davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
COUNCIL TO OPEN
new FIRE TRUCK
BIDS OCTOBER z
Buttons New Equipment To
Be Fitted For Rural Fire
Protection
Advertising for Bids Follows
Township Approval of $3.50
Flat Rate

Bluffton councilmen at the meeting
Monday night authorized the town
clerk to advertise for bids for a new
fire truck with 400-gallon booster
tank, which will fit it for FIRE fighting
in rural districts.
Purchase of truck equipped for
the needs of fighting fires outside as
well as in town was decided by the
council after Richland township trus-
tees approved an arrangement to pay
a flat rate of $3.50 per year for rural
fire protection, and it was reported
that Orange township is ready to fol-
low similar course.
Fire Chief Guy Corson said at the
meeting that he had been informed
Orange township trustees will agree
to arrange for fire protection from
Bluffton on the same basis as the
contract concluded with Richland
township.
Originally Orange township had
wanted an arrangement with Bluffton
that would permit the Ada depart
ment to answer calls in the township
when the fire was nearer Ada. How
ever, they were informed that the fire
truck stationed in Ada, which is own
ed by Liberty township, will not be
sent outside the township.
The only exception, Liberty town
ship trustees explained, would be in
instances where the fire occurs on
farms on township line roads, just
outside Liberty boundaries.
Beaverdam, which also has been in
vited to contract for fire protection
from Bluffton on a flat rate, has not
replied.
Buttons fire truck bids will be
opened on October 2, and the contract
likely will be let by the council soon
thereafter.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Former Bluffton Girl Wins Contract
For Appearance With Chicago Opera

Mrs. Ola Luginbihl Moser 30
year-old former Bluffton contralto
and the mother of two children
was awarded contract by the Chi
cago Opera company for the coming
season, it was learned here the first
of the week.
A photograph of the former Bluff
ton woman appeared Saturday in a
Chicago newspaper together with the
announcement that her contract was
one of the first two awarded by the
opera company since 1912.
Mrs. Moser and her family live
in Park Ridge, H., Chicago SUBJ
urb, where her husband, Virgil Mo-
ser, also a Bluffton native, is in
spector in a large aircraft manu-
featuring concern.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
s3,5OO FIRE RAzEs
DON EDIE HOME ON
ROSE WELTY farm
Mrs. Edie and Children Awak-
ened by Neighbors Who
Discover Morning Fire
Two-story House Is Destroyed
And Most of Home Fur
nishings Are Lost

Fire attributed to defective elec
trical wiring destroyed a two-story
frame house occupied by Don Ed,
family on the Rose Welty farm, thre,
and one-half miles northwest of Bluff
ton at q. m. last Thursday morning
Gaining rapid headway before il
was discovered by neighbors, the con.
fiagration razed the house and burned
most of the Edie family's furniture
and clothing.
The Bluffton fire department was
called and succeeded in saving two.
room summer kitchen which was at
tached to the house. Total loss to the
house and household furnishings was
estimated at $500 by Fire Chief Guy
Corson, only part of which was cover
ed by insurance.
Neighbors Discover Fire
Neighbors discovered the fire and
awoke Mrs. Edie and two children, q
son and daughter, who were in bed
Edie had left earlier to report for
work at The Triplett Electrical In
strument Co. here where he is employ
ed.
By that time the fire was blazing
fiercely and it was possible to save
only the household effects which were
on the first floor. The house had
practically burned to the ground by
the time Bluffton firemen arrived and
the department confined its activities
largely to saving the summer kitchen
The fire had broken out on the back
porch of the home and there were in.
dications that it was caused by de.
fective wiring.
For the present the Edie family is
living with her parents, Mr.. and Mrs
Harvey Webber, north of Pandora.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
With The Sick

Mary 10, five-year-old daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Leland Diller has a
broken left forearm as the result OF
an accident at her home on Cherry
street last week. The child was
swinging in a rope swing when her
arm struck a chair nearby.
Mrs. Mary Matter of Garau street
is a patient in Bluffton hospital be-
cause of a fractured upper left arm
near the shoulder which she sus-
tanned as the result of fall on a
flight of porch steps last Wednesday
night.
Joe Powell of Orange township il
convalescing at Lima Memorial hos
pital following an operation which
he underwent because of injuries re-
ceived in shoulder fracture q
number of years ago.
Elmer Diller who has been i'll al
his home on Spring street with q
heart ailment is much improved
Mrs. Eliza Fett of South Mair
street is seriously i'll at Blufftor
hospital.
Kenneth Zuercher of Lima wht
underwent an emergency operation
for hernia at Lima Memorial hos
pital several weeks ago has been re
moved to his home where he il con
valescing.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Chris BireI Rites
Friday Afternoon

