Vermilion Historical Society
History Living On In Vermilion Ohio
The Vermilion Historical Society diligently works to preserve and protect the fascinating history of Vermilion, Ohio by cataloging collections of historical documents, photographs and artifacts. The Vermilion History Museum promotes an appreciation of Vermilion's history through featuring historical artifacts and photos available for public viewing in Vermilion, Ohio's historic downtown, Harbour Town. Learn More....
Quilt Reveals Names from Vermilion’s Past
Vermilion Historical Society directors Shelly Innes (right), Margaret Wakefield Worcester (left) and Bob Risdon, whose mother Elsie Risdon owned the quilt, hold up the 1916 Quilt with 600 names of Vermilion Village and townships residents.
The Vermilion Historical Society has received a rare quilt with hand-stitched names of 600 people who lived in Vermilion and the surrounding townships. The quilt was made by the “Axtel M.E. Ladies Ade Society Nov. 1916”.
The quilt was owned by Elsie Trinter Risdon and was given to Michael Legnon who lived with one of Risdon’s sons. Legnon then donated the quilt to the Vermilion Historical Society. Robert A. (Bob) Risdon, another son of Elsie and Clyde Risdon, still lives in Vermilion.
The textile is made of white cotton in a Dresden pattern stitched with turkey red thread. The stitching is done in differing handwriting per block and has the names of the women who made them. There are 30 blocks with 20 names each.
Many of the names are well-known to the Vermilion area. Some of the names included are: Baumhart, Mayer, Buell, Rumsey, Pelton, Trinter, Risden, Nieding, Bauman and Kropf.
This is one of the signature blocks of the quilt showing the name of Axtel M.E. Ladies Ade Society who made the quilt in Nov. 1916.
The Vermilion Historical Society will have a showing of the quilt on Tuesday, February 11th from 10 am to 4 pm in the Community Room of the Ritter Public Library for the public to enjoy.
The organization is also having a showing of their calendars from the past 19 years. The calendars are their annual fundraising project. Funds are used to purchase archival supplies to protect their collection of Vermilion memorabilia. The Society is requesting ideas from visitors for a topic for their 20th edition.
For more information email: [email protected].
Vermilion History Museum
The Vermilion History Museum, in downtown Vermilion, served as a print shop and a weekly newspaper from 1905 to 1964. The print shop houses two linotypes (c.1915), and 4 letter presses: A Stonemetz 2 revolution newspaper press (c.1919); a Kelly press (c.1917); a Chandler & Price 8"x12" Gorden Jobber Press (c.1900); and a Heidelberg windmill Press (c.1954). There is a book bindary and storage room with a manual paper cutter, electric stapler, and a manual hole punch machine.
Vermilion Historical Society Calendars
The 2025 Vermilion Historical Society calendar is titled “Shining Brightly Through the Decades”. Photos in the calendar show our loved lighthouse through the years and seasons, it’s removal and discovery and the installation of the replica. Calendars are $5.00 each and are available at Brummer’s Chocolates, 672 Main Street and the Vermilion History Museum, 727 Grand Street in downtown Vermilion. They are also available by mail for $8.00 to cover postage. Make a check payable to the Vermilion Historical Society and mail to 5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, OH 44089.
Historic Vermilion Walking Tour
Take a walk back through time in historic downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Our tour begins in The Commons area of the Ritter Public Library at 5680 Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio.
Stories of Vermilion
Oral History Videos Series
Stories of Vermilion, Oral History Video Series, is a series of local history interview video programs by Ritter Public Library hosted by Rich Tarrant, local historian and curator of the Vermilion History Museum.
Discover the History of Vermilion Ohio
Settlers & Incorporation
Between 1808 and 1811 the first settlers struggled into the Township to claim land already surveyed by Almon Ruggles. The area was part of a tract offered by the State of Connecticut to the Fire Sufferers whose property had been plundered by the British during the Revolutionary War. A section of Connecticut's Western Reserve, it was appropriately called the Firelands. And using the name the Indians had given the river; the Firelands Company named Township No. 6, Range 20, Vermilion. However, so many years had passed and so much red tape was involved...
Vermilion River & Industries
Captain William Austin was a man of energy and built the first schooner along the river in 1812. She was the FRIENDSHIP, a schooner of the times, about a fifty footer registered at 57 tons in Cleveland in 1817. Solomon Parsons built the second schooner, the VERMILION, in 1814 and registered in Detroit at 36 tons about 40 feet. Where these ships were built is not exactly known but the builders chose a flat place along the riverside. This most certainly had to be near the foot of Huron Street where the later shipyard stood when ship building became the main industry in the village. Small schooners were ideal for scudding along the lake shore bringing in supplies from Buffalo and other ports. They were as large as the natural river bars would allow and enough cargo capacity to supply the needs of the early settlements. The schooner was the "work horse" and a very important transportation means in the opening of the vast Great Lakes Country. They reigned supreme until a new form of transportation arrived along shore - the steam railroad...
Recreation
