davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11

Funeral services for Mrs. Sibyl
Mollett, Ga, were held at her home
on South Main street, Tuesday after
noon with Rev. ]. A. Weed of the
Methodist church officiating assisted
by Rev. Milton Fronsoe of the
Church of Christ.
Mrs. Mollett died unexpectedly at
the home of Gerald Berry on West
Elm street, Saturday night at 7:10
o'clock where she had gone on an
errand in connection with church
work.
On her arrival at the Berry resi-
dence she complained of illness and
Mrs. Berry summoned a physician.
However, she was unconscious when
the physician arrived and died soon
after. Her death was attributed to
heart condition.
For number of years Mrs. Mol
lett was associated in a partnership
with her sister in the operation of
a millinery store under the name of
Helen's Hat shop.
She. was born in Bluffton the
daughter of David and Hannah
(Ewing) Close and was graduated
from Bluffton high school in the
class of 1899. For IA years she
taught in the second grade in the
public schools here. Later she was
clerk in the First National bank
and also taught in the Lima schools.
Following her marriage to Robert
Mollett in February, 1915, the fam
lily lived in Lewisburg. Her husband
died eight years ago. Also one son,
Robert, Junior, died at birth.
After the death of her husband,
she returned to Bluffton where she
has since resided. She was men,
Der of the Methodist church here
and took an active part in church
work. For a number of years she
was also treasurer Of the high
school alumni association and a
member of the executive committee.
Besides her sister, she is survived
by three nephews and one niece.
Following funeral services Tuesday
afternoon interment was in Maple
Grove cemetery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Funeral Wednesday
For Philip Bdsinger

Philip Basinger, 67, formerly con-
nected with the Basinger meat mark
ct here, died at his home south of
Bluffton on the Dixie highway, Sun
day morning. Death followed a
years illness.
Mr.. Basinger operated a farm
for many years and later was asso-
ciated for 90 years with his broth
ers Joel and Ezra in the operation
of a meat market here from which
he retired several years ago.
Funeral services were held at his
residence Wednesday afternoon with
Rev. Will Rupp of Archbold officiat-
ing. Interment was in the Reformed
Mennonite cemetery.
The son of Joel and Mary (Ha-
begger) Basinger he was born in
Riley township March Is, 1877. He
was married to Elizabeth Steiner in
1900. She died in 1920. He was
for many years member of the Re-
formed Mennonite church.
Surviving are two sons: Eugene
~nd Iendon of Bluffton, and four
daughters, Mrs. Abe Hilty of Pan
dora; Mrs. Ernest LOCKER, Jr., of
Wheeler, Ind; Marcella and Lois at
home and three grandchildren.
Five brothers surviving are Homer
and Ambrose of Pandora; Jess of
Jenera; Ezra and Joel of Button
and three sisters Mrs. John Amstutz
of Shelby, Mich; Mrs. Minnie Ell
lott of Lima and Mrs. Earl Jones
of Toledo.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Many Rural Districts Remain
Snowbound with Radio AS
Only Contact
Farmers Shoveling Snow to
Open Roads as Motorized
Equipment Fails

For nearly month now, farmers
of the Bluffton area have had to live
in snowbound isolation in a return
to the pioneer tradition of rs years
ago, with the situation representing
a triumph of real, honest-to-goodness,
old-fashioned winter over our vaunt-
ed mechanical age.
Snowplows and automobiles have
failed in the critical test of nego-
tiating drifted roads blocked by al
most continuous snow, and the situa-
ton differs little from pioneer times
when farms sometimes were isolated
from the surrounding community for
the greater part of the winter.
Telephone lines, too, are down in
many places, further cutting off
contact of farm residents with the
outer world, and about the only mod
ern note remaining in the picture is
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
19 ALLEN COUNTY
YOUTHS IN DRAFT
CALL THIS MONTH
List Summoned for Induction is
Announced by Board No.
Three, Tuesday
Decisions on Two Appealed
Cases Announced by Allen
County Board

Nineteen registrants. including two
from Bluffton, are included in the
January call for induction into the
armed forces, it was announced
Tuesday by Allen county Draft
Board No. 8.
The board also announced two de-
cisions handed down ay the district
board of draft appeals.
IN CURRENT CALL
Called for induction this month
are:
Bluffton-William J. Klass and
Robert p. Burkholder. Also called
is Cleo Dale Davidson Of Willoughby,
formerly of Bluffton.
Col. Grove-Harlan Peters, Leland
Amstutz, Loren Fruchey, Lewis
Martz.
Elida-Ray Brenneman, Robert
Powell, John Blymyer, Norman Ste
men.
Lafayette--Richard Hawk.
Delphos-Hubert Noonan, Rufus
Bonifas, Merle Will, Merlin Suever.
Harrod- William Stimmel.
Linea-Robert Bassitt.
Spencerville-Edward Post.
APPEALS Board DECISIONS
Leroy Glover, Jr., TT. /, Harrod.
Classified in IA by the local board.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
BLUFFTON AREA
GOES INTO FIFTH
WEEK OF SNOW
More Drifts Come with Two
inch Snow Which Falls Here
Monday Night
Little Progress Made in Open
ing Sn0w-Blocked Roads
i'm Country

Snowbound conditions remained vir-
tually unchanged in the Bluffton
area during the last week, and addi-
tional snow and bitter cold weather
continued an uninterrupted assault
of "old-fashioned" winter now going
into its fifth week.
just as some degree of organiza-
ton was beginning to be achieved in
clearing the principal snow-blocked
rural roads, the situation was made
as serious as ever by two-inch
snow on Monday night which was
driven into new drifts by a biting
wind.
Mondays snowfall was especially
bad inasmuch as it piled up most on
east and west roads, which until that
time had been comparatively free of
drifts, and with the majority of
north and south roads still unopened
snowbound conditions were worse
than ever Tuesday morning.
SCHOOLS OPEN
Bluffton public schools which had
opened Monday, after suspending OPP
erations with exception of two days
since December IL, were closed again
on Tuesday because of the fresh
drifts.
Opening of the schools again on
Wednesday, however, marked a de-
termined effort on the part of school
authorities to keep classes in session
if at all possible.
Only three of four Bluffton school
buses have been making their rounds,
since classes were resumed this week.
1t has been impossible to cover the
route northwest of town where roads
are impossible.
Attendance at school Monday was
considered satisfactory in view of
the condition of roads in the area.
Bluffton High school had 25 students
absent in the morning and Is in the
afternoon. OF these II were rural
pupils.
At the grade school, there were 49
absences, of which all but 10 were
from the country.
MAIL CARRIERS Our
Rural mail carriers are making
part of their regular rounds, and
they report shifting SHOWS compli-
cate their driving. They find roads
closed one day which were open the
preceding day, and it is extremely
difficult to plan their daily trips un-
der those circumstances.
Near zero weather has continued
to pinch the ears and cheeks of those
who have to venture out-of-doors,
with the coldest of this week re-
ported Monday and Tuesday nights
when the mercury stood at six above.
Warmer weather and snow are fore
cast for Thursday.
Country residents who live on
roads which have been partially OPP
ened still have to travel miles out
of their way to get to town, and
bobsleds coming in from the country
district still are common slight.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Half-Million Dollar Hotel Fire
Takes Lives OF Two At Lima Sunday
Disastrous Blaze Occurs on An
niyersary of Court House
Fire of Jan. Z, 1929
Victims Trapped in Burning
Hostelry; Three Others
Are Still Missing

Allen county's most disastrous fire
since the county court house blaze in
Lima on January 7, 1929, occurred
last Sunday on the anniversary of
the confagration when an early
afternoon fire within a stones throw
from the court house razed the Mil
ner hotel, destroyed two business es-
adjustments, damaged two others
and took the lives of at least two
hotel guests.
Norman Grape, 45, of Shanks, w.
Va, died shortly after midnight Sun
day of burns suffered in the fire, and
Mrs. Florence Huff, so, was killed
in plunge from third story win
dow after flames had trapped her in
her room at the hotel.
Three other guests of the hotel
had not been located Tuesday night
and authorities do not know if they
perished in the blaze, or if they
made their escape before being trap.
ped.
Firemen were handicapped in
fighting the half-million dollar blaze
by low pressure in the Lima water
mains resulting from a serious
shortage of water which has existed
in the county seat for more than
one month.
Breaking out about p. m., the
fire gutted the hotel and ragged thru
buildings housing Eckard's drug
store and the Hudson restaurant.
Operated originally as the Norval
hotel, the hostelry razed by the fire
was for years the center of Lima's
social life following the turn of the
century, and the disaster removed
one of the city's most we'll known
landmarks.
The blaze was Lima's second of
major proportion in less than a
week, a $4,000 fire having destroyed
the front part of the Lima News
building, last Thursday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
BLUFFTON SCHOOL
PLANS CLOSING ON
Time NEXT SPRING
Ohio Laws Allow 10 Days from
Regular Term i'm Case of
Emergencies
Local Schools Closed III Days
So Far; Only One Day Must
Be Made Up

