The Bluffton news. [volume], October 09, 1941, Image 3

About The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current

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THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1941
Sears Roebuck & Co., has come
to mean more than a name and a
catalog to quite a few Bluffton
people since the auto accident near
ly two weeks ago when Mrs. Vera
Houser, wife of a vice president of
the Chicago mail order house was
badly injured. Mrs. Houser, un
conscious since the accident in which
she received a fractured skull was
removed from Bluffton hospital to
Chicago in an ambulance, Tuesday.
Her husband, Theodore Houser,
took up residence at the McElroy
tourist lodge on South Main street
in order to be with his wife during
the time she was in the hospital
here. A daughter who is attending
Denison university at Granville was
here over Sunday. On leaving Tues
day Mr. Houser expressed apprecia
tion for the consideration and cour
tesy which they had received dur
ing their stay here.
You football fans who follow the
Big Ten, keep your eye on Minnesota
this fall—the Gophers have the best
line since they showed the confer
ence how it was done back in 1935.
And you may take that as the low
down opinion from Bernie Bierman,
Minnesota head coach himself. The
information reaches this column
from Mrs. I. W. Geiger of Minnea
polis. The Geigers and the Bier
mans are neighbors and the four
Geiger boys and the Biermans’ sons
are chums. The redoubtable Bernie
predicts that the team which shows
it heels to Minnesota this year will
have to have plenty of class.
Do you know what the “brig” is?
If you don’t just ask Joe Swank in
training at Great Lakes Naval Sta
tion. From Joe’s description it’s a
combination of a jail, hoosegow,
calaboose and anything else of that
stripe—where the navy’s bad boys
are kept. Not that Joe’s ever been
in it—for he hasn’t.
Joe, you will remember, was the
honor man of his company—but
nevertheless it’s an easy matter to
inadvertently overstep regulations
and find oneself slapped in the brig.
That's why Joe kept a weather eye
on the clock during his week end
here. You see Joe had a 36-hour
leave—36 hours all his own but not
one minute longer. If you happen
to report five minutes late—it’s the
brig for you, Joe says.
By the time you read this you will
know whether your drains are in
good working order—that is, if you
live in Bluffton. The rain Monday
night was the nearest to a cloud
burst seen in these parts for quite
a spell. Weather reports say nearly
3**_ inches of water fell during the
late afternoon and early evening.
Main street was flooded from curb
to curb but the worst of the deluge
was on North Lawn avenue at the
foot of Vine street where water
stood in the street up to the running
board of several cars stalled in the
flood, and ran over lawns and into
basement windows.
Looks as if there will be plenty
of headaches at the high school if
the present craze for drum major
ing—or drum majoretting—continues
to grow. Last week there were six
girls, mainly eighth grade and
freshman, practicing twirling the
shiny stick. The first of this week
MUNSON R. BIXEL, M. D.
Office Hours: 8:30-10 A. M.
1-3 P. M. 7-8 P. M.
Office, 118 Cherry St.
Phone 120-F Bluffton, O.
Francis Basinger, D. D. S.
Evan Basinger, D. D. S.
Telephone 271-W
Bluffton, Ohio
Melville D. Soash, M. D.
The Commercial Bank Bldg.
Bluffton, Ohio
X-RAY FLUOROSCOPE
Telephone 254-W
D. C. BIXEL, O. D.
GORDON BIXEL, O.D.
Citizens Bank Bldg., Bluffton
EYESIGHT SPECIALISTS
Eyes Exmined Without Drops
Office Houre: 8:30 A. M.—5:30 P. M.
7:30 P. M.—8:30 P. M.
INSURANCE
Insure your car with
AETNA
and know that you are
SAFE
Also Fire and Windstorm
Insurance.
Notary Public
F. S. HERR
AGENT
Phone 363-W
there were eight—no one knows how
many there will be by the time you
read this. To do a job of drum
majoring even tolerably well re
quires a lot of practice and the girls
are wise in getting an early start
so they may be able to perform in
public by time they are upperclass
men.
And with the drum majoring
comes a call in some quarters for a
marching band at the high school.
But that, brother, is where you get
into the money. The high school
band lacks sufficient uniforms to
outfit the band. And the uniforms
which they now have are worn and
outmoded. If we are going to have
a marching band which will make a
presentable appearance on the field
at football games there should be
about forty new uniforms of up to
date design. That’s going to make
a sizable bill for someone especially
with prices now on the up and up.
During Monday night’s downpour,
Gene Benroth of North Lawn avenue
rushed to the town council to register
a complaint to the city fathers about
sewer capacity being inadequate along
this thorfare. Gene was too late for
council had adjourned. He was tell
ing members of the council who were
still lingering in the city building
that water was two feet deep in the
street and was pouring over the curb
into his new basement. The Editor
of the News overheard the conversa
tion and believing Gene had stretched
the truth went down to investigate
for himself. Gene was right for
“Ted’s” machine become stranded in
the middle of the lake in front of the
Benroth property.
