2 Desks
SHOPTALK: On the shoptop this week is a neat wide-angle pic of the old cheese factory at Axtel. I really like this wide-angle view of the factory where we can see up the road toward the corner of Mason Road. [NOTE: The Cheese Factory pic will be added later this a.m.]
For persons unfamiliar with the scene (It has changed some since this pic was taken.) the two-story brick building still exists. When you’re driving south (up the hill) toward Mason Road the brick building is on the right side of the road. It has a better roof on it now. But it’s clearly the same place.
On my home desk this week is a nice pic of the living room of the apartment above the museum. Some may already be familiar with it – but there are always changes going on.
In truth I used the pic because I wanted something with color in it on my desk. (It brightens my day.)
One of the very cool aspects of the program is that I can use it to change writing into an aiff / audio files. You might have noticed that I’ve been using it (just a little) for the audio portion of the page for a few weeks already – though I don’t use an aiff file for what you can hear on the page. I move the file to another audio software program (Amadeus) for editing and make the finished file an mp3 file. Some persons may have also noticed that I’m also in the process of doing some double tracking with these files. Eventually I hope to produce something of interest.
It’s kinda fun.
But back to the Readiris software: It’s set up so I can scan a text file right into the program and then send it to a word processing file for editing. That process takes a little fudging to get it right for editing. That’s because (for some reason) it retains it’s original form after it’s been scanned. That means that I have to copy and paste the scanned word document to another word document.
That’s a glitch in the software I don’t care for. It wasn’t like that in previous editions of the software.
Part of the problem is the result of my trying to keep my computer system up-to-date. As fate would have it – sometimes when you upgrade your system some of the existing software is either partially or completely incompatible with it. The problem is that unless one is really up on such things it’s almost impossible to tell how the existing software on your computer will be affected until after the fact. And that, to put it mildly, is annoying.
NEW STUFF: Among new items donated to the museum this week were several nice oriental style rugs, a coffee grinder, a lamp and a very unusual ceramic bowl: All the items were donated to the museum by Vermilionites Barb and Chuck Ruggles. And all were put to immediate use.
MUSEUM SCHEDULE: Beginning now the museum will be open six days a week from 11 AM to 3 PM. We will be closed on Sundays and Holidays. We are located at 727 Grand Street in Vermilion across the street from Vermilion's historic E&R Church. The museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM. A small admission donation of $5 (for adults) is requested. Children under 14 accompanied with an adult will be admitted free. For Special Tours call: 440-967-4555. We are closed on Sundays and holidays. Private tours during those hours and during the evening can be arranged by calling the museum, or stopping in to see us.
We are closed on Sundays and holidays.
Private tours during those hours and during the evening can be arranged by calling the museum, or stopping in to see us.
FIVE-OH-ONE-CEE-THREE: The museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. Consequently, all donations and memberships for the museum are tax deductible. This is retroactive to November of 2011. Memberships for the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are always available. Funds generated will go toward the aforementioned renovations and maintenance of the shop. A single membership for an adult is $15 a year. A couple membership is $25 a year. A student membership is $5. And a lifetime membership is $100. ADMISSION - ADULTS $5.00 and young people under the age of 14 are FREE. If you would like to become a member the VNPSM you can send a check or money order to: Vermilion Print Shop Museum727 Grand Street Vermilion, Ohio 44089440.967.4555.Cell:440.522.8397 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:Take the time to visit us on Facebook. Click on the badge below and stop in. We'll keep adding pix as we go along. If you're in the area come on in. I try to be there in the a.m. most everyday. If you see a Chevy Silverado in the drive with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
Memberships for the VERMILION NEWS PRINT SHOP MUSEUM are always available. Funds generated will go toward the aforementioned renovations and maintenance of the shop.
If you would like to become a member the VNPSM you can send a check or money order to:
Vermilion Print Shop Museum727 Grand Street Vermilion, Ohio 44089440.967.4555.Cell:440.522.8397
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:Take the time to visit us on Facebook. Click on the badge below and stop in. We'll keep adding pix as we go along. If you're in the area come on in. I try to be there in the a.m. most everyday. If you see a Chevy Silverado in the drive with the plate "MRCOOKR" stop by and see what's cooking.
Historically,
THE E & R CHURCH: The organization of Vermilion’s Evangelical and Reformed church was accomplished by a group of German immigrants in September of 1852.
Initially the meetinghouse was located just north of the church on Grand Street. By 1868 parishioners found it inadequate for their growing congregation and decided to build a new church. They sold the old meetinghouse to the Village for $350 and it was moved to a site along the river where years later it was used by the Lake Erie Fishery.
The parsonage, which was then located on the corner of Grand and Ohio streets was moved two lots to the north to make room for a new church building whose cornerstone for the church was laid on August 5, 1868. Into it were placed a Bible, a Heidelberg Catechism, a hymnal from Kurhessen, Germany, another by Reverend Schaaf, published in this country, and a copy of the Constitution of the Reformed Church of the U.S.
