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Historical Bluffton

Win this car

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If you were in Bluffton in 1961 then you had an opportunity to pay money for a raffle to win this car. Gene Benroth, the driving force behind the centennial and the car raffle, is in the driver's seat. The car was eventually won by Merl Watkins.

Inside the Black country school

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Here's a photo from the 1961 Bluffton cenntennial. It is taken inside the Black county school, (still standing today). In 1961 it was at the corner of State Route 69 and State Route 103. Today 69 is 235.
The photo shows a "mock" class in session. The teacher is Mrs. Annie Pifer, who was once a teacher at the school.

First Mennonite Church centennial float

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Here's a photo of the First Mennonite Church float at the Bluffton centennial (1961) parade. The float depicted two families - one a Bluffton pioneer family, portrayed by the Richard and Wanda Pannabecker family on the right, and, the second, by a modern family, portrayed by the Fred and Mary Amstutz family, on the left.

Here's how to operate a cider press

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Here's another 1961 Bluffton centennial photo. Ezra Moser and Archie Diller are demonstrating how to work a cider press. Leland Gerber photo.

Howard Raid - Bluffton centennial chairman

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Howard Raid poses for a photograph during the Bluffton centennial of August 1961. Raid was the chairman of the centennial. Silas Diller was the vice chairman. The centennial headquarters were in the C.F. Niswander and Son building on Main Street. Citizens National Bank later expanded into that area. Leland Gerber took this photo.

BHS class of 1968 as fourth graders

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Members of the Bluffton High School class of 1968 as fourth graders in Robert Ewing's class. The photo was taken during the 1958-59 school year.
From row from left, Mary Herr, Aleta Neidermeier, Candy Swank, Jane Diller, Barbara Basinger, Tim King, Rick Ewing, John Maag and Alan Amstutz.
Second row from left, John Simcox, Linda Augsburger, Mary Jane Baker, Yvonne Agner, John Lehman, Connie Drummelsmith, Todd Gratz, Judy Westrick, James Henry.

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