VIEWS ARCHIVES: Well - some folks have asked for it now it's available. Lacking a secretary (this is clerical/technical tedious work requiring time and a little skill) I have, nonetheless, produced a page that will enable one to visit past issue of "Views" at thy leisure. From this time on the archives will always be available to visitors to this page. I'll be adding the previous weeks page to it as we move forward in time.
If one should ever wonder why I didn't do this from the start there is a rather simple explanation for that oversight. I simply never envisioned that anyone would ever want to see those old issues. This eZine (you will find in those archives) began as a whimsical email. I was actually amazed to discover that so many people had such an interest in our town. Thus, it is been quite a learning experience for me. As you peruse past issues you will notice how things evolved as I became more familiar with the language of the net, my computers, and my software. It is essentially a "trial and error" process. It is on-going.
My special pages, like the "Gore Orphanage, Pelton, and Niles" pages, represent stories that I believe are of some historic value, and are intended to be used as such. Unlike the print medium I am able to add/delete information from them as needed. They are always works in progress, and (hopefully) become more accurate and informative as time passes. As I am always inclined to mention this feature of the internet as an informational resource is one that I appreciate immensely. I can eradicate my errors as quickly as I find them. And, friends, I do make mistakes (sometimes glaring garling mistakes). This makes my readers, like yourselves, all the more valuable. You find them and tell me about them.
My only regret at this time is that I mistakenly deleted a number of the first issues of this zine. My basic motive was financial. It didn't work, and I regret it. But c'est la vie. Take a look at the Views Archives I believe you'll like what you find. And thanks for being patient while I got them together.
ENTRANCE TO WONDERLAND: I know what Crystal Beach Amusement Park was like half a century ago. But it is hard to imagine exactly what it was like 40 or 50 years prior to that time. They came from the east, west, and south to spend a day at this park. Some must have walked, some came by real "horsepower", and some came by the interurban electric. Dressed in wool suits and long dresses with hats they stood at the entrance to the "wonderland" anticipating a picnic, a swim, a rowboat ride, a dance, some cotton-candy, lemonade, beer, a whirl through the air on some (now) long forgotten ride, a spin on the merry-go-round, a smile, a lasting friendship, a kiss.
They are certainly not unlike those, who today, stand at the gates of Cedar Point in grand anticipation of that which lies within. The technology has changed. The clothes have changed. The names have changed. But these are the very same people.
THIS OLD HOUSE: I'm at a loss here. I know that the text that went with this picture says that it is a new house in Vermilion - but I don't, off-hand, recognize it. Take a look. Maybe you can help me.
The architecture is familiar - from the early 20th century. I don't know the technical name. But homes like this are not uncommon in Vermilion, Lorain, Huron, Amherst, Berlin Heights, etc.
The photo appears to be taken near the lake (lest the background be manipulated). Even so I have some trouble identifying it.
The best I can come up with is that it is house on Lake Street between Perry and Washington Streets that was lately the home of local plumber Dick West. I didn't take the time to go by the house after I saw this picture so I'm not sure. The porch is the element that gives me some problem. The curved porch was a common feature on many of the old homes, but few remain. I do know that some of the porches on these old homes were removed as tastes in architectural designs changed over the years.
The old Trinter house on the northeast corner of Grand and Ohio Streets at one time had a porch that was removed sometime in the early 1960's. Whether the removal placed the structure into conformity with the original design, or was just done to please the owner, is not something I know for sure. But I do know that it was done. Modifications/additions to other historic structures in the area have also made pictorial identification alone very difficult.
In any case, if someone should recognize the home in this photograph I'd appreciate knowing where it is if it still exists.
MODIFICATIONS: This is the interior of Cottage #3 at the Olympic Outing Club in Vermilion. My wife, Georgi, inherited this cottage from her late father. It has been under some construction for the last two years. The back quarter of the cottage was removed. It was rotted from flooding, and from the moisture it absorbed from the hill behind it.
Originally the structure was a Sears garage kit. That type of building was commonly used for summer cottages back in the 1920's/30's.
Georgi had a new, larger bath, an expanded kitchen/dining area, and a loft with storage added to the cottage. That part of the building is entirely new.
For those who don't know the cottage has been raised eight feet or thereabouts to reduce flood damge when the river overflows. The basement is used for storage. The cottage has two bedrooms downstairs, and one in the loft. There is a full deck on the front of the home. It is winterized and heated by electric and/or propane gas. It has a gas fireplace. It is very very liveable.
As soon as we have a telephone line connected there we will be staying there more often and this eZine will be emanating from this place.
This view you see in this pic is the downstairs looking toward the back of the cottage and the loft. Very homey.
UNUSUAL: This is what I would term to be a rather unique view of the Nickel Plate Railroad Bridge over the Vermilion River. The card was apparently produced by A.D. Baumhart, one of Vermilion's pioneer businessmen and pharmacists. (My widening knowledge of old postcards tells me that anyone and everyone who could produced and sold these items.)
One of the reasons I find this pic to be somewhat unique is because the idea of this view and/or any view of a rail bridge may be of very questionable photogenic, or artistic, value. There is nothing more unusual about this particular bridge than, let us say, one in another location. The other thing that I find to be exceptional about this pic concerns, not only where the photo was captured, but also who might have captured it. Some good person armed with a large camera stood on the cliff above the river valley among the bushes, perhaps ankle deep in mud, to get this picture. Amazing. Simply amazing. I feel the same wonder I once felt when I saw pictures of zoologist Marlon Perkins sneaking up on animals in the wild. I can't help but wonder who the hell took the photographs.
However, the bottom, bottom, line is that the picture is actually a very stunning pastoral portrait. And it doesn't actually matter where it was taken.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Again members of the Vermilion High School Class of 1959; your class reunion will be held between October 8 and 10, 2004 here in town. Those looking for more information on the subject can now visit the Class of '59 website by clicking on the highlighted text. To my knowledge Roger Boughton is responsible for this site. I will mention that a visit to this particular website is worth ones time. Roger informed me that he now uses some Vermilion pix from some of my websites on his electronic newsletter. Maybe you didn't belong to this class, but I'm sure you know someone who does. And I think you'll enjoy reading some of their memories of those days. Note that Roger will not be sending out a newsletter by snail-mail any longer. The webpage will be the reunion notification/information center from now on. He's got new stuff on line as he gets it - and it's interesting. So take time to go there.
Also Buffalo Bill Hlavin has asked me to find a 1958 football program for him. I'll look. But I'll also ask class members tuned into this site to also look and let Bill, Roger, or myself know if you have one.
Dale Wendell, in sunny Arizona, told me that his class (VHS 1944) will also be having a reunion this summer. Just this day (1-24-04) Dale let me know that it will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2004 at the Vermilion Fish and Game.
Dale also tells me that he and his wife are coming home by plane. They're anxious to visit with their new grandchild in Elyria. Dale also tells me that he intends to visit with some "Tarrants" when he gets here. Mary Louise "Tootie" Reisinger told me that Dale wasn't coming. Because we communicate back and forth on a regular basis on the net I knew better. Tootie was pleased to know he'd be in town this summer. And it won't be long.
As news regarding these activities comes to my attention it will appear on this web page. So stay tuned.
From a long way around the planet comes a message about the VHS Reunion of the Class of 1954. Their Reunion is planned for the 17th of July, 2004 at the Amvets Post on Route 60. I've also heard (2-14-04) from George Hoffman of this class who now lives in Sandusky. He and four fellow classmates are putting this reunion together.
Also the VHS Classes of 1963, 64, & 65 are still looking for a number of people. Many are around. But it's not real easy to round-up all that information. If you've not yet received a notice re: that reunion count yourself among the missing and report in to either Ruthie Bauman Tanner or me on the net. On Friday evening (August 13) there will be a tour through old Vermilion High School (Decatur Street). Afterward folks will gather for dinner and refreshments. On Saturday afternoon (August 14) there will be a picnic at the VFW on Poorman Road. That evening there will be a buffet dinner at the AMVETS Hall on Route 60. On Sunday afternoon there is a tentative picnic scheduled at Mill Hollow. Ruth's email address is: Ruthbt45@yahoo.com
We're getting close folks, so stay in touch with your friends.
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the 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 bookmarks. 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 let me know and I'll send them to you.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.2, Issue 16, July 10, 2004
© 2004 Rich Tarrant