The new church (bottom pic) was dedicated on February 7, 1869 with Reverend C. Kuss as guest speaker. At some point in time the entry doors to the church were made to swing open, it was wired for electricity, and a new furnace was installed to replace the two wood burning stoves that stood at the back of the sanctuary. Later after a survey uncovered the fact that the building was actually standing a few feet out into the street it was raised, moved back, and a basement was added.
And since those days many other changes have taken place in and around the old church. The property now takes up all of the property along Grand Street between Ohio Street and the railroad. A very large addition with classrooms has been added – and an elevator that allows handicapped persons access to the entire building has been added along with may other positive improvements.
Though it is not the oldest church building in the City of Vermilion, Ohio it is the oldest church building in the community that serves as the spiritual home of the same congregation it did when it was built.
A Story by Brenda Baumhart Mezz.
These are the days following Christmas, and the morning television newscast is full of advice on how to avoid post holiday letdown. Too late for me. From beyond the frozen furrows of the empty cornfields dusted with yesterday's light snow, down the mostly deserted streets of my neighborhood, past the few remaining light-bulb reindeer eerily bobbing their electric heads in the wind, my Christmas memories have come calling. Like Scrooge, I take the hand of the Ghost of Christmas Past and wander through time, peering at the tender scenes and familiar faces now forever gone, overcome with that peculiarly Victorian sadness which is the heart and soul of melodrama. It is a pathos entirely too sweet and cloying for the serious business of daily living, but hard to avoid in the quiet lassitude of these short, gray, Ohio days following Christmas.
It always seemed to me the winter snow that fell in Vermilion, where I spent most Christmases at the home of my grandparents, was an entirely different sort than that which whistled down on the barren fields in Eaton. Filled with the moisture of the ever dominant Lake Erie, it was heavier, softer, cozier like a fat, spongy pillow, lickable as white cotton candy. It piled up around the house, insulating it against the cold, making it appear like a cottage in some fanciful cloud kingdom.
At 824 North Maple Street in Eaton, snow made the house seem dark, cave like - the heavy draperies drawn against drafts, people huddled under blankets or near the heat registers reluctant to move until the temperature rose. On Huron Street in Vermilion, snow brought brightness which sparkled through the glassed-in areas of the front and back porches and into the little room to the west with the black and white checked tile floor, the fem, and the noisy parakeet called Boy Blue. That room was referred to, even in winter, as the sunroom. My grandparents' house on Huron Street was neither bigger nor richer than 824. However, Huron Street was prettier, with oriental carpet, colorful, overstuffed couches and chairs, a magnificent fireplace, and filled with the infectious laughter of my step-grandmother, Frances.
In the forties and early fifties, television was not yet a part of our lives, so evenings on Huron Street were spent quietly. I still remember with joy long Monopoly marathons and staying up late struggling to complete a huge jigsaw puzzle before the holidays ended. Often we would pop popcorn in a special mesh basket over the flames at the fireplace.
One Christmas Eve, when I was still a tiny little girl, I noticed some of the kernels of popcorn were dark red instead of the usual yellow and asked Frances why that was. She told me the red kernels were magic, and if I wrapped one in a wee felt bag, which she produced, and put it in the Christmas tree, something wonderful would happen on Christmas morning. I eagerly tucked a red kernel into the little bag, found a spot for it among the branches, and went to bed waiting not only for Santa, but also for something else wonderful besides.
In the morning a magnificent angel adorned the top of the Christmas tree. Her robe was red tissue paper, her face and hair were those of a beautiful lady, and her wings spreading wide behind her were lined with tinsel. When I look at her now (and I still have her, carefully wrapped in a box of Christmas ornaments) I can see how she was lovingly made from what was at hand in the house. But on that Christmas long ago, as I looked up at her out of reach high on the tree, she was the most beautiful angel I ever could have imagined. I brought all the children from the neighborhood to see her and to hear the story of how she came to be there. She was to give us blessings through the holidays, Frances explained, and when we took down the tree, she would fly back to where she had come from-Heaven, we presumed, or fairyland.
That year, as always, the long cinnamon-scented days turned slowly, but inevitably, toward the New Year, and soon it was time to take down the tree. We assembled the ornament boxes neatly on the couch in preparation. As we began, sadly, to remove the tinsel, the doorbell rang and was opened to a small crowd of children: scrawny Nancy Lee from next door to the east; the Maynard kids, tall, slouchy Jeanette and shy Warren; ragamuffin Pat Keller from across the street; and three or four Williams kids, including their cousin, Bobby, red hair and freckles standing out boldly in the winter sun. They were there, they said skeptically, " ... to watch the angel fly away to Heaven." I like to think had I been even one year older, I might have thought to look at my Grandmother Frances and see her turn a little pale. But I was still a tiny little girl, and I, too, wanted to see the flight of the angel.
