The Bluffton news. [volume], July 13, 1939, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXIV
g-LSg-L!------------
COUNCIL WILL
BAN FIREWORKS
Drastic Action to Follow Fail
ure of Voluntary Fourth of
July Program
To Ask Richland and Orange
Twp. Cooperation in Ban
ning Fireworks Sale
Groundwork for the enactment of
a comprehensive program to abolish
the sale and use of fireworks in Bluff
ton was laid by the town council at
meeting, Monday night. Sentiment in
the council appeared to be unanimous
on the matter.
Atty. Francis Durbin, Bluffton city
solicitor will be notified this week to
draft suitable legislation for consider
ation by the council at its next meet
ing, July 24.
Following the failure last week of
Bluffton’s program for a modified
Fourth of July celebration based on
voluntary public cooperation, the city
administration moved swiftly to make
good its assertion that drastic action
would be taken in event voluntary co
operation failed.
Ask Townships’ Cooperation
In a determined effort to make the
program one hundred percent effec
tive, trustees of Richland and Orange
townships will be asked to cooperate
by passing legislation preventing the
sale of fireworks in their respective
districts. This step, it is pointed out,
would bar fireworks being sold just
outside the corporation line.
Reports at the council meeting
Monday night were to the effect that
Richland township trustees had ex
pressed themselves unofficially as
favorable to the proposal, although it
has not yet been brought before the
trustees at a regular meeting. Or
ange township trustees have not yet
been contacted.
In explaining the proposal relative
to the two townships, it was pointed
out that the council is asking for
legislation as applies only to the sale
of fireworks, and not their use in the
rural districts.
Experiment Fails
Bluffton’s experiment with a modi
fied Fourth of July celebration with
no legislation to enforce its provis
ions proved a failure last week. A
proclamation by Mayor W. A. Howe
asking that no firecrackers be dis
charged in the business district was
flouted and on the evening of the
Fourth the downtown section took on
all the a«pcts of the old-fashioned
wide-open celebration which continued
until well toward midnight.
The present plan for an observance
of Independence day under restric
tions was first put into operation last
year at which time it was tried again
this year with different results.
When the plan was first adopted it
was advanced frajikly as an experi
ment with the mayor’s statement that
if voluntary cooperation failed drastic
action would be substituted.
Demands Jobs Back
For State Employes
With two Bluffton men, former
state employes, directly involved, po
litical circles here are following with
interest the demands made during the
past week by Attorney Francis Dur
bin of Lima that provisional civil ser
vice employes dismissed by the pres
ent Bricker administration be rein
stated in their former jobs.
Frank McElroy and Ralph Reich
enbach both of Bluffton appointed to
positions in the state liquor and old
age departments respectively under
the preceding Davey administration
were subsequently dismissed after the
Bricker administration took over con
trol of state affairs.
Following McElroy’s dismissal, Her
bert Siefield, Bluffton baker, was ap
pointed to a position in the state
liquor store in Lima, where McElroy
had been previously employed.
The two Bluffon men dismissed are
part of a group of sixteen former
state employes in this district whum
Durbin is demanding be reinstated in
their former positions.
Durbin’s demand, backed by an Ohio
supreme court decision that recent
dismissals of provisional civil service
employes by the Briker administra
tion is invalid, carries a threat of
mandamus action if the employes are
not reinstated.
Forseeing a bitter legal fight in
behalf of the dismissed workers if
they are not immediately restored to
their jobs, Durbin indicated that sim
ilar action will be taken in behalf of
50 some workers dismissed from the
state highway department.
Several of the dismissed workers
have reported back to their former
jobs, but supervisors in charge declin
ed to put them to work.
FHE
Bride
MR±.Robert
Long, bride in a
1 1 wedding Saturday which fol
lowed a college romance.
Long, the former Evelyn
and Dr. Robert Long of
were married Saturday
noon in a ceremony at the home
of the bride’s parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Milton N. Pifer in Jenera.
Both Dr. Long and his bride
were former Bluffton college
students. Mrs. Long was Bluff
ton day queen in 1935.