Funeral services will be held Fri
day afternoon for Chris Bixel, 85,
lifelong resident of Richland town.
ship and Bluffton who died Tuesday
afternoon at his South Main street
home where he has lived for more
than 20 years. Death was due to
senility.
A retired farmer, Bixel was born
on the farm now occupied by ID. j.
Basinger, southwest of Bluffton. He
was the son of Peter and Fannie
(Sutter) Bixel.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs.
Lena (Steiner) Bixel; two sons,
Truman, at home, and 0rlo, Comins,
Mich; four sisters, Mrs. Gid Burk-
holder, Mrs. Chris Amstutz and Mrs.
d. J. Basinger, all of Button; and
Mrs. Mary Diller, Lima; and four
brothers, Peter and Samuel, both of
Bluffton; Eli, Westminster; and
John, Lima.
Funeral services will be held Fri
day afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the
First Mennonite church of which he
was member, with the pastor, Rev.
]. N. Smucker officiating. Preced-
ing this, short services will be held
at the Paul Diller funeral home at
2 o'clock. Burial viii be in the Zion
Mennonite cemetery.
| The body has been removed to the
Diller funeral home where it will re-
main until time for the services.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Wedding And Golden
Wedding On Sunday

A wedding and golden wedding
took place in the NJ. J. Stratton
family in Orange township, Sunday,
when Mr.. and Mrs. Stratton cele-
brated their fiftieth anniversary and
their daughter, Miss Flo Stratton
was married to j. D. Clymer, son of
G. B. Clymer of Mt. Cory.
The wedding took place in the
Olive Branch United Brethren church
in the morning at 11:30 o'clock
with Rev. T. ]. Koontz, cousin of
the bride, officiating.
The altar of the church was
banked with ferns and baskets of
white gladioli and lavender asters.
Mrs. Carson Marshall gave a quar-
ter hour musical program preceding
the ceremony followed by the Lohen-
grin and Mendelssohn wedding
marches for the professional and re-
cessional respectively.
The bride wore a street length
white wool dress fashined with
three-quarter length sleevs with
brown accessories. She wore a
shoulder corsage of pink rosebuds
and baby NUNS.
Her attendants were Misses Dor
othy and Gladys Klingler, nieces OF
the bride.
palrL Janac T., of M rorxy xx,a 6
best man and ushers were Ortho
Stratton and James Scott, nephews
of the groom.
A dinner for $50 guests was served
at the home of the brides parents
followed by an afternoon reception
when Mr.. and Mrs. Stratton held
open house in honor of their golden
wedding.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stratton have spent
their entire lives in Orange town
ship, both having been born and
reared in the community. They were
married fifty years ago, Sept. 3
1894, in the home of Mrs. Stratton's
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. w. r. Bell.
Their eight children were present
for the occasion: Leland Stratton o1
Stamps, Ark; Mrs. Mildred King.
Ter of Bluffton, Mrs. Claude Christ
man of Findlay, Mrs. Opal Kloetzly
of Salem, Bernard Stratton of Bluff.
ton; Mrs. Flo Clymer of Mt. Cory
Russell Stratton of West jefferson
Ralph Stratton of Paulding. Their,
are twenty-three grandchildren ane
two great-grandchildren.
More than 800 relatives anc
friends called during the Afternoon
to extend congratulations to tn,
bridal couples of 1894 and 1914
Many cards and gifts were received
by both couples.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
High School Students Desert Modern
Languages For Commercial Subjects
All Modern Foreign Languages
Dropped From Curriculum
This Year
Enrolment in Business Courses
Shows Marked and Con-
sistent Gain