We were not disappointed that day. It wasn't too far into the removal of the tinsel, not long after the cookies and milk and the recitations of who got what for Christmas, when came a mysterious rustling of wings, a flash of red color somewhere near the top of the tree, and she was gone - the angel had flown. Nobody quite saw her leave the room - she certainly didn't go out the door, several of the children ran outside to see. Perhaps, we thought, she was capable of going through the glass of the windows. Or even up the chimney. But she was definitely gone. We had heard it-we even thought we saw it. The miracle of angel flight. And there on the floor, conspicuous among the light cords and discarded tinsel-a single, red kernel of com.
It became a tradition, an important part of Christmas on Huron Street in Vermilion, Ohio. Incredibly, each year there was an additional angel until there were six or seven on the Christmas tree and six or seven flights. And every year, try though we might, we never figured it out. It was always the same - a rustle of wings, a flash of color, a kernel of com, and the tinkling laughter of Grandmother Frances.
When teaching a few years ago, I was touched to discover that many of my female students believed in angels. They liked to write about them in their essays, draw pictures of them and, I suppose, talk to them in the quiet of their darkened rooms in the middle of the night. Most of their angels had names, especially the guardian angels. I taught in a poor, immigrant neighborhood where families struggled to put food on the table, and daily life was often mean and violent. Angels were very important to young girls in such surroundings. I respected that. Moreover, I understood it from deep within my being. My life as a child was neither mean nor violent, but it was confusing, sometimes sad, often bleak and lonely. Still, I was luckier than my students were. Not only did I have a guardian angel, she was incarnate as well in the person of Grandmother Frances.
I cannot say if Frances came from Heaven or merely from Cadiz, Ohio, as she claimed. As a child they could have been one and the same place - since I didn't remember having been to either. But it is easy to believe that wherever she came from, some place of unborn souls, she had been sent ahead to be my grandmother, instructed to cushion my rocky passage through childhood and to fly back as soon as that was accomplished. I know, even now, she is close enough to be watching over me. I feel her presence in the hot tears that decades later still roll from the comers of my eyes whenever I think of her. And once, shortly after she died, when I had spent a night of grief in a strange place at a new job far away from everyone I knew, I woke to feel the strong pressure of her arms around me as though she had held me tight throughout the long, torturing darkness.
A few days before Christmas, I had an e-mail message from Bobby Williams, the one person from Vermilion with whom I am again in touch. The message was short. "Merry Christmas. By the way, how did your Grandmother make those angels disappear?" Huck.
My message was equally brief. "Happy New Year. They flew back all by themselves. Didn't you know?" Brenda
AGAIN - ANOTHER NEW (NOW OLD) THING: Initially I said that "This will not take the place of the "Macabre" stuff all the time - but will supplement whilst I search for more macabre stories to tell." But methinks that it's carved out a niche for itself and the "Macabre stuff" with have to find another.
So stay tuned...
Battles Wharf, Alabama, December 10-07 – The Vermilion NEWS
Dear friend: two weeks ago today we left you. Our trip was first to Toledo thence to Cincinnati via, Big Four thence to Mobile Alabama via and Nashville R. R. Our journey through Ohio was interesting and instructive the beautiful highly cultivated country is something to be proud of. At Cincinnati were met by the agent of the L. and N. R. R. Who rushed us across the Ohio River to our train which was waiting for us. We took our sleeper, and all night and the next day we were rushing southward. We saw the colored people picking cotton and saw hundreds of bales of it at stations, each bale weighs 500 pounds. Saw pine forest all along the way in Alabama. This state though old is still in its infancy, and thousands of acres have never been cleared.
We arrived in mobile about dark with the Cawthon Hotel. We wakened in the morning to look out on a beautiful park of live Oak trees. This morning it rained and we spent this Thanksgiving Day very pleasantly at our hotel. We had a very fine Thanksgiving dinner, consisting of 12 courses. We talked with many southern people. Mobile has about one white person to three Negroes, some say nine colored to one white, anyway it is pretty cloudy at Mobile. Southerners here have their colored servants much as they did before the war. One man told me he had a servant that had been with him 25 years. He said he would steal. I asked him if he would steal from him, what would it be the result. He said he would give him a good whipping. Once he stole his razor and when he brought it back said he borrowed it to shave a dead man. This colored servant had been married several times and he wanted to try matrimony again so he stole his master's best suit of clothes and went off and got married again. His master asked him how he could do that since he already had a wife, and he said, he went away and left her, so he was then “rvorced”.
We let mobile Friday at three p.m. on the steamer Fairhope, arrived at Battle's Wharf, Alabama about 6 p.m. This place is on the east Coast of Mobile Bay. Dr. Scott a friend of mine by correspondence met us at the boat landing and took us to his home. He and his good wife entertained us only as only Southerners know how to do until the next day. Dr. Scott has 350 bearing orange trees, one little tree had on it two hundred and forty-five ripe oranges.
