Liberty Avenue Looking West [circa 1904]
UNVEILED June 25, 2020
SPONSORS Vermilion Rotary Club
SITE 5485 Liberty Avenue, Brewed Awakening, east facing wall
ARTISTS Brian Goodwin
As you look to the west on Liberty Avenue, imagine a charming, bustling city of 1200 residents circa 1904. The principle industries in Vermilion at the time were fishing and tourism. The day- to-day needs of citizens and visitors supported a vigorous economy. The varied businesses included hay and feed supply, a harness maker, two milliners (hat makers), tailors, boot and shoemakers, a sewing machine store, fraternal lodge, meat market, cigar store, sausage factory, barbers, as well as a funeral parlor, drug stores, grocers, saloons, restaurants, bakery, and mayor’s office. In the distance you’ll see the steeple of the M.E. Church, with the post office next door. Two hotels near the intersection of Liberty and Main served Vermilion’s visitors, many arriving via the Lake Shore Electric (LSE) Railway. The LSE, founded in 1901, provided rail service along a 60 mile route between Cleveland and Toledo, with stops in Vermilion.
The Vermilion Rotary Club chose to sponsor this image “to depict the rich history of our city and to compare today’s view of the streetscape to that of yesteryear. We hope the Public Art Vermilion Postcard Project sparks an appreciation of Vermilion’s past and the artists who celebrate it through their beautiful images of our city.” The. absence of wires on what was an electric train is intentional, as the network of wires and poles in this artwork were considered to be a great distraction.
You’ll also notice that the destination on the train is “LORIAN,” a factory error on this particular train that lived on for the life of the car.
The Vermilion Rotary, founded in 1928, actively supports the local Food Pantry, Salvation Army, YMCA, and provides a free children’s Learn to Swim Program at the Vermilion pool each summer.
LEARN MORE
Public Art Vermilion's Postcard Project
Map of Downtown Vermilion, 1904