davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
nine YEAR OLD
BEAvERDAM BOY
KILLED IN CRASH
Leonard Pursley Fatally Injur-
ed Tuesday in Automobile
Collision
Family Formerly Resided South
OF Bluffton; Boy Attend
ed School Here

Leonard Pursley, nine year old
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Dale Pursley of
Beayerdam was killed in an automo-
bile collision at the intersection of
the Sugar Creek and Bath township
roads one mile south of the Dixie
highway in Bath township, Tuesday
noon.
The Pursley family formerly lived
on the Sam Hauenstein farm south
of Bluffton, later moving to Bea-
verdam. The boy attended school
here last year.
The dead boys father, Dale Purs-
ley, 60, a WPA worker is in Lima
Memorial hospital suffering chest in
juries. His condition is reported as
fair.
Three Others Injured
Others injured in the accident were
Arthur, 5, and Benny, 8, also sons
of Mr.. Pursley, and Jack Enterline,
%, of Ada. The two boys were
treated at Memorial hospital for
decorations and later removed to
their home in Beaverdam.
Enterline still is in the hospital
with a leg injury, which may be a
fracture, and also bruises and shock.
He is expected to recover.
One a State Car
According to state highway patrol
men from Lima, the mishap occurred
at the intersection of the Sugar
Creek and Traver roads near the
Pleasant View Church of the Breth-
rem. The crossroad is located about
mile west of route 25.
The auto driven by Enterline and
owned by the state highway depart
ment was northbound on the Thayer
road while the machine driven by
Mr.. Pursley was westbound on the
Sugar Creek road, patrolmen said.
They collided at the center of the
intersection and both piled up in the
ditch on the northwest corner with
the state car on top, patrolmen said.
Arthur and Benny Pursley were
thrown clear of the wreckage
through a barbed-wire fence while
Mr.. Pursley and Enterline remained
in their cars.
Boy Under Auto
The body of Leonard, the victim,
was found by ambulance drivers
under his fathers car. He was
rushed to Memorial hospital and
lived only 10 minutes after being
admitted.
1t was reported Tuesday night
that the boy suffered dislocated
vertebra in the neck, crushed face
broken arm and punctured left lung
DR.. Burt Hibbard, Allen county
coroner, had not returned verdict
although he had performed ar
autopsy.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
TWO GUNMEN HOLD
UP DRUG STORE IN
ROBBERY AT NOON
Bandits Obtain $50 i'm Loot at
Hauenstein Pharmacy on
Saturday
Methods Used Here are Similar
To Those at Marion Two
Days Earlier

Staging a daring holdup over the
noon hour, two gunmen looted the
Hauenstein and Son Corner Drug
store of $55 in cash last Saturday
and successfully made their getaway
before passersby on the street outside
were aware of what had occurred.
After staging the drug store rob-
berry last Saturday, the gunmen lock-
ed Lucille Hilty, %, clerk, and Roger
Hauenstein, %, son of the proprietor,
in the basement, and leisurly made
their escape.
Order Ice Cream
When the men first entered the
store, Miss Hilty, and Edgar Heuen-
stein, the proprietor, were on duty.
One of the bandits was described as
between 25 and 80 years of age and
the other was about 45.
Taking seats at the soda fountain,
the gunner ordered chocolate sun
daes. While they were eating, Hau-
enstein left to go home for lunch.
After finishing their sundaes, one
of the men went to the post card rack
and selected card and the other
stationed himself near the front door.
AS Miss Hilty went to the cash reg
lister to get change, the bandit with
the post card followed her, drew his
gun and informed her it was holdup.
Unable to open the cash register, he
forced the clerk to open it for him.
Flourishes Gun
Roger Hauenstein entered by way
of the front door about that time,
and the gunmen stationed at the door
menaced him with his gun and took
his pocket bill fold from him.
After taking all the money from
the cash register, the bandits turned
their attention to the safe which had
been left open. They took a wallet
with bills which laid in the front COM
partment, and searched for key to
the inner compartment which they
thought was locked.
Contents sof the wallet taken from
the safe and the cash register amout-
ed to s43. An additional S12 was OBJ
tanned from young Hauenstein's bill
fold.
Key to the inner compartment of
the safe was demanded by the gun
men, but after Miss Hilty and Hau-
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25