Then we came to this Beach Hotel. Here we do just as we please, walk, ride, hunt, fish, breathe this soft piney air from the seemingly endless pine tree forests all around us, mixed with saline breezes from off the Gulf of Mexico 20 miles away. We have the purest spring water to drink and everything to eat that we could wish for. It has now been two weeks since we left you and parts of three days it rained. The rest of the time it has been clear and pleasant. Last Sunday the mercury was up to 70. We have furnished this hotel with fish ever since we came here, from our hooks and lines, and the fish are beauties. Oysters are fine and very plentiful, our hotel proprietor brought 300 in shell for one dollar. Roses and violets are in bloom, we have fine mornings and evenings, in the middle of the day we sit on the porches and in the bathhouses on the beach. About two days have been cool and we have kept a little fire but no day has it been too cold to go fishing. Along the beach is one continuous role of cottages for miles and back of them great pine forests and uncultivated land. I have written this to you and through you to our many friends.
This from your friend way down in Alabama.
L. U. Todd.
Dr. Eugene Stroud the well-known Sandusky Dentist was seriously injured Friday in his laboratory by the explosion of a vulcanizer. He was taken to Providence Hospital and all possible is being done for his recovery.
A schedule of assets and liabilities of the Duplex Stamping Company has been filed in the case brought against that company by J.L. Zesiger and others. It shows assets of $3000 andn liabilities secured and otherwise of $7514.47. There was issued 150 shares of $100 per value, of which 16 1/2 were paid for in cash and the remainder J.L. Zesiger and George Smith for the real estate machinery and stock of the concern.
Last Saturday the bank of Vermilion Co., held open house at their new building. It is estimated that fully 700 people called on that day.
The ladies were given carnations as souvenirs of the occasion and cigars provided for the gentleman.
The bank is handsomely equipped with woodwork in mahogany with dull brass screen at the rear are private rooms for the officers.
The vault is equipped with modern appliances for both convenience and safety. The ceiling is of steel and together with the walls are decorated in harmony with the furniture furnishings. The floors of mosaic.
The men comprising the company have reason to be pleased with the building and its equipment for it is certainly fine.
[This is the building currently (2015) occupied by a business called the “Wine Vault” on Liberty Avenue. MONEY WILL BE BANKED The Village Council held a meeting Monday evening and made provisions for receiving bids upon village the village funds. The banks and Vermilion will be asked to bid and highest bidder will receive the funds of the village. The matter of making appropriations for the next six months was brought up, but the committee was not ready to make any recommendations. Council then adjourned. The new Council will, according to law, hold a meeting January 2, ‘08, after that date the meetings will be held the first Monday of every month. A BLOW TO THE TOWNS There are several measures which are come before Congress this session that will have more or less influence in favor of the city's to the detriment of the smaller towns. One of these is the parcel post. This measure, if we understand it will mostly favor the large mail order houses and will enable the farmer to do all his trading by mail as it were and have the goods delivered to him. He may deem this a benefit but he will have reason to change his mind when he sees the result. Storeless towns. Then, surely [we] will be at the mercy of the trusts. We believe that every voter should take this matter into consideration and abolish the "political trust" by electing men to office that can see beyond their own noses or pocketbooks. [As I’ve mentioned previous times before my grandfather / editor Pearl Roscoe really detested mail order business. As is obvious by this little article Roscoe thought that the mail order business would be detrimental to the health of the local economy. I don’t think he was entirely wrong in his assessment of the situation. (eg. Eradicate local stores and he’d have no one to sell advertising to in the town.) It just didn’t take place or happen the way he thought it might. Correspondence AMHERST Architects Searles of Cleveland inspected the school building Friday. Word reached year of the death of Rev. Walter's at Westphalia, Ind. last week. He was formerly pastor of the Evangelical church here. Geo Leinous is recovering his health at Ratoon New Mexico is now able to work. Born – to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Albright Tuesday of last week a son. The baby died the next day. At a meeting of Amherst businessmen Friday night it was voted to close the stores at 6 o'clock after the New Year. The shooting contest at Vermilion Friday between C. H. Miller of this place and Frank Schomer of Vermilion resulted in the tie. Each put three shots in the target. Mrs. Duncan was granted a divorce from her husband last week. Personal property is evenly divided. Mrs. Duncan gets 40-acre farm through which the Wabash Railroad runs and Mr. Duncan gets the Aldrich farm to 66 acres. Scarlet fever is reported at Oberlin. The trial of Miss Loa Mather and Mrs. Martha G Campbell two prominent women of Steuben is on at Norwalk. The women were arrested on the charge of arson. The Lakeview Hospital at Lorain has been purchased by an Association of physicians and will be conducted as a public hospital after the first of