davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Lima Symphony To Appear In Concert
Here With Be Choir Sunday, May 10

The Bluffton community is in for a
rare musical treat Sunday, May 19,
when William Byrd brings his Lima
symphony orchestra to the Bluffton
College campus for a joint concert
with the colleges cappella choir at
2:30 in Founders hall.
The Joint concert will be the first
appearance of the Lima orchestra
locally under the baton of Mr.. Byrd.
Only a scant 80 years old, the Cincin-
natl musician seems headed toward
becoming one of the country's out
standing conductors.
He started composing music at the
age of sevena and before he was
through high school had composed a
cantata, an operetta, an opera and
numerous anthems. songs and piano
pieces.
He received his bachelors and
masters degrees in voice and COM
position at the College of Music,
Cincinnati. While still in college, he
founded and conducted the Fort
Thomas Choral Society, the Cincinnati
Little Symphony, and assisted in the
founding of the Cincinnati Music
Drama Guild, and was appointed con-
ductor of the College chorus and
orchestra.
At Boston Symphony Orchestra
School, Tanglewood, Mass, he studied
and conducted both choral and orches-
trail music. His conducting teachers
include Eugene Goosens and DR..
Nicolai Mako.
Byrd has made two successful
European tours, as guest conductor,
and is scheduled for third this year.
1t is hoped that he will become a
resident of Lima. At the present time,
he is committing from Cincinnati.
The Bluffton concert program will
include "Pastorale" by Tartinni,
featuring a violin solo by E. James
Szabo of Bluffton. The Concerto
Crosse" by Vivaldi will also feature
solos by Szabo, Mary Margaret Byrd
and Martha Singleton. A third num-
Der, "Three-Cornered Suite" by De
Falla, will be presented by the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Scrapped Auto Is
Source OF 2 Fires
Within IL Hours

Sparks from a welding torch caused
two fires within II hours in a scrap
ped automobile in the high school
parking lot Monday.
The first fire Monday afternoon was
extinguished by teachers and custo-
dams using soda-ash fire extinguish-
ers and a garden hose. The building
was cleared of students shortly before
the end of the first afternoon period.
Many students thought it was fire
drill and knew nothing of the auto
mobile fire.
Second fire was reported about mid
night Monday when spark deep in
the upholstery apparently flared up
and caught fire. Bluffton volunteer
firemen were called to the scene by
a passerby. They extinguished the
flames after the upholstery in the
automobile had been destroyed.
The automobile had been donated to
the Future Farmers of America
scrap drive and was being cut into
scrap after all useful equipment had
been removed.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Roger Edwards,
Linda Core Judged
Top Teen Drivers

Roger Edwards, a Bluffton high
school junior, and Linda Core, a
senior, were judged Bluffton's most
skilled teen age drivers in the local
Teen-Age Road-e-o sponsored last
Thursday by the Junior Chamber of
Commerce.
The best boy and best girl drivers
were selected from a record field of
nineteen entries in tests covering
driving skills and knowledge of auto
traffic laws and safety measures.
Edwards received SIS in cash as
the prize money for first place in
the boys division, and Richard Bad
ertscher, runner-up, received $40. In
the girls division Linda Core was
awarded the same frst-prize money,
and Polly Harnishfager received
second prize money.
Roger and Linda will now pit their
skill against winners of other local
Road-e-os at the state finals in
Cleveland June %. The tests at
Cleveland will be similar to the local
tests being divided into a written
examination on their driving knowl-
edge, and skill tests.
In the state finals one more test
is added-a simple road check of
their in-traffic performance.
Clarence Hooker, chairman of the
Jaycee committee in charge of the
Road-e-o, said that his committee
was gratifed by the turnout of con-
testants and the very successful
program. Those assisting with the
event were Robert Putnam, Don
Overmeyer, Joe Harris, Wayne Lutz,
the Rev. James Heininger, Richard
Smith and Morris Groman. Bixel
Motors provided several autos for
the tests.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Junior Hi Music
Festival Saturday
At Bath School

