March 29, 2025 NV# 138
“Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived.”- Abraham Lincoln
DESKTALK: Things are going to change. I’ve been doing this site (or a similar one) for over two decades. Depending on one’s age it’s not really what one might call “a long time”. But the problem now is that I’m 20 years older than I was when I started.
I’m not really complaining about my age (I’m 80+). That’s just reality. But along with the reality is the fact, that at my age my physical self ain’t what it used to be.
One of my complaints is (as I have often mentioned) my eyesight. It’s not something that can really be corrected anymore. I’ve been wearing spectacles since I was 8 years old. I am one of those folks with eyes affected with macular degeneration. My right eyes is beyond reasonable repair and my left is ok. But I think it’s also beginning to fail some.
The reason I mention this is because it will affect the page. I’ve been having a problem dictating the “Briefs” part of the site from microfilm. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long , long time. But it’s becoming very difficult for me to see the microfilm – even with a magnifying glass.
Reading the film isn’t so bad. But transcribing the info (i.e. placing the information) correctly into a word document accurately is. MS Word allows me to transcribe, but the transcriptions are not completely accurate. They require a good deal of proof-reading.
As a result, I work between the microfilm screen and the computer screen. And this, to further complicate matters, requires that I constantly remove and replace my glasses as I work between screens.
In a few words: It’s difficult.
I’ve tried doing this several different ways during the last few months, but haven’t come across any reasonable alternative. So…
I believe I’m simply going to just use audio (alone) for a week to see how that works. I know of several ways that I could easily remedy this problem. But I simply and honestly can’t afford them.
In the end it may be that I’ll just have to stop, pick up my marbles (so to speak) and go home.
We’ll see. (No pun intended.).
BIRMINGHAM'S COVERED BRIDGE
JUST NICE: I used this video on FaceBook posts and place it here for those who might have missed it.
It’s both informative and somewhat novel. It is, of course, one of my grandfather’s black and white photographs that I’ve used a new app to colorize.
Colorization doesn’t always enhance some of these old glass prints. But on occasion – they’re “just nice”.🐈⬛
TELL ME A STORY: Last year I came across a book called “Whatever Happened to the ‘Paper Rex’ Man? and other stories of Cleveland’s Near West Side”. It is a collection of vignettes (stories) written by various persons who live or lived on the West Side of Cleveland during the 20th century. It was published in 1993 and went through at least 2 printings.
But one thing for sure. People did and do remember those days.
Anyway I believe it would be a nice idea for the Vermilion History Museum to put together a similar tome – one that featured stories from our community.
In literary terms, a vignette is a short, descriptive passage that captures a moment in time. It can enhance a mood, develop a character, or describe a setting.
In the last few weeks I have received more great stories from Vermilion expats. (Thanks.)
They’ll be added to the wonderful stories I acquired last year – But I need more. It doesn’t have to be a novel. 500 to 1000 words would be great. And do not worry about spelling or grammar, etc. The stories would be edited. (Even I – who writes “stuff” every day – make mistakes.)
Just take one little thing about your life in Vermilion during the 20th century and write about it. Then give or send it to me with your name.
I would like, maybe, 50 stories (1 or 2 from each person). And when all is said and done I’ll publish those stories in a nice book. Any and all funds realized from any publication will be used to support the Vermilion History Museum (a 501c3 nonprofit organization).
Please don’t be shy. I really, really would like to hear your stories.
As an old Pepsi Cola truck driver once wisely told me, “I know what I know. You know what you know. But I won’t know what you know unless you tell me.”
Feel free to call me @440-967-4555 or email me @ rnt@twc.com – or just
stop at the museum.🐈⬛
YOU'RE (ALWAYS) INVITED
This is A VERY SPECIAL NOTE
NEW: I’ve added a “special section” to the “Past 20 Years” part of the page. You will find there nearly (but not all) every video and audio production I’ve published over the last few years. They’re not arranged as nicely as I want them to be. But they’re all there – and I’ll add to them as time passes.
A VERY RICH COMMENTARY
SAVE $s
Save $ and increase revenue? Eliminate all tax breaks for everyone earning more than a million dollars a year.
A Few More Pages
Part of the "Black Cat" Series
Ellen Roscoe talks about her husband's family...
(?!) (48) before birds sang / spring songs / in the wood / above our home / when the wind changed / & / the freight train / whistled / warnings @ / the first crossing. / I dreamt dreams / of familiar-faced / phantasms / in flannel shirts / & / dungarees. – March 29, 2024
VERMILION HISTORY THEATRE: Due to all the distractions surrounding me lately I neglected to keep the link to the History Audio/ Video Theatre. So – click on the name above and visit.
THE BRASSMEN:
Many Vermilionites who came of age during the 1940s and 50s or undoubtedly remember a few of the man in the photograph accompanying this article: All were a strategic part of the workforce at Vermilion’s F. W. Wakefield Brass/Lighting Company. Once upon a merry old time – which was, namely the better part of the last century – Wakefield built and occupied this office and factory buildings on the west side of W. River Rd. just south of the railroad tracks.
While there was unfortunately, no date on the photo from which this photo – sketch was extracted a reasonable “guesstimate” might be that it was likely taken about 1950.
The gents in the photo are front row, L–R: Sam Linglebach, Milt Lyons, and Adam Grisel; back row L-R: Fred Friday, Art Copeland, Nelson Becker, Jim Friday, Frank Mayer, Karl Schroeder, Harvey “Buck” Rogers and Leonard Osborne (who was known as Vermilion’s singing Mayor).