the year. The hospital has been conducted as a private concern by Dr. Van Nuvs for the past several months. A case of smallpox has been discovered in Elyria. The victim is Claude Robords, who with his family occupied rooms on the third floor of the Century block. The family was removed to a voting booth and all precautions for the prevention of the disease is being taken. It is thought Robords, contracted the disease in Chicago, where he recently visited. EAST SHORE Geo Risden butchered two of his hogs Monday. Chris Sprankle shipped another carload of potatoes this week. HURON Miss Ida Cook is spending several weeks at Kelly's Island. Miss Mame Callan is suffering from tonsillitis. Robert D Stryker of this place and Bessie M Metzger of Toledo were given license to wet Thursday. The Woodmen are arranging for a hard times party to be given in their hall soon. The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Fortney is ill with diphtheria, so it is reported. The ladies of the Evangelical church sent a box of clothing to the sufferers of the mine disaster in W. Va. Capt. and Mrs. Pearl spent Saturday at Castalia and the captain a inspected the G.A.R. post that place. The sad news of the death of Mrs. Block, wife of the former superintendent of our schools was received here Sunday. She has been ill for several months. Her death occurred at the home of her sister in Toledo, and interment made beside her parents at Whitehouse Ohio. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved husband and children. ASHMONT Conrad Nuhn has recently built a new corncrib. The schoolchildren are preparing for Xmas exercises. Mrs. John Lee is some better at this writing and is able to sit up some. Henry Baker and Otto Sutton were hunting one day during this season and returned with 40 rabbits. Lawson Shoop was absent from school a few days last week on account of sickness. Harry Patton of Vermillion now carries the mail on Vermilion route No. 2 past Joppa Crs. Hilda Richtor was absent from school last week on account of sickness. A Christmas tree and exercises will be held at the brick schoolhouse Friday evening 20 December. Joppa school will also have their tree and exercises there. All invited. A Good Christmas Present H.R. Williams was in Sandusky Wednesday on business in connection with a bankruptcy case of the Erie Woodworking company and brought home with him checks for the laboring man in full payment of their claims. Other claims were also settled. New Device Being Tested On The Lake Shore Electric Railway The Lakeshore electric railway is equipped one of its cars on this dusky division with a device that is known as a trolley finder, which is the invention of Dr. HG Husted, of Oberlin. The device is a small wheel similar to the ordinary trolley wheel and is located at the center of the trolley wire. The trolley finder is used for locating the wire and making it easy for the conductor to place the trolley wheel back on the wire. The Lakeshore electric will give the pension a thorough test and if it is successful all cars on the system will be equipped with the finders. Locals. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL Mrs. Nielsen lost the value jet [sic] necklace on her way to the station on the morning after the Nielsen entertainment at the opera house. Anyone will confer a great favor by leaving the same with Mr. Seaman or at the NEWS office, if it is been found Have you anything you wish to give to the Orphans Home? If you have leave it with either Mrs. McConnelly he or Mrs. Geo Bell before Tuesday of next week. Dr. Boss of Birmingham was in town Thursday. H.S. Miller returned home from Lakeview Hospital Sunday. Capt. Fred Bailey was home the first of the week for a short visit. He left for another trip to Detroit. Martin Schuster has purchased a farm of Michael Hopfinger near Cherry Tree Corners. This is J.N. Sennhenn is getting along fine after the operation, as can be expected. Ludwig Krapp is on the sick list, which has detained him from school studies all week. Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis who has been seriously ill for several weeks past has so far recovered as to be able to sit up. Among those who successfully passed the recent bar examinations we find the name of George W Ritter Vermillion. The class will be sworn in the 18th. [Remember Mr. Ritter recently ran for the office of Mayor of Vermilion losing to H.R. Williams. Prior to that he’d represented someone in a court case in the township hall. I assumed from those tings that he’d already passed the bar exam. But I guess not. Interesting…] Anyone having secondhand clothing or anything which they wish to donate to the Children's Home near Birmingham, are requested to leave same at the home of either Mrs. Geo McConnelly Mrs. Geo Bell by Tuesday. AXTEL Axtel will have their Christmas exercises on Monday evening at 7, standard. There was a mistake in last week's paper regarding to the journeys of Pug Sprunk. He was found that E.R. Whitt’s from there was taken to Simon's grocery store and from their home. We hope he will have no more inclinations to travel. I just have to wonder if this might have been done on purpose.
[This is the building currently (2015) occupied by a business called the “Wine Vault” on Liberty Avenue.
The Village Council held a meeting Monday evening and made provisions for receiving bids upon village the village funds. The banks and Vermilion will be asked to bid and highest bidder will receive the funds of the village.
The matter of making appropriations for the next six months was brought up, but the committee was not ready to make any recommendations.
Council then adjourned.
