davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Barndby, The P.O.
Bat, Back At Home
With Warm Weather

Rarnaby, the postOffice bat, has
returned right on schedule this
spring to his bachelor penthouse
over the roof of the rear loading
platform, postal employees re-
ported this week.
Whether he returns from the
southland or merely from hiber-
nation closer to home, Barnaby
for the past four years has put
in his appearance with the early
morning mail sometime between
April 4 to 20 when temperatures
start to range in the 7O's. .
Written on the outside brick
wall of the postoffice is a four
year log of Barnaby's arrivals
and departures. In 1852, it was
April 20 and the thermometer
had hit 95 degrees before the bat
took up his abode at the post
office. 1t was April 6 in 1853,
April 7, last year, and he rolled
in on Monday, the fourth, this
year.
Barnaby is usually gone be-
tween November 9 and 19 with
the first really cold weather.
A keeper of late hours, the
bachelor bat sleeps all day, and
does not care to be disturbed in
daylight hours.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

senior girls ensemble. She is the
daughter of Mrs. Lenore Montgom-
cry.
Miss Jorg, third, is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jorg. She is
a member of the mixed chorus, girls
glee club, band, orchestra, senior
girls ensemble, National Honor So
ciety and Cutlass staff. She was a
member of the All-State orchestra.
Ranking fourth, Miss German is
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Karl
Gierman. Her activities include mem
bership in National Honor Safety,
student patrol, Cutlass staff and Tri-
Hi-Y. She was active with the and,
orchestra, mixed horus, Girls Elee
CLUB senior girls ensemble and vas
a mSmber of the AHAomd String
lortheAtra, =
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Weather Smiles
|On Spring Farm
Operations Here
Bluffton Area Oats
Crops Should Be Sown
Within Next 10 Days

Barring heavy rains this week end
practically all Bluffton area farmers
are expected to have their oats in the
ground within the next week or 1O
days, boding an excellent crop this
summer.
Excellent spring farming weather
thus far has enabled Pandora area
farmers to start sowing oats. Many
We're busy in their fields on Tuesday
and predictions were that most of the
crop in that vicinity will be planted
by the end of the week.
Land in the Pandora area is more
sandy and therefore dries out more
quickly than the heavier soil closer to
Bluffton.
Corn blowing in this area, which
formerly took a great deal of time
and often found the farmers busy at
the earliest opportunity, has been
speeded up thus enabling later plow-
ing. The tractor permits farmers to
do the work in less than half the
time it formerly required, and the
result is that many do not start plow-
ing for corn until the middle of April
One change which may develop on
the local scene is that of discing
under corn stubbles rather than plow-
ing them in. This is most likely to
transpire if the present ideal weather
should not continue. 1t is believed
that discing the stubble under pre-
vents any serious washing during
heavy rains.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Auto License Tag
Sales Set Record
3rd Year In Row
Bluffton Deputy Registrar
Handles Total Sales OF
2,375 Licenses

Passenger car license sales in Bluff
ton hit new high for the third con-
secutive year and the all-time record
total sales of 2,222 set last year was
again surpassed it was announced
this week by Dave Reichenbach, local
deputy registrar.
The 1875 tota1 figure which in
cludes trailer license sales and motor
cycle tags in edition to passenger
ear licenses is<thd highest figure ever
recorded il BluAtoA and tops the
previsqs high established last year
by<45a Plates.
Included in the record tota were
2,05O plates sold to owners auto
mobiles. This figure surpat tses by
236 the previous high marlS set in
1854 and is an increase of 276 plates
over 1853. Both those years establish
ed new highs for auto tag sales in
Blutfton.
This year the new tags of blue and
white were sold at a faster rate than
in former years it was pointed out by
Reichenbach. The w and ZB series
which ran from 81 to 999 were ex-
hausted before the March 81 dead
line. The YY series which are now
being sold have been going at fast
pace it was pointed out.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

Bluffton high school students or
groups, who annually win their share
of top ratings in the state music
additions, received four superior rat
ines and two excellent ratings in the
state final solo and ensemble contests
at Bowling Green university Satur-
day. e
Lafayette-Jackson high school also
received three superior ratings and
Cory-Rawson high school, two. )
Approximately 1000 students par
ticipated in the Bowling Green finals.
Superior ratings were earned by
the following Bluffton individuals or
groups: Irlene Gierman, alto; Ann
Stauffer, flute; Thorne Lauriat, bass;
boys ensemble including Paul Glaze,
Ray Cummins, Dan Gleason and
Thorne Lauriat.
From Lafayette, superior ratings
were awarded Margaret Faze, So
prano; mixed ensemble including Ed
die Cummings, Farrell Welch, Joyce
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Wrestling Worlds Nastie!t To Meet
In BLuftOn' s First Big Nat ShOW

