The Bluffton news. [volume], April 01, 1943, Image 1

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VOLUME NO. LXVII
NO ONE TO PLOW
LOTS THIS SPRING,
GARDENERS’PLAINT
Farmers Too Busy This Spring
To Take Time for Town
Garden Plowing
Inability to Have Lots Plowed
May Force Abandonment
Of Gardens Here
Wartime shortage of manpower
was brought home to Bluffton house
holders when it developed that lack
of men and teams to ploy town lots
may seriously interfere with plans to
put out victory gardens this pring.
This became evident the first of the
•week when inquiries from prospective
gardeners for someone to plow their
lots met with no response. With
planting season at hand, most gard
eners faced the prospect of spading
as much of their plot as possible and
abandoning the remainder of the pro
ject.
In previous years sufficient number
of men and teams were available for
this work. These were usually farm
ers who pocketed a tidy sum of extra
income from this source, receiving on
an average of $2.50 for each lot plow
ed.
Men, Teams Gone
This year with an acute shortage of
manpower on the farms and farmers
still busy with clearing away last
fall’s com in order to get fields ready
for spring tillage .there is no pros
pect of getting them to plow lots.
Likewise teams which were to be
had in previous years are now being
used for farm work or have been re
placed by tratcors.
In the plowing of town lots, time
lost in going from one small plot to
another was given as one of the reas
ons why farmers w’ere not interested
this spring when all hands are busy
from morning until night.
Lions Victory Gardens
One bright spot in the gardening
situation appeared the first of the
week when officials of the Lions club
stated that with their victory garden
ing project planned for one or two
large tracts there would be no diffi
culty in having the ground plowed.
These tracts it was pointed out,
woud be plowed by a tractor and then
subdivided into individual plots.
School Music Units
Will Give Concert
Bluffton High school music groups
will be presented in the second con
cert of the school year at the high
school auditorium Sunday afternoon
at 3 o’clock.
Included in the presentation will
be numbers by the band and orches
tra under the direction of Sidney
Hauenstein and the high school
chorus under the direction of Miss
Harriet Brate.
The first concert of the music
groups was given in December. The
concert series have been planned by
the high school as a substitute for
the spring music contests which have
been eliminated because of war con
ditions.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. George Wideman, of
Pontiac, Mich., are the parents of a
baby boy, Brian David, born on Sun
day in that city. Mrs. Wideman was
formerly Miss Eva Diller of this
place.
The following births at the Bluff
ton hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Downing, Co
lumbus Grove, a girl, Beverly Diane,
Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard Buhler, a
girl, Ruth Irene, Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, Colum
bus Grove, a girl, Betty Johneen,
Tuesday.
Rationing Calendar
So that you may keep in mind the
numerous important war-time ra
tioning dates, the Bluffton News is
publishing this weekly reminder:
one
APRIL
25—Last day for
coffee with Stamp
1.
30—Last day to
E and stamps
pound of
26, Book
APRIL
blue D,
canned or processed foods
War Ration Book No. 2.
use
for
in
use
for
MAY 21—Last day to
Coupon 5 in A books good
four gallons of gasoline.
five
No.
MAY 31—Last day for
pounds of sugar with Stamp
12.
one
JUNE 15—Last day for
pair of shooa on Stamp No. 17.
*7f
Even March Upsets
Things In This Old
Topsy-Turvy World
EWEN the weather is upsetting
things in this old topsy
turvy world and March which is
supposed to come in like a lamb
and go out like a lion reversed
the usual procedure this year.
From zero temperatures which
brought record cold March
weather early in the month,
warm—almost summer-weather
appeared Tuesday and Wednes
day.
Thermometers here registered
a high of 76 degrees early
Wednesday afternoon—two de
grees higher than the top mark
of 74 on Tuesday.
NEW PUMPER UNIT
WILL HELP RURAL
FIRE PROTECTION
New Pumper Will Give Town
Fire Protection While Truck
Is On Rural Runs
Town Officials Studying Details
Of Arrangements for Rural
Fire Protection
Addition of a new pumper unit to
Bluffton’s fire fighting facilities will
enable the fire department to offer
protection to town property when
the regular fire truck answers a rural
call, it was indicated this week fol
lowing a survey of the equipment of
the Bluffton fire department.
