The Bluffton news. [volume], March 16, 1939, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXIII
The high waters, reaching a crest
at 11 a. m., blocked four Bluffton
streets, stalled automobiles, washed
■out portions of two roads and a
segment of a railroad right-of-way
swirled into the buildings of several
of the town’s principal manufactur
ing and industrial plants, marooned
a few residences and inundated
hundreds of acres of farm land in
the vicinity.
Altho several houses were com
pletely surrounded by water it was
unnecessary
dents
after
Sudden Rise of Big and Little Riley Creeks
Brings Acute Flood Menace in
Bluffton, Sunday Morning.
Industrial Plants and Homes Near Creeks Sus
tain Damage on Account of High
Water Flood Subsides Quickly.
Torrential rainfall that fed Big and Little Riley creeks over
the weekend reached a climax shortly before noon on Sunday
when Bluffton experienced its worst flood since the disastrous
1913 inundation.
to evacuate the resi-
because the water fell rapidly
it reached its peak.
almost steady downpour of
thruout Saturday, continuing
An
rain
into Sunday, brought the first indi
cation of flood conditions at 5 a. m.
Sunday when Big and
creeks
water
by 11
worst.
Little Riley
banks. The
rapidly and
was at its
went over their
continued to rise
a. m. the flood
k Subsides Quickly
Within the next hour, however,
the water had begun to fall notice
ably and the flood continued to sub
side almost as quickly as it had
risen. By Monday morning both
creeks were again within their banks
and Bluffton was engaged in clean
ing up the muddy deposits that rep
resented the aftermath.
Altho approaching the 1913 record,
this year’s flood brought a little less
water. Total damage also was less
this year, principally
flood was of shorter
was said.
because the
duration, it
the 1913 in­
In comparison with
undation, Sunday’s flood was said to
have lacked from four inches to one
foot of being as deep, according to
those who had records to
making their estimates.
check in
entrance
the town
From the point of its
into Bluffton until it left
the Big Riley looked more like a
lake than the peacefully flowing
little stream
accustomed.
200
to which Bluffton is
Yards Wide
lay in a particularly
The water
wide swath from the eastern edge
of Harmon field to Jefferson street,
flooding everything within an area
more than 200 yards wide.
Looking from the Nickel Plate
railroad bridge toward College ave
nue a real flood picture was pre
sented, for the broad expanse of
Harmon field lay under five feet of
water, with the concrete stadium
rising like an island
ing, muddy
The edge
from the swirl-
current,
of the
field to
of Railroad street.
w’ater extended
the east within
On
beyond the
a few feet
the other side the water was across
Harmon road in spots and the
Triplett plant’s parking lot was
under water.
At cherry street the width of the
flood had narrowed slightly, but
even at that point it stretched from
the Harry Trippiehorn residence on
the west to the Steinman Lumber
yard at the east. Vance street look
ed like a river with a swiftly mov
ing current sweeping toward Jeffer
son street. Higher ground near
•Jefferson street, however, turned the
water back toward the regular chan
nel, and the flood at that point went
out of the creek
on the other side.
Blocked
and Cherry streets
but cars were able
Streets
College avenue
were impassable,
to traverse Jefferson street altho
water was flowing over the road to
a depth of about six inches. The
water at that point was pouring in
to the large National quarry now
owned by the Central Ohio Light
and Power preventing
of flood conditions as
other two streets.
North Main street
most serious traffic
a swift current of
the possibility
bad as at the
presented the
problem when
water swept
across the pavement for a stretch of
about one hundred yards between
the Big Riley bridge and the A. C.
& Y. railroad tracks.
and
With water up to the bumpers
(Continued on page 8)
STREAMS OVERFLOW RANKS BRINGING
HIGHEST WATER IN TWENTY-SIX YEARS
One-Act Play Meet
Here This Wednesday
groups of contestants will
in a one-act play contest at
m. this Wednesday in the
Three
compete
7:30 p.
Bluffton
mine the winner in an Allen county
elimination program.
