Bluffton Anthology - here's what
"Bluffton Anthology - a creek runs through it" will be available next week in selected downtown stores.
Copies may also be ordered from the author, Fred Steiner. A prority mail order blank for persons out of town, and a pick-up order blank for people in Blulffton are attached.
The book sells for $24.95 plus tax.
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
A new book, “Bluffton Anthology – a creek runs through it,” with dozens of short essays about Bluffton, collected by Fred Steiner, will be released next week.
“This collection brings together more than a dozen engaging writers whose own Bluffton experiences deserve retelling,” said Steiner.
“For anyone who calls Bluffton home, these stories need no further introduction,” said Steiner, about the book. “For people needing to have Bluffton explained to them, this is a great starting point.”
Contributing essays are from current and previous residents including:
• Rick Emmert
• Dave Essinger
• Ron Geiser
• Jeff Gundy
• Brendon Matthews
• Ruth Bundy Naylor
• Joanne Niswander
• Rick Ramseyer
• Carolyn Urich Rich
• David Rempel Smucker
In addition, the book includes an essay on Bluffton’s relationship with Riley Creek by the late Robert Kreider, several stories given to Steiner from his late, life-long friend, Charles Hilty, and an introduction by Bluffton science fiction author, Tobias Buckell.
The book includes a section on Bluffton in the 1950s written by Rudi Steiner, now of Homewood, Illinois. That section includes the account of a Bluffton legend: “Did Elvis stop in Bluffton between his Toledo and Troy performances on Saturday, Nov. 24, 1956?”
Several 15-minute interviews in this collection, originally posted on Bluffton Icon, include:
• Ben Luginbuhl once beat Ben Roethlisberger in a game of horse
• Ron Edinger participated in the overthrow of Manuel Noriega
• Richard Minck may have created jewelry for Marlon Brandon
• John Triplehorn sat on the OSU bench with some frozen rabbits in the 1950 OSU-Michigan snow bowl
In a chapter “Bluffton Askew” the book offers additional 15-minute interviews, columns written by Steiner and brief accounts of shorter Bluffton incidents told to him by over 25 persons.
Highlights range from brief interviews and incidents recalled from Megan Weisenbarger Gustitis, Roger Triplett, Jim Kinn, John Moser, Gordon E. Alderfer, Lauren Canaday, Dave Bracy, Diana Hilty Marshall, Jamil Bazzy, Amanda Rhonemus, Scott Hey, Tim Neufeld, Jessica Edmiston, Joe Goodman, Alee Gratz-Collier, Courtney Goode, Micah Sommer, Ben Kruse, James Pannabecker, Sam Diller, Jeremy Szabo and Jaye Bumbaugh.
The book includes 190 pages and will be available in several Bluffton outlets and from Steiner.
Former Bluffton resident, Andre Swartley of WorkPlay Publishing, is the book’s publisher. WorkPlay published Steiner’s earlier books, “A Good Place to Miss – Bluffton Stories 1900-1975,” and “The Bluffton We Never Knew – Photographs from our first half century.” Both titles are available from Amazon.com.
Jill Steinmetz, Bluffton High School graduate, designed the book’s cover.
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