We eagerly watch the numbers on the Icon. So when the odometer recently flipped over to 100,000 total views in just 10 months, we went into a bit of a tizzy. After all, 10 months ago, this whole project was an experiment filled with unknowns. All we really knew was that we wanted to continue to deliver small-town journalism in a way that would reach a variety of generations.
Thank you for your continued support of The Bluffton Icon. Over the Fourth of July weekend we are in the process of switching servers and upgrading our service. Please have a little patience as this process takes place. At the moment, we've successfully switched most of our modules. We are still working on our photos. Because of that we've not added new photos recently. Please stay tuned. You'll see new photos soon!
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The following response by Rudi Steiner of Homewood, Ill., (BHS 1961, BC 1967) clarifies the Iconclast column titled "Rudi, Don't tell the old man that Ford is dropping Mercurys." The information was given to Rudi by his father, Nelson Steiner (the old man) and Orrie Coats of Lima. Both are deceased.
Once upon a time (in the days of vehicle brand loyalty) my old man drove nothing but Kaisers or Frazers. Back in the early 1950s one of them even had a rear window wiper, as I recall. These were the most beautiful machines a pre-school boy could ever imagine.
James Bertsche of Goshen, Indiana, sent the following account of threshing day as he remembers it on the Bertsche farm in Bluffton. The farm stands on the southeast corner of State Route 103 and County Line Road. His recollection is based on what he remembers as a 4-year-old, watching.
Here's his account:
Threshing day at the Bertsche farm was a biggie. I would stand under a walnut tree along the gravel road past the farm watching down the road to the south for the rig to come into view . .wide, high steel wheels crunching the gravel, black smoke flying.
Here's the situation. You have two great photos of a 21-month-old girl tugging at the reins of her pet llama as she and her grandfather stroll down Main Street. Not a scene you see everyday. Problem is, you can't decide which photo you like the best.
One shot is from the front. It shows facial expressions and the action moves toward you. The other shot is from the back. No faces in view. The subjects could represent anyone...you and your own granddaughter, or your neighbor's, for example. The action passes you by and heads into the distance.
