davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

Research work at the public
library will make the costumes as
authentic as possible on the budge-
available. Some costumes are being
borrowed from local churches, many
are being made, and few Roman
soldier and centurion costumes are
being rented along with certain wigs
and boots.
So far as is known, the Bluffton
production is the only dramatic por-
trayal of the burial of Christ, bringing
into full focus the events of two of the
greatest days in the history of the
Christian church.
Scenery for the play written by the
Rev. T. j. Wilson, pastor of Bluffton
and Beaverdam Church of Christ, is
being prepared under direction of
Darwin Luginbuhl. The court of
Plate, the cloister of the high priest
Continued on page g.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Births

The following births were recorded
at Bluffton Community hospital dur
ing the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. Roger MulIenhour
tColetta Badertscher), Bluffton, a
girl, Helen Marceal, born Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Owen Robinson.
McComb, boy, Richard Allen, born
Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lester Kindle, Ada. a
boy, Robert Lester, born Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kenneth Bowyer,
Bluffton, a girl, Diane Kay, born
Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Brooks, Bluff
ton, a boy, James Anthony, born
Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dwight Bixel, Bluff
ton, boy, Seth Curtis, born Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Darrell Carr, Mt.
Cory, girl, Beth Elaine, born Mon
day
Mr.. and Mrs. Norman HainIey.
Benton Ridge, a girl, Cynthia LaNae,
born Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leon Van Alta. Bluff
ton, a girl, Teresa Lee, born Tuesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

Celina, Coldwater, Elida, Delphos.
Middle Point, Van Vert, Cairo, Co
lumbus Grove, Ottawa, Leipsic.
Bluffton and Kenton.
During the year 1856 gas rates
were reduced four cents per 1000
cubic feet due to refunds from West
August l, 1858 through June 1856.
Ohio's supplier covering the period
These refunds are deducted for West
Ohio's actual current cost of gas in
four succeeding quarterly computa-
tons of the company's average gas
cost. In this manner the refunds
are being passed on to customers
over a twelve month period as pre-
scrlbed In the fuel cost clause of
rate ordinances and schedules. AS
refunds, which have been included
for twelve months, drop out of the
quarterly rate computations West
Ohio's gas rates will return to their
normal amount as determined by
actual current gas costs.
Letters have been received by
Bluffton Village Council notifying it
of the increase.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

Monday meeting. One of the major
problems facing any United Fund i:
whether all the organizations which
gather funds in a community viii
consent to being included in one plan
Both national appeals and local
agencies are usually included in the
United Fund campaigns conducted in
other cities. Most fund campaigns
conducted here during the past few
years have been branches of nation
al appeals. The givers' organization
which a United Fund provides great
ly reduces the number of drives held
in a community throughout the
year.
Letters of invitation have been sent
to all clubs and organizations, ac-
cording to Miss Stepleton. All per-
sons interested in supporting a Unit
ed Fund plan are welcome at the
meeting, she said.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
COstuming 80 Is Major
Task In Easter PAGEANT

Production of 80 pairs of sandals for
the cast of the Bluffton Community
Easter dramatization is one of the
tasks of Mrs. Fred Lauriat's costum-
ing committee now busy at work as
the cast rehearses for the unusual
production which will be staged in
two parts on Good Friday evening
at 7:30 and at 6 80 a. m. Easter sun
rise service in Founders hall.
Mrs. Lauriat said that producing
the sandals from felt rug padding
has posed particular problem be-
cause of lack of sewing machine
equipment capable of handling the
heavy material. But costuming a
Biblical spectacle on a limited bud
get requires resoucefulness and, with
Mrs. Nelson Steiner and Mrs. Kenneth
Mast as co-chairmen and IL Bluffton
women to help, the committee is well
equipped.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Storm Knocks Out
5000 OF BLufftOn
Rural Telephones

