Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK: [NOTE: The other pic will be added later this morning.] Ok, it’s not Vermilion on my desks this week. These are old pix of the square and beautiful downtown Milan Ohio. What brings them to mind is the fact that on November 7th my grandfather would have been 149 years old – and he was born on the north side of this town.
I note that in these pix they seem to have electricity and water, but they were still using horse-and-buggies to get around. As a consequence I’m guessing that these pix were taken around 1915.
The 3-story building on the (left middle of the pic) corner of the scene on my work desk used to be my great-grandfather’s and his brother’s grocery store. This was my maternal grandmother’s father. The large building on my home desk (right in the pic) is the townhall. I don’t know if any of these buildings still exist. I’ve not visited Milan for some time.
These pix are from glass – my grandfather memorializing his hometown.
GREAT STUFF FROM HARBOR TOWN: Vermilionite Debbie Chestnut-Hansen donated a plethora of photographs to the museum from the collection of her late mother (Diane) and father (Don). Going through them in detail will be one of my deep winter projects. But I have taken an initial survey of them and I am quite impressed. You will see some of them in coming days.
FOR INSTANCE THIS WEEK: you will see a photo of legendary undertaker John A. Englebry in another section of the page.
But in the collection, there is also a snap of Charlie McGarvey as well as those of Mrs. Helfrich (of the Helfrich Restaurant before it became McGarvey’s), Jesse Hammond, Ed Holmes and Percy Leimbach (bartenders), Joel Holmes (the cook), Helen Ellsworth (cook) Ike Blattner and Gertrude Nickley (waitress). Jesse Hammond was Mrs. Helfrich’s son-in-law.
Apparently, Gertrude married Percy Leimbach in 1932. He was somewhat older than her. He died in 1959. I’ve no idea as to what happened – whether they divorced or Perch passed – but eventually Gertrude married George Hess (who managed the Elberta Inn). George died in 1962 and Gertrude died in 2010 in her nineties.
Then there are some snaps of the Okagi Restaurant workers: Russ Vasbinder and Otto, the cook. There are also many pix of the waitress staff – some marked, some not. My sister Nancy Alice was able to identify many of them. One of the shots that I (personally) find interesting is of the counter and cash register at the front of the restaurant. There is a neon Okagi sign in the window behind the worker. I was never inside the place when it was Okagi’s so this shot fascinates me some. I do recall walking by the place and always seeing fresh flowers in the window.
This is great stuff and I’m anxious to share it with everyone.
Historically,
VERMILION’S LIME KILN: The kiln was located near (east of) Main street beach just a bit west of the river. It may have been in the area where Vermilionite Theodore “Ted” Dunsmore Wakefield (b.16 Aug. 1912 – d. 27 Oct. 1992) later built his house. This is only the 2nd pic I have of it – and the first isn’t that good.
“Lime” here means neither the citrus fruit nor the tree, but refers to a white powder derived from limestone. For several thousands of years humans created lime in kilns, as they might have hardened pottery or smelted ore, and used the material for dozens of purposes now largely replaced by fossil-fuel by-products – perhaps it was most commonly to create mortar for construction.
I have no idea (real or imagined) as to how this particular kiln was used in Vermilion – but it somehow coincided with the days when folks were making iron from ore at Furnace Corners south of town. I also don’t know when the kiln was removed, except to say that if the names of the children I was given are correct it might have been taken around 1904.
The children are:
CLARA MABEL WAKEFIELD-HOFRICHTER (dark hair): b. July 1888 – d. 14 June 1980; Married Albert Clifford Hofrichter 4 June 1908; (b. 24 May 1887 – d. 09 December 1953). Albert initially was treasurer for Wakefield Brass Co. He later was a self-employed realtor and the family lived in Baltimore MD.
ALICE MAY WAKEFIELD: (b. 1898 – d. 22 March 1918); I was aware that Alice had been ill, but I don’t know what the problem was. Only the good die young.