Foreign language classes at Bluff,
ton high school which formerly were
crowded are now deserted and in their
place the study of commercial sub.
jects has registered a new high ir
popularity.
This became evident as classes open.
ed Tuesday for the fall term of schoo
when it was announced that all mod.
ern foreign language courses had beer
dropped from the curriculum because
of lack of sufficient registration ir
these subjects.
This is the first time in more thar
forty years that no modern language
courses have been offered and marks
the elimination of steadily waning in.
terest during recent years in that de.
partment.
Commercial Classes Gain
Glasses in commercial subjects, on
the other hand, have REGISTERED consist.
ent gains in recent years, notwith-
standing the fact that during that
same period the total high school en-
rollment has declined
Also showing an increase to a les
ser degree is enrolment for mathe-
matics, stimulated, it is believed be-
cause of wartime requirements for
higher mathematics in aviation and
other fields.
Enrolment in science courses, in
cluding physics, chemistry and biology
has shown some decline, about in pro-
portion to the decline in enrolment
at the school.
Latin now is the only foreign lang.
uage included in the curriculum anc
altho this years classes in that de.
partment are equal to those of last
year, enrolment definitely is not what
it was a decade ago.
Waning Interest
Second year French, in which &
class of 3 was registered, was the onl!
modern foreign language taught las
year. Generally it is regarded ther,
should be an enrolment of not les.
than 10 to justify the teaching of ;
subject. However, the course wa
given last year in order to permit tn,
five to complete the two years o
language required for college EN-
trance, it was stated at the higl
school office.
This year with only one sophomor
and three juniors signing for frs
year French there would be no pros
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07

Automobile drivers licenses for the
coming year went on sale in Bluffton
this week at the Bixel Motor Sales
on Cherry street, and H. G. Sours,
state highway director, announced
that anyone operating a motor ve-
hicle after September 80 must have
a new permit.
Drivers must show their current
license when applying for new one,
and all applications must be made
in person.
Cost of the license is 40 cents, of
which 15 cents is the deputy regis
trar's fee.
B. D. Guthrie is the registrar in
Lafayette, and Herbert M. Johns
ton is in charge of license sales in
Cairo.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07

She is the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Cal Luginbihl residing south
west of Bluffton and began her mu-
sical career 15 years ago as a stu
dent in Bluffton college under Prof.
G. A. Lehman, now director of music
at Colgate Rochester Theological SEM
mary, Rochester, N. Y. Later she
sang with the Dayton Westminster
choir in its trip abroad a number
of years ago.
Possessed of a rich contralto voice,
Mrs. Moser has appeared here on
several occasions as soloist in the
annual Messiah concert given by the
Bluffton College Choral society. She
comes from a musically talented
family and two uncles Homer and
Oscar Luginbuhl are members of the
Toledo Symphony orchestra.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
HOUSING SHORTAGE
HERE BRINGS BOOM
in SALE OF HOMES
Prices For Properties Are High
est in History, Yet Selling
is Brisker Than Ever
No Houses for Rent so Renters
Must Buy Homes to Obtain
Place To Live

With wartime conditions prevent
ing new residential construction,
Bluffton's building boom of a few
years ago has been succeeded by
brisk buying and selling of houses
already constructed at prices that
have spiraled to the highest marks
in local history.
Where several years ago the
demand for extra housing accommo-
dations was reflected in additional
building, now with new construction
out of the picture there has been a
pronounced upsurge in real estate
transfers at prices which exceed
previous boom levels.
Renters Forced to Buy
Virtually no houses are for rent
locally, and with the demand for
housing accommodations ever in
creasing here the only course left
open to a would-be renter is to buy
his own property.
In contrast to the scarcity of
houses for rent, there are many
residential properties for sale. This
is a reflection of rigid rent ceilings,
and owners of houses which have
been rented for years are finding it
advantageous to sell because there
are no price restrictions on sales.
Older properties constitute the
bulk of sales. Prices vary widely
rejecting not only the intrinsic value
of the real estate, but also the
degree of urgency with which the
owner seeks to liquidate. Some of
the more desirable properties are
reported as being held for upwards
of $4,000.
Properties now changing hands
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
FIND BODY OF Ed
REAGAN after ALL
NIGHT SEARCHING
Located in 20 Feet of Water
at National Quarry We'd
nesday Morning
Believed to have Fallen in While
Fishing Tuesday Night;
Could Not Swim