Unless Bluffton schools are fur
ther closed by snow-blocked roads, it
will not be necessary to extend the
end of the school term next spring,
Supt. Ralph Lanham said Wednes-
day morning.
Altho the local schools have dis
continued operations for IL days in
addition to the regular time allowed
for Christmas holiday recess, state
laws provide that in cases of emer-
gency 10 days may be taken off the
allotted school term of $50 days.
Since only II regular days of
classroom work have been laissed
during the wintry assault of the last
month, the Bluffton term of school
could be closed on May "a, as orig
inally planned, providing the schools
operate on one holiday, which pre-
sumably might be Washington's s
birthday.
No SATURDAY SCHOOL
School cannot be conducted on
Saturdays to make up time missed
from the regular schedule, as the
Ohio law provides that q school week
shall consist only of five days.
With the law providing that 10
days can be missed, it is likely that
only one day of the IL on which OPP
GRAFTON of the BlufTton schools were
suspended will be made up, altho no
official action has been taken vet by
the board of education.
Should that course be followed,
the Bluffton school term this year
would be only ITO days in contrast
to the normal schedule of 1870.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Sgt. James Martin
Missing In Action

Sgt. James Martin, Is, formerly of
Bluffton IS reported missing in action
IN Germany since December 19, ac-
eordlng to word received here bv
his uncle, Ezra Moser, residing north
of Bluffton.
Sgt. Martin is the son of Rev
J. Martin of Philadelphia and the
late Mrs. Nettie Moser Martin. FORM
er missionaries to Brazil. He ar
tended high school here for several
years.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Steiner Elected
Director Of Bank

Adam S. Steiner, Bluffton garage
man was elected to the board of di-
rectors of the Citizens National bank
at the annual stockholders meeting,
Tuesday night. He succeeds Noah
Basinger, director of the bank
whose death occurred last month.
All directors of the present board
were reelected for the coming year
at the meeting Tuesday night. They
are c. HI. Smith, E. c. Romey, Ed
win Amstutz, Henry Huber, M. NJ.
Bogart, C. F. Niswander.
A cash dividend of 81 a share re-
Gently declared on the outstanding
common stock was announced at the
meeting.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
MENNONITE AID
INSURANCE ASSN.
SHOWS GROWTH
Organization Has S3,S60,200
Risks in Force; Shows In
crease of S250,035
Policies Carried BY Insurance
Society Number GIT, Larg-
est in History of Unit

Insurance risks aggregating $3,-
S60,200 are carried by the Mennonite
Mutual Aid Society, locally owned
and operated insurance organization
specializing in farm protection. It
was reported last Saturday after
noon at the annual meeting in the
Bluffton High school building.
Reports made at the session show
that the mutual insurance society
has 917 policies in force in Allen,
Putnam, Hancock and Hardin coun-
ties, an increase of IL over last
year.
Aggregate risks covered by the
insurance organization increased
$250,035 over the total of $3,610,165
on the books at the close of 1943,
and with present policies in force
representing $780, 200 in insurance
value the company has its largest
coverage since it was organized
June 5, 1866.
Is New Members
Twenty-Five new members affiliat-
ed themselves with the insurance
society during the year.
Total losses suffered by policy
holders during 1914 amounted to
$4,989.1S. Most of these were the
result of fire, in contrast to the pre-
ceding year when heavy damage
was caused by storms.
Claims paid by the society in 1914
were less than half in value of
settlements made during the preced-
ing year when policy holders had
an aggregate of $10,064.62 in losses.
With GIT policies in force, the
association is carrying new record
number of risks. This increase off,
sets the year-end report Of 1913
when the society's risks fell off nine
from 1925 coverage of GA policy
holders, because of a new Ohio law
barring farm mutual companies from
writing insurance on real estate
other than dwellings in incorporated
towns.
Board Organizes
AT last Saturdays meeting, Max
Crawfc was elected a member of
the board of directors, and Albert
Winkler and Amos Tschiegg were
reelected to the board. All will
serve three-year terms.
In the organization of the board
of directors, L. Z. Bucher was
named president; Llewellyn Geiger,
vice-president; Albert Winkler, secre-
tary; Amos Tschiegg, assistant
secretary; and Ray Hilty, treasurer.
Bucher, Winkler and Hilty were re-
elected.
Appraisers for the society during
the coming year will be Max Craw-
fis, Raymond Moser, Llewellyu
Geiger and Amos Tschiegg.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Steady Grind OF War Work Cuts
Into Library's Book Circulation