We don’t know whether it’s a rec
ord or not but we do know that 343
feet is a long distance for a soap bub
ble to travel. While blowing soap
bubbles recently, Mary Bauman, dau
ghter of Dr. and Mrs. I. W. Bauman
of Jackson street, sent one sailing in
to thte air for a distance of better than
100 yards before it was broken by hit
ting the branches of a tree. So en
thused was Mary about the feat that
she measured the distance covered by
the bubble and found it to be exactly
343 feet.
While driving home the other day
Noah Steiner had the embarrassing
experience of having his auomobile
horn stick with a continuous blast,
causing neighbors and pedestrians to
look at the car with wonder and
amazement. Unable to stop the con
traption Steiner turned around and
drove to the Fred Martin residence
wher Fred made a quick adjustment
to put the noisy gaget out of com
mission.
After staying away from home for
over two months, a tame rabbit be
longing to Robt. Lee, living tmo miles
west of town, returned to the fold this
week when Robert caught his pet
cornered it a fence.
A football game of gigantic pro
portions was played by youngster
teams representing the Mennonites
and Methodists met on the college
grounds last Saturday. The fighting
Mennonite aggregation won 66 to 0.
On the Mennonite team were Neal
Schmidt, Otto Klassen, Harley Stein
er Lenoy Loganbill, Robert Ramsey
er, Addison Myers, Evan Niswander,
Robert Fisher, Harold Hartman, Gor
don Bixel. Playing with the Method
ists were Robert Stratton, Charles
Triplehom, Charles Schumacker, Ray
Crouse, Lynn Carmack, Bob Craig,
John Triplehorn, Joe Bronson.
David Stearns was water boy for
the Mennonites.
We never knew before that among
Fred Wenger’s various vocations was
that of milk distributor. In Orville
he and his father were in the milk
delivery business for several years.
At that time distributors used horse
conveyed delivery wagons for the
work and the horses really learned to
know the route, so says Fred.
Anna McGinnis had a swell time at
the Ottawa fair, Saturday, all for 16
cents. She rode the ferns wheel for
a half hour in the rain for a dime and
then spent the other six cents for a
pineapple whip. She says that she
wouldn’t want any better time than
she had Saturday.
John Althaus, residing three ana
one half miles west of town, celebrat
ed his 80th birthday Sunday. De
spite his advancing years Mr. Althaus
is able to do much work around the
farm and enjoys excellent health.
Ph’yllis Hardwick, 12, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hardwick of Rail
road street, accompanies her dad ev
ery Saturday when he goes on the
milk route for Swift & Co. She not
only goes along for the fun of it but
helps out by delivering the butter and
cheese to the various milk patrons
along the route.
Model ship building is the hobby
of John Lugibill, 12, residing four and
one half miles west of town. So far
he has built scal§ models of the Santa
Maria, the Mayflower and a three
masted bark.
Spot, the hitch hiking dog belong
ing to Donald Root of Mound street,
doesn’t like his weekly treatment of
flea powder. He has become so con­
ditioned to the disagreeableness of the
flea powder that all Donald has to
say is the words “flea powder” and
the dog makes for the nearest place
of safety as quickly as possible.
Russel Gratz, Bluffton High school
athlete, was seen in his vari-colored
jallopy just outside the Ottawa fair
grounds repairing a flat tjre which
would have to happen on the day of
a fair. Accompanying Russel and
sharing in his grief were James
Stonehill, James Deppler, Fred and
John Hermann.
While playing football the other
day Maynard Pogue caught a pass
and fell in the midst of a large pile
of over ripe apples.
Mt. Cory School News
Under the baton of Miss Isabelle
Stewart the high school orchestra
has increased considerably since last
year. Many students are taking
advantage of free music lessons on
instruments. Five instruments have
been purchased by the school and
the P. T. A. Those in the orchestra
are as follows:
Director—Miss Stewart.
Pianist—Kenneth Green.
Violins—Thelma Welty, Lois Al
bro, Doris Jean Badertscher, Geral
dine Henry, Pauline Simkins, and
Carolyn Moyer.
Clarinets—Marilyn Reiter, Wanda
Montgomery, and Evelyn Moyer.
Cornets—Robert Powell, Clair
Montgomery, Chloette Wagner,
Floyd Hartman, and Ida Mae
Arnold.
E Flat Alto—Joan Carr.
Piccolo—Lehr Jay Reese.
String Bass—Marilyn Steiner.
Cello—Roberta Manges.
Marimba—Geneice Wagner.
Drums—Albert McMann, Arlo
Dean Cuppies and Betty Edinger.
