The Bluffton Scouts had an Indian Village display at Suter's Corn Maze. This year's maze theme is "American Indians." The Scouts demonstrated Indian games to the children and discussed the Indian heritage of the Deer Creek/Riley Creek area.
The Indians were Eastern Woodlands, which were represented by Ottawa, Wyandot, Shawnee and Delaware Indians of the mid-1700s to early 1800s.
Under the tutelage of Indian historian and Assistant Scout Master Gary Wetherill, the Bluffton Scouts made their costumes and learned about the Indians from this area in advance of their Indian village during Bluffton's sesquicentennial celebration this past summer.
Assistant Scout Master Darrell Groman discussed the life of sea captain James Riley and his appointment as Deputy Surveyor of the Northwest Territories of the new frontier of this area of NW Ohio from 1819-1821.
He discussed how Captain Riley's teenager son, James Watson, while with the surveying company accidently fell into Deer Creek and almost drowned.
Once rescued, the surveying party crossed out "Deer" on their surveying map and penciled in "Riley," thus re-naming the creek as "Riley Creek." Subsequently, general of the Northwest Territories Edward Tiffin, approved the name change of the creek.
Standing from left, Asst. Scoutmaster Darrell "Captain Riley" Groman, Clay Whispering Blue Jay" Burkholder, Misha "River Trout" Groman, Jeremiah "Sunfish" Garmatter, Nick "Mocking Bird" Luke, Christian "Red Fox" Groman and Asst. Scoutmaster Gary "Book Reader" Wetherill.
