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Icon book review: Where the Crawdads Sing

"It's worth the cost of purchasing rather than waiting for it to come around to you."
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 20, 2020 - 3:18pm

Review by Robert McCool
The book's title is all the introduction it needs. Anything more would be superfluous.

I waited over a year for this book to become available at my local library. There's a reason for that. It's that much in demand. Rightfully so.

There are books that are so perfect that I feel my ability to comment on them is inadequate to do them justice. “WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING” (Random House, IBSN 978-1-9848-2761-6) by Delia Owens, is such a book, a book about isolation and loneliness.

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Forgotten Bluffton: Why is Cherry Street so wide near Main?

It narrows at the alley behind Twisted Whisk
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 20, 2020 - 2:51pm

You’ve probably never given this much thought, but we’ll ask the question anyway.

Have you ever wondered – or even noticed – that Cherry Street becomes wider as it approaches Main Street? This widening begins abruptly near the alley behind the Twisted Whisk Café.

Beyond that, have you ever noticed that the curb is very thick limestone in this wider portion of the street? 

What’s this all about?

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Icon movie review: Black Panther

It's a film worthy of celebration for generations
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 17, 2020 - 2:10pm

The news of Chadwick Boseman’s death at the age of 43 – coupled with the knowledge that he privately suffered from colon cancer for a number of years – shocked many in the film community and anyone who had been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

One of the MCU’s greatest strengths is that it was able to deliver fan-pleasing experiences across multiple movies in the extended film canon. 

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Forgotten Bluffton: Why is there a railroad depot on North Main Street?

It served passengers and freight on the now-abandoned Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 13, 2020 - 2:18pm

Why is there a railroad depot on North Main Street, but no railroad tracks?

The answer is because the depot, now  home of Board and Brush, was originally constructed as a freight and passenger depot for a now-abandoned railroad.

Organized in 1881, it arrived in Bluffton as the Cleveland, Delphos and St. Louis Railroad. Then, in 1884 it became the Pittsburgh, Akron and Western Railroad. Due to more railroad mergers, in 1895, it became the Northern Ohio Railway. Later the Northern Ohio became the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad, or the AC&Y.

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Icon book review: The Devil in the White City

This is a thickly paced book, at the speed of steam
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 10, 2020 - 6:45am

Review by Robert McCool
Welcome to the White City - Chicago in 1890-1893.

It's been a while since I've written a review, as my wife had an emergency back surgery and an extended stay in the hospital that has kept me busy doing other things than writing.

But even as immediate as my time has been recently this book has been on my mind quite a bit. Once again, it comes recommended by a member of the Ada book club, and is justified as a good read.

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Forgotten Bluffton: What was the Commercial Bank?

And, what became of it?
Posted by Fred Steiner on September 7, 2020 - 8:34pm

Why are the words “Commercial Bank’ in capital letters above the John Wagner Nationwide Agency at 105 N. Main St.?

Here’s the answer: The Commercial Bank was Bluffton’s first bank. It was founded in 1887 as a private bank by Frank Scott, N.W. Cunningham purchased one-half interest in it in 1893.

 Scott and Cunningham were the sole owners until June 3, 1902, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio  and became a state bank. 

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