The Bluffton news. [volume], July 13, 1944, Image 1

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

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BUY
imrreo
•TATES
SAVING*
ONOS
UISSUMFS
VOLUME NO. LX1X
THREE WEEKS OF
DROUGHT BRINGS
CRISIS IN CROPS
Light Shower Wednesday Morn
ing Hoped Forerunner of
More Rain
Cooler Weather Brings Relief
from Week of Heat and
High Humidity
Bluffton area residents were hope
ful that scattered showers Wednes
day morning might break a three
weeks’ drought which admittedly has
reached serious proportions and
resulted in damage to farm crops
and victory gardens.
The showers Wednesday morning
were not sufficient to alleviate
drought conditions, however farmers
and gardeners were hopeful that they
might be the forerunner of heavier
downpours.
Accompanying the rain were over
cast skies and definitely cooler
weather bringing a welcome relief
to high humidity and heat which has
continued here for a week with
temperatures in the high nineties.
Need Heavy Rain Soon
The three weeks’ drought has
burned up pastures and lawns and
parched field crops. Observers
estimate that commercial and victory
garden vegetable production has been
cut from 10 to 50 per cent under
last year.
This area's last rainfall was a
heavy shower on Friday, June 23,
and altho light precipitation was
predicted over the last weekend, it
passed by Bluffton to make the
situation more alarming with each
passing day.
In addition to threatened crop
losses, dairymen have reported a
.growing milk shortage, because of
lack of feed in brown meadowlands.
Many farmers are considering put
ting their flocks on dry feed, and
the move may be general unless last
ing relief comes soon.
Egg production also is down con
siderably, helping a marketing situa
tion that has provided many head-
Continued on page 8)
Kenneth Henry
In Navy School
Kenneth R. Henry, 27, husband of
Mrs. Evelyn Henry, 21156 North
Main street, was recently assigned to
the Naval Training school (Diesel)
on the University of Illinois campus,
Urbana, Illinois.
His enrollment in the specialty
school is based on the results of
recruit training aptitude tests. The
course will cover the use, operation
and maintenance of diesel engines.
High School Girls
At Camp For Week
Six Bluffton high school girls,
members of the cabinet of the Girl
Reserve organization are spending
the week at Camp Pittenger near
McCutchensville. The camp is oper
ated every summer for training of
leaders in Girl Reserve work.
Those from Bluffton spending the
week there are Genevieve Buhler,
Jean Ann Steinman, Juanita Bame,
Mary Lou Schmidt, Janet Steiner
and Louise Soldner.
Man Breaks Leg
In Fall In Barn
\Vm. B. Luginbuhl sustained a
broken right leg near the ankle as
the result of a fall last Thursday.
He is confined to his home on East
Kibler street.
The accident occurred when Lug
inbuhl fell a distance of about six
feet while making repairs in the
barn on his farm northwest of Bluff
ton. The farm is occupied by Mer
lin Zimmerly.
Fire In Strawstack
Burns Gilboa Barn
Fire originating in a strawstack
from an undetermined cause de
stroyed a large hip-roof barn on the
farm of Fred Hector, Jr., two miles
north of Gilboa on Tuesday after
noon at 4 o’clock.
Threshing at the farm had been
completed Tuesday noon.
Gilboa, Ottawa and Leipsic fire
departments called to the scene suc
ceeded in preventing a spread of the
flames to the house and nearby
buildings.
A large farm tractor and a con
siderable amount of feed and grain
were lost, together with two large
strawstacks. The loss is partly cov
ered by insurance.
Siefield Is In France
With Invasion Troops
Herbert Siefield, Jr., son of Mr.
and Mrs. Herbert Siefield, of South
Main street, is with American troops
on the Normany invasion coast, his
parents were notified in a letter re
ceived from him this week.
Young Siefield who is with an ar
tillery unit had been in England only
six weeks before being shifted to
France. He entered the Army on
March 10, 1943. So far he is the
first from this area who has notified
relatives of being in France with in
vasion troops.