Twenty-four pupils from the Bluff
ton junior high school will participate
in an Allen county Junior High Music
Festival Saturday at Bath high school
under the Craftsmanship of William
Trunk and Walter Kehres of the Bath
high school.
Featured in the festival will be a
mixed chorus of over 200 voices, a
girls chorus and 130-piece band.
Schools participating include Bath,
Delphos Jefferson, Delphos st. John,
Elida, Harrod, Lafayette, Lima Cen
trail, Lima South, Perry, Shawnee and
Spencerville.
Directing the choruses will be
Hamer Mitchell of Mansfield, form
erly of Shawnee high school, Selected
to direct the massed band is Jack
Bigelow, instrumental supervisor of
the Wapakoneta schools.
The students will meet in the after
noon for rehearsal and will present a
concert in the evening at 8 o'clock.
1t is open to the public. Admission is
so cents for adults and rs cents for
students.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Cancer Fund Drive
Betters sc Mark

The April drive in Bluffton, Beaver
dam and rural Richland township to
raise funds for the American Cancer
society exceeded last years campaign
in each division, it was announced
this week by Mrs. John Boehr and
Mrs. Fred Andrews, local chairmen.
In the Village of Bluffton Mrs.
Boehr reported the drive yielded $3.50,
approximately $50 more than last
year, and in rural Richland township
a total of $314.95 was collected with
S93.7S more received from Beaver
dam, according to Mrs. Andrews.
The total from all sources in this area
amounted to $1,058.63.
Both Mrs. Boehr and Mrs. Andrews
expressed their qualification and APP
preciation to all who aided the drive
locally.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Births

The following births were recorded
at Bluffton Community hospital dur
ing the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles McDougall,
Rawson, a girl, Cathy Lynn, born
Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Luther Filling martha
Koontz), Bluffton, a girl, Jill Ann,
born Friday.
MIR. and Mrs. Carlos Ochoa, Leip-
sic, a girl, Sylvia Anita, born Satur-
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Swisher, Raw
son, boy, born Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Rettig, Raw
son, girl, born Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Sierra, Find
son, girl, born Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Miller, Mt.
Cory, a girl, born Tuesday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Record Turnout Of Fishermen Fails
To Capture Top Trout In Derby Opener

fishermen were AL Blakesley and Ed
ward Moore, Ft. Wayne, Ind, who
each collected three prize winners on
Sunday and Monday.
Double winners were Alan Coyken-
dali, Toledo; Merle Michael, Lima;
James Meklovits, Lima; James Mar
shall, Lima and Carroll Dershem,
Lima.
The banks were crowded with
anglers as fishing activity seemed to
be the heaviest in the past several
years. Lester Niswander, veteran
Derby official, estimated that at
least 600 lines were being dipped
shortly after the opening bomb was
fired. About 80 boats were on the
quarry during the first afternoons s
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Retired Couple Plan Life On Houseboat;
Combine Hobby And Travel Economically

Anything to escape cold weather."
Cecil Reynolds said in describing his
forthcoming retirement to life of
houseboat travel. Reynolds, Find
lay native, is married to the former
Helen Amstutz, of Bluffton.
The idea of life on a houseboat has
been developing for the past four
years in the minds of the Reynolds
family. By the time he retired last
November after 33 years as rail-
way mail clerk they had definitely
decided to cast off their land ties
and follow the waterways of
America.
Break All Land Ties
They have disposed of their home
in Albuquerque, N. M, and are SELL
ing all of their personal property
before turning sailors. Mr.. and Mrs.
Reynolds plan to make the house
boat their permanent home.
The Reynolds have been visiting
at the home of Mrs. Mary Matter,
Garau Street, since March Is. Mrs.
Matter reared Mrs. Reynolds. They
have one son, David, Navy veteran,
now attending the University of
Colorado, at Boulder, Colo.
The realization of their dream and
their future home is 80 foot house
boat now nearing completion in the
yards of the Schwarz Marine Co.,
Two Rivers, Wise. The firm special
ICES in constructing boats with
welded steel hulls. They were recon-
mended by A. M. Deering and Son,
Chicago, marine architects who de-
signed the craft for the Reynolds.
One of the majsr features of the
boat is V-bottomed hull not frequent
ly found in boats of this size.
Reynolds feels this will make the
boat more seaworthy" than most
fiat-bottomed boats of its size.
Completion of the boat is scheduled
for the first or second week in May,
according to Reynolds. Contract for
the craft was let last fall, with
delivery scheduled for May 1, but
large backlog of orders has slowed
work at the Schwarz factory.
Summer In North Lakes
Mr.. and Mrs. Reynolds expect to
spend the summer near Green Bay,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Second Polio
Clinic Wednesday