MARKETING OF
WHEAT AT PEAK
Jhiffton Elevators Open Even
ings to Handle Influx of
Season’s Crop
Tests Running from 55 to 59
Yields are Averaging 20
Bushels Acre
This week
the peak of
season
bushels of
into the
Bluffton’s
ing open
to handle
is expected to witness
the wheat marketing
from 3,000 to 5,000
with
the yellow grain pouring
Bluffton market daily,
two elevators are remain
in the evening this week
the volume of business.
Both threshing rings and combines
are at work in the harvest field and
cooler weather, following the swelt
ering humidity last week, served to
speed up operations. Passing of the
A yield of 33 bushels of wheat
per acre was one of the top
records of the season made by
Amos Klingler on the Mrs. Earl
Ewing farm in Orange town
ship. The wheat tested 59.
Klingler marketed here Mon
day 198 bushels of wheat har
vested from a six acre tract,
receiving 62 cents per bushel.
heat wave without the usual thunder
storms made ideal harvest conditions
here the first of the week.
Elevator men, however, report that
the grain this year is still a little
wet and tough, due mostly to
fact that farmers have been in
much of a hurry to combine.
A
Herr Opera House Opened In
1884 Was Pride Of Bluffton
Mrs.
Pifer
Lima
after-
the
too
Average Yield 20 Bushels
Yields in the Bluffton district
year appear to average around 20
bushels to the acre, although there
are plenty of fields making a show
ing of from 25 to 30 bushels.
this
Test for wheat is from 55 to 59,
according to elevator reports.
Threshed wheat is running general
ly toward the top of this range while
combine wheat is
in the lower levels.
Price for the grain is running
about the same
year. A price of 62 cents a bushel
was quoted for grain marketed here
Wednesday.
as this time last
Fly Damages Crop
One factor in decreasing the aver
age acre yield is Hessian fly infes
tation which has been reported more
widespread this summer than in sev
eral years past.
This year’s outbreak of fly damage
is attributed to disregard of the fly
free date in fall planting together
with favorable weather conditions
for winter survival of the insect.
Many farmers are trying to keep
their loss at a minimum by cutting
wheat early and harvesting the crop
with binders, a reversal of the grow
ing practice toward the combine
method.
ACCIDENT VICTIM IMPROVES
Clyde Klingler, Orange township
farmer who was badly bruised and
cut in a harvest field accident ten
days ago is improving at his home
south of town.
Klingler, in attempting to stop a
runaway team, was thrown under the
horses and run over by a grain
binder. He is still confined to the
house.
Jelieved Unsurpassed in Any
Town of Equal Size in
Middle West
luge Chandelier with Glass
Prisms was Lighted with
Oil Lamps
The Bluffton News presents
the twenty-eighth installment of
the “Centennial Series" dealing
with early Bluffton history and
published in commemoration of
the one hundredth anniversary
of Bluffton's founding.—Editor.
Shut off from the outside world
by impassable roads and woefully in
adequate modes of transportation,
early Bluffton was hard pressed for
diversion and it is little wonder that
when traveling shows, lecturers or
musicians stopped here that the en
tire town turned out en masse for
an evening of entertainment.
This present age of talking movies,
radio, good roads and high powered
automobiles which make it possible
for whole groups to travel in a short
time
mg’s
trast
town
ago.
70 to 100 miles for an even
performance offers a vast con
to life in the small backwoods
that was Bluffton sixty
The stone company here will also
furnish crushed stone for six miles
of the highway. This contract will
keep the stone plant running at ca
pacity for the next month, it was
stated by Raymond Conrad, manager
of the company.
Accepts Washington
Lobbying Position
Don Smucker, son of Mrs. B. D.
Smucker of South Lawn avenue, who
has been secretary of the Kansas In
stitute of Internal Relations with
headquarters at Newton, Kansas, has
accepted a position as lobbyist for
the neutrality forces at Washington
during the remainder of the pres
ent session of congress.
Smucker and his wife who have
been visiting here for the past two
weeks left Tuesday for Washington
accompanied by his mother and
and Mrs. Orden
As a lobbyist
sist principally
gressmen in the
ing the present
special emphasis
vision.
