Last year, the first Bluffton History Day told the story of when John Dillinger’s gang robbed the Citizens National Bank in 1933 and the Bluffton residents who experienced it.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

On Saturday, August 10, the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society will celebrate the Bluffton Fire Department with a Bluffton History Day program that recreates an 1898 photograph of volunteer firefighters shooting water over Main St. as a test of the new Village water system. 

Food, entertainment and a display of vintage fire apparatus will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Main and Cherry streets. The fire department program will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the ringing of the Town Hall bell, which was originally installed as a way to sound the official call to firemen.

The public is invited to set up their lawn chairs and blankets on the grass surrounding the gazebo on the lawn of Bluffton Presbyterian Church. A sound system will provide a wide listening area for announcements by emcee Sam Sprunger, music by Four Guys and a Gal, a bucket brigade competition and a program by Fire Chief Jon Kinn and historical society members.

The “splash zone” will be at the intersection of Main and Cherry, where late 1800s water power will be demonstrated. Under the direction of Fire Chief Jon Kinn, volunteer firefighters will display old and new fire apparatus.

In addition to the Bluffton Fire Department’s 1923 Studebaker fire truck, the second fire truck owned by the department, there will be vintage trucks from other community fire departments. Rosette ribbons will be presented to entries for oldest, longest in active service, and which came the farthest, among others. Rosettes will be awarded by Mayor Rich Johnson. 

Food and beverages will be sold including:

• Chicken and BBQ sandwiches, drinks and desserts by Bluffton Presbyterian Church Fellowship Committee
• Corny Brothers kettle corn
• Lugibihl homemade ice cream

ABOUT THE BLUFFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Coordination of a volunteer firefighting service in Bluffton dates back to the early 1870s. Initially, bucket brigades of community members were needed to save a house, barn or business. For a time, cisterns with 250- and 500-gallon capacities were created on Main St. A Village water system was introduced and fire hydrants were installed in about 1898.

An in-depth early history of the Bluffton Fire Department is provided in the 1971 Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Firemen's Association 97th Annual Convention program archived by the Bluffton Public Library HERE.

It reveals that the early fire department numbered 10 volunteers and a fire chief: "An undated photograph of members of the Bluffton fire department. A caption in the 1961 edition of the book "Town at the Fork of the Rileys" stated the following: "Clad in flashy dress uniforms with medals glistening on their chests, the Bluffton firemen...returned from a convention in Ottawa." (The NOVFA listing of annual conventions, p. 51, indicates that this was in 1899)

Holding the silver trumpet, emblematic of the chief, is Joe Mumma, seated at the end of the front row. Beside him are Taylor Mumma, Charlie Yeger and Charles Sweet. Back row: Alex Conrad, Levi Black, Jasper Hall, John Garlinger, Burt Watkins, Sam Kimmel and Henson Good.

The history also provides a listing of early fires. The first provided in detail is a livery barn fire in 1875. A 1901 mill fire was remarkable because it was started by thieves who tried to blow the mill’s safe. A 1919 fire in Bluffton’s downtown razed Lugibihl and Son Hardware and the Russell Hotel, now the location of Citizens National Bank.

Then, as now, the volunteer firefighters were responsible for saving lives and property. They also improved the town’s insurance rates with their high level of service.