The new Council will, according to law, hold a meeting January 2, ‘08, after that date the meetings will be held the first Monday of every month.
There are several measures which are come before Congress this session that will have more or less influence in favor of the city's to the detriment of the smaller towns. One of these is the parcel post. This measure, if we understand it will mostly favor the large mail order houses and will enable the farmer to do all his trading by mail as it were and have the goods delivered to him. He may deem this a benefit but he will have reason to change his mind when he sees the result. Storeless towns. Then, surely [we] will be at the mercy of the trusts. We believe that every voter should take this matter into consideration and abolish the "political trust" by electing men to office that can see beyond their own noses or pocketbooks.
[As I’ve mentioned previous times before my grandfather / editor Pearl Roscoe really detested mail order business. As is obvious by this little article Roscoe thought that the mail order business would be detrimental to the health of the local economy. I don’t think he was entirely wrong in his assessment of the situation. (eg. Eradicate local stores and he’d have no one to sell advertising to in the town.) It just didn’t take place or happen the way he thought it might.
Architects Searles of Cleveland inspected the school building Friday.
Word reached year of the death of Rev. Walter's at Westphalia, Ind. last week. He was formerly pastor of the Evangelical church here.
Geo Leinous is recovering his health at Ratoon New Mexico is now able to work.
Born – to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Albright Tuesday of last week a son. The baby died the next day.
At a meeting of Amherst businessmen Friday night it was voted to close the stores at 6 o'clock after the New Year.
The shooting contest at Vermilion Friday between C. H. Miller of this place and Frank Schomer of Vermilion resulted in the tie. Each put three shots in the target.
Mrs. Duncan was granted a divorce from her husband last week. Personal property is evenly divided. Mrs. Duncan gets 40-acre farm through which the Wabash Railroad runs and Mr. Duncan gets the Aldrich farm to 66 acres.
Scarlet fever is reported at Oberlin.
The trial of Miss Loa Mather and Mrs. Martha G Campbell two prominent women of Steuben is on at Norwalk. The women were arrested on the charge of arson.
The Lakeview Hospital at Lorain has been purchased by an Association of physicians and will be conducted as a public hospital after the first of the year. The hospital has been conducted as a private concern by Dr. Van Nuvs for the past several months.
A case of smallpox has been discovered in Elyria. The victim is Claude Robords, who with his family occupied rooms on the third floor of the Century block. The family was removed to a voting booth and all precautions for the prevention of the disease is being taken. It is thought Robords, contracted the disease in Chicago, where he recently visited.
Geo Risden butchered two of his hogs Monday.
Chris Sprankle shipped another carload of potatoes this week.
Miss Ida Cook is spending several weeks at Kelly's Island.
Miss Mame Callan is suffering from tonsillitis.
Robert D Stryker of this place and Bessie M Metzger of Toledo were given license to wet Thursday.
The Woodmen are arranging for a hard times party to be given in their hall soon.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Fortney is ill with diphtheria, so it is reported.
The ladies of the Evangelical church sent a box of clothing to the sufferers of the mine disaster in W. Va.
Capt. and Mrs. Pearl spent Saturday at Castalia and the captain a inspected the G.A.R. post that place.
The sad news of the death of Mrs. Block, wife of the former superintendent of our schools was received here Sunday. She has been ill for several months. Her death occurred at the home of her sister in Toledo, and interment made beside her parents at Whitehouse Ohio. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved husband and children.
Conrad Nuhn has recently built a new corncrib.
The schoolchildren are preparing for Xmas exercises.
Mrs. John Lee is some better at this writing and is able to sit up some.
Henry Baker and Otto Sutton were hunting one day during this season and returned with 40 rabbits.
Lawson Shoop was absent from school a few days last week on account of sickness.
Harry Patton of Vermillion now carries the mail on Vermilion route No. 2 past Joppa Crs.
Hilda Richtor was absent from school last week on account of sickness.
A Christmas tree and exercises will be held at the brick schoolhouse Friday evening 20 December. Joppa school will also have their tree and exercises there. All invited.
H.R. Williams was in Sandusky Wednesday on business in connection with a bankruptcy case of the Erie Woodworking company and brought home with him checks for the laboring man in full payment of their claims. Other claims were also settled.
The Lakeshore electric railway is equipped one of its cars on this dusky division with a device that is known as a trolley finder, which is the invention of Dr. HG Husted, of Oberlin.
The device is a small wheel similar to the ordinary trolley wheel and is located at the center of the trolley wire. The trolley finder is used for locating the wire and making it easy for the conductor to place the trolley wheel back on the wire. The Lakeshore electric will give the pension a thorough test and if it is successful all cars on the system will be equipped with the finders.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Mrs. Nielsen lost the value jet [sic] necklace on her way to the station on the morning after the Nielsen entertainment at the opera house. Anyone will confer a great favor by leaving the same with Mr. Seaman or at the NEWS office, if it is been found
Have you anything you wish to give to the Orphans Home? If you have leave it with either Mrs. McConnelly he or Mrs. Geo Bell before Tuesday of next week.
