Have you shopped at Amstutz and Bixel Co. lately?
Is this Bluffton? Yes. It's one of the earliest Main Street photos - possibily as early as 1880.
It's Main Street looking north from the location of today's Chase. The west side of Main includes, from left to right:
First block
• A sign reading "Cash your hides"
• Beer Saloon
• Amstutz and Bixel Co.
• Russell Hotel
Second block
• 101 N. Main Street
Several observations:
• Street is not paved – imagine what mess a heavy spring rain might produce
• No apparent gas lights - the street was totally dark at night
• The photographer was probably Will A. Triplett. Even taken in bright sunlight, the exposure was slow because the second horse on the left is blurry - it moved while the photo was taken
• Trees are on the east side of the street, and further north, trees are on the west side of the street.
This photo is in the book "The Bluffton We Never Knew," published this winter by the Bluffton Icon. The book is not yet available, but pre-orders may be taken for $19.95, by contact: [email protected].
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Pirate baseball win vs. Tigers
- Bluffton softball edged in battle of Pirates
- Committee meetings scheduled for Bluffton Council
- #1 recommended attraction in NW Ohio is in Ada
- Mental Health Awareness event with Seth Gehle
- Ohio highway patrol promoting motorcycle safety
- Recap of Bluffton Board of Education meeting for April 2025
- Weekend Doctor: Antidepressants in the long term
Friday, May 2, 2025
- BHS seniors exhibit art at Gallery 323 through May 7
- What's in your weekend?
- Pirate softball blanked by Lancers
- Pirate baseball blanked by Lincolnview
- Laman Promoted to VP Retail Credit Manager by CNB
- Local land conservancy hires first Executive Director
- Steiner to present Swiss Family Migration program on May 21
- 850 Days of Caring volunteers will pitch in for Hancock County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Angel M. Langhals owned LFE/API Meters
- Allen Co. task force targets target sex and human traffickers
- Blessing of the Bikes, May 4
- Metzger honored at 2025 Black Swamp Council meeting
- Volunteer invitation for Bluffton Pathway Count in May
- Pirate tennis edges Ottawa-Glandorf
- Bluffton EMS station staffing goes 24/7 on May 1
- You are what you eat: Link to immune system
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Observation deck added to Motter Park cascading pools project
- Bluffton Women in Business meet May 15
- Four sportsmen stock 200 trout at Buckeye Lake
- Pirate girls, boys 2nd at Minster track quad
- Pirate baseball win vs. Riverdale
- Pirate softball loss vs. Riverdale
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers