NOT MUCH ON MOSE RANNEY: What can I tell you about Moses Ranney (pictured)? Well, at this point in time not very much.

I picked the pic up in a scrapbook kept by one Beatrice Daisy Halloran (Kiplinger) and I thought both his name and picture to be interesting.

I do know that he was born on March 29, 1903 in the Tallmadge, Ohio area where his father (Fred) worked as a painter for a manufacturing company. But by 1920 (the year of the pic) the family had moved to Brownhelm where his dad worked as a machinist in a factory. (Perhaps Wakefield?) By that time he also had 2 younger sisters Celeen and Beatrice.

I have no idea as to the reason the family came to the area back then. But I do know that there was a Ranney Fish Company along the river in years past – so maybe Mose’s father was related and came to live near the family. But that is pure speculation.

What I do know is that Mose and Daisy had a thing. They both graduated from Vermilion High School in 1921. Mose was vice-president of their class and active in sports. Beside Daisy’s class picture was this little poem: Her first name is Daisy / “But her last name,” says Fate / “Will soon change to Ranney / When they consent on the date.”

In an old envelope above his scrapbook pic is a poem called An Ode to Daisy - and several letters he wrote to her. None of the items are dated. All are written in pencil in longhand, and due to the aging of the paper are very hard to decipher.

I don’t know what the U.S.M.S. initials mean that are inscribed on the photo. Nor do I understand the reason for pencil scribbling or the partial moon-like thing in the upper corner. I am aware of the fact that he travelled abroad in 1951 with his wife Lenore. And I know that he worked in advertising sales for a printing company during the 40s and 50s and eventually lived in Rocky River, Ohio. From those things my assumption is that he had become prospered (and, of course, that he did not marry Daisy). Mose and Lenore had a daughter they’d named Claire. He died on the 5th day of February in 1969 at age 63.

As I said in the beginning, I don’t really know much about Mose. What I’ve given here is just an outline of his life that could benefit by someone filling in the blanks.

He appears to have been such a promising young person in 1920. And I don’t doubt that he and Daisy loved one another. But fate took them in different directions to the quiet sea of eternity.

I wish I’d known them. But maybe, in some strange way, I do.

WRONG WAY FOR A PARADE: I have a big copy of the old pic shown here that covers a wall at the back of the print shop. It’s an interesting photo of the northeast corner of Ohio and Grand streets around 1912. The pic has been marked as “Car in Memorial Day Parade”. But who knows for sure? I could’ve been the 4th of July or even Labor Day. The only thing really certain about it is the site where it was taken. And a person has to wonder why the auto is headed west instead of east. (Perhaps the car was just there for the photo before joining the rest of the parade.)

The very cool thing about some of these photographs is the fact that not very much has changed since they were taken. Everything – including the house in the right in the background – is familiar.

“CAPTAIN BILL’S” V-25: With the possible exception of Vermilion’s Moes brothers (Moes Marine Inc.) both the art and craft required to construct and repair wooden boats is become a very rare - almost extinct - vocation about the Great Lakes. The first wooden vessel constructed in Vermilion on record was Captain William Austin’s schooner, “Friendship II” in 1812. The last, one may safely conclude, is yet to be built. But the heyday of shipbuilding in our pretty city faded toward the end of the 19th century, and virtually disappeared in the early years of the next - the 20th - century as the industry turned toward building larger vessels of iron and steel.

While the shipbuilding industry declined in Vermilion - for a time numerous commercial wooden craft would layover in the harbor during the winter months for repairs, etc. The point of the matter is that the craftsmen and materials needed to maintain the remaining vessels lingered in Vermilion for a number of years after the industry itself dissolved.

The artisans who lingered along the western banks of the river otherwise busied themselves with fabricating small skiffs and dinghies - some propelled by sails, and some by gasoline engines. One of the best known of them (historically) was George Goetz whose place once sat between the present day Waterworks and the Sail-Loft / French Restaurant. A younger, lesser known, fellow was William H. Daniels.

“Captain Bill”, as Daniels came to be known along the waterfront was born in Berlin Heights, Ohio about 1904 (d.1992). Growing up near Lake Erie he had very early in life become interested in boats and boating. As a youngster he built several, and had also become a proficient sailor as a hobby. But by the time he came to Vermilion (about 1930) the “hobby” had become his profession.

Initially he worked repairing large vessels and built (as previously mentioned) several skiffs and dinghies. By 1935-36 he established his own business in the basement of the “Horton Building” at the foot of Ferry Street. [Note: This may refer the Sail-Loft building.]

By 1938 Captain Bill, along with his assistants William Eisenhauer (b.1902 - d.1978) and Mrs. Daniels - who made the sails, had built about 12 “Comet Class” sailboats for persons scattered about Ohio. In addition to this Daniels had dreamed of designing “purely fresh water cabin yacht”.

Noting that salt water craft vary somewhat in their lines; a concave bow and less free board than their freshwater counterparts; he envisioned that a design with a convex box and more free board (among some other changes) would be better adapted to the short choppy waters found on the inland lakes.

After making a model Daniels had local artist Dean Quigley draw up plans and the result was a boat (pictured with Captain Bill and William Eisenhauer) he called the V-25 (i.e. Vermilion 25 footer). The vessel in the bottom photo is the “Viking II” the fourth V-25 to be built. When the photo was taken Captain Bill had orders for 3 additional vessels and had been forced to refuse several more orders because of the limited production capacity of his shop.

The top photograph shows the first three V-25’s; “Mibett”, “Sarane”, and the “Pixie Too” on the east side of the river just across from the Sail-Loft in 1938. At the time of production the hope was that the V-25 would eventually join the “Comet” and the “Star” class boats as a popular racing vessel. Whether that ever became a reality is unknown [to this writer].

As a footnote it should be noted that Captain Bill’s dream boat was not entirely made of wood, but was entirely a product of Vermilion. Even the iron keel was cast here - at the old Nuhn foundry just west of the village.

And so it was. In just a yesteryear.

_{Ref: The Vermilion News, 7-28-1938; Pearl Roscoe Photo Collection, courtesy of the Vermilion Area Archival Society; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 10/26/2007.}

Vol. XII, No.13. - VERMILION, OHIO, THURSDAY, September 3, 1908

ANNUAL REGATTA

The L. Y. C. will be with Us Again This Year

On Saturday, September 5th the power boats of Lakewood Yacht Club will start the long-distance races to Vermilion.

The boats are handicapped at the start and should make a close finish at Vermilion. The time of the finish should be about 4 PM.

A large fleet is expected and should make a pretty sight front of our port at the finish of the race.

The sailboat classes will leave the Clubhouse Sunday morning, September 6th as follows:

Carboats 8 o'clock, Cruisers 805, 16 foot class 8:10, 18 foot class 8:15, 21 foot class 8:20, finishing according to the wind and weather.

_{LABOR DAY RACES}

The sailboats will respond to the preparatory gun at 9:50 AM and all start at 10 o'clock. This race will be free for all.

The winner is entitled to the Wakefield trophy and flag also the first prize furnished by the Vermilion businessman.

The other prizes of the Vermilion businessman will be decided upon by the Regatta committee after they see the number of entries and finishes.

The sailboats will do all the racing and it is expected that the powerboats will help to entertain the people of Vermilion by taking them out to view the races, providing the weather is favorable.

After the race is the Vermilion committee and their friends will meet the yachtsman at headquarters, Maud Elton hotel where a social time will be enjoyed.

Entertainment will be furnished by the Vermilion G. A. R. Band.

_{ARM BROKEN}

Edward: son of E.L. Coen Cashier the Erie County Banking Co., had the misfortune to break his arm just above the wrist while at play Friday. He was letting himself down from the tree with a rope when it broke letting him down to the ground with the result as above stated. Dr. Quigley rendered the fracture and Master Edward is getting along as well as can be expected.

Correspondence

AMHERST

Miss Lillian Barber's condition is but slightly improved.

The local phone company have installed up a station at the Manhattan restaurant.

The telephone company are making extensions and the new services lines leading to the South Amherst have been started.

Mr. Bodman has opened a new shoe store in the Schuler block, and will carry a full and complete line of footwear. Success in his new venture is wished by his many friends.

Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Hahn of Ceylon in the Ludwig family reunion was held. A fine dinner was served and the day spent in social conversation and games.

Little Frank Hayes and while jumping on and off street cars Friday was thrown violently to the ground, and lay stunned for several minutes, but was soon able to be about his play.

The outlook for the quarries is a bright one for business for the rest of the year. Saturday is the first time all of the quarries work full time since May and from now on will run full-time.

Russell Corbin was quite badly injured by a runaway Thursday. He was driving the milk wagon for Frank Lapp in the south part of the town when the horse ran away and ran into a pole and threw the boy out of the wagon, inflicting several scalp wounds.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lapp, August 28th a baby girl.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cah… [unreadable] a son, August 30th.

South Amherst now expects to have a football team.

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gordon, Monday, a baby girl.

While working at the Ohio Quarry Saturday afternoon two men were quite seriously injured. As the dump box was being hoisted the rope broke and Louis Rockenkranz and Albert Kruger being unable to get out of the way were struck by the falling stone.

A change was made in the management of the Buckeye Hotel Monday. George Haas who has been running it has moved Apple Creek, Ohio, where he will take charge of a hotel in that place, and Miss Amelia Curry will take his place at the Buckeye Hotel.

Martin Jaycox, an engineer had a miraculous escape from death Monday evening when the boiler of the engine on which he was standing exploded. He was operating the engine on the farm of Dan Hoch near Whiskeyville, where men were engaged in bailing straw. The explosion was so violent that the boiler was broken into thousands of pieces, Jaycox standing on the rear platform escaped without a scratch.

Strong's Corners

BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. P Springer, Saturday, August 29, ‘08, a son.

Seymour Leimbach umpired the ballgame at Vermilion. He bids fair to become a National League umpire someday.

Locals.

Mrs. Chas Hahn is reported quite ill.

Miles Edson, who has been very ill this past week is convalescing.

MARRIED – last week Miss Helen Champney of Axtel and Mr. Peter Reighley of Berlin.

Dr. Pelton’s household goods were moved to Vermilion from Cleveland this week.

F. C. Morgan brought in a record-breaking tomato Friday. It weighed exactly 3 pounds and measured 6.25 x 5" in diameter – how's that? [NOTE Yikes! That’s one big tomato.]

Commodore F. W. Wakefield has informed us that all those who wish may view the races Monday from his premises.

The much advertised excursion to "Hear Taft" didn't hear Taft. The announcement that he was to speak Sunday was quite a surprise at Republican headquarters and means was taken it at once to refute the statement. [It was thought to be disrespectful for a politician to address a crowd on the Sabbath. I wish it was still so.]

The Mrs. Lottie Burrell, Grace Risdon and Bessie Sherod spent last Thursday with their classmate, Miss Trinter at Axtel.[NOTE: These girls became very well-known Vermilionites.]

Thomas Bottomley arrived home Sunday after spending the summer in Minnesota and North Dakota.[NOTE: Mr. Bottomley was my maternal great uncle. While I knew him in his later years (he was my grandmother’s youngest son) I’ve gotten to know him better through these pages.]

There are 235 teachers in attendance at the Erie County Institute at Sandusky this week.

MARRIED – Tuesday, September 1, 08, at the home of Rev. Chas Balson, Raphael Kinnie Teasdale to Katie Louisa Baatz.

The Lake Shore Electric Railway Co. has installed a thousand light transformer in the substation here and the Hotel Maud Elton is the first institution to be connected with it and is now lighted with electricity. [NOTE: This is a Vermilion first and worth remembering.]

AXTEL

Wm Miller is building a cistern.

Congratulations to Mr. Dean on a successful sale for one of his valuable horses.

Lydia and Margaret Trinter are attending the Teachers Institute at Sandusky.

BIRMINGHAM

Quite a number of the men intend to take in the State Fair this week.

The little shower of Tuesday was a very pleasant relief from the very annoying dust of the weeks past.

BROWNHELM

William Lipp sold his oats for 46c a bushel.

Rueben Miller took a large load of hogs to Vermilion Tuesday.

Mrs. S. Baker has gone to Cleveland for an operation.

The Bacon brothers butchered nine large hogs and took them to Amherst Thursday.[NOTE: This should have been placed under the headline “Bacon Boys Bring In The Bacon”.]

Mr. Darley and a friend of Oberlin were out to Mr. Sweet’s Friday afternoon fishing Mr. Darley lost his pocketbook. They came back Sunday morning to look for it and found it close to the river in some bushes where they went through.

HOW THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF…: According to the National Institute of Mental Health an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

If that statistic makes you take a step back you are overreacting. Because it doesn’t follow that over a quarter of the people surrounding us are raving lunatics. What it does mean is that mental disorders are relatively common - and that a majority of those afflictions are very manageable. Unfortunately, this has not always been true. Such was the case of Albert L. Irey.

Mr. Irey was born in Pennsylvania in 1875. Excelling in his studies he not only finished college but had earned a doctorate in Education by the time he took a position with the Vermilion Public School System about 1910. By 1914 he had earned a promotion to Superintendent. He and his wife, Clara, who was also an educator, had two daughters; Genevieve Sarah (b.1904), and Rosamond (b.1908).

