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By Paula Pyzik Scott

On Saturday, August 9, the 3rd annual Bluffton History Day was celebrated by the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society (BOHS) at the 1899 Depot at 405 N. Spring St. BOHS used the event to remind guests of how the Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club moved the depot from Railroad St., rehabilitated the building and has lovingly cared for it since the late 1980s. 

There was a ceremonial handing over of a large skeleton key from the Sportsmen to BOHS, with Mike Zimmerman and Ron Epp representing the two organizations. The 1899 depot building remains the home of the club, with its headquarters in the basement, and the meeting place for American Legion Post 382 and Bluffton Boy Scouts. It is also available for rentals.

Opening activities included the National Anthem and other songs by the One Voice a capella group from Bluffton High School and an opening prayer. Wendell Stahler showed his Erie Railroad 811 service car in front of the depot next to the Bluffton Baking Company and Sweet Crush beverages.

Children’s activities included a photo op train cutout with white balloon “steam,” craft activities and an “All Aboard!” calling contest. Romick Railway provided guests of all ages with rides from the depot at 405 N. Spring St. to the depot at 526 N. Main St. that now houses the Board & Brush craft studio. The Twisted Whisk on Wheels was also at this location.

Studio owner Betsy Lee said that she regularly fields questions about the building’s roots. The depot building stands where the AC&Y (Akron, Canton & Youngstown) railroad once passed through Bluffton. See Fred Steiner’s article on this topic at Forgotten Bluffton: Why is there a railroad depot on North Main Street?

Inside the 1899 depot building, Fred Rodabaugh displayed some of the model trains once owned by Dr. Boyd Travis of Bluffton. Neil Winget provided a display of model trains in motion including 700 series locomotives one manufactured in Lima, Ohio.

Films of trains made by Travis were shown by Wayne York of the Ft. Wayne Railroad Historical Society. York explained that Travis’ 8mm color films provide rare glimpses of passenger and freight trains in the 1940s. Some of the films were taken on trips to other states; others show trains coming through Bluffton. One, which shows possibly one of the last steam train runs through the area, was made from a moving car. York learned from Travis’ daughter Betsy that her mother Eloise drove the car while Boyd filmed and the children sat in the back seat rather terrified.

The 1899 Depot served the Lake Erie and Western Railroad and is documented on the Nickel Plate Road website at https://archive.nkphts.org/browse/locations/ohio/bluffton-oh

Four artists were honored for their submissions to the Reframing Bluffton’s History contest. Artists were invited to recreate eight images that were enlarged and colorized by Bluffton photographer Leland Gerber for a display in the building that now houses Chase bank at 135 S. Main. Youth winners were Siren Morris and Annie Steiner. Adult winners were Denise Fett and Sabina Clingerman.

The event also served as a fundraiser for the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society with 300 barbecue chicken meals by Bubba C BBQ sold. The organization provided an opportunity to join BOHS, which can also be done online at www.BlufftonForever.com.