davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
GENERAL STORE At
R0CkPORT RAzED
BY FIRE THURSDAY
Building And Contents Lost In
C0nfiagration Discovered
Late Thursday
Fire Leaves Community With~
out Store: Ration Books
of Patrons Also Lost

Rockport this week is without a
general store for the first time in
the memory of its inhabitants, the
result of fire which last Thursday
night razed the one story frame
structure and destroyed its entire
stock of food and merchandise.
Operated by Mr.. and Mrs. Wilber
Lentz, the store did large volume
of business out of proportion to the
size of the community, and it was
often reported that shoppers could
obtain there "hard to get" items
after supplies in larger cities had
been exhausted.
Fire Chief Guy Corson, who went
with the Bluffton fire department to
battle the blaze, but arrived too late.
said he understood value of the large
stock of supplies lost in the fire was
in excess of $4,000.
Starts Late At Night
Mrs. Milford Everett, of Rockport,
WIN uiSJOhCiEu TIE IRE ABOUT III .0U
p. m. Thursday, notified the residents
of the village and telephoned Mr.. and
Mrs. Lentz, who had gone to their
home in Columbus Grove.
However, the blaze was entirely
out of control by the time neighbors
and the Bluffton fire department
reached the scene. Loss was only
partially covered by insurance.
Also included in the loss were a
number of customers ration books,
which they had been in the habit of
leaving in the store.
1t is reported the store will be
rebuilt, inasmuch as the Lentz family
has new home adjacent to the
store property nearly completed and
ready for occupancy. Some of the
lighting fixtures for the residence
were lost in the fire, however, and
must be re-ordered.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Last Rites For Mrs.
Samuel Augsburger

Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah
Augsburger, were held Monday after
noon in the Ebenezer Mennonite
church of which she was a member.
Rev. A. C. Schultz, pastor, officiated.
Interment was in the church ceme-
terry.
Mrs. Augsburger, who resided one
mile west of Beaverdam, died late
Friday night in St. sRita's hospital,
Lima, following ass,illness of three
weeks.
She was born Dec. %, 1871, the
daughter of Christian and Elizabeth
(Geiger) Burkholder.
She is survived by her husband
and five daughters, Mrs. Homer
Spallinger, Mrs. Walter Welty, Mrs.
Orlando Lugibihl, Mrs. Howard Mis-
wander and Miss Florence, all in the
Beaverdam vicinity.
Mrs. Augsburger is survived also
by two sisters, Mrs. Aldine Diller of
Pandora; Mrs. Dan Herr of Bluffton,
four brothers, Amos, Monroe and
Jacob Burkholder, all of Columbus
Grove, and Chris Burkholder of Gil
boa.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
CHANGES LITTLE IN
Wartime SETTING
Town ShOrn of Decorative Frills
But Same Old Holiday Cheer
Still Prevails
Snow And Cold Weather Provide
Setting; Shopping Is At
Its Peak Here

With Christmas shopping and
mailing at its peak, Bluffton's third
wartime observance of the Yuletide
will differ little from the traditional
holidays of other years altho shorn
of some of the customary sparkle
and decorative frills.
Following a light snowfall that
blanketed the ground in white Tues
day, about the only thing missing
from the traditional Christmas set
ting was the lack of decorations and
lights in the business district, which
are out for the duration.
Cold weather, frozen creeks, biting
winds, and crisp, clear nights also
help to create the proper holiday
setting, as Christmas draws nearer.
Shopping At Peak
Christmas shopping for the most
part is believed past its peak, altho
merchants reported quite volume of
trading still is to be expected.
Earlier buying this year, however,
will eliminate the last minute rush
customary in peace-time.
Further reflection of intensive
Christmas activity in the community
has been the greatly increased out
going and incoming volume of mail
handled for nearly a week by the
Bluffton post office. The peak of
incoming mailings is expected next
Monday, after which it is believed
the volume will taper off gradually.
In keeping with the spirit of the
season, churches of the community
are making preparations for the
presentation of Christmas programs,
and schools have additional Yuletide
entertainment arranged.
Musical Background
Opening the musical observance of
the season, the Bluffton College
Choral Society will present its an
nual rendition of Handel's Christmas
oratorio, "The Messiah, at p M,
Sunday in the high school gym
nasium.
Bluffton High and Grade school
pupils are looking forward to q
weeks Christmas holiday recess
which will start with the close of
school Friday evening, Dec. "a. They
will return to classes Monday morn
ing, Jan. 3.
Bluffton college will have vaca-
tion over the holidays extending
from Thursday, Dec. %, at a p. M,
until Tuesday morning, Jan. a.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Christmas Season To Be Ushered I'm
By Rendition OF ''The Messiah Sunday
Influenza Common
Here In Mild Form

