The Bluffton news. [volume], December 14, 1939, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXIV
YULETIBE SPIRIT
QUICKENS TOWN
Santa Claus and Free Picture
Shows for Children Sat
urday Afternoon
Approach of Christmas Reflect
ed in Stores and Holiday
Decorations
Christmas decorations in the down
town district, the arrival of Santa
Claus last Saturday, hosts of shop
pers in local stores, and a general
quickening in the public pulse all
bespeak the approaching Yuletide
with its mixture of religious por
tent and the gaiety of celebration.
Bluffton’s business has been show
ing the stimulus of Christmas shop
ping for the last five days, with the
peak expected this Saturday and the
next week.
Show windows and shop interiors
in the downtown district reflect the
atmosphere of the Christmas-tide
and the streets are dressed in
Christmas lights and finery in keep
ing with the season.
Altho home and lawn decorations
are not yet in evidence generally,
the next week is expected to produce
u colorful Yuletide setting thruout
the entire residential district.
Oratorio Sunday
Opening the town’s musical ob
servance of the Yuletide, the Bluff
ton College Choral society will pre
sent its annual Christmas rendition
of Handel’s oratorio, “The Messiah”,
this Sunday night in the hig hschool
gymnasium.
Prof. Russell A. Lantz will direct
a chorus of 175 voices, which will
assist featured soloists in presenta
tion of the oratorio.
The Christmas mailing rush is be
ginning to make itself felt at the
post office, but the heaviest influx of
incoming mail is not expected until
the latter part of next week.
Santa Claus will be in the down
town district this Saturday after
noon, and on Saturday of the follow’
ing week to talk to kiddies regard
ing the all-important item of
Christmas presents. Free movies for
children will be shown each Saturday
afternoon in the Star theatre with the
first show starting at 2 p. m.
Lions To Hear Of
War Seme On Sea
An unscheduled mystery cruise on
a German liner sailing the high seas
at the outbreak of the present Euro
pean war will be described at a din
ner meeting of the Bluffton Lions
club at 6:15 p. m. next .Tuesday in
the Walnut Grill.
Father Robert Maher, pastor of
the St. Marys Catholic church of
Bluffton, will be the narrator.
Father Maher had embarked on a
German owned vacation cruise liner
just before the war broke out and
the ship was far from its New York
port when hostilities opened.
To avoid possible capture by
British ships, the passenger boat
steamed about for several days, far
off regulai’ passenger lanes, and
finally landed its passengers in Cuba,
instead of at a United States port
With The Sick
Miss Ruth Lambertus, instructor
in public school music here is ill at
her home in Toledo. She expects to
resume her teaching duties after the
holidays. During her absence work
of her department will be carried on
by student instructors from Bluff
ton college.
Mrs. G. T. Soldner who has been
critically ill at her home on Cherry
street following a paralytic stroke
two weeks ago was reported some
what improved Wednesday morning.
Mrs. G. W. Combs is recovering
from injuries as the result of a fall
from a step ladder at her home on
South Main street recently.
Mrs. Katherine Badertscher a pa
tient in the Bluffton hospital for the
past eight weeks as a result of in
juries received in a fall down a
flight of stairs, was removed to her
home on South Jackson street, Sat
urday.
Pandora Man Champ
U. S. Sheep Shearer
Roland Burkhart, 27, of Pandora,
a left-hander, won the national sheep
shearing contest held in connection
with the International Livestock ex
position at Chicago, last week.
Burkhart won the state champion
ship this fall, and went on to win
the national title in last week’s meet.
He received a prize of $100.
4—.
College Choral Society In 37th
Season Has
First Snow’ Of
Holiday Season
Seen Wednesday
ONOW—the first of the holiday
season, fell in Bluffton, Wed
nesday morning, after a pro
longed period o springlike
weather. Altho melting as rapid
ly as it fell, the snow is believed
to be the first indication of tra
ditional Christmas weather dur
ing the pre-holiday season.