severe heat wave suffered by the
Bluffton area in several years. To
escape the broiling atmosphere, SWIM
ming pools of the district were
crowded and residents sat on their
lawns until late at night to catch
the benefit of a few stray light
breezes which were insufficient to
cool the interiors of bake-oven homes.
AS an indication of things to
come, July's abnormally cool wealth
er came to an end Wednesday of
last week when the mercury jumped
to a mark of IS. 1t was 81 on
Thursday, but Friday found the
temperature in the nineties for the
first time this month, the high for
the day being "a.
Saturdays weather brought a new
season record of 95 degrees, and the
maximum temperature on Sunday
and Monday stood at the same mark.
Despite few clouds and reports
of showers to the north, Tuesdays
weather offered no relief, with the
mercury reaching SO degrees in the
afternoon. Tuesday evening was a
little cooler than on the two pre-
ceding days but there was no relief
from the sitting heat indoors.
At the air-cooled plant of The
Triplett Electrical Instrument Co.,
trouble developed in the cooling sys-
tenn on Monday and Tuesday as the
worst heat wave of the season was
experienced. The cooling system was
again in operation on Wednesday
morning.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25

Selling price on the Bluffton mar
ket Wednesday was 20 cents a
bushel for No. l wheat, but general
opinion among farmers is that the
price will go considerably higher.
Huge quantities of the grain are
being stored on practically every
farm in the district, awaiting the
expected raise in prices, but the
crop has been so large this year
that marketing in considerable
volume also is reported.
Never less than three and general
ly four cars of wheat are being dis
patched daily from the local mar
kets, as farmers sell the surplus of
their grain for which they have no
available storage space. Each car
load contains from 1000 to 1900
bushels.
Most of the wheat shipped from
Bluffton goes to Toledo commission
houses, and large part of the grain
is used in making quality flour for
the pastry business.
Lots of straw is reported, the
result of wet spring which resulted
in heavy growths in practically
every wheat field. Even where the
crop is being combined, process in
which the stalk is cut much higher
from the ground, plenty of straw is
obtained.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Mother Of BluftOn
Woman SuccunabS

Mrs. Henry Hixon, 73, the mother
of Mrs. Fred Gettles of South Main
street, died at her home in Coalton,
Jackson county, last Wednesday
afternoon. Death, due to heart
ailment, followed an illness of sew
eral years.
Funeral services were held at the
United Brethren church Friday
afternoon with Rev. Fred Gilliland
pastor of the church officiating. In
terment was made in Coalton ceme-
terry.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gettles and daugh-
ter Zitella who left early last week
when the condition of Mrs. Hixon
became critical returned home Satur-
day night.
Besides her daughter of this place
she is survived by three sons, Donald
and Floyd Hixon at home and Carl
Hixon of Dayton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
CROWD OF $500
SEES COLORFUL
PARADE SUNDAY
knights Templar, National
Guardsmen and Local Units
In Line of March
Parade, Under Hot July Sun,
Passes Thru Flag Lined
Business Section

Under blazing July sun they
marched-those white plumed Knights
Templar, uniformed rank of the Ma
sonic order who lent color and dignity
to ceremonies marking the laying of
the corner stone of Bluffton's new
post office building, Sunday after
noon.
1t was Buttons first glimpse of
the historic order which for centuries
since the time of the Crusades have
marched under the sign of the cross
for God and country.
Clad in severe black uniforms with
glistening swords at their side,
Knights thruout Northwestern Ohio
gathered here to form one of the
largest groups in the parade.
Findlay Captain Commands
Apparently oblivious to the all-per-
pervading heat they swung up Main
street, wheeled with military precis-
ion in response to commands barked
by Captain General Fred N. Price of
Findlay commandery and formed a
double line under whose upraised
swords Deputy Grand Master Charles
Wilson was escorted to the speakers
stand for ceremonies marking the
laying of the corner stone.
But the Knights were not the only
guests to appear here for the parade,
Sunday. In the line of march were
sixty National Guardsmen from the
Ada unit under command of Captain
McElroy who were here for the oc-
casion in addition to local Bluffton
units participating.
Bluffton was expecting colorful
parade-and Bluffton was not dis
appointed. Not within the past
twenty years has the town been so
decked with flags.
Street Closed to Traffic
Nothing was lacking to insure the
success of the parade-the usual clat-
ter and din of Sunday afternoon traf-
fic was stilled with not an automobile
parked on Main street thruout the
business ection.
Bluffton Boy Scouts, reinforced
with deputy sheriffs and state high
way patrolmen under direction of
Marshal H. L. Coon diverted the
stream of traffic over Jackson street
from Kibler to Riley.
Motorists in the main, took kindly
to the arrangement-bu whether they
liked it or not made no difference
Bluffton was out to have celebration
of its own Sunday afternoon and COM
deered Main street for the occasion
The order was traffic on Main
street during the ceremonies and il
was carried out to the letter. Cross
street traffic, too was banned during
that time and following the parade
the crowd which jammed Main street
in front of the post office building
found it particularly favorable point
from which to view the corner stone
laying.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
To Manage SpaIding
Co. Store In Chicago

