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Historical Bluffton

The photographer's portrait: Leland Gerber

If you are 65 or order, he probably took your senior portrait
Posted by Paula Scott on January 30, 2022 - 7:28am

From the "files" of www.BlufftonForever.com, a story on some 30 years of Bluffton photographic history:

Most residents 65 and older once sat in the chair where this photo was taken. It was taken in 1971 in the Leland Gerber Photography Studio. The studio is now part of the parking lot of Citizens National Bank (north of the Post Office). 

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Historical Bluffton
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Historical barn takes a step back in time

Swiss Community Historical Society update
Posted by Paula Scott on January 29, 2022 - 5:00am

The Swiss Community Historical Society (SCHS) is reconfiguring the bank barn at the Schumacher Homestead to reflect the original location of entrances to the upper floor.

The doors will be painted but their design and materials can be best appreciated in the current state.

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Historical Bluffton
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Female athletes at BHS: Greatest of all time?

By Bill Herr
Posted by Staff on January 26, 2022 - 5:00am

This column introduces a new writer for the Icon, Bill Herr, who will be providing monthly articles about Bluffton athletes.

Who is the greatest of all time (GOAT) among female athletes at Bluffton High School (BHS)? It is Juleen Matter (track)? Or Ann Stechschulte (track)? Or Caity Matter (basketball)? Or Bonnie Stratton (track)?

Another candidate is Janet Shelly. Janet (Shelly) Donigan was a good student in my mathematics classes at Bluffton High School. She graduated in 1979. Her father was Bruce Shelly, a Nationwide insurance agent. After retirement Bruce and Marilyn Shelly moved to Florida. Janet has owned her own business, Health Care Financial Group, for 32 years in Florida. She is a CPA and is a consultant to hospitals. She and her husband, Jim Donigan, have three adult children.

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Historical Bluffton
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66 years of Bluffton postal history

BlufftonForever.com
Posted by Paula Scott on January 24, 2022 - 7:34am

The Icon recently asked readers to date the Bluffton Post Office at 132 S. Main, which has been serving the community for over eighty years. In a recent post, ForeverBluffton.com goes well beyond that time frame:

"The six Bluffton postmasters in this portrait taken by Will Triplett represent 66 years of postal history in Bluffton. The eras these men served extend from 1868 to 1934. They are, standing from left, Russell Day, M.M. Murray and Gibson Locher. Seated from left are Henry L. Romey, Andrew Hauenstein and George W. Lewis."

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Historical Bluffton
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Who was Tom Fett?

Posted by Paula Scott on January 19, 2022 - 10:30am

We've probably all driven down Tom Fett Rd. Have you ever wondered who Tom was? The Icon wonders why this road includes a first name and not just a last name, like so many others. The answer to the first question is provided by BlufftonForever.com, which provides this introduction to the topic:

Many country roads in Richland Township have familiar local family names. These include Augsburger, Bixel, Bentley, Grismore, Huber, Lugabill, Phillips, Shifferly, Snider and Zurflugh. One township road with two names, Tom Fett Road, is also among those. To discover how Tom Fett Road was named read the story in Swiss Connections at https://www.blufftonforever.com/post/thomas-and-catherine-hilti-fett

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Historical Bluffton
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Forgotten Bluffton: Former Diller School

Posted by Paula Scott on January 11, 2022 - 7:43am

Bluffton Icon founder Fred Steiner has a story about Forgotten Bluffton that reveals the Diller country school at 7370 Grismore Road had some exceptional graduates.

"The Diller country school in northwest Richland Township had two rooms, which was unusual for country schools. But, it was most famous for the fact that from six to 10 of its graduates entered the medical profession."

You can read Steiner's full story at https://www.blufftonforever.com/post/a-two-room-rural-bluffton-school

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Historical Bluffton
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