davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Salvador Ley Appearing
On Bluffton College
Series Monday Night

Three numbers by contemporary
composers of his own native Guate
mala will be included on the. concert
program of Pianist Salvador Ley
when he appears here on the Bluff
ton College Concert Series Monday
evening in Ramseyers chapel.
Ley, q native of Guatemala City, is
director of his country's National
Conservatory of Music. AS an au-
lthority on Guatemalan music, he has
taken part in several festivals in the
United States, Mexico, Jamaica and
Ell Salvador. The University of~Tex-
as engaged him on two occasions to
lecture and perform at their confer
ences on Latin-American Fine Arts.
The South American m u s C a n
showed signs of unusual ability from
early childhood. He appeared as So
loist and accompanist numerous times
before, but by the time he was Ii
years old he was sent to Berlin fol
u
further study.
Ley made his European debut ir
1927 but continued to study in Berlin
until 1884, when he returned to his
native land.
A New York debut in 1888 intro
duced him to the States and he has
twice made concert tours throughout
this country.
In addition to his numbers by COM
posers of his own country, Ley will
play selections from Beethoven, De-
busy and others.
Following his Monday evening con-
cert, he will appear in an assembly
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

drought into the community. The
Bluffton club placed five pure-bred
Hampshire gifts, and returned two
smaller gifts, making the original an
imals their permanent property.
One of the high points of the past
years program has been the mark
made by the chapters livestock judg-
ing team. The local lads won first
place last fall competing against all
FLA chapters in the county and all
All teams entered. The team in
cluded Don Leiber, Rich Bucher and
Don Kimmet.
These and score of other activi-
ties help to make better farmers, bet
ter citizens, and better rural leaders,
Mr.. Basinger points out.
You'll recognize the local FLA
boys by their fancy bright-colored
shirts with the big insignia. Bluffton
FLA boys are proud of their organi-
zation and Bluffton is proud of them.
AS members of the nationwide or
ganization they see plenty of the
bright lights of the metropolitan GEN.
ters, but there will be no problem of
Glow you gonna keep 'em down on
the farm" ~
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Take Final Step
In Financing
Disposal System
Mayors Signature Makes
100000 Available For
Project This Month

Mayor w. A. Howe last Thursday
affixed his signature to papers repre-
senting the final steps in obtaining
100000 in additional funds needed
for financing Buttons new $5S0y00O
sewage disposal system, and the re-
mainder of the money required for the
project will be in the hands of the
village this month.
Coincident with the completion of
financing details, it was learned that
digging will be resumed next week
on the Big Riley intercepting sewer
by the Frank Pfaf Construction Co.,
of Bryan.
Resumption of sewer digging, how
ever, has no connection with the COM
pletion Of financing arrangements and
going back to work on the project is
only coincidence, the mayor said.
Digging of the interceptor has been
halted for almost two months because
of inclement winter weather.
The way was opened for issuance
of the 100000 in additional sewer
project finances last week when
Mayor Howe signed notes and revenue
bonds. This action represented the
final step in financing arrangements
required by the Toledo bond house of
Ryan, Sutherland and Co., through
which funds for the sewer work are
being provided.
The issuance of funds is being COM
pleted, although the Myron Motter
easement has not yet been signed, the
mayor said. With only one easement
remaining on the agenda, and the
contract with the Page Dairy Co.
completed, the bond house saw no OBJ
lection to providing the remaining
money for the project, Howe pointed
out.
Work completed so far on intercept
ing sewers and on the sewage disposal
plant has been financed from $3.50, 900
| in bonds issued as real estate obIiga-
| tion levies. Since this issue had been
| authorized by Bluffton voters several
years ago, the funds were not delayed
along with those being raised in the
form of sewer revenue bonds and as
special property assessments.
When Pfaf workmen resume the
digging of sewers next week, it will
mean that both phases of the local
sewage disposal project again will be
under way. Construction has been
continuing on the disposal plant by
crews of Buesching Brothers, Ft.
Wayne contractors.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Business Women
May Organize

The possibility of organizing a
Business and Professional Women's
club in Bluffton will be discussed at
meeting of interested women in
the Town Hall Thursday evening,
March 5, it was announced this week.
Representatives of the Findlsy
Business and Professional Women's s
club will attend the Thursday even
ing session to explain the purposes
and objectives of such groups which
are organized on a nationwide scale.
Similar to the various mems serv-
ice clubs such as the Lions, Kiwanis
and Rotary, the business and pre-
fessional women carry on a program
of community service work.
To be eligile for membership a
woman must be employed in a busi-
ness or a profession. All Bluffton
women interested in such an organi-
zation are invited to attend.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Holland Flood
Relief Efforts
Brings Thdnk-Y0u

Bluffton College students, who
have gone without supper one night
each week for the past three weeks
as a means of raising relief money
for fiood-ravaged Holland, were in
receipt of cablegram Monday from
that country expressing appreciation.
Heard of your very much appre-
ciated relief action. Many thanks
on behalf of my stricken country
men. Letter follows" the cable
gram read. 1t was signed by Pieter
W.. Baker Arkema, father Of Fred
Bskker Arkema, Button college stu
dent from Holland. Nj
Approximately $500 saved by fore
going three meals in the college din
ing room will be sent for. food .relies
work. Students ! decided on this
means of raising money after. hear
ing of his country's plight from
their classmate.
At the height of the flood, the
Bluffton student was greatly con-
cerned over the welfare of his faith
er, whom he knew to be in the flood
area on business. In letters which
followed, however, he was relieved to
learn that his family was safe, but
in the middle of work aiding the
flood sufferers.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Dayton Jurist
Speaks At Masonic
Patterson Banquet

Stressing the Importance of closer
father-son family relationships,
Frank w. Nicholas, judge of the
court of common pleas in Montgom-
cry county and Junior Grand Ward
en- of the Ohio Masonic lodge, ad-
dressed a group of about lao per-
sons at the goth annual Patterson
banquet of Bluffton Masons Tuesday
night in the First Methodist church.
In his address, Judge Nicholas
urged the boys to set definite goals
in life, want to be success and al
ways do a good job no matter what
their role in life. Boys owe it to
themselves and to their families to
keep clean in thoughts, physically
and morally, he declared.
For fathers, Judge Nicholas de-
clared, there is great responsible
ity in providing for the physical,
mental, emotional, social and spirit
ual needs of their sons.
Charles H. Steiner, master of the
Bluffton lodge, gave the address of
welcome, and Armin Hauenstein gave
short talk ons" Sons"
J Special music was provided by the
Bluffton High school quartet made
/ up Of Richard and Tom Bucher, Rod
ney jennings and David Beery. Will
ford Gratz led group singing and
Ralph T. Stearns asked the invoca.
ton. -
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Births

The following births were record
ed at Bluffton Community hospital
during the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. c. c. Stewart,
Bluffton, a boy, Richard Lee, born
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Cole, Bluff
ton, a girl, born Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Martinka, a
son, born Wednesday, Feb. 18, in
Canton, Ohio. Mr.. Martinka is q
Former employee of the Woodcock
plant, and Mrs. Martinka is the
former Katherine Moll.
Nh and Mrs. Richard Berkey, a
daughter, Leslie Kay, born February
in Lancaster, Pa. A4-
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Rurkholder
Of Omaha, Neb., a daughter Cynthia
Rose, born February 10.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marvin Evans, a
girl, Marine Marie, born February
18 at Lima Memorial hospital. Mrs
Evans is the former Aline Hilty
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Melvin
Hilty.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Ruf's Blufton
Store Purchased
BY Leipsic Man

Robert Grow, former manager of
the Ruff Sc to $1.00 store which
burned some time ago in Leipsic,
has purchased the Ruff store in
Bluffton, it was disclosed Tuesday.
The new owner will take over here
on March /.
The store was purchased from Jo-
seph Ruff, Leipsic. Crow had been
his manager at the other store for
about eight years and is veteran
of World War II. The new owner,
wife and two children plan to move
here as soon as convenient.
Crow is a graduate of Leipsic high
school and was a schoolmate of Red
Lowry, former coach at Blufftn high
school.
Ralph Patterson, manager of the
Bluffton store for the former owner,
was notified of the change of owner
ship Tuesday morning. He has been
manager of the store since April l,
1910. He has disclosed no definite
plans for the future.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

men interested in agriculture in this
new era of farming and the day of
FLA and kindred organizations.
"FFA activities have opened the
eyes of the Bluffton farm boys to the
opportunities on the farm and the
new horizons that lie ahead" said
Lorain Basinger, vocational-agricul-
ture teacher at the high school and
FLA leader, in commenting on the
nationwide celebration.
Members of the Bluffton chapter
participate in radio program cele-
brating the silver anniversary Satur-
day at 1890 over station WILMA.
Another feature of the anniversary
observance is an interesting display
in the\ Bluffton library showing the
various symbols of the organization
and what each symbol represents.
Highlight of the week will be a Chill
supper at Walnut Grill Wednesday
evening and theatre party after
ward.
Principal objective of FLA training
is to afford an opportunity for future
farmers to carry out in practice the
principles and theories learned in the
classroom. All boys in the Bluffton
chapter have their own individual
farming programs at home. In addi-
ton, however, the group last year in
augurated the operation of a small
farm as club projecA The%Sam
Kohler farm was selected and during
the year, the future farmers raised
20 acres of corn and six acres of soy
beans, netting a tidy $454 for club
work. "A
Funds from the farm projects
enabled the club to send delegates to
various national affairs of FFA,
Richard Bucher played with the FFA
Band at the national convention in
Kansas City. Dave Beery, local
chapter president, was also sent to
Kansas City to sing with the Nation
al Chorus, and Fred Amstutz earned
his way to the convention by winning
the most prizes at the Allen county
fair.
This years activities included a
trip for II boys to the International
Livestock Exposition in Chicago. Ac-
|companied by Mr. Basinger and his
father, Louis Basinger of Columbus
Grove, the boys saw a good part of
the "Windy City, including the ia
NOUS Board of Trade building and
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Village Replaces
300 Feet OF Sewer
On Jackson Street
Old Line Badly Cl0gged
At Every Tile Joint
With Tree Roots

What started out last week to be
a minor sewer repair job on North
Jackson street assumed the proper,
tions of major project this week
when it became necessary to replace
800 feet of sewer tile for one entire
block between Church street and Vine
street.
Street Commissioner Lee Coon said
that his village crew had started to
open the sewer for repair work last
week. However, when it was learned
that practically every tile joint of the
DO to 50-year-old line was clogged
with tree roots, it was necessary to
get assistance.
Charles d. Kohl, Inc, Lima, was
called on the job with heavy ditch
digging equipment, and by Tuesday
had completed taking up the entire
length of sewer. The former eight.
inch line will be replaced by 1O-incf
tile, and will be back-filled by the
village street department. ,..
The Jackson street sewer has beer
a longtime source Of trouble, causing
flooded Easements in practically every
home along the street after heavy
rainfall. The First Mennonite church
basement was also repeatedly flooded
by the stopped-up drainage way.
Mayor w. A. Howe said Tuesda!
that he believed this would solve thu
problem in that area.
Because there is no village plat o
the sewer system laid years ago,
large amount of guesswork is in
volved whenever drainage problem
crop up. s.g,a
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Richard Nef Takes
New Position With
Jenera Dairy Firm

Richard Neff, bookkeeper for c. F.
Niswander 4 Son for more than q
year, has resigned his position to be
come herdsman for the Plainview
Farms, dairy concern operated by
Luther Grieser at Jenera-
Mr.. Neff will begin his new work
on March /. He and his wife and
son, Robert Dean, will occupy a new
home under construction on the Cries
er farm.
The dairy herd, which he will b
in charge Of, numbers about so heae
of registered Jersey cattle.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Local FFA Boys
Net Tidy SI3,62I
On Farm, Projects

