For Thomas Bentley, a farmer south of town who owned 160 acres of land
Posted by Fred Steiner on August 23, 2020 - 2:43pm
Did you ever wonder how Bentley Road was named? Here’s the answer. It was named after land owner, Thomas Bentley, who owned 160 acres south of Bluffton, bordering the road now bearing his name.
His property fronted what is today on the west side of Bentley Road bordering Shifferly and Hillville Road.
The map used with this story shows that Bentley Road on the north side of Bluffton’s Main Street never connected to Bentley Road on the south side of Bluffton. However, at some point both roads took on the Bentley name.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of women's rights to vote
Posted by Fred Steiner on August 18, 2020 - 3:04pm
100 years ago today. The 19th amendment guaranteed all American women the right to vote.
Somewhere in a collection of family photos is a 1920 snapshot of my Hahn grandparents, Bertha and Fred, standing in front of their home at 216 W. Elm St., Bluffton.
I know it was 1920 because taped to the window behind them was a Harding for president poster. I never felt the significance of the snapshot recently – today in fact, in really struck home.
You've walked past this door and probably never gave it much thought
Posted by Fred Steiner on August 16, 2020 - 3:06pm
You’ve walked past this door and never gave it much thought. It’s one of the oldest pieces remaining from the original 1887 town hall construction. What do you suppose is behind the door?
The answer today is a brick wall. The original answer was the town jail.
As you can see, there’s plenty you don’t know about the Bluffton town hall. And, we’ll get to much of that in future columns.
This week, let’s talk about the jail, which until now, you may have never known existed in the first place.
Posted by Fred Steiner on August 10, 2020 - 11:54am
Write a caption to this photo. The best caption will earn four passes to the Shannon Theatre to the caption writer. It's Dave Sycks directing a summer band rehearsal.
Send entries to: Caption contest, info@blufftonicon.com. Deadline 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
You can see its outline between Harmon Field and Steinmetz Field
Posted by Fred Steiner on August 9, 2020 - 2:42pm
Several photos accompany this story -
By Fred Steiner
This is part of the Icon’s new series on “Forgotten Bluffton” – Swimming in Riley Creek is no doubt something that never interested you.
But, in the 1920’s the village had a designated swimming area constructed in Big Riley Creek for youth in the community.
If you stand near the entrance to Steinmetz Field, turn toward Harmon Field, and take about a dozen steps toward the creek you will see the remnants of a dam. That dam backed up the creek and made a nice sized pool for swimming
This story is from "Eye on Ohio," Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism
Posted by Fred Steiner on July 24, 2020 - 8:52am
While the primary focus of the Icons is the Bluffton and Ada communities, we are a supporter of "Eye on Ohio, Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism." This article is provided by the Center and should be of interest to Icon viewers.
By Kathiann M. Kowalski
Both Republican and Democratic Ohio lawmakers are pushing to repeal the state’s nuclear bailout bill after this week’s release of a federal criminal complaint against House Speaker Larry Householder and others.
