Can you remember a time when Bluffton homes didn’t go like hotcakes? While the populations of both Allen and Hancock Counties have seen a gradual decline over the past 10-20 years, the Village of Bluffton expects to grow according to the 2024 Bluffton strategic plan, Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow.
The following ten land transfers took place in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District for the month of July 2024 as reported on the websites of Allen County Auditor Rachael S. Gilroy and Hancock County Auditor Charity A. Rauschenberg.
Jim and Fran (Barnes) Benroth are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on Aug. 17, 1974 at Vaughnsville United Methodist Church in Vaughnsville, Ohio.
The Benroths have three daughters, Leslie (Noah) Hetrick, of Wood Co., Jamie Welch of Bluffton, and Betsie (Ben) Hill of Bluffton. They are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Jim retired from Dow Chemical Co. and Fran retired from Hilty Memorial Home. They continue to operate the family farm.
At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, Liz Gordon-Hancock of the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society will ring this large 19th century bell atop Bluffton Town Hall. The sound will kick off 2024 Bluffton History Day presentations on the lawn of Bluffton Presbyterian Church and call out Bluffton's 1923 Studebaker fire truck for a demonstration of 1898 water power. The event is held in honor of the Bluffton Fire Department and is the first public event to be hosted by the historical society, a new nonprofit organization. The event runs from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Approximately one year after breaking ground for its Heritage Center, the Swiss Community Historical Society is sharing evidence of the modern conveniences that will be part of the repurposed timber frame barn. Here, a Big A** Fan is pictured in a recent post to the society's Facebook page. Saturday, August 10 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. is a chance to see the building in progress, as well as the Schumacher Homestead's kitchen garden at 8350 Bixel Rd.
