Bluffton's past on display at The Black Lab Trading Co.
CLICK THE PRINTER-FRIENDLY ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY FOR DETAILS ON HOW YOU MAY ASSIST THE HERITAGE CENTER.
Have you ever seen a cream separator - a true Bluffton original- or a Scott and Ewing engine, also made in Bluffton?
You can see those products and more in the window of The Black Lab Trading Co., 121 N. Main St. this month.
The Black Lab has partnered with the Bluffton Heritage Center Project to celebrate the sesquicentennial by displaying multiple historic items in their front window for the next month.
The two large pieces in the window are a blanket chest from 1857 that belonged to John Gratz, son of Fredrick and Anna (Lugibuhl) and a fanning mill from 1876 representing part of Bluffton's past agricultural heritage.
Both pieces have some intricate design elements and painting on them and are worth a closer look. The Scott and Ewing engine, circa 1910, is a one-horse power engine manufactured in Bluffton. The Sanitary Cream Separator was also manufactured here around 1905.
These items plus some quilts, pictures, and historic books, are also displayed. The Bluffton Heritage Center Project has many other Bluffton pieces and memorabilia in the planning stages of working toward a Bluffton heritage museum.
For more information about the Bluffton Heritage Center Project contact Charles Niswander, Ron Lora or Phil Kingsley.
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, August 21, 2025
- Lima Highway Patrol OVI checkpoint August 22
- Pirate VB sweeps Rockets
- Pirate boys drop golf tri
- GriefShare support group continues on Thursday evenings
- Bluffton Board of Education hears neighbor comments on practice field, approves Lawn Ave. plan
- United Way of Greater Lima holds 9th annual Day of Caring on Sept. 5
- Village of Beaverdam announces committee meetings
- An amazing sign of fall 2025
- August 23 Bluffton Cars & Coffee
- If You Could Read My Mind: GLP-1s and memory
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Village of Bluffton reminder of electric aggregation provider, solicitor permit requirements
- Previews of Bluffton Senior Center trips for 2026
- English Lutheran Church to provide Community Meal, August 21
- Welcome back to Bluffton Beavers
- Pirate football reloads for run at NWC crown
- Pirate volleyball swept by Shawnee
- Pirate girls golf loss to Fort Loramie
- Pirate girls tennis edged by Spartans
- Made In Ada Wilson Football Festival kicks of season August 23