davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Brother And Sister Reunited After
Separation 28 Years Ago In Babyhood

A brother and sister, separated
from each other as babies, were re-
united Sunday in Bluffton for the
first time in % years only to learn
that all this time they have been liv-
ing only Is miles apart,
You could have knocked Mrs. Maui
rice Umphress over with a feather
Sunday when her foster mother, Mrs.
Lee l.. Wingate, N. Mound street, in
troduced her to a stranger as "your
brother, Charles Downing"
Mrs. Umphress had always known
she had two brothers, but she never
knew where they lived. They had been
children of a broken home, and had
lived for a short time with a great
aunt in Lima until Mr.. and Mrs. Win
gate adopted Janice at the age of
nine months. The two boys were also
divided ana reared by other families.
1t was not until during the war
that Mr.. Downing was called upon to
look up his birth record, and learned
of his brother and sister. Recently he
determined to find them, if he could.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

of Bluffton Explorer Scouts who will
visit all school and church buildings,
mercantile establishments and other
public buildings as part of the fire
prevention program.
Headquarters for the visiting force,
and a similar group who will conduct
the same inspection in Pandora, will
be set up in Bluffton Town Hall. Rex
H. May and Robert E. Cogan, both
of Columbus, will be in charge of the
event here with Clarence Diller,
chairman of the Lions committee.
While the crew is searching for fire
hazards in the towns public build
ings, a fire prevention program will
be conducted at a. m. for Bluffton's
326 elementary school pupils at the
school. At II a. m. 251 students in
grades seven through IL will see a
film OH the same subject.
The school children will also be en-
listed in making a fire safety check
of their homes on check sheets provid-
ed by the association.
There is nothing compulsory about
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Ohio Masonic Head
To Inspect District
At Local Meeting

Frank w. Nicholas, grand master
of Ohio Masons, will make his
official visitation to the 10th Masonic
District when he appears here We'd
nesday at 7:3O p. m. at Founders
Hall on the college campus.
Bluffton Lodge 432 F. G. Am. will
play host to the II lodges in the 10th
District on that night. Many Grand
Lodge officers are expected to be
present at the occasion.
Mr.. Nicholas, a Marine veteran of
World War l, received his ALB. and
LIB. degrees from the Ohio State
university. For the past 20 years he
has served on the bench, Is of these
as Judge of Court of Common Pleas,
Division of Domestic Relations.
A member of the First Regular
Baptist church, Dayton, Mr.. Nicholas
has served as Past Master of Con-
servancy Lodge 661, Past Master and
the first Master of Riverview Lodge
TIT, Past District Deputy Grand
Master. He is a member of Victory
Chapter 210, Reese Council 9, Reed
Commandery 6 KIT, member of the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and
an Honorary Member of the Supreme
Council A.A.S.R. 33 degree for the
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, Past
Thrice Potent Master OF Gabriel
Lodge of Perfection and member of
the Antioch Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Alumni Group Seeks
Historical Data
For 18th Birthday
Special Bluffton News
Section, Displays To
Mark Anniversary

Concentrating the Diamond Jubi-
lee anniversary of the Bluffton High
School Alumni association this spring
a special section of The Bluffton News
is planned to tell the story of the
school history and its rs graduating
classes, Ralph Stearns, president of
the association, announced this week.
Mr.. Stearns said that C. A. Biery,
former editor and publisher of The
Bluffton News has agreed to serve as
historian for the occasion. Material of
historical significance such as old
photos, publications, news clippings,
etc.. will be collected for community
displays at the Leland Diller insur-
ance office on Main street.
Graduates of the high school are
asked to start leaving such historical
material at the Diller office at once,
so that it may be reviewed and pre-
pared for display. 1t should be care
fully marked for Identification to in
sure return to the owner.
Alumni members who will have
parts in preparing for the anniver-
sary meeting on, Saturday, May 26,
met recently in the high school libra
ry. They include Wilhelm Amstutz.
neurology and memorials; Meredith
Stepleton, vice president, program;
Donivan Augsburger, treasurer; Mrs.
Leland Amstutz, corresponding. secre-
tary; Mrs. Weldon Deppler, recording
secretary; Theda Hankish, menu COM
mittee chairman; A. B. Murray, mas
ter of ceremonies at the dinner; Mel
son Steiner, menu committee; and
Carl Smucker, nominating committee.
Following the meeting, the group
was conducted on tour of the partly
completed new elementary school
building by Superintendent A. B.
Murray.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

