Historical Bluffton

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Here's perhaps the most frightening Bluffton post card of all time. The identification line on the right reads: The burning oil tanks Bluffton Ohio (publishinged by Sidney Hauenstein).

Sorry to say, we know nothing about this fire. The message side of the card does not clearly show the postmarked year. The message has nothing to do with the fire. It reads: Have forwarded box of fresh prunes from Santa Rosa, Ca. for yourself from Gwendolyn Lenore and Mary (?).

Sincerely,

Zoe [Hauenstein]

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Here's a Bluffton scouting snapshot that we've never seen.

The photo shows member of Bluffton Boy Scout Troop #56 in the summer of 1944. The photo was taken in front of the Bluffton grade school, likely before departing for a week of summer camp at Shawnee Camps, now Camp Lakota, near Defiance.

Back row: Scoutmaster A.C. Burcky

Second row from left: Assistant scoutmaster Charles Triplehorn, Ronald Diller, Gene Patterson, and assistant scoutmaster Donivan Augsburger.

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Bluffton first graders (BHS class of 1968) during the 1955-56 school year. This was the first year that the present elementary was in use.

Bottom row from left: _______ Hauenstein, Larry Conrad, James Henry, Rick Ewing, Ron Benroth, Rick Emmert, Todd Gratz and Michael _______.

Second row from left: Kelly Birchnaugh, Nancy Bucher, Dave Fett, Beth Dailey, Devon Bucher, Bill Hoffer, Jane Diller, Nancy Beach and Pat Benroth.

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Long before the automobile, Bluffton was served by several businesses catering to persons who owned horses. One of those businesses was Bogart's Harness Shop. The shop eventually became an automobile agency.

Standing on the left is M.M. (Mel) Bogart (father of Harry Bogart, grandfather of Tom Bogart and Mary Suter). Beside him on the right is his father, D.C. Bogart.

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Leland Gerber took this color photo (it's fading quickly) of the Beaver art piece on the Bluffton University campus. The work today is somewhat covered by shrubs but still exists between Founders Hall and Berky Science Hall. This photo was taken in the mid-1960s. In the background you can see Lincoln Hall and Hirschey Hall.

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Here's the Bluffton's Boy Scout Troop 56, taken in 1942.

Front from left, Malcolm Basinger, Gene Patterson, Ron Diller, Ted Kohli and Bob Ramseyer.

Second row from left, Paul Wingate, assistant scoutmaster, Bob Oberly, John Schmidt, Otto Klassen, Bill Amstutz, Karl Gable, scoutmaster.

Top row from left, Dean Niswander, Charles Triplehorn, Bob Fisher, Morris Kohli, Gordon Bixel, Don Augsburger and Bob Stratton. Absent when photo was taken was Bill Mericle.

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