Many colds, sore throats and mild
forms of influenza are common in
the Bluffton area this week, forcing
curtailment of war production, busi-
ness services and operations of
schools.
Few serious cases have been re-
ported, however, and it is hoped the
change to colder weather will pre-
vent the disease attaining epidemic
proportions.
Health officers said that the all
ment is of a far less serious type
than the influenza epidemic which
swept the country in 1918, and
deaths so far have been few thru
out the nation.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Direct Hit By Jap Shell Causes
Death OF Private Francis Wilkins
Promoted

Frederick Herr, stationed at Ft.
Lewis, Wash, has been promoted to
the rank of staff sergeant, it was
learned the first of the week.
Clifford Houts now in the Euro
pean war zone has been promoted to
private first class it was learned by
his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Houts of
North Main street.
Alvin Wilkins, serving overseas in
the air force has been promoted to
the rank of sergeant. He is the
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Ira Wilkins.
Carl Marshall, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Ray Marshall of Orange town
ship has been promoted from cor
poral to sergeant at Camp Gordon
Johnston, Florida. He returned to
camp Tuesday morning after having
spent seven days emergency fur
Tough here. His father, a patient at
Bluffton hospital who has been crit
ically i'll following an operation is
somewhat improved.
Promotion from second to first
lieutenant of James Owens, stationed
in England was announced the first
of the week He has been overseas
for several months serving as intel.
ligence office in the army air force
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
RatiOning Calendar

So that you may keep in mind tn,
important wartime ra
,ioning dates, the Bluffton News i
this weekly reminder:
DECEMBER 20-Last day to
use Green Stamp A, b and c, in
Ration Book for processed
foods.
JANUARY 15-Last day to
; use Stamp No. 20 in Ration
Book 4 for 5 pounds of sugar.
SHOES-Stamp No. Is in Ra-
tion Book l good for one pair.
Stamp No. l on "Airplane' sheet
in Ration Book 3 good for one
pair.
JANUARY Last day to use
Brown Stamps L, NJ, N, p, in
Ration Book No. 3 good for
meats, cheese, canned milk, cam
ned fish, butter, lard and other
edible fats.
JANUARY 20-Last day to use
Green Stamps D, E and F in Ra-
tion Book No. 4 for processed
foods.
JANUARY 21-Last day to
use Coupon No. 9 in A books for
three gallons of gasoline.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
DECEMBER DRAFT
CALL Will TAKE
73 men, REPORT
SelecteeS Will Go to Toledo For
Physical Examination,
Saturday
Fathers Must Go i'm January,
However, Unless National
Policy Changes

No pre-war fathers are included
in the December draft call of ap-
proximately 73 men being sent to
Toledo this Saturday, by Aller
County Board No. 3 for induction
into the armed forces if they pass
physical examinations.
With this call, however, the Board
under which Bluffton and all Of
rural Allen county is included has
exhausted it's list of single men and
married men without children.
This means fathers must be taken
to meet an increased quota in Janu-
airy, unless definite orders are re-
ceived in the meantime to delay
their induction as result of recent
legislation passed by Congress and
signed last Thursday by the Presi-
dent.
Policy Is Uncertain
What effect the Congressional
action will have on the drafting OF
fathers is complicated puzzle this
week, and no cne in authority yet
has made any commitments that men
with children will be eliminated from
the January draft call, which will
be one of the largest of the war.
Allen County Board No. so far
has met its draft quotas without
summoning any pre-Pearl Harbor
fathers, altho other boards in this
area have been taking men with
children for several months.
Only Fathers Left
Single men who previously were
deferred for farming and industry
and whose deferments have expired
make up the group of about 73 to
report on Saturday at Toledo, but
there will be only limited number
available from this source for Janu-
ary.
Men accepted for the Navy at
Toledo this Saturday will receive a
one weeks furlough. This will make
it Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day,
when they ordinarily would be ex-
pected to report. However, it is
believed that the furlough will be
extended until Monday, Dec. 27, be-
cause of the unusual conditions
prevailing.
Men accepted for the army will
have a period of three weeks before
they will be expected to report.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Meat Ration Points
For SdlUdged Fats

