FINALLY: It took a while but summer finally arrived in Vermilion, Ohio. This pic (for the benefit of those far from home) was taken in the driveway of Romp's Waterport looking east up the hill, past the Vermilion Lagoons, toward Linwood Park and beyond.
Shot at about noon on Wednesday last (7-19-06) it's an action shot - Vermilion on the move. It's just one of those photographs that is unremarkably remarkable. They may be fighting in Beirut, but Vermilion is at peace. We are among some of the most fortunate beings on the planet.
The town was active this week with live music in the parks, outside the library annex, and an outdoor movie for kids of all ages by the river. It's the time of year when vintage cars appear on the roads, groups of teens, hormones raging, run the sidewalks in search of one another, while other, older, folks calmly sip coffee or have an ice cream and converse quietly on park benches along the busy Liberty Avenue.
By Saturday morning a slow rain would come and the parched fields and lawns would breathe a sigh of relief from the heat as the city is washed clean - preparing for another full week of summer.
THE LAST LIGHTKEEPER: Some semblance of this particular photograph may have appeared in "Views" before. It is a fine picture of Joseph and Bertha Wetzler as they stood one summer day on the west breakwall along the Vermilion River just a few feet south of the old Vermilion Lighthouse at the veritable dawn of the 20th century. It's a vintage pic with Joe in his straw hat, cigar in mouth, and his wife, Bertha, in her long light colored dress and wide brimmed bonnet.
Joe, of course, was Vermilion's last keeper of the light at Vermilion's lighthouse before it was dismantled and reborn on Lake Ontario (1929).
He was from Sandusky and came to Vermilion to be lightkeeper around 1915. At that time, as a part of the employment package, the lightkeepers resided in the house on the southwest corner of Grand and Liberty Streets.
The rest of Joe's story can be found on the new Vermilion Biographies page that is linked to this website.
Mr. Wetzler is the father of local resident Fred Wetzler who has provided me with, perhaps, a dozen or so photographs pertaining to his family and the light (among other things) over the years. Currently Fred is retired, and is very active in the community. He is Chaplain for the Vermilion Veterans Council, etc. He graduated from Birmingham High School, and was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Second World War seving in the Pacific. In brief, he is an interesting fellow on his own.
THE CRYSTAL BEACH: I have hundreds of photographs spread over 4 computers, 3 cameras, half a dozen flash cards, flash disks, and numerous cds/dvds that cover many, many subjects. I would guess that I've been purposely collecting them for at least a decade (some are incidental - family pix taken along the way). The point to be made is that I'm not always clear as exactly from whom I acquired some of the photographs. This is especially the case when they've come to me via e-mail from persons I've not physically met. And that is most certainly the case with this photograph of a man I have noted to be I. Thompson (above).
I do recall that the person who sent me this pic was a woman, and that this is a pic of her grandfather/great-grandfather taken at Crystal Beach in the early 1900's. The skating rink building behind him is the one that once sat at the back (near the beach) of the park and was later destroyed by fire. And I also recall that she told me that her family once ran a candy booth at the park, and that she still had some recipe/menu books from that enterprise. In any case, it's a pic that should be added to the Crystal site - I just lost track of it.
About that site: It gets a great deal of traffic. So much so, that the Lorain Public Library has added it to its local historical links on the web.
Interesting.
LESTER'S HOME: When visiting the Josiah Pelton home the owners, Jean and Tom Beach, gave me a copy of this old photograph of the childhood home in which Lester Pelton lived with his family on Risden Road in Vermilion Township. The home still exists, and remains in the hands of albeit Lester's extended family - now Faith Kishman.
I don't believe many people understand the import of either photograph (not to mention the fact that Lester's childhood home still exists). Lester Pelton is, beyond the shadow of any doubt, THE most important person who ever lived in the area. People all over the planet recognize his importance as an inventor and engineer. It is indeed amazing that only a handful of people in the Vermilion area are aware of him and/or his contribution to the world.
Simply amazing!!
MARLIA: As previously mentioned it is my intent to keep a photo journal of several things taking shape about Vermilion - and this is one. It is local resident Jon Clark's home being made from a very renovated Snell Fishery (one of, if not the oldest, the oldest buildings along the banks of the Vermilion River).
Jon told me that this is going to be the family home, and that it will not also house his Vermilion Insurance Agency. He also told me that he was going to have a small marina along the river beneath the home he named the Marlia Marina, noting that it would be, "Like the Maudelton,named after our kids Mary Scott and Julia." Unfortunately, there was an accident at the site last week and a local teacher/coach named Mark Fowler who was helping with the renovation fell and was injured. However; it appears that Mark, although seriously hurt, is recovering.
ROB: This photo was taken by Vermilionite Jim Jones in the "Warehouse district" in downtown Cleveland last Thursday evening (7-20-06). His son, Rob, is the fellow to the left of the pic with the large drum in front of him (I don't know the appropriate name for the instrument).
I just like to keep some record of this Vermilion boy's whereabouts as he works as a professional musician all over the world. I know he's done gigs in Spain, Great Britain, and New York City (to name a few of the places).
It's nice to watch someone succeed, and have some pix to go with it.
WHAT'S A FOOT: A few Vermilion Area Archival Society pix and artifacts are currently on display in the windows of the empty store next to Vermilion's Convenient Store (Near the river bridge and new Rotary Centennial Park).
And, of course, everyone is absolutely welcome to join this group. Lifetime memberships are $100. Yearly memberships are $10 a person; $18.00 a couple; and $5 for a student.
Please take the time to visit (or re-visit) the Hope Children's Home site linked below because there are some additions there that you might find interesting (now featuring the results of their annual USA Bi Continental Run). With all the bad things happening on the "dark continent" it's really nice to know that there are some places where the light does shine brightly. Please keep in mind that the needs of Hope Children's Home are on-going. Contributions to that home may be made to Larry Hohler in New York.
CLASS REUNION UPDATES: Here's some new items: Vermilion Class of l948 Reunion for Friday, August 25, 2006 at Vermilion Fish and Game - 6:00 p.m. For more information contact Carol Bechtel. They are looking for Richard Jenkins, Norma Czarnecki, Bob Thomas, William Judge, Robert Crampton, Rodney Gribble.
Bob Ferry, is heading up the VHS Class Reunion for 1987...20 years. (More on that at a later date).
If something changes you'll see it here.
Some folks use this page as a portal to the Classes of '60 to '62 webpage I'm placing the link back here. But it would be a very wise move if folks involved with that page made a note of its URL and posted it in their notes as well as those contacting their classmates. This reunion is taking place this weekend.
I was unaware of it but more than just a few folks do use this site as a link to their respective class sites - so - here's the VHS Class of 1959's site back for your convenience too: Remember that site is located at: Class of '59 and it'll be updated it as Roger (Boughton) receives enough new pictures and information from classmates to make it worth reading. So send him any information that you would like to share with other classmates and he'll put it up for all to see and view.
It is my understanding that some of these links are not working, or not working well. If so it is a technical problem belonging to the respective parties operating those webpages.
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 check the new archives links below.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vol.4, Issue 18, July 22, 2006
© 2005 Rich Tarrant