“Two Minutes To Go” a football
comedy in three acts written by
Charles Burdetter has been picked
as the Public Speaking Class play.
Miss Olive Obee will direct the
production.
Chapel was in charge of Mr. Mc
Kitrick, Friday. The girls’ ensemble
consisting of Betty Edinger, Florice
King, Jo Ann Battles, Carolyn
Moyer, Margery Oberly, and Roberta
Manges sang two numbers which
were “Cornin’ Thru The Rye” and
“Eastern Evening”. Scripture and
prayer were given by Loren Steiner.
Mr. Oxle of Findlay, gave a talk
on typewriters.
James Green, president of the
eighth grade class, suffered a broken
wrist Tuesday noon.
Mt. Cory started out with a bang
in the county football schedule last
Friday by taking McComb 34-0.
Mr. Smith made his annual visit
to the school and snapped pictures
of the classes and different school
organizations Tuesday morning.
The Annual Staff for the 1942
Shamrock was chosen as follows:
Editor-in-Chief—Robert Powel 1.
Junior Editor-in-Chief Carol
Montgomery.
Business Manager—Wanda Mont
gomery.
Junior Business Manager—Ida
Mae Arnold.
Art Editor—Kenneth Green.
Junior Art Editor—Kenneth Wal
ters.
Literary Editor—Jo Ann Battles.
Junior Literary Editor—Betty
Edinger.
Girls’ Sports Editor Norma
Jones.
Boys’ Sports Editor—Jene Jordan.
Circulation Managers Junior
Treece and Marion Marquart.
Snapshot Editors—Carolyn Moyer,
and Evelyn Moyer.
Advertising Managers—Dick Her
man and Lehr Jay Reese.
Features—Robert Albro.
Armorsviile
The L. A. S. and W. M. S. of the
Liberty Chapel church will meet
with Mrs. Gladys Hosofros this
Thursday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl McCafferty,
Mrs. Homer Shelly called on Mrs.
Louie McGinnis Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Hartman call
ed on Mr. and Mrs. Henry Grismore
and family Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Pearl Shook and daughter
took supper with Mr. and Mrs. Ivan
Montgomery and family Saturday
evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schaeublin
called Sunday evening at the H. O.
Hilty home.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Montgomery
and daughter Sue called Sunday
evening on Mrs. Eva Montgomery.
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Klingler called
at the Carl McCafferty home Sun
day evening.
Heaving of wheat in the spring due
to alternate freezing and thawing of
the soil and exposure of the roots to
cold drying winds kill more Ohio
wheat than deep snow or coatings of
ice.
Poultry Tonic
Cod Jiver oil is widely used to
supply vitamin in feeds for live
stock, particularly poultry.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS, BLUFFTON
Bluffton High
Several members of the junior and
senior classes are planning to at
tend high school day at Ohio State
university Saturday, Oct. 18, and
witness the Purdue-Ohio State foot
ball game. James Clark is in charge
of arrangements.
Games were played at a meeting
of the Girls Athletic Association in
the gymnasium Monday night. Mar
garet Burkholder is president of the
club. Miss Harriet Criblez is ad
visor.
Experimentation with the new
laboratory equipment was the center
of activity of the Science club meet
ing held at the high school Tuesday
night. Kenneth Geiger is president
of the organization. Mr. Wilford
Geiger is advisor.
A special assembly was enjoyed
by the students Wednesday morn
ing when Dr. Hardenbrook gave an
illustrated lecture about the myster
ious land of Tibet.
New members will be officially
taken into the Hi-Y club in induction
ceremonies Wednesday night. Of
ficers of the club are Pres., Norman
Beidler Vice-Pres., James Gratz
Program Chairman, Roger Howe
Sec’y., Ned Schultz, Advisor, Ger
hard Buhler.
This week ends the first six weeks’
period and tests are being given in
most classes. Report cards will be
handed out next Wednesday noon.
The second issue of the Cutlass,
school newspaper, will be published
this Friday, it was announced by
Elizabeth Stearns and Margery Nis
wander, co-editors. Normally the
paper is printed every two weeks
I
School Notes
but this year with a restricted
budget it has been necessary to
limit the publication to about once
in every three weeks.
Hot meals are being served at the
high school cafeteria every day. Al
though credit arrangements can be
made the cafeteria has established a
policy of limiting the credit to one
dollar. Ice cream is sold Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.
Members of the seventh grade
have elected a flower committee to
take care of flower arrangements
when any one in the class is sick.
Elected by the class for the com
mittee were Kent Stonehill and
Mary Bauman. Peggy Martin is
president of the class.
The junior high school social
science classes have been engaged
during the past six weeks in a let
ter writing project to different areas
of the country where students ex
change information about hobbies,
industries of the community, geo
graphical conditions of the area, etc.