In his letter to his parents, Siefield
said the weather was disagreeable,
there was almost constant rain and
plenty of mud.
NEW SCHOOL HEAD
WILL BEGIN DUTIES
FIRST OF AUGUST
Final Details of Contract Deter
mined In Meeting With
Board Monday
Additional Teacher Will be
Hired for First Grade,
Board Decides
Ralph S. Lanham, new superinten
dent of the Bluffton public schools,
will take charge of schools here at
beginning of his term of contract on
August 1, he told the Board of Edu
cation at a meeting with them Mon
day night.
Altho Supt. A. J. B. Longsdorf’s
resignation will not become effective
until August 31, Lanham was asked to
start his term the first of the month
so that he may become familiar with
the local setup before the opening of
school in September.
The new Bluffton school head has
been working this summer as a car
penter at the Lima Tank Depot, but
he will quit that job on August 1 to
devote full attention to the superin
tendency.
Lanham is trying to find a house
in Bluffton so he can move his family,
a wife and two daughters, from Mt.
Victory, where he resigned as super
intendent of the schools to accept the
position here. If he is unable to im
mediately establish a residence he will
board here until he can find some
thing.
Contract Completed
In final negotiations the term of his
contract changed somewhat from pre
liminary announcements. His three
year contract is on a basis of $2,700
for the first year $2,900 for the sec
ond year, and $3,000 for the third
year. Supt. Longsdorf last year re
ceived $2,800.
Lanham announced that he plans to
teach one class in the seventh or
eighth grade to become acquainted
with the pupils as they enter Junior
High school. This class probably will
be in arithmetic.
Becay.se of the anticipated enroll
ment of 52 students in the first grade,
the Board of Education plans to hire
an additional grade school teacher
soon. It was announced that those
interested in applying for the position
should file applications with Leland
Diller, clerk of the board.
Girls physical education next year
will be directed by Miss Theola
Steiner, grade school instructor. No
decision has been reeahed yet relative
to boys’ physical education and ath
letic coach.
Promoted To Captain
In Army Nurse Corps
Miss Jennie Beery in the army
nursing corps, well known here, has
been promoted from the rank of first
lieutenant to captain, it was an
nounced the first of the week. She
is chief nurse on the army hospital
ship Ernest Hinds.
Miss Beery, a registered nurse has
been in army service for the past
two and one-half years. She is a
daughter of Joshua Beery and a
sister of Mrs. Clayton Murray of
West Elm street.
Advanced In Rank
Denver Augsburger of Bluffton,
now in North Africa, has been pro
moted from the rank of sergeant to
staff sergeant, it was announced the
first of the week.
Cpl. Evan R. Badertscher, sta
tioned at Camp Polk, Louisiana, has
been advanced to the rank of ser
geant. He is the son of Mrs. Edna
Badertscher, formerly of Bluffton,
now living in North Baltimore.
Yank Soldiers In England Popular
With Children Craving Candy And Gum
Sgt. Roland Swank, formerly of
Bluffton Writes of English
Life
French Fried Potatoes Take
Place of American Ham
burger Sandwiches
A graphic account of picturesque,
wartime England is given in an in
teresting letter received this week by
The News from Sgt Roland Swank,
graduate of Bluffton High school and
Bluffton college, who was superin
tendent of Elida High school before
entering the service.
He writes from England:
“I’ve been fortunate to have the
privilege of traveling over a large
part of Scotland, Wales and England
in my brief stay here. Great Bri
tain is a land of rare scenic beauty.
The land is gently rolling almost
everywhere and quite hilly in spots.
“The fertile brown fields and deep
green pastures with their inevitable
stone wall or hedge, no two appar
ently alike in size or shape, form a
giant quilt-like pattern over the
countryside.
