Here's the Cory-Rawson High School band. It's marching in the 1986 Bluffton 125th anniversary parade. Merlin Marshall, director, is with the band, on the left side of the photo.
Merlin's son, John, relates this interesting story about this photo. He says:
"I had forgotten about those beautiful green pants! That was taken on the day of my brother Rick's wedding at Bethel Church on 30, east of 235 outside Ada. That's right, we marched in the parade, went home, cleaned up and got ready for the wedding. Boy was that a hot day!
We think you can identify this Bluffton location. Take a walk toward College Hall from Ropp Hall, after you cross the Riley. Then, there's a small footbridge over the lagoon. That's this view from the 1934 Bluffton High School yearbook. The photo was in an advertisement for Bluffton College.
It was a sunny afternoon in July, 1986. Jim Ehrman, former Bluffton school superintendent, is the parade master of ceremonies during the Bluffton 125th anniversary celebration. He's on the review stand in front of the Presbyterian Church. (Dick Boehr photo)
Did you ever wonder when Bluffton first provided school buses to rural students? The answer is here.
In the 1930-31 school year two vehicles were put in service. Later in the year another joined the fleet. Two additional buses were added in 1931-32. Here are the first five school buses taken during the 1933-34 school year.
Drivers standing beside their buses from left, Francis Basinger, Jerome Herr, Jesse Yoakam, Robert Amstutz, Chris Gratz and Richard Bixel (absent).