Ralph West, formerly of Bluffton,
will become on September / man.
ager of the Chicago retail store of
Spalding Bros. company, manufactur-
ers of athletic equipment and also
manager of the company's Middle
West sales territory.
West, accompanied by his wife,
stopped here for a short time Mon
day afternoon enroute to their home
in Kansas City after a business trip
to Boston. He and his family will
move next month to Chicago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
MERCURY CLIMBS
TO 95 when HEAT
WAVE GRIPS AREA
Bluffton District Swelters in
Eight-Day Assault of Sum-
mer Forces
Thermometer Reads Above so
For Five Successive Days
Without Relief

Summer-long in coming-has
gripped Bluffton in sweltering, un-
interrupted eight-day heat wave
since last Wednesday, with broiling
weather continuing unabated thru
every night.
Since last Friday, the mercury has
climbed into the "nineties" on five
successive days, and season high of
80 degrees was reported on Saturday,
Sunday and Monday.
Wednesdays weather ave every
indication of continuing 1e assault
of the combined forces sun and
humidity, with the thermometer
standing at 90 degrees at noon.
Oven-temperature conditions of the
last week have brought the most
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Seen and Heard at
BIuffton Post Office Corner Stone Laying
Sunday Afternoon

1t was one of those long-to-be-re-
membered days in Bluffton last Sun
day. From the time the parade
started moving at the town hall
which marked the beginning of the
program until two hours later when
the last notes of the national an
them died away it was a continuous
colorful ceremony.
The ninety-odd degrees of after
noon heat were somewhat tempered
by brisk breeze and brief respite
was obtained when the sun occasion
ally disappeared behind cloud
but as Postmaster Ed Reichenbach
said in his remarks on the program
we should be thankful it didn't
rain.
Every vantage point within eye
range of the corner stone was filled
with spectators-lawns and porches
of adjoining residences and second
story windows were jammed.
Knights Templar, one of the high
ranking Masonic orders, with their
white ostrich plumed headgear and
swords included three Bluffton men
Forrest Steinman, presiding officer
of the day; Supt. of Schools A. j.
B. Longsdorf and DR.. Evan Basing-
er. The Knights were commanded
by Captain General Fred Price of
Findlay.
The sound truck of the Ohio Oil
company of Findlay with its ampli-
flying equipment made the entire
program easily audible to the big
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
LARGE SHIPMENTS
OF wheat Being
MADE HERE DAILY
Threshing Shows Yield of Grain
Is Heavier Than Farmers
Had Anticipated
Bulk of Crop is Stored Await
ing Higher Prices; Surplus
OF Crop is Marketed

Between 5000 and 1000 bushels of
wheat are being shipped daily from
Bluffton to big city markets, despite
the fact that farmers generally are
reported storing all the grain for
which they have available space.
With threshing at its peak, reports
thruout the district show wheat
yields are higher than anticipated.
The average return on most farms
is from % to 80 bushels per acre,
and the quality is excellent. Tests
of the new crop are from 58 to 63,
with an average of 60.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25

Some bumper wheat records were
made on farms in the Bluffton dis
trict during the past week. Highest
reported was that of Harley Diller
on the A. C. Geiger farm a mile north
west of Bluffton where one field made
40 bushels to the acre.
A yield of 37H bushels per acre
was reported from the Clymer farm,
northwest of town owned by Waldo
Hofstetter and occupied by c. E.
Greiner.
A yield of 35 bushels per acre was
made by wheat on the Homer Gratz
farm west of Bluffton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Allan BdIin1gdrtner Is
OrUiile III. S. Principal

