Comer’s Oasis, Hering’s Tavern and Philbo House

Since I live in Vermilion, it’s only a short jaunt over to the neighboring city of Huron. Every once in a while I head over there (usually to go to Berardi’s) and I pass the Angry Bull Steak House each time. Its location at the intersection of U. S. Route 6 and State Route 61 is kind of remote, and I sometimes think about the various businesses that preceded it at that location.

I’ve written about a few of them before, but let’s take a trip back in time and revisit a few of them.

Comer’s Oasis is one of the earliest businesses that was situated there. It’s not hard to imagine how it got its name, since it’s situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by cornfields.

The business seems to date at least to the late 1930s. (An announcement in the August 19, 1959 edition of the Sandusky Register of the 50th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Comer noted that they had been at their present location, Comer’s Oasis, for the past 20 years. )

Here’s an ad for Comer’s Oasis that ran in the Sandusky Register on Sept. 11, 1946, advertising music provided by the South Shore Four every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Comer’s Oasis truly was an oasis. An October 6, 1947 news article in the Sandusky Register about an employee who was swindled referred to Comer’s Oasis as a “combination grocery and bus station.”

This ad from the Register of Sept. 16, 1948 advertised dancing to the music of Stardusters featuring Elaine Meyers.

The business changed hands in March 1949. Joe and Bela Hering, who had previously owned and operated Hering’s Bohemian Tavern in Lorain, were the new owners.

Here’s an ad from the March 17, 1949 Amherst News-Times announcing the new name of the business: Hering’s Tavern.

And here are a few ads and articles from the pages of the Sandusky Register. We even get a view of the building.

Sandusky Register – April 28, 1959

Sandusky Register – April 28, 1959

Sandusky Register – June 23, 1959

Sandusky Register – June 23, 1959

Sandusky Register – Sept. 8, 1959

In 1961, the business changed hands again and became the now well-remembered Philbo House. The name ‘Philbo’ was a combination of the names of the two new owners, Phil Provenzano and Bob Arheit.

Here are some Sandusky Register clippings from the early days of the Philbo House.

Sandusky Register – July 25, 1961

Sandusky Register – August 15, 1961

Sandusky Register – Sept. 19, 1961

Sandusky Register – October 10, 1961

Sandusky Register – October 24, 1961

Sandusky Register – March 13, 1962

In December 1964, the Philbo House suffered a fire. Here is some of the news coverage.

Sandusky Register – December 10, 1964

Lancaster Eagle Gazette – December 11, 1964

Sandusky Register – December 11, 1964

Sandusky Register – May 22, 1965

On September 8, 1969 – 50 years ago this month – fire once again struck the Philbo House. Compare the photo below with the photo of the building when it first became Hering’s Tavern.

Lorain Journal – September 8, 1969

Elyria Chronicle - Telegram – September 8, 1969

The business eventually reopened.

Lastly, here’s a 1970s era photo of the Philbo House, courtesy of the Huron Historical Society’s Digital Collection at OhioMemory.org

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I first wrote about the Philbo House and the Angry Bull back here in 2009. I did another post incorporating longtime blog contributor Rick Kurish’s research here in 2015.

Philbo House Fun

Well, it’s the end of the week, and since I’ve been writing about restaurants lately, it’s a good time to post some articles about the Philbo House (now the Angry Bull) recently sent to me by regular contributor Rick Kurish.

You might remember that back in November, Rick had sent me a 1949 ad (below) that revealed that after Joseph and Bela Herring sold the Bohemian Tavern, they opened Herring’s Tavern on Lake Road, seven miles west of Vermilion. (As you remember, Herring's Tavern later became the Philbo House.)

In Rick’s latest email, he wrote, "I have attached two newspaper articles from the Chronicle-Telegram. The first is from July 22, 1961, and dates the opening of the restaurant as well as the origin of the name.”

Indeed, Rick’s article (below) includes the names of the men associated with the Philbo House: Phil Provenza and Bob Arheit.

July 22, 1961 article from the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram

Rick noted,"The second article on the clambake is from September 16, 1961."

September 16, 1961 article from the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram

Rick also commented, "Interestingly, Joe Hering is supervising the clambake and it sounds like this isn't his first bake. I couldn't believe the preparation involved --- I thought you just washed them off and baked them for a period of time.

"I first ate at Philbo House in 1970, on a date with my future wife, and several times thereafter. The food, especially the steaks, were always perfectly prepared. Ahh, good memories!"

Thanks for sharing those good memories (and articles too), Rick!

At the junction of 61 and 6 & 2...

Here's an ad from the 1969 Lorain Phone book for the Philbo House. It was at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 61 near Huron.

   As a kid, I remember my parents driving by this place for years on the way to somewhere else (probably Cedar Point). This ad, with its old-time type fonts and dot border pattern simulating lights, made me think there was some real whoopin'-it-up going on inside.

   Unfortunately, I never got to eat there when it was the Philbo House. But in February of this year I did get to eat at the current restaurant at that location: the Angry Bull Steak House. The food was terrific and the service was absolutely great. Of course I had to get a steak and I wasn't disappointed.

   To visit the restaurant's website, click here.

   I still don't know why the bull is so angry, though. It must be part of this trend towards cantankerous ad mascots out that way (such as the Angry Trout.)