“The trees here are ah
description. The estate
now are encamped has i
are much larger than tl
mark in the Presbyter
yard. I measured the s]
oak just a few paces fr
and found it to be over
Roads Narrow
“The country roads here are very
old, winding, and narrow. It is im
possible for two army trucks to pass
on one. They are usually covered
with macadam. The main highways
are excellent and adjusted to care for
military traffic.
"The pub here is quite a social in
stitution. It is the poor man’s club
house. Darts, ninepins, checkers and
dominoes offer diversion but most of
the time the villagers and farmers
discuss their mutual problems over a
glass of cider, bitters, ale or stout.
Most of the pubs are served by prim
middle-aged or elderly women who
bear a resemblance to the topical
‘old-maid school marm’ of the States.
If anyone shows the slightest indica
tion of tipsiness she rings a little
bell and the taps close. She reports
‘Time please, drink up, the bobbies
are coming’.
“Spirits are rarely seen and a
small glass of wine costs five shill
ings or about one dollar.
“The only thing that is slightly
comparable to our sandwich shops at
home are their fish and chips joints.
French fried potatoes are as popular
here as hamburgers in the States.
Continued on page 8)
Velma Borkosky
Weds Kermit Herr
In a candlelight ceremony in the
First Mennonite church at 6 a. m.
Sunday, July 2, Miss Velma Bor
kosky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Gust Borkosky, became the bride of
Kermit Herr, son of Mr. and Mrs.
P. C. Herr. All are of Bluffton.
Rev. J. N. Smucker, pastor of the
church, officiated in a double ring
ceremony.
For the event the bride wore a
powder blue crepe street length dress
and a blue hat with a shoulder
length veil. She also wore a strand
of pearls, a gift of the groom, and
a gold bracelet which was worn by
her mother at her wedding. Her cor
sage was of white gardenias and
baby’s breath.
Mrs. Rose Zimmerman, of Lima,
was the bride’s attendant. She wore
an aqua crepe dress with matching
hat and a gold bracelet given to her
by the bride. George Landes, also
of Lima, attended the groom.
Mrs. Herr is employed at The
Triplett Electrical Instrument Co.
here and the groom is associated
with the Lima Locomotive Works.
Births
Announcement is made of the birth
of a son David, to Mr. and Mrs.
Eugene Bigler in the University
hospital in Cleveland. The child is
a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Bigler of South Main street.
Rev. and Mrs. LeRoy Thompson of
Coffeyville, Kansas, are the parents
of a son, David Lynn born Friday in
the Medical Center hospital. Rev.
Thompson was a former member of
the America Back to God quartet
and is known in this community.
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenawalt
of Lima, a son, Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Oberly of
Bluffton a daughter, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Neuenschwan
der of Bluffton a son, Monday.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1914
MINARD DEEDS IS
KILLED IN SOUTH
PACIFIC FIGHTING
Rawson Marine Graduated from
Bluffton College Where He
Starred On Gridiron
Enlistment of Fiancee, Eileen
Wenger, in WAVES, Delay
ed by News of Death
Pfc. Minard Deeds, 24, U. S.
Marine Corps, who graduated in
19442 from Bluffton college where he
was a star football lineman, has
been killed in action in the South
Pacific, according to word received
last Friday by his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Dwight Deeds, of Rawson.
He was the fiancee of Miss Eileen
Wenger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Wenger, of this place, who has
made application to enlist in the
WAVES. Miss Wenger hacI planned
to take her entrance physical exam
ination at Detroit on Monday, but
obtained a postponement after
receipt of the news of Deecis’ death.
Deeds’ mother and brothier, Don
aid, are employed at the Triplett
Electrical Instrument Co., here.
The telegram from thIC
y
tl VV
Department informed the arents of
the Rawson man that he v\ as killed
in the performance of dulLv some
where in the Pacific but specified
neither the date of his de?ath. nor
the location.
However, he is believed to have
met death on Saipan, for he is a
veteran of South Pacific fighting,
and had gone thru the Kwajalein
campaign, which immediately pre
ceded the attack of Saipan.