Bluffton housewives, with others
thruout the nation, may obtain one
meat ration point starting Monday
of this week for every half pound of
salvaged household fats they turn in
to their meat dealers.
This is in addition to payment of
four cents a pound for fats which
dealers have been allowing in the
past. The added incentive was an
nounced by the OPA in the hope of
increasing the supply of waste fats
being turned in by housewives for
the war program.
Brown stamps which the dealers
collect from War Ration Book No. 3
will be given to housewives for the
fats, which badly are needed to make
glycerin used in making gunpowder,
it was announced.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
BlufftOn Shivers AS First Zero
Cold Wave OF Winter Strikes Area

Zero weather brought by the win
ters first severe cold wave had
Bluffton area residents shivering in
their heaviest clothing and digging
into dwindling piles of scarce coal
Tuesday and Wednesday of this
week.
Originating in the frigid wastes
of the Lake Superior region, the
first onslaught of the cold wave
drove temperatures to a new win
ter's low.
Accustomed to unseasonably mild
weather which has prevailed since
early September, Bluffton area resi-
dents found it hard to adjust them
selves to the cold wave that swept
down out of the North.
A Yintry setting also was pro-
vided by light snowfall which fell
intermittently on Tuesday and left
the ground blanketed with white
covering.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
BenrOth Reelected
SpOrtsmen's Head

Eugene Benroth was reelected
president of the Bluffton Community
Sportsmen's club at meeting Tues
day night in the town hall.
Other officers also renamed to the
same posts they held last year were
Silas Diller, vice-president; Gerald
Huber, secretary, and Dallas Berry,
treasurer.
Reelected to the board of directors
were Dan Tripplehorn, Edgar Root,
Jesse Manages and William Edwards.
Wilbur Fish and Aldine Kohl are
new directors.
Gail Mumma, a hold-over on the
board of directors, entertained the
group with an account of the ad-
ventures of a party of Bluffton
sportsmen in Canada on a hunt
ing trip a month ago. In the party
were Mumma, DR.. j. S. Steiner, Le-
land Sechler and Hiram Wenger.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
POST OFFICE OPEN
EVENINGS DURING
CHRISTMAS RUSH
Peak of 1913 Holiday Mailing
Expected to be Reached
Over Week End
Windows Open Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday Nights
This Week

With the annual Christmas mailing
rush at its peak this week, windows
at the Bluffton postoffice will be
open on Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day nights, Postmaster Ed r.
Reichenbach announced Tuesday.
In the evening service provided
each night until 9 p. m. clerks will
handle only receiving of mail and
selling stamps, the postmaster said.
Buttons Christmas mailing rush
is under way much earlier than
usual this season, with the peak
coming a week before the time it
normally can be expected, the post
master said.
Incoming mail also is being receiv-
ed much earlier, and the bulk of all
second-class greeting card mailings
is expected to be out of the way
before the close of the week.
Heaviest stamp sales locally are
expected Friday and Saturday of this
week, and the complications of
handling expanded deliveries pro-
badly will pass its peak next Mon
day.
Stamp sales at the post office are
running ahead of last years figures
for the same period, including a
heavy demand for one and one-half
cent stamps. Practically all parcels
will be enroute by the close of the
week, otherwise there is little pos
sibility of delivery before Christmas.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
College Graduate Is
Injured In Pacific

Lieut.. Richard Backensto, of the
U. S. Marines, a Bluffton college
graduate, was injured in action in
the South Pacific, according to in
formation learned here this week.
Details of where injuries were re-
ceived or their extent were not in
cluded in the notification received by
his wife.
Lieut.. Backensto was a member of
football, basketball and baseball
teams during his undergraduate days
at Bluffton college.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Sherm EUing Buried
At Maple Grove Here

