Here's a glass negative contact print taken close to what was called "Gratz Crossing," south of Bluffton taken sometime in the early 1900s. The rails are the Western Ohio Railway. Note the poles and wires. The line was electric. The brick house on the far right of the photo stands today. Its location is on North Dixie Highway where the road turns east to cross Interstate 75.
Bluffton's 1961 centennial parade - CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Bluffton photographer Leland Gerber took this photo from the rooftop of his photo studio. it is now part of the Citizens National Bank . The only house on the east side of Main that still stands is the brick house on the far left. The other houses are now Chase and the Bluffton Public Library.
Here's Bluffton College's float in the 1961 Bluffton centennial parade. We recognized Bill Steiner in the center. Perhaps Icon viewers can identify the other three persons on the float. (Leland Gerber photo).
Here's a photo from the 1961 Bluffton Centennial "children's parade." Leland Gerber took the photo. Any idea on who the astronaut behind the shades, beard and football helmet might be? We are trying to figure out how this float entry is propelled. Is it a garden tractor?
Here's a photo of the 1913 Bluffton flood, which occurred between March 23 and 27, 1913. The flood was much wider than the Riley, as many streams across Ohio flooded.
The Feb. 28, 2011, flood was devastating, but imagine cleaning up after the 1913 flood. Here's a photo of that flood taken on Cherry Street. The building on the very far left houses the Village Cut 'n' Curl today.