As the attending photograph of Mr. Irey with his daughters (c.1911-12) seems to indicate - Albert L. Irey was a rather dashing figure. And thus it should be no great surprise for one to learn that this attractive wight often caught the eye of many a maiden.

Now had it all ended there, there would have been no problem. But it apparently did not. And before too long letters were discovered which strongly implied that the esteemed educator was romantically involved with one of the female instructors. Not only did his wife and family find this news disturbing but the entire community was enraged by his behavior. This was, to be kind, hardly appropriate conduct for a community leader to exhibit. A special meeting of the Vermilion School Board was called and Mr. Irey, as well as two female teachers were unceremoniously dismissed. One of the teachers, who had only been guilty of carrying correspondence between the two suspected paramours, later filed suit to keep her job and won.

Mrs. Irey’s reaction to the circumstance was immediate, predictable, and understandable. She filed for, and received, a divorce retaining custody of their daughters. Albert, who was devastated by the fate he, himself, had wrought apparently began to lose touch with reality.

He began to write rambling letters - some threatening, some remorseful - to his wife and lay them by the door of their Ohio Street home. Alarmed by the tone and manner of the letters Mrs. Irey formally sought to have Albert acquire psychiatric treatment.

In the first of the two sanity hearings held in Sandusky, Ohio in 1916 for Mr. Irey he defended himself. His eloquence and appearance were very persuasive, and he was found to be quite sane. After the hearing he told an acquaintance that he was off to California to begin his life again. In truth he remained in the area and continued secreting often terrifying letters, along with some soiled underwear, on the doorstep of his estranged family.

After a warrant was filed for his arrest he disappeared for a time, only to turn up in Akron, Ohio working as a carpenter for 45 cents an hour, and using an assumed name. Taken into custody without a struggle the, now bearded, Professor was unable to pay the thousand dollar bail set for him, and spent the days before his second hearing sitting in a jail cell reading Shakespeare.

During the second sanity hearing Mr. Irey sat quietly making notes, or fidgeting with his fingers, during testimony given by several physicians as to his condition. When it was over he was found to be insane and was removed to the Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Before his departure from the courtroom he asked to see, and talk with, his daughters. His sincere affection for the girls was noted.

On a overcast Thursday morning in mid August of 1962 Professor Albert L. Irey died alone in the Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital in Columbus. He was 87 years old, and had lived more than half his life there or in other hospitals. His former wife had remained in Vermilion where she completed her career as an educator. Sarah and Rosamond grew up, left town, and raised families of their own - far away. And all was nearly forgot.

Five years ago his great great-granddaughter sent me this lovely photograph of him with his children inquiring if I’d ever heard of her “infamous g-g-grandfather”. I had not. But when looking back, and familiarizing myself with the life of Mr. Irey, I often wonder how things might have been in that yesteryear - if...

_{Ref: National Institute of Mental Health; Sandusky Register, 7-1916; The Vermilion News, 7-6-1916: Special Thanks: Joan Woodruff-Owens, Fort Collins, Col.; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 03/27/2008.}

THE CP: Ok. It only took me about 3 years to put these new rollers (in blue) on this press. [NOTE: The funds to replace the rubber on the ink rollers were provided by a generous grant from the Vermilion Foundation.] And, ok, I admit that I know very little about running any letterpress – but I am learning. When the business closed in 1964 I was less than a year out of high school and my expertise was as a cook. I was, therefore, only marginally involved in the printing business. I did some writing and some manual labor. But the real expertise (i.e. the art of printing) belonged to my father, older brother and sisters. Nonetheless, I do know something about the equipment – and this press (pictured).

This is a Chandler-Price job(ber) press. It is the oldest press in the museum; built in Cleveland, Ohio around 1900. And when the shop moved from it’s original location (north of the railroad on Grand Street) to its current location (south of the railroad on the same street), this press was probably part of that move.

At one time there was a larger CP jobber press in the building. But in 1954 a new Heidelberg windmill press replaced it. The Heidelberg was automatic, fast and a more efficient printing production machine. That press is also on display. But back to this press:

This little press was used to print things such as tickets for Crystal Beach Amusement Park, small business cards and labels for the South Shore Packing Company. [NOTE: South Shore was once the largest Pickle packing plant in the U.S. They packed olives (fancy, salad and plain) in glass jars.] Years back when high school still taught trades presses like this were used to train young people in the printing trade. Currently, small presses like this little CP, are used by artists to create nice greeting cards, etc.

While we cannot, for safety reasons, put power to this press it is possible to run it without electric power to demonstrate the printing process. And that will be the next step.

So stay tuned…