davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
COUNCIL APPROVES
new BOILER, STACK
FOR LIGHT PLANT
Preparation OF Blueprints And
Specifications Are
Authorized
Completion of Project Is
Months Away Because Of
Prevailing Conditions

Paving the way for necessary
additions to electrical generation
facilities at the Bluffton municipal
light plant, the town council Mon
day night approved an improvement
program involving the installation
of a new 1880 pounds per hour
boiler and construction of a 225-
foot smoke stack.
In voting approval of a program
proposed by the Board of Public
Affairs and their consulting engin-
eers, Emery, Marker and Emery, of
Toledo, the council authorized the
preparation of specifications and
empowered the board to proceed
with advertising for bids.
Construction of the new stack and
installation of the boiler, however,
likely will be months in the future,
because of prevailing delays in OBJ
tanning equipment. 1t is estimated
that it will be at least Is months
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Another Stamp to be Good for
Five Pounds of Sugar
Beginning July l
Strawberries Quoted at 55
Cents at Patch; Raspberry
Outlook Good

Announcement of the approaching
valuation of a new canning sugar
stamp on July 1, has materially
stepped up the canning of straw
berries in the Bluffton district this
week.
With heavy rains the early part
of June, strawberries are making a
much better crop than had been an
ticipated, and the increased demand
for canning is expected to beep
prices high.
So far this summer, Strawberries
have brought 55 cents quart at
the patch, and those sold by grocers
run higher in price.
Heavy June rainfall indicates q
near-bumper raspberry crop can be
expected, and with another canning
sugar stamp being validated on July
l housewives are planning to include
plenty of raspberries in their sum
mer canning schedule.
Valuation of Spare Stamp No. 1C
in family ration books came at q
time when it was needed for berry
canning. In announcing the stamp
may be used for sugar purchases
beginning July 1, the OPA said that
it will be good for five pounds thru
October 81. The current coupon
Spare Stamp No. 8, also is gooo
for five pounds thru October.
At the same time, an OPA Official
said the price of sugar soon will be
increased one-ffth of a cent q
pound, or one cent per five-pounc
package, to Offset a wage boost fol-
sugar refinery workers.
Sugar rations for bakeries were
reduced about IA per cent last week
not because of sugar shortages, but
in a move designed to make more
bread available by cutting down or
cake and other pastries.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
With Service Men

Pfc. Jesse McHenry, formerly of
Beaverdam left last Friday from
Camp Kilmer, N. j., for two and
one-half years of overseas service
at an undisclosed destination.
julie Basinger, son of Mrs. Gust
Basinger, Bluffton Route 3, has re-
ceived his discharge from the Navy
at the personnel separation center
in Bremerton, Wash.
Halstead Stettler who attended the
Army's weather observation school
at Chanute Field, ILL.,, is spending a
weeks furlough with his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore Stettler of
Cleveland, formerly of this place.
After his furlough he will be sent to
Utah and from there to the Philip
pines as a weather observer and will
be in an air force unit in Manila.
T/5 Chauncey Basinger who re-
ceived his Army discharge at Camp
Atterbury returned home Tuesday
He was in service "a months, IT of
which We're spent in the European
theatre of operations
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
RESURFACE PART
OF Three STREETS
DURING SUM MER
Portions of College Avenue,
Kibler and Cherry Streets
in Program
Work to be Started Last of
This Month; Street Main
tenance Men to Aid

Re-surfacing of portions of College
avenue, Kibler and Cherry streets is
planned in this summers municipal
street improvement program, with
work on the project t be started late
this month according to present
plans.
College avenue will be re-surfacec
from Jackson street to College road
Cherry street from the Nickel Plate
railroad to the municipal corporation
limits at the County Line road, and
Kibler street from near Jackson
street to the Grove street road.
Hot Tar And Chips Surface
In the project hot tar surface
with stone chips rolled in, will be ap.
piled.
Members of the towns street
maintenance department will assist
in preparation of the streets for the
repair program, and applicatio5i q,
the stone chip surface viii be done
by road contractor at a day rate.
No contract will be let for the
work under present plans, because OF
saving in expenditure that can
result from municipal workmen
handling much of the initial prepara-
tion work, it was pointed out.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Recreation Fund
Canvass Continues