Searchers in rowboats equip
ped with graphing hooks We'd
nesday morning recovered from
the waters of the National quar-
ry on Jefferson street the life
less body of Edward 7. Reagan,
46, who was drowned while fish
ing in the quarry Tuesday night.
The body was recovered at
1895 a. m. by Raymond Marsh
all and Merlin Mumma, both of
Bluffton, ending a nine hour
search during which time rescue
crews combed the deep waters of the
quarry in search for the missing
man.
The body was located about ID
feet off shore from the bank where
Reagan's fishing tackle was found.
IN 30 FEET OF WATER
The drowned man was found at
the bottom of the quarry in 20 feet
of water. His clothing was engaged
by graphing hooks of the searchers
and towed to the bank. Other
searchers assisted in raising the
body to the bank from where it was
removed to the Paul Diller funeral
home.
When found, he was fully clothed
with arms upraised as if grasping
for aid.
Harry Lewis, Allen county coro-
ner, viewed the hody shortly Def0r1
noon Wednesday but returned no inn
mediate verdict.
NINE HOURS SEARCH
Search for the missing man began
shortly after midnight, Tuesday with
the Central Ohio Light & Power
company, owners of the quarry and
deputies from the office of Allen
County Sheriff VIM. V. Daily coop
Grating.
Mute evidence of the tragedy was
discovered by Michael Reagan, 15-
year-old son of the missing man who
was sent by his mother to the quar-
ry Tuesday night shortly after 10
o'clock when the father failed to re-
turn.
FIND FISHING TACKLE
The youth found his fathers fish
ing tackle on the west bank of the
quarry about so feet north of an
abandoned spillway connecting the
quarry and Big Riley creek.
When discovered Regan's fishing
pole was floating in the water near
the spot and the line was broken.
The place where he had presumably
been fishing was narrow outcrop-
ping of limestone ledge with a steep
ten foot bank rising Immediately
behind it.
The theory was advanced Wednes-
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Missionary Church
Has NesC Minister

Rev. Robert Welch of Easton, Pa,
who recently accepted call to the
pastorate of the Missionary church
here has arrived in Bluffton to take
up his ministerial duties.
Rev. and Mrs. Welch and their
fourteen months old son will occupy
the church parsonage on North
Lawn avenue vacated last Thursday
by Rev. w. F. Albro, former pastor.
who resigned the position here sew
eral months ago.
Rev. Albro and family have moved
TO Swanton. On leaving here Rev.
Albro said that his plans for the
future were indefinite and that he
would for the present take a rest
from pastoral duties.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Gaylerd Krcut, Mt.
Blanchard, daughter, Virginia
Louise, Sunday.
1t. and Mrs. Harry Mehollin,
Bluffton, daughter, Elaine Kaye,
Wednesday. Mrs. Mehollin is the
former Vera Welty.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed Rex, Columbus
Grove, a daughter, Carol Sue, Wed.
nesday.
Announcement has been received
of the birth of a daughter to Mr.
and Mrs. Dale Davidson, former
Bluffton residents, August Q, a
Normal, Illinois.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
BluftOn Sergeant Is
In Cleveland Hospital

Sgt. Lyle McCarty, who was in
service in India has been returned
for treatment to the army's Grille
General hospital in Cleveland. He is
now spending a three weeks fur
Tough with his wife who makes her
home with her parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Erwin Moser, south of Bluffton. AT
the conclusion of the furlough he
will return to Cleveland for hospital
ization.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Mt. Cory School To
Run On SIOJU Time

Altho Hancock county does not
revert to slow time until the end of
this month, Mt Cory schools which
opened for the fall term Tuesday,
are operating on slow time, it was
stated by D. C. Simkins, superintend-
ent Of schools. Other Hancock
county schools are operating on fast
time for this month, it was stated.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
RRlLtUIEFTETOMM SCHOOLS
HAVE ENROLMENT
OF 484 THIS FALL
Registration Reflects Leveling
OFF i'm Attendance Drop of
Last Eight Years
Grade School Enrolment Is Up
with 217; High School Has
266 i'm Classes

