolver and flourished it to stop the autoists. Result $5.00 and cost for the said young man, and he can be thankful that it was not heavier. Next time you want to stop an Auto, use a club, as carrying concealed weapons is punishable by law.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: I guess “car-jacking” isn’t something new. Neither was “concealed carry” sans a license.]}

Brief and Breezy
By Our Associate Editor

The L.S.E. Co. it is expected will build an extension from Fremont to Fostoria.

One more star for the starry flag, one more state in the fold two more seats in the Senate boys, and each worth its weight in gold.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: I assume this was in reference to Oklahoma becoming a state. It really didn’t happen until 1907.]}

Japan may be administering Korea, “for the good of the governed” but the Koreans do not appear to have found out that fact.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Korea under Japanese rule was the culmination of a process that began with the Japan-Korea Treat of 1876,whereby a complex coalition of Meiji government, military, and business officials sought to subjugate Korea both politically and economically as a protected state after the fashion of international law at the time. Declared an Imperial Japanese protectorate in 1905 by the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905, and later officially annexed in 1910, the Empire of Japan brought to a close the Joson Dynasty; though these treaties were ultimately declared "already null and void" by the Treat on Basic Relations between the two states in 1965.]}

The Statewide celebration in Oklahoma will make the average Fourth of July resemble a plugged nickel.

For people who started in politics only 50 years ago, the Republicans have certainly manage to get and hold an enormous lot of offices.

As a man who was thrice the nominee of his part, Grover Cleveland may naturally hate to see his record equaled, but he an console himself with reflection that he only fell down one time out of three.

Prof. Dowie [Dowei] predicts that after is death he will return to this world and finish his work; but even that jolly does not seem to encourage his creditors very much.

[VV. Ed. Note: John Alexander Dowie (25 May 1847 – 9 March 1907) was a Scottish evangelist and faith healer who ministered in Australia and and the U.S. He founded the city of Zion, Illinois, and the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. He was said to be both an eloquent and eccentric figure with impressive powers of persuasion.

In 1905, he suffered a stroke in Mexico. While absent, he was deposed by Wilbur G. Voliva, his chief lieutenant. Voliva and official investigators maintained that anywhere from $2.5 to 3.4 million was unaccounted for. Dowie attempted to recover his authority through litigation but was ultimately forced to accept an allowance until his death in 1907. He is buried in Lake Mound cemetery in Zion IL and it is believed that he was placed under six feet of concrete to encrypt his body from ever rising again.

(I guess some folks took his proclamation about coming back very seriously. Perhaps they should have buried him facing down.)]

Emma Goldman says a man and woman should remain married only as long as it suits their convenience. Emma talks just alike a Newport Society woman at times.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Emma Goldman (1869-1940) was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the 20th century.]}

Obediah Silverwood familiarly known as “Sandy” got into a mix up with another man’s wife Thursday it is alleged trying to win her affections, and the husband whose name is Bean objected and used a revolver shooting Sandy in the arm. Sandy had Bean arrested but when the time cam for trial at Lorain Monday the prosecuting witness failed to appear so the prisoner was released.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Obediah “Sandy” Silverwood is one of my favorite early 20th century local bad boys. His antics amuse me. But, as is obvious, by this report not everyone was amused.]}

LOCALS.

WANTED – Every reader of the NEWS to send in items.

Don’t forget that Vermilion will celebrate the glorious Fourth of July.

A daughter of Capt. W.H. Blattner was unfortunate enough to lose a gold chain and agate cross at the reception given Rev. Klin [sic] (Klein) on Friday evening. Nothing would pleas her so much to recover it.

C.C. Baumhart has purchased the building next to Abell’s Barber shop [sic] of J.W. Krapp. Mr. Baumhart owned this building at one time and conducted a drug store there-in [sic].

Miss Ethel Bottomley is the guest of her sister Mrs. W. Houseman in Lorain this week.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Miss Bottomley eventually married a Vermilion area fruit farmer named Norris Welch. Her great-grandson Neil still owns and operates the farm on Mason Road in Florence Township. Mrs. Worley Houseman had a daughter, Clara, who later in life lived in Nokomis Park in Vermilion. She never married and left all her worldly belongings to the Ritter Library when she died. Ethel and Mrs. Houseman were my grandmother’s (Bessie’s) sisters.]}

Mrs. J.C. Seemann was called to Tiffin this week by the death of her mother.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Mrs. Seemann was the wife of Vermilion’s School Superintendent.]}

It is claimed that we had an earthquake about 4:20 Wednesday afternoon. “Wouldent [sic] jar you?” Several different distinct shocks were felt by many here.