Canvass of Bluffton homes to
raise $1,000 for the towns revived
year-around recreation program will
be completed this week.
Teams of solicitors are visiting
every residence to receive funds that
will provide summer and winter re-
creational activity for youths and
adults alike.
Harmon field has full-time re-
creational director this summer for
the first time in more than a decade,
new playground equipment is being
provided, and the recreation pro-
gram in general is being expanded
for people of all ages.
More than $400 has been received
thru voluntary mail contributions
alone since the drive started, it was
announced Tuesday night.
The year-around program is su-
pervised by a Bluffton recreation
committee representing the Bluffton
Business Mems association. Norman
TripIett il chairman of the group.
4 In addition to the house-to-house
canvass in town, letters are being
mailed to rural residents of the COM
munity, rNuesting their support by
mailing contributions to Leland Dill
Ter, treasurer of the committee.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Strawberry Prices Remain High AS
New Sugar Stamp Steps Up Canning
Home Economics
Instructor Is Hired

Miss Elizabeth Ann Mohr, of Van
Vert, has been hired as Bluffton
High school home economies instruct
or, to succeed Miss Annabelle Weed,
whose resignation becomes effective
on July /.
Miss Mohr's contract offered by the
board of education for a 10-months
term, from September of this year
until July, 1947, provides salary
of S1,S00.
The new home economics instruct
or was graduate of Bowling Green
State university in 1914, and taught
at Plymouth, Ohio, for the last two
years.
Miss Weed, present instructor, re-
signed to accompany her parents
Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Weed, to Me-
chanicsburg.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Real Estate Deals

Charles Danner has sold his farm
two miles west of Bluffton to II. S.
Amstutz of Grove street. The farm
consisting of 120 acres near the
Ebenezer church is the former c. II.
Amstutz homestead where the new
owner was born and reared. Pos
session will be given September [
when Mr.. and Mrs. Danner will
move to Lima and the farm will be
occupied by Amstutz's brother-in-law.
John Sohmutz and family now on
the Amos Thut farm.
Herbert Marshall of Rockport has
purchased from the estate of the
late Mrs. Belle Augsburger her res
idence property at Lawn and College
avenue and will remodel it into a
two apartment house.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Cement BLOCK co.
WILL ERECT new
PLANT STRUCTURE
OPA Authorizes Start of Work
On Modern S25, 900 Factory
Expansion
Construction of Building On
Old Sawmill Site To Be
Started This Month

Buttons first postwar industrial
expansion program will get under
way this month with the construc-
ton of a new building that will step
up output of the Bluffton Cement
Block Co. from 800 to 1000 blocks
daily.
Ben Amstutz and Sons, owners
and operators Of the company, ex-
pect to locate the new structure on
the site Of the fornsnr Cal Bal1ner
sawn1ifl
The four-acre tract of land al
East College avenue and South
Mound streets, on which the sawmiIl
was located, is being purchased by
Amstutz from Calvary Jordan, of
Orange township.
Amstutz said the new one-story
building will be 104 by LOG feet
Contract has been awarded to the
Knowlton Construction Co., of Belle
fontaine.
OPA Authorizes Building
Authority to erect the building
for the manufacture of cement
blocks was granted last week by
the Columbus District construction
committee of the OPA.
District OPA Manager Louis w
Gehring reported that construction
of the $4,000 building will increase
production of a critical building
product.
After new equipment is installed
the Cement Block Co. will have a
capacity of 1000 blocks in eight
hours, as compared with present out.
put of 800 blocks. Because of the
pressing demand for building mater
ials, however, Amstutz plans to
operate his plant two shifts daily.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Resigns As School
Religion Instructor

Mrs. S. F. Pannabecker, instructor
in religious education classes in the
public schools for the past two years
has resigned her position here it was
announced by Council of Religious
Education officers the first of the
week. No successor has been an
nounced.
In connection with her resigna-
tion it was announced that her hus-
band, DR.. S. F. Pannabecker who
has been in China organizing post
war relief will return next month
and they will move to Chicago this
fall where he will become dean of
the recently established Mennonite
Biblical seminary. Their daughter,
Alice Ruth will remain here to at
tend high school next year.
DR. Pannabecker left nearly two
years ago for the Far East spending
time in Egypt and India enroute.
Since last September he has been D
China In connection with the relief
project.
The Chicago seminary opened last
fall is being operated in conjunction
with Biblical seminary founded by
the Church of the Brethren.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Open House Sunday To
Mark Golden Wedding

In observance of their Golden
Wedding anniversary, Mr.. and Mrs.
A. T. Baumgartner will receive
friends At olen house At their resi-
ldence on South Main street, Sunday
afternoon from 2 to 5 o'clock.
A significant feature of the open
house is that it will be held in the
home where they have resided dur
ing the fifty years of their married
life.
Present for the occasion will be
two sisters and a brother of Mrs.
Baumgartner who attended the we'd
ding which took place at her home
in Chicago on June "a, 1896. They
are Miss Kate Hilty who was a
bridesmaid and Mrs. Lavina Marr
who played the wedding march and
Fred Hilty who was best man.
Mrs. Baumgartner, the former
Ellen Hilty, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter Hilty of Chicago, spent
her girlhood in Bluffton. Mr.. Baum
gartner's parents were Mr.. and Mrs.
Dan Baumgartner, pioneer residents
here. The officiating minister, Rev.
Homer Tope was also a former pas
tor of the Lutheran church in Bluff
ton, of which the couple have been
members for fifty years.
Taking up their residence in Bluff
ton, Mr.. Baumgartner was engaged
in the retail clothing business here
for thirty-eight years and is now
employed by the Triplett Electrical
Instrument company. He was also
member of the board of trustees
of Maple Grove cemetery for many
years and Republican precinct COM
mitteeman. Mrs. Baumgartner has
been active in church organizations
and women's clubs.
Their three sons and two daugh-
ters are Lysle of Mishawaka, Ind.
DR.. Donivan of Cleveland and Allen
of Orrville and Mrs. K. K. Kaufman
of Chicago and Mrs. Ted Cunning
ham of Lakewood.
Mr.. Baumgartner has one brother,
Joe of Salem, Oregon. Mrs. Baum
gartner has two sisters and one bro
ther of Chicago who will be here
Sunday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Golden Wedding OF
Former Local Couple

Mr.. and Mrs. J. C. Hochstettler,
formerly of Bluffton, will hold open
house at their home at 1102 Hurd
avenue, Findlay, Sunday afternoon
from l to A o'clock in observance of
their Golden wedding anniversary.
The family resided in Bluffton for
fourteen years during which time
Mr.. Hochstettler was identified with
the grain elevator business here.
Both natives of this community,
the couple were married at the En-
manuels Reformed church, June 81,
1896 by the pastor Rev. Peter Cred
ing.
After living in Ada and later
Rossville, Indiana, they moved to the
Isaac Hochstettler farm three miles
west of Bluffton in 1904. In 1910
they came to Bluffton where Mr.
Hochstettler became a partner in the
grain elevator firm of Stearns &
Hochstettler.
In 1924 the family moved to Find
lay where he continued in the eleva-
tor business. Mrs. Hochstettler is
active in church work and has been
Sunday school teacher for &C
years.
They have one daughter, Mrs
Ruth Fulton of Cleveland and -four
sons Paul and Art of Findlay, Rev
Don of Montpelier and Claude Of
Forest.
Mrs. Hochstettler's sisters and bro
theirs are Mrs. Noah Niswander oi
Bluffton and Mrs. B. P. Lugibihl oi
TT Wayne; Calvin Stettler of Bluff
! ton and Jacob of Indianapolis.
Mr.. Hochstettler has two brothers
Levi of Bluffton and Henry of Find
lay.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Fourth Of July Rodeo To Be Held
At Harmon Field Again This Year