High auditorium to deter-
Among the contestants will be a
Bluffton group representing the Na
tional Thespians organization
Bluffton High school. They will
sent “The Happy Journey”,
Thornton Wilder.
of
pre
by
Get-
In the local cast are Zitella
ties, Mark NiSwander, Bettye Lewis,
James Landis, Lora Schultz and
Paul Soldner. P. W. Stauffer is di
recting the production.
The play is the same the cast pre
sented Tuesday night in a one-act
play contest at Clyde where the
Bluffton players won second place.
Two groups from Lima also will
compete in the meet here Wednes
day, presenting different productions.
Special music will be provided dur
ing the intermission periods by the
Bluffton High orchestra directed by
Sidney Hauenstein.
Winner of the elimination contest
here will be eligible to compete in
the Northwest Ohio district meet at
Toledo next week. The series of con
tests is being sponsored as a part
of the Federal Recreation program.
Real Estate Deals
the
has
the
Chas. Danner of Lima, one of
heirs of the late C. P. Danner,
purchased from the other heirs
Danner property on Grove street.
The property is occupied by Wade
Bechtel, employe of the Central Ohio
Light & Power company here.
It is reported that Donner, a Lima
plumber, expects to build a residence
on the rear of the lot facing Lawn
avenue. He recently purchased the
120 acre farm of Adam and Barbara
Amstutz west of Bluffton.
Mrs. Chas. Sterrett has purchased
the interest of her sister, Mrs. Joe
Naylor in the North Lawn avenue
property of their father, the late J.
N. Pratt, formerly of Bluffton.
A. D. Gratz has purchased the
Hall residence on South Lawn ave
nue from heirs of the late A. D.
Hall. Gratz expects to do some re
modeling before occupying the prop
erty. Gratz sold his property on
South Main street last fall as part
of the site for the new post office
building here.
Noted Tenor Coming
To Ebenezer Church
Eiven Bjornstad, noted European
tenor, will be heard in a program at
the Ebenezer Mennonite church,
Thursday night, March 23, at 8:00
o’clock it was announced the first
of the week.
The singer, formerly in European
and New York grand opera, aban
doned his operatic roles for a career
devoted to sacred music. For sev
eral months he has been appearing
in an itinerary which includes some
of the largest churches in the coun
try.
INFANT’S FUNERAL THURSDAY
Joan Marie Lehman, aged two
months, youngest daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Lehman of Pan
dora died at the home of the par
ents Wednesday morning. Death
came following a three days’ illness
of influenza and complications.
Funeral services will be held in
Pandora Thursday afternoon at the
home of the grandparents, David
Lehman’s at 1:30 followed by servi
ces in Grace Mennonite church at
2 o’clock. Rev. Paul Whitmer will
officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant
Ridge cemetery.
a try /o ____
Spring’s Coming
Robins Reported
Here This Week
J^OBINS, unfailing harbing
er of spring were seen in
considerable numbers here the
first of the week, according
to several Bluffton residents.
In spite of recent floods and
cold weather, spring’s really
on the way.
Flotsam and Jetsam
from Bluffton’s Flood Sunday
In the vicinity of Cherry street last
Sunday’s flood lacked about one foot
of being as deep as the 1913 inunda
tion that is rembered by many Bluff
ton residents. In 1913 approximately
two feet of water stood in the Scott
and Ewing Plant, adjacent to Big
Riley creek. This year depth of the
water was only about one foot. Al
bert Benroth also pointed out that
during the 1913 flood, water was run
ning freely between the old George
Benroth property, now occupied by
Gid Locher, and the Mabel Jones
property. Last Sunday water came
up only as far as the alley between
the Locher residence and the Harry
Trippiehorn property, one lot nearer
the Cherry street bridge.
Along Marsh run at the edge of
town, the flood came nearer approach
ing the 1913 level. Charles Matthey
who lives on the Allen-Hancock county
line near Marsh Run said he made a
mark near his home when the 1913
inundation was at its crest, and that
this year’s flood lacked only four inch
es of being as high.
