Church Becomes Vermilion Police Station – July 1964

Sixty years ago this week, the city of Vermilion purchased a church on Grand Street to serve as the city's Police Station. The above photo and caption announcing the acquisition appeared in the Journal on July 8, 1964.

The funny thing is that the church looked like a police station, as noted in the photo caption. 

Today the brick building is home to the Old Vermilion Jailhouse Bed & Breakfast. Its very interesting website reveals to those who are still learning about Vermilion (like me) why the structure didn't look like your typical church. That's because the historic building had originally served as the city's library from 1935 until 1958. (This blog post features the brand new Ritter Public Library that replaced it.)

The building housed the Police Station until 1998. Fortunately, it would not be demolished, or remain unloved for long.

In 2003, according to this article on Cleveland.com. It notes, "In 2003, Amherst native Markos Paradissis bought the old Vermilion police station on Grand Street and used it for his growing firm, MV Circuit Design. The four-cell jail in the back was used for storage.

"Ten years later, he and long-time partner Marla Hayes came up with a better idea for the space.

"After seven months of renovations, Paradissis and Hayes opened the Old Vermilion Jailhouse Bed and Breakfast, where fresh flowers and high-end stereo equipment mix with concrete block and heavy metal doors."

It's wonderful to see entrepreneurs from the area take a chance with a creative business proposal and be successful, while also enriching the community and stimulating the local economy.

The view on Sunday

Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case – 70th Anniversary

Sam Sheppard and his defense counsel in October 1954
(Photo courtesy the Plain Dealer and Case Western Reserve University

Do you remember the infamous Sam Sheppard murder case?

I mentioned it at work last week, and to my surprise, two of the people I work with were not familiar with it. I guess that's not too surprising. After all, the murder took place in July 1954 – 70 years ago exactly.

The former Sheppard home in Bay Village

Back on this post ten years ago (on the 60th anniversary), I noted that on July 4, 1954, "Marilyn Sheppard was found brutally beaten to death in her Bay Village home. Her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard, had been asleep downstairs at the time of the murder according to his story. The rest of his version of the aftermath of the murder – including his being knocked unconscious by a "bushy-haired intruder" – are well known to Northeast Ohioans, as well as much of the nation. 

"The sensationalized coverage of the crime by the Cleveland Press and that newspaper's call for the arrest and conviction of Dr. Sheppard is well-remembered. The aggressive coverage by the Press was part of the reason that Sheppard was granted a retrial in 1966, after he spent ten years in prison for his initial conviction of the murder. He was acquitted after the second trial."

I posted the front pages of the Lorain Journal from the initial reporting of the murder on July 5, 1954 to his making a statement to the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's office on July 10th. The Engaged Scholarship @ Cleveland State University website provides a timeline of the murder and its aftermath which notes that Sheppard was not arrested and charged with murder until July 30, 1954.

I suppose that part of my fascination with the murder was the fact that for several years I rode the RTA bus to and from Cleveland every day, and it went right past the former Sheppard home on Lake Road in Bay Village (it's been torn down for years) as well as the former Bay View Hospital where he had his practice.

For many of us, the Sam Sheppard murder case is something that we'll never forget, and never get tired of debating. In the late 1990s, when the Sheppard son was making a case that a window washer committed the murder, I wasn't buying it. I felt badly for the son, who has had a terrible emotional burden all these years due to the tragedy.

Recently, I read an account of the events (including some gossip) surrounding the murder, and am now inclined to think that Sam Sheppard did not commit the murder – but knew who did and covered it up.

Cities Service & Frankies Ads – July 1964

 

To finish out the week, here is a pair of big ads for companies that have been featured here before. The ads appeared in the Journal on July 1, 1964 and are both of a seasonal nature.

Cities Service – today's CITGO – had a special summertime promotion involving root beer (another favorite topic on this blog). The purchase of ten gallons of gasoline entitled you to a free quart of Dad's Root Beer.

Despite the appealing name (not unlike Mother's Oats), I don't remember drinking too much Dad's Root Beer. There were just too many brands, and Mom seemed to favor Frostie for a long time, with some Hires Root Beer here and there.

What's interesting to me is the friendly beaver mascot for Cities. I don't recall seeing him before, and he seems like he'd be right at home in the Great White North, where appropriately there are a lot of companies with beaver mascots.

