davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
NeU Post Office Is
Colonial In Design

The new post office for Bluffton,
(Ohio), will be a one story building
of Colonial design to be erected on
the Northwest corner of South Main
and Franklin streets.
An allotment of $80,000.OO was
made under the Federal Public Build
ings Appropriation Act of 1888 to
include the purchase of the site, con-
struction costs and administrative
expenses incurred by the Public
Buildings Administration.
Exterior walls will be faced with
brick, with wood and stone trim
wood cornice, and wood and meta
framed windows. A pitched slate
roof surmounted with chimney type
ventilators at either end will cover
the front portion and fiat compost
ton roof will be used over the work
room in the rear. Foundation walls
and floor slabs will be of concrete.
For the convenience of the public
the lobby will be IL feet wide, pro
viding space for five service windows
and more than so bronze lock boxes
Decorations include a terrazzo floor
marble wainscot, plaster walls ant
ceilings. The Postmaster's office vii
adjoin the lobby on the left.
The large work room and offic'
space for the financial section Wi!
be illuminated by two skylights il
addition to the windows. A specia
mezzanine floor will be provided I,
house postal storage rooms ant
Swing" room-comfortable quarter
where carriers may relax between de
liveries.
In commenting on the design o.
the Bluffton Post Office, Commission
er Reynolds said, at is apparen
that here is no casual assembly o.
walls, windows, doors and roof t,
accord with someone's haphszare
opinion of what the building shoult
look like. Rather it is the inevitabl.
product of many controlling facrors
chief among which are the practica
requirements of the Post Office De
pan tment, the convenience of the pub
lie, the size and shape of the building
site, and the character and taste
of the community.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
2,O39 Get Old Age
Pensions In County

Old age pensions are being paid
to 2,039 persons in Allen county, ac-
cording to an announcement made
last week by the state division of aid
for the aged.
Monthly payments to the 2,039
pensioners amount to SAT, $3.50, an
average of S23.49 to each person.
Thirty-two new cases have been
added to the county pension rolls
for this month, and others are ex-
pected to be added in August. BY
the end of July, it is estimated that
approximately 128,000 persons will
be on the rolls of the division of aid
for the aged in the entire state.
Payments in statewide old age
pensions this year will be approx
mately $35,000,0OO.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Three BIuftOn
POstmdsters Living

Three men who have served as
Bluffton postmasters still are living,
altho one of them will be unable to
attend the cornerstone laying cere-
monies next Sunday, because of i'll
health.
Gideon Locher, NJ. M. Murray and
Ed r. Reichenbach, incumbent, COM
prise the trio who have directed ac-
tivities of the post office here since
1916.
Locher was postmaster from 1916
to 1924 during both terms of Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson. He has been
seriously i'll for some time at his
home on Cherry street and will be
absent from next Sundays program.
Murray was postmaster from 1924
to 1884, serving under Presidents
Harding, Coolidge and Hoover.
Reichenbach, the present postmaster,
was appointed in 1884.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Post Office Established In 1885 When
Surrounding Area Was Wilderness

of these structures bear evidences Oh
the slot which was cut in the door
to receive mail after hours.
LONGEST SERVICE
Andrew Hauenstein, pioneer Biuif-
ton druggist, served as postmaster
longer than anyone else who has
held the office here. Appointed in
1872, he served until 1885. Hauen-
stein maintained the service in con-
nection with his drug store.
Other postmasters, down to the
present, included: Glover Smith, 1885
to 1888, Cleveland's first admins
tration; w. P. Bentley, 1888 to 1892,
Harrison administration; Henry l.
Romey, 1892 to 1896, Cleveland's
second administration; Russell B
Day, 1896 to 1907, Mckinley and
Roosevelt administrations.
George Lewis, 1907 to 1916, Taft
administration; Gideon Locher, 1915
to 1924, Wilson administration; M
M. Murray, 1924 to 1884, Harding
Coolidge Hoover administration; Es
r. Reichenbach, 1884 to present
Roosevelt administration.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
European War Cuts
Parcel Post Volume

Despite the war between Germany
and the Allies, which brought the
suspension of all parcel post service
to Europe, Bluffton's post office has
handled 1900 parcels consigned to
foreign lands during the last year.
1t is estimated that because of the
war, the total foreign parcel post
volume has been reduced by approx
mately 800 shipments.
The bulk of Buttons foreign con-
signments since outbreak of the war
has been to Canada, South America
and British possessions.
Many shipments were made to the
Orient prior to outbreak of the war
between Japan and China two years
ago, but since that time the volume
has dwindled away to practically
rothing.
Parcel post deliveries have been
suspended with practically every
country in Europe since outbreak of
the war last September.
Attempts are made by the United
States post office department to de-
liver first class mail to all European
countries, but parcel post shipments
are refused in all but a few isolated
exceptions.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Parcel Post Heavy
In BLuftOn District

Delivery of parcel post in Bluffton
is a big job-far larger than re-
allied by the man in the street, a
survey of post office records showed
this week.
From June 1, 1889, until June /,
1910, a total of 32,05s packages Were
delivered to consignees in Bluffton
i. was shown in the report.
To handle this large volume of
parcel post, the delivery service
averages in distance about six miles
per day. The average number of
stops is 81 daily.
Gene Benroth is in charge of the
delivery service which is handled on
prompt and efficient basis.
Parcel post limits are 70 pounds in
weight and II inches in length and
girtL combined.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
II. s. COOperdtes In
Agricultural Surrey

Bluffton High school is one of 20 in
the state selected for evaluating the
program of school vocational agricul-
ture departments, Supt. A. ]. B.
Longsdorf learned this week.
Direction of the survey will be
handled by national committee
named by the United States Office
of Education, working in conjunction
with educational departments in
every state.
Ohio's survey is being directed by
H. G. Kenestrick and E. o. Bolender
of the Ohio State university depart
ment of agriculture. Object of the
survey is to determine picture OF
the work of a cross section of schools
maintaining agriculture departments
thruout the entire country
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Twins Celebrate
Birthday

On Friday, July IL, Mr.. and Mrs
Doyt Yoakam gave a birthday din
ner in honor of Mr.. Yoakams' moth
er, Mrs. Rettie Yoakam and his aunt
Mrs. Nettie Cantrell of North East
Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Yoakam and Mrs. Cantre.l
are twins and celebrated their sixty
third birthday. They were before
their marriages Rettie and Nettie
Kidd of this place.
Those present were:
Mr.. and Mrs. Cantrell, of North
East, Pa, Mrs. Cora Huber, Dean
Holman, Mr.. and Mrs.. Joy X. Huber
and daughter Sondra, of Bluffton
Mrs. Bessie Hefner, Bobby and Lu-
cille Riley, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur
Yoakam, Opal and Donald Yoakam
and Mr.. and Mrs. Doyt Yoakam and
daughters Marjorie and Meredith, of
Lafayette.
On June II, 1898, the twins were
married in a double wedding cere-
mony at the home of their parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. w. A. Kidd.
On June, 1888, the four, Mr.. and
Mrs. A w. Yoakam and Mr.. and
Mrs. ID. w. Cantrell celebrated their
fortieth wedding anniversaries to-
gether in North East, Pennsylvania.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Public Buildings Adm.
Designed Post Office

Design and construction of Bluff
toms modern new post office is be-
ing handled by the Public Buildings
Administrations, which has head
quarters in Washington, d. c.
Drawings and specifications were
prepared by the office of the super
vising architect of the Public Build
ings Administration, and the admin
istration of the construction contract
is the responsibility of the office Of
the supervising engineer.
William w. Cooke is the construc-
ton engineer who has been assigned
to Bluffton by the Public Buildings
Administration to check the work OF
the James I. Barnes Construction Co.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Former Resident
Dies In Arkansas

Word has been received here of
the death of Aldine Stager, 60, at his
home in Little Rock, Arkansas, July
z. His death followed an illness of
one year.
Mr.. Stager was the son of the late
John A. and Magdalena Stager of
this place and formerly lived here.
Funeral services and burial took
place at Little Rock where he had
lived for the past thirty-eight years.
Surviving are four sisters: Mrs.
Mary Moser and Mrs. A. H. Walters
of Beaverdam, Mrs. c. w. Smith of
Swanton and Mrs. Noah Steiner of
Lima.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Word Comes From Edna Ramseyer
In Refugee Work In France

and fed. It was at this time that
the colony D'efants, La Douviere"
Marseille, France, was to be opened,
and the International Commission
suggested that the Rios children be
the first to be admitted. On Febru-
ary "a the Rios children, who spoke
only Spanish, were accompanied to
the colony by an American Mennon-
ite who spoke only little French.
This was the beginning of a colony
that is now supported by the Men
nonites of America.
"After three months the colony of
which Carlos was the charter men,
Der has increased to forty members.
The colony now follows definite
routine and we believe the children
are all happily situated. The house
proper is surrounded by lovely tall
sycamore and pine trees, and there
is an abudance of pure air, good
sunlight and plenty of space for
play. With the fifteen francs per
person, per day, which is equivalent
to about 80 cents per person, we are
able to give the proper food, buy
most of the necessary equipment and
some of the medical supplies. Soon
we will have the pleasure of dis
tributing to the children some cloth
ing which YOU Mennonites in Amer
lea have sent.
Perhaps you have thought many
times as we have too, is the work
really worthwhile? Is there some
! thing else which would be much more
valuable? We believe that the value
of the work has been proven many
times by the smiles of gratitude
when the children receive new or
different clothing, the increase in
weight of almost everyone, a change
of complexion, favorable change of
attitude and realization that love,
kindness and peace has a part to
play after all.
"We who have been in this relief
work in France and Spain wish sin
cerely it were possible for hundreds
of our American Mennonite friends
to spend some time in this work. An
experience such as this gives one q
great appreciation of ones own
home, church and community, as we'll
as view of the present world sit
uation."
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18

Gross receipts at the Bluffton post
office have almost doubled since 1880,
a survey of records indicated this
week.
At the close of business on Dec. 81,
1889, receipts for the year were
$25, 5,987.69, as compared with figure
of $14,533.66 on Dec. 81, 1880, Post
master Ed R. Reichenbach said.
Total gross receipts, including the
sale of stamps, stamped paper, sec
ond and third class postage, are rep
resented by the above figures.
Continued improvement in business
has been shown during the first six
months of 1910, the postmaster de-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
TUeIUe On BIuftOn
Post Office Staff

Twelve persons are on the staff of
the Bluffton post office to provide
quick and efficient service in keeping
with the high standards set by the
United States postal department.
AT the head of the local office is
Postmaster Ed R. Reichenbach, who
was first appointed on February 15,
1884. He now is serving his second
term.
Ralph Stearns, assistant postmast-
er and secretary of the local board
of Civil Service Examiners, has
served in the office since Nov. 16,
1921.
Dallas Berry and Harry Bogart
the two clerks in the post office
handle sales of stamps, money orders
etc., and assist in dispatching out
going mail.
Carriers on Buttons two city
routes, on which mail is delivered
twice daily, are Wilbur Potee and
Byron Anderson.
Rural route carriers are Clyde
Yerger on Route No. l, and Ross
Bogart on Route No. 2, both of whom
have had 80 years service. They viii
retire within the next year.
Substitute rural carriers are Mel
vim Long, Route 1, and Ralph Pat
terson, Route 2.
/ Substitute clerk and carrier for th'
town routes is Eugene Benroth. H
w. Stager is special delivery anc
mail messenger.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18

An article on refugee relief work
in France written by Miss Edna
Ramseyer, furloughed dean of wom-
en- at Bluffton college, appeared in a
recent issue of "The Mennonite
Weekly Review.
The article treated some of the
phases of work at the refugee camp
where Miss Ramseyer is one of the
directors. 1t did not mention the
war, nor its effect on France, and
evidently was written before the sur
render of France to Germany.
At the opening it dealt particular
ly with the history of a small Span
ish refugee child-Carlos Gamarra
Rios. In part the article follows:
Carlos is a Spanish refugee of
four years of age. During the month
of February, 1889, Carlos with his
father, mother, and sisters fled from
Malaga, Spain, with thousands of
other Spanish refugees, to southern
France. They carried nothing with
them except g blanket, some food and
few articles of clothing. Upon
their arrival in France they were
taken care of by the French govern
ment and private organizations
Thousands of refugees went to gov.
ernment colonies or camps, and
thousands were put into private
homes where they were slowly alb
sorbed into French life.
"Carlos and his parents were for
tunately placed in a small town
namely Signe, with French family
who was intensely interested in child
rem and in the Spanish people as 6
group. They were treated as one OF
the family and shared in the respon
sibilities of the household. A month
| after their arrival to France ths
mother became critically i'll and with
in brief time died. The father
who realized the need of finding som,
means of support for his children
found work in factory. This work
however, did not give sufficien
money or time to properly care fol
the three motherless children.
"A request was made to the In
ternational Commission of Paris a.
to the possibility of placing the thre,
children in a colony where the,
would be properly clothed, counselet
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Honor California
Relatives

