Vermilion Ohio, A Good Place to Live
SHOPTALK:On the desks this week are two of the old brick school / Grange houses in the Vermilion area. Most persons in the vicinity will likely be familiar with the Grange Hall at Axtel (aka Well’s Corners). It still looks very much the same today. When I was a teen I remember attending at least one dance at that hall.
The other school is on Banks Road in Brownhelm Township just above (west) of Mill Hollow. This school is part of the reason I’ve used these buildings on the desktops this week.
Last week someone contacted me via Facebook asking if I had any pix of the Banks Road School. This is the one that popped into my mind when the request reached me, but I’ve not way to send it to the person. In addition to that this pic isn’t (as these things go) really all that old.
I do have another (I found later) in a notebook that was provided by Brownhelm historian Bill Cutcher. This one is much older.
I’ve never really gone into it very far, but I may have pix of nearly all the old district schools from the early 20th century. Also, there’s an old church at Mitawanga that may have served as a school in days past. It’s a clapboard building that I hope is saved and restored for future generations.
STRANGE WEEK: Due to the flooding along the Vermilion River at the Olympic Club last week this week has proved to be someone difficult for those of us living along the river.
Geo and I have tried to keep one of our vehicles at the museum and one at the club. There’s really not much parking space at the club.
Below is the view from our porch at the grounds of the club. We’re approximately 100 yards from the river. The ice along the road runs from 6 to 8 ft. high. And though we have room to park one vehicle in the drive below (you can just see the back our car – lower left) walking from our vehicle(s) to the stairs on the side of the cottage is precarious business.
Before the road was cleared Geo and I walked / crawled from our home to the bottom of the hill so we could walk up and get our car. We feel like Artic explorers.
The problem is that with the low temperature everything, including the river, is frozen again. So if the thaw comes fast we’ll have another flood on top of all of what you see. [YIKES!]
When spring arrives there’ll be all kinds of wildflowers growing in the field where the ice dropped seeds.
That’s life in a flood plain.
JEFFERY": Larry (Morey Jr.) Jeffery phoned me during the week. He tried emailing me, but for some reason it didn’t work. He and his spouse Luan live in the Carolinas now.
Anyway he told me that he and his wife are going to the 75th D-Day Celebration in Normandy, France this year. They’re going to walk the beaches where over 9,000 Allied troops either lost their lives or were wounded back in 1944.
Very cool. Larry is an interesting guy.
Historically,
LOYDALL’S LAKE ERIE DRIVE-IN: Several weeks ago the owner of Martino’s restaurant asked my brother-in-law, Terry Diener, if we had any pix of the Lake Erie Drive-In when the owner before him (it was Phil from the Philbo House) owned it.
Well, someone may have some photos of it during that period, but then I recalled that there was a couple who owned the placed before Phil and after Harold Nieding. But I’ll be dogged if I could remember their name. All I could remember is that one of the owners was of German dissent. And I only remember that because my friend, Tom Boone, back then was smitten by one (or both) the owners’ daughters and kept saying things like “Danke” to them all the time. [To my knowledge Tom couldn’t speak a word of German beyond that.]
Anyway, I started asking around to see if anyone remembered the owner’s names. Finally Vermilionite Larry Howell called me with the answer. It seems that he’d been asking for me and Vermilionite Ron Millis had the answer. Their names were Dick and Sally Loydall. Their daughters’ names were Connie and Evelyn. That’s all I needed.
Their proper names were Richard and Selma Dreger-Loydall. Mr. Loydall was born in Rugby, England on 14 April 1926. Sally was born in Prussia (she was of Polish dissent) on August 24, 1924. The couple had met in the Officer’s Mess when he served in the British Army (4 1/2 years). He said something to her while working at the mess and she tossed an apple pie at him. They were married on 14 April in 1948 and came to the U.S. together in 1949. By 1955 they owned and operated the Lake Avenue Coffee Shop in Elyria. That same year she was naturalized. Dick was scheduled to become a citizen the following year.