Showing a net income of $13,-
621 on their home farm projects
during the past year, 27 young
Future Farmers of America,
members of the Bluffton High
School chapter, have indicated
that they are not pinning all of
their hopes on the future, but are
taking an important part in
farming right now.
Lorain Basinger, vocational ag-
riculture teacher and local FLA
leader, completed the compilation
of project figures last Saturday
which showed his youngsters
have been as busy mt home on the
farm as they have been behind
textbooks in the CLASSROOM.
The s13,621 resulting from the
sale of livestock and farm pro-
duce is the net figure after all out
0f-pocket expenses were paid,
Basinger said. 1t represents an
average profit of s504.11 for each
youth enrolled in The local club.
Included in the projects was
the production of 96K acres of
corn, Ii acres of oats, 10 acres of
soybeans, and 80 acres of wheat.
The boys also raised and sold 210
chickens, 1S beef steers, 80 sheep,
nine sows and 10s pigs, and had
three dairy animals in produc-
tion.
The net profit picture is taken
from the boys own farm book
keeping system, an important
part of their work. They also
often help keep the family farm
books.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
New Motor Law
III is Uninsured
Reckless Drivers
Throws Additional Clerical
Work On Offices OF
Local Agencies

Designed to eliminate the reckless
and irresponsible driver from the
highway, Ohio's new motor vehicle
responsibility law will go into effect
in the state next Sunday.
In addition to imposing definite,
new responsibilities on every ear own
er in Ohio, the new state law also
throws a heavier clerical burden on
every local insurance man.
For every automobile accident in
volving personal injuries of 500 or
more in damage, a detailed report
must be made out by the insurance
agent. 1t is estimated that as long
as one-half hour will be required to
fill out the form, and one Bluffton
agent said that the extra work so re-
quired in one year likely would
amount to 800 or more hours.
The new responsibility law is
designed to rid the state of financial
ly irresponsible drivers. Although it
does not compel car owners to buy
liability insurance, the law makes it
tough on those who have an accident
but are not protected by Insurance.
Those who have insurance coverage
need be concerned only with the
provision requiring complete report
Insurance coverage eliminates the
need of posting bond.
An uninsured driver must make the
complete report himself, following
which a representative of the state
registrar of motor vehicles will call
on the motorist to post bond or other
security, sufficient to satisfy the
judgments which might be rendered
as result of the accident.
Failure to post security as requir-
ed will result in suspension of driving
and registration rights. The sus-
pension can be for life, if the claim
|. is not settled.
In order to avoid the bond or secur-
ity posting provisions of the law,
motorists viii be required to have in
force at the time of We accident
minimum beverage of $4,000 fol-
property damage; $1,000 for injuries
sustained Nv one person; and $4,000
for all personal injuries resulting
from an accident.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Blufton Quota
Set At S1,25O In
Red Cross Drive
Need Greater To Finance
Expanded Blood Collection
Service, Rice Says

Bluffton residents viii be asked to
increase their contributions slightly
over last year in the community
annual American Red Cross member
ship campaign which will open next
week, according to Edwin Rice, local
chairman of the organization.
With contributions last year slight
ly under the $1,000 mark, Buttons
quota for 1868 has been set at 81, $50,
Mr.. Rice said. He pointed out that
additional help is needed to finance
expanded service programs, including
the collection and processing of
thousands of additional pints of blood
for conversion into gamma globulin-
new weapon against polio.
"The Red Cross was asked to under
take the polio assignment last No
vember by the Office of Defense
Mobilization in an effort to meet the
summers epidemi cneeds," Mr.. Rice
explained.
While the fund raising drive is
scheduled TO get underway Monday
in Lima and other parts of Allen
county, the Bluffton organization may
not be prepared to start solicitation
until a week later. Tentative dates
have been set and the local organiza-
ton is being rounded into shape, but
personnel announcements will not be
made until next week.
Last year major part of the local
fund was raised during a porchlight
night in which so volunteer solicitors
called on Bluffton homes where a
burning porch light signaled their
welcome. Industrial concerns of the
community are usually solicited by a
separate team.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
|OSU Class Visits
SteinInan Lbr. Co.

A class of 40. young men and wo-
men from Virginia, Maryland, West
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio en-
rolled in fve-week Lumber and
Building Material Marketing Train
ing Course at Ohio State University
visited the Steinman Bros. Lumber
Co. here during the past week.
The local lumber firm is considered
to have a model retail lumber yard
and the purpose of the field trip was
to show the class some of the modern
methods of merchandising. Forrest
L. Steinman, Eugene j. Szabo and
Paul F. Reichenbach accompanied
the class on the tour of the yard and
buildings. Charles z. Benson, xenia,
is the class instructor.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