Flood damage was not nearly as
great as might have been expected,
due probably to the sudden rise and
fall of flood stage. Big and Little
Riley creeks left their banks about 5
a. m. Sunday, the flood was at its
peak at 11 a. m. and it was subsid
ing noticeably at noon. By Monday
morning both creeks were again with
in their usual courses. A few small
er outbuildings on properties border
ing the Big Riley were washed away,
but in the manufacturing and indus
trial establishments where water
stood, the principal expense will be
involved in cleaning up the mud and
silt deposits that were left.
At the property of the Bluffton
Stone Co., the Big Riley overflowed
its banks and completely filled the
quarry which had
winter to permit
work this spring,
manager, said it
three weeks to pump out the quarry.
He reported, however that there was
no damage to equipment altho the
w’ater was within one inch of enter
ing the office of the concern.
been kept dry’ all
an early start of
Raymond Conrad,
will require about
Water from the Big Riley had the
Triplett Electrical Instrument com
pany’s lot on Harmon road entirely
submerged, and water was coming in
the basement of the electric light and
w’ater works plant. City water pumps
and the municipal heating plant are
located in the basement, and employ
es were kept hard at work in an effort
to pump out the water. The water
was not deep enough to interfere with
the water supply, but the heating
plant could not operate at peak ef
ficiency because of the cold water
flowing around the outgoing heat
lines and thereby cutting the temper
ature of the outgoing steam.
Altho damage was confined prici
pally to the paint and plating depart
ments at the Readrite Meter Works,
the plant did not operate Monday to
permit a cleanup of the premises.
More than a foot of water stood in
the departments, leaving the usual
deposit of mud. At the crest of the
flood, water lacked about two inches
of getting
room.
into the main assembly
field, under five feet of
Harmon
water Sunday at the height of the
flood, presented a dismal appearance
Monday morning. Driftwood, straw
and other debris were scattered over
the broad expanse of the recreation
center and most of the fences had
been torn down at the north boundary
of the field. Across the street the
municipal tennis courts were badly
damaged, the clay surface having
been washed out in many places. At
the peak of the flood water was up to
the lower edge of the switch boxes on
(Continued on page 8)
II IE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1939
1500 TO SING IN
FESTIVAL HERE
Choral Competition Here Fri
day Will Be Largest Fest
Ever Held in Bluffton
Morning, Afternoon and Even
ing Sessions Scheduled Five
(lasses of Competition
Bluffton this Friday will be host to
the largest music fest ever held here
when more than 1500 students repre
senting 33 schools gather for compe
tition in the Northwest Ohio chorus
festival.
Morning, afternoon and evening
sessions will be held in the Bluffton
High school gymnasium.
Boys and girls glee clubs and mixed
choruses representing schools in five
classes will participate, with the win
ners and runnerup in each class eli
gible to compete in the state contest
later in the spring.
33 Entered
Entries have been received thus far
from 33 schools, and several others
are expected, Prof. Russell A. Lantz,
director of Bluffton college depart
ment of music .who is. chairman of the
festival, said Wednesday morning.
NO SCHOOL FRIDAY
There will be no classes at
the high or grade school here
Friday because of the North
west Ohio Music contest to be
held in the high school gym
nasium.
Competition is in five classes: A,
B, BB, and CC. Bluffton High
singers will enter in two events in the
class BB ratings, the boys and girls
glee clubs, it was announced.
In the morning session, opening at
9 a. m. Class CC boys and girls glee
clubs and mixed choruso- will com
pete. Present entries include Ottawa.
Alger, Tontogany, Rising Sun, Havi
land, Oakwood, Florida. Haskins and
Dola.
Afternoon Session
Class competition will be featur
ed in the afternoon, with the session
opening at 1 p. m. Among the com
peting groups will be singers from
Liberty Township, Dt'shler, Delphos,
Spencerville, Continental, Lake Town
ship, Grand Rapids, Delta, Paulding,
Pioneer, Wayne, Hicksville, Arling
ton, Rawson and Malinta.
Two Class events also will be run
in the afternoon with the Maumee
girls glee club and the Brayan mixed
chorus appearing on the program.
In the evening session, opening at
7:30 p. m. Pandora, Ada and Shaw
nee will compete for Class honors
in all three events.
