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A closer look on Main Street - circa 1950

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 29, 2012 - 5:10am

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As we continue our aerial survey of Bluffton in the late 1940-early 1950 era, we encourage viewer comments.

Notice:

o the houses across from the high school and post office that no longer exist

o the width of the sidewalk in front of the post office in relation to the other sidewalks

o the era of vehicles on Main Street

o someone riding a bike on Main Street

o the garages in the alley on the west side of Main Street

o the Carma Theater sign

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Historical Bluffton
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A second Bluffton bird's-eye view

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 24, 2012 - 4:32am

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Here's a second view of Bluffton from the skys of the late 1940s or early 1950s. This shot is of Main Street (Dixie Highway) taken from Poplar Street looking north.

Icon viewer observations are welcome.

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton in 1950 from the air

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 20, 2012 - 5:01pm

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There are historic Bluffton photographs and then there a historic gems. This is a gem. Bluffton from the air in the early 1950s. There are several structures to point out. We will allow Icon viewes to comment on those.

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Historical Bluffton
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A busy railroad station

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 17, 2012 - 5:02am

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Before there was a Dixie Highway...before there was a Lincoln Highway...before there was a State RoutE 235...railroads were the way to travel.

Here's a 1902 photograph of neighboring Ada's Pennsylvania Railroad depot. The line connected New York City and Chicago with very fast service. Depending upon your point of view, not much or, quite a bit has change in 110 years.

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Historical Bluffton
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Ohio Normal University 1902

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 14, 2012 - 5:52am

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No, you aren't in Bluffton, anymore. This is Ada. The year is 1902 and the photograph shows the major building of what was called Ohio Normal University on South Main Street Ada. This photo is from a book of Ada photos titled "Ada and the O.N.U. - The New and the Old," published in 1902. The booklet is from the collection of Bob Barnett.

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Historical Bluffton
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Highway construction

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 6, 2012 - 4:03pm

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Ever wonder about how the interstate was constructed around Bluffton? Actually this photo might be pre-interstate. First there was the Dixie Highway from Lima through Beaverdam, through Bluffton (Main Street) and onto Findlay. It was two-lanes all the way.

In the early 1950s a bypass of Bluffton was created. That bypass eventually became part of the future Interstate 75, which came later in the 1950s.

Here's a photo near Bluffton of either the bypass or Interstate as the cement goes on the future highway.

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Historical Bluffton
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