Wednesday, May Is, has been set
for the second polio innoculation
clinic at the Bluffton elementary
school at 8 a. M, Superintendent A.
B. Murray has announced.
Children whose parents have made
application for the shots will receive
their first, second or third shot de
pending upon their record of previous
treatment.
Mr.. Murray emphasized t h I
mothers of kindergarten pupils who
ordinarily attend school in the after
noon will be required to make a
special trip to attend the clinic.
The free shots are being provided
by the Allen County Health depart
ment and are benig administered with
the help of local doctors and nurses.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Fisherman's Car
Rolls Into Quarry

Ed Zelmo, Route 1, Lafayette en-
countered bad streak of fisherman's
luck Tuesday evening at Buckeye
Quarry.
Having completed an evening of
fishing without getting a bite, Mr.
Zelmo had backed his new Mercury
auto and boat trailer down on the
loading ramp to remove his boat
from the lake. Suddenly the auto
started to roll backwards into the
quarry.
Before Mr.. Zelmo could halt the
moving car it was in water over the
back seat. He was pulled out by a
wrecker from Bixel Motor Sales.
Mr.. Zelmo is director of the Bluff
ton Community Sportsman's club and
a member of the fish stocking COM
mittee One consolation is that he has
caught five rainbows since the open
ing of the Derby, none with tags.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

Unless he was dubbed to death
when hit on the head by a wild cast,
the big rainbow trout bearing the
$100 first prize in the annual Trout
Derby which opened Sunday is still
swimming happily in the waters of the
Buckeye.
Unusually high fishing activity was
noted this week as anglers continued
trying for the $100 top prize. This
year the big award remains in effect
until the close of the Derby on Labor
Day. Previously the award for catch
ing the number one fish got smaller
as the summer went on.
Thirty-three tagged trout we e
checked in at Derby headquarters
during the first two days activity. Top
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

splashing and thrashing.
Oddly enough, not single pickerel
or walleye was checked in on open
ing day. Other fish checked in be-
sides the prize-winning rainbows IN
clude perch, bass, blue gills and
northern pike.
Most Derby officials felt the heavy
fishing during the early part of the
week was due to the top prize still
being available.
Quickest fisherman in the whole lot
was Brian Badertscher, who checked
in a trout 30 seconds after the open
ing bomb had been fired. First trout
in the mems division was brought in
Continued on page 12J
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
BluftOn Man
Seriously Hurt
In Farm Accident
j. w. Redd Found Unconscious
In Field Seven Hours After
Fab From Tractor

James W. Redd, 73, of South Main
street, Bluffton is in serious condi-
ton at Lima Memorial hospital fol-
lowing a farm tractor accident last
Saturday in which he suffered
broken neck.
The Bluffton man was drilling oats
on farm he owns south of McGuffey
when the accident occurred. He was
found unconscious in the field nearly
seven hours after being thrown from
his tractor.
When Mr. Redd did not come home
for supper, his wife, Elma, became
worried, and search was started.
He was found about 8 p. m. in the
field.
Regaining consciousness Saturday
night at Bluffton Community hospital,
Mr.. Redd told relatives that the mis-
hap occurred about 2:30 in the after
noon. He was thrown from the tractor
as he made turn on rough ground.
The tractor was found a quarter of
mile from where he had fallen.
The grain drill attached to the rear
of the tractor had struck him as he
fell.
Mr.. Reed was transferred by the
Diller ambulance to Lima Memorial
hospital Sunday morning where he
underwent surgery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