Enlisted in 1942
Pfc. Deeds enlisted in the Marine
corps Aug. 20, 1942, three months
after his graduation from college
here. After completing his basic
training at Paris Island, S. C., he
•was transferred to duty in Washing
ton, D. C.
Later he received intensified train
ing at Camp LeJeune, N- C., and
then went overseas in December,
1943. He was a member of the
Fourth Marine Division.
A graduate of Rawson High school
in 1937, he enrolled in Bluffton col
lege a year later. He will long be
remembered by Bluffton graduates
as one of the smallest linemen ever
to play for the local school, but
despite his lack of size he was a
star on the team for three years.
In addition to hJs parents he is
survived by’ a brother, Donald, and
two sisters, Bonnie and Betty, all
at home. He was a member of the
United Brethren church at Rawson.
Additional details regarding his
death will be forwarded as soon as
they are received from the South
Pacific, his parents were notified in
the message from the Navy Depart
ment.
Boy Hurt In Farm
Accident Loses Toes
Willis Marquart, five-year-old son
of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Marquart, of
near Jenera, who received a crushed
foot in a farm accident last week
will lose two toes thru amputation.
The boy’s foot was run over by a
tractor operated by his aunt, Dorothy
Hartman, while working in a field
on the Marquart farm. He was tak
en to the Bluffton Community hos
pital, and after an infection became
serious was transferred to St. Rita’s
hospital in Lima.
Amputation of the two toes is ne
cessary, but the foot will be saved,
the family was informed.
St. John Mennonite
Holds Singspiration
A youth night singspiration will be
held at St. John Mennonite church
on Sunday evening at 9:15 o’clock.
Appearing on the program will be
a boys’ quartet from the Ebenezer
Mennonite church and also Myron
Nelson and his Glad Gospel Trio
from Ada will furnish specials. This
group sings over WFIN every Tues
day night. Nelson, a 17-year-old
youth is a talented singer and has
won awards in many musical con
tests.
Orange Tup. Bond
Drive Continues
Orange township’s quota of $20,
000 in E-bonds was reported short,
Wednesday morning with a total of
$18,000 subscribed. Residents will
still have an opportunity to buy
bonds during the remainder of the
month either from their district rep
resentative of the township chair
man, John Warren.
Hot, dry weather brought on by a
19-day drought has not affected
Bluffton’s municipal water supply
and the three wells being pumped by
the water works are yielding a suffi
ciently large volume to meet all com
mercial and residential needs.
Approximately 500,000 gallons of
water are used daily in the town,
about half of which goes to the 1
Page Dairy Plant, which is the larg- I
est local consumer.
Two wells provide the water for
the regular city supply. One is on I
Application of Hot Mix Surface
Awaits Installation of
Water Taps
Curb Repair and Raising of
Catch Basins Also Must
Be Done First
Resurfacing of Bluffton’s Main
street will be delayed until SeDtem
bcr to permit the installation of new
tap lines connecting city water mains
running down the center of the
Replacement of the water lines
has been unavoidably held up most
of the time since early in June be
cause a large shipment of new taps
was lost enroute of Bluffton, after
leaving the factory at Decatur, Ill.,
on May 24.
So far the shipment has not been
located, and workman have been
able to proceed only as a few taps
can be obtained here and there.
Start September 1
It now appears that installation
of the new tap lines cannot be
completed until late in August, and
the start of resurfacing consequent
ly has been Set back to September 1.
In addition to installing the water
taps, curbs must be repaired and
catch basins and manhole covers
must be raised to make them flush
with the new surface of the street.
Cost of the $27,590 program will
be shared by the State Highway
department and the municipality,
but Bluffton will have to provide
only $5000 as its contributions.
Hot-Mix Surface
In the street improvement, a one
and three-quarters inch asphalt hot
imix surface will be placed over the
present brick pavement, beginning at
the Bentley road, and continuing
north to the Allen-Hancock county
line. This will comprise a one and
one-half mile project within the city
limits.
