Can you name the community that fits this description? (it may surprise you)
You know your town pretty well, right?
Allow the Icon to pose this question: “Can you name the community that fits the following description?”
Spoiler warning: There’s an Icon in Bluffton and Ada. This column posted on both Icons today. The answer is at the bottom.
The community we describe has the following characteristics:
1 – There's a Main Street streetscape program with bricks between sidewalk and street
2 – A university
3 – An Exempted Village School District
4 – A post office with a historical community mural
5 – Its Main Street is a state route
6 – There’s a bowling alley on the edge of town
7 – A farmers’ elevator is located next to a railroad
8 – The community is approximately four miles from the Lincoln Highway
9 – It’s school athletic teams play in the Northwest Conference
10 – The first four numbers of its postal Zip Code are 4581_
11 – There’s a large, stately Presbyterian Church on Main Street
12 – There’s also a movie theatre on Main Street
13 – The village has an “area” chamber of commerce
14 – A railroad with a usable, historic restored depot is in the community
15 – On the outside of town you’ll find a locally owned greenhouse
16 – Its Main Street business district has approximately 40 small businesses including a florist, Edward Jones agent, optometrist, coffee house, Chinese restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Family Dollar, weekly newspaper and public library
18 – A preschool operates in the village
19 – There’s a College Avenue and a country church named St. John
20 – Its police department is equipped with Ford Police Utility Interceptor vehicles
21 – A non-profit Main Street business sells recycled items
22 – The phone book includes Zimmerlys, Rodabaughs, Neiswanders, Klinglers and Badertschers
23 – The village has a Lions Club
24 – There’s two football fields: one for the high school and one for the university
25 – The adjoining township to the community is named Orange Township
26 – Voters in the village enacted a village income tax
27 – Lima and Findlay are approximately 30 minutes away
What town is The Icon describing? Two communities: Ada and Bluffton.
There’s more similarities, but we’ll stop here.
This comparison of Bluffton and Ada was presented at the Nov. 8 Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast, as an introduction to the speaker, David Retterer, mayor of Ada.
Who would have believed it? (Examine the two photos below)
Stories Posted This Week
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Letter: Thank you, Coach Richards
- Big Brothers Big Sisters launches 2026 year-end giving campaign
- Socktober drive collected 659 pairs for local distribution
- Jeanne Previte, 80, owned and operated Jeanne's Kitchen
- Bluffton Elementary Honor Roll for 1st Quarter 2026-2027
- Lego scarecrow earns GROB top honors from voters
- Former Blufftonite is lieutenant governor-elect of South Carolina
- University to stage costume drama that mixes emotion, humor and contemporary references
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll for 1st quarter of 2026-2027
- Nov. 13 chamber program on Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Monday, November 9, 2026
- Healing and life beyond incarceration explored at Forum
- Nov. 12 opportunity to learn Mahjong
- Door hanger craft class at Pandora library, November 17
- BPL after school movie, November 16
- Hailey's Wellness and Massage provide chair massages at Senior Center
- Bluffton area Women in Business Meeting November 19
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Pirates Essinger and Gatchel finish cross country season at OHSAA Championships
- Nov. 7 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate football hits Archbold roadblock in playoff loss
- Forum: Vaughn explores biblical and multicultural accounts of spirits and exorcism
- Bluffton University relaunches Leadership Development Program with NetVUE grant support
- Weekend Doctor: When distraction becomes the default