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The fate of the climate rests upon my generation’s shoulders

It is clearly evident that helping care for the environment is in our own interest
Posted by Fred Steiner on November 16, 2020 - 2:01pm

By Amelia Alexander
Note: Amelia, an Ada HS student, is the Icon's newest columnist. Writing twice a month, this is her second column. Click here to read her first column. You will find all her future columns on our "Columnists" page.

The fate of the climate rests upon my generation’s shoulders.

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Forgotten Bluffton: All those barbers

Here's a list of who and where you could once get a haircut and a shave in Bluffton
Posted by Fred Steiner on November 15, 2020 - 2:19pm

Check the photos at the bottom -
In our culture, the barbershop has a niche of its own.

Many barbers served Bluffton over the years. And, they have faded into the town woodwork. 

We compiled a list of them after a hearing a long lecture on the subject about 40 years ago given by the late Rolland Stratton. He knew more about Bluffton than any other person on Main Street.

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Icon book review: Murder Thy Neighbor- True Crime Thrillers

I liked this book, and appreciate the local librarian who recommended it to me
Posted by Fred Steiner on November 15, 2020 - 2:04pm

Review by Robert McCool
James Patterson hits it out of the park in this double header.

“The world's best selling author” no longer writes his own books, of which he produces a plethora each year. He “coauthors” with carefully chosen writers, leading to different flavors for each book. In this example, “Murder Thy Neighbor- True Crime Thrillers” (ISBN 978-1-5387-5241-8)  he gives us two different stories of damaged people by two different authors in the same volume.

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Just a sample of what's inside

Posted by Fred Steiner on November 14, 2020 - 6:57am

The following is a sample of the content of "Blufton Anthology - A creek runs through it." Pre-sale discounted copies are now available for $19.95 plus tax.
Click here for an order blank.

"The 1950s were dangerous times for kids growing up in Bluffton. We grew up in homes and went to school in buildings painted with lead paint and floors covered with asbestos tiles." - Rudi Steiner

 

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Introducing a new Icon column: Our Swiss connection

Is one of these Swiss-German surnames in your family tree? Althaus, Amstutz, Badertscher, Basinger, Bucher, Diller, Geiger, Habegger, Hilty, Lugibihl, Matter, Moser, Neuenschwander, Schultz, Schumacher, Sommer, Stauffer, Steiner, Sutter or Zurflugh
Posted by Fred Steiner on November 12, 2020 - 5:12pm

Is there a Swiss-German surname in your family?

For example: Althaus, Amstutz, Badertscher, Basinger, Bucher, Diller, Geiger, Habegger, Hilty, Lugibihl, Matter, Moser, Neuenschwander, Schultz, Schumacher, Sommer, Stauffer, Steiner, Sutter or Zurflugh?

If so, the Icon's new feature will interest you. Here's some background:

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Forgotten Bluffton: What is this community's oldest structure

You'll find it along Riley Creek on Thurman Street
Posted by Fred Steiner on November 8, 2020 - 2:36pm

What is the oldest structure in the village of Bluffton? And, what was its use?

The structure could pre-date Shannon, meaning it was here when the very first settlers called this area Croghan in the 1830s.

The structure is on the Riley Creek bank at the bend of Thurman Street, across from the EMS building.  

It is the remains of a lime kiln and ashery used in making soap.

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