When this photo was taken, the Triplett Corp. was Bluffton's largest employer. Here are two photos of the plant located along Harmon Road, which is today owned by Diamond Manufacturing.
Several sections, including the front office no long exists.
The aeral view was taken in 1936. A closer look above the treetops reveals the English Lutheran church steeple and the Bluffton elementary belfry. The large smokestack in the center of the skyline in the 1911 Bluffton High School building,
Bluffton's 77th trout derby is May 2. Here's glance at a much earlier derby. We're guessing it's the early to mid-1950s. We base that upon the boy on the bottom left – thinking that's David Little (1959 BHS grad).
Of course, that's Arden Baker standing at the microphone and by the looks of things the happy person next to him, who we do not know, appears to be hold a very large pickerel, which was stocked in the quarry during this era.
This photo was taken by Paul Diller and is from the Jim Diller collection.
Compare the 1950-era photo with one taken today at the bottom of this story -
Unlike many small towns, Bluffton's Main Street outlived the malls, survived an interstate bypass and today is home of over 40 small businesses located between the town hall and the public library.
Almost seven decades ago Paul Diller photographed this iconic Main Street scene. When this photo was taken Main Street was also U.S. 25, known as the Dixie Highway. (There existed no interstate highway bypassing town.)
If you are, say 50 or younger, you may not know the location of this photo. Icon viewers 50 and older recognize it as the East College Avenue bridge, looking toward Harmon Field.
Paul Diller took this photo on a foggy morning in the fall. Who knows, perhaps he even posed the farmer on his tractor.
Some things to notice:
• One wooden sidewalk on the north side of the bridge
• No curb or additional sidewalk anywhere in sight
• Although College Avenue is paved, it appears that it could use a upgrade
Here's a look at the Bluffton College campus from the air in 1949. We know the year because Founders Hall is under construction. It's on the top of the photo just to the right of center.