Seen and Overheard
at Bluffton Fair
Glimpses, Notes, Gossip and Ob
servations Among Exhibits and
Exhibitors
Weather—that extremely uncerta n
factor which so profoundly influences
human affairs and enterprises, was
kind to Bluffton’s Agricultural fair
this year. With exception of a heaxy
fog on Wednesday morning, the open
ing day of the fair, the weather con
ditions were ideal—in fact the warm
afternoon sunshine on Friday, the
closing day, was more reminiscent of
spring instead of the first week of
December with Christmas a little
more than twro weeks in the offing.
A fine Guernsey calf was born
Thursday morning in the Guernsey
herd exhibited at the fair by Homer
Gratz, who operates a dairy farm
near Bluffton. The calf, a bit wob
bly on its legs, was one of the at
tractions of the dairy cattle show
and was the center of interest espe
cially for children.
And speaking of warm weather the
pet parade with kiddies in gala attire
Friday afternoon reminded one of
Harmon field day, when the schools
close up shop for one day about the
(Continued on page 6)
Club Here Combats
Radio Interference
The Bluffton Amateur Radio
with the cooperation of the munici
pal electric light plant is making a
campaign to eliminate radio inter
ference conflicting with the reception
of broadcasts of Christmas pro
grams.
A committee from the club, con
sisting of Maynard Geiger, Lloyd
Brauen and James Benroth with the
cooperation of Edgar Root of the
municipal plant recently eliminated
a bad case of interference prevalent
in a large section of town.
Anyone having radio interference
of a general nature is invited to
notify Maynard Geiger or any mem
ber of the Radio club which will un
dertake to locate the trouble with
out charge.
Last Rites Monday
For Mrs. D. W. Fox
Funeral services for Mrs. D. W.
Fox, 68, were held at the Diller fun
eral home, Monday afternoon. Rev.
A. K. Beisheim of Bucyrus, former
pastor of the Reformed church here
and Rev. J. A. Weed of the Meth
odist church officiated at the funeral.
Interment was made in Maple Grove,
was in Maple Grove cemetery.
Mrs. Fox died Saturday morning
of a heart ailment at her home on
South Lawn avenue following a five
months’ illness. She was a member
of the Methodist church and also the
Maccabee and Rebekah orders.
Surviving are her husband of this
place, son Cleo Smith of Lima and
daughter Mrs. Augusta Davidson at
home. Also surviving are a sister,
Mrs. Ura David and a brother,
Arthur Fensler, both of Los Angeles,
Calif.
Appreciation
To all those who in any way so
kindly assisted in making the 1939
Mid Winter Fair a success, the
Board of Directors wish to express
their deepest appreciation.
A splendid spirit of cooperation
was shown by all of our business
men throughout the entire session of
the fair.
Dues to the excellent accommoda
tions afforded us and the fine equip
ment so generously furnished for
the comfort of all buildings in which
the exhibits were kept the fair was
made possible.
We sincerely hope that all who at
tended the fair may feel that the
event was worth while
Colorful Background
Group Will Present “The Mes
siah” in Traditional Rendi
tion this Sunday
Society was First Organized in
1902 Many Presentations
Since Then
Thirty-seven years of tradition
will be back of the Bluffton College
Choral Society’s annual rendition of
Handel’s celebrated Christmas ora
torio, “The Messiah”, Sunday night
at 8 o’clock in the Bluffton High
gymnasium.
Organized in 1902, the Choral So
ciety has played a prominent role
in Bluffton musical circles since that
time
In this year’s presentation of “The
Messiah” Prof. Russell A. Lantz will
direct a chorus of 175 voices, one of
the largest in the history of rendi
tions here and four well known
vocalists will sing the solos.
Prof. Lantz said his soloists will
be IxiRean Hodapp, soprano, of the
Westminster Choir school, Princeton,
N. J. Ola L. Moser, contralto, Day
ton concert singer, formerly of Bluff
ton John Gaius Baumgartner, basso,
of the Westminster Choir school,
Princeton, N. J. and James Horton,
tenor, concert singer now on tour
under management of Harry Cul
bertson, Inc., Chicago.
Organized
in
1902
Organization of the Choral So
ciety has an interesting history from
the date of its organization on No
vember 12, 1902, and with each pass
ing season it has become more firm
ly entrenched in community tradition.