In addition, the Dixie highway is
being resurfaced from the Allen
Hancock county line, north of its
intersection with State Route 69,
near Mt. Cory.
Work already is underway on the
Dixie highway phase of the program
outside Bluffton, with resurfacing
starting at Route 69 and proceeding
toward the town. The contract is
held by the Maumee Asphalt and
Raving Co., of Toledo.
Traffic is being maintained on the
highway during the progress of the
work, and no detours have been
necessary.
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices) Wheat
$1.46 corn $1.12 oats 75c soys
$1.86.
With fields and gardens parched
with drought which is fast assuming
serious proportions, Bluffton people
will be more interested than usual in
St. Swithin’s day which occurs Sat
urday.
Tradition, more than one thousand
years old has it that the weather on
St. Swithin’s day will determine the
weather for the next forty days—if
it rains or shines on St. Swithin’s
day the next forty days will be
either rainy or bright.
The belief has its foundation in
old English folklore centering around
St. Swithin a bishop of Winchester,
England, who died on July 2, 862.
Drought And Hot Weather Fail To
Affect Bluffton’s Supply Of Water
Resurfacing Of Main Street Delayed
Until About First Of September
1 the grounds of the water works and
I the other is a new well drilled last
i fall on the Mrs. Noah Matter farm
I opposite the Community hospital. A
I third well on the plant property is
held in reserve.
Saturday’s Weather To Fix Rain Or
Shine For Forty Days, Says Tradition
Before dying the humble-minded
saint, according to tradition, begged
to be buried in the open church
yard and not in the chancel of the
church as was usual with bishops.
Another new well drilled last fall
is supplying water for the Page
plant. It evidently has tapped un
derground springs which formerly
fed water into the large quarry of
the Bluffton Stone Co., 400 feet
away, for there has been no water
in the pit since the well has been
in operation.
LATE RETURNS AID
IN BOOSTING BOND
CANVASS TO QUOTA
Goal of $110,000 Believed
Reached as Final Reports
are Checked
Purchases During Past Week
Seen as Making up Need
ed Balance
Bluffton’s Fifth War Loan is be
lieved to have reached its goal of
$110,000, according to incomplete re
turns, Wednesday morning. This an
nouncement came from committee
heads who were making a final check
on results of the canvass here.
Final figures probably will not be
available until the last of this week.
However those in charge of the loan
campaign were optimistic that the
local quota had been attained.
Late returns by solicitors are cred
ited with having made up the $10,
000 needed a week ago to reach the
goal.
Can Still Buy Bonds
The drive was scheduled to end
officially this week, but regional war
loan officials have announced that
all E, and bonds purchased un
til the end of July will be counted
in the Fifth War Loan campaign.
Allen county’s drive went over the
top last Saturday, when aggregating
sales amounting to $6,535,751, were
reported. This is $1,029,751 more
than the quota of $5,506,000 set for
the county.
Ohio also has surpassed its goal
of $797,000,000, by $44,169,000, state
headquarters reported last Saturday.
Real Estate Deals
Mrs. Mary King Schiffke of De
troit has purchased from the estate
of her father, the late J. Norman
King, the family home on South
Main street together with a five acre
tract of land on which the residence
is located. The property was pur
chased at its appraised value of
$5,200. Mr. and Mrs. Schiffke and
family moved here the first of the
week. Mr. Schiffke is employed in
Detroit.
Mrs. Corrin King Blackburn has
purchased the Carl Devier property
on East Elm street and expects to
move here with her family from
Kalida. Her husband, Dr. John
Blackburn is a physician in the army
medical corps.
The Esther Blymyer property in
Rawson was recently purchased by
Mrs. Eugene Basinger of Bluffton.
The deal was made by Mrs. H. W.
Althaus.
Here he remained for over a century
when the monks, thinking it disgrace
ful that s. great a saint should have
so lowly a burial place, resolved to
move the body to the church.