The new unit together with more
than 100 pieces of smaller protective
equipment were loaned to the town
for the duration of the war by the
United States Office of Civilian De
fense. Fire Chief Guy Corson is
property officer for the equipment.
Studying Matter
Town officials are studying details
of the! arrangements whereby rural
protection could be provided without
endangering the town with its impor
tant industries engaged in war pro
duction.
The town had previously purchased
a $10,000 fire truck for delivery last
spring but the War Production Board
(Continued on page 8)
Many Tickets Sold
For Booster Banquet
Indications are that a record num
ber of tickets will be sold for the
Bluffton college Booster banquet to
be held at the Bluffton High school
gymnasium Friday night at 7:30
o’clock, it was stated by the commit
tee in charge the first of the week.
Last year’s record of 300 tickets
sold may be bettered this year, it
was indicated by Paul Detwiler,
chairman of the ticket campaign. The
banquet will be addressed by Ohio’s
Lieutenant Governor, Paul M. Her
bert, of Columbus.
il IEBLUF
Meat Rationing Brings Slim
Picking For Fido These Days
have
Many Bluffton residents
heard the speaker in his capacity as
commander of the Ohio division of
the American Legion. It is reported
that Gov. Herbert is a speaker of
outstanding oratorical ability.
He was born in Marseilles, Ohio,
the son of a preacher. He saw ac
tion in World War No. 1 as captain
of a machine gun battalion. Fol
lowing cessation of hostilities he was
appointed legal representative for
American prisoners.
Upon his return to this country
he was named liason officer between
the War Department and the State
Department. Following this ap
pointment he returned to his native
state and began the practice of law
in Columbus.
He served two terms each in the
Ohio house and senate and is serving
his third term as Ohio’s Lieutenant
Governor and presiding officer of the
senate.
In addition to the address by
Gov. Herbert, there will be musical
numbers by the Bluffton College
A-Capella choir, under the direction
of Prof. Russell Lantz and xylophone
numbers by Barbara Jean Triplett.
Honorably Discharged
Pvt. Chas. H. Dillman, son of
Charles Dillman of North Jackson
street who enlisted in the army
eight months ago from Detroit has
been honorably discharged because of
development of a foot ailment and
being past the 38-year age limit.
Ft.
Dillman has been stationed at
Sill, Okla., in the field artillery. He
expects to return to Detroit.
How Many Points for Soupbone
Butchers and Housewives
Ponder
Hamburger, Officially Defined
By OPA Is Favorite Buy
In Markets
That old standby of culinary art—
the soupbone—how many points
does it take? Butchers and house
wives alike here pondered that one
this week as they scanned in vain
OPA’s table of point values for the
answer.
Fact is, soupbones weren’t men
tioned in the official list which is
supposed to cover all the various
cuts of beef, veal, lamb and pork,
so meatmarket operators here are
using their judgment in the matter.
Nearest reference to soupbones is
the item of oxtails which rate three
points per pound. With this as a
standard soupbones are being rated
more or less according to the amount
of meat which they may have.
Slim Picking for Fido
And with all meat cuts rationed,
it looks like a long season of slim
picking for pet dogs and cats which
are frequently regaled by offals from
the butcher shops.
Since Fido has no ration book it
will be necessary for someone of the
family to give up points for such
meat as he may eat, with exception
of bones without meat. In the case
of larger breeds of dogs which re
quire sizable portions of meat daily,
this has developed into an acute
situation.
Desire of housewives to conserve
their ration points was reflected in
purchases Monday when hamburger
was a favorite buy. Carrying a
low point value, nearly half less
than steak and without bones it
appealed to point-conscious house
wives.
OPA Defines Hamburger
Hamburger, however, has been of
ficially defined by OPA as including
neck, flank and shank cuts, beef
trimmings and fat. If different in
gredients are wanted, it will be
necessary to buy them at regular
point values and have the meat
ground afterward.