I’ve not definite date but the couple must have purchased the Drive-In from Vermilionite Harold Nieding sometime around 1965 or ‘66. Dick died prematurely on 23 March in 1969 at the age of 42. Sally died, rather recently, on 22 August 2018 in Batavia, Illinois where she apparently had gone to live with her daughter Evelyn (Paul) Little. She was 93. Her daughter, Constance (William) Little preceded her in death. Sally is interred at the Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst, Ohio.
In any case, my question was answered. But whether anyone has a pic of the restaurant just before Mr. Trinter purchased it is something still in some need of response.
AFTER LOYDALLS - BEFORE TRINTER: Now – back to the original question that started my research: I still don’t have a pic of the place when Phil Provenzano and his wife, Eleonor owned the place, and I don’t know anyone that does. They called the place “Ellie’s” and Geo, myself and our daughter used to eat there quite often. I’m guess that was back in the 1980s. The dinners were reasonably priced and good. I recall that one of the items on the menu was beef tips over noodles.
What I do remember is that the restaurant didn’t change much between the Harold Neiding days and when Mr. Trinter opened his place. Following his ownership the building was improved, eventually adding a bar. Since his move to his new place (Martino’s) no one has been able to make a go of it at the old drive-in.
JIM HART: Albert Henry “Jim” Hart Jr. went to heaven on a Sunday (08/10/14). He was 94. I don’t often say much about the demise of many residents I have known in my lifetime because I believe the newspapers and the Internet cover such matters quite adequately. But with Jim it’s different. In short, I really, really, liked him. Moreover, he was an unusual person.
Perhaps the best way I can describe Jim to those who never knew him is that he was a man of habitual precision. But despite this eccentricity – or maybe because of it – I always found him to be an interesting person. There was the “right way, the wrong way” and then there was Jim’s way. But unlike most folks that might harbor a similar eccentricity in Jim’s case he was right about 99% of the time. Being a pharmacist there was little room for error or imprecision. That Jim applied that same formula for nearly everything in his life is something I found both annoying and amusing.
One time I was cooking a steak on a charcoal grill at a church function. They were nice steaks. Jim walked up to me, looked at his watch, and told me that I should cook them for precisely 2 minutes on each side and they would be done precisely the way he liked them (medium). This amused me because as an experienced cook I know that the temperature of cooking devices (indoors or outdoors) vary – sometime substantially. Ergo, cooking them using time as the only guide insured nothing. But Jim insisted – and I hope he enjoyed his rare steaks. But that, to coin a phrase he often used, ”was the ticket”.
Like many Vermilionites of the yesteryear I worked for Jim as a kid at his drugstore. Unlike most, however, I also worked with him as an adult scrubbing, washing / waxing floors at our church. He had a specific formula for the water, soap, and wax we used on the floors in both the store and the church. At first I thought he was just being ridiculous – but he wasn’t. He was right. He was an old Navy man, so I supposed he’d scrubbed a great many decks. The good part of this task was that we were able to share stories. And every Saturday morning as we worked on the floors in Fellowship Hall at our church we shared – and I learned a great deal about Mr. Hart.
He told me about his Navy experience(s) as well as how his father started his business in the rooms now (2019) occupied by Shattuck’s gift store on Main / Division Street. [Somewhere I think I have a photo of the interior of that store.] He also told me that when his dad bought the store most locals once knew as Hart’s Corner Drug Store it had a wall down the middle of the lower floor (for 2 stores). Hart Sr. removed it.
When he returned from the Navy he gradually assumed ownership of the store and, unlike his father’s business, Jim’s began to turn a profit. And while Jim definitely ran a tight ship (i.e. if he took a candy bar he paid for it) he did some very kind things for persons in our community whose medical needs overwhelmed their pocketbooks. No one will ever really know how much he gave because he seldom or never mentioned it – but through the years it was substantial.
My wife Georgi and I were privileged to be able to do a video interview with Jim in Exchange Park several years ago during an even for the Archival Society. He was then in his 91st year. I thought we would get a wealth of information from him. But we did not. What we did get is this (and don’t tell anyone): We got the recipe for the chocolate syrup he made for his soda fountain. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in ice cream.
Now Jim – Albert Henry Hart Jr. – belongs to the ages. I have the history he wrote for his store building. I have the stories of Vermilion and its people that both he and his wife, Dorothy, told me over the years. And I have his recipe for chocolate syrup. I can only say, ”Thanks Jim. I hope they have ice cream in heaven.”