RUTH MARION WAKEFIELD-STUTZ: (b. 19 Nov.1903 – d.18 Jun. 1974); Married attorney Frederick Harold Stutz (18 Mar. 1900 – d. 20 Apr. 1985). Lived on the lake shore just east of Main Street beach – near the site of this pic.
WILLIAM RALPH “BILL” WAKEFIELD: (b. 8 Apr. 1900 – d. 9 Apr. 1983); Married Hattie Mae Shoop-Quinlan (B. 1896 - d. 1 Dec. 1971) on 23 Sep.1936. Couple finally divorced.
GOOD TIMES AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB: Last week while looking through some old Vermilion News microfilm files I came across the following notice in the June 17, 1945 issue of the weekly. The Olympic Outing Club folks extended an invitation to Vermilionites “to a comic baseball game, pink pop, barbershop quartets, magic by Gibbon, horseshoes and ‘Sloppy Joes’”. It further stated that it was going to be “a swell day, a swell time, at a swell place by a swell people in the old fashion way.”
To my knowledge Vermilion Day at the Olympic Club had been an annual event for many years prior to the one advertised in the 1945 newspaper. As the poster in the accompanying photo testifies it went back at least as far as 1939. But I suspect that there were several preceding it and several after. I was born in 1944 and one of the very few things I remember as a pup was standing in the field at the club enjoying the sight of all the tidy white cottages that lined the street. Unfortunately I missed all the entertainments – especially the clown baseball games between the guys of the club and the townies (also pictured).
When the club became a club back in 1902 it was basically a private “men’s club” – a summer place for a group of Cleveland friends to spend a little time away from the rigors of work and city life – to fish, play cards, drink a little beer and sing. Initially there weren’t any cottages or other buildings on the grounds. All that came later. It may interest some to note that camps similar to the Olympic Club were not unusual along the river during the early years of the 20th century. By and large few persons in the village paid much note of them. But every once in a while they’d bring attention to themselves. As the News drolly reported in its Thursday, July 24, 1907 edition: “There are two very large camps down on the river, they make their presence known to all of the neighborhood by their noise on Saturday and Sunday Evenings. I think they must have a little too much…or more likely the river water don’t’ agree with them.”
As the years passed, and both the club and the village grew and prospered, the relationship between the two grew and prospered as well – ergo “Vermilion Day”. For example, one club member, a fellow named Leonard Fogarty, was what one might legitimately call “the consummate Irish politician”. So immersed was he in political circles of the big city it was only natural for him to do the same wherever he went. Thus, in short order he came to know everyone who was anyone in Vermilion, plus many more. And in time Vermilion Day really did become “a swell day, a swell time, at a swell place by a swell people in the old fashion way.”
When Vermilion Day actually disappeared is unknown (at least me). The reason it disappeared has likely something to do with the substantial population growth experienced by the village in the early 1960s. However, enjoyable times at the Olympic Club did not disappear; nor did the interactions between townies and its members. If one is familiar with names like Davis, Diener, Dorsey, Fogarty, Gill, Kammer, Kuhnle, Maiden, Rini, Swinehart, Tarrant, Zimmer, or Whitt you are familiar with someone connected to the Olympic Outing Club.
While it is no longer a “men’s club” (women are now members) it is still a fun club. And seldom are there any complaints from the townies about excessive noise on warm summer evenings like those of the yesteryear: But dancing, singing and laughter? It will continue – as it always did during good times at the Olympic Club.
YESTERYEAR'S NEWS: The following clips are dictated transcriptions from past issues of The Vermilion News. I think you will find them both interesting and fun...
Elections here passed off quietly in a fair vote poll. It was late in the night when the Township vote had been counted and nearly noon Wednesday before the result in the town was posted.
All the Vermilion candidates carried their hometown by large majorities and should feel very much gratified. In the county, A. D. Baumhart, Republican nominee for representative, was defeated also C. A. Trinter was also defeated by a small majority which the official count may reduce. The following is the result in Vermilion, Florence, Berlin and Huron:
[NOTE: I have obviously omitted all those details here. I am working with two separate word processing software programs to produce this part of the page and I have to familiarize myself with them as I go. Xin lỗi.