He learned of Janice's whereabouts,
but thus far has not found his broth
er, year younger than himself, and
year older than Janice.
Sunday was a big day for Mrs.
Umphress and her brother as the two
pieced together bits of information
they had of their family. Together
with their own families, they visited
their great aunt in Lima.
The Umphress children, Linda and
Kay, suddenly came into six new cou-
sins, for Mr.. Downing is now married
and has a family of six He is en-
ployed by the Sealtest Dairy Co. in
Lima, and resides at 615 King ave-
nue..
Mrs. Umphress is %. Her brother,
Charles is 30, and their other brother,
whom they now seek, would be 20
years of age.
They have no idea where he may
be living. 1t could be as close as Lima
or in some distant part of the coun-
try. Wherever it may be, they hope
some day to be reunited with him
also.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
II HIS Musicians
Awarded Superior
Ratings At Lima
CIR To Send Seven,
PIG Six To State
Contests April IA

Eleven Bluffton high school SOLO
lists and ensembles received Class /
or superior ratings Saturday at the
Ohio Music Education Association
District III additions held at Lima
Senior high school. The superior
ratings earned them the right to
compete in the state contest at
Bowling Green State university
April IA.
The local high school musicians
were among the more than 1900
students who competed in the vocal
and instrumental solo and ensemble
contests under the chairmanship of
Harold 0. Clark, a member of the
Lima high school music department.
District III is made up of schools
in Allen, Auglaize, Mercer, Hardin,
Hancock, Paulding, Putnam and Van
Vert counties.
Qualifying from Bluffton for the
state contest April IA at Bowling
Green were the following:
Vocal solos Sally Reichenbach.
soprano; Rebecca Frankhauser, alto;
Ray Cummins, baritone, and Paul
Glaze, tenor.
Instrumental solos Ann Stauffer,
flute; Judy Hilty, violin; Miriam
Gierman, piano, and Laura DiIler,
bassoon.
Both the Bluffton Junior girls and
the Senior girls ensembles received
superior ratings at the additions.
Making up the Junior ensemble were:
Nan Schmidt, Raeleen Bucher, Nancy
Steiner, Christine Geiger, Kay
Basinger and Mary 10 Diller: In the
Senior ensemble were: Jacoueline
Berry, Beulah Bixel, Rebecca Frank
hauser, Carolyn Garmatter, Darlene
Bechtol and Shirley BURY.
Also receiving superior rating
was the mixed ensemble of BeuIah
Bixel, Miriam Gierman, Paul Glaze
and Leland Flickinger.
Bluffton contestants in the audi
tions who received excellent ratings
were: Leland Flickinger, in both
baritone solo and piano solo, and the
woodwind quintet composed of Con-
ME and Nancy Patterson, Laura
Diller, Mary 10 Diller and Ann
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Meat Inspection
Improbable Locally

Local meat dealers have expressed
approval of the new voluntary meat
inspection program adopted last week
by the Lima-Allen County board of
health, but do not feel that inspec-
ton will be called for locally under
the plan.
The new regulation provides that
meat inspection may be requested by
any person, partnership or corpor-
alton" within the Lima-Allen County
General Health District.
Several dealers told the News that
they would not request inspection
under the new regulations unless
their customers complain of receiving
bad meat or unless the village council
demanded it by ordinance as has been
done in Lima.
If the inspection program is in
voked here, local dealers said that If
would add from one to two cents per
pound to the retail price of meats.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
FLA Sets Friday
For Auto Safety
Check, Skill Tests
Motoring Public Urged
To Participate In
Local Safety Program

For the third consecutive year
Bluffton's Future Farmers of Ameri-
ca will conduct their Highway Safety
Project inspection and examination
Friday morning and afternoon at the
high school, it was announced this
week by Ronald Lora, president of
FLA.
The project, aimed at developing
proper. motor safety attitudes and
abilities by its members and in gen.
orally educating the public of safety
consciousness, will include a vehicle
inspection by the state highway pa
troll and competitive driver skill ex-
aminations. The public is invited to
participate in both.
Lora said that Bluffton motorists
are invited to bring their autos to the
high school at l p. m. Friday after
noon for the inspection. Safety de-
fects are noted by the inspecting Off
GERS, and motorists are expected to re-
port their correction at a later time.
The driver skill tests may be taken
by adults as well as students. They
irclude tests of ability to do straight
line driving, backing, turning and
parking. Outgrowth of the tests will
be the selection of Biuffton's "Best
Driver.
Local police as well as the state
highway patrol are cooperating in
the project.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

