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Remembrer this 1986 Bluffton summer parade?

Posted by Fred Steiner on January 23, 2017 - 4:56pm

It was a hot July afternoon in 1986. Bluffton celebrated its 125th anniversary with many events including a large parade.

Who are those shirtless guys sawing logs?

It's the float representing Steiner Sales and Service. Dick Boehr took this photo.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton's queens of 1986

Posted by Fred Steiner on January 16, 2017 - 11:12am

The year was 1986. Our community celebrated its 125th year as "Bluffton." There were lots of celebration events. One was a parade.

Here's a photo of what we believe is a queen candidate float. We think we see several familiar faces among the candidates and the young children in the front.

We encourage Icon viewers to help ID these girls.

Does this help -  this photo is 31 years old. That means the queen candidates are approaching 50. The young girls are in their mid-30s.

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Historical Bluffton
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Can you hear it breathe?

Posted by Fred Steiner on January 3, 2017 - 12:06pm

This was Bluffton prior to mid-1956. Paul Diller took this photo of Nickel Plate Road Berkshire Lima-building steam locomotive 718.

CHECK OUT THE WOODCOCK PLANT PHOTO AT BOTTOM OF STORY. -

Paul photographed this fast-moving freight as it crossed the railroad bridge at Marsh Run north of Bluffton. The smoke stack in the background is the Woodcock power plant - bellowing more black smoke that the loco.

The freight passed Bluffton northbound toward Findlay and eventually ended in Bellevue.

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Historical Bluffton
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Ebenezer Mennonite Church in 1883

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 28, 2016 - 1:49pm

Here is the Ebenezer Mennonite Church in rural Bluffton. This photo is believed to be taken in 1883 following an addition that was made to the building. The original church building was constructed in 1869.

When this photo was taken there were only two Mennonite churches in the Bluffton-Pandora Swiss Settlement. The other was St. John Mennonite, four miles to the north.

By 1890 there were between 800 and 950 Swiss Mennonites living here. At that time the congregation worshiped together on alternative Sundays at St. John and then at Ebenezer.

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Historical Bluffton
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A busy day at the Bluffton swimming pool

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 18, 2016 - 1:52pm

If the cold temperatures have you down, this photo may warm you up. It's the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool, which is no longer in existence.

The pool was on the east side of the Buckeye. It is included a bath house, baby pool, larger pool going to 5 or 6 feet, and the Buckeye quarry for persons who could pass a swim test. The Buckeye had three diving boards.

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Historical Bluffton
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1986 legion honor guard

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 12, 2016 - 11:38am

Here's a very interesting photograph from the 1986 Bluffton 125th anniversary parade.

It's the Bluffton American Legion Post 382 honor guard. This is one of Bluffton's oldest continually operating units going back to the end of World War I.

We see Don Martz (far right) making certain the lines are straight. There's Jean Mueller, Bill Mericle, Gene Mericle and Robert Stratton. Icon views, please help with more IDs.

Dick Boehr took this photo.

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Historical Bluffton
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