The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-08-09

Il CEEOC OLOECUEC
count of the second" wireless be-
ing constructed in Bluffton. 1T is quite
evident that Bluffton had a number
of radio enthusiasts in those days.
The Hospital
Bluffton got its first hospital in
1908. For sometime the business men
and physicians had been considering
the advisability of establishing "a To-
cal sanitarium and hospital. 1t was
felt that it would be not only a
great convenience to the people and
their physicians but that it would
probably be a paying investment.
In February of 1908, stock COM
pany, incorporated for twenty thous-
and dollars, was organized, and the
opening of a sanitarium was assured.
The home of DR.. j. j. Suter
which had been remodeled the prev
ious year, was chosen for the hospi-
tai. Other lots totaling ten acres were
purchased to be used for park pur-
poses".
In the February q, 1908 edition of
the Bluffton News it was reported
that the sanitarium would be opened
the following week. The news item
read in part 1.-The present indica-
tons are that it will be a success,
although it may take some time to
win favor with the general public.
Applications for admission have al
ready been received and three opera
tons are to be made next week.
A trained nurse with assistant has
been employed. 1t is open to all
physicians in good standing"
In March, charity board was or
ganized in connection with the sani-
tarium. 1t was the duty of the board
to secure ways and means for the
treatment of all charitable cases..
The arrival of the nurse was an
nounced in the April 2 issue of the
News: "a handsome little nurse
made her first appearance at the
Bluffton Sanitarium, Saturday eve-
ming, DR.. and Mrs. Suter, with the
prospective assistance of four daugh-
ters, have certainly a bright future
before them to successfully conduct
the above named institution"
The Public Schools
Before there was any settlement in
Bluffton, the schools in the vicinity
were held in various homes. The
first school was a little round-log
school house located where the Clair
Fett property now stands on Campus
Drive. This school burned down in
1874 and was replaced by a hewn-
log house on the same site. These
early schools have been described as
having good warm puncheon floors,
comfortable wooden benches, about
six inches of earth over the loft and
the roof and the log sides plastered,
thick and solid, and big fireplace
at one end.
The first frame school house was
erected at the intersection of what
is now Riley Street and Lawn Avenue.
This school served the community for
a period of from nine to ten years.
The first high school, consisting of
three years, was established in Oc-
tober of 1877. The curriculum includ-
ed variety of subjects among which
we're Analysis, Algebra, History,
Geometry, Natural Philosophy, Eng
lish Literature, Latin, Physiology,
Political Science, Astronomy and FL
ocution.
In view of the fact that Bluffton
High School has just celebrated its
Seventy-fifth Anniversary, it seems
fitting to conclude this paper with
the announcement of the first COM
exercises which appear
ed in the Bluffton News, May IL,
1881: 1.-THE first commencement eX-
erclSeS OI Ile DluAICOLi OLiAOi OSiAOoAS
will be held on June 3, 1881, when
Messrs. w. u. Hutchins, r. A. Hick-
ey and Misses Helen Barnes, Lille
Clark, Minnie Herman and Emma
Lugabill will graduate. An interesting
.ime is expected"
RATS are RESPONSIBLE for about 30