Rejecting leveling off in down.
ward trend of enrolment covering
nearly a decade, Bluffton public
schools opened on Tuesday morning
for the fall term with a registration
of 4S3 pupils.
This years enrolment is only four
less than last falls mark of 487 on the
opening day.
Grade school attendance picked up
this year, with 217 pupils enrolled for
the first six grades, as compared with
207 in 1943. In the high school, in
cluding junior high, there are 266 stu
dents, IA less than last year.
Gain in grade school attendance this
fall was principally due to first-grade
enrolment. There is a class of so
boys and girls entering school for the
first time this fall in comparison with
40 last year.
Altho enrolment reflects leveling
off tendency, there is a reduction in
the number of students this fall for
the eight consecutive year. The trend
downward started in 1887, and in 1912
enrolment fell below the 500 mark
for the first time in a decade, in COM
parison with attendance totals that
were near the 700 mark in the middle
thirties.
669 in 1887
Downward trend of Buttons pub
Tic school attendance is shown in the
enrolment figures of recent years:
487 in 1943; 494 in 1912; 532 in 1941;
585 in 1910; 610 in 1889; CAB in 1888
and 500 in 1887.
In the high school this year the
largest enrolment is in the sophomore
class, which has So students. The
eighth grade is the smallest of the
eight upper grades with registration
of 81. There will be a senior class of
only 38, as compared to 45 in 1943.
Grade school attendance totals vary
from so in the first grade to 28 in the
third.
Complete enrolment totals were an
nounced Tuesday afternoon by Supt.
Ralph Lanham as follows:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Red Cross Room At
Grade School Open

The Red Cross surgical dressing
room at the Grade school building
will be open beginning next Monday
night and in the afternoons from
Tuesday thru Friday from 1880 to
4 o'clock, it is announced by Mrs. J.
S. Steiner in charge of the work
here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Leaves To Attend
Indiana College

Anna Louise Hochstettler of
Spring street left Monday for Up
land, Indiana, where she has en-
rolled as a freshman at Taylor uni
versity. She was graduated last
spring from Bluffton high school.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07

The James Redd farm of 120
acres near Lafayette has been pur-
chased by A. ]. Miller residing east
of Bluffton. Possession will be Civ
en- next March. The deal was closed
by Mrs. II. W. Althaus.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
BIuftOn Man In
Merchant Marine

John Warkentin, Bluffton youth
who joined the merchant marine
August 20 has been assigned to duty
at Brooklyn. N. Y, and left for that
place recently. He is the son of
Mrs. Agnes Warkentin Moore of
Cherry street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
POSTWAR ASPECT
CAUSES UPSURCE
In BUSINESS DEALS
Filling Stations, Business Places
Are Changing Hands Here
Briskly
Farm Land Boom Brings Prices
Double What They Were
Seven Years Ago

New owners in Bluffton business
places, re-opening of gasoline filling
stations, transfer of titles to residen-
tial properties and boom in the sale
of farmlands, all on the upswing here
in the last several weeks, are emerg-
ing as definite pattern in the post
war plans of Bluffton area residents.
Prices in all transactions are at
high levels, rejecting confidence in
the towns future as an industrial and
commercial center, and the exchange
of ownership in business places and
farmlands indicates a. new interest,"
in the postwar thinking of those who
live here.
In the early years of the war there
were few changes in the ownership of
local business places, but the last two
monthes have materially changed the
picture as new owners scramble to OBJ
tain a place in the lucrative business
field they envision after the close of
hostilities.
There have been a series of business
developments this summer, starting
with the opening of new retail store
carrying a general line of merchan-
disc and a new beauty shop, followed
later by changes in the ownership of
a restaurant, news stand and recrea-
ton spot, the last two having taken
place during the week.
The upsurge in business and indus
trial activity has absorbed the more
than half-dozen business rooms vacant
during early stages of the war until
now rooms thruout the business dis
trict with one exception are all oc-
cupied.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07
Filling Stations Open

Two gasoline filling stations which
closed soon after Pearl Harbor have
re-opened. One of them, at Main and
Washington streets is operated Way
ne Lugibill. The other at Main and
Jefferson streets purchased last month
by Clark Frazier of Rawson opened
during the past week.
Reports are current that arrange
ments have been completed to reopen
the Johnson station, Main street and
the Bentley road as soon as the war
has ended
Building in the business district al.
so will get underway as soon as wal
restrictions are relaxed, and informed
quarters say that construction of one
new business structure will get under
way at the earliest possible date per
mitted.
In like manner, the sale of farm
land is booming at prices reminiscent
of World War l days, as war plant
Continued on page 3
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-07

Total in Button public schools 483