Allan Baumgartner, son of Mr..
and Mrs. A. L. Baumgartner of this
place has resigned his position as
principal of the Painesville high
school to accept similar position in
the schools at Orrville.
Mr.. Baumgartner has been con-
nected with the Painesville schools
for the past twelve years. He and
his family will move to Orrville dur
ing the coming month where he will
enter on his school duties at the
opening of the fall term in Septem-
Der.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25

George Croghan heroic defender of
Fort Stephenson at what is now
Fremont.
Between July 20, 1897 and July 81,
1910 when the corner stone of the
new federal post office building was
laid, the post office has occupied
many locations in Bluffton. The com
pletion of the building late this year,
will provide permanent location
for the post office here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Corner Stone Laying 1O3 Years
After First Post Office Opened

Laying of the corner stone for
Buttons new post office building
last Sunday afternoon was 1O3 years,
almost to the day, from the time
the first post office was opened here
According to records at the post
office department. in Washington, the
first post office here was estab-
lished on July 20, 1887, under the
name of Croghan in honor of Col.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Picnic Of Meter
Works August II

Annual picnic of the Meter works
will be held at Indian Lake on Sun
day, Anugust II, it was announced
the first of the week. All present
and former employees of the Trip
lett and Readrite plants and their
families are invited to attend.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Airpiane Instrument
Engineers Are Here

Two representatives from the
Lewis Engineering company, Nauga-
tuck, Conn.,, were in Bluffton, Tues
day, for a conference at the plant of
the Triplett Electrical Instrument
company. The Lewis company is
one of the nations largest manu-
facturers of airplane instruments.
Purpose of the conference was not
disclosed.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
PIANO RECITAL

Elma Schifferly will present the
following pupils in a piano recital
Saturday night at s o'clock at st.
Johns Reformed church:
Wanda Neiswander, Eloise Goetsch,
Marilyn Steiner, Sarah Amstutz,
Marian Basinger, Mary Ann Bas-
niger, Mary Ellen Lugibnuhl, Mari
lyn Hofer, juice Garmatter, Mar
garet Niswander, Christine Miller
Alfred Basinger, Oral Redick, Arthur
John Moser and John Schumacher
The public is invited.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
THEY'RE SERVING FOUR
MEALS TO THRESHERS

Dinner for threshers is moth
ing compared to what is going
on at Herr Bros. farm south of
town on the Bentley road. There
the threshing crews will have
dinner and supper for two days
this Wednesday and Thursday.
Herr Bros. hybrid corn grow
ers, also have an extensive
acreage of seed wheat this year
on their own and other farms i'm
the neighborhood. Two days of
continuous threshing started
Wednesday morning and will
continue until Thursday night.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
BIOsser To Teach
In Southern Ohio

Ralph Blosser, who, recently re-
signed his position as field secretary
of Bluffton college has accepted
position as instructor in the high
school at Seven Mile, near Hamilton,
Ohio.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
LODGE
ancient RITES
MARK OCCASION
Age-old Ceremony is Broadcast
to Large Gathering by
Amplifiers
Address of Afternoon Made by
Director of International
Postal Service

With impressive age-old ceremon-
les in the presence of a crowd esti-
mated at more than $500, the cor
ner-stone of Buttons new post
office building at South Main and
Franklin streets was laid Sunday
afternoon.
Ceremonies marking the occasion
were those prescribed in the ancient
ritual of the Masonic order and ex-
emplifed by the Bluffton lodge work.
ing under a special dispensation of
the Masonic Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1t was a strange blending of the
old and the new as the traditional
service was broadcast over a modern
amplifying system. In company
with the corn, wine and oil used by
the order in the dedication of build
ings since the days of King Solo
mons temple appeared a modern
microphone carrying the ritual in
toned on the speakers platform to
the farthest fringes of the holiday
crowd that pressed at every vantage
point to obtain a view of the cere-
mony.
Colorful AffaiE>.---......
1t was colorful affair and the
large numbers who braved the
ninety-odd degree heat to witness
the ceremony were amply repaid
with a sight long to be remembered.
White plumed Knights Templar
bearing the black and white flag of
Findlay commandery, delegation of
sixty khaki-clad Ada National
Guardsmen, Buttons high school
band in spotless white with smart
scarlet trim, Legionnaires with
jaunty overseas caps, uniformed Boy
Scouts doing yeoman duty as traffic
police, red coated Bluffton Lions,
members of the Business Mems as
sociation and the Blue Lodge men,
bership in white aprons with the
officers bearing the age-old symbols
of their order-all combined to lend
to the occasion festive air pervad-
ed with a sense of dignity and
solemnity.
The program was carried out with
precision which in itself spoke for
the efforts of the various lodge COM
mittees which have been at work
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
HOT WEATHER HITS
PRICES OF HOGS