Remains of Sherman Ewing, 81, of
Lima, former Bluffton resident were
brought here for interment at Maple
Grove cemetery, Wednesday after
noon. He died Monday at St. Rita's
hospital, Lima, following six weeks
illness.
He was for many years employed
by the Ohio Oil company and was
prominent in the Masonic lodge. He
was alsc-a raember of the Lima Cen
tral Church of Christ.
Surviving are daughter Mrs.
Berda Fritz and two grandchildren
Mrs. w K. Baker, of Ft. Wayne;
Mrs Sam Owen of Virginia Beach,
Virginia.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
announce Wedding
SOIenl5lized In IOlUd

Wedding of Sgt. Harold Balmer
and Miss Anna Ruth Mullett of
Wayland, Iowa, which took place
Sunday, December 5, was announced
the first of the week when the cou-
pie arrived here to visit his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Balmer of South
Lawn avenue.
The wedding was solemnized in
Wayland Mennonite church in an
evening ceremony in the presence of
$50 guests Officiating were Rev. E.
S. Mullett and Rev. L. Metzger.
The bride wore for the occasion
an ivory satin gown and fingertip
length veil and carried d bouquet of
white roses. Her attendants were
Miss Josephine DiMarco of New
York city and Maxine Zihlman of
Wayland.
The bridegroom was attended by
his brother, Ralph Balmer.
Following a reception at the home
of the brides parents, Rev. and Mrs.
Mullett, the couple left on wedding
trip.
The bride is a graduate of the
high school at Nappanee, Ind. and
groom of Bluffton high school. Both
attended Bluffton college.
Sgt. Balmer who recently returned
from 18 months service in the arctic
is now stationed at Milwaukee, Wis.
After completing her semester's
schooling at Iowa Wesleyan college
Mrs. Balmer will join her husband.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
District OptOmetrists
Hold Meeting Here

Thirty Northwest Ohio optomet-
rists and their wives attended the
annual meeting of zone 10 of the
Ohio Optometrists association held at
the Walnut Grill, Tuesday night.
Speakers were A. R Baker of the
Triplett Electrical Instrument COM
pany who talked on visual problems
of industrial workers and DR.. o. N.
Sparrow of Toledo who spoke on pro-
fessional ethics Drs. d. c. and
Gordon Bixel are local members of
the association.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
-Four From, Here Go
To Army Thursday

Four Bluffton men were in a group
of "a Allen county men called by
Draft Board No. 8 which left for
induction into the army at Ft. Hayes,
Columbus, last Thursday.
Those from here were Karl L..
Gable, Richard r Cookson, James
Howard Basinger and Donavin w.
Moser.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Wins Peace Contest
In Putnam COunty

Marilyn Steiner of Mt. Cory, who
represented the Grace Mennonite
church of Pandora, won the Putnam
county Prince of Peace defamation
contest Sunday night. The contest
was held at the United Brethren
church in Col. Grove. There were
three contestants entered.
Miss Steiner, as winner of the
contest will represent Putnam county
in the district contest.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Funeral For Peter
Miller Held Here

Funeral services for Peter Miller,
T2. inmate of the Allen county in
firmary were held at Paul Diller
funeral chapel, Tuesday morning.
Miller died Sunday morning. He
is a native of Goshen, Ind.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs.
Helen Bierly of Columbus and a
sister, Mrs. Alice Reed of Cross
Plain, Texas.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Named To Honorary
Education SOcietu

Miss Jeanne Baumgartner, form
erly of Bluffton, senior at Bowling
Green State university, has been
elected to membership in Kappa
Beta Pi, honorary national education
society, it was announced the first
of the week.
She is the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lysle Baumgartner of Misha-
waka, Ind, who previously resided
here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
BeaUerdana School
Plans Music Night

Beaverdam high school musical or
ganizations will present a program
at the school, Friday evening at
o'clock.
Appearing on the program will be
junior and senior choruses of the
high school and the girls triple trio.
Grade school talent will be pre-
sented in a one act operetta Susan
mas Christmas Auction.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
EbeneZer Broadcast

A girls trio consisting of Jemima
Luginbihl, Mrs. Vinton Bucher and
Vera Amstutz will be heard on the
Ebenezer church musical program
broadcast Sunday afternoon at $3.50
o'clock from Findlay station WIN.
Mabel Amstutz is accompanist.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
DR.. TRAVIS Is Named
Railroad Physician

DR.. B. w. Travis has been APP
pointed local physician for the Nickel
Plate railroad, it was announced the
first of the week He succeeds the
late DR.. J. S. Steiner who held the
appointment for a number of years.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Radio Sermon

Courage for Our Time" will be
the subject of the radio talk in the
series Living Today broadcast by
Rev. A. c. Schultz of the Ebenezer
Mennonite church from Findlay sta
tion WIN, Friday afternoon at
3:15 o'clock.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
At Naval School

Richard N. Klay, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. George Klay, of Mound street,
has been transferred to the Naval
Training School at Dearborn, Mich.
He will take up advanced machin-
ist training at that place. His "boot"
schooling was received at the Great
Lakes, H., naval station.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
Red Cross Business
Meeting Next Tuesday

Business meeting Of the Bluffton
Red Cross organization will be held
at the high school cafeteria next
Tuesday night at o'clock. Finan-
cial reports will be presented and
officers will be elected for the COM
ing year. All members are asked
to be present.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
TlUO From Here
Would Join Maui

Two Bluffton youths, Richard
Rockey and Jud Johnson applied for
enlistment in the navy the first of
the week. They expect to undergo
physical examination and other pre-
liminaries within the next few days.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
College Xmas Recess
Starts December %

Students will be dismissed from
classes and laboratories after 4 p.
Nj. on Thursday, December %, for
the annual Christmas recess. Va
cation will continue from that date
until Tuesday, January 4, when
classes will be resumed at 500 A.
M.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-16
ARCHERY CLUB TO MEET

The archery club will hold the
next meeting of the organization
next Wednesday night, Dec. %, at
7:30 o'clock at the archery range in
the town. All persons interested are
invited to attend.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-01-02

  :: .'"
Kodiak mirror., 1943-01-02

'' '.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-12-18
Christmas
 Tree Is Set For Friday

Thele'Il be gifts for every child in town, including those who get in line twice, at the big community Christmas Tree sponsored by the Rotary Club. To make the event an even big ger success the Volunteer Fire, Department has joined forces; with the club in meeting the ex penses and helping with the gift-giving.
 The following Memory Lesson is for children only.
 Where Is The Tree? By the Bank of Kodiak!
 When Is The Tree? Friday, December "A, the Day Before Christmas, at 4 O'clock in the Afternoon!
 The distribution of gifts will begln promptly at four, and parents and others are invited to come and watch the fun.
 The committee in charge of the gifts includes Merrill Coon, Jorgen Fredrickson, Larry Wod- finger, Walter Sipprell and Dr. Eugene Sullivan
 The tree decorators consist of Sandy Kainulalnen, James Martz, Eric Blankenburg and W. H. Lamme.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-12-18

said they would be more healthy if they walked.
 It was reported that IS musi- cal machines in town were un- licensed. The matter was tabled.
 Clerical work to establish a card case history file for the police department was author ized.
 A letter was read from the Teamsters' Local asking that an ordinance be passed prohibiting any driver not able to drive to the base to be prohibited from driving locally. There was con- siderable discussion of this and the renting of taXis to service men, liability insurance and other matters, but no action was taken.
 A letter was read from P. J. Watkinson granting use of Err skine company land near the hospital for a small building to be used as a morgue
 (continued on page A
Kodiak mirror., 1943-12-18

matter of street lighting.
 The Volunteer Fire depart- ment turned over to the city $60 received from the Al KIeiser fire and reported that they have agreed not to charge for fire calls outside the city. There will be a fee, however, for the trucks, to be set by the fire chief. Only volunteer fIremen are to be paid for any calls
 Dr. Jones, city health officer, reported that social diseases are at present we'll under control. He told the council there had been 3 cases of food poisoning which he said resulted from con- taminated meat served at a local cafe, and that this matter would be taken care of through military authorities. Councilman Wodllnger said that cracked crockery being used in some restaurants was health menace. A propos of transport ;ng school children, Dr. Jones
Kodiak mirror., 1943-12-18


 MT. and Mrs. Arthur Hudson, Old Harbor, are the parents of son born Wednesday evening at Griffin Memorial hospital, weight 6 pounds 2 ounces. It is their first child and will be nam ed Douglas.
 The Hudsons just recently ar rived on Kodiak Island and MT Hudson is teacher at Old Har- Dor. They came here from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota,