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Beech Tree School

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 23, 2010 - 6:16pm

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Just when we think we've seen every old photo of the Bluffton-Pandora Swiss community a new "old" one comes into view. Chris Collins provided this photo to The Icon.

Viewers need to understand that the county school houses between Bluffton and Pandora sometimes had as many as three names. First, the school house had a number, next the school house often carried the name of the farm where the building was located. Finally, unique to this community, schools were named after trees planted in their lawn.

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Historical Bluffton
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This map will keep you busy

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 19, 2010 - 5:35pm

If you love local history and old maps, this feature should keep you busy for weeks. Here is a plot map of Richland Township from the 1870s. The Icon dates this based on the placement of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, which was laid in 1872. It is provided to The Icon by Chris Collins.

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Historical Bluffton
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Main Street in the early 1920s

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 16, 2010 - 1:02pm

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You've seen several photos of Main Street from this point, but have you seen this photo? It represents Main Street in the early 1920s. Citizens National Bank (with its pillars) was constructed in the early 1920s. The photographer, a woman - Mrs. Harley Lugibihl - was an accomplished photographer and several of her photographs are part of the standard historical photograph record of this community.

There are several things to point out in this photo.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton's Woodcock power plant

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 10, 2010 - 1:03pm

Click on photo to enlarge.

Here's a remarkable photo of a once-thriving business in Bluffton: The Woodcock power plant. For residents of Bluffton since 1983 or so, this plant was located on the site of John's Body Shop, Lake Street. This photo was taken in the early 1950s.

There are several things to notice. First, count the railroad coal cars on the AC&Y Railroad siding. The plant was fueled by coal and that may be a one or two-day's worth of fuel sitting there.

Notice how clean (absence of trees and brush) are the banks of the National Quarry.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton circa 1922

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 6, 2010 - 6:36pm

Here's an unusual snapshot taken in Bluffton. The people in the photo are ready to board the Western Ohio Railway (electric interurban) on Main Street. On the back of the photo is written: "Marie Ringleman taking a ride on the interurban in Bluffton, Ohio about 1922 or so."

Richard Jordan sent photo to the Icon with a note saying that he believes the handwriting on the back belongs to Austin Lehmann, whose wife was Helen Basinger Lehmann; she grew up at 536 S. Main St., sister of Ethel Basinger, who worked in Jordan's insurance agency.

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Historical Bluffton
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How to run an automobile

Posted by Fred Steiner on August 4, 2010 - 7:50am

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You are looking at the front and back side of a card from the Stratton Garage, once located on Elm Street in Bluffton. The garage sold Auburns and Oakland automobiles.

In case you don't know how to operate a vehicle, directions are on the backside. (From Fred Steiner collection)

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Historical Bluffton
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