Low bidder on the general contract
was Bitler Bros. of Lima, with a
price of s4S,478. The plumbing and
heating contract was to be awarded
to Fred Klein of Findlay on bid of
s9,734, and the electrical wiring con-
tract to Davis Electric of Findlay, at
S3,369.
Letting of the contracts Wednesday
evening placed in motion the second
major church improvement program
in Bluffton this spring. Just week
ago the Presbyterian church awarded
contracts totaling s22,5O0 for small
er addition to their Main street build
ing.
Work on the new Evangelical and
Reformed structure is expected to get
underway next month. The so X so ad-
dition will include basement and first
floor, and the exterior will be Of an
Ohio limestone facing. The same ma
terial would be used later if the main
church structure is replaced.
Basement of the new addition will
include a large social room with
kitchen facilities as well as two class
rooms, rest rooms and boiler room for
a gas-fred heating system.
The first floor level will provide
space for four new classrooms for
nursery, kindergarten, primary and
junior departments. There will also
be church office and pastors study
included.
The building committee, of which
Maynard Badertscher is chairman,
has hopes of occupying the new addi-
tion this fall. The committee includes:
w. o. Geiger, secretary; Juanita
Swank, Ed Badertscher and E. H.
Huntley.
The finance committee charged with
raising funds for the project includes:
Gerald Swank, chairman; Juanita
Swank, Walter Badertscher and May
nard Geiger.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

about 267 feet, starting in front of
the Norman Edinger residence and
extending to the Paul Geiser home,
then into the corporations property.
The towns share of the extension
cost is estimated at 1885, Mayor
Risser said. The 265-foot line cost $5
per foot, which is about SO less per
foot than cost to the village of sim
liar sewer work completed recently.
Upon hearing that the town would
be asked to pay for the Ex-Cell-0 ex-
tension, Councilmen Francis Reich
enbach and Wilbur Amstutz protested
that the company officials had not
previously presented their request to
council before mourning the expense.
Neither felt they could consent to
payment of the bill until representa-
tives of the corporation appear to
explain their action.
A. ]. B. Longsdorf, village clerk,
said that he had not received the
sewer extension bill as of Tuesday
evening.
Councilman Swank said that Coun-
ell would have undoubtedly extended
the sewer, and he could see nothing
wrong with Ex-Cell-O going ahead
with the urgent project.
Among other matters before coun-
ell was report by Councilmen Ed
Rice and Amstutz regarding place
ment of proposed new street lights
under the new contract with the Ohio
Power Co. 1t has been decided, they
said, to install four additional lights
on North Main street, four new ones
on East jefferson street, one in the
Garmatter addition, one on Riley
street at the alley between Jackson
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Bluffton To Host
1000 Musicians At
College March "a

Bluffton will be host to 1000 stu
dents from eight area counties Satur-
day, March "a, when the District 3
Glass C band, orchestra and chorus
Music Festival is held on the campus
of Bluffton college.
Earl Lehman, instructor of school
music at the college, is general
chairman. He has announced that
schools with enrollments up to 25O
will appear at the Festival. Thirty
six schools including Bluffton will be
represented.
Schools receiving superior ratings
in any of the three classes will be eli
gible for the state contests. Glass CT
and C2 state finals will be April %.
CT fnalists will go to Capital univer-
sity, Columbus. Denison university,
Granville, will be the scene of the CT
state finals.
In addition to Allen, counties repre-
sented will be Hancock, Putnam, Har-
din, Auglaize, Mercer, Van Vert and
Paulding.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
SOtdner Is Speaker
At Garden Club