- Sunday, January 27, 2019
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...
For the first time in her history Vermilion has had a banquet and smoker given by a Chamber of Commerce. Some time ago a suggestion was made that the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce following in the footsteps of similar organizations and be up-to-date and have an enjoyable social gathering. The matter was referred to the entertainment committee with orders to report. At the December meeting this committee was given instructions as to the date and amount per plate and their report at at the January meeting sounded good.
Last Thursday evening was the time selected. The place being Hotel Wagner, the time from 7 o’clock on.
The splendidly equipped rooms of the Independent Club over Buster’s News depot had been selected as a place of reception and at the time specified, a large number of the members and ladies had gathered. As they arrived each guest was presented with a miniature red pennant with the First Annual Banquet Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Jan. 26, 1911, printed on it, as a souvenir, also a carnation.
It was fully seven7:30 when landlord “Joe” Stone of Hotel Wagner, announced that the feast was ready. Upon arrival, music by Ries orchestra, consisting of violin, harp, clarinet and cornet greeted the guests. The crowd passed directly into the dining room where one long table and three smaller ones were prepared and beautifully decorated. The banquet consisted of oyster soup, roast chicken and ham, creamed potatoes and other appetizing foods, prepared to suit the taste of an epicure was served in courses and thoroughly enjoyed. After all had finished, Vice-president Minium, toastmaster, after a few well-chosen remarks introduced Rev. T. H. D. Harrold, of the Methodist Church, who made a short address fitting the occasion. Dr. Swisher of the Cong’l church was then called on for an address. He made a short speech taking for his subject “The Reason Why.” Mayor Williams made a short speech with a few words of praise for the manner in which the banquet had been arranged. F. W. Wakefield also made a few well-chosen remarks.
The committee was then thanked by unanimous vote of all present for the able way in which they had provided entertainment.
Adjournment was then taken to the club rooms where the remainder of the evening was spent in games of various kinds and social conversation. The orchestra furnishing some very excellent music all evening. It was past the hour of midnight when this first “smoker” broke up and all express their appreciation for the good time.
It is to be hoped that the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce will hold many annual banquets and that all the members will make it a point to be at the next regular meeting, the second Wednesday in February to talk over various things relating to the good of the community. It is also the night for election of officers.
A jury in the Court of Common Pleas Thursday, returned a verdict for $12.08 in favor of Nicholas Braont of Milan against Harry Mason of Avery. Braont sued for $40 and his claim was rather unusual.
Braont, one day last summer, was arrested at Milan for throwing the beer keg through a window. He was fined by Mayor Morgan and Mason, it seems, paid the fine on condition that Braont work for him as a Teamster. Braont took advantage of the opportunity to secure his freedom and was soon on the job.
Braont, on the witness stand said he worked for Mason a little more than three months and that Mason had not only deducted from his wages the amount he had paid into the Milan Village treasury, but about $40 besides. The jury couldn’t see it this way and returned a verdict accordingly.
Mrs. Francella Sawyer – Washburn, wife of Wheeler F. Washburn died suddenly Thursday evening about 5:30 from heart trouble. Mrs. Washburn while not in good health for many months had been better the past winter than for some time. She was 62 years of age. Besides her husband who lies critically ill she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Blackwell and Mrs. A. D. Baumhart and one son David, all of Vermilion.
She was born at Avon and her younger years were spent at Amherst.
[NOTE: These were Charles Wheeler "Charlie / Chub” and Albert David Jr. “Dave” Baumhart’s maternal grandparents.]
Mr. Wheeler F. Washburn passed away at 8:50 last evening. Mr. Washburn had been ill for two years and most of the time under the care of a nurse. With the exception of about one year spent in northern Michigan, his entire life of 69 years one month, 14 days has been spent in this vicinity where he enjoyed the respect and confidence of the community. He is survived by four children, Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. Blackwell, Mrs. A. D. Baumhart, and David Washburn all of this village, two grandchildren and one great grandchild four sisters, one, Mrs. Bradley of Vermilion and Mrs. Schoff of Birmingham. The funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday) at one1P. M. From the house and the remains will rest beside those of his wife who preceded him by less than a week, in beautiful Maple Grove.