Because of the expanded demand
for hamburger, meat market opera
tors expressed the opinion Monday
that it would be difficult to keep a
supply on hand.
out that since
go to make up
specified in the
not be possible
Also, they pointed
the ingredients which
hamburger have been
official order, it will
in the future to continue the former
practice
meat in
age.
of using choicer cuts of
hamburger to avoid short-
Resigns Reformed
Church Pastorate
Rev. Emil Burrichter has resigned
as pastor of the St. John’s and
Emanuel’s Evangelical and Reformed
churches here to accept the pastor
ate of an Evangelical and Reformed
church in Plymouth, Indiana.
Announcement was made by the
pastor to both congregations Sunday
morning. The resignation will be
come effective June 1, at which time
he will have completed seven years
as pastor of the two churches here.
Rev. Burrichter will preach his
farewell sermon on Sunday, May 23.
Formal acceptance of the resignation
was made at a joint meeting of the
consistories of the St. John’s and
Emanuel’s churches, Monday night.
Real Estate Deals
Wm. Fox of Findlay has pur
chased from Cleo N. Smith of Lima
the residence known as the D. W.
Fox property on West College ave
nue. Mr. and Mrs. Fox expect to
move here from Findlay this spring.
D. W. Fox has been making his
home with Mr. and Mrs. Smith in
Lima.
Fred Fritchie of Riley street has
purchased the Fred Getties property
on South Jackson street occupied by
the Shalley family.
Mrs. Elizabeth Boutwell has pur
chased from the Ellen Andrews es
tate the residence property on South
Lawn avenue occupied by Arthur
Lewis.
Honorably Discharged
Raymond Amstutz, Bluffton se
lectee, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe
Amstutz of North Main street, who
has been in training at Camp Biggs,
Texas, has received an honorable
discharge because of being past the
38-year-old age limit of selective
service regulations. He arrived here
Tuesday evening.
It
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, APR
SALE OF AUTO
LICENSES'MORE
THAN YEAR AGO
Record of 1,400 Sold Here
Wednesday Tops Last
Year’s Mark
Motorists In Rush to Get Wind
shield Stickers Before
Deadline
After getting off to a slow start
Bluffton motorists rushed to the local
auto license distribution headquarters
to purchase a total of about 1,400 li
censes by Wednesday noon, it was an
nounced at the Bixel Motor Sales, in
charge of sales here.
In contrast to many other towns in
Allen county and surrounding coun
ties, the Bluffton sales are higher now
than they were at this time last year.
Wednesday is the last day in which
to obtain the 1943 license stickers.
If the sticker is not displayed after
April 1, the motorist will be liable to
a fine. The present 1942 metal plates
must also be displayed on the motor
vehicles as well as the stickers to be
placed on the windshield.
Last Rites For
Mrs. Nancy Geiger
Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy
Geiger, 73, were held .at the First
Mennonite Church, Saturday after
noon at 2 o’clock. She died at her
home in Lima, Thursday morning at
1:10 o’clock on the twenty-seventh
anniversary of the death of her hus
band, Amos Geiger.
She was a native of Bluffton having
lived in Toledo five years, and Find
lay 12 years before moving to Lima
last August to live wit hher daughter,
Mrs. Edgar Zehrbach. She had been
il Iseveral months.
She was the widow of a former tel
ephone company manager who died in
Kenton of a heart attack while the
couple resided in BlutZon.
Surviving are a son, Stanley of To
ledo, and three daughters, Mrs. Lou
ella Temple of Monrovia, Calif., Mrs.
Josephine Woodworth of Athens, and
Mrs. Edgar Zehrbach, at whose home
she died.
She is also survived by five broth
ers and sisters, Dr. J. S. Steiner and
Mrs. Lena Bixel of Bluffton Atty.
R. S. Steiner of Lima Rev. Albert
Steiner of North Lima and Mrs. Sar
ah Geiger of North Newton, Kans.
She leaves eight grand-children.
Burial was at the Zion cemetery,
three miles west of town.
