Historical Bluffton

  • /

Bluffton sports fans will honor the 1999-2000 Bluffton High School Division III state runners-up girls' basketball team on Saturday, Feb. 1. The 20-year recognition takes place during the halftime – approximately 7:30 p.m. – of the BHS boys' versus Pandora-Gilboa basketball game.

Members of the team, front from left, Abbie Fett, Abbey Schaaf, Caity Matter, Tara Buroker, Rachel Holt.

  • /

In the early 1950s Paul Diller took a series of black and white portraits of Main Street men. This is one of those photos. It is of Lazarus Basinger, also known as "Santa Claus."

This photo was taken in front of Leland Gerber's Neu-Art Photo Studio on South Main Street. Today it is part of the Citizens National Bank parking lot.

Viewers with stories about Lazarus are welcome to send them to info@blufftonicon.com.

  • /

In 1928 Bluffton High School was not yet called the Pirates.

Here's where they played football  – it's Harmon Field but the stadium and scoreboard aren't yet constructed. The sign by the gate reads: Do Not Drive – Park On Out Side.

Some viewers are old enough to recall the gates. They remained in place until, perhaps the 1980s.

On the schedule in 1928, Bluffton faced Lima Central, Forest, Carey, Tiffin Jr., Oakwood, Shawnee, Leipsic, Ada, Toledo Waite and Columbus Grove.

  • /

Here's the Bluffton College men's basketball team during the 1940-41 season.

Back row from left, A.C. Burcky, coach, Ray Holcomb, Richard Wenger, Duane Tway, Robert Lehman, Elmer Ramga, manager.

Center row from left, Melvin Yoder, Alvin Ramseyer, Dale Reichenbach, Robert Heiks, George Radulovich.

From from left, Harold Lehman, Charles Truax, Jose Alonzo, Fernon Loganbill and John Thutt.

  • /

Do you know where this building stands today? It was originally Bluffton's Ex-Cell-O plant. There, its employees produced machines that created paper milk cartons.

Today it is Diamond Manufacturing and it stands at the corner of Jefferson Street and the County Line Road.

Leland Gerber, Bluffton photographer took this photo in 1956 when the plant was constructed. Several things to notice:

  • /

The 1966-67 Bluffton High School boys' basketball team.

From left Bob Yant, Greg Luginbuhl, Steve Sutter, Dave Smucker, Jim Ehrman, Jim Opperman, Nelson White, Larry Eikenbary, Max Eastman and Dave Burkholder.

The team went 12-8. Less then 10 points would have given BHS an NWC title. Games were played in the old BHS gym.

Pages