The Gardener and his Catalogue"
will be the subject of talk by Gro
yer I. Soldner at the next meeting of
the Bluffton Mems Garden club We'd
nesday, March 81, in Science Hall on
the college campus.
Mr.. Soldner will also show pictures
taken on his mid-winter trip to Cali
tornia including color shots of the
tournament of Roses which he wit
messed in Pasadena.
Another feature of the program
VIII include soil tests by Arthur Schu-
macher who conducts a soil service in
Pandora. Members may bring samples
OF their garden soil to the meeting for
testing.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Schools To Lose Three Teachers At End
OF Year; Two Openings Already Filled

The designations of three Bluffton
school teachers, effective at the close
of the present school year, were re-
ceived by the board of education Tues
day evening, and two of the openings
were filled before the close of the
meeting.
Mrs. Carol S. Groman, fifth and
sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Sara Jane
Amstutz, third grade teacher, and
Earl w. Lehman, high school music
instructor, all rendered their resigna-
tions, Superintendent A. B. Murray
reported.
Mrs. Groman and Mrs. Amstutz will
discontinue their teaching duties to
devote their time to their homes, and
Mr.. Lehman is accepting a full-time
post with the Bluffton College music
faculty. Their designations were
accepted with regrets, and letters
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

commencing them for their service to
Bluffton schools were authorized by
the board
Upon the superintendent recon-
mendation, two elementary school
teachers were employed to fill the
openings next September. Miss Mar
tina Jo limerick of Lafayette, for
mer Bluffton college student, was
employed on one year contract. She
took her practice teaching at Bluff
ton year ago, and has taught one
year in the Lima system.
The second post was filled by the
employment of Mrs. Omer Nisley, the
former Elizabeth Marie Diller,
niece of Clarence Diller of this COM
munity. Mrs. Nisley is the wife OF q
ministerial student at Bluffton col
lege, and lives with her husband in
Beaverburg. She was graduated from
Arlington, Va. high school and Bluff
ton college.
The board also acted to employ
Miss Margaret Groman of Blufftor
at kindergarten teacher to take
charge of the first publicly operated
kindergarten next September. She has
taught the beginners for the pas
two years in Lima, and before thai
for half year in Wapakoneta.
Two other teachers, whose con
tracts expire at the end of the year
were granted new five-year contracts
They are Darwin Luginbuhl and Mrs
Jeanette Klay.
The board of education heard a re
port from Superintendent Murra!
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Word Sought On
BuhLer Intentions

Whether or not Gerhard Bun
Ter, Bluffton high school princi-
pal now on leave of absence.
plans to return to his duties next
September is an important ques-
tion before the board of educa-
ton.
At the Tuesday evening meet
ing Superintendent Murray was
instructed to write Mr.. Buhler in
Freeman, S. D., asking for a
declaration of his intention by
March %. The other teachers
have all submitted their declara-
ton forms, the board was advis-
ed.
Until Mr.. Buhler notifies the
board of his decision, no action
can be taken HpOn the contract of
Acting Principal Robert Schu-
mann for the next year.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Mrs. Carl Lehman
New President
OF BlufftOn PTA

Mrs. Carl Lehman was elected pres
ident of the Bluffton Parent-Teacher
association at the. organizations
meeting Monday evening. She will
take office at the April meeting
succeeding Mrs. Richard Cookson, who
has held the office for the past two
years.
Other officers elected Monday were
Mrs. Robert Simcox, vice president;
Mrs. Robert Barnett, secretary, and
Mrs. Clarence Hooker, treasurer.
The meeting was opened with de-
votions by the Rev. w. ]. Hannum
and group singing led by Mr.. and
Mrs. Paul Emmert.
Robert Simcox reported the ex-
penditure of $500 by the special gifts
committee for playground equipment
to be erected on the new school
grounds.
The feature of the Monday evening
program was talk by DR.. Donald S.
Longworth, marriage counselor and
associate professor of sociology at
Bowling Green State university.
Speaking on the subject of Build
ing Better Home, DR.. Longworth
cited the high percentage of marriage
failures. Nearly one fourth Of the
country's population is arriving at the
conclusion that marriage is a failure,
he said. Divorce hit an all-time high
rate during the war, and has now
leveled off to high plateau, he said.
He cited the problem of broken homes,
and declared that many marriages
could be saved by counseling..
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Rev. Heininger
To Give Fifth
Lenten Message

