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Methodists in centennial pageant

Posted by Fred Steiner on July 1, 2013 - 4:43pm

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Here's a photo by Leland Gerber from the 1961 Bluffton centennial pageant. It portrays a Methodist circuit rider visiting the home of the first Methodist family, the Gatskills,  in Shannon.

From left are Evelyn Steiner, Rev. James Kuhn (Bluffton Methodist pastor at the time, playing the role of circuit rider), James Szabo and Barb Eastman.

 

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Historical Bluffton
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Can you locate Gratz Crossing?

Posted by Fred Steiner on June 20, 2013 - 2:44pm

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A name that is fading from the Bluffton vernacular is "Gratz Crossing." It is where the Dixie Highway crosses the Norfolk Southern Railway track where it connects to Phillips Road south of Bluffton.

This photo shows the Lake Erie and Western Railroad track from "Gratz Crossing." On the far right is the Western Ohio Railroad (interurban) These two track were side by side  at this point. This view looks toward Lima to the south. The photographer was S.A. Amstutz. This is a glass plate negative.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bentley Road before the interstate

Posted by Fred Steiner on June 12, 2013 - 11:47am

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Here's a Bluffton photo taken by an unknown local photographer. The Icon thinks this looks like Bentley Road. We dropped the question on Charles Hilty of Reston, Va. Here's his take on the photo:

This IS Bentley Road looking south to what would become the split interchange that was part of the first, two lane only Bluffton bypass.   

The house at the right, unoccupied by then, stood at spot where Beaver Street came out to the Bentley Road. It was vacant then, already sold to the state for the highway project.    

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Historical Bluffton
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Four important Bluffton College women in the 1940s

Posted by Fred Steiner on June 6, 2013 - 3:45pm

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Here's a photo showing four important women who had significant connections to Bluffton College, as you will soon learn. Leland Gerber took this photo.

We rely on Alice Ruth Ramseyer's [her husband, Bob, is the son of Ferne Ramseyer in the photo] identifiction of the women. Here's her explanation with The Icon's [comments inside brackets]:

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Historical Bluffton
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Class of '76 in kindergarten

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 28, 2013 - 2:38pm

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We need some Icon viewers' assistance identifying students in this photo. We think it is the BHS class of 1976 as kindergartners (Margaret Groman is the teacher). That could put the photo in the 1963 school year.

The only names we can come up with and they are not in order are Steve Kohli, Tom Kible, Richard Weiss, Ricky Fields, Daryl Steiner and Mark Zimmerly. 

This room, which was once on the corner of the original elementary building, is now a teacher lounge.

 

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton historical pageant

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 20, 2013 - 8:49am

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Here's a photo from the 1961 Bluffton centennial pageant at Founders Hall. From left, James Szabo, Earl Lehman, Joanne Niswander, Jean Triplett and Jack Purves.

(Leland Gerber photo)

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Historical Bluffton
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