There was nothing prosaic about the married life with Mrs. Bertha Morlan–Bauer, according to the to her petition for divorce from John Bauer, a farmer living near Linwood Park, which was filed in the Common Pleas Court last week. She charges that he and his mother made life so miserable for her that 18 months after her marriage she was forced to leave him and since has been a physical wreck.
Married in May 1908, Mrs. Bauer says that beginning about the first of the following December, her husband daily swore at her, called her vile names, frequently drove her from home and on one occasion forced her to sleep in the barn on the farm. Gradually her health failed, she says, until now she is unable to follow her former vocation of a schoolteacher. She asked for divorce and the restoration of her maiden name. – Lorain Co. Ex.
An answer and cross petition was filed by the defendants in the case of Homer Wood versus Harry E. Schlessler for $233.70, claimed to be due for work performed in building a house for the defendants in here in village. The answer states that Hood [sic] did not put in time of the dates mentioned in his petition and did not work 12 hours a day as he alleged. The cross-petition states that Mr. Schessler [sic], Hood and another man had agreed to purchase lots here in and also had agreed to help each other build houses and the various properties.This, the defendant declares was done according to the unwritten agreement. Cross petition asks for $37.15 materials used in the construction of hoods house and claims that the workbook did on the defendant's house was so defective that said defendant has been damaged to the extent of $160.
BORN – Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hutton a son, Thursday, Nov.3rd.
Mrs. F. C. Oehl is suffering from a severely sprained ankle.
Little Ruth Barkley is reported quite ill.
Mrs. M. Slack return home this week from the Lorain Hospital where she underwent an operation.
Conrad Ornsby suffered a severe fall one day last week which laid him up for a few days.
The Quarry Hill at Brownhelm is being cut down and widened. Geo. Cooper has charge of the work.
Miss Agnes Heathcate is still very ill. She was operated on several weeks ago at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Number of K. Of P.s’. enjoyed an auto trip to Lagrange, Friday evening and were guests of the Lodge there.
Harry and Alfred Field who have been employed on Sandusky newspapers for some time have resigned their positions and are spending a few weeks at home.
J. P. Byrd, 77, died Friday after a week's illness. The funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. P. E. Harding. Interment was made in Brownhelm Cemetery.
Norman Workman was removed from St. Joseph's Hospital to his home at Brownhelm Station the latter part of the week. He is recovering from a six-week siege of typhoid fever.
George Nicholl of Elyria formerly of Amherst was killed by a train from a buggy near Oxford Sunday afternoon. Mr. Nicholl had been confined in the sanitarium at Oxford for the past few months. A wife and one daughter survived.
BORN – to Mr. and Mrs. William Mishke a daughter Sunday, Nov. 6.
Chas Blassius who died Friday at the Infirmary was brought here for burial.
John Lapp moved his gas well drilling outfit to Vermilion this week.
Lawrence Klassen discovered the unconscious form of a man near Clough’s quarry Monday afternoon. It proved to be Frank Keller a huckster.
M. A. Hess brought a deer home from his hunting trip in Maine.
A number of interested Berlinites witnessed the Oberlin – Reserve football game at Oberlin Saturday afternoon.
A son was born Saturday, November 5, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Upperman at their house in Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Upperman visited the little stranger Sunday.
Mrs. Groves fell one day this week just as she was leaving Hull’s store and broke her hip. She is well along in years, thus making the injury more serious.
Wm. Lindsley, who broke his arm several weeks ago had to have it broken set again last week as the bones failed to knit as they should. It is his left arm and it is feared it will be a long time before he will be able to use it.
Oscar Hais is expecting his new auto in a few days.
Mrs. Mapes passed away, Saturday, November 5th.
Prof. Jones is again able to be about.
A number from here went to Elyria and Norwalk Saturday to get a glimpse of Theodore Roosevelt.
Harriet Elizabeth Garrett Bunts, was born in Russia Township May 25th, 1852.
She was united in marriage to Danforth Bunts of Wellington, on March 6, 1878. They moved to Kansas where they remained for five years. At which time they came to Ohio and lived in this part of the County ever since, having lived in Birmingham for the past 17 years.