Ninety percent of the tele-
phones in the rural area served
by the Bluffton exchange were
out of commission after the sleet
storms last Wednesday night, ac-
cording to telephone manager
ROLAND Dodge.
Nearly all lines had been
restored by late Sunday night
as Dodge and repair crews were
kept busy from daylight to dark
for the entire five-day period.
Long distance service was still
limited Tuesday afternoon with
emergency calls receiving prior
ity. Other long distance points
do not have their lines fully
restored and are not able to
handle all long distance calls,
Dodge said.
Only II subscribers in the
village of Bluffton lost their
telephone service during the
storm. Service had been fully
restored by Tuesday afternoon.
Repair work was severely
hampered by Fridays violent
wind and rain storm and again
by the blizzard which swept the
area Monday. Repair crews stay
ed on their long shifts to keep
service open through the worst
April storm in Bluffton history.
Dodge expressed his gratitude
to all the subscribers of the
Bluffton exchange for their pa
tience and thoughtfulness while
service was disrupted. He also
praised all the operators at the
local center "for doing wonder
full job during this emergency"
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Monday, April Is, Set For Meeting
10 Discuss United Fund Planning

Procedure for organizing a United
Fund campaign is lBiufftdn viii be
discussed with hsSofessional organ
izer at an open mdeting next Mon.
day evening, Miss Meredith Steple-
ton, chairman of lcommittee of the
Business and Professional Women's
club, supporting the United Fund,
said Tuesday afternoon.
w. c. Van Laningham, field direc-
tor of the Ohio Citizens Council for
Health and Welfare, will address the
meeting. The meeting will be held at
8 p. m. in the high school auditori-
um.
A survey taken during the Boy
Scout Fund raising drive last fall re-
vealed that nearly 80 per cent of
Bluffton families favored gathering
all the fund drives under one head
ing, Miss Stepleton said.
Van Laningham is expected to dis
cuss problems of organization at the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Browns Return Home
From African Congo

Missionaries Lloyd and Marie
Brown, who have been serving in the
Congo Mission field of Africa, on
their first Sunday at home from the
field will attend the Evangelical
Mennonite church.
The Browns have completed one
term of service in Africa and will
now enjoy a year of furlough and
rest with friends and relatives.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Brown are
members of the local church, and
Mrs. Brown is the former Marie
Diller, daughter of MIR. and Mrs.
Clarence Diller of South Jackson
street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Next Mobile X-Ray
Unit Coming Here
Next Wednesday

The last word in mobile chest X-ray
equipment, a large, new vehicle
operated by National X-rays Service.
Inc., of Orange, N. j., viii be brought
to Button next Wednesday morning
by the Allen County TB and Health
association.
Ray Henson, executive secretary of
the association, said the Bluffton stop
will be one of four to be made next
week in Allen county by the modern
mobile X-ray laboratory.
The visits win be in the nature of
demonstration of the possibility of
having the private agency make the
periodic x-ray examinations locally
rather than the associations main
tanning its own unit, Henson said.
Operated by two experienced
tecnicians, it is possible for the new
mobile unit to x-ray as many as 200
persons per hour. The units are used
by TB associations in many parts
of the country and financed through
Christmas Seal money.
While the Bluffton stop viii be
primarily to X-ray food handlers in
the community, all others are invited
to have a free x-ray check-up. The
unit win be at the rear of tire high
school building Wednesday from 9 a.
m. until noon.
Other Allen county stops viii be at
the Perry School and in Delphos
Monday and the Lima Senior high
school Tuesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Cleanup Chairman
Names Drive Aides

Paul M. King, general chairman for
the annual Cleanup, Paint-Up, Fix
Up campaign sponsored each spring
by the Bluffton Business Mems Asso-
citation has announced the following
committeeman who will assist him in
organizing the drive.
Heading up the cleanup phase of
the campaign will be Emory Benroth;
paint-up, Paul and Raymond Cred
ing; fix-up, Richard Koontz, of the
Steinman Bros. Lumber Co.; wire-up,
Ross Irwin; and plant-up, Kermit
Herr.
King has announced a committee
meeting for next Monday evening at
Z P. M. to be held at his insurance
office in his home on South Main
street. Date for the campaign will be
set at the meeting and theme
selected.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Division Requests
Money For Rt. lob
Repaving Project
Bluffton Improvement One
Of Four In Area Before
Highway Department