Wartime employment is keeping
Bluffton folks buster than ever, and
has resulted in a pronounced de-
crease in adult book circulation at
the Bluffton library.
In contrast, the circulation among
younger readers is the highest since
the local library was opened.
Total circulation of books thru
the library during the year 1914
was 21,0S6, of which 53.1 per cent
were read by younger readers, Miss
Ocie Anderson, librarian, reported.
On the shelves of the Bluffton IL
brary there are now 1864 books,
621 of which have been added this
year.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
TOsh Is Reelected
School Board Head

John Tosh was reelected president
of the Bluffton Board of Education
in an organization meeting of the
board held Monday night. DR.. w.
Nj. Niswander was reelected vice.
president. Other members of the
board are Levi Althaus, Ralph Bad
ertscher and Waldo Hofstetter.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Radio Play Written
By BIuftOn Girl

Miss Betty Steinman, Bluffton stu
dent at Ohio Wesleyan university,
Delaware, has written a radio play
which members of her radio class
will produce in a broadcast. She is
a member of the senior class at the
university and the daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Forrest Steinman of South
Lawn avenue.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
LOngsd0rf Named To
Library Board Here

A. J. B. Longsdorf was appointed
to membership on the board of
trustees of the Bluffton public Ii
brary to serve the unexpired term
of the late Noah Basinger.
Appointment of Longsdorf, form
er superintendent of schools here,
was made at meeting of the board
of education, Monday night. Ba-
singer was appointed two years ago
for a seven year term, which Longs
dorf will serve until 1850.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-11
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Everett Devore,
Bluffton, son, Larry Allen, Thurs
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter RAIDER, OF
tawa, a son, Robert Dwaine, Sun
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Leroy Reese,
Findlay, son, Robert Jerry, Tues
day.
A son, Norman Reese, was born
to Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Jones OF
Carrollton, Saturday at the Canton
hospital. Mrs. Jones is the former
Ruth Beidler, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Harvey -eidler of South Jack
son street.
Flight Officer and Mrs. Melvin
Lora are the parents of son, Mi
chael, born at Bethlehem, Pa, Dec
27. Mrs. Lora is the former Jose.
phine Mohr of that place and q
former student in Bluffton college.
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Ad-daleel., 1945-10-10
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Evening star., 1945-11-03

will require new controls or the con-
tinuation of old controls. Such machin-
cry will constitute a greater Government
adventure in private enterprise than the
NRA. 1t will almost certainly last a
long time, If it is to be the only way by
which strikes and interrupted produc-
ton can be limited.
Yet it takes little account of a vast
majority of the population. All con-
sumers, except the beneficiaries of in
creased wages, are involved Almost all
white-collar workers, all small retailers,
school teachers and the like are involved.
Every one whose hours were not in
creased in the war Is involved. This
means most of those employed in retail
trade, as well as others.
All this Is for the purpose of buying
time for hard-pressed President and
a Secretary of Labor. Probably they
hope and pray that somehow, some way
the increases will be absorbed in a rush
OF new production. If they are re-
warded by such course of events, they
are saved politically. If things get
worse they can improvise again. But
they are playing with vast forces and
using very f1imsy tools.
released By the Associated Newspapers, Inc,)
Evening star., 1945-11-03
Italian Repurutions