The Vermilion G. A. R. Band held election of officers last Tuesday evening which resulted in all the old officers remaining in office. They are:
President, J. H. Baumhart
Vice. Pres., Phil Darley
Secretary. Earle Child
Treasurer, M. E. Lawless
Librarian, T. J. Ball
After the election, the president invited band members to his home Friday night, for social time as well as practice.
Mrs. J. B. Gillett is reported on the sick list.
Mrs. H. L. Hall was been very sick able to be out again.
The funeral of Mrs. Eliza Lutz was held Tuesday at her home, Rev. Lindenmeyer officiated.
Miss Tilly Rose is reported be seriously ill from an attack of pneumonia.
Several from here attended the dog and poultry show at Cleveland Thursday.
A mysterious hog cholera is playing havoc with porkers around this vicinity, also around Birmingham and Henrietta.
Nickel and Holl have made a settlement with the insurance company and expect to resume business about 1st of Feb.
A boy arrived at the home of W. K. Wasem on Jan. 30th.
Missionary H. Cook, of Yamagata, Japan, will speak at the Birmingham German Reformed Church on Thursday, Feb. 9th at 7 P. M.
The Gallup – Ruffing Handle factory at Norwalk was destroyed by fire Saturday night. It is reported the company will not rebuild there but is seeking a new location.
The temperance element of the village of Huron are circulating a petition for another election under the Beal law. Three years ago they were defeated by 36 votes. They say that more than 50 of those that voted “wet” at the election have moved away since the last election was held and that inasmuch as nearly all of those voting “dry” still remain, they cannot lose this time.
One day this week George Hahn the farmer residing on the Lake Shore fell and dislocated his hip. On account of his age, 90, the injury is a serious one.
Without being required to offer defense to a charge of stealing $760 from her husband; Florence Phillips of Maumee, was acquitted by a jury and judge Brough’s court. The indictment charged grand larceny.
Judge Breaux directed the verdict, ruling that the theft of any amount of money or property by wife from a from husband, or vice versa, does not constitute a larceny.
Under the decision of Judge Brough, who by the way, is a bachelor, a wife has a legal right to rifle her husband’s pockets, providing she does not resort to personal violence.
Mrs. Darby’s mother, Mrs. Allen is in very poor health.
L. McQueen recently purchased a trotting bred colt sired by John A. McKerron.
George E. Andrews is confined to the house with a severe attack of neuritis.
Oberlin students are engaging rooms on the Lake Shore for their spring vacation.
E. F. Resnik formally of the staff of the Lorain Times – Harold, but now residing at Fort Collins, Colo., has accepted the position of managing editor of the Courier – Farmer a 16-page weekly paper published at Fort Collins. Mr. Resnik is a brother-in-law of Mrs. Franc Parsons and Mrs. Mary Quigley of Vermilion and well known here.
Electric lights were installed at the home of Mrs. Fraley this week.
Through the efforts of N. A. Foster, C. F. Niggle of Cleveland has purchased the Nieding farm on the West River Road. New buildings will be erected on the place in early spring.
Mrs. R. C. Swisher was brought home from St. Joseph’s Hospital Saturday. She is recovering as fast as can be expected.
Many friends of James Cuddeback will be pleased to learn that he is on the way to recovery. The services of a trained nurse were dispensed with Tuesday.
Ladis Martinek and Chas. Barber are the delegates to the Fisherman’s Convention at Cleveland this week.
Mrs. Henry Hoyt is sick with Grippe.
Mrs. Starr, who was with her daughter Mrs. Frank Tenant, is still quite ill.
Little Maud Solt Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Solt has been real sick the past week, but at this time reported better.
The infant son of Mrs. Bertha Baker, who was seriously ill with pneumonia, reported a little better in the last week’s issue, died Thursday noon.
Mrs. Weatherlow has been quite sick the past week. She is cared for at the home of Mrs. Mr. Ed Gosnell with whom she is spending the winter.
