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diligently works to preserve and protect the fascinating history of Vermilion, Ohio by cataloging collections of historical documents, photographs and artifacts.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....
Rotarian Presidents featured in Historic Narrative
The Vermilion Historical Society in partnership with the Vermilion History Museum and Ritter Public Library will present “Past Presidents of the Vermilion Rotary Club” a collection of biographies written by Robert “Bob” Kyle.
Kyle, 93 and a current Rotarian, started writing the biographies in 2007 and has spent years researching obituaries and tracking down family members for information. The biographies describe the life history of each president including their professions or businesses in Vermilion.
Glen Cutcher, a member of the Vermilion Historical Society, has taken Kyle’s biographies and converted them into voice narratives. He then added portraits of the presidents and historical photos.
The motto of the Rotary Club is “Service above Self” with a mission to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Kyle joined the Vermilion Rotary Club in 1964 and was the 50th president 1977-1978 and the 73rd president in 1999-2000 and is celebrating his 61st year of membership. The club is celebrating its 97th year.
The first president of the Vermilion Rotary Club was Albert H. Hart Sr. in 1928 who started Hart’s Drug Store. Other notable presidents featured are: A.D. Baumhart, Floyd Hull, Doc Bill Iden, Rev. Earl English, Lester Kishman, Clifford Parsons and Cletus DeWitt.
The program will be shown at the Ritter Public Library, lower level, on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 pm. Admittance is free and open to the public. For more information email: [email protected]
Robert “Bob” Kyle has written numerous biographies of past presidents for the Vermilion Rotary Club which are being featured in photo narrative by the Vermilion Historical Society.
Past president of the Vermilion Rotary Club, Robert “Bob” Kyle played the bass violin in the big dance band of Jimmy Dulio at Crystal Beach in Vermilion and Avalon Ballroom in Cleveland. Photo taken 1955.
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
