OLD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

STONE AND OIL FOR STREETS

Have you circulated that oil petition yet. Remember that if you want your street oiled this summer, the petition should be handed the clerk in time for the council to meet Monday night. Two car loads of crushed stone arrived during the past week from the Wagner Stone Company, at Sandusky and commissioner Schmoll is busy filling up the chuck holes in the streets about town.

HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS HERE BY GOVERNMENT DOUBTFUL

The following communication has been received from the war department by several of our businessmen, relative to the government attitude regarding our harbor improvements.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors Southern Building

…it appears from the information now available that this project should be abandoned because of the small amount of commerce, present and prospective, and the relatively large cost of  needed repairs and future maintenance.

Before taking final action in this matter, an opportunity will be given interested parties to submit, within a period of two months from the date of this notice, statements and arguments bearing upon the necessity and advisability of the United states concerning this improvement.

 Communication should be addressed to “the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, Southern Building, Washington, D. C.” be arranged by correspondence with the board.

…It is time that we got busy. We cannot hope to get anything unless we unite and go after it strong.

Some point to Vermilion as a summer resort, but we will have to make marked changes if we wish to continue even as that.

Last year over 2,000,000 lbs of fish were received by the local fish companies. This of course does not count or come in as commerce, as required in making any harbor improvements, but nevertheless over seven $1700 were spent in dredging by the corporations and property owners last year. The government spent a small sum in dredging between the peers, and although the appropriations are adequate if for the work alone the way in which it is handled makes it barely sufficient and very little is accomplished.

If we could induce some industry to locate here, which could make use of our harbor and make a showing commercially, it would not be so hard to get a sufficient appropriation to do work necessary to make the harbor easier of access to the larger craft.

One citizen just suggests that a boat building establishment would be a good thing. Our harbor is an ideal spot for such an institution.

As the reader noticed that the location of one industry of any consequence often attracts others of a allied nature to the same locality.

We should not delay, but unite and put forth every effort, if we do no know more than keep Vermilion harbor on the War Department map, for improvements we, have accomplished a little.

[NOTE: To be honest it certainly did not appear that anyone in Vermilion ever had a plan for the harbor. On the other hand, I don’t believe anyone in the town had any political “pull” either. And it remains so to this day. If, during WW1 or 2 the harbor had been closed tight-fisted (and that’s being nice) politicians would’ve been falling over one another to have the harbor opened and improved. Vermilion’s fishing industry was extremely important during those times.]

ARM BROKEN

While practicing visiting on the school grounds, Monday morning William Law fell and broke his left arm just above the wrist. Doctor Heining reduced the fracture and the young man is back in school.

11 GRADUATES THIS YEAR

The class of 1916 will soon pass from their public school duties to other duties of life. Some, no doubt, will take advantage of the numerous opportunities for a higher education, while others may assume positions among the wage earners without further preparation. We hope that the latter will be few-that none will find it necessary to abandon any plans for acquiring more knowledge.

This great event in the lives of the five young ladies and six young gentlemen will soon come to pass. Thursday evening, May 25th and Friday evening, May 26th, are the evenings set for the commencement exercises.

One evening will be devoted to the class exercises and the other to an address and graduation.

It has been found quite a task to secure a desirable speaker for the occasion and while Superintendent Sellers is in communication with several gentlemen, up to the time of going to press no decision has been made.

One of the most notable features of the graduates this year is the number of young men in the class.

Usually the ladies outnumber the gentleman.

The following young people will graduate:

Frank E. Baker, Clarence H. Dean, Leslie M. Friday, Alta M. Maynard, Lillian M. Moyer, Albert A. Schwensen, Charles M. Squire, Nellie E. Trinter, Elmer A. Wagner, Alice May Wakefield and Esther J. Whitmore.

The alumni association is preparing for their annual banquet a meeting which will probably be held on Saturday evening May 27th.

IMPROVEMENTS

The final settlement in the estate of Mrs. H. L. Edson is expected this week and next week. Mrs. Amanda Myers hopes to begin alterations and improvements in the Division St. property occupied by the White Shoe Store. An entire new front with the center entrance is contemplated. The room occupied by A. D. Baumhart will receive attention later.

BIRMINGHAM

Several people are here are busy sowing oats.

[NOTE: I suppose there must be a time for such things.]

People here are busy spraying the fruit trees.

Mrs. D. A. Bennett is on the sick list.

Monday, the grand jury returned the following results against A. L. Irey, former Superintendent of the Vermilion public schools, which is unusual, and reads as follows:

The State of Ohio,

 Erie county,

In the court of Common Pleas, Erie County, Ohio, of the term of April, in the year of our Lord 1916.

“The jurors of the grand jury of the state of Ohio, within and for the body of the county of Erie, impaneled, sworn and charged to inquire of the crimes and offences committed within the said county of Erie in the same name and by the authority of the state of Ohio, upon their oaths, do find him present, that upon investigation of one Albert Lee Irey, late of said county, accused of and charged with the crime of burglary and larceny, that the said Albert Lee Irey is at this date to wit, the 24th day of April, 1916, insane, and we do hereby further report such finding as made by us to the court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Erie and state of Ohio, the honorable Roy H. Williams presiding.

“A true finding, (bill),”

Where prisoners are arraigned Saturday trials for those who refuse to plead guilty will be set. If Irey stands trial and a jury finds him insane as charged, the court made commit him to the Lima hospital for the criminally insane. Under a new statute this may be done providing the jury returns a verdict of guilty but insane.

Doctors Parker and Beatty were the examining physicians and they reported as the man’s mentality Monday. They say he is suffering from a decided case of paranoia.

