Leland Gerber took this photo of a local estate sale. Clyde Warren, holding the glass bowl, is the auctioneer. It appears that a woman on the left just bid on the bowl.
Look closely at the crowd. Doesn't that look like Gerald Huber with black-framed glasses to the left of Warren?
We do not know the location or the date of the photo, but the clothing hints at late '60s or early 1970s.
Here's a black and white photo taken by Bluffton professional photographer Leland Gerber of the Marshall-Bixel Appliances, during its grand opening.
We need some assistance from Icon views on the background of this business. Checking out the merchandise in the store, one sees ringer washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, mixers, electric ranges and sweepers.
We're placing this photo in the late 1950s. Viewer information is welcome.
You are looking at a photograph of a confirmation class from St. John's United Church of Christ (E&R) from the 1950s. (Or, we should ask, is this a combined confirmation class from St. John's and Emmanuel?) Rev. Opperman is the pastor and several familiar residents are members of the class. We'll defer to Icon viewers for those specific identifications, which should arrive soon.
The last name roll call on this photo includes Jordan, Zimmerly, Core, Michel, Badertscher, Tschantz, Criblez, Neuenschwander and, who did we miss?
Imagine the scene: Bluffton in the 1890s. Specifically the cow pasture immediately west of Riley Street and north of Riley Creek. This colorized post card view shows Riley Creek from what today are condos belonging to Mennonite Memorial Home.
The bridge, called the arch bridge, was a single-lane structure made from local limestone. This was the spot where a young, unmarried couple might walk to in the evening to get away from the Bluffton crowd.
The Feb. 28, 2011, flood was devastating, but imagine cleaning up after the 1913 flood. Here's a photo of that flood taken on Cherry Street. The building on the very far left houses the Village Cut 'n' Curl today.
The building at the right was a Triplett storage building. Believe it or not, a fire occurred in the building during the height of the flood, probably caused by a short circuit. Bluffton firemen put out the fire, somehow.
Did you know that Bluffton once had a Silver Fox Farm? It was located at the site of Mennonite Memorial Home at the bend on Elm Street. Here's a photo of some employees and perhaps shareholders.
In the center of the front row is Albert (Bert) Oyer who was the company caretaker. The fox farm, called a fox "ranch" organized in 1927. By 1937 the companyy was estimated in marketing fox pelts valued at $7,500. That year the farm had 225 foxes, which were harvested for fashion clothing.
