Here's a photo worth 10,000 Bluffton words. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Santa Claus (portrayed by Al McCluer) in an early 1950s Bluffton Santa Claus visit approaches a farm wagon stage on the Prebsyterian Church lawn. He arrived by fire truck. Can anyone please identify the fire truck in the photo? The Ford on Main heading north is a 1951 model.
In the background is the original Citizens National Bank, prior to two modifications. Next door is Crow's 5 and 10, The Charles Company and Urich's IGA.
The photo of the A and P is NOT the Bluffton store. It's the ADA store.
Thanks to a couple hawk-eyed viewers, we've admitted our error. Take for example, this comment from Ken Cookson:
That photo of the A & P store just doesn’t look right. The adjacent buildings don’t match what was there then or now. Is that a parking meter in the photo to the right?
if you are 58 or older, you recognize this person.
It is Miss Theresa "Teddie" Slusser. She was a Bluffton College graduate, held a master's degree from Bowling Green and taught several history and social studies classes for seventh graders through high school students.
After her official retirement in the mid-1960s she returned as a substitute teacher. She also was the village treasurer for several terms, which was an elected postion.
Here's a photo from the Bluffton Public Library archives. Taken in June 1936, it is a group of persons who attended a Triplett Corp. sales meeting.
Sorry to say, we can only identify the follow:
• R.L. Triplett - front row, white shoes.
• Arden Baker - second row, light suit, dark tie and vest, to the right of R.L. Triplett.
• Norm Triplett - back row, light suit, dark shirt, to the left of Arden Baker.
Once upon a time the parking spaces behind Common Grounds all the way to the library didn't exist.
You are looking at the remains of what was the Master Feed Mill that serviced farmers in the Bluffton area for many decades. It is located directly behind Common Grounds.
Note the white barn in the photo. That's no longer there either. It's now part of the Riley View Apartments.
