Pilgrims
SHOPTALK: On the shop’s top this week is an old pic of the Goodyear blimp christened the “Pilgrim” when it visited our town back in 1925.
Here it was hovering over the beach house in the Vermilion Lagoons. It actually picked-up passengers off the beach and took them for a spin o’er our pretty town.
The photo was taken during an early Regatta.
On my home top this week is a neat pic I took at the local Giant Eagle store 3 or 4 years back. I don’t exactly know why I took this pic. I think it’s because (1) I had my camera with me early in the morning; and (2) I like the perspective view of all the registers.
Lena, the friendly cashier, is now retired. But I do see her every once in awhile. She lives in Wakeman, Ohio.
VISITORS: I find this interesting. On Friday we had a student from Lakeland Community College (Kirtland, OH) visit the museum. He was here for about 3 hours.
I’ve been hoping that more folks interested in both the 19th & 20th printing and the small newspaper business / life would visit – but this is, obviously, not a “Vermilion” thing to do. Very few local persons seem to have an interest in the museum or the history of the town. I don’t believe they understand how comprehensive the life of a small town newspaper actually was.
When talking with the Editor and Associate Editor of the Vermilion Photojournal a few weeks ago I mentioned to them that – although I don’t know it for a fact – that local history should be part of the curriculum(s) in our local schools. I really believe that if the young people would just be briefly exposed to their heritage they would be amazed.
But I don’t know. Maybe history isn’t taught in our schools anymore. Current events would suggest that it isn’t being done or the classes are less than captivating.
O-well.
MUSUEM SCHEDULE: Beginning now the museum will be open six days a week from 11 AM to 3 PM. We will be closed on Sundays and Holidays. We are located at 727 Grand Street in Vermilion across the street from Vermilion's historic E&R Church. The museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM. A small admission donation of $3 (for adults) is requested. Children accompanied with an adult will be admitted free. For Special Tours call: 440-967-4555.
We are closed on Sundays and holidays.
Private tours during those hours and during the evening can be arranged by calling the museum, or stopping in to see us.
FIVE-OH-ONE-CEE-THREE: The museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. Consequently, all donations and memberships for the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011.
Memberships for the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are always 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 Museum727 Grand Street Vermilion, Ohio 44089440.967.4555.
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,
NO CLUE – BUT A NEAT PIC: I Just happened across this wonderful pic of the 1914 Vermilion High School girls basketball team during the week while preparing a darkroom for the museum. And what a great one it is!
I’m sorry, but I have no idea as to the identities of the girls (yet). [If I had a better microfilm reader / printer I would probably be able to track them down. But those machines are rather costly. So…]
I actually like the girls’ uniforms. I really think it’s be entertaining to put together both a boys and girls basketball team; have them dress like they did in days of yore; and play by the old rules. It would make a good fund-raiser.
1906: The side (south) yard at the Print Shop on Grand Street in Vermilin has really changed since the old pic was taken c.1906. All the houses across the street are gone now. (Also - the street is paved.)
SHOULD OLD ACQAINTANCE BE FORGOT…: For the sake of old times: Just in case no one was paying much attention, please note that we lost two great Vermilion guys recently. I refer, of course, to Bill Summers and Ralph Bard.
I don’t recall just exactly how many years I’ve known Bill. I’m guessing that he and his first wife, Joyce, along with their youngest daughter Becky came to Vermilion in the late 1980s or very early 1990s. And because Bill was an exceptionally gregarious person it didn’t take long for him to become acquainted with nearly everyone in town (and their brothers and sisters as well). He had a gift for not just listening, but hearing and attempting to understand people when they presented their thoughts. Bill was, in that respect, a consummate student. It was very hard not to like him; even when or if he was being brutally honest. (i.e. Almost every time we met – and it didn’t matter where – he’d tell me that my writing was getting better.) Both our town and I will miss him.
Although I’ve known Vermilionite Ralph Bard since I was a pup, I came to know him a good deal better during the last 20 – 30 years. When his wife, Mary Jane, fell ill and was incapacitated Ralph singularly and faithfully attended to her needs. After she passed Ralph became a faithful member of our church’s men’s group. And that is when I really got to know him.
When Ralph came to town in 1946 he worked as a telegraph operator for Western Union. The Western Union office shared a building with The News Gift Shop owned by my grandmother Bessie Roscoe. It was located on the south side of Liberty Avenue next to (just east of) the Liberty Theater (currently 2014 the “Art Seen” gallery). That building along with a restaurant, a service station and a church have long since disappeared from Vermilion’s cityscape.
The story, as told / writ by my sister Nancy Emery goes, “In later years romance bloomed at the gift shop. Jayne [sic] Ries, George Whitmore's granddaughter, was employed by Mrs. Roscoe, and next door was the telegraph office; and there Jayne [sic] met her future husband, Ralph Bard, the telegraph operator.”
Around the year 1949 Ralph went to work for the F.W. Wakefield Brass / Lighting Company. He worked faithfully for the industry for 40 years. Before he retired the company had changed names several times – eventually settling on the name Lithonia Lighting. Over the decades many Vermilionites worked for and retired from the company. But it may be that Ralph is among the very last of that legion of retirees who started out when Wakefield family still owned the company.
With the passings of these men our town is greatly diminished. Oh, the sun will come up and set just as it has for eons. And folks will carry on with their lives just as they always have; but now and then – just for the sake of old times – perhaps we might pause and contemplate the words of 18th century Scottish poet James Watson: “…Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, / that loving Breast of thine; / That thou canst never once reflect / On Old long syne”.
Thanks for the memories boys.
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. X – NO.30 – January 3,1907
Henry Kelly has sued his wife, Lucy Kelly, for divorce.
In the case of the Detroit Metallic Casket Co. vs. E.B. Welch, which has been appealed to the court of common pleas from a justice’s court the defendant has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
[VV. Ed. Note: I don’t know what this was about, but I surely would have liked to know more. Did Mr. Welch get a bad casket or something?]
A decree of foreclosure and order of sale was made by Judge Reed on Saturday in the case of the First National bank of Huron vs. the Odd Fellows’ Temple Association company of that village. The case was passed as to the cross petition of C.M. Ray.
The last official act of Edward S. Stephens as referee in bankruptcy for Erie and Ottawa counties was to render his decision on Monday in the Erie County Banking company against the estate of the Erie Woodworking company, a bankrupt. The Bank claimed a lien to the amount of $4,800 on certain piles of lumber, which the woodworking company sold to it under a bill of sale within a few weeks of its bankruptcy. The effect of the decision is to set aside part of the bank’s claim and to allow the remainder as a valid preference. The lumber in question was seized by the trustee in bankruptcy and sold; the contest being over the proceeds. The matter was hotly contested when it was heard a few weeks ago and will probably be carried to the United States district court on exceptions.
Willis A. Christian (divorced) 33, and Miss Bertha Elizabeth Rice 23, both of Vermilion.
Frank Charles Wilmore, 23, Cleveland, and Miss Sarah Stone Parsons, 24, Vermilion.
Presdee Morgan a well-known Vermilion young man and teacher was arrested and taken before Justice Dietrick at Sandusky Saturday and fined for an alleged assault upon the mother of one of his pupils. He teaches school at Joppa and this parent seems to object to having her child punished for misbehavior. She alleges that she was assaulted and beaten by Mr. Morgan, so it is reported. We have heard that she also makes allegations of cruelty to scholars, etc. Little is known concerning Mr. Morgan’s side of controversy but we are inclined to believe he will vindicate himself. Considerable has been made of the affair by some of the county seat papers but the NEWS will refrain from making any statement until after the meeting of the township school board at which time the affair will be brought up.
The alleged assault was committed on December 10th and a Mrs. Eva Slocum the complainant.
Mr. Morgan has been very successful in his schoolwork so far and this is the first complaint registered against him. We believe this is his third year as a teacher.
[VV. Ed. Note: We’ll have to wait and see how this incident “shakes out” – but it all seems far-fetched to me. I knew Mr. Morgan when I was a young person and he would’ve been one of the last persons one would expect to assault anyone – especially a female. He would probably defend himself if attacked, but for him to initiate anything physical seems a ludicrous claim. But we shall see…]
The marriage of Miss Sara Stone Parsons and Mr. Frank Charles Wilmore took place New Year’s eve at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Lawless, brother and sister of he bride. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Geo E. Merrill, the immediate families and a few other guests being present. Little Don Lawless acted as ring-bearer, carrying the ring entwined in a white rose. The bride was gowned in lavender silk. Following the ceremony an elegant wedding supper was served. Later in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Wilmore left for Cleveland where they begin housekeeping at once. Mrs. Wilmore is one of Vermilion’s most estimable and popular young ladies and Mr. Wilmore is a skilled draughtsman of the Forest city. We are sorry to lose Mrs. Wilmore as a resident of our town, but our best wishes go with herself and husband in the new relationship.
