The intersection of Main and Elm - in 1966
Here's the view of Main and Elm 49 years ago this month. Dick Boehr took this photo in September 1966.
Here's some interesting things to notice:
• Crow's occupied the building now housing Groves Bears
• Check the street crossing - it looks as if the brick under today's pavement is showing as the crosswalk
• There's a tree in the Crow's parking lot, that doesn't exit today
• Now look closely as what is today the A to Z Meats building. It shows the "drive in" gas station, probably operated by Richard Cookson when this photo was taken. It was a Marathon station. We can't make out the words on the yellow sign next to the archway. It looks like "TOP ALLEY." We will defer to the Cookson brothers for an answer.
• If the stoplight was in this photo you'd only see one. Today's the are two at this intersection.
RESPONSE FROM KEN COOKSON:
Thanks Fred. The yellow sign in my father’s Marathon Station reads "Top Value," a type of stamp given out by various merchants and collected by customers. Books of stamps could be redeemed for prizes and merchandise by that company. A competitor to Top Value Stamps was S & H Green Stamps.
Thanks, Ken Cookson
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Friday, October 30, 2026
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- October 30 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- What Kind of Paradise author joins book club by Zoom, Nov. 4
- Check out November 2026 events at Bluffton Public Library
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Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 29
- Bluffton chamber welcomes six new members in October 2026
- Scam talk with Chief Ryan Burkholder
- Apollo Career Center honored as Gold Star Institution
- Peanut brittle time at the Senior Center begins Nov. 9
- Bluffton University Forum explores faith, hope and care for creation
- Business Collective networking night, Nov. 5
- Radio play staging of It's a Wonderful Life on Nov. 29
- Test-to-Treat not Trick-or-Treat
- If only we could put these fall days on pause
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 19-25
- Ada Icon headlines, October 26
- November 13 fish fry at Emmanuel UCC
- Citizens National Bank customer appreciation day, October 30
- Bluffton University offers free agricultural and environmental field trips
- Trinity Trunk or Treat, October 31
- Public invited to Bluffton Lions program with President Sider