From the CITGO website, here's a nice color graphic of the 'Eager Beaver.'

The little buck-toothed mascot was also featured in his own little activity book.

And speaking of mascots, Superior's Frankies always utilized their friendly frankfurter well. In the above ad, he's directing Journal readers to enter a contest to win a trip to the 1964 World's Fair and be his guest. What's a little odd is that the ad notes that "June is Frankies Month."

Anyway, here's a 10-second commercial featuring Frankie himself.

July 4th Ads – 1944 & 1954

Here's wishing all of my readers a safe and happy July 4th.

Eighty years ago, we were at war with Germany and Japan. Here's a great ad (below) for Smith & Gerhart that ran in the Lorain Journal back on July 3, 1944. The theme of the ad was that you could buy a Series "E" War Bond, which in turn would entitle you to 'autograph a bomb for the enemy of your choice.'

As the ad explains, "This year, the only fireworks that count are the ones showered on the enemy. And now, through the co-operation of the U. S. Treasury Department and Textron, you can take a personal part in putting the finishing touches on Hitler or Tojo. Textron – makers of war's necessities as well as beautiful fashions of today – makes this possible through the Bomb-Bond plan.

"Come in and buy a Series "E" War Bond of any denomination. This Bond pays for a bomb, entitles you to autograph a Textron Bomb-Bond Label which Textron® will paste on that bomb... send it straight to the enemy of your choice."

I like the selection of bombs you could choose from, everything from a 4,000-lb. Block-Buster Bomb (for a $1000 War Bond) down to a Fragmentation Bomb (a steal at $25).

The illustration of the woman shooting her fireworks at Hitler and Tojo is great too.

Another (less bloodthirsty) ad from July 1944 is this one for Reidy Scanlan that ran in the same edition of the Journal.

This ad delivers the more traditional July 4th message with a dash of wartime patriotism. It notes, "Americans today are celebrating the 168th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by which document America was made free from tyranny.

"Once more oppression is extending its power over the world.. nations are feeling the dreaded scourge of war. America is determined that justice and right will win."

Ten years later, the country was enjoying post-war prosperity – symbolized in this ad for Lorain Telephone by a massive traffic jam. 

The ad ran in the Lorain Journal on July 2, 1954. It recommends that when caught up in heavy holiday traffic, it's a good idea to call ahead to say you'll be late. Of course, it assumes that there would be a telephone booth (remember those things?) on the way.

Lastly, here's another ad from 1954, this time for Atkinson & Williams A-1 Used Cars, that ran on July 1st. It's got some cheesy cheesecake artwork to appeal to men, since at that time, buying cars was man's work apparently!

It's kind of surprising to see this type of ad in the (supposedly) wholesome 1950s. At least it's kind of patriotic, with its Uncle Sam(antha) in star-spangled stockings.

Lorain Journal Front Page – July 2, 1954

Seventy years ago this week, Lorain was getting ready to celebrate Independence Day. Above is the front page of the July 2, 1954 edition, giving us a glimpse of what was going on at that time.

Holidays usually mean lots of people on the road, and unfortunately that often means many traffic fatalities during the July 4th holiday. The Grim Reaper is featured in an effectively macabre cartoon, eagerly awaiting the tragic consequences of careless and reckless drivers. The shovel and basket are a nice touch.

As is often the case around early July, the lake flies made the news. The story entitled, "Lorain Visited by Hordes Of Unwelcome Cracklers" notes, "This year's first big invasion of lake flies last night brought with it the usual reaction – upturned noses.

"The only consolation is that the flies, known by many names, are of the ephemeroptera family. This means they usually only live 24 hours, but a few last three or four days.

"Many people call them Canadian soldiers. Others call them American soldiers, Yankee soldiers, May, June, fish or shad flies. But no matter what they are called, the smell and the mess they make of city streets and homes to which they cling are still the same."

I remember Mom telling me that Lorain used to use front-end loaders to clean up the dead lake flies that had piled up in the streets. Mom also said that they were all over the sidewalks in Downtown Lorain and that people actually slipped on them. What's funny is that I don't think I ever experienced the full impact of the lake flies until I lived in Sheffield Lake.