Army Promotion
Gerald Caris who was graduated
from the army air force flexible gun
nery school at Ft. Myers, Florida,
last week has been promoted to rank
of sergeant,
and Mrs.
ton.
He is the son of Mr.
1/1943
of Bluff-
Ralph Caris, east
Motter has been
of sergeant, it
Robert
promoted
was an-
to rank
nounced the first of the week. Sgt.
Motter, who was inducted into the
service last August is working in the
statistical control unit of the air
corps at Dayton. His wife is a gov
ernment inspector at
Wright field,
son of Mr. and
of Elm street,
in rank from
Gerald E. Mericle,
Mrs. Harry Mericle
has been advanced
Sergeant to Staff Sergeant at Camp
Claiborne, La. This is the fifth ad
vancement in five months received by
the Bluffton soldier.
Bluffton Man In
Army Is Married
The wedding of Miss Ruth Graze
ly of Lima and Pvt. Gerald Basinger
of Denver, Colorado, formerly of
this place was solemnized last Fri
day afternoon at 3:30 o’clock in the
chapel of the Lutheran church at Ft.
Wayne, with Rev. Zelander officiat
ing.
The couple was unattended.
The bride wore an attractive tail
ored wool suit of light blue with
navy accessories and a shoulder cor
sage of white and pink gardenias.
The groom will return to Buckley
Field, Denver, Colorado this Thurs
day, where he is with the medical
department. The bride will
in Lima for the present.
reside
Arrives Overseas
Sgt. Raymond Huber has strived
safely overseas at an undisclosed des
tination, according to word received
the first of the week by his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. 0. W. Huber of
near Bluffton.
ON NEWS
Bluffton merchants, farmers or
anyone in the conununity desiring to
employ young people of high school
age may do so through an employ
ment clearing house being organized
this week at the school, according to
an announcement made by
Buhler, principal.
Congratulations of many friends
and relatives were received at open
house by Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkins
at their home on Cherry street
Tuesday afternoon and evening on
the occasion of their 50th wedding
anniversary.
All of the children, except the
youngest son, Tech. Sgt. Rudy Wil
kins, were present for the occasion.
Prior to open house at their home
was a family dinner held in the
basement at the Church of Christ.
Members of the families of the child
ren, present for the meal, totaled 48
people. A turkey dinner was
served and and the tables shaped in
the form of a square were beautiful
ly decorated by ladies of the church.
A large three-tiered cake surmounted
with a bell and two tall tapers on
either side was directly in front of
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins.
many
cards.
High School Is Sponsoring Clearing
House For Employment Of Student Help
Gerhard
is being
which is
needs in
The employment bureau
sponsored by the Hi-Y dub
making a canvass of the
the community and is classifying the
various students
cording to their
interests.
in the school ac
job aptitudes and
A file will be kept at the high
school office and anyone desiring the
services of a high school boy or girl
for any job ranging from clerking
to mowing a lawn may communicate
Celebrate Fiftieth
Wedding Anniversary
and Mrs. Wilkins received
beautiful gifts, flowers and
Mr.
Last Rites Thursday
For Mrs. Levi Oberly
Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah El
len Oberly, 71, wife of Levi Oberly,
will be held at the First Mennonite
church, Thursday afternoon at 2:30
o’clock.
Cherry street, Monday night at 11:45
o’clock. Death was due to Bright’s
disease.
She died at her residence on
The daughter of Rev. Christian and
Marie (Welty) Zimmerly, she was
born in Riley township, Putnam coun
ty, April 1, 1871. She is survived by
her husband, three sons and four dau
ghters, Millard Oberly, at home
Reno of Bluffton Olan of Jenera
Mrs. Laoma Wilson of Findlay Mrs.
Lelah Basinger of Pandora Mrs. Lu
cille Doty of Lima and Ladonna at
home. There are 24 grand-children
and three great-grand-children.
Mrs. Oberly is also survived by five
sisters and three brothers, Mrs. Hen
ry Habegger of Bluffton Mrs. Caro
line Augsburger, Mrs. Joshua Am
stutz, Mrs. William Habegger and
Mrs. Albert Lehman, Pandora Homer
Zimmerly of Bluffton and Arden and
Leonard Zimmerly of Pandora.
