A visit to the Allen County Museum using public bus

By Paula Scott

On August 17, the Icon tagged along for a ride on the Route 9 bus provided by the Allen County Regional Transit Authority. I joined a small but sociable group from the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center for a visit to the Allen County Historical Society and Museum, 620 W. Market Street.

My purpose was to investigate the bus-riding opportunity, which has been available since June 2021, but the group's destination was an added temptation. Senior center director Tonya Meyer was our leader, providing information about fares and recommending a brown bag lunch. I hurried over to the Dough Hook for a quick sandwich and drink, asking Marlena Ballinger what was her fastest sandwich--smoked turkey was on the slicer.

The bus appeared in downtown Bluffton right on schedule. The village does not yet have bus stops. Riders need to flag down the bus. Our driver was welcoming and helpful, showing us how to purchase the $3 day passes that would be our best value. The ticket machine takes singles and coins--it doesn't make change.

At the 200 E. High St. transfer center, we immediately hopped on the #1-West Market St. bus which has a stop at the Lima Public Library, two doors down from the museum. 

Our group had a two-hour guided tour of the museum with a break for lunch in the nearby Allen County Children's Garden, which includes a large gazebo with picnic tables. It was a beautiful day for eating outside, and the wasp that appeared thought so, too.

The group admired the variety of exhibits in the museum. There are artifacts from throughout the county, many of which provide insight into 19th and early 20th century life in our area. Of special interest to Blufftonites is the John Dillinger exhibit. On his way to becoming Public Enemy #1, Dillinger robbed the Citizens National Bank of $2,000 in 1933. We watched a well-narrated video that reviews a shocking chain of events that includes the shooting death of the Lima warden and the public viewing of Dillinger's body in a Chicago morgue in 1934.

A traveling exhibit currently at the museum is The Ohio Presidents:  Surprising Legacies, which will be on view through October 30, 2022. Visit the museum website at www.allencountymuseum.org to learn more about this exhibit, which offers a look at items owned and used by the six Ohioans who have been president--and their first ladies. The often feather-covered ladies hats interested our group, eliciting comments that it would be nice if hats came back in fashion, if only to help out on a bad hair day.

Our return trip to Bluffton took a bit longer than the morning journey. We were early to the bus stop and the bus was a little late. We then saw the rest of the #1 route on our way back to the transfer station, where we had a little wait for the #9.

To plan a trip to Lima using the RTA bus, visit www.acrta.com. Brochures for the ten routes--which include Shawnee, Bluffton and Delphos--are also available on the buses. If you have questions, call the RTA at 419-222-2RTA.