In Vermilion, McGarvey's Restaurant was sponsoring the annual McGarvey Memorial Races, with thirty-five boats from Lorain, Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Toledo competing. Street dancing in Vermilion was also going to be featured on Friday and Saturday nights

One small news item is pretty interesting, noting that "After nearly five years on the bottom of Lake Erie, the John S. McKerchy [sic] will float today. A crew from the L. A. Wells Construction Co. is expected to bring the sunken vessel to the surface today.

"Work at raising the sand sucker, which sunk off Lorain October 16, 1950, killing the Skipper, Horace Johnson, has been going on several weeks."

If you'd like to know more about the John M. McKerchey, click here to read about it on the Great Lakes BGSU website. You can also read the Coast Guard's detailed report about the ship and its sinking.

Seymour's Ad – July 2, 1954

Seventy years ago, Lorain Journal readers were getting ready for some Fourth of July fun on the shore of Lake Erie. And what's a trip to the beach without some music?

This ad for Seymour's Jewelers, which ran in the paper on July 2, 1954, recommended that readers bring some music along 'over the fourth' with a Motorola Console Tone portable radio.

"Here is a portable with 6 tube performance and power," the ad notes. "Largest, lightest speaker ever used in a set this size, gives console tone. Long life batteries. Handsome and lightweight in its streamlined bakelite case of green, grey or maroon."

The radio sold for a mere $49.95 (that's $583.19 in today's inflated greenbacks). Or, the purchaser could buy it with no money down for $1.25 a week (or $14.59 today).

"Sorry, kids – we couldn't afford to buy food for dinner tonight because we bought that radio! But we'll have fun at the cookout barbecue picnic beach tomorrow, listening to the radio while we scavenge for food in trash cans at Lakeview."

I like the illustration of the glove-wearing woman strutting along, swinging her expensive radio like a sack of onions.

The ad also includes another portable device: the new Motorola Porta-Clock Radio. Priced slightly less at $44.95, it boasted an "accurate, rubber-mounted clock built right into your powerful portable."

Seymour's even threw in a free, beautiful 3' x 5' beach mat with the purchase of either radio.

Regular readers of this blog know that I mainly post ads like this so I can try to find examples of the pictured items that have somehow avoided the trash can over the years. But seventy years ago is a long time. After a fruitless search on eBay using various descriptions, I finally noticed the model number 63L in the ad - and suddenly a whole lot of them appeared.

I even managed to find a Porta-Clock just in time. It's actually kind of cool looking.

Special thanks to the Radiola Guy and the Radio Museum websites.

Restaurant Ads – July 1, 1966

Well, it's the first day of July. Hard to believe, isn't it?

Fifty-eight years ago today, this was the restaurant and night club page of the Journal on July 1, 1966. Of special note is the ad for the Grand Opening of Dog 'N Suds on North Ridge Road. 

As I've noted on several blog posts, the July 1, 1966 Grand Opening was actually the second coming of the drive-in. It originally opened without fanfare in 1963 but closed (and disappeared from the city directory) by 1965. Then it reopened (under new ownership) in July 1966.

That's why there always seems to be so much doggone confusion as to how long it's been open.

Dog 'N Suds maintains a very active internet presence on Facebook. It's the only Dog 'N Suds in Ohio, and one of 20 in the whole USA, so they are working harder than ever to continue their success.

Elsewhere on the page are many ads for restaurants, drive-ins, night clubs and other entertainment venues that have been featured on this blog over the years, including Sandy's, Chicken Delight, Dewey Road Inn, Heilman's Ranch House, Hanna House, Perkins Pancake House, Emerald Valley Nite Club, Mister S, and Cedar Point.

That Perkins Pancake House up on North Ridge Rd. near Route 57 was a regular Brady destination. They had a promotion for a while that awarded a free dinner to kids on their birthday. I don't remember how often we utilized that particular special, but I do know I ate a lot of pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream back then. 

I really enjoy restaurant & nightclub pages from old Journals, because they provide a pretty good snapshot of what people liked to eat and how they liked to be entertained at that time. We also see some general indicators of a changing society, such as how most nightclubs provided music for dancing up until the early 1970s. After that, the older generation that enjoyed dancing (like my parents) were in their 50s by then and stayed home more, and the kids' taste in rock music dominated.

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There's also an ad on the page for the Mills Brothers Circus. You can read more about this circus (which was winding down around then) here.

Here's some rare footage of the Mills Brothers Circus from the late 1950s.