Mrs. Oberly was a member of the
First Mennonite church. Rev. J. N.
Smucker, pastor, will officiate. Bur
ial will be at the St. John cemetery
at Pandora.
Town Purchase To
Enlarge Parking Lot
Enlarged parking facilities will be
available this summer through pur
chase by the town of the Chris Buch
er lot on Thurman street,
was closed the first of
whereby the municipality
for the real estate.
The deal
the week
paid $500
in use for
Part of the lot is now
automobile parking under a lease
arrangement between the town and
Bucher. Purchase of the real estate,
however, will make possible enlarg
ing of the parking space.
On the lot are located a small
dwelling and two car garage. The
dwelling is occupied by Carl Young
since Bucher was removed to the
county infirmary some time ago.
The town truck and other equip
ment of the street and cemetery de
partments are stored in the garage.
Gets Promotion At
Wright Field Base
Justin Gratz, formerly of this
place, has been promoted to the po
sition of senior experimental engin
eering draftsman at the army
base at Wright field, it was
nounced the first of the week.
air
an­
was
Prior to his promotion Gratz
assistant engineering draftsman in
the photographic laboratory branch.
He is the son of W. H. Gratz, local
shoe merchant.
with the office or with David
Smucker, who is chairman of the
Hi-Y project.
The students may be contacted for
work after school and Saturdays or
for summer employment. The em
ployment sendee will be available
during the summer months for which
the high school office may be con
tacted.
The service is available immediate
ly. Farm boys and town boys inter
ested in working on farms are avail
able to farmers needing extra help
this summer, it was explained.
Assisting in the plan are the fol
lowing students: David Smucker,
chairman, Ralph Althaus, Floyd
Herr, Earl Dean Luginbuhl and Ken
neth Winkler.
ROAD REPAIR
PROGRAM HERE
IS UNCERTAIN
Town and Township Given As
surance of Sufficient Patch
ing Materials
Request for Re-surfacing
terials Pending: Roads
Bad Condition
Ma
in
With the streets of Bluffton in the
worst condition in years, the nature
and extent of the local road improve
ment program hinges on the availabil
ity of materials, it was indicated this
week by Lee Coon, street commission
er.
Assurance has been received from
the War Production board in Wash
ington that the town will receive suf
ficient materials this spring for ne
cessary patch work. Delivery of one
half ton of pulverized asphalt and 1,
500 gallons of road oil is expected
this week.
Pending is a request for materials
sufficient to re-surface several streets
in a bad state of repair. If the ma
terials should be approved and deliv
ered the first streets on the improve
ment list are Elm street and also Har
mon road from Garau street to Bent
ley road.
Also in bad condition is Spring
street from Elm to Riley streets
Coon said. These streets are in such
bad condition that patch work would
not be practical, it was stated. No
word has been received from Wash
ington relative to the request for re
surfacing materials.
In the meantime patchwork will be
started at the places where the roads
are in the worst condition. There is
no road oil or asphalt on hand at the
present time and the improvement
program will not start until the ma
terials arrive.
There are no restrictions on stone
products and there is plenty of this
type of material available. The re
pair program will likely get underway
toward the end of the week when
terials are expected to arrive.
ma-
are
Ap-
Richland Township trustees
faced with a similar problem,
plication was also made for materials
sufficient to re-surface nine or ten
miles of road but as yet the trustees
have been assured of materials ade
quate for only patch and repair work,
it was stated by N. W. Basinger,
township clerk.
The roads in the town and township
are in the worst condition for many
years because of an unusually severe
winter with quick freezes and rapid
thaws. The condition is further ag
gravated by the fact that less than
usual material has been available for
the patch work.
It was thought that the town would
be given favorable consideration in
the request for re-surfacing materials
in view of important industrial instal
lations engaged in military produc
tion.
Red Cross Week To
Be Observed Here
Week will be observed
theatre in Bluffton as
nation’s motion picture
Red Cross
at the Star
well as the
theatres during the week of April 1
through April 7, it was announced
by local Red Cross officials this week.
