You are here

Home » News

Columnists

Forgotten Bluffton: When did the telephone arrive here?

The switchboard was on the second floor of the Twisted Whisk Cafe building
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 18, 2021 - 12:50pm

When did the telephone arrive in Bluffton?

According to accounts in early issues of the Bluffton News, on Aug. 22, 1898, Bluffton’s council granted John Amstutz the right to construct a telephone and telegraph "plant" in Bluffton.

Amstutz was granted this free of charge, and also granted the use of all but a few of the posts and poles used in operating the town’s new light system.

The telephone rates were to be uniform, not exceeding $30 per year for business houses, firms and offices, nor $18 per year for private residences.

Section: 
Columnists
»

Peter and Barbara Schumacher Steiner

Our Swiss connection - part 22
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 15, 2021 - 6:38am

This is the 22nd installment in this series. Click here for the previous installment.

Peter Steiner came to America with his parents Christian and Katharina Luginbuhl Steiner in 1835. Click here for a  previous column in this series featuring his brother and sister-in-law, John F. and Barbara Habegger Steiner.

Section: 
Columnists
»

Forgotten Bluffton: The story of our school system

Where was the first school building? What became of it? The answers may surprise you
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 11, 2021 - 1:46pm

We naturally take for granted that there was always a school system in our community.

But, have you ever wondered how it was first organized? Where were the buildings? What became of them? How did we end with two buildings, now an elementary and middle school on Jackson Street and a high school on Jackson and College Avenue.

We’ll provide the long answer to these questions, and it will take several columns to complete  the story.

Section: 
Columnists
»

Icon book review: The Four Winds

Robert McCool writes: "This new book exhibits the power of her prose that's present that's in all of her writing"
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 8, 2021 - 1:56pm

Review by Robert McCool
Kristin Hannah does  it again.

I've gone back and read every one of Kristin Hannah's (The Nightingale, The Great Alone) novels, and this new book exhibits the power of her prose that's present that's in all of her writing.

In “The Four Winds” (ISBN 978-1-64358-823-0) the strength of her protagonist is the strength exhibited in all of her female characters. The strength to carry the weight the world, and sometimes that means the whole family, upon her shoulders.

Section: 
Columnists
»

Christian Sr., and Magdalena Steiner Suter

Our Swiss connection - part 21
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 8, 2021 - 6:23am

This is the 21st installment in this series. Click here for the previous installment. 

This column’s focus is Christian Sr., and Magdalena Steiner Suter and their children, with a special emphasis on the family of their son, Christian, Jr., and his wife, Anna Basinger Suter.

Section: 
Columnists
»

COVID vaccines: Will Novavax be next?

A welcome sign as we continue to fight this pandemic
Posted by Fred Steiner on April 6, 2021 - 11:49am

By Christian Stang
Student Pharmacist with Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of ONU HealthWise
As we move into the early months of spring 2021, things look quite different than they had a year ago. 

The masking and social distancing has stuck around (and rightfully so), but we are moving forward with the goal of regaining that sense of normalcy that may mean something different for each one of us.

Section: 
Columnists
»

Pages