Bluffton High in the evening pro
gram will be the only entrant in Class
BB girls and boys glee club events,
and Perrysburg will enter a Class BB
mixed chorus. Closing competition
will be in Class A, with mixed chor
uses from Bowling Green, Findlay
and Lima Central competing.
Judges Named
Adudicators for the meet include:
Louis E. Pete, superintendent of mu
sic in the Ashland public schools Dr.
Frank C. Biddle, director of music in
the Cincinnati public schools and Mrs.
Sarah Cline, of the music education
department, Cincinnati Conservatory
of Music.
Competition is being sponsored
thruout the state by the Ohio Music
Education Association. Sidney Hau
enstein of this place, is chairman of
the Northwest Ohio district of the as
sociation.
Many of the competing schools have
music directors trained in the Bluffton
college department of music. In con
ducting this year’s contest Prof.
Lantz, as chairman, has present stu
dents in the music department ap
pointed as assistants.
Murray Is Named
Deputy Auditor
Nile Murray, former Bluffton cor
poation clerk, was named one of the
deputies in the office of Floyd grif
fin, new Allen county auditor, last
Saturday.
Griffin, together with eight new
deputies, including Murray, took over
the auditor’s office Monday, follow
ing a three-term tenure served by
C. A. Rusler, Democrat.
Two of Rusler’s former deputies
will be held over in the office until
the new staff becomes acquainted
with the duties, it was announced.
Griffin, the first Republican elect
ed auditor in 64 years, named as his
first eight deputies: Murray, of this
place C. T. Clantz, Spencer town
ship E. E. Edmiston, L. E. Zim
mer, B. E. Tabler and Grace M.
May, all of Lima Donovan S. Mc
Kinney, Auglaize township, and Bea
trice Gating, Delphos.
Pinned against a concrete wall by
a bull, Ray Griffith, 27, formerly of
Bluffton, was painfully bruised at
his farm near North Baltimore last
Wednesday.
Although his injuries were so se
vere that Griffith has been bedfast
since the accident, his condition is
not believed to be serious.
Chas. Cookson of Troy will
liver Class Address on
“Building Character”
(lass of 58 Seniors will Receive
Diplomas at Annual Com
mencement Event
Graduation exercises of Bluffton
high school will be held this year
on Thursday night, May 25 in
high school auditorium, it was
nounced the first of the week
Supt. A. J. B. Longsdorf.
The bride chose for her matron of
honor her sister, Mrs. Wood row Lug
inbuhl. The best man was Richard
Yoder. Little Anne Garman was
flower girl and Robert Garman and
Don Rutt ushers.
The bride who was given in mar
riage by her father, wore a white
satin gown trimmed with lace with
finger-tip veil. Her arm bouquet was
of bride’s roses. Her sister wore a
pink net over taffeta with an
bouquet of Johanna Hill roses
sweet peas.
?ormer Bluffton Man Is Thrown
Against Concrete Wall By Angry Bull
the
an
by
de
on
Chas. W. Cookson of Troy will
liver the class address speaking
the subject “Building Character’’.
The speaker has been prominent for
many years in Ohio educational
circles, being formerly superintend
ent of Schools at Troy and
and also superintendent of
of Franklin county.
Urbana
schools
of the
a
With the announcement
date for graduating exercises,
schedule for other commencement
week events is now being arranged.
A class of about 58 seniors will re
ceive diplomas this year.
Former College Girl
Weds In Goshen, Ind.
Of interest to many Bluffton
friends is the wedding of Miss Anne
Ebersole, former Bluffton college stu
dent, and Kenton Garman, both of
Goshen, Ind., which took place at the
Eighth Street Mennonite church in
Goshen, Friday night at 7:30 o’clock.
Miss Ebersole, who was graduated
from Bluffton college in the class of
1937, is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. F. S. Ebersole of Goshen.
arm
and
Rev,
The officiating minister was
George Stoneback, a Bluffton college
graduate.
Following the wedding a reception
was held at the home of the bride’s
parents for members of the imme
diate families and close friends.
Among the out of town guests were
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Berry of Bluff
ton.