The most letters received by any
student was Harry Burkholder, who
received four letters and one card
from southern states.
Hundreds Of Mexicans
Working In Beet And
Tomato Fields In Area
(Continued from page 1)
made. The Spanish language with
a dialect peculiar to the home re
gion is the tongue used by the Mex
icans working in this area.
Not knowing the English language,
the Mexicans intermingle with other
residents practically not at all.
Other than working for farmers,
TN THESE UNUSUAL TIMES we invite you to
inspect an unusual new car—new in its beauty,
its comfort, its choice of two fine 90 horsepower
engines, 6 cylinders or 8.
See it and you sense at once that here is new
style that will stay good for years. On a lower,
wider chassis, we have designed new long, low,
wide and modern lines.
Interior treatment is entirely fresh, distinctive,
pleasing. The beauty of this Ford will more than
hold its own in any company.
Inside, the car is big—wide across the seats,
generous in knee-room, leg-room, elbow-room.
On the road this year you find the "new Ford
ride” still further advanced in its softness, quiet
ness, steadiness and all-round comfort.
See the New 1942
FORD
practically the only contact had with
the group is the rather small num
ber of them attending the public
schools principally in Ottawa and
Pandora.
A colony of trailer houses and
small frame buildings is maintained
by the sugar company for the work
ers at Ottawa. Often when located
on a beet planting, weeding or hoe
ing job, the company will transport
the trailer house to the farm and
the families will live at the location
for the duration of the job.
Other Crops
Although here primarily for work
in the beet fields, the Mexicans have
been employed to a considerable ex
tent by area tomato growers in the
Bluffton and Pandora area. In case
area farmers use the Mexicans for
tomato picking the arrangement is
an individual one with the Mexican
families themselves. A crew of 25
to 35 workers is usually hired out
in the tomato fields and payment is
on a piece work basis with remun
eration based on the number of
hampers of tomatoes picked in the
fields.
When there is no beet work to be
done, the Mexicans have also been
used by farmers for potato digging
and in a few cases corn cutting.
Generally, however, the group has
not shown much interest in the nu
merous offers to cut corn, giving the
explanation that they have had no
experience with that type of crop.
Mainly Sugar Beets
All arrangements for sugar beets
are made with the sugar refinery
which contracts not only for the
beets themselves but also the labor
harvesting them. It is understood
by the Mexicans that as long as
there is work in sugar beet fields
they must first give their attention
to this. Only in case the sugar beet
work becomes slack do the workers
take on other crops.
Most of the workers have been
transported from the large Mexican
colonies along the Rio Grande river
AT
Bixel Motor Sales
Authorized Ford Sales and Service
At the wheel, you will find driving easier than ever.
Steering, gear-shifting, action of the big and sure
hydraulic brakes have all been made smoother
and easier.
In quality, the car is sound to the last detail.
Defense requirements have all been met without
a single reduction in the basic and lasting good
ness of the Ford mechanically. Some new materials
have replaced old ones, usually at a greater cost
to us, but in every case the new is equal to or better
than the old.
If your family needs a new car, go see and drive
this Ford. For what it is today and jor what it will
be through the years ahead, we believe that you will
find in it more and better transportation jor your
money than you have ever Jound bejore.
NOW ON DISPLAY
PAGE THREE
in Texas to the sugar company,
grounds in special railroad passeng
er cars for that purpose. Some of
the workers, however, make the trip
in old second hand cars which they
keep for transportation in the area.
Occasionally they are seen on the
streets of Bluffton and some of the
younger men take advantage of the
swimming facilities at the Buckeye
swimming lake during the summer.
When the fall harvest season is
over in November, the group, almost
in its entirety, goes back to Texas
where they find work in the cabbage
and celery fields during the winter
months. Many of the same workers
have been coming back to Bluffton
season after season but each spring
also sees many new faces.
Indian
and
Spanish
The Mexican workers are generally
a cross of the racial characteristics
of the Indian and Spaniard. This
is explained by the large native In
dian populations of Mexico inter
marrying with the Spanish settlers
who colonized and settled the region
in the 16th and 17th centuries.
With living conditions very diffi
cult in Mexico there have been large
migrations of the natives to the
border states where even the meager
wages represented an advance in the
standard of living of their native
Mexico. Restrictive immigration laws
of the past decade have virtually
put a stop to the infiltrations across
the border.
Although the Bluffton area beet
workers are Mexicans in the racial
sense they are not directly from
Mexico but from the large Mexican
colonies along the Texas side of the.
Rio Grande river.
Area farmers have generally re
ported that the Mexicans are hard
workers and efficient at their par
ticular type of job and some ob
servers have pointed out that the
importation of Mexican labor may
be a partial solution to labor short
ages felt very keenly this year by
many farmers.