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Meet the undefeated Bluffton Warriors football team

Posted by Fred Steiner on October 4, 2011 - 6:36am

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It was 101 football season ago.

In 1910 Bluffton had a football team that must have been pretty good. Their mascot was the Warriors, and they were never scored upon.

That's about all that is known of this famous squad, thanks for the wording on the football in the photo.

We recognize Ray Triplett on the far right in the top row. Looks as if he might be the coach. Charles Hankish is on the front row, second from left.

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Historical Bluffton
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Earl Lehman directed BHS operetta

Posted by Fred Steiner on September 29, 2011 - 7:24am

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Dr. Earl Lehman's recent death drew our attention to this photo. It is an early 1950s-era Bluffton High School operetta. Lehman, in the front center, was the director.

We see many familar faces here. For example: Dick Boehr on drums, Ada May Oyer on bass, Wilma Jean Jorg on piano, and, yes, Sam Diller on the stage.

This is a Leland Gerber photo, taken obviously on a ladder, in the old BHS gym.

The Icon welcome's other viewer comments or identifications.

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Historical Bluffton
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Aerial view of Bluffton cira 1974

Posted by Fred Steiner on September 22, 2011 - 5:18pm

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Here's an aerial view of Bluffton taken by Leland Gerber. Our guess is 1974 for this photo. We base this on the existence of Riley View Apartments, which were constructed that year. Notice that there is no Vance Street building yet (it was built in 1986);

Check out several landmarks:

1 - 1911 Bluffton High School

2 - Urich's IGA (now Community Market)

3 - Look closely at Citizens National Bank - what do you see?

4 - Look at the houses where the middle school is today

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Historical Bluffton
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Bluffton College student choir - early 1950s

Posted by Fred Steiner on September 19, 2011 - 6:21am

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Here's a Bluffton College choral group, with its director Russell Lantz, standing on the far right. We can't pinpoint an exact date for the photo, but we've identified a couple members of the choir.

It appears that Stan Bohn is standing on the right, just above Lantz. We also see Richard Boehr in the row below Stan (right side).

There's some other familiar faces, but we'll leave identifications open to Icon viewers. What's the name of the group and when was the photo taken?

Leland Gerber took the photo.

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Historical Bluffton
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The Charles Company - downtown Bluffton

Posted by Fred Steiner on September 10, 2011 - 4:34pm

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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.

Millager's Pharmacy eventually replaced The Charles Company when it closed.

Viewers with other observations of this photo are welcome to comment. Our guess on a year is early to mid-1950s.

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Historical Bluffton
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1950s-era aerial of campus

Posted by Fred Steiner on September 7, 2011 - 6:23pm

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Here's an interesting aerial photograph of Bluffton prior to the 1960s. The Leland Gerber photo shows College Hall and the Musselman Library. Notice that a drive way is between the library and College Hall.

Also, the library lacks its 1960-era addition. There is no parking lot behind College Hall. Mosiman Hall was probably not yet built.

We invite Icon viewers to offer more observations.

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Historical Bluffton
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