A family gathering was held at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. c. F. Mis-
wander, Sunday, honoring her broth
er and his wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Hilty from Glendora, Calf, who are
visiting in this community. A
basket dinner was served at the
noon hour.
Those enjoying the occasion were
Mrs. Edna Anspach, Milton Hilty
and son Clayton, Mr.. and Mrs. Joe
Hilty and son David, of Columbus
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Clough of Day
ton.
Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Ream and
grandchildren, Dorothy and Jack
Harmon, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Stryk-
er, of Lima; Mr.. and Mrs. Stanley
Morrison and daughters, Jean, Jackie
and Bonnie Lou, of Findlay
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Niswander
and daughter Letha, Mr.. and Mrs.
H. O Hilty and daughter Rosanne,
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Ewing, Mr..
and Mrs. Harold Young, Mr.. and
Mrs. VIM Hilty, Mr.. and Mrs. Earl
Hilty and children Hugh, Billy Anne
and Sally Anne, Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Schaublin and daughter Rachel, Mr..
and Mrs. Russell Schaublin and
daughter Patsy Ann; Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilford Gratz, and the honored
guests, Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Hilty
of Glendora, California.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
More Than 163 Miles Covered Daily
In Delivery OF BlufftOn Area Mail

are 81 miles on Route No. 2.
Daily parcel post delivery service
in the town requires coverage of an
average of six miles additional, post
al attaches reported.
All told Buttons five mail and
parcel post carriers travel 978 miles
per week, and approximately 50,856
miles year to provide service of the
type that has made the United
States postal department model
for the world to conY.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Andrew Hauenstein Has Long
est Tenure as Postmaster,
From 1872 to 1885
First Post Office Opened Here
Three Years After Found
ing of the Village

Buttons post office was estab-
lished in 1885, three years after the
arrival here of the towns first set
tier, Joseph Deford, and long before
hardy pioneers had started the task
of clearing trees from the virgin for
ests that surrounded the little village
on the Riley.
Exact location of the first post
office is not known, and the name OF
the postmaster was never recorded SC
far as can be determined. Opening
of the backwoods post office was dur
ing the administration of President
Andrew Jackson, when much of Ohio
was first being settled.
At that time the town was known
as Shannon, but since Ohio had an
other city by the same name the post
office address for this place was
Bluffton.
No EARLY RECORDS
No record was kept of early post
masters until after the Civil War.
DR.. Robert Murray consequently was
the first of whom any definite rec
ord is had, altho it is known that
Abe Long, grandfather of Irwin
Long, Bluffton restaurateur, was one
of the early postmasters before the
war. He also served as mayor OF
the town at one time.
DR.. Murray served as postmaster
while he was studying medicine with
a local physician. Study with an es.
tablished practitioner was the accept
ed way of getting a training in
those days. After he left Blufftor
DR.. Murray gained honor because OF
notable work in yellow fever research
in the Marine hospital at Key West
Florida, about the time of the
Spanish American war.
During the eighties the post office
had no permanent location, but gen
orally was in the corner of one o;
the towns general stores. Old tim
ers say that at one time or another
the post office was in practically al
of the older buildings which remain
standing here. Front doors of SOM
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18

Approximately 163 miles are COW
cred every day by Bluffton postal en-
ployes in the delivery of mail and
parcel post to residents of the town
and the surrounding area.
Two city mail carriers make their
rounds twice daily, and each walks
Ia miles in giving the town uninter-
rupted servise, rain or shine.
On the two Bluffton rural routes
a total of 129 miles is involved
Route No. l has 62 miles and there
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Truck OUerturns
Near TOlUn Friday

Two Indianapolis truck drivers es-
capped injury when their truck over
turned south of Bluffton on the Dixie
highway early last Friday after col
liding with a Page Dairy Co. truck
operating out of the local plant.
In the mishap the Indianapolis
truck was badly damaged, but the
Page truck was only slightly dam
aged. Driver of the Page vehicle
was unhurt.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
BFTON PosT0FcE HAS RECORD OF OVER CENTURY OF SERVICE
Here's Inscription
On Corner Stone

