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Bluffton arch bridge

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 29, 2011 - 4:35pm
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Imagine the scene: Bluffton in the 1890s. Specifically the cow pasture immediately west of Riley Street and north of Riley Creek. This colorized post card view shows Riley Creek from what today are condos belonging to Mennonite Memorial Home.

The bridge, called the arch bridge, was a single-lane structure made from local limestone. This was the spot where a young, unmarried couple might walk to in the evening to get away from the Bluffton crowd.

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Historical Bluffton
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Cherry Street and the 1913 flood

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 23, 2011 - 6:31am

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The Feb. 28, 2011, flood was devastating, but imagine cleaning up after the 1913 flood. Here's a photo of that flood taken on Cherry Street. The building on the very far left houses the Village Cut 'n' Curl today.

The building at the right was a Triplett storage building. Believe it or not, a fire occurred in the building during the height of the flood, probably caused by a short circuit. Bluffton firemen put out the fire, somehow.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton's Silver Fox Farm

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 17, 2011 - 11:24am

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Did you know that Bluffton once had a Silver Fox Farm? It was located at the site of Mennonite Memorial Home at the bend on Elm Street. Here's a photo of some employees and perhaps shareholders.

In the center of the front row is Albert (Bert) Oyer who was the company caretaker. The fox farm, called a fox "ranch" organized in 1927. By 1937 the companyy was estimated in marketing fox pelts valued at $7,500. That year the farm had 225 foxes, which were harvested for fashion clothing.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton police officer?

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 14, 2011 - 6:16am

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Here's a photo that has us scratching our heads. Is it a Bluffton police officer, and if it is, could it be Wade Bechtel? It resembles Wade, but we're aren't completely convinced. Icon viewers help us with this one. Paul Diller took the photo and it was provided by Jim Diller.

Note from Darlene Hey: I looked at the photo, but I know that it isn't my dad, Wade Bechtel. I'm not sure who it is. I can remember seeing him , but I can't give you any names. Sorry!

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Historical Bluffton
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Missionary Church dedication

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 5, 2011 - 7:17am

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Here's a photograph of the Missionary Church remodeling dedication, which took place in the mid-1960s. On the left is Rev. Warren, pastor at the time. In the center is John Klay. Any other viewers who can identify others in the photo please do so. Paul Diller took this photo. It is from the collection of Jim Diller.

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Historical Bluffton
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Fill it up

Posted by Fred Steiner on February 28, 2011 - 4:01am

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Denny Morrison provide The Icon with this black and white snapshot. It is of Denny's father-in-law, Allan McCluer and Denny's wife Donna McCluer Morrison (sitting on the tractor). Also in the picture is Mr. Hardwick, operator of the Marathon station, which was located at the corner of Elm and Main. Today it is the A to Z Portion Meats buildling. Denny say he still has the can of oil that is being given to Al.

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Historical Bluffton
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