The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-01-09
Over 800 Transients Had Nights
Lodging At Jail Here In Past Year
Seen and Heard at
Bluffton Post Office
Dedication Ceremonies
New Years Day

Despite an overcast sky, porten-
tious of inclement weather, a siz-
able crowd turned out to witness
ceremonies dedicating Buttons new
$4,000 post office New Years Day.
The outside program, consisting
of flag raising ceremonies, was IN
charge of the Bluffton post Of the
American Legion. Officiating in this
part of the ceremony were Ralph
Stearns, commander; Quinten Burk-
holder, adjutant; Ralph Henry,
chaplain; Millen Geiger and Irwin
Woods, color guards.
The flag pole, all in one piece of
tapered tubing, is one of the few
one piece poles in the country. The
architects and builders indicated that
this was their first contact with one
piece construction. Most flag poles
of this size are sectional.
Hats off to the snappy band which
provided music for both the inside
| and autside ceremonies. The bant
was a select grasAp of musician
picked from recent graduates of tn,
high school and directed by Prof
Sidney Hauenstein, veteran banc
leader.
Almost every available square foot
of space was taken inside the build
ing during the ceremonies. Most OF
the people present stood during the
entire ceremony although some o1
the kiddies were seen sitting on the
edges of tables and desks. The over.
flow crowd was located in the lobby
! Many people were puzzled as to the
meaning of the black stripes at the
cornice on the north end of the worl
room. These served to partially con
ceal the peep holes through which in
spectors may observe the work of tn,
post office when they pay un-announc
ed visits to the Bluffton office.
The observation room is located a
: an elevation which will give view O
the entire work room and the person
| mel of the post office may be observe,
without their knowledge. The obser
vation room is sound proof and ha
no lights. Access to the room i
gained through the office of the post
master.
Visitors who visited the observation
, room complained about the darkness
and occasionally bumped into eac
other as they went from peep hole t
peep hole.
Credit should be given to Assis,
:, ant Postmaster Ralph Stearns, wh
assisted in advising on the construs
tion of the post office, in supervisor
the setting up of the equipment an
certain details of the dedication cere
!, mony.
A record for holiday cancelling wa
set New Years day with a total @
BAT. By way of comparison ther
were 157 on Thanksgiving day an
374 on Christmas day.
The spacious drive way and ma
unloading area will be boon to tn
rural mail carriers and to Howal
Stager, who transports the mail sacl
7 and pouches from the railroad depo
to the post office.
The marble walls of the lobby a
= tracted considerable attention amor
: the visitors, as the post office here
. one of the very few in the country ;,
II equipped. The material used in pha
: tasia rose from the Tennessee qua
ries.
, The special cachet, symbolic of t
+ dedication, stimulated stamp sal,
~ Many people in the community, W
ar had no previous interest or exp,
= ience in collecting covers" took .
an vantage of the opportunity in obtai