Mr. Edgar Horn, an old soldier, living alone near the LL. S. E. Railroad, fell while on his way home from the store on Tuesday dislocating the bones of the hand and spraining the wrist severely.
The Kindergarten school has been closed on account of sickness among little ones. It will open just as soon as the children are able to return.
Albert William Baker, infant son of the late Mr. Burt (deceased) and Bertha Baker was born June 5, 1910. Died Jan. 26, 1911 at the age of seven months 21 days. Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the home conducted by Rev. A. G. Rupert.
Mildred Normando is reported on the sick list.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mills, Friday Jan. 27. The little one died Saturday morning.
Lyman D. Allen, an old and respected citizen residing with his daughter, Mrs. F. A. Ketchum for the past two years died at Sandusky on 26th of Jan., of winter cholera. Burial at Ceylon, Sunday. Three children survive him, two daughters and one son. The deceased was 86 years 11 months 24 days. Born in 1824, in Canada. Came to Ohio 70 years ago. Was a blacksmith and a wagon maker by trade. He also left two sisters, living in Vermont.
Hmmmmmm....
A NOTE ABOUT THE CLIPPING: I guess my g-grandfather liked his chickens.
…ments in the arts and sciences. We notice that they go hand in hand—one discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts leads to others continually, and the results of the last few centuries show that observations of no apparent use led to the most important discoveries and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold the theory of gravitation and its relations to the solar system; the discovery of the polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the mariner's compass; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog led to the numerous applications of galvanic electricity; the observation of the expansive force of steam led to the construction and application of the steam engine; the observation of the influence of light on the chloride of silver led to the art of photography; the observation of the communication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the invention of the telephone; the impressions taken from letters cut in the smooth bark of the beech tree led to the art of printing—the art which transmits to posterity a record of all which is valuable to the world.
Thus is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. Gradually has he advanced from a state of rude barbarism and total ignorance to a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute dominion over all elements, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened manhood he can exclaim with Cowper:
My right there is none to dispute;
From the center all 'round to the sea
I am lord of the fowl and the brute!"
So long as mind shall occupy its seat, so long will progress be the watchword of man, and onward and upward will be his march to an endless and limitless ascent—where all the hidden and occult secrets of creation will unfold their mysteries to his comprehension and crown him master of them all.
The printing office has well been called the “Poor Boy's College," and has proven a better school to many; has graduated more intellect and turned it into useful, practical channels; awakened more active, devoted thought, than any alma mater on the earth. Many a dunce has passed through the universities with no tangible proof of fitness other than his insensible piece of parchment—'himself more sheepish, if possible, than his “sheep-skin." There is something in the very atmosphere of a printing office calculated to awaken the mind to activity and inspire a thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stanhope, Beranger, Thiers, Greeley, Taylor, and a host of other names, illustrious in the world of letters and science, have been gems in the diadem of typography, and owe their success to the influence of a printing office.
The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelligence, civilization and progress of the community in which it is published, and its files are the footprints of the advancement and refinement of the period of its…
1929 CLEVELAND INDIANS: team finished third in the American League with a 81-17 record. I don’t know where (exactly) I came across this schedule book. There’s a great deal of trivial information in the book. Evidently, some of the parties mentioned in the info part of the booklet used it for advertising.
When their second child was on the way, a couple attended a pre-birth class aimed at couples who had already had at least one child. The instructor raised the issue of breaking the news to the older child. It went like this:
"Some parents," she said, "tell the older child, 'We love you so much we decided to bring another child into this family.' But think about that. Ladies, what if your husband came home one day and said, 'Honey, I love you so much I decided to bring home another wife.'"
One of the women spoke up immediately. "Does she cook???"
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'".
Rich; it is our 60th reunion and will be very informal. It looks like this at the present time; Tuesday, JULY 9, 2019.
-4pm Boat ride Vermilion River and Lagoons (Parsons)
-5:30pm Drinks and music on the Patio-Vermilion Boat Club
-6:30pm Dinner - order off the menu Vermilion Boat Club
Replys can be sent to;
Roger Boughton
2205 1th Ave. SW
Ausitn, MN. 55912
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
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol. 16. Issue 48 - February 2, 2019
Archive Issue #829
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