Will Graduate At
Ohio State Friday
Stanley F. Steiner, of this place
will be graduated from the indus
trial engineering department of Ohio
State university, Columbus, Friday.
His father, E. P. Steiner and sis
ter Miss
and Mrs.
lay will
exercises.
them to spend the week end here.
Mr.
Beulah Steiner and Mr.
Geo. Manges of near Find
attend the commencement
Stanley will return with
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Davidson of
Cherry street are the parents of a
son born at the Bluffton hospital,
Monday night.
A daughter was born to Mr. and
Mrs.
street
day.
Jesse Weiss of West Elm
at the Bluffton hospital, Sun-
and Mrs. Earl Jorg of St.
are the parents of a son, Paul
Johns
Allen, born at Lima Memorial hos
pital, March 2. Mrs. Jorg was
formerly Miss Alma Steiner, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Steiner,
west of Bluffton.
VISITS HERE
William
for
Doriot of Chicago,
Bluffton visited friends
Friday. Doriot, youngest
is
merly of
here last
son of the late Julian Doriot,
connected with the Barrett Roofing
company.
Griffith was attacked by the ani
mal in the barnyard near his home
and was thrown twice against the
concrete wall before he was able to
escape.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
E. G. Griffith formerly of this place,
and a Bluffton high school graduate.
His wife was the former Ellen
Criblez of near Bluffton.
raduation Exercises At High
School Will Be Held Here May 25
De-
Fongsdorf Is Given
Three Year Contract
A. J. B. Longsdorf, head of the
Bluffton high and grade schools for
the past fourteen years, was given
a renewal of his contract for a three
year term at the meeting of the
board of education, Monday night.
Supt. Longsdorf’s present contract
which was
period, will
rent year,
newed at
$2,700 a year.
also for a three year
expire during the cur
The contract was
the present salary
re
of
the
Supt. Longsdorf came here in
fall of 1925 from North Baltimore
where he was head of the
system. During his term as
intendent here new courses
struction have been added
curriculum and the school plant
larged.
school
super
of
to
la
the
en-
With The Sick
op-
Cliff West who underwent an
eration for hernia at Bluffton hos
pital last Thursday is convalescing
at his home on South Lawn avenue.
Miss Marjorie Clark is ill with
heart trouble at her home on Grove
street.
S. P. Herr who was removed to
the Bluffton hospital last Thursday
suffering from an attack of gall
stones has returned to his home on
South Main street much improved.
Louis Risser of Pandora underwent
an operation at the Bluffton hospital
for hernia, Monday.
Mrs. Med Murray who has been
critically ill at her home on Thur
man street with heart trouble is
slightly improved.
Mrs. Coza Rauenbuhler is improv
ing following an illness from influ
enza.
Dr. J. F. Rudy, former Bluffton
physician, is reported quite ill with
influenza and complications at his
home in Rawson.
Condition of Robert Marshall, ser
iously ill at his home in Orange
township, remains unchanged.
Oliver Locher, employed at the
Citizens National bank here will un
dergo an operation for kidney stones
at Huron Road hospital in Cleveland,
Thursday. He has been in the hos
pital there for the past week. His
wife left Wednesday for Cleveland
where she will remain for several
days.
Mrs. E. A. McCune of Carnegie,
Pa., who has been a patient in the
Bluffton hospital since she was in
jured in an automobile accident neai
Bluffton last August, will be removed
Thursday to a hospital in Allegheny.
Pa., near her home.
Susan Nusbaum And
Wayne Galloway Wed
Announcement has been made of
the wedding of Miss Susan Nus
baum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Daniel Nusbaum of East Kibler
street and Wayne Galloway of this
place.
The wedding ceremony was per
formed by Rev. Otis Harter, pastor
of Lima Olivet Presbyterian church
at his home in that city, Friday
night. The couple was unattended.
Mr. and Mrs.
their home in
Harvey Jones
Main street.