For my part I knew all these faces. However, the only men in the photo that I knew beyond just passing were Jim Friday and “Buck” Rogers. This was done due to the fact that their sons, Rich Friday and Tom Rogers, were among my school chums. Years later I would eventually come to know Adam Grisel rather well. Adam was for a long time Sexton at Maple Grove Cemetery, his tales of that experience, however tame, amused me.
And although I didn’t really know Art Copeland very well I knew that his family was related to the Wakefield family, and that they were instrumental in helping build the lighting business in Vermilion. To my knowledge his son, Rick, still lives in town. The daughter, Melissa, died at a rather early age; She was a delicate child. But conversely, she was gifted with a very robust personality. So much so that few who know her ever forgot her.
Among all these fellows, however, Leonard Osberg was perhaps best known. After graduating from high school in Sandusky he served as Regimental Sgt. Major in the 83rd division headquarters in LeMans, France during World War I. He was responsible for all their personnel files and records. While serving in France he met a lady named Annemarie Decamp. Her father was Chief of Music for the French Army’s Fourth Corps. Leonard and Annemarie were married in Detroit in 1921. Their daughter, Nadine Ferguson, who still lives in Vermilion, was born in LeMans during a return visit.
Prior to joining the Wakefield company he worked in industrial relations at the Plum Brook Ordinance works in Sandusky. At the Wakefield company he held the position of personnel director.
Outside the company he was a nationally recognized archer/bowman, was song leader and past president of the Vermilion Rotary club, and had served three terms as mayor of the village (1940 – 1946). It was during his first term of office that Vermllion’s landmark water tower was built. Residents referred to him as the “singing mayor” because of his love for music and singing. During his years in office he had also been a member of for Vermilions well-known Rube Quartet.
As previously mentioned, many local persons who came of age during the middle years of the last century will, no doubt, recall the faces of the of those in the photo. Some were leaders; Some more followers; Some were friends; Some were not. But all were, indispensable. All were Vermilionites.
Ref: Elyria Chronicle telegram, 08/08/59 article by Dayle Rodgers; Special Thanks to A. C. Tarrant and Nancy Alice Emery; Published in the Vermilion Photojournal 01/08/2009
© RNT January 8, 2009
the history of erie county in ohio (Continued)
597ec…Village Creek Valley. Among professional men are Dr. A. B. Storch, well established here, but about settling in Florida; E. L. Perry, dentist, (a descendant of Commodore O. H. Perry,) has been a remarkably successful practitioner here for a great many years, receiving patronage from surrounding towns, and even from Sandusky and Toledo; Dr. P. A. Gordon, formerly a United States surgeon, a man who has traveled extensively and enjoyed the thorough culture and varied experiences that produce broad views as well as professional skill; Dr. W. J. Esch, another allopathist, is an energetic young man, of broad views, fine education, and had an extensive practice, which he left recently to take charge of his deceased father’s practice in Cleveland ; Dr. Simmons, the homeopathist, has a very large practice among the patrons of this “school”; W. B. Starbird, a rising young attorney, has a very large law practice in Erie and other Northern Ohio counties; Attorney H. N. Shipman, an old resident, is a man of some ability. Among the more recent establishments may be found A. H. Case’s model drug store; Minor Curtis & Son, machine headquarters for several States in certain engines and threshers; William Eastman’s fine grocery; O. Bassett & Son’s “Common Sense Grocery,” with Louis Cline’s Park Hotel, erected in 1880, but burned in 1888, and Bert Dixon’s new clothing store. The Stoakes’s automatic pen factory, and the A. J. Mowry & Co.’s spoke factory, with the comparatively new but improving ax-helve factory of Milo McCrillis, no doubt have each a trade extending over as wide a territory as that of many a larger establishment in our manufacturing cities. A. J. Mowry is entitled to great credit for the energy manifested in keeping up manufacturing interests here, and of J. W. Stoakes we shall have occasion to speak later on.
B. Ashley’s jewelry and repair store was for many years (nearly half a century) a landmark on the south side of the square. Mr. Ashley has long been a pillar of the Presbyterian Church, like Dr. Stuart, A. P. Mowry, L. Stowe, C. Gwin, P. Comstock, Mrs. J. D. Smith, Mrs. Frank Lockwood, J. C. Lockwood, Mrs. E. Andrews, Dr. Galpin, Harriet Gordon, John Sisty, Judge
Taylor, Squire Fay, Dr. Storch, H. Horner, Squire Emmons, A. S. Case, W. Winslow, and others working in the interests of the church without expectation of earthly reward. Mr. J. C. Lockwood has recently erected a lovely little brick chapel for the Sunday-school at a cost exceeding three thousand dollars.
F.H. Weaver has a jewelry establishment in the new S. A. Lockwood block, on the west side of the Public Square. It is quite new and up to the times in its management and appointments. Olson’s carriage shop and Cooper’s general repair and exchange establishment are also institutions of value to the business interests of the village. Among the old families whose names have not come into our article as yet, we mention “from a somewhat faulty memory, the families of Kneeland Townsend, Carlos Colton, Joseph Hough, Charles Edridge, Judson Perrin, William Daniels, D. Dimon, William Dimon,…
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY OHIO – With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers – Edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich – Syracuse N.Y. – D. Mason & Co., Publishers – 1889