Appropriations to repave State
Route 103 within the Bluffton cor
poration limits have been requested
from the state highway department,
Joe Chambers, engineer for the de-
partment's Division /, said in letter
to Mayor David Riser this week.
The local project is one of four
Division 1 jobs which Chambers
presented for departmental approval
at the Columbus office this week.
If the appropriations are granted
Route 103 will be widened and resur-
faced from County Line road to the
Nickel Plate Railroad and from Thur
man street to Main street. The
section between the railroad and
Thurman was widened and given a
new asphalt surface when the new
bridge over Riley creek was built a
year ago.
Chuckholes in the street near the
recently completed Ex-Cell-O plant
have hindered the movement of
traffic since sewer lines were extend
ed to the new plant early in 1856.
Council members also discussed
possibilities of reSurfacing Vance
street between Elm and Cherry
streets. This street has been in poor
condition since it was torn up during
excavation for Buttons interceptor
sewer system four years ago.
The street has received an applica-
ton of tar and chips and number
of coats of stone in that time but
each heavy rain brings back the deep
chuckholes in the street. Street
Commissioner William Gaiffe explain
ed the alley running from Main Street
to Vance street acts as funnel and
pours all the water from Main street
onto the weakened Vance street, un-
dermining it.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Dept. Economies To Close Post Office
Windows Saturday--No Mail Deliveries

The post office department econ
omy measures will begin to affect
Bluffton patrons this Saturday, act
ing postmaster Ralph Stearns has ex
planned.
For the first time in the history oi
the local post office, the windows
will not be open for business on Sat
urdays, and there will be no local or
rural deliveries of mail on the last
day of the week.
When the post office re-opens Mon
day morning, the windows will go up
half an hour later than is the GUS
tom at present, and will close half
an hour earlier Instead of being open
from 500 a. m. until $50 p. M,
nine and half hours, the new hours
will be $50 a. m. until 500 p. m,
just eight and a nalf hours.
Another economy measure which
will cause inconvenience for many
Blufftonites will be a suspension of
Oil at IiC III
cal office. Beginning Monday, April
20, the postmaster has ordered the
local office to discontinue issuing
postal money-orders. Mr. Stearns
said that at present the local office
issues from 80 to 70 money-orders
each day.
Although the local office windows
will be closed all day on Saturdays
from now on, clerks will continue to
dispatch outgoing mail. Mail from the
II street boxes will be picked up on
Saturdays between a and 4 80 p. m.
for late afternoon dispatching.
At least one of the proposed econ
omy measures has been effective in
Bluffton previously. The order is to
restrict mail deliveries in business
districts to a maximum of two per
day. There has only been one mail
delivery per day in the business dis
trict for several years.
How will the curtailment of service
save the post office money? Mr..
Stearns explains that it win cut off
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Half-Cent Rate Increase Announced
By West Ohio Gas Co. Effective Nav |

West Ohio Gas Company last week
announced a one-half cent per 1000
cubic feet increase in rates on all
bills rendered on and after May 1,
1857. This rate change reflects the
fact that refund in the amount
of $22,103.83, which West Ohio
passed on to its customers over the
past twelve months by a one-half
cent reduction in the normal rate,
has now been accomplished.
AS refunds, which have been in
cluded for twelve months, drop out
of the quarterly rate computation
West Ohio's gas rates will return to
their normal amount as determined
by actual current gas costs.
The rate adjustment was an
nounced by Arthur C. Zoller, Jr.,
Assistant Vice-President of West
Ohio Gas Company, after the regular
quarterly review of the average cost
of gas Ito West Ohio) under the
fuel cost clause in its rate ordinances
and schedules.
Area towns affected are Lima,
Cridersville, Wapakoneta, st. Marys,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Arrange For Free
Polio Shots Thru
Health Department