BLUFFTON
years
(Continued on page 8)
Improvement Program
On County Line Road
Trucks loaded with dirt that have
been continuously rumbling over
Bluffton’s streets are part of an ex
tensive improvement on nine miles
of road on the county line north of
town.
The work is being undertaken
jointly by commissioners of Allen,
Putnam and Hancock counties on a
stretch of county line road beginning
at Route 103, running due north and
connecting with Route 224 near
Gilboa.
A total of 15,000 cubic yards of
dirt is being used to construct berms
at the side of the roadway. Half
of this amount, approximately 2,000
truck loads is being furnished for
six miles of the route, the dirt being
obtained from “stripping” operations
at the plant of the Bluffton Stone
company.
NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND
Mr.
Smucker.
his work will
in contacting
interest of continu
neutrality act with
on the embargo pro-
con
con-
Although representing several
peace organizations, Smucker will
work principally under supervision
of the National Council for the Pre
vention of War.
Chas. Worthington,
Former Resident Dies
Funeral services for Chas. Worth
ington, 77, former Bluffton resident
were held here Sunday afternoon at
the Diller funeral home conducted
by Rev. Clifford Grabill. Interment
was made in Maple Grove cemetery.
Mr. Worthington died Friday
afternoon in Lima at the home of
Mrs. Helen Swick
had ben cared for
of the past year,
to complications.
Curtis where he
during his illness
Death was due
He was born near Ironton but re
sided the greater part of his life in
Bluffton where for a number of
years he followed the vocation of a
timber buyer.
Surviving are his wife, the former
Clara Fensler, of Lima three sons:
Arthur of Bluffton, Charles of Chil
licothe and Edward of Alger and
three daughters Mrs. Grace Beil of
Greenville, Pa., Mrs. Jessie Bender
of Lima and Mrs. Caddie Enerr of
Lima.
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY 13 1939
SCHOOL TO GET
WITHHELD FUND
State Department of Education I Tuesday night
Reverses Former Stand on
Tuition Pupils
clerk of the board.
I Bluffton saw
I flashed across
The sum of $2,000 withheld from I of conjecture. Reports following the
the Bluffton public schools by the I phenomenon indicated that it had
state department of education has I been seen throughout northern Ohio
been reinstated and will be paid to I and Canada. All reports agreed
the Bluffton board from state founda-1
tion funds as originally set uP, ac-
cording to word received here the 7,
first of the week by Leland Diller,
Action of the state department in I Frank Montgomery, Orange town
withhoulding the money was based on I sb’P farmer, was one of seven prize
the fact that the Bluffton board of I "’inners to be awarded a free trip
education had failed to collect tuition I ^ew ^ork city World’s fair
from 37 Orange township pupils who|’n a nationwide contest conducted
attended school here in 1937-38. |by a manufacturer of poultry feeds.
At that time the state department I Montgomery was notified the first
held that where no tuition was paid I ^he week that he will receive
by an out of the district pupil, there I shortly a check to cover railroad
was no obligation on the part of thel^are and Pullman accommodations to
state department to make payments I ^*ew York city and return and also
to the board of education on the bas-lmoney cover three days’ expenses
is of that pupil’s attendance. I at the fair. ...
State Department Reverses Stand I check in like amount will be
Reversing its previous stand, fol-1 s«nt to O. E. Bowers, manager of
lowing a decision last month by thePhe Farmers Elevator company, here,
Ohio Supreme court in a similar case,! !°ca’ representatives of Allied Mills
the state department notified the I £Uayne’ sPonsors of the con
board here that it is prepared tol ,‘
make necessary adjustments on re- The two men, accompanied by the.r
eeipt of a certified copy of those "lv% make ‘he trip to
Orange township pupils attending AuKUSt’ aut°
school here who reside one and
one-half miles from the Union The contest ,n whlch Montgomery
i Iwas a winner was open to poultry
township school at Cory and near- raisers jn
er the Bluffton school I in
The letter, signed by Dick Smith, I he
assistant director of education, closes tjcular chi.ken_.
differences of long standing between I ., ,.