facilities will be in use in the near
future came at a conference in
Napoleon between telephone company
officials and the two-month-old Tele-
phone Users Association, an area
group which was organized in March
to question proposed rate increases.
Bluffton was one of IL cities served
by the Northwestern Telephone Co.
represented at the Napoleon meeting.
In notifying the local committee of
Improvements slated for Bluffton, Mr..
Quatman said another board is being
added to central office equipment, as
a means of improving service to
Bluffton patrons.
To Add Operators
Contacted this week by The Bluffton
News, ROLAND Dodge, local manager
of the telephone company, said that
installation of the new board already
is under way.
MIR. Dodge said that as soon as the
new board is in operation two addi-
tional operators will be added to the
telephone office staff, thereby pro-
viding improved service during the
buster hours of the day.
Although expressing qualification
for the slated improvements, spokes-
men for the local users committee
wryly commented they regarded it
"a very significant coincidence that
Improvements were not thought neces-
sary here until after the committee
was organized to challenge rate in
creases as being unjustified in view of
the caliber of service provided"
Also pointed out was the fact that
Bluffton seems to be more fortunate
than most of the towns served by the
telephone company, in that improve
ments actually are under way here.
Mr.. Quatman had told the area
users committee that rate increases
requested by the telephone company
will not go into improved service.
Local committee members in fact
have quoted Mr.. Quatman as de-
claring that the increases his com
pany wishes to put into effect are
necessary just to continue service on
the same basis as provided until this
time.
DiaIs Not Considered
This, it was pointed out. could be
interpreted to mean the only improve
ments contemplated for Bluffton are
those now under way.
When questioned at the meeting
about the possibility of dial telephones
here, Mr.. Quatman said no moves
now are being considered in that
direction.
Pnpro cnnfipo PlIfft0u af n q
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Work Progressing
On New Christian
Science Church
Society Hopes To Hold
Services In New Building
In Another Month

A former automobile service sta
ton, which once did a rushing busi-
ness when the old Dixie highway
passed through town, was well on its
way to becoming an attractive church
building for Bluffton's Christian
Science society.
Harry Mericle and Sons, Bluffton
builders, rave m owed ahead
with work on the new Christian
Science church building to the point
were members of the society are
hoping to be able to use it within an
other month. The interior is now
ready for plastering.
The former Gulf Service station is
being transformed by the addition of
a 14x26 extension on the north side
and projecting entry vestibule. The
former lubritorium is now a part of
the main auditorium which will seat
from rs to 80 persons.
In addition to the auditorium and
readers alcove off the auditorium,
the building will also provide a read
ing room which, according to custom,
is open to the public at all times,
furnace room and restrooms.
The building will be heated by a
small gas fired forced air furnace.
A concrete floor has been laid in
the main auditorium which will
ultimately be covered with tile. The
auditorium will be 26x % feet. All
lighting fixtures will be recessed in
the ceiling.
This will be the third location for
the church since it was established in
Bluffton. The society met in its
earliest days in a residence building
which stood where the present post
office building is located.
When the new post office was
erected the Christian Science auditor
lum and reading room was moved to
its present location over the Horse
shoe Grill 1t has been located in this
second floor room for the past 20 to
25 years.
Members of the building commit
tee in charge of remodeling the
society's own building are Frank
Weinhold, chairman; Mrs. Paul
Studler and Mrs. Elsie Buckland.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

Wise. and Lake Winnebago, an in
land lake southwest of the lower tip
of Green Bay. Government charts
show Is locks in the canal between
Lake Winnebago and Green Bay.
This will be the Reynolds first ex-
perience as canal boatmen.
About September 1 they plan to
start a long journey to the south,
travelling down Lake Michigan to
Chicago, through the Mississippi
Illinois Ship Canal to the Illinois
River and into the Mississippi. They
intend to move down the Mississippi
to the Gulf of Mexico and follow the
Gulf shoreline to Ft Myers, Fla,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

where they will make their winter
home. Ft. Myers is on the lower
western coast Of Florida, south of
st. Petersburg.
Winter In Southern Waters
During the winter they plan to
do some cruising and visit the
Florida Keys.
They will resume their leisurely
trip next spring with a voyage up
the Atlantic Intra-C Coastal Waterway
towards New York City. The Intra-
Coastal Waterway is series of
canals, inlets and rivers lying close
to the Atlantic shoreline. Most of it
Continued on page 12)
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Saturday Proclaimed
Blue Daisy Day Here

This Saturday has been pro-
claimed Blue Daisy Tag Day in
Blutfton by Mayor David Risser,
and members of the Blue Star
Mothers will sell the tiny daisies
on the downtown streets of the
village that day.
In his proclamation Mayor Ris-
ser pointed out that the hospital
lied veterans make the Blue
Daisies to be sold, and all funds
are used for work i'm veterans
hospitals.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