Bluffton school children will have
the opportunity to obtain free polio
shots through the Allen county board
of health, it appeared this week
A meeting of the Bluffton board
of education Tuesday evening, Super
intendent of Schools A. B. Murray
was authorized to request application
blanks from the county health depart
ment this week.
The application blanks must be
filled out by parents of the children,
and the polio vaccinations are then
provided by the county health COM
missioner when the vaccine becomes
available and clinic time is set up
for the local school.
A recent survey showed that
approximately 26 per cent of Bluff
toms school children have had no
polio protection of any kind.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Teacher Contracts
Approved BY Board

Eight Bluffton school teachers
whose contracts expire at the end
of this school year have been offered
renewals as result of action taken
by the board of education at its meet
ing Tuesday evening.
Those who will receive new con-
tracts are Miss Mary Jerome, Mrs.
Martha limerick Ropp, Miss Mar
garet Gnoman, Clarence Hooker, Mrs.
katheryne L. Patterson, Mrs. Theola
S. Bonnet, Donald Overmyer and
Robert Putnam.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Ask Settlement On
Sidewalk Damage

Village council Tuesday evening re-
ceived request from Harmon road
residents Clayton Weiss and Kenneth
Moser requesting settlement for a
sidewalk damaged during excava-
ton work for the village sewer sys-
tenn.
Weiss and Moser stated in letter
to council that it will cost them $3.50
to have the sidewalk replaced by the
contractor who originally installed it.
They offered to settle for this amount
or to have the walk replaced by the
village street crew.
Councilman Francis Reichenbach
said he was under the impression the
sewer contractor left money to cover
damage claims with the village when
he completed the project.
The request was referred to the
street committee.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
College Marketing Class TO Conduct
Surrey OF Household Appliances Here

What percentage of Bluffton
housewives are aided by dish
washers and garbage dispOsals?
How well saturated is the local
freezer market, and what is the
oldest electric appliance i'm SER
vice i'm town? y
Answers to these questions will
be among those sought in an in
teresting survey to be made by
the Bluffton college marketing
class under the direction of DIR.
Howard ID. Raid after students
return from the Easter vacation.
Object of the Blufft0n survey
will be to give the marketing stu
dents experience in using surveys
in profitable way IL they were
operating an appliance business of
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

WIN certain modlflcatlOnS to fit the
local pattern. Village solicitor John
Harnishfeger cited the Lima code as
a good city building code" when he
recommended that Bluffton follow
the Lima pattern.
Permits win be required for all new
buildings and remodeIing projects
which exceed minimum limits. Mini
mum cost limits and building
regulations and restrictions will be
established later by the village plan
ming commission. Discussion in
council indicated that the minimum
cost limit may be set at 500.
Applications for permits would in
clude the nature of the work. location
of present and proposed buildings on
the property to be improved and
location of all utility lines. A sketch
or print of plans for building projects
must accompany the applications.
Fee for building permits will be 81,
contrast from the SIS and $50 fees
charged by many larger cities. Mayor
David Riser emphasized that the
permits will be required only as a
means of regulating and protecting
community growth and not as a
means of raising money for the
village.
Persons failing to obtain building
permits for projects requiring them
will be subject to a $50 fine for each
day they continue their projects with
out permit.
Building permits win give village
officials the ability to supervise the
installation of sewer and water facili-
ties to fit into the present village net
works. They can also be used as a
form of control over fire hazards.
Records of the building permits will
also be available to the county
auditors office for tax appraisal pur-
poses.
Street commissioner William Gaiffe
strongly supported the requirement
that the location of all sewer lines
be shown on the sketches submitted
with the request for building permits.
Rluffton presently has an ordinance
regulating building in renodeling
practices in what is described as the !
fire zone" This zone includes |
practically all the business district
and is bounded by the Nickel Plate
Railroad, Jackson Street, Jefferson
Street and College Avenue.
Buildings constructed or remodeled /
in this zone must have fireproof fronts
and roofs and must meet the approval
of the village fire chief.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