About noon Sunday the family of Rev. Wyler of the Reformed Church smelled smoke and supposing that a damper in the pipe had become turned Mrs. Wyler sent one of the children up stairs to see. The smoke was so thick that she would not see to get up the stairs and it was found that the house was on fire. Mr. Lingelbach and Mr. Wm. Englebry were sent for and the fire alarm sounded.
It was but a short time before a crowd gathered and the firemen arrived. The furniture was hastily removed and taken to the church and a stream of water turned on. The exact location of the fire was not at first determined but it was soon found and extinguished.
It has originated in or under a chiffonier [i.e. chest of drawers] in one of the children’s rooms and this was destroyed, a hold burned in the floor and everything in the upper portion of the house smoked up and damaged by water. The damage was small and that on the parsonage fully covered by insurance. Rev. Wyler was at Brownhelm at the time of the fire and was greatly surprised and shocked when he heard of the blaze.
[VV. Ed. Note: I believe that this parsonage was located in a house that used to sit just north of the current E&R church on Grand Street in portion of what is today (2014) the parking lot for the church. Rev. W.H. Wyler served the Vermilion Reformed church from 1906 to 1908.]
A very small girl came to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Klady last Wednesday, to take up her future residence. She was made hearty welcome.
The Florence schools had Xmas doings last Thursday afternoon.
Mrs. Wm. Sanders accompanied by Mrs. Loren Washburn took the car [i.e. the interurban] for Toledo last Saturday morning. They are on their way to visit her sister, who lives in Charlotte, Mich. they will stay until Monday morning in Toledo where they have relatives. They expect to stay until the day after New Years.
June Sturdefant also has a new inmate in his family in the form of a fine little boy.
On Christmas Miss Gertie Smith of Henrietta and a music teacher was united in the hold bonds of matrimony to Mr. Henry Hydrich of Elyria, which will be their future home Mrs. Hydrich has the best wishes of her many friends for her future happiness.
Dr. Davison, ex-resident of Amherst was here Sunday and Monday.
Quigley’s quarry west of town was shut down for the winter putting about fifty men out of work.
The Gypsy camp numbering about ten, west of town have decided to stay over the winter. They are making plenty of money and it would pay to come fifty miles to have your fortune told.
E.C. Shuler, undertaker, was called to Russia tp. with his ambulance to get Mrs. C. Dean, who has appendicitis and was taken by the noon passenger to a Cleveland hospital. Dr. Davison performed the operation.
Supt. Crandall and Ed foster were out canvassing for a teacher for district No. 2. This is the toughest school around Amherst an it is hard work to keep a teacher, the fifty one now being gone in two years.
George Purcell who was successfully operated on for appendicitis three months ago will attend school Monday.
The public library has received about 100 new books.
The German bank opened for business Wednesday morning with a rush.
The meat market of Sam Dellafield was sold to Johnny Nicholl and Henry Holl who took possession New Year’s. Watch for a change in prices on meat. The new market will be up to date and strictly cash. Mr. Dellafield will now take life easy.
About the happiest man in our quiet little village is John Daniels who was married to Miss Mary Knierman of Brownhelm on the last day of the year.
Watch for the details of the new dynalite [sic] factory in next week’s NEWS.
Bear meat was at a premium at Gus Sabiers’ market Tuesday, but it wasn’t the “Teddy” kind. The bear was dressed by A.F. Mischka and was the first for sale in this town in its history.
[VV. Ed. Note: Now that’s interesting. Bear meat? This was really an occasion for Amherstonians.]
A pet dog belonging to F. Brucker was instantly killed by the falling of a skid from the owner’s back. It was the best dog within five miles of here. It was very intelligent and an offer of $95.00 two weeks ago was flatly refused.
BORN: TO Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Wood, a son Dec. 26, 1906.
L.R. Marsh has sold his farm to Lorain parties.
Adam Claus has bought Mrs. J. Blake’s house.
L.C. Kishman has purchased an International Manure spreader of C.W. Kishman.
Thomas A. Edison has presented the Milan high school with a 4500 set of apparatus for the physical laboratory. Milan is the birthplace of the noted electrician. The school board has wished for some time to enlarge the laboratory, but the expense was too great and Mr. Edison was appealed to with the above result.
Capt. and Mrs. Peter Full returned from Buffalo Monday.
DIED – At her home near Axtel Monday evening Dec. 31, 06 Mrs. Lawson Taylor funeral held form the A.C. Church at Axtel at 10 o’clock this morning. A husband and two children and father survive her.