The Erie Wood-Working Company has been sold to the American Hardwood Co. of St. Lois Mo. The company has also acquired possession of the buildings.

C.F. Decker who has been at the Cleveland hospital is expected home to-day [sic].

Miss Alberta Johnson was one of the fortunate ones in the recent Story & Clark Piano word contest. She is receiving a 475 check.

Born – To Capt. and Mrs. Walper Sunday June 24th, ’06, a daughter.

BORN – Sunday, June 24, 1906, to Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Reifert, a daughter.

Shoes 98c per pair at The Fair.

Mrs. Chas. Englebry and daughter were at Marysville last Friday and Saturday to visit Mrs. Englebry’s mother Mrs. Helen Kelsey Fox, who is a sanatorium at that place. She is some better.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: Mrs. Fox was a local poet of some renown. Many of her poems appeared in The News other publications during the early years of the 20th century.]}

WANTED – A young lady to learn machine and general type setting. Apply as soon as possible at the NEWS OFFICE.

[VV. Ed. Note: I think (but don’t know for sure) that the “machine” referred to in this advertisement was the “Simplex One-Man” typesetting machine.

It is an interesting looking device. In fact it was considered to be so useful at the time that they used the following advertisement to illustrate that fact:

Nonetheless, it was not as useful as Mergenthaler’s Linotype. And it soon disappeared from print shops around the world.]

FOR SALE – one two seated run about, one single top buggy. – M. Wilbur

Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Simons and Mrs. Driver were among those who went to Detroit on the Agricultural excursion today.

Miss Carrie Boss was he guest of her brother Dr. Boss at Birmingham Wednesday.

EXCURSION TO SANDUSKY AND CEDAR POINT.

Beginning Sunday June 3 and each Sunday thereafter until further notice, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Ry. will run special train excursions to above places leaving Vermilions [sic] at 9:17 A.M. Returning leave Sandusky pier Foot Columbus Avenue at 6:15 P.M. Round trip rate to Sandusky 60 cents Cedar Point 85 cents.

Harvey Hill was on the Kearsage.

Standing within a few feet of the scene of the terrible explosion in the gun turret on the U.S. cruiser Kearsage, some time ago, Harvey Hill, an Erie county boy escaped injury, although feeling the effects of the great shock. His time of service, five years has now expired and he has arrive home for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Hill of Berlin Hts. and his sister Mrs. J.K. Douglass.

Young Hill was a signal man on the Kearsage and was sanding on he signal bridge, on duty, when the explosion occurred in the turret which killed eleven men and wounded four others. He says the explosion was due to an unprotected electric switch in the turret room. One of the gun crew was using an iron rod to clean out the breach and this rod came in contact with the electric switch, stabling a current, which caused the explosion.

Hill has been over a good portion of this country and of Europe while in the service, but did not get to the Philippines or Japan. He has not yet decided whether he will again enlist. He found the life of a sailor pleasant enough but the accident on the Kearsage was enough to make him forget the good features.

_{[VV. Ed. Note: On 31 March 1905, Maine replaced Kearsage as flagship of the North Atlantic Fleet, although she remained with the fleet. Captain Herbert Winslow took command of the ship during December. On 13 April 1906, while participating in an exercise off Cape Cruz, Cuba, the gunpowder in a 13-inch gun ignited accidentally, killing eleven men.]}

Who Is Who on the L.S.E.

A bulletin has just been issued by the Lake Shore Electric line which tells the employees of that road as to who is who when it comes to giving orders as to various parts of the work expected to be done. The chart is in the shape of a blue print and after looking it over no employee will have a reason to doubt as to who his superior officer is.

The president is place at the top of the list and next to him in authority comes the general manager, F.J. Stout. Under Mr. stout are the different departments.

Superintendent L.K. Burge has under him the statin agents, the assistant superintendents, dispatchers, trainmasters and trainmen.

That station agents are also under Auditor Henry and General Passenger Agent H.C. Young. Following down the line comes the chief engineer of the power department, chief lineman, road-master and various other heads of departments.

The chart is well gotten up and much attention has been paid to every detail. Every employee by looking at the chart can tell readily to whom he must tell his troubles and who is in direct authority over him.

