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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
What's on at the Carma Theater? Looks like the laugh riot of the year. Which leads to the question, what is the year. Based upon the yellow and black license plates, the year is 1971. The photo is taken from the steps of the Bluffton post office. Hey, is that Joe's Pizza on the west side of the street? Paul Diller took this photo. It is from the Jim Diller collection.