L. u au *. 4. I Besides awarding free trips to
the Bluffton oar am a prize winners, the local deal
partment of education which had their I of each wjnner
ramifications in the tangled Orange I iyen free t()
township school controversy.
The differences arising between the I
Bluffton board and the state depart-1
ment relative to the attendance here I
of Orange township pbpils began sev-l
eral years ago when the Orange town-1
ship rural schools were abondonedl ated in the wedding of Miss Evelyn
and the territory-^ rg|g||prred to the I Pifer, youngest daughter of Mr. and
Union tqwnship «noJl district. I Mrs. Milton N. Pifer of Orange town-
Orange Pupils Sent Here I ship and Dr. Robert Long, only son
At that time a number of Orange! of Dr. and Mrs. B. A. Long of Lima,
township residents who objected tol The ceremony was solemnized be
the transfer of the district to Unionl fore an altar banked with flowers at
township sent their children to the I the home of the bride’s parents, Sat
Bluffton schools. I urday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Rev.
During their attendance at school I Cornelius N. Bakker, pastor of Mar
ihere the Orange township pupils pro-1 het Street Presbyterian church of
I vided their own transportation and! Lima officiated in the single ring
also entered into a contract with the! ceremony.
Bluffton board for the payment of tu-l The bride wore a gown of white
ition. The tuition, however, was nev-l satin and lace made with a long full
er collected by the Bluffton board. I skirt and fitted bodice and carried a
Tuition in the chool here, based onl shower boquet of white roses.
actual cost, amounts to approximately! Following the ceremony a reception
i $3.35 per pupil per month. For eachljn honor of the bride and groom was
pupil attending school here the board! held at the home of the bride’s par
of education is entitled to receive!entSt after which Dr. and Mrs. Long
from the state foundation fund a pay-1 ieft on a motor trip thru Michigan,
ment of approximately $6 per month.I por her traveling ensemble
Will Attend Lions
Meet In Pittsburgh
Hold Model Airplaine
It was this $6 per month for the 371 Long wore a black and white pin
Orange township pupils which thelstripe(j dress with white accessories,
state department of education con-1 The bride is a graduate of Rawson
tended it was not liable by reason of I high school and Bluffton college. For
the failure of the Bluffton board of I the past four years she has been home
education to collect the monthly tui-l economics instructor in McComb high
tion of $3.35. I schoo.
Following the Supreme court de-1 pr. Long is a graduate of Lima
cision last month the state depart-1 Central high school, attending Bluff
ment reversed its stand and funds|ton college and graduate from Ohio
being withheld will be paid as soon as I state unvicersity college of dental
routine details have been worked out. I surgery. He is a member of Delta
ICINITY
ual observers scanning the sky about
dusk were astonished to see a pear
shaped ball of fire with a long tail
streak across the heavens for a
2,000 to be Paid to Bluffton I of several seconds c,early vis’
r, I Able from the zenith to the horizon,
Schools from State Founda- traveling from west and dis.
tion und I appeared in a flash and sudden burst
______ I of light.
I Where the meteor fell is a matter
lOranae Two Man Wins
Unp lo World’s Fair
I ... .-
I __________
Cdding 1 OllOWS
a
I Sigma Delta fraternity.
Four Bluffton Lions and their I Mian tribe, who was a valiant war
I nor and noted for his intemperance,
wives will leave next Monday for"
Pittsburgh to attend the annual sum
mer convention of Lions clubs.
The Bluffton representation will
consist of District Governor and
Mrs. Forrest Steinman, District
Treasurer and Mrs. E. S. Lape and
daughter Betty, Mr. and Mrs. Homer I yn honor of their
Gratz and Mr. and Mrs. Paul I njVersary, Mr. and
Stauffer. Iman will hold open
Following the lose of the conven-1 ternoon at their home
tion the latter part of the week, Mr. Itownsh
and Mrs. Lape and daughter will I Bluffton,
motor thru the east and visit the I Both Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are
World’s fair in New York city. I members of pioneer families of the
NEWS
Brilliant Meteor Flashes Across
Northern Sky Tuesday Evening
it—that meteor that
the northern sky
at 8:45 o’clock. Cas­
also
College Romance]
Bluffton college romance culmin­
Mrs.