The solicitation committee in
charge of organization of the group
in 1902 was made up of Helen Am
stutz, I. B. Beeshy, then head of the
college commercial department Os
win Hilty, Sara Ann Burkholder and
Edith McPeak, instructor in Latin
and dean of women at the college.
First officers were D. F. Jantzen,
president D. C. Welty, secretary
C. D. Hilty, treasurer and A. J.
Gerber, N. C. Hirschy and Oswald
Hilty, business committee.
Prof. Guy C. Latchaw, of Findlay
college, was director of the group
and he served in that capacity until
1904. Sidney Hauenstein, professor
of instrumental music at the col
lege now, made his first appearance
with the group in 1904 as a violin
1W5
First presentation of “The Mes
siah” was made on Jan. 25, 1905,
with a chorus of 31 and no orches
tra. Soloists were Mrs. Leah Pick
ett, Miss Millie Sonntag and John F.
Jones. Edgar Hauenstein was the
accompanist.
John F. Jones directed the choral
society from 1905 until 1909, and
during that time many oratorios and
cantatas were presented. In Han
del’s “Judas Maccabaeus”, given in
1908, Miss Zanna Staater was a
soloist.
Mark Evans took over the director
ship in 1910, and was conductor un
til 1913. “Elijah” was presented by
(Continued on page 5)
H. S. Seniors To Get
Tuberculosis Test
Tests for tuberculosis will be avail
able without cost to each member of
the Bluffton high school senior class
it was announced Monday night when
the Bluffton board of education
adopted a resolution approving the
procedure.
The tests will be made by the
Allen county health commissioner
and are sponsored by the Allen
County Tuberculosis and Health as
sociation, which conducts the sale of
Christmas seals each year.
Harry Meredith, Lima attorney
and president of the organization
appeared before the school board
Monday night, explaining the pro
posal.
Consent of the pupil’s parents will
be required before the test is given
and forms authorizing such consent
are being sent to parents for their
signature this week.
The tests will begin shortly after
the holidays according to present
plans. Because of limited funds, the
tests are now open only to the
senior class however they will be
available to all pupils in the schools
as soon as possible.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Milo Lora of near
Columbus Grove are the parents of
a son born at the Bluffton hospital,
Monday.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Roy Rogers north of Bluffton at the
hospital here, Tuesday.
THE BLUFBTUN 1NEW5
A NEWSPAPER DKVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
*5 BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1939
0 ..... .....
STRAW SELLS AT
HAY PRICE LEVEL
Former Farm By-product of
Little Market Value Now
Equal of Hay
Decreased Supply and Increased
Industrial Demand Result
In Rise
Straw—long regarded pricipally as
a farm by-product with ittle or no
cash value—has suddenly abandoned
its minor role and is selling in the
markets on a cash level comparable
with that of hay. Prices for both
commodities are now in the neigh
borhood of $7 per ton.
Just how far the pendulum has
swung toward higher prices was dem
onstrated at Bluffton’s fair last week
when exhibitors were reported to be
paying around forty cents a bale for
straw for bedding livestock exhibits.
This is more than double the price of
a year ago.
Within recent years straw has sold
as low as two cents a bale, farmers
declared.
New Products Arise
The variation in the price of straw,
it is pointed out is another manifesta
tion of the topsy turvy condition of
the farm market situation which is
seeing new products taking a large
part of the place formerly held by
the old-time standard crops of wheat,
corn and oats.
Soybeans, little more than an ag
ricultural novelty not so many years
ago will bulk large in acreage during
the coming year due to market de
mand and resultant high price.
Just what will happen to straw,
farmers as yet are not so sure. Its
present price level is due to scarcity,
it is admitted, together with an indus
trial demand for the commodity
that is steadily increasing. However,
whether this situation is as easily met
as will be the demand for soybreans,
remains to be seen.
Wheat Restrictions Hit Straw
Present farming practices, together
with the federal program of restrict
ed wheat arcreage have combined to
make a drastic cut in the supply of
straw.
Curtailing of the straw crop, a nat
uarl result of the restriction of wheat
acreage, has been further aggravated
by combine harvesting of wheat which
leaves the straw ig the field.
z The industrialism: "d for straw
comes prTcFpatTy from the growing de
mand for the products in the making
of boxboards and paper cartons. With
1 many factories engaged in the manu
favture of this commodity in northern
Ohio and Michigan, buyers have been
scouring this section for available
straw.