Galloway will make
apartments in the
residence on
South
Habegger-Doty
Nuptials Sunday
In a ceremony at the home of the
officiating minister, took place the
wedding of Miss Reva Habegger,
daughter
Habegger
and Oren
Roy Doty
of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
residing north of Bluffton
Doty, son of Mr. and Mrs.
of near Mt. Cory.
The wedding vows were received
by Rev. H. D. Camp of Rawson U. B.
church, Sunday afternoon. Attending
the couple were Miss Margaret Ha
begger, sister of the bride and How
ard Habegger, the bride’s cousin.
Mr. and Mrs. Doty will reside in
their newly furnished home on the
Ridge road near Benton Ridge.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live and a
Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 46
AAA CONTRACTS
SIGNED BY 150
armers Will Have Chance to
Sign in Last Meeting
Here Thursday
ndividual Calls to be Made by
Committee: Nearly 40 Per
Cent Have Signed
Contracts for compliance with the
1939 Federal AAA Farm Program
may be signed this Thursday at the
town hall in Bluffton in the last of
a series of meetings held for Rich
land township farmers, it was an
nounced Wednesday by Amos Moser,
chairman of the township committee.
In closing the campaign for con
tracts, however, members of the
committee will make a canvass of
the township, contacting all indivi
duals who have not signed under the
program.
Approximately 150 contracts have
been signed thus far, most of them
for full compliance, Moser said.
This represents about 40 per cent
of the township’s 375 farms, about
the same number as signed last
year.
Limit Wheat, Corn Acreage
Major provisions of AAA compli
ance provide for the limiting of
wheat and corn acreages (soil de
pleting crops.) However, other fac
tors also enter into the final deter
mination of benefits.
Under maximum compliance, bene
fits may amount to as much as $2.50
per crop acre, Moser stated. Last
year approximately 40 per cent of
the Richland township farmers com
plied with
the program.
of the Richland AAA
include: Amos Moser,
Sol. E. Steiner, Fred
Members
committee
chairman
Mueller, Willard Jennings and Virgil
Bowers.
Funeral Service For
Former Twp. Trustee
Funeral services for J. C. Guider,
76, former Richland township trustee
were held at his home four miles
south of Bluffton, Wednesday after
noon. His pastor, Rev. A. E. McVey,
of Liberty Chapel Evangelical church
officiated. Burial was in Dunkirk
cemetery.
Mr. Guider died Sunday evening at
his late residence following a month’s
illness from cerebral hemorrhage.
He was widely known thruout this
vicinity. Besides serving as town
ship trustees for six years he was
also a former member of the Allen
county board of health. In denomin
ational affiliations he was a member
of Liberty Chapel church and also
for the past forty-eight years
member of Bluffton Odd
lodge.
was a
Fellow
county
the son
(Orth)
He was born in Hardin
near Dunkirk, June 4, 1862,
of August and Margaret
Guider and following his marriage
to Marian Roberts he moved to Al
len county where he as since resided.
His wife preceded him in death.
Surviving are two sons: Ray
Guider of Ada and Charles of Grand
Rapids, Mich. two daughters, Mrs.
Carl McCafferty of Bluffton and Miss
Margaret Guider at home. Also sur
viving are one sister, Mrs. E. J.
Rambo of Lima and a half-brother,
Lewis Kahler of Ada, eight grand
children and three great grandchild
ren.
A nnounce Wedding
Of Last Holidays
A wedding which took place at
Findlay last December 21 was an
nounced here the first of the week
when Miss Margaret Wells, employed
at the Long restaurant resigned her
position.
Miss Wells who was married to
Cecil Swanson of Bowling Green
will leave Saturday for that place
where the couple will reside on
farm. The bride is the daughter
Clarence Wells of Findlay and
sister of Mrs. Kenneth Jackson
this place.
of
a
of
Bluffton Man Judges
Music At Wittenberg
Prof. Sidney Hauenstein, instruct
or in string and wind instruments
at Bluffton college and supervisor of
instrumental music at Bluffton high
school will judge music competition
at the West Ohio high school dist
rict instrumental contest to be held
at Wittenberg college, Saturday.
The Bluffton music instructor will
place the awards in the string solos
and ensemble numbers and will also
serve as one of the orchestral judges.