Napoleon conference last week were
Mayor David Riser, Council Presi-
dent Gerald Swank, Arden Baker,
Councilman Ed Badertscher and
Councilman, Ed Rice.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

is declared on last winters accum-
ulation of trash.
Let's clean up the town and keep
it that way" Cleanup Week Chair
man Paul King urged as special
emphasis is being placed on keeping
Main street tidy and discouraging
''litterbugs.
Main ST. Sweep.Down
While the cleanup is mainly up
to individual residential and busi-
ness property owners, several CO.
operative efforts are again plan
ned. The customary sweep-down
of Main street through the busi-
ness section has been slated for
to 10 a. m. Friday.
All businessmen are asked to
appear on the street i'm front of
their respective stores, broom in
hand. Dirt will be swept to the
"X' marks in the parking areas.
The village street crew will pick
up the piles of dirt, and Fire Chief
Guy Corson said that members of
the department will wash down
the street after the sweeping.
Bright red and black cleanup
posters were placed in the business
district Wednesday morning herald
ing the official opening of the
Cleanorama.
While there will be no special trash
pickup by the village crew, since
the last collection was on Monday,
Street Commissioner William Gaiffe
said that the truck will make special
pick-ups of any large piles of trash,
if he is notified.
Bluffton school children will be
asked to cooperate in the campaign.
Teachers will stress the importance
of using trash cans for disposal of
waste paper on Main street and foster
a feeling of community pride in clean
liness.
Prizes For Children
Free candy bars will also be offered
elementary school children who return
Cleanup Report Sheets By the end
of the campaign. The reports are to
be filled out by residents and busi-
ness firms showing their cleanup
accomplishments. A copy of the re-
port can be found on page four of this
weeks issue of The Bluffton News
The Main street trash barrels have
been given a fresh coat of green
paint by c. F. Niswander and Son,
and they have been stenciled with the
legend: Held Keep Bluffton Clean
Don't be a Litterbug." The stencil
was provided by The Triplett
Electrical Instrument Co.
Assisting Mr.. King with the clean
up campaign are Emory Banroth,
cleanup chairman; Kermit Herr,
plant-up chairman; Paul Greding,
paint-up chairman: Raymond Koontz,
fix-up, and Ross Irwin. wire-up chair
man.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Girl Scouts Plan
Camping Trip

Troop 123 Bluffton Girl Scouts with
Mrs. Clayton Harkness and Mrs.
Allan McCluer as the leaders plan to
go camping at Camp Woodhaven
from the afternoon of May 26 to May
28. They plan to do outdoor cookery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
REAL ESTATE DEALS

Noah Dilier, who recently returned
from Florida and is now making his
home with his son, Robert, at Upper
Sandusky, sold his home at 137 North
Jackson street, to Mr.. and Mrs. How
ard u. Gottshall of Lawn avenue.
The Gottshalls moved to Bluffton
five years ago. The real estate deal
was consummated by Reese and Gar
matter.
The John S. Keller farm southwest
of Bluffton has been sold recently to
Arthur Gratz of Pandora. This trans
action was also handled through
Reese and Garmatter.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09

symphony.
Bluffton college a cappella choir,
combined with the symphony, will
present the First Mass in C' by
Mozart and Boris Godounoff'' by
Moussorksky.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
Added Switchboard To Aid
Blufton Phone Service
But Dial Telephones Not Under
Consideration NouU, Committee Told

Switchboard improvements to the Bufftn telephone central
office will eliminate of complaint by local patrons
members of the Bffton committee organized to contest proposed
rate increases told last week by Frank Quama of the
Northwestern Telephone Service Co.
Assurances by Mr. Quatman that expanded switchboard
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-05-09
TOwn-Wide ''CleanOrama"
Officially Launched Here
War Declared On "Litterbugs" In DriUe
To Brighten Up Village For Spring

Buttons annual "Ceanorama" launched Wednesday
when college students conducting their Work Day. rolled up
sleeves and pitched into community program give the
old town "new look for spring
The general cleanup pantup pantup and fix campaign
will continue through all of week to May 18 about