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diligently works to preserve and protect the fascinating history of Vermilion, Ohio by cataloging collections of historical documents, photographs and artifacts.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....
Rich Tarrant, curator of the Vermilion History Museum, is surrounded by photos that he has collected in the last 25 years.
Standing by one of the printing presses in the Vermilion History Museum is Rich Tarrant who will give a presentation of his old photos collection on June 24th.
Working daily at his computer, Rich Tarrant has collected thousands of old photos of Vermilion.
Memories of Old Vermilion
The Vermilion Historical Society in partnership with the Vermilion History Museum and Ritter Public Library will present “Vermilion Historic Pix” a video narrative of old Vermilion photos by Rich Tarrant.
Tarrant, curator of the Vermilion History Museum, has been actively collecting, researching and writing about Vermilion’s history for over 25 years. He has published three books, created numerous audio recordings and movies and collected thousands of old and not so old photographs of Vermilion.
“Old News is Good News” the motto of the museum was created by Tarrant who loves to share his knowledge of Vermilion.
In 1900 Pearl Roscoe, Tarrant’s grandfather, purchased the Vermilion News weekly. He was the printer, editor, and newspaper publisher until his death in 1946. Roscoe was an avid photographer and created a wonderful record of people and places in Vermilion.
Tarrant has developed over 350 of the over 500 glass negatives that his grandfather created. The video will reveal some of Roscoe’s treasured photos and with an historical narrative.
The video will be shown at the Ritter Public Library, lower level, on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 pm. These remembrances are free and open to the public to enjoy. For more information email: [email protected].
Vermilion Historical Society Celebrates 20th Calendar Edition
“Linwood Park - A Vermilion Treasure” is the 2026 theme of the Vermilion Historical Society’s 20th calendar. Historic photos included are the Old Bell Tower, Bath House, Wahl’s Souvenir Stand, Merry Go Round, German Tabernacle, Chapel and more. Linwood Park is like entering another world filled with history and nostalgia.
The calendar committee meets in February to decide on the theme for the calendar. Once a subject has been chosen the committee members are given assignments to find photos and write descriptions for them. Committee members are Walter Baughman, Glen Cutcher, Candy Fischer, Judy Gutman and Margaret Wakefield Worcester.
Glen Cutcher creates the print-ready graphic layout for the calendar. Judy Gutman and Candy Fischer, the proofreaders, remember the rules of grammar and spelling instilled in them by their high school English teacher, Lorna Schroeder. Gutman said, “She definitely left an impression on us!”
The Society sells the calendars for $5.00 as a fund raising project. Proceeds are used to purchase archival quality supplies to preserve historical materials in their collection. This year 38 businesses and individuals sponsored the printing of the calendar which enables the sale of calendars to be pure profit.
Calendars are available for sale at Brummers Chocolates, Vermilion History Museum and Linwood Park Store/Museum. Calendars are also available by mail for $8.50 by sending a check to the Vermilion Historical Society, 5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, OH 44089.
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.
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