The Rev. James B. Heininger,
pastor of the First Methodist church
of Bluffton, will deliver the fifth of
a series of Lenten messages at Union
Services Sunday evening at 7:3O p. m.
in the Church of Christ, Bluffton.
Rev. Mr.. Heininger's topic will be
"a Call to Bear Witness" in keeping
with the theme of the series, "The
Call to the Cross"
Next Sunday the series will be
brought to a close with a service in
st. Johns Evangelical and Reformed
church. The Rev. William Keeney
will speak on the subject, "a Call to
Remember Life's Goal"
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

stating that the work on the new
elementary building is now approx
imately rs per cent completed. 1t was
decided to tentatively set August 19
as the date for formal dedication of
the new building.
The superintendent was also auth
orized to seek the assistance of the
Bluffton Mems Garden club in arrang-
ing for and planting suitable shrub
berry in front of the new building. The
board will pay for the purchase of
plants recommended by the architects,
with the help of contributions from
community organizations.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Births

The following births were record
ed at Bluffton Community hospital
during the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. Lee Hursey (Doro-
thy Rae Amstutz), Bluffton, boy,
Thomas Lee, born Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dean Dearth, Ada,
a boy, born Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Gratz, Bluff
ton, boy, Tony Evan, born Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayne Henry, Find
lay, boy, Dennis Jay, born Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. o. Koontz MARY
Schultz), Bluffton, girl, born We'd
nesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

the inspection, but Chief Guy Corson
has urged all business men to co-op-
crate by welcoming the visitors to
their buildings. Members of the vol
unteer fire department will also as
sist.
Fire safety hazards will be noted
in each building visited, and the own
er and tenants will be urged to make
corrections.
Following the days work the Ex-
plorer Scouts will be given an exami-
nation on fire prevention which will
aid them in merit badge work. The
cooperating scouts will be made hon.
orary members of the Fire Prevention
association for Boy Scouts.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15

and Main streets, and one on the
Bentley road near the railroad cross
ing.
Rice also said that flood lighting
would be provided for two down
town parking lots at the rear of the
Pine Restaurant and Charles &
Demp's place.
Council also accepted bid for
fleet insurance from Leland Diller
and the Wolverine Insurance Co. on
the village vehicles. OILERS bid of
S572.99 for all nine units was the
lowest of four submitted by local
agents.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
MethOdistS To Haze
Guest Minister

Dr. Harold Kellogg, district super
intendent of the Methodist church
will speak at the worship hour Sun
day morning at the First Methodist
church. He will also conduct the an
nual church conference in the after
noon at / o'clock. Members will have
a covered dish meal at 1880 Sunday
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
ATTEND All BANQUET

Mr.. and Mrs. Lorain Basinger, Mr..
and Mrs. Kenneth Chidester, Mr.. and
Mrs. Edgar Herr, Mrs. Wilmer
Badertscher and Mrs. Herbert Rup-
right attended the annual County All
Advisors Recognition banquet Tues
day night at SpencervilIe high school.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Boy Scouts Hold
Winter Camp-Out

Members of Bluffton Boy Scout
Troop Sc took advantage of the COM
paratively mild weather of last Satur-
day and Sunday to hold their winter
camp-out at Camp Berry
Approximately 80 boys attended,
accompanied by Scoutmaster George
Bohrer; Junior Assistant Raj h
Reichenbach and Troop Committee
man Clarence Hooker. Church services
were conducted Sunday morning at
the camp by Jan Emmert.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
Serves On Ohio School
Board Assn. Committee

Paul w. Stauffer, president of the
Bluffton board of education, is serv-
ing as a member of the executive
committee of the Ohio State School
Board association. He has attended
two sessions of the committee in Co
lumbus concerned at the moment
with setting up the new statewide
organization of school board mem
bers.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
To Attend Antioch Meet

Miss Edna Ramseyer, head of the
Bluffton college home economics de-
partment, will attend a meeting of
the college and university section of
the Ohio Home Economics association
at Antioch college Saturday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-03-15
SCI ,581 CHURCH CONTRACT APPROVED
Work Starts Next Month On Addition
At Rear OF st. Johns E & R Church

Contracts totang S61581 be Wednesday
for construction of the proposed church school addition ST.
johns Evangelical and Reformed church corner of Jackson
street and College
The local congregation meeting Thursday evening of last
week approved proceeding with the improvement although bids
considerably the original $4,000 estimate