DIED – Friday morning Dec. 26, 06 Mrs. Fey aged 79 years at the home of her daughter Mr. S.J. Nieding.
DIED – Saturday Dec. 29, 06 Mrs. Florence Blakeman at the home of her mother Mrs. B.F. Bond.
[VV. Ed. Note: I note that it mentions that Mrs. Bond was her mother and says nothing about her father. This leads me to believe that the doctor – Benjamin F. Bond – was her second husband. The couple did have a son; Frank “Bunny” Bond who was born around 1887. I have written about both the doctor, is son, and his grandson in the past.]
Marguerita Fey (Hines) was born in Schenklenfeld, Hesse Cassel, Germany June 7, 1824; died in Vermilion Dec. 28, 1906 aged 70 yr. 60mo. 21da.
Came to America in 1854. After being here a few years she married Geo Fey. They were married in Vermilion and have lived here ever since.
Her husband three children preceded her to the other world; while two sons, John and George Fey, and one daughter, Mrs. S.J. Neiding, are left.
She also leaves five grandchildren, two of which have made their home with her ever since their mother’s death.
Funeral services were held at the Reformed church Monday, Dec. 31. The German sermon was preached by Rev. Wyler, and the English sermon by Rev. Balson.
The large congregation in attendance was proof of her high standing in the community.
[VV. Ed. Note: Yes, I did note the discrepancies in the spellings of the Neiding / Nieding name in the brief death notice and the obit. But I transcribed the passages as they were published.]
School opens next Monday after two weeks vacation.
C.O. Basset and family spent New Years Day in town returning to their Cleveland home in the evening.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin car still adorns the siding near Grand street. The want of performers has stopped the travel of the company for a while.
[VV. Ed. Note: The railroad siding mentioned in this clip was located between Grand and Division (now Main) streets. At the particular time the depot was also located in that area – nearer Division Street than Grand.]
D. Chrisman is still reported a severe sufferer from nervous prostration at his home in Dover O.
Miss Ethel Bottomley is spending several days this week with her sister, Mrs. Worlie Houseman and family at Lorain.
[VV. Ed. Note: Ethel and her sister were my great aunts (my grandmother’s sisters). Eventually Ethel married a local farmer named Norris Welch. Their son, Norris Jr., married Nettie Bogart. Their grandson, Neil Welch, still operates the family farm on Mason Road a few miles east of Joppa.]
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Gus Leimbach, Monday Dec. 31 06 a son.
Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Baumhart entertained at New Years dinner, Mr. Geo. Baumhart and sister Miss Mayme, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hart, Albert and Miss Bertha Hart and David Washburn.
BORN – Sunday Dec. 30, 06 to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schoenberger of Lorain a daughter. Mrs. Schoenberger was formerly Miss Minnie Wagner of Vermilion.
Today is an eventful one in the quiet life of Miss Katie Fey, for this is the day she becomes the bride of Mr. Newton Beatty of Elyria. He also is deaf and dumb. They will go to housekeeping in the little house on the South St which has for so long been the home of the bride. The NEWS joins their friends in wishing them a happy future.
[VV. Ed. Note: Calling the couple “deaf and dumb” was not intended to be disrespectful. It was, at that time – before and years afterward – a term commonly used by all. Today we would simply say that the couple is “hearing impaired”.]
Miss Gertrude Moore went to Huron today for a few days visit.
Mr. and Mrs. Burton Parsons of Pittsburgh attended the funeral of Mrs. Blakeman here yesterday.
Isaac Skinn and family moved to their new home at Florence last week.
Hmmmmmm....
AERIAL OF 1937 INITIATES MEMORIES: As I’ve mentioned several times in the past I am partial to old aerial photographs of Vermilion. I wish there were more. The photo accompanying this essay was probably taken around 1937. The Vermilion Lagoons sub-division is ready for new homes; the interurban / Lake Shore Electric railway bridge still spans the muddy river; Frank Baker’s Ford garage near the bridges is open for business; several fisheries still crowd the west bank of the stream; and the jetty built by the Wakefield boys, way back when, is very visible amid the white-capped waters off Main Street Beach.
There appear to be only two automobiles on Liberty – despite the fact that it was “the” major road along the northern lakeshore in Ohio at that time. The traffic on the river (if you want to call it that) was about equal to that on the highway. Given these observations, along with the fact that all the fish tugs appear to be in port, would lead one to assume that these shadows were probably caught on film on a Sunday. Believe it or not, there was a time when one could have very literally fired a cannon ball down Liberty Avenue on a Sunday and never hit a darn thing. And recreational power boating was only a specter of what it is today.