Dr. Boss of Birmingham was in town Thursday.
H.S. Miller returned home from Lakeview Hospital Sunday.
Capt. Fred Bailey was home the first of the week for a short visit. He left for another trip to Detroit.
Martin Schuster has purchased a farm of Michael Hopfinger near Cherry Tree Corners.
This is J.N. Sennhenn is getting along fine after the operation, as can be expected.
Ludwig Krapp is on the sick list, which has detained him from school studies all week.
Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis who has been seriously ill for several weeks past has so far recovered as to be able to sit up.
Among those who successfully passed the recent bar examinations we find the name of George W Ritter Vermillion. The class will be sworn in the 18th.
[Remember Mr. Ritter recently ran for the office of Mayor of Vermilion losing to H.R. Williams. Prior to that he’d represented someone in a court case in the township hall. I assumed from those tings that he’d already passed the bar exam. But I guess not. Interesting…]
Anyone having secondhand clothing or anything which they wish to donate to the Children's Home near Birmingham, are requested to leave same at the home of either Mrs. Geo McConnelly Mrs. Geo Bell by Tuesday.
Axtel will have their Christmas exercises on Monday evening at 7, standard.
There was a mistake in last week's paper regarding to the journeys of Pug Sprunk. He was found that E.R. Whitt’s from there was taken to Simon's grocery store and from their home. We hope he will have no more inclinations to travel.
I just have to wonder if this might have been done on purpose.
Hmmmmmm....
by Mary Wakefield Buxton
Urbanna, Va.— During the Urbanna Oyster Festival a neighbor mentioned to me that her daughter was thinking about becoming a writer. How exciting! This column is for her and any other young person considering the profession.
One essential requirement for writers is exposure to life experiences. For me and many girls raised in earlier times, this was a major obstacle to overcome simply because back then “becoming a lady” was a number one goal for women. This will not develop a strong writer simply because good writers are “bad girls” in that they write truth that the “good girls” would never write. Fortunately, today, girls are not subjected to the “becoming a lady” syndrome of the past and are exposed to many diverse facets in life.
Understanding human nature is another fundamental requirement for writers. Living in a small town is a great advantage because a future writer can closely observe human behavior. A small town is a microcosm of the world and what goes on there is universal to all of mankind.
Writing, possibly more than any other profession, demands personal discipline. A writer must work alone long hours each day; there is no one supervising to make sure she is working. (She probably isn’t, if I know one woman writer.)
Opportunity for creation on the proverbial blank page is as great as the boundaries of one’s brain. It’s very easy not to work; however, the force for idleness is great and a writer must constantly fight such inclination if she is ever going to achieve anything.
Writers must have high command of the English language and learn an advanced vocabulary because we can only think at the level of words we have at our command. Prospective writers should begin extra vocabulary exercises starting in elementary school. If your school doesn’t offer enriched vocabulary, ask your teacher to supplement your regular work by the addition of a vocabulary workbook that will introduce at least 20 advanced words each week.
Writers must learn correct spelling and grammar if they expect to communicate with well-educated readers. We are living in a society that has relaxed basic language skills that may be appropriate for some students, but not for those who want to become writers. Don’t think you can rely on a computer “spell-check,” because you can’t.
Writers must never be bogged down in religious or political dogma. It’s human nature to take sides on issues, but the best writers consider all sides of an argument, understand that problems are complex, and keep an open mind.
A writer must be able to reflect, consider, imagine, dream and inspire readers to do the same. The better the writer, the more opportunity for the reader to think beyond his own mind. This is the joy of both writing and reading.
Life experiences that have helped me understand a broader world than my traditional small town Ohio upbringing include: going out of state to college, marrying a southerner, becoming a Navy wife during the Vietnam War, working in many different jobs, teaching, (no one should write even one word without standing in front of a classroom!), starting a small business, meeting a payroll, experiencing rejection, failure and success, joining a church (so many rich characters), and experiencing poverty, wealth, love, children, death, club membership, fundraising, a political convention, paying taxes, traveling to foreign countries, and running for public office.
And every writer should experience working as a waitress at least once in her life, live on minimum wage, be fired from a job, and receive a pink slip on a Friday afternoon.
So start writing, the younger the better, and keep a daily journal. Record everything you see, hear, feel and even imagine. Notice how your teacher walks into class each morning, how your father attends to paying bills, how the neighbor talks to the garbage collector, how the grocer handles a complaint or the janitor talks to students. You will soon be an expert at predicting human behavior.
Writing is a wonderful way to spend one’s life but unless you are so fortunate as to write a bestseller, you will have to plan on another source of income . . . maybe by holding a job or marrying someone who will support you.
