Bluffton's railroads theme of Sunday lecture in Lima

Fred Steiner, owner of Bluffton Icon, is the featured speaker at the 113th annual membership meeting of the Allen County Historical Society held at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 25, in Lima.

Steiner’s presentation is on the Western Ohio Railway, an electric interurban that passed through Main Street in Bluffton from 1906 to 1932.

His presentation title is “115 years ahead of its time, or what are those rails doing under Main Street?”

The talk will include dozens of photos of the interurban in Bluffton and stories about how it impacted the village.

In addition, Steiner will share details on Bluffton’s two other steam railroads, Lake Erie and Western, today Norfolk Southern, and the Northern Ohio, (AC&Y), which is abandon.

Steiner is the first guest in a series of lectures organized by the museum to complement its newest exhibition, Richard Cook:  Rail Images of a Past Era.  

A Bluffton native, Fred Steiner is a student of Bluffton history. He holds a particular interest in railroads and how they aided in Bluffton’s growth as a village.

To reserve a seat contact Donna Collins at 419-222-9426 or dcollins@allencounty museum.org by Thursday, April 22.

The event will also be lived-streamed on the museum’s Facebook page.

The Allen County Museum is at 620 W. Market St., Lima.

Stories Posted This Week