Vermilion Historical Society
Preserving The History Of Vermilion Ohio

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diligently works to preserve and protect the fascinating history of Vermilion, Ohio by cataloging collections of historical documents, photographs and artifacts.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....

Vermilion Views - Along the Waterfront Part 2

The Vermilion Historical Society in partnership with the Vermilion History Museum and the Ritter Public Library will present “Vermilion Views - Along the Waterfront – Part 2” a collection of photos and articles written by award winning author and historian George Wakefield (1910-2001). His awards for writing include the Anchor Award from the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce for covering Vermilion history, the Great Lakes Fisherman's Tug Award for adding to the fishing history of Lake Erie and the Great Lakes Cruising Club Award for stories about the Great Lakes. Continue to enjoy the descriptions of the early boats, yachts, schooners, fish tugs, shanties and people along the river and the lake from the 1890s to the 1930s. It was the era when steam gill-netters and sailing yachts dominated the river scene. The photo narratives of Wakefield’s writings were compiled by Glen Cutcher. The presentation will be held on Wednesday, November 20th in the Ritter Public Library, 5680 Liberty Avenue, lower level at 7:00 PM. Admittance is free and open to the public. 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 HISTORY MUSEUM

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.


VERMILION HISTORY CALENDARS


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.


Historic Vermilion Walking Tour

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.


ORAL HISTORY VIDEO SERIES

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...


SETTLERS & INCORPORATION

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...


River & Industry

Railways

With the first trains running through Vermilion starting in 1853, we have been hearing whistles ever since. In fact, our town has been a railroad town for a long time now, over 140 years of rumbling, roaring, shaking, screaming tornados rushing through the quiet village. Ships have come and gone but they were never the acoustic monsters like the trains which roll along like wild demons in a race; freight of all kinds flies through the city, and as far as we can foresee, it will continue for 140 more years. Such is life in a railroad town...


Railways

Recreation

The year 2002 marks the 118th birthday of Linwood Park, originally Evangelical United Brethren, now United Methodist-oriented; it is a semi-private family park, owned and operated by the Linwood Park company, maintained by the Park Superintendent with admittance gate fees collected by the Board of Directors during the season from early June until Labor Day. Just east of downtown Vermilion on Rt. 6 on the north side of the road are an easily overlooked apartment complex, a gas station and a bank. On this acreage, as early as 1870 stood a picnic grove called Shadduck Lake Park. This pleasant grove became popular because the tree shaded area was accessible to horse-drawn buggies. In 1906 George Blanchat purchased the park and named it Crystal Beach Park after his wife, Josephine's, description of the "crystal-like" sand on the beach. With rides and concessions added, Crystal Beach opened on Decoration Day, 1907. Along with the transition of ownership and name...


RECREATION 

Historical Society Online Collections Database


Online Archives Collections

Vermilion Historic Register


Vermilion Historic Register