[NOTE: Here I have no choice but to trust in the doctors’ diagnosis of Irey’s condition. From what I’ve read about his activities I’ve no doubt he had some mental health problem(s). But the problem I’ve always had with the situation is that it doesn’t seem like it was really ever treated. He would live in the hospital environment for the remainder of his life – and eventually die there. This man was a very, very intelligent person. I just can’t fathom how a guy who I believe had a doctorate, was a teacher and superintendent of two school systems – and no one, no one, ever noticed – or at least no one ever mentioned he exhibited any really bazaar behaviors prior to the problems that arose in the Vermilion school system. Incredible!]

CEYLON

The many friends of Mr. And Mrs. George Nieding, wish to extend their sympathy, in their bereavement, the loss of a dear father, who died last Saturday morning.

Doctor E. Woesner has been appointed administrator of the estate of the late Frank Barrows. According to the terms of the will which deceased made several years ago, all of his real and personal property goes to the sister-in-law, Mrs. Jenny Hoffman during her lifetime. After her demise, said property will go to Samuel Barrows, the only son of the descendant. Mrs. Noel Barram, the only surviving daughter, will not participate in the property. The heirs of the two other deceased(‘s) [sic] daughters are likewise cut off in the will.

HURON

Easter costumes were shown on the Boulevard here last Sunday.

Philo Sperry has been confined to his house the past week with lumbago.

T.J. Harris of W. Huron, who has been under the doctor’s care for some time past, has so far recovered as to be around again.

Our harbor is in need of dredging. Deep draft boats have trouble getting in their dock.

The Kraut and Pickle factory of Cleveland would like to contact with anyone to raise cucumbers and cabbages for the Huron plant.

The first order cargo arrived here Tuesday on the steamer America.

Miss Fannie Everett, the Humane agent, was in town last Thursday, looking after delinquent heads of families in Huron.

Since the new coal firm started in business, coal prices have dropped 75c a ton.

Fishing has been very good the past week but prices are low.

LOCAL ITEMS – GATHERED HERE AND THERE

The fish tug Liberty, Captain Boyd, of Huron, was visitor in port to day.

Alfred Buell has resigned his position at Elyria to accept one with Henry Ries, painting.

[NOTE: This refers to Alfred Buell sr. who was born in 1886. Most persons around town knew his son, also Alfred jr. b. 1914.]

Born-to Mr. And Mrs. L. P. Kaiser, a 9 1/2 LB son, at Memorial Hospital this Thursday morning. Mrs. Kaiser was formerly Miss Elsie Hahn of Vermilion.

Mrs. I. W. Nicholas was taken to Memorial Hospital, Elyria yesterday, for treatment and possibly a minor operation. Mrs. Nicholas has been very ill for the past two weeks. Her many friends hope for a speedy recovery.

Mrs. Mabel Halloran and daughter Daisy, returned Monday from a week end visit at Plymouth, the state.

Four Lorain people were bitten by a mad dog yesterday.

Reverend Paul Schlipp has been quite ill this week.

Jacob Abel has received his brand new Ford touring car.

Court Smith is driving a new Ford runabout.

Chandler Thompson is reported quite ill.

Another sure sign of spring is the arrival of the umbrella menders.

Alice and Genevieve Christian have been very ill the past two weeks.

The children of Mrs. Schnapps who had been very ill the past four weeks at the home of Mrs. O. E. Baumhart are reported much improved.

Doctor W. E. Derr is driving a new Willys Knight Roadster instead of a Buick as stated last week.

Mrs. George Fischer and son Elton and guest, Mr. Lewis, and Miss Ruth Goodsell motored to Cleveland Tuesday and were guests of Mr. And Mrs. O. A. Priest. They attended this opening of the new Ohio home of the Buick.

A.D. Baumhart was elected delegate to the republican state convention for the 6th county district, composed of Berlin heights, Berlin town ship, Florence and Vermilion.

FLORENCE

Mrs. Eli Beecher died at the home of her son, Everett Beecher, Friday.

Mrs. Earnest Coultrip has been on the sick list but has some better.

AXTEL

Mrs. C. Sperry is reported on the sick list.

BROWNHELM

Mrs. Werner Zilch, who underwent an operation last week at Saint Joseph’s hospital, Lorain, is improving nicely.

Francis Higgins, who went to the Soldier’s Home in Sandusky last winter, is very ill, with little hope of recovery.

NEWSY NOTES

The children are searching the woods for violets; The housewife is in the fields gathering a mess of greens. Now will you be convinced that spring is here.

Tuesday was a primary election day in Vermilion, but the majority of the voters were not aware of the fact. We have a newspaper for furnishing such information but those delegated to attend such matters evidently were asleep at the switch.

Akron is called the city of opportunity. With the coming of natural gas Vermilion could well take on similar slogan for the town to bounce in the opportunities for the manufacturer or mill man looking for a place to settle in and if we are fortunate enough to get gas the money expended in reroofing our one unoccupied plant might prove your mighty good investment.

Trap net fishing is reported as being very good from this port just now some of the little boats coming in with lifts that are measured by the tons instead of a few 100 lbs. as is generally considered fair for men in this line. The gillnet tugs show a big falling off from their recent good lifts, but with the prices anything but satisfactory their loss is not a big one.

Many and varied are the uses made of automobiles but who would have dreamed of them being used by gypsies. A band of them are now touring the valley of Virginia and two big cars, and apparently enjoying life as of old except in their mode of travel. A number of robberies were reported along their trail which possibly account for their new departure. It is a safe bet that a few horses are not far behind for what would life be to the gypsy without horse trading and fortune telling.

[NOTE: I knew Gypsies were undesirables for many folks at this time in American history. But snide and uneducated remarks about them really would not have helped matters. This is an America I don’t care for. But it’s history all the same. Sometimes we need see and admit our shortcomings. And be embarrassed.