The following inscription will ap-
pear on the corner stone of Bluffton's
post office building:
JAMES A. FARLEY
Postmaster General
JOHN M. CARMODY
Federal Works Administrator
w. ENGLEBERT REYNOLDS
Commissioner of Public Buildings
LOUIS A. SIMON
Supervising Architect
NEAL A. MELICK
Supervising Engineer
1910
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18

Deputy Sheriff Dalton Coleman,
Mayield, Kan, has set up missing
dogs bureau for Graves county. Fol-
lowing receipt of number of COM
plants of missing hunting dogs and
pets, Coleman requested owners to
file footprints and photographs of
their dogs with the sheriff's Office.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Gross Receipts At Bluffton Post Office
Almost Double During Last Decade

clared, and another new record is
likely to be set this year.
Since 1888, the local post office
has established new gross receipts
records each year.
Complete record of post office re-
ceipts since 1880 are as follows:
Dec. 81, 1930-$14,533.66.
Dec. 81, 1931-$14,283.38
Dec. 81, 1932-$13,S8469.
Dec. 81, 1933-$14,1S8.97.
Dec. 81, 1934-$18,029.24.
Dec. 81, 1935-s2O,92 ,922.06.
Dec. 81, 1936-$23,136.02.
Dec. 81, 1937-$23, ,529.24.
Dec. 81, 1938-$25,1 1902.
Dec. 81, 1939-s25, ,9s769.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-18
Higher Education

The enrolment in American col
leges is now six times that of 1900.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-10-01
Job Office Has
RecordNumber
OF Placements

Job placements made through the
local office of the State Employ
ment Service during the month of
September were approximately dou-
BILE the number for the correspond
ing month of last year and approx
mately ten times the number for
September, 1888. it was stated this
morning by George Bourdelat, man.
ager of the Henderson branch of the
agency.
The Henderson office of the en-
ployment service serves the counties
of Vance, Granville and Warren, and
figures quoted are for placements
in the entire district.
Mr.. Bourdelat said that the unem-
ployment compensation claim load
of the office has continued to de-
cline with the increase in seasonal
employment, largely in the tobacco
industry. Approximately 100 I'M
EMPLOYED persons are listed in the
active files of the local office at the
present time.
The agency has openings at the
present for mattresses, bell hops
(colored), automobile mechanics,
service station attendants, and female
cooks to go out of Henderson.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-10-01
SulHe Arnold And
C.Stuinback, T We'd

In ceremony characterized by
simplicity and beauty, Miss Sallie
Arnold became the bride of w. G.
Stuinbacii, il, al noon, Sunday, Sep
TENDER 30, in the parlor of the Eden
ton Street Methodist church, in RAJ
leigh.
The bride and groom entered to-
gether and spoke their VOWS before
the Rev. Forest d. Hedden, former
pastor oG the bride, in the presence
Of members of the immediate fam
lies and 4 few intimate friends.
Prior to the ceremony Miss Mary
Mathis Turner, of KinSton, played
Song OF the Evening Star and My
Heart at Thy Sweet Voice, and dur
ing the ceremony she softly played
L;vbeStraum.
Iul Lride was Charmingly attired
in SUI Of spruce blue with du-
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-10-01

See. l can dress myself boast
this tiny miss as she shows her
cleverIy designed frock. Pattern
Marian Martin has planned this
wrap around style to let youngsters
ncIp themSeiveS-and to allow for
easy, flat-Spread ironing, too. Ad
juSted by means OF baCktying sash.
and the laD-over through the bodice
may be Smartly buttoned to keep in
place. Ruftling looks fresh and gay
on the well-Shapcd collar, the cuffs
and the tiny pocket. which may all
be made in bright contrast. Neatly
fitting pantieS are included in this
merry little frock that's so simple to
make.
Pattern 9544 may be ordered only
in children'S sizes ,. t. 6. and 10
Size 6. dress. requires 3 yards 36
inch fabric and 81 yards ruttling.
Send fifteen cents IN coins for
each Marian Martin pattern. Thirty
cents (3Oc) for both. Be sure to
write plainly your size. name. 3D.
dress, and style number.
Send your order to Henderson
Daily Dispatch. Pattern Department.
232 w. 1871 Street. New York N.