Fonr bouts instead of three as
originally announced, will be pre-
sented on the Bluffton American
Legion Posts wrestling show Mon
dav evening at $3.50 in Founders
Hall gymnasium. -,
Yukon Eric and Hans Schmldt
win face each other in the feature
attraction of the evenings program
the first big-time wrestling show eV-
er held in Bluffton.
In the preliminary bouts OF the
evening Harry Lanzi faces Hickey
Waldo, Gino Angelo meets Dick Tor
10 and Don Kalt is pitted against
Mike Ryan.
Eric, the burly 280-pouhd giant
from Fairbanks, Alaska, who report
edly earns in the vicinity Of SSO,OOU
yearly in the wrestling profession,
| has a chest expansion of 81 inches
He is a former lumberjack and trap
per and started in the graphing
business at IA years of age in FAIR
banks.
His opponent, Schmidt, has been
nicknamed the Teuton Terror and
weighs in at 240 pounds. In his ca
reer he has sent some 40 opponents
to the hospital with his rough tao
tics, Rated as the No. public enc
my in sports by number of maga-
zines, he is adjudged the toughest
and most wicked wrestler ever to hit
the ring.
After a recent tumultous night at
Chicago's Marigold Arena, witnessed
by many local TV viewers, Schmidt
received more than 5000 letters of
protest. He was offered free psychi-
atric examination by eight doctors,
and an offer of a free burial by an
undertaken.
Lanzi is rated one of the greatest
amateurs ever to turn pro IN the
wrestling game. A six-foot, 200
FOUNDER, he was the first University
of Toledo athlete ever to win a Ma
tional Collegiate Athletic Association
championship and compiled a record
for college matmen which will prob
ably never be challenged.
Angelo, known as the Buffalo
Blockbuster", weighs in at 222
pounds. Born in Canada, he was
raised on Buffalo's waterfront. He
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Farm, WOnaeN's Clubs
Plan Spring Meeting

Ladies of the Westminster Meth
odist church near Lafayette will be
hostesses for the spring meeting of
the Allen county Federation of Farm
Women's clubs on Thursday, April IA.
Registration viii open at 9:45 a. m,
and Mrs. Doris Bassett, county presi-
dent, win preside. The morning ses-
sion includes skit by the Amanda
township club and vocal solo by
James Bassett.
Luncheon will be served at noon.
The afternoon session will include
special music by the Perry township
club. Wayne Liable will be the prin-
cipal speaker.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

its $4,000 customers, was announced
this week by D. M. Conn, Manager OF
the company's Western Division, OF
which Bluffton is a part.
Mr.. Conn said that Ohio Power ex-
poets to complete by mid-year the re-
building of the distribution system in
Bldffton at a cost of $130,000 of
which 100000 remains to be invested
during '55.
The community's electric, distribu-
ton system will be converted from
$500 volts to 4,00a volts. This re-
building work will include. re-insulat-
ing lines to carry the greater voltage.
The rebuilding job and converting
to higher voltage will have at least
two major benefits, Mr.. Conn said,
These viii include: Providing further
assurance of reliability and continuity
of service to the electric power Gus
toners in the town, and improving
voltage conditions in the area.
Ohio Power also viii spend $4,000
for further work on its new substa-
tion being constructed on jefferson
Street near the Nickel Plate Railroad
crossing. The permanent substation
will have capacity of 3,750-kva and
will "step down" the 33,0O0-volt
transmission voltage to 1000 volts
for distribution throughout the Bluff
ton area.
The company's projected budget
for 1866 is slightly larger than the
$37 100000 budget of 1854. How
ever, it is considerably lower than the
$47.5 million figure of 1852 and the
$55 million budgeted In 1853 when
work was completely underway on
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Free MOUie Planned
Saturday As Easter
Treat For Riddles

A free movie matinee at the
Carma Theatre Saturday after
noon at 2 p. m. will be this
years Easter treat offered Bluff
ton children by the American
Legion Auxiliary. The movie
treat will replace the customary
egg hunt of recent years.
All children from infant
through the sixth grade age are
invited to attend the theatre
party, the women's organization
announced this week. Co-chair-
men of the event are Mrs. Viii
liam Mericle and Mrs. Don Martz.
There will be no edible treats
such as cOlOred or chocolate eggs,
so that mothers need not worry
about their children coming nome
with mashed and melted eggs in
their clothing.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Last Month 4th
Wettest March In
Last 81 Years

March was a month of excesses so
far as weather was concerned, accord
ing to the records of Ray Burkholder,
official weather observer of near
Pandora.
The record shows that the month
was the fourth wettest March in the
last 81 years, that snowfall was near
ly double the normal amount for
March, and the last half of the month
was as cold as the first half of
January. F
The mean temperature of 38.7 de-
grees for March was actually just
about normal, but the last half of
the month was much colder than the
first half. Each period had an aver
age temperature of 50 degrees.
Last months snowfall reached 7.8
inches as compared with normal snow
fall of 4.3 inches. This brought the
total snowfall for the winter in this
area to 28.7 inches.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Dorothy StrattOn Sue Montgomery Wnm
Girls Walk AIUay With Top Scholastic
HOnOrs In The 1866 Graduating Class

The girls have again set the scho-
lastic pace for another Bluffton high
school senior class. All four Honor
Students named this week in the
graduating class are from the so
called weaker sex. For three straight
years, no boy has been listed in the
top-ranking students.
Maintaining exceptional high aver
ages all thru high school, the Honor
Students are Dorothy Stratton, Sue
Montgomery, Wilma Jorg and Irlene
Gierman. The Honor Students have
been named in recent years instead
of class valedictorian and saiutatori-
an.
Ranking first in the group, Miss
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

Stratton is editor of the Cutlass,
president of the local chapter, Ma
tional Honor Society, majorette in
the marching band, member of mixed
chorus, girls glee club, senior girls
ensemble, FHA, GAA, Tri-Hi-Y and
Student Senate. She is the daughter
of Mrs. Helen Stratton.
Miss Montgomery, ranking second,
is editor of The SBueaneer, high
school year book, secretary of the
Tri-Hi-Y, vice president of Student
Senate and a member Of FHA, IGAA
and National Honor Society. She
took part with the mixed cfprhs,
girls glee club, band, orchestra md
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Mennonite Disaster
Service Group To
Meet Here Apr. Il
Fifty Churches To Be
Represented in Group
Organizing Tuesday

More than 200 Mennonite men re-
presenting approximately so church
es will assemble in Bluffton next
Tuesday to organize the western di-
vision of the Ohio Unit of Memo
mite Disaster Service, a lay organi-
zation offering assistance in emer-
gency relief work or rehabilitation of
disaster victims.
The Bluffton meeting will follow
an earlier meeting in Archbold, Ohio,
where groundwork was laid for the
statewide organization. At that time
it was deemed advisable to divide
the Ohio unit into Eastern and
Western divisions, Both will operate
under the Mennonite Central Com
mittee.
Heading the Western division
meeting are the following district CO.
ordinators: DR.. Howard Raid, Bluff
ton; Daniel Lehman, West Liberty;
Wilbert Smucker, West Liberty;
] lam IS Detwiler, Elida; Abram
Kaufman, Plain City; Alvin Kramer,
Plain City; Dale Rufenacht, Arch
bold; and L. S. Britsch, ,Archbold.
The meeting viii be held in the
First Mennonite church with DR..
Robert Kreider, dean of Bluffton col
lege, leading the devotions. Principal
business will be the election of Off
GERS for the division organization.
L. S. Britsch, temporary chairman
of the group, said that both men and
women of the Pandora, Bluffton and
Lima area are invited to attend the
meeting.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Hi School 4-H Club
Elects NeLU Officers

