Welcome to Vermilion, Ohio
"A Great Place to Drop Anchor,
for a lifetime or a day."
Nestled on the southern most shore of all the Great Lakes,
Vermilion is one of the busiest small craft harbors on Lake Erie.
Vermilion (The city of Lake Captains) was incorporated in 1837. Until 1898 the name of the town was
spelled with two "els". The name, it is said, came from the color of the clay along the river that native
Americans used to make paint.
Through the years Vermilion has been visited by numerous industries: shipping, boat-building,
fishing, and lighting. In recent years the Ford Motor Company has been a primary industry in the community.
But always ~ Vermilion has been a tourist town attracting visitors from all over our nation.
The little shops, restaurants, and friendly people make visitors feel at home here.
Our historical preservation groups; Harbour Towne 1837, and Vermilion Archival Society
work very hard to preserve the history of our town and townships.The Great Lakes Historical Society has a " hands on" museum that offers wonderful
things for youngsters of all ages.
The Vermilion Public and parochial schools are second to none in the State of Ohio. And
the Ritter Public Library, situated in the center of the city, is a tremendous asset to all folks ~residents
and visitors alike.
The city parks are beautiful. In the downtown section of the city there are two small parks:
Exchange and Victory. Victory Park features a pretty rose garden, fountain, and a beautiful pavilion
where music concerts are conducted on Sunday evenings during the summer. Exchange Park features old
cannons from the Civil War, and has a clock memorial dedicated to all war veterans.
A Third park is Sherod (on the west side of the city). It features a beach, several baseball
diamonds, a soccer field, picnic pavilions, play equipment for youngsters, and exercise paths (and work-out)
stations on the paths for everyone.
The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce sponsors two wonderful festivals in the community
each year; The Festival of the Fish, and the Woollybear Festival.
The Festival of the Fish celebrates a time when Vermilion was a thriving commercial
fishing village. Today it hosts a variety of entertainment for everyone. Every year this is celebrated on
Father's Day weekend. It's a three day celebration.
The Woollybear Festival is a one day affair. Created and hosted by T.V. 8 Fox Weatherman
Dick Goddard it is the largest festival in Ohio. It is not unusual to have 100,000 + people attend this festival and
parade. Woollybear is usually in late September or early October, depending on the Cleveland Browns
football schedule. Nearly every year the weather for the festival is beautiful.
Dick Goddard seems to have an inside connection with Mother Nature.
This friendly community has something for everyone. The Vermilion Lions and Lioness
Clubs are extremely active in projects that serve all the people in our community. Vermilion's Rotary Club
quietly works to improve all aspects of life in Vermilion, and has done so for numerous years.
Our veterans groups (i.e. Amvets, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars)
continually support civic projects and do a great deal for those in need in the community. They also provide
support and encouragement for projects that benefit all the young people in Vermilion.
Links to other sites on the Web
Vermilion Historic Pix
Vermilion Views Weekly eZine
Last Updated on 3-24-04
Feel free to contact us @ 440-967-4477, fax @ 440-967-2877 or @ the following email address:
© 2004 vermilionchamber@centurytel.net