You are here

Home » News

Historical Bluffton

Downtown Bluffton Christmas scene 1950

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 23, 2011 - 3:58pm

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Christmas in downtown Bluffton in 1950. There's Santa with a Santa Halloween mask. Our guess is that Bob Crow and Paul Steiner on working the PA system.

We don't know the identity of Santa, but we are going to make a stab on the ID of the kids on the platform. On the far left, it looks like Dan Lehman, then Francis Harkness, Judy Harness and Donna McClure. That's as far as we can go.

This scene must have been from a Bluffton Business Men's holiday promotion.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Main Street cira 1906

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 18, 2011 - 4:55pm

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Here is a beautiful photo of Bluffton's Main Street sometime after 1906. We know that because the Western Ohio Railway tracks are in the center of Main Street.

There are several things to examine closely in this photo, which we would guess was taken by Will Triplett. The original photo measures 8 by 6 inches and was probably a contact print from the negative.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Mennonite Memorial Home circa 1955

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 11, 2011 - 5:09pm

CLICK TO ENLARGE

This was the Mennonite Memorial Home before any additions were added to the building. From a picture post card, the message on the back side reads "Mennonite Memorial Home," Home for the Aged, Bluffton, Ohio, Sponsored by Eight General Conference Churches in Ohio. This photo was taken in the mid 1950s.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Noah and Susan Steiner family

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 4, 2011 - 5:17pm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Here's a family portrait of the Noah F. and Susan Steiner family. Seated from left, Ada Steiner Gierman, Noah, Susan, and Edna Steiner Oyer.

Standing from left, Alma Steiner Jorg, Adella Steiner Oyer, Nelson F. Steiner, Stanley Steiner and Emma Steiner Bertsche.

The family farm was two miles west of the Ebenezer Mennonite Church near the Zion Mennonite Cemetery. The photo was taken in the mid-1940s.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Young Walter James Renner and pups - 1897

Posted by Fred Steiner on December 1, 2011 - 7:32am

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Here's a classic Will Triplett photo. The subject is young Walter James Renner of Bluffton. The photo was taken on March 7, 1897, thanks to information written on the back of the photo.

While a photo of this pose today might be simple, consider Will Triplett's task in 1897.

His subject - a very young child - needed to stand is a "frozen" pose for several seconds. If he moved his image would be blurred. The pups in the photo were already under control.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Men's hats, $3.95 each

Posted by Fred Steiner on November 25, 2011 - 6:38am

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Men's hats for $3.95 each, slacks for $2.99 and gloves for 23 cents a pair. Only at The Charles Company, once a downtown Bluffton business.

Our best guess is that this is either opening day of The Charles Co. in Bluffton, or on a stretch, one of Bluffton's Dollar Day sales. Leland Gerber took the photo.

The Charles Co., 108-110 S. Main St., was located where Citizens National Bank lobby stand today. Above it at one time was The Iron Lantern Restaurant.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
»

Pages