Another Fourth of July rodeo,
surprising in attractions those of
previous years, will be held two
weeks from Thursday at Harmon
field on the night of the holiday.
More than $50 horsemen and
horsewomen from Northwestern Ohio
will be featured in the gala show,
with $3.50 offered in cash awards
and premium ribbons in the rodeo's
Ia major events.
In promotion of the rodeo, a spec
tacular parade, eclipsing those of
other years, will be held on We'd
nesday, July 8, the night preceding
the sportsman's show. The parade
will be led by the Rawson band, and
in addition to saddle horses, farmers
with decorated wagons and teams
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
(. Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Ivan Johnson, Bluff
ton, a girl, this Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Diller, Bluffton,
a boy, James Michael, Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Villas Lehman, Bluff
ton, a boy, Ronald Dean, Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Basinger,
Pandora, a girl, Judith Kay, Mon
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard Steinman,
Arlington, boy, Donald Duane, Sat
urday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hershel Moser, Co
lumbus Grove, girl, Diane Kaye,
Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marcus Moser, Mt
Cory, a girl, Jean Ann, Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond Hamilton
Bluffton, girl, Karen Lee, last
Wednesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20

and farming equipment, are request
ed to be in the line of march.
Co-sponsors of the rodeo this year
are the Bluffton Saddle Horse club,
the Community Sportsmen's club and
the Bluffton Business Mems associa-
ton.
Proceeds from the event will be
used in the financing of various
phases of the town and community
recreational program.
Entries in this years rodeo are
open to anyone, and can be made
with the Saddle Horse club.
Preceding rodeos here have at
tracted crowds of as many as 5000
spectators, and arrangements arc
being made to accommodate that
many again this summer.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
BUYERS SWITCH TO
OLEO AFTER RISE
in BUTTER PRICE
Modified Form of Buyers Strike
Apparent After III Cent
Butter Hike
Some Food Stores Limit Oleo
Sales; No Limit on Butter
Purchases

With the price of butter advanced
IL cents a pound this week, Bluffton
residents for the first time in
months found a plentiful supply
available in local markets as demand
took a sharp drop.
The increase in butter prices fol-
lowed a similar advance in butter
fat price paid to farmers at local
produce stations which buy cream
principally for butter making.
First apparent reaction to the
advance in the price of butter was a
mild form of buyers strike and a
sharply stepped up volume of oIeo-
margarine purchases reported by
virtually all food stores.
Butter which previously retailed
(Continped on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
True lIOod OF Channel
| Cut 3sh Put In BuckeDe

Continuing the restocking program
of Buttons fishing grounds, a q
ton of channel catfish from Lake
Erie were placed in Buckeye quarry,
Wednesday, it was announced by the
committee of the Community Sports
mems club in charge of the project.
The fish were purchased from a
commercial fishery at Danbury, near
Sandusky and trucked here. They
are of large size ranging from II
to 20 inches.
This is the fifth load of fish re-
ceived here this year in the restock-
ing program. Four loads have been
placed in the Buckeye and one in the
Waterworks quarry.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
FLOODS FOLLOW
VIOLENT STORM;
FIELDS INUNDATED
Lightning, High Wind and Tor.
rental Rains Leave Damage
i'm Wake
Farming Operations Brought to
Standstill; Crop Damage
in Prospect

Paced by violent electrical storm
accompanied by tornado-like winds
and near cloudburst which swept
the Bluffton district Sunday night
and early Monday morning, rains
which continued Tuesday and Wed
nesday have inundated the Blufftor
district with the heaviest downpours
in recent years.
Wednesdays overcast skies to
gether with intermittent shower:
gave scant promise of an end tt
conditions which have seen many
fields under water for the past three
days and lowlands along creek.
covered with the overflow of floot
waters.
Farming operations have beer
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
PASSES JUDGING TEST