their own. They will obtain prac-
teal experience in settling up a
survey, conducting the survey.
and studying how it can be used
effectively.
Another objective is to try to
find the oldest of each type of
appliance i'm use in Bluffton.
1t is hoped that each housewife
will cooperate i'm the survey,
especially during the few minutes
il takes to answer the questions of
the surveyor when he calls at her
home.
The students will begin making
their house-t0-hOuse calls begin
ming April %, upon returning
from Easter vacation.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Two From BlufftOn
lnducted By Army

Kenneth Hamilton and Ronald E.
Heldman, both of Route 1, Bluffton
reported for induction into the
armed forces Tuesday morning ac-
cording to the Hancock county draft
board.
Hamilton is the SON of Mr.. and
Mrs. Earl Hamilton. Heldman, the
SON of Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond Held
man, is married to the former
Marilyn Manages. Both men are
graduates of Cory-Rawson high
school.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Plan Good Friday
Service At First
Mennonite Church

Good Friday services, which have
been held for several years at the
Presbyterian church, will be trans
ferred this year to the First Men
MONTE church, it has been announced
by the Bluffton Ministerial associa-
ton.
Beginning, according to custom, at
l p. m. the services will be broken
into units of approximately 20 min
ute intervals and continue until 1920.
Worshippers are invited to attend
the entire services or any part of
them.
Most Bluffton retail stores will be
closed from l to $3.50 to permit en-
ployes to attend the services.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

most of the Saturday work for the
extra men. Hours of the regular
force will not be reduced. 1t is be-
lieved that the two rural route car
riers will be called into the office for
Saturday work, thus relieving extra
men now doing clerks work on that
day.
Other economy measures ordered
from Washington will discontinue ac-
ceptance of all third-class mail with
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Custodian Job Open
At Harmon Field

Applications are being taken for the
post of custodian at Harmon Field
during the forthcoming spring and
summer months.
Persons interested in the work,
which includes keeping the grass
moved, are invited to file their appli-
cation in writing with Clerk Vernal
Corson of the board of education.
Applications will be considered at the
next meeting of the board.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11

the exception of certain medical
items on April % and thereafter.
Reimbursement to employees for
purchases of uniforms for the bal
ance of the fiscal quarter will also
be suspended.
MIR. Stearns said that he was sorry
to curtail the services of the local
office, but had no choice in the
matter except to follow the depart
ment's orders.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Cub Scout Pack
Meeting Postponed

The regular monthly Cub Scout
Pack meeting scheduled for Thurs
day, April II, at the Methodist church
basement has been postponed until
the following week, Thursday, April
"a, it was announced this week by
Cubmaster Dr. Richard Weaver.
The date was changed because of a
conflict with district round table
discussion for cub scout leaders
scheduled in Ottawa A number of
Bluffton leaders plan to attend.
Theme of the next meeting will be
Swiss Family Robinson"
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Will Attend State
Home Ec Conference

DR.. Edna Ramseyer, head of the
home economics department at Bluff
ton college, Mrs. Vera Rickert, Bluff
ton high school home economics
teacher, and Joan Hardesty, from
Defiance, and Patricia Gross, Sugar
creek, Ohio, will attend the State
Home Economics Meeting at Akron
university, Friday and Saturday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-04-11
Rev. Classen To Preach
At Berne, Ind. Church

The Rev. c. A. Classen, pastor of
the Evangelical Mennonite church of
Bluffton, will participate in a series
OF services at the Berne, Ind,
Evangelical Mennonite church. In
cluded will be the Good Friday SER
vice at the Berne church.