The diplomatic imbroglio between
Soviet Russia and the western pow
ers over the liberated countries of
Europe has certainly not been eased
by a Russian move on the subject of
italian reparations. The issue itself
is not new. Months ago, Moscow let it
be known that it would demand rep
arations from Italy to the tune OF
$500 900, 000-primarily to indemnify
itself for damages committed by
the Italian expeditionary corps fur
nished by Mussolini to aid Hitler in
his invasion of Russia, the balance
to be apportioned between Yugo-
slavia, Albania and Greece, the Bal
kan victims of Italian Fascist ag-
gression. Moscow has now revised
this downward to $500, 900 900, but on
condition that the United States and
Britain waive all claims on Italy.
Meanwhile, Moscow blocks progress
toward a settlement OF the Italian
problem by refusing to accept Anglo
American PROPOSALS that the original
armistice terms be replaced by an
interim arrangement less onorous in
character. Although the armistice
has never been made public, enough
has leaked out to make it obvious
that its integral execution would
render Italian postwar recovery and
stability virtually impossible.
Offhand, it may be argued that a
halying Of Russian demands is q
notable concession. Unfortunately,
Italy's economic situation Is so des-
Evening star., 1945-11-03
A Deserved Decoration
from the Pittsburgh Press.


Probably no member of the theatrical
profession contributed his talents to VIC
tory In more unobtrusive way than
Irving Berlin. No longer q ycungster,
Mr.. Berlin lived q soldiers life among
soldiers while he wrote his show for
soldier actors, 'This Is the Army" He
trouped around the country with the
show, and without much fanfare. Later
he visited overseas theaters, never COM
planning, as some others did, about ac-
commodations, audience response and
so on.
His show, in New York, on tour and in
nlm version, netted the Army Emergency
Relief Fund more than $4,000, 600. He
well deserves the Medal Of Merit pinned
on him by Gen. Marshall for "extraor-
dinary service" in creating and pro-
ducing 'sThis Is the Army" for building
and maintaining morale among soldiers
and civilians" and for contributing gen.
ercusiy OF his talent for the support Of
the dependents Of fighting men,"
Evening star., 1945-11-03
The Political Mill
B.y Gould Lincoln

that there Is tremendous market for all
kinds Of goods as soon as they can be
produced, and from the fact that if the
wage payroll is kept up, the purchasing
power will continue.
The Presidents address came almost
on the eve Of the labor-management
conference, which opens here Monday.
II the President has his way, it will set
the tempo for the discussions about to
open and provide sound basis for
agreements. This conference can be of
inestimable value to the country, and
Mr.. Truman has plainly told it how to
60 to work.
Mr.. Truman's attack on the House
Ways and Means Committee and the
House Committee on Expenditures in
Executive Departments, because the
former had held up the $25-a-week
unemployment insurance bill and the
latter, the administrations full employ
ment bill, as well as his criticism of
both houses of Congress for seeking to
send the employment services back to
the States instead Of retaining the Fed
eralized system during reconversion were
all in line with the demands of labor,
particularly the CIO brand.
His breakdown on these committees
will not increase his popularity on Cap
itol Hill, but will have its appeal to
many Of the voters. He has apparently
determined to 60 to the mat with Con-
gress, If necessary, to obtain the adoption
OF his program. The country will in all
probability agree with Mr.. Truman that
measures of Importance should not be
bottled up in congressional committees
they should be acted on, one way or
another.
While labor will find much to approve
in the Presidents address, it was never
theless, a plain warning to the unions
that they should pull in their horns and
cease interrupting the vital reconversion
Of industry to peacetime. Mr.. Truman,
If he would, could get plenty of support
in Congress to put through legislation
dealing with labor. The recent action
of the House Military Affairs Committee
Is indicative of the fact. The committee
voted amendments to the Smith-Con-
nally Act which would strike heavily at
strikes and the participation of PAC in
politics.
Evening star., 1945-11-03
Shore Fire

Against backdrop OF the ,oind we bull
fire,
The dritt,oood NTH its phosphorescent
fame
Was striving to uoice long pent-up
desire
TO tell some listener the ,oay it came.
The autumn sky iods toild, the sea came
roaring,
Its sohite tangs threatening sapageEy
to reach
Some unseen Joe-the great sea culls
1uent soaring,
The little pipers tripped aloma the
beach.
Our scarlet fire Ut the dcrkenina
1ceGther,
Within its blaze ,oe sar a sapphire
sea,
A coral shore, and high palms swepf
together
By q tdngHng minds bright high
Delocity.
We leaned to listen to the drittpood
speaking
OF jeiDeled islands It had left behind,
Pleading trith Us clearly to 90 seeking
The radiance tcdjting there for rs to
find.
GRACE NoLL cRowEI,L.