A short feature dealing with the
Red Cross will be shown at each
performance after which a collection
will be taken by the local Red Cross
committee.
The collection will go entirely to
the support of local community Red
Cross activities. The War Activities
Committee of the motion picture in
dustry is sponsoring the nation-wide
campaign for commemorating the
work of the Red Cross organization.
1
BUY
UNITBD
STATES
STAMM
NUMBER 49
MEAT BUYING RUSH
DEVELOPS BEFORE
RATIONING STARTS
Markets Close When Flood of
Buyers Exhausts Supplies
Saturday
Many Commodities, Formerly
Frozen
are Now Available
On Markets
housewives are learning
to budget according to
their purchases of meat,
Bluffton
this week
points,
cheese, butter, canned fish, salad and
cooking oils, giving up for the pur
chase of each commodity red coupons
marked “A” in Ration Book No. 2.
Beginning of retail sales under the
rationing point system followed a
hectic weekend when crowds eager to
have a last fling at unrationed meat
started a run on Bluffton’s two butch
er shops which exhausted their sup
plies by early Saturday night.
Volume of meat sales Saturday
were said to have been by far the
largest any single day ever exper
ienced here. The volume swelled to
proportions entirely unforseen by lo
cal butchers who said Saturday morn
ing that with coolers frilled in antici
pation of unusually heavy buying
they expected to have sufficient meat
for the entire day’s trade.
Meat Markets Closed
However Saturday night Bigler
Bros, market closed its doors before
9 o’clock when its stocks were prac
tically exhausted. Basinger Bros,
market closed about an hour later.
In addition to meat, hard cheeses
which come under the rationing pro
gram were in demand and local groc
eries which handle this type of food
stuffs in addition
kets were able to
to the meat mark
supply the demand,
unprecedented buy
developed Saturday
and nation, dealers
Because of the
ing rush that
thruout the state
were uncertain as to when their sup
plies of packing house meats would
be back to normal. These products
consist largely of cured meeta.-Stocks
of fresh meats were provided by
emergency butchering on Sunday to
supply Monday morning trade.
More Commodities Available
Altho rationing is restricting sales
of some products, it has made avail
able
been
ing
lard,
der last week.
other commodities which have
made unobtainable thru freez
orders. These include butter,
fats and oils frozen by OPA or-
Also included in foodstuffs now
available are canned meat and canned
fish, sales of which were halted Feb
ruary 18 and taken off the market
until the start of rationing.
Home canned meats may be con
sumed without regard to rationing.
Also food in frozen food lockers may
be used without rationing restrictions,
OPA has stated. The total amount
of perishable food stored in lockers is
considered too small to justify the
inconvenience it would cause either
to have this food declared, or to place
legal restrictions on its use.
Home Nursing Course
To Start Wednesday
The first meeting of the new home
nursing and nutrition course for
women of Bluffton and the surround
ing community will be held at Bluff
ton High school Wednesday night at
8 o’clock.
The meetings will be held for a
six weeks period on Wednesday and
Friday
meeting
because
Booster
nights. The Friday night
will be eliminated this week
of the Bluffton college
banquet.
The course is sponsored by the Al
len County Red Cross organization.
Local instructors will be Mrs. Ernest
Bigelow, Mrs. David Risser and Miss
Edflythe Cupp. Registered nurses
from Lima will also serve as in
structors for the course.
Registrations are being accepted
at the high school library. The class
will be limited to 24 members. The
course will deal with matters of nu
trition, the care of the sick and the
emergency treatment of accidents at
home.
May Queen Chosen
At Bluffton College
Miss Ruth Neuenschwander, dau
ghter of Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Neuen
schwander of Quakertown, Pa., has
been elected May Queen of Bluffton
college to reign over the annual col
lege Bluffton Day exercises scheduled
for Saturday afternoon, May 22.
Robert Neuenschwander, twin broth
er of Miss Neuenschwander, left col
lege early in January of this year to
join the United States armed forces.
He is located at Camp Edwards, Masfe