Buyers Seek Straw Supply
Farmers in this vicinity are being
offered a price of about fifteen cents
a bale for straw in the stack with a
variation of price upwards for new’
straw’ of good quality.
As a result this demand, the straw
stack, always a familiar part of the
barnyard scene, has in many instances
disappeared. Such stacks as now re
main are there presumably, because
the owner has refused to sell. Some
fanners already short of straw for
winter bedding for livestock are re
ported as having considerable difficul
ty in obtaining an available supply.
Louise Dunifon Wins
Allen Peace Contest
Louise Dunifon, Bluffton High
school senior, w’on the Allen county
Prince of Peace declamation contest
in competition at Lima last Sunday.
Her victory marked the second
successive year that Bluffton has had
a winner in the county. Last year
Herbert Oyer qualified for the dis
trict meet.
Jeanne Baumgartner, also a Bluff
ton senior, placed second in county
competition. She is tfie alternate in
the first bracket, the ^unty contests
having been held in two divisions
this year. District competition will
be the second week in January.
Husband Of Former
Resident Succumbs
Funeral services were held Satur
day afternoon in. Lima for Wilbur
Nye, 45, whose wife, Opal Akerman
Nye, was a former Bluffton resident.
Nye, employed in a Lima bank,
died at his home in that place Thurs
day morning following a stroke
which he suffered two days previous.
His w’ife will be remembered here
as the daughter of the late Clyde
Akerman superintendent of the Bluff
ton public school from 1900-06.
Besides his wife, he is survived
by two half-brothers.
The old John Keim property which
stood for years at the corner of
North Main and Washington streets
is being torn down to make way
for a gasoline filling station.
The residence, one of the land
marks remaining from the days of
early Bluffton is said to be one of
the town’s oldest dwellings. Known
as the John Keim residence, it was
occupied for many years after his
death by his daughter the late Miss
Contributions Asked
For Xmas Baskets
Christmas baskets to needy fami
lies in the Bluffton district will be
sent this year by the Federated
Women’s clubs, it w-as announced by
Mrs. Guy Corson, president of the
federation.
Donations of foodstuffs, toys and
money are needed, Mrs. Corson said.
All contributions should be left at
the Mayor’s office not later than
noon on Saturday, December 23.
Bring Remains Here
For Burial Tuesday
Remains of Mrs. Ruth Dukes
Mohler of Lima, formerly of Bluffton
w-ere brought here Tuesday after
noon for burial in Maple Grove cem
etery. Mrs. Mohler died at her
home in Lima following an illness
of tw’o years. Her husband, Harry
Mohler, Lima florist, was also form
erly from Bluffton.
Funeral services w-ere held in
Lima Tuesday afternoon with Rev.
Clarence Grauser of Trinity Metho
dist church of that city officiating.
Services were in charge of the Lima
Eastern Star chapter of which Mrs.
Mohler was a member.
Surviving besides her husband are
two daughters, Gathlyn at home and
Mrs. Joseph Uhl of Lima also two
sisters, Mrs. G. W. Combs of Bluff
ton and Mrs. Ralph Spellman of Co
lumbus one brother, Lewis Dukes
of Pandora stepmother, Mrs. L. S.
Dukes of Findlay and two grand
sons, David and Joe Uhl.
Early Bluffton Home Disappears
To Make Way For Filling Station
Pet Parade Is Outstanding
Attraction At Close Of Fair
Orange Red Cross
Roll Call Nets $85
The sum of $85.03 was received
from Red Cross memberships in
Orange township in the roll call
canvass completed the first of the
week it was announced by Mrs. J.
A. Warren, township chairman.
Contributions from various dis
tricts were:
Main district—Alma Schaller, so
licitor, $10.33.
Black district—John Koch, Mrs.
A. S. Pifer, $8.80.
Stratton district—J. A Warren,
$13.60.
Ew’ing district—Mell Long, $11.70.
Center district—Mrs. Fred Bout
well, W. O. Bigger, $10.25.
Baptist—Mrs. Edgar Pifer, $10.35.
