My best find that day was a gross of latex balloons packaged in neat little boxes
For more information about "Bluffton Anthology" click here.
What Rudi Steiner found in a Main Street alley in the 1950s - The alley, which runs parallel to Main Street and Jackson Street, was another of the great Bluffton alleys of the 1950s.
This was the longest of the alleys I travelled. It ran from behind the high school all the way down to Riley Street. This alley always had really good stuff thrown out by Bluffton merchants.
On one occasion I collected all kinds of old bottles, corks, tin containers and pillboxes from behind Sidney Hauenstein’s drug store.
My best find that day was a gross of latex balloons packaged in neat little boxes, which I shared with the Jordan brothers and other kids in the neighborhood.
I don’t know what happened to the other kids’ balloons, but mom confiscated mine. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered why.
This is a sample of the content of "Bluffton Anthology - A creek runs through it." Copies are now available for $24.95 plus tax in Bluffton at:
• Roots by Strattons
• The Food Store
• The Black Lab
• Bluffton Senior Citizens Center
• The Dough Hook
• Polished
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, October 26, 2026
- 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
- October 26 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Public invited to Bluffton Lions program with President Sider
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 24
- Are you a friend of the Bluffton Public Library?
- Weekend Doctor: What you need to know about flu season
- Courtney Linke joins CNB as VP Business Banking Officer
- Blanchard Valley Health System Announces Updates to Board of Trustees
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation Announces Changes to Board of Directors
Friday, October 23, 2026
- Village of Bluffton announces late afternoon drill at Bluffton Schools, October 23
- 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