Idaho City Named for Indian
The name Pocatello was taken
from a famous chief of the Bannock
I Bluffton district. Mrs. Hartman be-
rr /J---------------A fore her marriage was Celia Wilkins,
Contest On July 231
,iauglll, of Abioiom wuh™
--------I the son of Francis Hartman of Or-
Arrangements are being made tolange township. Both are now 7
hold a model airp'aine flying contest years of age.
here on Sunday, July 23, it was an
nounced the first of the week.
Entries in the contest will be open I cousin of Mrs. Hartman on
to all interested in Bluffton and vi-| 1884. Rev. Hill officiated,
cinity. Marion Burkholder, director I After the wedding, Mr.
of the contest is in charge of ar-1 went to Wood county where
rangements.
Union township. Her husband was
that it was located in the northern
skies and it is believed that it fell
to earth somewhere in Canada.
So brilliant was the meteor that
some observers thought it was an
airplane.
The meteor is the second to be
seen here this summer. On Satur
day evening, June 3, a large meteor
was seen by a number of Bluffton
residents in the northwestern sky.
Although not as widely visible as the
one Tuesday night, nevertheless it
lighted the sky brilliantly and was
believed to have fallen somewhere
in Northwestern Ohio.
Mennonites To Hold
Youth Conference
Mennonite young people of Ohio
and Indiana will hold a two-day
youth conference at the Grace church
in Pandora, Saturday and Sunday.
Sessions will open Saturday after
noon at 3:30 and continue in the
evening with a social mixer scheduled
at 5 p. m. between the two meetings.
Meetings will also be held Sun
day afternoon at 3 o’clock and in
the evening at 8 p. m. Rev. A. C.
Schultz of the Bluffton college fac
ulty will be the principal speaker,
delivering addresses at the evening
meetings on Saturday and Sunday.
Churches participating in the con
ference include: First Mennonite and
Ebenezer of Bluffton St. John and
Grace of Pandora also churches in
New Stark, Dalton, Lima, Trenton,
Ohio Berne, Nappane and Goshen,
Indiana.
Sales Tax Man To
Be Here Next Week
Francis J. Huret, manager of the
department of taxation office, Lima,
announced that a sales tax examiner
will be in Bluffton to assist vendors
with their semi-annual sales tax
port for the period January 1
June 30.
Couple Will Celebrate 55th
Wedding Anniversary Sunday
55th wedding an
Mrs. Wm. Hart
house Sunday af
in Orange
four miles south east of
The couple were married in Ottawa
at the home of C. Dwight House, a
July 13,
Hartman
he clear­
ed an eighty acre farm and built a
later than July 31. Failure to
on or before this date subjects
vendor to a penalty of $1
until the report is filed.
Sood Place to
Good Place to
re
to
be
Examiner C. L. Elicker, will
here at the Mayor’s office next Mon
day and Tuesday for the convenience
of vendors in Bluffton and vicinity.
Sales tax reports must be filed
not
file
the
day
per
Special School For
Children Moves Here
A school for handicapped children
operated in Lima for the past two
years by Mrs. W. H. Gratz of Bluff
ton has been moved here.
The school is occupying the former
A. D. Lugibihl residence property on
Lawn avenue and began operation in
its rfew location, Monday.
The institution is known as the
“Gratz Home School for Handicapped
Childrne” and has a capacity of from
eight to ten pupils who board and
room at the school.
Instruction adapted for children of
defective speech, mentally retarded
and deaf and hard of hearing.
The school, operated as a private
institution is in charge of Mrs.
Gratz, a specialist in this work. She
has previously taught in special
schools in Ohio cities under the
state department of education and
also in other states.
Births
The following births at
ton Community hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Geiser,
ton, son, Tuesday.
