Historical Bluffton

Here's a second view of Science Hall in a colorized post card. The photo is taken from what is now University Drive. The two pillars were erected by the class of 1906. The pillar on the was gone many years ago. The pillar on the left stood until University Drive was curb.

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Once upon a time, this was the entrance to Science Hall at Bluffton College. Although it wasn't very handicapped accessible, it was constructed on a grand scale.

Today Centennial Hall sits where the steps once led students and faculty to class.

At this time this photo was taken (it is a postcard), three sets of doors opened to the steps. Those have since been closed in a remodeling of the building.

Main Street Bluffton 1960

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Main Street Bluffton in the summer of 1959 looked like this. On the west side of Main Street to Church Street is C.F. Niswander and Son farm implements, Urich's IGA, the Charles Co., Crow's 5 and 10, and Citizens National Bank.

On the east side is the Carma Theater, The Horseshoe Grill and Niswander's Newstand.

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You don't have to be older than 60 to appreciate this photo, but you do need to be that old to say you attended school in the building.

The stately Bluffton Victorian school, located on the site of the current elementary, was razed in 1954 to make way for the new building.

We welcome comments from viewers who attended classes in the building.

Photo from a colorized postcard owned by Fred Steiner

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Here's another post card photo of Main Street probably around 1906. It was no doubt taken the same day as the previous photo. The photographer simply moved north a few hundred feet.

In the window of the "restaurant" (today Forever in Stitches), a sign reads "Soda." The fronts of these stores have changed very little since this photo was taken.

Main Street circa 1907

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We recently showed you the west side of Main Street at the turn of an earlier century. Now we show you the east side from the same era. In this view, the photographer was standing in front of what today is Citizens National Bank, looking toward the town hall.

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