The 15th of July was set for that
purpose. But on that day a heavy
rain came and continued without in
terruption for the next forty days
The monks took this as a s’gn o'
heavenly displeasure and instead of
removing the hotly they built a
chapel over it where it lay.
Unfortunately, however, for the
legend, it happens that the removal
of his remains from the grave in the
churchyard to a magnificent shrine
within the cathedral took place on
July 15, 971, one hundred and nine
years after his death without any
interference from the weather.
BUY
VNITB*
STATB*
STAMM
NUMBER 12
EARLIEST WHEAT
CUTTING IN YEARS
NEARLYCOMPLETED
Prolonged Drought Speeds Un
interrupted Harvesting of
Excellent Crop
Most Farmers Market Grain At
Once to Eliminate Second
Handling Later
Speeded by prolonged dry weather,
this area’s earliest wheat harvest in
the memory of the oldest farmers
is practically completed, and the
bulk of a better than average crop
will be marketed before the close
of the week.
Mos1 farmers are hauling their
wheat directly to market from
combines or threshing rigs, for the
curren farm labor shortage is an
induct?ment to se 11 noiv and eliminate
tne extra handling of putting the
grain into bins and later taking it
Bot local dealers, the Bluffton
Milling Co. and the
are prepared
Farmers Grain
o handle the
large volume, and hav e been remain-
Ample Shipping Facilitiea
or a short time I ist ueek, mar
ly delayed be
of a shortage freight cars,
le situation has been remedied
and plenty of tramiportation was
available early this week to move
the wheat on to large city markets.
Qua litv ot this vear’s crop is one
of th best on recorc1, testing from
59 to 64, and the y eld is running
from 25 to 40 bushels to the acre.
The prolonged droiight prevailing
since June 23 has macle ideal harvest
conditions. There has been no inter
ruption because of rain, and with
little or no dew falling combines
were able to get into fields early in
the morning to speed the harvest.
Hot weather caused the crop to
ripen much earlier than usual, and
the peak of the harvesting was
passed early this week altho many
farmers worked last Sunday to get
their wheat cut while conditions
were favorable.
Leaves Sunday For
Chaplain's Training
Rev. Ernest Bigelow, pastor of the
Bluffton and Rockport Presbyterian
churches who has enlisted as an
army chaplain will leave next Sun
day afternoon for Harvard univers
ity, Cambridge, Mass., for five weeks
of preliminary training.
He will conduct final services at
both churches next Sunday morning
and leave late in the afternoon for
the east.
Following the services last Sunday
morning Rev. Bigelow was honored
by the Bluffton congregation with a
dinner in the church basement.
At a congregational meeting pre
ceding the dinner the pastor was
given a leave of absence for the dur
ation and six months thereafter.
Similar action is expected to be
taken by the congregation of the
Rockport church at a meeting called
for this Wednesday night.
Another congregational meeting
will be held at the Bluffton church
Friday night at 8:30 o’clock.
Rev. Bigelow enlisted last spring
for the duration and six months
thereafter and has been commissioned
a first lieutenant. He has been pas
tor of the Bluffton and Rockport
churches for the past two years and
is a graduate of Wooster college and
Yale Divinity school.
Mrs. Bigelow and their six
months’ old son Bruce will continue
to make their home here.
In New Locations
Albert Garmatter has moved into
the West Elm street property which
he purchased last winter from Miss
Lydia Basinger. The property has
been extensively remodeled.
Robert Lewis has moved into the
North Lawn avenue property vacat
ed by Garmatter.
Mrs. Grace Wilson will move soon
into the property at Jackson and
Elm street vacated by Lewis. She
purchased the residence last spring
from Hiram Welty of Ft. Wayne,
formerly of Bluffton.
To Collect Taxes
Here Next Week
Representatives from the Allen
county treasurer’s office will be at
the Citizens Natonal bank on Tues
day and Wednesday of next week
for the collection of the last half of
1943 real estate taxes.