This class photo has volumes and volumes of stories.
The Icon believes that it is the Bluffton High School of 1919 as second graders. We state this because that young man on the far right of the second row resembles William Hahn, uncle of the Icon owner. Add to that, the photo was in a chest of Hahn family photos.
That places this photo in the 1908-09 school year. Depending upon when the photo was taken, either Theodore Roosevelt or William Howard Taft was president.
The photo was taken on the front steps of the Bluffton elementary school building, which faced Church Street, just as the school does today.
No other identification goes with this photo, however check the black slate at the bottom of the photo: "Bluffton 2-G." We can't read the teacher's name.
There were all town kids. Their country counterparts attended school schools.
Several additional items caught our gaze. Look at the wheel chair on the right side. Was it for a student? If so, imagine going up those many steps every day.
The photographer - probably Will Triplett - asked the students to sit very still. This is because the camera needed a couple seconds of exposure.
You'll notice the two girls on the front row, (far right) became distracted and they moved slightly - thus they are blurred.
One final thought: there are over 40 students in this photo. Was this the entire second grade? Was this the only teacher?
Icon viewer observations are welcome.