the Museum of Science and Industry.
One of the most coveted awards in
FLA is a gold rating in chapter busi-
ness procedure. Bluffton won this
award during the year in competition
with five other schools. In public
speaking, the Bluffton club also had a
silver award winner in Don Kimmet,
whose extemporaneous talk thi S
month won the prize.
In dozens of ways the FLA club
program adds interest and romance
to the farming occupation. There is
the annual Pest Hunt in which prizes
are offered for the club doing the best
job in eradicating farm vermin and
varmints. This year the local
FFA'ers took top honors in the coun-
ty.
Another project is the "Gilt Chain"
whereby more pure-bred livestock is
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

wood to the railroad. The wood was
cut into pieces four feet in length,
after which it was cut in half length
wise by pioneer wood-sawer.
This saving mechanism was pow
cred by two horses in a treadmill.
After it was cut, the wood was stack
ed in piles along the railroad.
When trains halted to replenish the
wood supply, all the passengers
alighted to assist the train crew in
restocking the capacious wood box
on the back of the locomotive, Kern
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26
Ada Couple Buys
Parsonage Property

The Mennonite parsonage located
at 123 North Jackson street, was
purchased at public sale Wednesday
of last week by Mr.. and Mrs. Maui
rice Umphress of Ada. ..
Mr.. Umphress, mechanic at the
Steiner Chevrolet Sales and Service
Co., Bluffton, will move his family
here when the residence is available.
The Rev. and Mrs. Alvin ]. Beachy
will move into the new parsonage on
Spring street when it is completed.
Mrs. Umphress is the former jan
ice Wingate, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lee Wingate. There are two
children in the Umphress family.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

In the two townships. The first meet
ing is set for next Tuesday evening
March 8, at Orange Center, 8 p. m
Farmers of Richland township will
meet on the following night, Wednes.
day, March 4, in the Richland Grange
hall.
A plan for the purchase of the
water-carrying equipment will be
laid before the meeting requiring 9
$40 contribution from each farm
Chief Corson said that he believed
there would be a sufficient number oi
farm owners and operators interested
to raise the required $4,000 to s3,5Ot
for the vehicle.
The tank truck, which would ac
company the pumper only on calls Il
rural area fires, would carry approx
mately 1000 to 1000 gallons OF
water. This would be in addition Il
the 400-gallon supply always carried
on the departments pumper.
Probably the most serious problem
in combating farm fires is in finding
an adequate supply of water" Chief
Corson said. He added that it would
have been possible on numerous oc.
casions for the Bluffton department
to have saved considerable loss if ar
auxiliary water supply had been al
hand.
Most village departments respons.
ible for answering calls in surround
ing rural neighborhoods are now ac-
quiring or have already obtained aux
iliary water carrying equipment.
The tank truck would be equipped
with its own pump for transferring
the precious liquid to the pumper OF
picking up a new supply from the
nearest source. 1t would be possible
for the tank truck to be on the way
to more water while the pumper was
operating from it's own tank.
Other than on subscription basis
from the farmers who would be pro
tected, the only other means of raisin,
the money would be by a TOWNSHIP
bond issue. Chief Corson said that h
and the numerous farmers with whom
he has talked believe that the sub
scription plan is the most feasible.
The Bluffton Fire Chief will pre-
sent the proposal at both of the town
ship meetings.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

Kern's "reminiscences of early times
were prompted by series of stories
on early Bluffton industries which
ran some time ago in The Bluffton
News. asss
It was in the early days of the
railroad, known as the Lake Erie and
Louisville when it was built through
here in 1872, that the wood yard was
established at Gratz crossing.
Woodburning Locomotives
Woodburning locomotives halted at
the yard to load up with fuel, and
Kern recalls when farmers hauled the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1953-02-26

recalls.
Ship timbers which went out of
Bluffton to ship yards on the east
coast were quite curiosity in the
early history of the town, according
to Kern.
Timbers so Feet Long
Some of these timbers, specially
cut of selected native hardwood, were
up to go feet in length. AS many as
four teams of horses were needed to
pull the huge wagons on which the
timbers were hauled into Bluffton.
Kern recalls that the back wheels of
the wagon were 10 feet high.
In Bluffton, the huge timbers We're
loaded on railroad cars and taken
away to the New York shipyards.
CONTINUED on Page Seven)