It’s almost impossible for some persons to believe that there was a time when there was only one home on Park Drive. It was at the very end of the street. Even by the mid-1950s there were very few homes on that street. During those years I delivered the Cleveland News and Press in town and I had but one customer on the street. Wouldn’t you know that customer lived in the middle of the block? Every time I rode down the empty street on my bike I’d get chased by someone’s German Shepard. To make things worse, one day a kid (whose name I won’t mention) shot me in the leg with his air rifle. He apologized (with smile on his face), but it still hurt like the blazes. I guess he wanted to try a moving target. Park Place in the game of Monopoly may be a treasure, but Park Drive in Vermilion, O. was not one of my treasured places.
One might note that there was a significant amount of vegetation on the beach just north of F.W. Wakefield’s Harborview home in 1937. It was still there in the early 1950s when my good friend (John Paul) Stuart White and I used to scour the area looking for “smokewood”. Smokewood is a small piece of driftwood about the size of a cigar that is so porous one can light it at one end and smoke it like a cigar. (We may have smoked this stuff. But we certainly did not inhale.)
When the water’s low the pier from Main Street Beach can still be seen closer to the shore. The part that extends further out into the lake is seldom visible. Just west of that jetty there used to be a rather extensive sandbar. When the water was low it formed a miniature peninsula that one could actually walk on without getting wet. It, like most of the beach at Main Street and elsewhere, is long gone.
To be sure I like these old aerial photographs of our town; to see what it used to be; to remember how it was; to know what it has become. Often do I now find myself complaining about what it has become. However – the fact that there was a time when, as I have said, one could fire “a cannon ball down Liberty Avenue on a Sunday and never hit a darn thing” – kindly note that it is hardly a recollection of a yesteryear that brings a tear to my eye. By and large the town has become what I wanted it to become. (Be careful what you wish for…)
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.
…of the Huron river, the sand-bar shut them out, so they had to dig a canal to get their boat in. They selected a field on the Kline and Minus farm, and planted eighteen acres of corn; after hoeing it, they hired an Indian to guard it, while they went after their families. They returned in the fall in their boat, but their families came by land, under the escort of Henry Hoak, father to John Hoak. He was, without doubt, the oldest of all the pioneers, having been born in 1745. He remained until his death, in 1832, at the age of eighty-seven, with his son, and was a most exemplary and pious man. The majority of this venturesome party settled finally in Berlin, in 1810-11, leaving the Huron bottomlands on account of overflows.
John Hoak, who settled on the Kline farm for two years, moved to the farm now owned by his son Henry; built one of the first houses, in 1810. Only four whites were present at the raising of the great logs of which it was constructed, but Silas David, an Indian chief, with his tribe, assisted. They were forbidden, by him, to taste of liquor until the work was done, then they drank and held a pow-wow to their heart's content. One was so riotous they built a pen of rails around him, covered it over and left him till morning.
John Hoak had ten children, only one of whom, Henry, remains in the township. John Hoak, with the remainder of his family living, removed to Lagrange county, Indiana, where he died in 1859, at the age of seventy-three years. He made a kiln of brick, on his farm, in 1813, the first on the Firelands.
The first white settler within the limits of the township was Mr. John Dunbar, unless a Mr. Tillison, who owned the land, which afterwards was the homestead of Curtis Benschoter, preceded him. The Tillison family were very hospitable, and it is said Mrs. Tillison once told a guest if he would not stay to supper she would "knock him down." This rude hospitality showed itself in ways that would offend the more fastidious tastes of the present. One night John Thompson was caught at the Tillison cabin by a terrible storm. He, of course, did not want to face the storm, and Tillison said they had no spare bed. Mrs. Tillison was adequate to the emergency: "I say. Till," said she, "Tompk can sleep with us," and he did. Another story told of this family made many a hearty laugh around the blazing hearths of the pioneers. The whole family, with their guests, would sit in a circle, and above their heads, suspended by a cord from the rafters, was a jug of whisky. This arrangement saved the trouble of waiting on any one, for the jug was swung round and round, from mouth to mouth, till all were satisfied.
John Dunbar came from the State of New York, 1809, and purchased the farm afterwards known as the Weatherlow farm. His brother, Isaiah, came with him. He soon after moved to the center, on the place occupied by Dr. X. Phillips. The Dunbars disappeared and left no trace.