The Bluffton high school Boys and
Girls All club elected officers at
their first meeting of the year re-
Gently in the high school agriculture
room.
New officers are: Ronald Chides-
ter, president; Dan Gleason, vice
president; Dwain Leiber, secretary
Larry Zimmerly, treasurer; and
Bill Herr, reporter. s,.r..z
The clubs held a mixed swimming
party at the Findlay YMCA March
rs. There were 20 persons in at
tendance.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

mately 20 minutes each. Worship
ers are, invited to attend any part of
the service or the entire series in
which seven Bluffton ministers will
participate.
Following the theme, Questions
Answered from the Cross" the pro-
gram will be as follows: /. do We
Need Gods Forgiveness ?" Rev.
Robert L. King; 2. Does God Want
he?" Rev. Robert r. Welch; 8. "An
! Ny Brothers Keeper?" Rev. Reuben
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

football change-over, is being consid-
cred now by high school athletic
authorities. 1t came to a head this
week when members of the athletic
department attended a meeting of Al
len county league schools with three
other area Independents at Elida high
school. The possibility of forming
a new basketball loop for next season
was discussed.
Plans are to expand the present
Allen County cage loop from its pres
ent six members, and to reduce the
number of mid-week games during
the regular season.
Bluffton withheld its vote for men,
bership in the new league until the
opinions of WBL members can be
sampled as to whether they wish the
smaller Bluffton school to continue
its membership in the Class A group.
Schools which have voted to join
the new county group include Ada,
Delphos jefferson, Bath, Elida, Beav-
erdam, Lafayette, Conner, Harrod and
Spencerville. They decided to give
the Pirates a two-week grace period
to decide whether to join with them
or remain in the WBL-a matter
which has been in the frying pan for
some time.
While Bluffton repeatedly
favors remaining with the WBL
in basketball and baseball, there
apparently is mixed feeling
among other members of the
league. Those opposed to contin-
uing the Pirates as members cite
the reduced Button enrolment
of recent years. All other men,
her schools have nearly twice the
number of students as the local
school.
Pirate withdrawal from the foot
bali league was mutually agreed to
be the best thing to do several years
ago. But it brought a heated con-
troversy among local sports fans.
When the firing ceased the Pirates
withdrew from the league after a
vote of the school athletic department
which gave the matter careful con-
sideration. Shawnee filled the Bluff
ton vacancy in the WBL football loop.
At the Elida meeting Monday night
it was decided to begin the new
basketball league with the 1956-57
season. All games would be played
Friday nights and non-league op-
ponents would be met during the
week. Each team would play the
other only once a year, plus an out
side opponent or two, thus eliminat-
ing most of the mid-week contests.
Bath high school will be participat-
ing in athletics on the high school
level for the first time next season.
It is near Lima. They are planning
a new 1200-seat gymnasium to be
under construction shortly.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Work Day Planned
At Buckeye Quarry

All available manpower of the Com
munity Sportsman's club has been
requested for Cleanup party" at
Buckeye Lake Park Wednesday eve-
ming April 13.
The group will remove five trees
along the quarry banks which were
toppled by a recent wind storm.
Chain saws will be used in cutting
up the timber. Other tools requested
are axes and rakes. The trees will
be buzzed for firewood.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
STORES TO CLOSE

Practically all Blufton retail
business places will close their
doors Friday afternoon from / :00
to $3.50 p. m to enable owners
and employees to attend union
services at the First Presbyterian
church. The schools and library
will be closed for spring vacation,
and the Telephone Co. Office has
announced that it will also be
closed.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Births

The following births were recorded
at Bluffton Community hospital dur
ing the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. Tooley, Findlay,
girl, Billie Rene, born Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cloyce Ernest, Lima,
a boy, born Tuesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Prize On Big StOney
Hits 1925, Climbing

The cash prize on "Big Stoney", a
giant northern pike to be released in
the Buckeye quarry before the fish
ing derby opens May /, has reached
.S225, it was announced this week
The big fish will carry tag No. 25OO'
and is expected to weigh at least
seven pounds. @Ef9h
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Ohio Power Company Will Spend In '55
$15O,OOO Improving Local System

An expenditure of additional $50000 projects already
underway Buon will make up part of the 1866 construction
budget nearly $40 million which has been drafted by the Ohio
Power company
The construction program which will improve facilities for
the generation transmission distribution of electric power
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Athletic Chiefs Ponder
Complete WBL Withdrawal
Pirates limited 70 Join Expanding
Allen County Basketball Conference

The number question the Buton sports this
week whether the high school Pirates will
Western Buckeye League basketball and baseball whether
will follow the precedent of the football squads and withdraw
hrely from membership in the big conference
The question which drew fire from all the time the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07
Traditional Services Will
Bring Holy Week To Close
Union Service Planned Good Friday;
Easter Sunrise Worship At Founders Hall