Chalk up another one against
the hot weather-hog prices
Wednesday morning showed a
drop of 40 cents per hundred
pounds under Mondays opening.
Buyers here said it was due to
a drop in demand because of the
heat. Top price for porkers on
the Bluffton market Wednesday
morning was $6.10.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
Sacred Concert

The Ebenezer Mixed chorus under
direction of Prof. Otto Holtkamp
will present a sacred concert at the
Ebenezer Mennonite church Sunday
night at 8 o'clock.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-07-25
UNION SERVICES

Union services viii be held at the
First Mennonite church, Sunday
night at 7:3O. Name of the speaker
has not been announced.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
DOUGLAS
 NEWS
DOUGLAS HUNTERS OUT
 FOR SEASONS OPENING

Several groups and individuals went out during last evening and the night tc be Cn hand at the various points strategic to deer hunt ing tc get some first game cf the season.
 Ore party headed by Everett Bliss left in his boat Massa -mova for Glass Peninsula. The party includ- ed Tauno Niemi, Jack Mills, Ray Mccormick and Orville Gulhaugen.
 Joe Riedi Jr. and Gordon Mills left in the formers boat for a hunting trip as did also Dale Fleek with Jc2 Lynch in the latter's boat. MT. and Mrs. Jerry Hudson and Tcm Jensen were among those who headed for the hills back of town during the night and are expected back this afternoon
 Tonight Arthur Ladd is taking out a party in his boat Cheechako, destination in the neighborhood of Twin Points. They include Jack Warner, John G. Johnson, Mike Gavril and others.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
NEW EXPLOSIVE
 REPORTED NOW
Is Declared 10 Be More Powerful ihan We'll
 Known INT

BURBANK. Cal, Aug. 20-It is reported that new explosive, re- pcrtedly more than 100 times pow erful than powerful INT has been developed by Belgian scientist Ar thur Shaudopyiky.
 The scientist has been developing the new explosive, derivative of uranium, in a Wilmington, Della ware, research laboratory.
 He said that two other research engineers aided him in making tests If the uranium explosive in a se- cluded location Of California.
 pr Shaudopyiky said that 100 grams of the miraculous explosive produced more than five times as much force as 1,500 grams of high powered dynamite.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
Boss Is
 On WaySouih

aior E. M Moore, QuartermaStcr in charge of construction at the Fairbanks airbase, passed through Juneau, arriving by Electra and go- ing south this morning by clipper,
 The Major, who declared work is well along" on the base job, also declared Our work lists are filled and anyone going to Fairbanks or Anchorage now is running a big risk
 Prom here the Major will go to Washington to confer with the War Department, and will then go to his former headquarters at March Field, returning here in about two weeks.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
CLIPPER MOVIES
 SH0WN R0TARIANS

Motion pictures taken from the Alaska Clipper on a recent flight south were shown at todays Rotary Club luncheon by Dr. w. M. White head. Club President Also shown were movies of the San Francisco exposition.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
MRS. NIENlI FLIES

Mrs Ida Niemi left cn the PAA Electra this morning for Fairbanks where she will visit her daughter Mrs. John Meggitt, formerly Miss Allie Niemi Later she will visit her daughter Mrs. Frank Swanson, nee Rica Niemi, who lives at Anchor age. Mrs. Niemi plans to be gone three or four months.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
MISS AALTo RETuRNS

Miss Impi Aalio returned home yesterday frcm Tenakee Springs where she accompanied Mrs. War ner and children for an outing. The latter and Miss Elizabeth Fras- CT expect to return next week, Miss Aalto said
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
ROUGH RIDER LEAVES

Cannery tender Rough Rider got away for her home port south last evening. Among those who left aboard the boat were Burton Kreidler, Chas Oberg, Gene and Al Mckay and Clancy Converse. The last mentioned is enroute to ma- rine hospital fer medical treatment.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-20
BUILDING PERMITS

Building permits issued by City Building Inspector Frank Metcalf include one to William J. Niemi to perform $2,000 in plumbing work for Olga Ashenbrenner at BOP 2306 Will loughby Avenue and one to John H. Ahlers for Sl,400 heating work at the Alaskan Hotel.