Always be genuine with readers and never write anything you don’t believe to be true. Dodge “political correctness” like the plague. It’s just one more attempt by “the group” to shut down the individual. Your only gift to society is yourself. Call it the way you see it, gal!
Lastly, no excuses. Bloom wherever you’re planted, don’t tell us you could have been a great writer if only you had lived in New York, L.A. or Paris. Write, write, write wherever you are and keep on writing! If you do this, no matter if you ever pen a potboiler or not, chances are you will lead a very happy life.
THE EXECUTION OF JOHN OMIC: Over the next several weeks an account of the crime, capture, and execution of an Indian man named John Omic will appear in this space. I found a newspaper account of this affair in a notebook several weeks ago. And while I have written about Omic in the past this story affords a little more information about Omic that I believe readers will find most interesting.
First Hanging In Cuyahoga County Execution of Omic, at Cleveland June 26th, 1812.
…Omic and the boy had a trial at Cleveland, the boy was set free, but in about two years later he committed two murders for which he was hung in Huron county. Omic was sentenced to be hung, June 26, 1812.
There was then no jail in Cleveland, and after the Indian was sentenced, he was placed in the custody of Mr. Lorenzo Carter, and confined in the red tavern which stood on the right of Superior street, about three rods from Water street. Omic was lodged in the chamber of the building. Notwithstanding the absence of a jail he did not have as much liberty as our prisoners now enjoy. A staple was driven into the floor in the center of the room. One end of a chain was made fast to this, while the other was attached to one of his ankles. The chain was not long enough to allow the prisoner to fully reach any side or the room. He seems, however, to have enjoyed life hugely while in prison. It was such a contrast to his common mode of living; He had been accustomed to roaming the forest, perhaps for days, without a morsel of food. When night came be lay down on the cold, damp ground. Hunger and nakedness had heretofore attended his footsteps. But now what a change! The happy savage finds himself in a comfortable room. He has the best of food brought right to him. At night he has a good bed upon which to sleep. Never before did Indian fare so nicely. So thought Omic, The sentence of death did not trouble him any, but he crew as fat and lazy as a well fed City Alderman. He strictly maintained the stoical demeanor, which becomes an Indian brave who is about to meet death. Disdain curled his broad lips us he said to the men having him in charge, "Me show pale face how an Indian can die."
Mr. Carter 'was given the charge of Omic for the reason that Carter was not only a man of considerable physical ability, but be was also of much tact. He also had great influence over the Indians. A word from him would nave been worth more than a hundred bayonets in controlling the red men had they made any attempt. at rescue.
The execution of criminals was then public, and on the 26th of June, 1812, an immense crowd of people were assembled at the Public Square, in Cleveland, This, in fact, is said to have been the greatest gathering of the pioneers, up to that date, in the Reserve. And pray, why should it not have been so? The people of that day were not provided with the highly moral amusements, which we now enjoy. Theaters, billiard rooms and a thousand things of that kind, which bless our age, were unknown to the pioneers. With what inexpressible joy then, did the people of the Reserve in 1812 hear the glad tidings that a man was to be hung in Cleveland. How their hearts must have leaped within them and their tongues refused to act because of over fullness of joy at the anticipation of beholding a human being butchered. Blessed prospect of recreation! The husband leaves the plow in the furrow and starts for the house to impart the joyful news to the wife of his bosom. But he is too late. The news is I already there. The wife leaves her dishcloth and unwashed plates and saucers, and with hurried steps goes forth to meet her husband. Joy beams from heart to heart and sparkles from eye to eye, as the happy mortals exclaim in a breath, “A man is to be hung in Cleveland! It is all free too!" The children, wondering what all the excitement is about, come trotting out of the house in droves of from two to five urchins each. These little specimens of humanity always do take great interest in extraordinary transactions. When they learned the cause of…
NEW AQUISTION: Among new acquisitions at the print shop during the last week was this violin. It came from David Roscoe Lindsay (my cousin) who currently lives in Texas.
I believe the instrument was played by either or both our grandfather and great-grandfather. The strings are gut strings. Most are broken – and I’ll not personally tamper with them or the violin.
Our great-grandfather (Caselton Roscoe) used to play for dances around Milan, Ohio. Although he played the fife in the Union Army during the Civil War I doubt that he played the fife for dances. (But who knows?)
I also seem to recall reading somewhere that our grandfather (Pearl Roscoe) also played the instrument.
A knight and his men return to their castle after a hard month of riding.
"How are we faring?" his king asks.
"Sire," replies the knight, "I have been robbing and pillaging on your behalf all month, burning the towns of your enemies in the west."
"What?!" shrieks the king. "I don't have any enemies to the west!"
"Oh." replies the knight. "Well, you do now."
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
or you can use PayPal: (NOTE: IT WORKS NOW)
Vol.13, Issue 40 - December12, 2015
© 2013 Rich Tarrant