Union Good Friday Services will close the Lenten
Friday afternoon and sunrise service Sunday morning at
Founders Hall will set the stage for Buttons dayong observance
Of Easter in the churches of the community
Good Friday services the First Presbyterian church from
until $3.50 D. will be marked by divisions approx
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-04-07

started wrestling in the Army in
France during World War ii under
Continued on page ~
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-08-19

and Mr. and Mrs William c.
Harvey OF Appomat.ox.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Bryant
and daughter. Audrey, M. K.
Davis and F1em Snoddy attended
homecoming day held al Sharon
Baptist Church Sunday
Mrs. Winfrey Davis. OF VII
mington. NJ c.. and Miss Frances
Patterson were visitors this week
In the home Of Misses Mary and
Louise Anderson.
Miss Shelva Jean Christian anc
Granville Anderson were guests ir
the home Of Mrs. Grace Cole Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Oslin, Of
Scottsyille, Miss Shirley Boat.
wright and Hamden Seay. Jr.. OF
Richmond. were week end guests
Of Mr.. and Mrs. William B. An.
derson Mr.. and Mrs. Anderson re.
Gently moved into new home
Other visitors Sunday were Mr.
and Mrs. Joe Hill.
Mrs Ernest Anderson and Mrs
w. y Anderson were visitors II
Richmond Monday.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-08-19

c g Coleman Of i4xnchburg
was a recent overnight. guest OF
Mfr and Mrs NJ. l. LeSueur
Mr.. and Mrs. KasbaAnl, Of Car
ton. O, were week ersc guests OF
Mr. and Mrs II NJ DuVal
Mr. and Mrs Alfred 5eay Jr
Of Gainesville, Fla. were week END
guests Of c. F. LeSlellr They
weer en- route home after having
ATTENDED the funeras Of Mrs
Seay's father in Delawss
Juliaf Conner. Of Richmond
is house guest OF Mr. and Mrs
D. P. Morgan
Miss Bessie Reardon is visiting
relatives in Richmond this week
Mr. and Mrs Aubrey Yaneey
and family are yacatnIng at Viz
GINA Beach
Mrs Donald Clarke Of Porss-
mouth spent the pasc week wsJh
Mr.. and Mrs. M F.. LfSueur Mr.
I Nal he SptiIt Tic HefA fllO III ktir
same home and Mrs Clarke r.
turned home with him
Sincere sympathy is extended
to the family Of Mrs w. A Le-
Sueur who died in j Richmond
! hospital last week
Mr.. and Mrs T E Anderson
r. B. Anderson. Jr. and Mrs. John
K. Jones, were recent week end
guests Of Mr.. and Mrs. q N Ar
genbright in Stanton.
Mrs r s Pierce was a recent
house guest Of Mr. and Mrs Clyde
/ Rothwell at Fork Union
Mr.. and Mrs. Wexford Jeffrey
and family Of LexlngtQni were the
past week end guests of Mrs Il S
Jeffrey.
Miss Betty Scott. of Eastern
Shore. was house guest last week
of Mr.. and Mrs j. H Spessard.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1955-08-19
.Sheppards

Miss Frances Ayers and Miss
AIsry Elizabeth Charlton, Of Dali
Qgn were recent guests OF Miss
aiary Elizabeth Lee
MIR and Mrs. Bob Mayo and
con, Bobby, were luncheon guests
Wednesday OF DR. and Mrs. Ro-
land Hutchings and Mrs. Alice
Forbes. The Mayes we're on their
vacation
Mr.. and Mrs George Shumaker
had as week end guests, Mr., and
Mrs. Woodrow Hu>kins. Of Erwin
Tenn. Mrs. shumaker and Mrs.
Hlskins are sisters
rhe Misses Patsie and Harriet
johns have as guests this week
Mrs Ben Sharpe Of Richmond
Misc Florence jones Is in Char
iCttesyiile this week visiting her
relatives. Or. ann Mrs. w +.
Brown and Mr. and Mrs. Bill
Vest
t~dliOO VEIL
Migs Flora BalioWe lis home for
a short vacation before resuming
her studies at the University Of
Virginia where she is working to-
ward her masters degree Miss
B..liowe Is the daughter Of Mr.
and Mrs. Ben Bajlowe
The Ben BalloWes had al din
ner guests Wednesday night
Omar Burnett and Bruce Knapp
Who have been conducting the
services at Concord Baptist church
this week.
Mr. and Mrs Shirley Wooten
have had as recent visitors Mr.
and Mrs Horace Dowdy. Of Alex
at}dria. and Mr., and Mrs, Floyd