Bluff­
Bluff
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Guider, south
of Bluffton, daughter, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Peterson,
Findlay, a daughter, born Monday.
log cabin on a tract of land owned by
his father.
Mr. and Mra. Hartman moved to
their new home on the following
Thanksgiving day, taking three loads
of household goods with them. The
couple recall that they sat on
banks of the Blanchard river to
their Thanksgiving dinner.
the
eat
After living in Wood county for
five years. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman re
turned to Orange township where
they resided for 18 years on the W.
W. Eaton farm. They then purchas
ed 120 acres from the Chris Swank
tract in the same township, living
there eleven years.
Selling this farm they purchased
the Adam Bame property on Jefferson
street and 22 adjoining acres ami
moved to Bluffton. After living in
(Continued on page 8)
NUMBER 11
MAY COMPROMISE
SCHOOL DEADLOCK
I
Basis for Settlement of Orange
Twp. School Controversy
May be Found
Meeting of Hancock County
Board of Education Next
Saturday Significant
1 hat the four yearold deadlock in
the Orange township school contro
versy will be broken at the meeting
of the Hancock county board of edu
cation at Findlay, Saturday, is viewed
here as a strong possibility this week.
Results of the board meeting, it is
believed, will provide a definite clue
as to whether the board will take
steps this summer toward the trans
fer of disputed school territory from
the Union township district to the
Bluffton district.
Basis for any possible action of
the board looking toward a settle
ment of the differences will lie, it is
believed in a compromise offered by
Orange township residents at a meet
ing of the board last month.
Compromise Offered
Suggestion of the Orange township
objectors was that areas in which a
preponderance of electors favor af
filiation with the Union township dis
trict, having changed since the origin
al petitions for transfer were set up,
be permitted to remain in that dis
trict. Other areas involved, howev
er, which have
ment should be
ton district for
not changed in senti
assigned to the Bluff
school purposes.
the compromise was
At the time
submitted, it was indicated that no
action would be taken at that time
pending consideration of its provis
ions.
Since that time there has been no
indication as to what course the board
proposes to follow. Leaders of the
Orange township opposition, likewise
are voicing no comment.
it is generally assumed that the
board’s meeting Saturday
vide the cue for the future
those residents who have been at log
gerheads with the board.
However,
will pro
course of
Point to Court Verdict
i Following the Ohio Supreme court
verdict a month ago in which the
Hancock county board of education
was ordered to transfer disputed por
tions of Marion township school dis
trict to Findlay, Orange township pro
ponents seeking transfer of their ter
ritory to Bluffton have declared that
the two cases are parallel.
New legal counsel, it is understood,
has been retained by the Orange
I township objectors to press their
claim in court if necessary. However,
it is said that an attempt will first
be made to adjust the matter without
litigation if possible.
100 Here For Week's
Youth Conference
A gathering of 100 Presbyterian
young people are attending a youth
conference of that denomination in
session on the Bluffton college cam
pus this week.
Attendance this year shows a
marked increase over that of the
conference held here a year ago.
Young people of high school age
from Presbyterian congregations of
Northwestern Ohio are spending the
week here under direction of a
group of leaders and teachers.
Boys are quartered in Lincoln hall,
men’s dormitory of the college and
the girls at Ropp hall.
Object of the conference is the dis
cussion of religious and social prob
lems on a Christian basis.
Mornings are spent in study and
-class discussion with recreation pro
grams in the afternoon and get to
gether meetings in the evening. The
conference will close next Monday
morning.
Three Year Contract
As School Principal
Murray, formerly of
has been principal of
of Washington Court
Aaron B.
Bluffton who
the schools
House for the past two years has
signed a contract to continue as prin
cipal of school at that place for the
next three years.
Murray is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
H. G. Murray of North Jackson
street and has held responsible
school administrative positions at dif
ferent cities in Ohio. He and his
family have spent the past week
visiting relatives in Bluffton and
Ottawa.
Specific Gravity of Blood
specific gravity of blood de
upon the quantity of haemo
present. Normally it is be
1.055 and 1.060.
The
pends
globin
tween