Perez and Thomas Starr came from Connecticut in 1810, and built a mill on the lands now owned by H. L. Hill. In the autumn of that year, Thomas Starr built a house on the farm now owned by J. S. Lowry. The night before the raising, the snow fell six inches deep, and he feared no one would come, but his fears were vain. In those days the neighborhood extended five miles in every direction, and early in the morning, “old Mr. Burdue" made his appearance, whooping like an Indian, with four gallons of whisky, and soon after, the hands came from Florence and Milan, and after the job was finished, enjoyed the "old rye" in a way which would not be satisfactory to the Good Templars. The Starr brothers kept bachelor's hall for a time. In 1812, Thomas was drafted into the army, from which he returned, and in February 1814, married Clementina Clark, of Florence. He moved to the center part of the township. Thomas Starr was a blacksmith, and used to go to Huron and Vermillion to work on vessels. He did the ironwork on the first deck vessel built this side of Erie. When he returned home at night, he carried torches, not only to show him the way, but to keep off the wolves, which howled around him. His eldest son, William Eldridge, born in January 1815, was the first male child born in the township.
John McLaughlin, who came with the earliest adventurers, settled on the western border of the township, on the lands adjoining McLaughlin's corners, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1849, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1836. The only survivor of his family, in the township, is Milton McLaughlin.
Nathaniel Burdue, or "Old Mr. Burdue," as he was called by everybody, settled near the spring now used by the creamery. While living on the Huron river he set out one Sunday, with a piece of soap in his pocket, saying he should travel until he found a spring of soft water, and there he should locate. In the afternoon he came to this beautiful spring, and at once decided to make his home by its side. His orchard was the first to bear in this section. Apples were then scarce, and Mr. Burdue watched his orchard with such vigilance that he became associated in the minds of the boys with Cloven-foot himself.
William Fitzgerald came from New York in 1810, accompanied by Joel Simpson, and settled on the farm now occupied by Henry Hine. None of his descendants remain.
Hieronymus Mingus came from New York State in 1811, and Aaron Fox and his wife came at the same time. The eldest son of Mr. Mingus-was killed in 1813, in the battle on the Peninsula. The second son, Jacob, lived and died on the farm now occupied by his son, Benjamin. The third son, James, married Phebe Darley, and settled in Townsend, Huron county. He was the Nimrod [i.e. hunter] of those days. Aaron Fox and…
SADIE: Currently I’m not sure just who “Sadie” Martinek might have been. I do know that Ladis “Laddie” Martinek (b.1886) was married in 1906 to a gal named Sara so I’m guessing that she was known as “Sadie”.
And I’m not sure who the recipient of this little card was – whether is was for my mom (Ella Roscoe Tarrant) or my aunt (Alice Roscoe Lindsay).
The Martineks lived at 418 Grand Street (north of the railroad tracks).
Sadie, like my pa, was Canadian (b. 05/18/1882 in Kincardine, Ontario). The Martinek’s son, Bill, was a very popular Vermilion guy. Their granddaughters, Mary Ellen and Sana, are still in the area.
Ladis died in 1957 at the tender age of 70. Sadie died July 20, 1961 at the tender age of 79. Their son, Bill, died in 1954.
[NOTE: I do my best to get the most out of very little. This little note card has a big story.]
There was this man who, many years ago, worked for a large business. That was his lifetime employment, but he wasn't happy there. He wanted to go in business for himself. He saved his money and finally had enough that he could quit and start his own business.
About two years later, I was on vacation and was going through the town where his business was located. I stopped by for a visit. "Hey John, I heard that the first year is the hardest for a new business."
"Yeah, the first year was pretty rough, but we are doing pretty good now. In fact, I'm getting to where I only have to work half a day."
"Wow, that's pretty nice. Maybe I should think about going into business for myself."
"Yeah, and the nicest part of it is that it doesn't matter which twelve hours you work."
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'".
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.
MARY WAKEFIELD BUXTON’S LATEST BOOK “The Private War of William Styron” is available in paper back for $15.00 with tax and can be purchased locally at Buxton and Buxton Law Office in Urbanna, ordered from any book store, Amazon.com or Brandylane Publishing Company. A signed, hard back edition may be purchased from Mrs. Buxton directly for $30.00 by writing her at Box 488, Urbanna, VA 23175 and including $6.00 for tax, postage and packaging.
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.12, Issue 37 - November 22, 2014
© 2013 Rich Tarrant