Dairy Queen Vermilion Ad – March 31, 1965

Spring 2020 has been off to a crazy start, with all of the precautions being taken to control the Coronavirus. But hopefully things will begin to get back to normal by the beginning of summer.

One of those things to look forward to along with the warm weather is the opening of Romp's Dairy Dock on Liberty Avenue (U. S. Route 6).

As you can see in the above ad at the top of this post, back in 1965 the popular soft serve ice cream stand was part of the Dairy Queen system. The ad appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal on March 31, 1965 – 55 years ago today.

Romp’s has been a favorite topic on this blog since I moved to Vermilion.

I posted an interesting 1963 article about the history of Romp’s here, as well as a Grand Opening ad for the Dairy Queen from June 1964 here. Romps’s also made it into this article about the flooding that took place back in January 1959.

Anyway, whenever Romp’s Dairy Dock does open this year, it will be a pleasant sight indeed.

Romp’s Dairy Queen Grand Opening – June 1964

Romp’s Dairy Dock has been an iconic Vermilion business for decades, serving up popular frozen ice cream treats at its familiar location on U. S. Route 6 as part of Romp's Water Port since the 1960s.
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But did you know that it started out as a Dairy Queen franchise?

That’s right.  At the top of this post is a Grand Opening ad, as it appeared in the Vermilion Photojournal on June 17, 1964 – 55 years ago this month.

And here’s a shot from this past Sunday afternoon. The building really hasn’t changed that much, and that’s part of its nostalgic charm.

It’s obvious that at some point it simply made sense from a marketing standpoint to bring the ice cream stand and Putt-Putt miniature golf course under the Romp’s banner.

Anyway, it’s a comforting sign of spring to see Romp’s Dairy Dock open and busy as usual. Be part of the tradition and stop there on your visit to Vermilion!

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I posted a great Journal article from 1963 about the Romp’s marina complex back here. The article includes an interesting history of how it came to be.

My post also provides a look at what the property was like back in Lake Shore Electric days.

Vermilion River Floods – Jan. 23, 1959

Many of us remember the terrible flooding that occurred in the Vermilion area during the notorious storm on July 4, 1969.

But did you know the Vermilion River flooded sixty years ago in January 1959 with similar disastrous results?

Here’s the front page of the Lorain Journal with the story from January 23, 1959.

As it notes, “The overflowing waters of the Vermilion River were subsiding today in the wake of a nightmarish flood which caused estimated damage of more than $1 million to property in the Vermilion area alone.

“An estimated 200 persons were evacuated or forced to leave homes and house trailers along both sides of the river south of Rt. 6 and 2.

“The main highway leading to Vermilion at that point was covered with as much as three feet of water from noon yesterday.

“Several long-time Vermilion residents said they could not recall another flood which caused so much property damage in the Vermilion area.

“At least 10 pleasure boats were torn from moorings at Cooper’s Boat Basin by the fast-moving river water which swept the boats north toward Lake Erie.”

Here are the continuations of the front page articles.

And here’s a full page of Journal photos by Don Shook, Bill Conley and Ed Nemecek of the disaster.

It would be interesting hearing from Vermilion area residents who lived through both disasters as to which (1959 or 1969) was worse.

But this photo of Routes 6 & 2 from the montage (in which you can see a Romp’s sign at left and the bridge off in the distance) really gives me the creeps.

Romp’s Marina Article – Sept. 2, 1963

Even if you don’t own a boat, you’ve probably spent some time over the years having fun at Romp’s marina complex on U.S. Route 6 in Vermilion. Most of us at some time or another have enjoyed ice cream at Romp’s Dairy Dock, or played a game of miniature golf at Romp’s Putter Port.

But did you ever wonder about the history of Romp’s, or what that area was like before it was developed?

Well, here's an article by J. A. Greulich that tells the whole story. It appeared in the Journal on Monday, September 2, 1963.

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Once A Swamp, Now Recreation Area
By J. A. GREULICH

VERMILION – A business bought on a handshake six years ago has been parlayed into a substantial asset and is a major factor in this city becoming the "Heart of the Vacationland."

Robb Romp today heads Romp's Water Port, Inc., an expansive layout of 17 acres on the east side of the Vermilion River and fronted by Rts. 2 and 6.

The area, which originally consisted of a riverfront lot with a rundown boat house, 15 acres of swamp, store and second-floor living apartments, now has nearly a half-mile of lagoons with docking facilities for 300 boats of all sizes.

In addition to selling anything from a dinghy to a 30-foot cabin cruiser, Romp conducts an attractive marine store, operates a putt-putt golf course, an archery range, and offers a complete marine service for both visiting boaters and regular dock renters.

Currently employing 15 workers in addition to his wife, Peeps, and sons, Tom and Bill, Romp said the venture is a year-round enterprise.

"Comes the latter part of September and into October," he explained, "we're busy hauling more than 250 boats and using our facilities out of the water.

"Of these, we prepare 150 for winter storage on our own property, many being refinished and reconditioned, preparatory to next season.

"Many of those which we are unable to take care of in the fall, get partial of full fitting-out treatment starting with the first smell of spring."

While most of the water port's summer patrons come from a radius of 70 miles, with a concentration from the Cleveland metropolitan area, he said an amazing number return to the community during the winter months to shop for meats, produce, foods and even automobiles.

Born and raised on a farm near North Olmsted, where he was graduated from high school in 1937, Romp operated a farm for several years and later became a partner with the J. R. Dall auto and tractor sales in Elyria.

Learning from a friend that John Michelich wanted to sell his boat livery and bait business in Vermilion, he lost no time in meeting the seller and the deal was closed by a handshake, with the promise of a down payment. He then made plans to sell the "Dairy Queen" store he ran in Lakewood.

"Although I knew nothing about the marine business," Romp said, "I knew Vermilion as a boy, visiting summers at Linwood Park with my parents. I guess somewhere inside me there was always a longing to live here, and I've never regretted the move – nor has my family."

In addition to his business, Romp has a keen interest in community development. He is a board member of the city's Business and Industrial Association and active in the Rotary club.

A grass-covered area between the archery range and putt-putt course is made available for civic events, and during the winter months provides ice skating for miles around.

Mrs. Romp, in addition to doing the firm's book work, runs the family's completely-renovated home over the store, and personally does the cooking, laundry and housekeeping. Both boys, college students, are in charge of the Putt-putt and archery range.

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Here’s the link to the Romp’s website and Facebook page.

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UPDATE (August 20, 2015)
Shortly after my original post, I received this great vintage photo (below) via email from archivist and historian Dennis Lamont. Dennis is the foremost expert on the Lake Shore Electric interurban line, and generously shares his knowledge and archival photos in an effort to perpetuate its history, as well as that of the area.

Dennis wrote, "Here is a view of what Romp's looked circa 1937. The Lake Shore Electric followed today’s pole line down a big embankment to the bridge over the river. The entire embankment was eliminated when they dredged the south dock line."

In Dennis' photo, you can see U. S. Route 6 at the far right of the photo making its approach to the current bridge over the Vermilion River. You can compare this photo with the black and white one at the top of this post, which shows the same swampland from the same angle prior to development.

Special thanks to Dennis Lamont for sharing his photo.