Mrs. Robert Potts of Spring
street received word this week from
the Ohio Association of Garden
clubs that she has passed the ex-
animation of the elementary judging
school held in Lima recently and is
now entitled to attend the advanced
judging school to be held in Column
bus.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Two Bluffton High Graduates Enroute
To Europe AS Cattleboat Attendants
Leonard Smucker and Robert
Ramseyer Sailing From New
port News, Virginia
Youths Will Be Gone Six
Weeks; Cattle Going To
War-TOrn Countries

Two members of this years
graduating class at Bluffton High
school are at Newport News, Va,
awaiting assignment on cattleboats
carrying livestock to war-stricken
European countries.
They are Robert Ramseyer, son of
DR.. and Mrs. L. L. Ramseyer, and
Leonard Smucker, son of Rev. and
Mrs. ]. N. Smucker, both of whom
last week completed preliminary
training for their overseas trips at
the United Church Service center in
New Windsor, Md.
The two Bluffton youths will serve
with other high school and college
men as attendants on cattleboats
taking relief consignments of cattl,
to Europe.
Volunteer Crews
Approximately 5000 such "nauti
cal cowboys" have been recruited 81
ldI W SdIC 1OI SUlIlC ZOOtOOO dIuiIldIs
being shipped abroad this year b,
UNRRA. Crews of livestock at
tendants are made up entirely o,
volunteers.
Approximately six weeks are re
quired for a round trip, and the tive
Bluffton youths will. be back hom,
by late summer. On the ship, thei
duties consist of feeding, watering
and otherwise caring for the anima
charges.
In addition to providing cattle
boat attendants, the United Church
Service center receives and ships
shoes, clothing, bedding, canned
foods, money and soap to war-torr
Europe. Goods sent to the center
usually are sorted, packed and OF
their way abroad within 48 hours
after received.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Three From, District
Graduate At b. e.. u.

Three persons from this area are
in the class of ITO who will receive
degrees at commencement exercises
at Bowling Green State university,
this Friday.
Among the graduates will be
Ruth Hankish, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Hankish, of South
Main street; Carolyn Meyer, daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Z. Meyer,
and Evelyn Meyer, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Myron Meyer, both of Mt
Cory.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Lima Presbytery To
Meet Here MOnddY

Quarterly meeting of Lima Presby-
terry, consisting of % Presbyterian
churches of this area will be held al
Bluffton Presbyterian church next
Monday it was announced by the
pastor, Rev. E. N. Bigelow.
An attendance of 40 is expected
consisting of the ministers and one
elder from each church. Rev. Rob.
ert Harmon of Rockford, moderat.
or, will preside at the morning and
afternoon sessions.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Start RenaOdeling
For Funeral Home

Stanley Basinger has started re-
modelling for a funeral home, the
former Oberly property which he
purchased at College avenue and
Jackson street. Supt. Ralph Lam
ham and family who occupied the
place have moved to the residence
of the late Mrs. Grace Wilson at
Elm and Jackson streets.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
Middle District
Here Next June

Bluffton was named as the loca-
tion for the annual session of the
Mennonite Middle district conference
next June. Selection of the meeting
place was made at the conference
meeting held at Nappanee last week
Sessions will be held at Bluffton col
lege. The conference consists OF
about 18 Mennonite churches in
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
TIUO Members added
To Fire Department

Two additional men were added
to the Bluffton volunteer fire depart
ment, bringing it up to its pre-war
complement, at a meeting of the
municipal council, Monday night.
John Stonehill and Richard Augs-
burger, both veterans of World War
ii, were added to the department by
appointment of Mayor Wilbur A.
Howe, confirmed by the council.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-06-20
RechteI Hired As
High School ydnitOr

Wade Bechtel of Grove street was
hired as ianitor-custodian at the
high school by the board of educa-
tion, Tuesday night at an annual
salary of s1,s50. He will begin his
duties July |.