Historical Bluffton

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Here is another Will Triplett photo taken close to 1900. The man in the photo (it's a double-exposure - is Bud Dillman, Bluffton barber).

Here's what we knonw about the photo:

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You are looking at a photo by Will Triplett taken in Bluffton in 1895. The bridge crosses the Riley on Main Street, yet the note taken by Photographer Triplett read "Bridge on Indian Trail." This confirms the story that Main Street was in fact originally a trail of Native Americans.

Other information written about this photo follows – Back of the framed photo is handwritten: Photography by Will A. Triplett approx. 1900 (reprinted by Tish Triplett 1990)

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Just when we think we've seen every old photo of the Bluffton-Pandora Swiss community a new "old" one comes into view. Chris Collins provided this photo to The Icon.

Viewers need to understand that the county school houses between Bluffton and Pandora sometimes had as many as three names. First, the school house had a number, next the school house often carried the name of the farm where the building was located. Finally, unique to this community, schools were named after trees planted in their lawn. 

If you love local history and old maps, this feature should keep you busy for weeks. Here is a plot map of Richland Township from the 1870s. The Icon dates this based on the placement of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, which was laid in 1872. It is provided to The Icon by Chris Collins.

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You've seen several photos of Main Street from this point, but have you seen this photo? It represents Main Street in the early 1920s.  Citizens National Bank (with its pillars) was constructed in the early 1920s. The photographer, a woman – Mrs. Harley Lugibihl – was an accomplished photographer and several of her photographs are part of the standard historical photograph record of this community.

There are several things to point out in this photo.

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Here's a remarkable photo of a once-thriving business in Bluffton: The Woodcock power plant. For residents of Bluffton since 1983 or so, this plant was located on the site of John's Body Shop, Lake Street. This photo was taken in the early 1950s.

There are several things to notice. First, count the railroad coal cars on the AC&Y Railroad siding. The plant was fueled by coal and that may be a one or two-day's worth of fuel sitting there.

Here's an unusual snapshot taken in Bluffton. The people in the photo are ready to board the Western Ohio Railway (electric interurban) on Main Street. On the back of the photo is written: "Marie Ringleman taking a ride on the interurban in Bluffton, Ohio about 1922 or so."

Richard Jordan sent photo to the Icon with a note saying that he believes the handwriting on the back belongs to Austin Lehmann, whose wife was Helen Basinger Lehmann; she grew up at 536 S. Main St., sister of Ethel Basinger, who worked in Jordan's insurance agency.

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You are looking at the front and back side of a card from the Stratton Garage, once located on Elm Street in Bluffton. The garage sold Auburns and Oakland automobiles.

In case you don't know how to operate a vehicle, directions are on the backside. (From Fred Steiner collection)

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This is Church Street, Bluffton, but not the street of today. Of the three structures in this post card photo only one exists today. On the left is the First Mennonite Church. In the center is the Victorian Bluffton school house. On the right is the original Methodist church.  Notice that the street is neither bricked nor paved. And, if you look closely, there appears to be a man standing in front of the school house.

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Elbert Dubenion, Bluffton College football standout, was featured on this football bubble gum trading card in the early 1960s. The flip side reads: 

ELBERT

DUBENION

BUFFALO BILLS

FLANKER BACK-END

HT: 6:00, WT: 195

AGE: 26; YEARS PRO: 3

COLLEGE: BLUFFTON

Team mates rate him fastest man in football. Elbert was voted Bills' most valuable offensive player. He is a two-way threat as rusher and pass receiver. (Fred Steiner collection)