Three Bluffton classics
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Three Bluffton classics: Dean Sommers on the left, Dean Niswander on the right, standing in front of a classic Bluffton vehicle. We hope that an Icon viewer can provide a proper explanation and year to this photo taken by Paul Diller. Jim Diller provided The Icon with the photo.
JOANNE NISWANDER PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION:
I've never seen this car that Dean and Evan Herr had - but I've heard plenty about it since Dean was very proud of his "red baby." In fact, he wrote something about it a few years ago - here it is in his own words:
"My first car was a well-used 1928 Chevy two-door sedan. This car came from the local florist (Elmer Short) and he used it to deliver floral arrangements to the churches and other places. Evan Herr and I cleaned it up and painted it McCormick-Deering (Farmall) Red. We even gave it a grease job because we were going to take my dad, Evan's dad, and Gerald Crawfis (our shop man) to the Detroit Tigers' baseball game. The only problem was that when we went across the railroad track, it shimmied. We ended up taking #9 wire and tied the tie-rod to the axle. That helped us get to Detroit and to the game."
-Joanne Niswander
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, October 23, 2026
- October 23 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate volleyball eliminated in sectionals by Archbold
- Pirate boys soccer knocked off by Bath
- Main St. closure rescheduled; parapet work to take place Oct. 27
- Bluffton student to reflect on diabetes research experience
- Bluffton University receives $8,000 Stinner Summit award for youth agricultural and environmental education
- Elections matter, including midterms
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 22
- ICAPP study: Ohioans strongly oppose data center expansion and tax breaks
- Pirate girls soccer ousts rival Allen East in sectionals
- Strawberry Fields Forever: Fruit polyphenols and brain health
- Last call for Bluffton Cars & Coffee for 2026
- Icon calendar gets a little more elbow room
- Bluffton Board of Education recap: Contracts for coaches and new bus driver
- Bluffton Lions Club update for October 2026
- Bluffton chamber photo competition display and reception announced
- Bluejays and buzzards catch the eye of this Accounting prof
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 21
- Village of Beaverdam requests suggestions for park grant application
- Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins, 63, owned Eagle Press Repairs
- Dwain L. Leiber, 87, owned Leiber Garage
- Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, taught at Findlay City Schools
- Kaleidoscope Farms honoring veterans, thanking current troops, Nov. 8
- Filmmaker to preview documentary exploring life beyond incarceration
- ONU mobile health clinic at Senior Center on Oct. 28
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd. closure planned for up to three weeks
- Two Pirate volleyball players make 1st team All-NWC
- 3 Pirate girls 1st team All-NWC soccer
- Pirates dominate All-NWC boys soccer awards
- Local filmmaker focuses on memories made by people and places
- Bluffton Public Library: Medicare 101
- BHS artists prepare Yankee Doodle Christmas Trees for Jingle Bell Stroll
Monday, October 19, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 14-18
- Ada Icon headlines, October 19
- JessExpress Travel is the Icon's newest advertiser
- Gatchel 7th in girls, Pirates 4th at NWC cross country meet
- Veterans invited to Pandora-Gilboa banquet, November 10
- Wearable sculptures featured in exhibit On Soft Ground
- Historic depot rentals offered for meetings and parties