To this union one child was born, now Mrs. L. I. Kelley of this place.
While living at Kipton she was a member of the Church of Christ having in her possession at the time of her death a certificate of fellowship.
Mrs. Bunts has been in ill health for a number of years and for the past five or six weeks has been confined to her bed.
She leaves to mourn her demise, one sister, Mrs. Alva Kelley of Henrietta, and one daughter, Mrs. L. I. Kelley, aged mother, besides other relatives and friends. She was 58 years 5 mos. and 5 day[s] old.
The funeral was held from the home on Monday morning, November 7, in charge of Rev. A. G. Rupert of Berlin Heights. Interment, South Amherst.
The Township trustees have been getting busy and deserve much credit for doing so doing. This stairway has been built from the gallery of the auditorium to the main floor, giving an additional exit in case of fire. They may also have all other much-needed repairs made including redecorating of hall.
One fact is very evident the hall is too small for the community.
Attention is also called to the door at the rear of the stage use for taking in baggage and other large articles. We believe there should be a bar or gate place across it. Although no accident has yet happened there is always a first time.
Miss Lottie Goodell, of Berea Ky., is a guest at the home of Capt. George Bell and family.
Thomas H. Bottomley left yesterday for Ada, where he will resume his studies at the Ohio Northern University.
[NOTE: This was my great-uncle. He was studying be become a pharmacist.]
Mr. M. E. Edson is again confined to his room by illness.
A smoker was held in Fireman's Hall Tuesday evening where election returns were received.
Mr. Louis [sic] Noel has joined Lakewood boat club of Rocky River last week.
The NEWS received a letter this week from Capt. F. C. Rae who is in a Chicago hospital, in which he states his health is much improved and he hopes to be able to return home soon.
William Foster has established his popcorn and peanut machine into the S. J. Nieding room for the winter, where he will be found evenings. He is still in the bottling business and expects to have a large trade next season.
Total eclipse of the moon next Thursday night. The moon enters the shadow at 4:40 PM and will last five hours.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Heinig of Millersburg were guests of their son Dr. Heinig and wife a few days this week.
Mrs. Mary Quigley and Mrs. Charles Horton entertained Sorosis Friday evening at the home of the former. Twenty-seven answered to roll call. During the regular business session the library question was brought up and discussed. The Subscribers library consist of 348 volumes, now in storage. An effort will be made to combine this with the school library, thus forming the nucleus of a public library. The application of Miss Mrs. Clara Irey was read and voted upon Mrs. Irey was welcomed to the society. The following program was then carried out in full, Mrs. H. L. Edson substituting for Mrs. Amanda Myers, who was unable to be present.
The regular meeting of the Council was held Monday evening. There was very little business to transact excepting the payment of bills.
The lighting committee reported a new light placed at the intersection of Lake and Washington streets and that the light on State Street would be placed on the line between [the] Friday and Sweeney property.
Committee reported the contract for painting the bandstand was let to H. E. Rose and the breakwater at the foot of Washington Street let to James Cuddeback.
Several other committees were not ready to report.
It was decided to ask the county commissioners to widen the new bridge at the foot of Ray Hill to the full width of the street.
The subject of having a city sealer of weights and measures was presented and will be brought up again.
The matter of cesspool drain at the foot of Jefferson Street was left to the committee.
Several deaths have occurred in this vicinity the past week.
BORN – to Mr. Mrs. Aaron Kelly, Monday, November 7, 1910, a daughter.
Miss Katie Kishman has fully recovered from his [sic] recent film sickness.
Henry Ackerman is having his farm buildings remodeled.
Road agents are getting pretty plentiful along the lake shore these days.
Just as expected the West Vermilion Harmon voters will soon have a barbecue to celebrate the death of Boss Cox. All are invited to the festivities.
[NOTE: I’m not entirely sure what this was about. However, George “Boss” Cox (b. 1853 – d.1916) was an Ohio Republican political boss / operative. By the time of the election in 1910 he was losing his political power so this might account for the above-mentioned celebration at Rumsey Park in West Vermilion.]
