A book signing with Fred Steiner, author of the newly released book “The Bluffton We Never Knew,” takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27, at Book ReViews, 123 S. Main St.

CAN'T MAKE THE BOOK SIGNING?
OR LIVE OUT OF TOWN?
CHECK ORDER BLANKS BELOW

“The Bluffton We Never Knew,” includes photographs from our first half century, 1861 to 1911. The book, with 106 pages, includes nearly 170 black and white photographs of Bluffton.

Bluffton pioneer photographer Will A. Triplett took many of the photos. Those photos include Bluffton scenes, people, businesses, churches, Main Street, the college, railroads, early vehicles and residences from Bluffton.

The book also includes 16 Bluffton school class photos taken before 1911.

“The book has many photos that few residents today have ever seen,” said Steiner. “Placing these in one collection reveals a very interest story of the early growth of our village.”

Former Bluffton resident and Bluffton College faculty member, Von Hardesty, retired from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., contributed the Foreword. Tomm Triplett, who grew up in Bluffton and now lives in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, wrote the Preface. He is a great-grandson of Will Triplett.

Steiner said that many of the photos are from his own collection, which includes post card photos of Bluffton and photos collected by his parents and grandparents. The book also includes several photos from the Triplett family, Richard Boehr and from the Allen County Historical Society.

“Each of the photos include a description of the Bluffton scene portrayed,” he said. “I’ve tried to identify as many people in the photos as possible. Many residents will find their grandparents and great-grandparents in the collection.”

Many of the photos are reproduced directly from Will Triplett’s glass negatives. He was a Bluffton photographer for 53 years, working from 1881 to 1934.

“Few communities are blessed with so many early photos of their town, and most photos are identified,” said Steiner. “The book is dedicated to Mr. Triplett, because, without him, the photo history during our first half-century would barely exist.”

In addition to photographs, the book includes a list of sources used to explain and identify the photos. It also includes Bluffton timeline of events from 1820 to 1911, an 1880 village plat map and a brief biography of Mr. Triplett.

Chapter titles in the book include:
• Main Street – businesses and buildings on Main Street
• Churches                      
• Our neighbors – photos of village residents
• Where we lived –photos of early Bluffton houses
• The Riley and our quarries
• The old school – 16 class photographs
• A college town          
• Going places – horse and wagons, automobiles, railroads and interurbans
• One Bluffton family – some photos of the author’s Bluffton ancestors

The book sells for $19.95 plus tax. It is available at:
• Bluffton Senior Citizens Center
• Bluffton University bookstore
• The Food Store
• Book ReViews
• Twisted Whisk
• and from Steiner, at [email protected]

Workplay Publishing, Newton, Kansas, is the book publisher.

TWO ORDER FORMS BELOW:
1 - If you plan to pick up your copy in Bluffton
2 - If you need to have your copy sent Priority Mail