Punkinhook—Mrs. Harvey Gallant,
$6.25.
Owlsburg—Mrs. Park Slusser,
$5.25.
Dally—Clyde Klingler, $8.50.
Funeral At Pandora
For Elizabeth Hilty
Funeral services for Miss Eliza
beth Hilty, 28, daughter of Christian
C. Hilty of Pandora will be held at
the Grace Mennonite church at that
place on Thursday afternoon at 2
o’clock.
Miss Hilty died in a Detroit sani
tarium, Tuesday morning following
an extended illness. The body was
brought to the home of her father,
Wednesday.
Rev. Paul Whitmer will officiate
at the funeral services and inter
ment will be in Pleasant Ridge
cemetery.
She was a graduate of Pandora
high school in the class of 1930 and
a member of Grace church.
Surviving are two brothers: Fred
of Chicago and Walden Hilty of East
Orange, N. J., and two sisters, Mrs.
Edwin Schutz of Pandora and Miss
Gertrude Hilty at home.
Wedding Announced
Announcement has been made of
the recent marriage of Gerald Hu
ber, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl
K. Huber of this place to Miss
Idonne Eyer of Lima, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. George Eyer of Kalida.
The couple will reside in Lima where
he is employed.
Linda Keim who was a sister of
Adam Keim, pioneer Bluffton cob
bler.
The real estate was recently pur
chased by the Gulf oil interests who
will erect a filling station on the
site. Contract for construction of
the station is held by Kenneth But
ler, Dayton contractor. John E.
Steiner is in charge of tearing down
the house which will be completed
this week.
Gaily Bedecked Animals and
Little Folk are Feature
Friday Afternoon
More than 100 Children from
Grade Schools Participate
In Event
Gaily bedecked kittens, dogs, tur
tles, goats and chickens—not to men
tion a host of story-book characters
were seen in the pet parade which
closed Bluffton’s annual Agricultural
fair, Friday afternnon.
The pet parade, inaugurated last
year, is rapidly becoming one of the
outstanding attractions of the fair
and follows the regular parade of
livestock thru the downtown business
section. Crowds packed the side
walks to view- the children.
More than 100 youngsters from
kindergarden to the upper grades
participated and the judges consist
ing of Mrs. Harry Bogart, William
Edwards and Forrest Steinman found
it difficult to decide the winners.
The following prize winners were
named:
First Grade—1st, Ann Basinger
(rabbit) 2nd, Carol Sechler (dog)
3rd, Sue Risser (two turtles).
Second Grade—1st, Jane Risser
(puss in boots) 2nd, Lorine Reed
(white dog) 3rd, Paul Pursell.
Third Grade—1st, Robert Neuen
schwander (collie pup) 2nd, Treva
Althaus 3rd, Janette Finton.
Fourth Grade—1st, Donald Herr
(dressed as hunter) 2nd, Marilyn
Fett 3rd, Kenneth and John Bracy.
Fifth Grade—1st, Joe Bronson and
Robert Coon (had pigeons) 2nd,
Paul Don Bixel and Richael Reagan
3rd, June Sechler.
Sixth Grade—1st, Junior Moser and
Elise Chamberlain (drawing girl wo
decorated wagon) 2nd, Margaret
and Morris Gromann 3rd, Donald
Root.
Seventh and Eighth Grades—Peggy
Finton (dressed as a cat) 2nd, Rob
ert Gratz (mule and buggy) 3rd,
Miriam Schaublin.
Grand prize—Junior Moser and
Elise Chamberlain.
Six From Here On
County Jury Panel
Six Bluffton area persons were in
cluded in the panel of grand and
petit juries selected during the past
week in the common pleas court
room by Jury Commissioners R. R.
Schryer and B. B. Harsch.
Sidney Huber, Route 2, Bluffton,
was included in the grand jury
panel.
Among the petit jurors were Allen
Beeshy, Bluffton Clara Jennings,
Beaverdam A. J. Watt, Lafayette,
and Albert Althaus, Route 2, Colum
bus Grove.
In New Locations
Reno Oberly and family have
moved from near Ottawa to the Miss
Zanna Staater farm, known as the
Hews farm, north of Bluffton in
Union township.