_{"The Woolson Spice Company was incorporated and opened for business on the first day of July in 1882"}

THE WOOLSON SPICE CO.: Last summer (with a little help from my friends, relatives, and sundry other acquaintances) all the “treasures and junk” that had been collecting dust in the attic at the VNPS museum for the last 110 years was carried down the narrow stairway, inspected and dispatched – each according to its condition and importance. Among all these items was an old coffee crate that someone – perhaps my great-grandfather – fashioned into a footlocker of sorts by placing four porcelain caster wheels on the bottom and a nicely padded cover on the lid. Despite the fact that time had ravaged the cover underneath the blanket of dust that covered the chest it is a rather attractive article [pictured]. Inside are some rather fragile cloth women’s bloomers and housedresses once popular in the early decades of the last century. For the time being they will remain entombed in the crate / footlocker that was so kindly provided by the Woolson Spice Co of Toledo, Ohio.

The Woolson Spice Company was incorporated and opened for business on the first day of July in 1882. Its founder was Alvin Mansfield Woolson. Born in Huron, Erie County, Ohio on 2 October 1841 he grew up on a farm and attended a country school. He received his initial business training as a boy with a broom in a store in rural Erie County.

When the American Civil War commenced he enlisted in the First Regiment Ohio Voluntary Heavy Artillery (formerly the 117th Regiment of Infantry Ohio Volunteers). During the war he attained the rank of Sergeant Major and served under Gen. W.T. Sherman in the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. Following the conflict he spent a number of years in the Wild West as an employ of the Union Pacific Railway. In those times railroad building across the Great Plains was precarious business. It often required arduous interactions with tribes of less than gracious Native Americans.

Surviving that adventure Woolson returned to Erie County, Ohio and opened a store in Berlin Heights. In the early 1870s he married an Erie County farm girl named Frances D. Tillinghast. Relocating to Toledo in 1876 with her parents and brother Mr. Woolson made a business decision that would eventually make him both a wealthy and a highly respected entrepreneur.

In 1864 two men, L.B. Shattuck and C.C. Warren began producing Lion Coffee in a Toledo, Ohio factory. In those days nearly all food articles were sold in their natural state and in bulk. Coffee, for instance, was purchased in its green state then roasted in a pan and stirred by hand to prevent burning. And most spices were sold in berry form then ground by hand in a mill. Shattuck and Warren began pre-roasting the coffee, and then packing it in one-pound packages, airtight and unground. This concept of pre-roasting and grinding for sales in small packaging revolutionized the entire grocery business, and the company prospered. During the 1870s a man named LaMonte C. Bidwell joined the company as a partner and the firm was renamed Warren & Bidwell. But by 1882 the company found itself in financial dire straits and Woolson bought it at auction for $30,000. Before too long he was a millionaire.

In 1896 a ruthless businessman named H.O. Havemeyer bought the company for over two million dollars [55 million in today’s currency] and succeeded in nearly destroying it. By 1905 the company lost more than 15 million dollars. But no matter. Mr. Woolson had retired. Remaining active in the community for the remainder of his life he held memberships in numerous clubs and organizations in the area including The Firelands Historical Society. Perhaps in remembrance of his childhood home he maintained, and often frequented, a rather large estate located between Huron and Berlin Heights. He passed away on July 6, 1924 at the age of 83.

As for Lion Coffee – it’s still available. In 1980, a Hawaiian company called Delano West Ltd purchased rights to the Woolson Company and Lion Coffee. One can purchase 7 oz. of Lion Coffee Kona Gold drip grind on-line for $8.49. I like coffee. But I’m strictly a Maxwell House man. And I’m content with sipping it – because it’s “good to the last drop” – and admiring the old Woolson crate that someone (perhaps my great-grandfather) fashioned into a footlocker in a yesteryear.

_{Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 04/13/2014.}

FARNSWORTH: I’ve owned this radio for several years. I purchased it in Vermilion’s “Antiques in the Park”. I don’t really know why. I just did.

As is obvious, it’s a Farnsworth cabinet radio that was probably manufactured sometime in the 1940s. It still works.

Engineer, Philo Farnsworth was born on August 19, 1906, on Indian Creek in Beaver County, Utah. His parents wanted him to become a professional violinist, but he had other ideas. At the age of 12, he built an electric motor and produced an electric washing machine. (He probably trashed the violin.)

Farnsworth is actually famous for having been the first to transmit a television image. During his lifetime he invented over 160 devices.

He died on March 11, 1971, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The radio is on display at the Vermilion News Print Shop (History) Museum in Vermilion, Ohio. It's one of my favorite antiques.

_{Ref: www.inventors.about.com}