Hmmmmmm....
…Alfred Sutton, mustered out with company.
De Witt Thompson, mustered out with company.
Martin V. Wilbur, discharged for wounds March 27, 1865.
John D. Wheat, mustered out with company.
Maddison E. Wells, promoted to sergeant July 1, 1864; mustered out with company.
George W. Wheal, discharged February 4, 1863.
Andrew Bradley, starved to death in Andersonville prison September 24,1864; captured September 23, 1863.
This was one of the many regiments composed of steady going Germans that joined the Union army. Many of those who were in what was known as the German regiments were unable to speak English, and some were taken prisoners by the rebels. When the “Johnnies" found so strong a foreign element among the Union soldiers, they supposed as a matter of course that the North had been receiving aid from Germany, and were at great loss to thoroughly understand it. This was noticeably the case among the Pennsylvania regiments, a large number of whom were what might aptly be termed “solid Dutch."
The German regiments were, as a rule, somewhat slow in their movements, but they were, nevertheless, generally on hand when wanted. They were hard, determined fighters, and made excellent soldiers. The One Hundred and Seventh was a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, and Eleventh Army Corps, under command of Major-General Sigel, whose fighting qualities were well known all through the army.
One company, F, of this regiment, was raised in Erie county and was called the “Sandusky Yaegers." The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, and first took to the field in September, 1862, at Covington, Ky., where Kirby Smith was threatening an invasion. After this scare was passed the regiment came to Delaware, O., but soon left for work and duty on the defenses about the national capital. In November it went into Virginia, at Stafford Court House, at which place it was assigned to Sigel's army as already stated. Some two weeks later it participated in the movement designed to bring the command in rear of Fredericksburg, and acting with Burnside's Corps, make a second attack on the city, but the exceedingly bad condition of the roads made the plan fail.
In the early part of May, 1863, the regiment participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, but Stonewall Jackson proved too much for Howard, and defeated him with serious loss, the One Hundred and Seventh alone losing two hundred and twenty-nine in killed, wounded and captured. After this the regiment lay in camp at Brooks's Station until the 12th of June, at which…
JOHN A. ENGLEBRY: Mr. Englebry was, of course, a well-known Vermilion undertaker. In his younger days he was also a cabinet maker. For whatever reason (perhaps it is more obvious than I think) many undertakers were also in the furniture business. He and his first wife, Mary, had seven children. Three died rather young. Those who survived were Frank E., Charles H. and a daughter - Mrs. "Hattie" Flynt Nichols.
Mr. Englebry was born in 1835 in Hesse Cassle, Germany, and died 11 Sep. 1914 in Vermilion. On 30 May 1861 he married Mary Linglebach (b. 10 Jun 1842 in Germany - d. 15 Nov. 1901). Following her death he married a lady named Barbara, but I’ve not found anything about her. They would not have been married long before he passed.
His son Frank (b. 1864) was a popular Vermilion doctor. He was struck and killed by a train on a snowy winter night at the Grand Street rail crossing while on a call.
The photo is a portrait of John outside his funeral home on the northeast corner of Liberty and Grand streets. While I do not have an exact date on it I would guestimate that it was taken around 1910 when he was about 75 years old.
This is an exceptionally unusual photograph - the first I have ever seen of Mr. Englebry. Interestingly enough the house (currently Grannie Joe's Creamatorium) actually looks very much the same today as it did in the yesteryear. This photo was provided by Vermilionite Debbie Hanson from her parents (the late Diane and Don Chestnut) collection.
John came from San Francisco to Depoe Bay and asked a native, "Say, is this really a healthy place?"
"It sure is," the native replied. "When I came here I couldn't say one word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn't have the strength to walk across a room, and I had to be lifted out of bed."
"That's wonderful!" said John. "How long have you been here?"
"I was born here."
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, "Grandma's 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
P.O. Box 437
Vermilion, Ohio
44089
Telephone: 440-967-0988 - Cell: 440-522-8397
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Vol. 16. Issue 36 - November 10, 2018
Archive Issue #817
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