Aldine Weiss and family have
moved from the Althaus heirs prop
erty on West Elm street to the
property formerly occupied by Ed
Zweibel and family of Riley street.
The Zweibel family recently moved to
Knox, Pa., where they will reside.
Oda St. John of McComb who pur
chased the Gid Kempf farm north
of Bluffton in Union township moved
on the place Tuesday.
Lloyd Van Meter who occupied the
Kempf farm moved Tuesday to the
Kiene farm east of Pandora.
Oren Core who occupied the Kiene
farm has moved to the E. J. Miller
farm north of Pandora.
Red Cross Roll Call
The Red Cross Roll Call will re
main open this week and anyone
wishing to contribute may leave same
at Sidney’s Drug shop.
The committee wishes to thank the
solicitors and those joining the
membership roll call.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live and a
Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 33
CHRISTMAS MAIL
RUSH IS HERE
Holiday Mail at Postoffice
Earlier Than Usual, Post
master Says
Many Parcels Being Sent From
Bluffton Greeting Cards
Already in Mail
Campaigns of past years urging
early Christmas mailing are bearing
fruit if the early pickup in business
at the Bluffton post office can be
taken as a criterion, it was pointed
out this week.
Postal employes here have report
ed a noticeable increase in the vol
ume of first and third class mail,
and many Christmas packages are
being handled daily.
Queer as it may seem, Christmas
cards already are being received
here for delivery, and many are be
ing mailed, altho the principal rush
at the present is in handling pack
ages.
Heaviest Rush Coming
Last year most of the Yuletide
mailing rush was concentrated in
the four days immediately preced
ing Christmas, and it is hardly likely
that the situation will vary greatly
this season.
Thus far, the greatest increase in
holiday mailing has been reflected
principally in outgoing parcels and
letters. The heaviest rush in Bluff
ton deliveries will come the latter
part of next week, altho the volume
of incoming mail is increasing daily.
This year the post office depart
ment is stressing the advisibility of
mailing Christmas greeting cards by
first class mail, instead of third
class.
Advise First Class
In addition to adding dignity to
the measure, first class mail assures
preference in delivery, makes it
possible to include written messages,
and there is the assurance that the
envelope will be forwarded if the
addressee has moved, or the address
is incorrect.
Many cards sent at third-class
rates are disposed of as waste each
year because they are undeliverable
as addressed, and such greetings are
not entitled to free forwarding priv
ileges, the post office department an
nounced.
For those who find they have de-»
layed over long in mailing parcels'
or cardf, vpecial delivery and air
mail service is offered by the post
office, Postmaster Ed R. ^Reichenbach
said.
As a final reminder to those who
have not yet completed their mailing,
it was urged this week that all let
ters, cards and packages be care
fully addressed and mailed with suf
ficient postage.
It will facilitate handling mail at
the local post office if first and third
class mail are separated when being
mailed.
Former Resident
Succumbs In Lima
Mrs. Mary Meier John, 57, former
Bluffton resident and sister of Mrs.
Minnie Nicholson and Mrs. Emma
Amstutz of this place died at her
home in Lima, Sunday morning fol
lowing an illness of ten months.
Mrs. John was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. David Meier, early
Bluffton residents. The family lived
on West Elm street where Post
master Ed Reichenbach now resides.
She is survived by her husband,
N. G. John, son Jesse at home and
two stepsons, Richard of Lima and
Harold John of Tiffin three daugh
ters Mrs. Kenard Spees, Mrs. Mary
John DeLong and Mrs. Lester Hol
land all of Lima.
Besides her two sisters of Bluffton
she is survived by a sister Mrs.
Clara Evans of Maywood, Calif., and
one brother Robert Meier of Ligion
ier, Indiana.
Funeral services were held in
Lima, Tuesday followed by burial in
Shawnee cemetery.
Christmas Health Seals
To friends of good health, just a
word. Buy now the penny Christ
mas Health Seals and so get and
give good health, as a gift this
Christmas.
Christmas seals pay dividends
throughout the year in protecting
your home and your family from
tuberculosis. Buy the Christmas
seals today, for use on Christinas
packages and letters. A Merry
Christmas and healthy New Year
for us all.