Historical Bluffton

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Let's see, how old must you be to recognized this once-familiar Bluffton scene? Fifty-five, at least.

It's a beautifully framed black and white photograph taken by Paul Diller. His son, Jim, shares this photo with Icon viewers.

Can you believe that at one time Bluffton had its own electrical power plant? You are looking at it. Imagine, our own power plant.

None of the structures or pond exists today.

These buildings were located on Harmon Road just north of where Poplar Street connects to Harmon.

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Here's the Habegger’s filling station on North Main Street, across from what is now the Chinese restaurant.

Richard Jordan sent this classic photo to The Icon.

According to Rudi Steiner, the car under the canopy is a 1930-31 Model A Ford roadster, The car with the two gentlemen standing against it is a 1932 Plymouth roadster.

Additional observations:

• Richard Jordan: The man in white might be Mary Ann Jordan’s uncle, Myron “Mike” Reichenbach. The question is, “Did the Habegger station ever have a canopy?”

Grace Cox and Meredith Stepleton's rhythm band

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Here’s Meredith Stepleton and Grace Cox 1934-1935 Bluffton first graders’ rhythm band. It’s the Bluffton High School class of 1947 as first graders.

Members, front row from left, Morris Groman, Sara Jane Huser, Karlos Moser, Imogene Wenger, Roy Hofer, Jean Ann Burcky, Kent Stonehill and Mary Kay Bauman.

Second row from left, Joan Clark, Bonnie Grismore, Paul Bixel, Peggy Martin, Joanne Hahn, Lyman Hofstetter, Helen Burkholder, Margorie Klay and Patsy Schmidt.

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This is among a collection of Bluffton photos that are extremely rare.

This shows the dismatling of the original parsonage of what is today the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Church Street and Jackson.

The house was built in 1874 at a cost of $2,000. The building to the left of the house is the original brick Methodist Episcopal Church. It was constructed in 1873 and razed in 1915 to make way for a larger building, which stands today.

The current church building takes up the space everything in this photo.

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Readers of the Icon's Maple Grove ghost story will find this business card (we're showing the front and back) of interest.

It's the card of M.M. "Dode" Murray who was one of the Murray quadruplets - the only ones ever born in Bluffton. Here are three, at the time known as the Murray tripletts. Lloyd, the fourth brother died at birth.

The Murray tripletts were nicknamed Med, Hod and Dode. M.M., in the business card, was mayor of Bluffton from 1918 to 1922. He was also for a time, Bluffton postmaster.

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You've stopped at this corner at Columbus Grove countless times. But, did you know that the building here was once the Opera House Block? We know that thanks to the message on the top of the post card.

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