A view of the east side of Main circa 1906
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We recently showed you the west side of Main Street at the turn of an earlier century. Now we show you the east side from the same era. In this view, the photographer was standing in front of what today is Citizens National Bank, looking toward the town hall.
It doesn't appear that the street has bricks, although the Western Ohio interurban tracks are in the center of the street, which places this photograph no earlier than 1906. One horse-less carriage is in front of what today is Common Grounds. The store sign below the second story windows reads "Hauenstein's Drug Store."
A horse-pulled carriage (or wagon) is heading south on Main Street in front of the Presbyterian Church. What another horse left behind may be seen on the west side of the street.
Notice the many hitching posts for horses along both sides of the street. Wouldn't it be interesting to own one of the posts today?
The building housing Forever In Stitches appears to be a restaurant in this photo. Today's Food Store was E. Jones Furniture and undertaking, so reads the sign.
What do you notice about the Presbyterian Church that is missing today? Answer: a church steeple.
The unknown photographer of this postcard photo knew what he was doing. The photo was taken around noontime, thus there are no shadows. Check out the shadow "under" the vehicle on the east side of Main.
One more observation. Notice that there is a step "down" from businesses onto the Main Street sidewalk. That "step" is missing today. The sidewalks on Main Street are higher than they were in this photograph.
(From the collection of Fred Steiner)
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, October 16, 2026
- Production offers a modern take on the story of St. Clare of Assisi
- Bluffton volleyball edged in 5 by Van Buren
- Pirate girls soccer tie O-G
- October 16 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Bluffton Council recap: Officers honored for 25 years of service
- Bluffton Clean Up teams up with Troop 3256 Cub Scouts
- Ada FFA: Feeding the Farmers
- Nov. 7 Fall Community Day at Bluffton University
- Quarry Farm Nature Preserve news for Fall 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- DeWine announces $200M Rural Health Transformation program award
- Herb program with Marge Lafollette, Oct. 15
- Prairie seeding activity at Bluffton University, October 24
- Food for thought: Choline for the brain
- Results for 5K on October 2, Bluffton University Homecoming event
- 15 minutes with Sherry Miller, senior center activities coordinator
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 14
- CANCELLED Main St. closure on October 15
- Frederick Clyde Warren founded True-2-Form Plastics
- Pirate boys soccer beats Wapak in regular season finale
- Pirate girls soccer defeats Liberty Center
- Mennonite pastor to explore ‘good news’ in creation
- Bluffton University earns recognition in U.S. News & World Report rankings
- Obituary for Deborah "Debbie" Welch, 74
- Spirits and exorcism presentation during University Spiritual Life Week Forum
- Dodging bullets: Bluffton oral history 90+ years after Dillinger robbery
- Nora Matthews named BHS Student of the Month for September 2026
- ICAPP analysis on charter status and local autonomy
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 13
- Bluffton area Women in Business meeting October 15
- Leo club glasses collection
- Night at the (Swiss Historical) Museum, October 24
- Woodcarving ornament workshop at Swiss Heritage Center
- Barefoot nature walks at the Nature Preserve
- Pirate volleyball seeded 4th
- Beavers sports roundup, October 6-11
- Bluffton leaf pickup scheduled for last week of October
- Pirate boys soccer shuts out Bellefontaine
- Watch an after school movie at the Bluffton Public Library
- Dunlap awarded OSBA humanitarian award