The Bluffton news. [volume], December 07, 1950, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live
VOLUME LXXV
DRIVER IS NOT
YET NAMED BY
TOWN COUNCIL
Traffic Patrol of Bluffton’s
Street Expected to Start
This Month
Delivery of Car Anticipated
Here Within Coming Week,
Dealer Says
With delivery of Bluffton’s new
police car promised the early part of
this month, traffic patrol of city
streets probably will be In effect be
fore the first of the year as a curb
to speeding and reckless operation
of automobiles.
Altho city council authorized the
purchase of a Ford six-cylinder car
for patrol purposes nearly two
months ago, delivery of the automo
bile was delayed by municipal auth
orities, awaiting the release of 1951
model cars.
Representatives of the Bixel Motor
Sales, from whom the car is being
purchased, notified the council Mon
day night that delivery from the fac
tory has been promised within the
next week.
Details for operation of the patrol
car have not been completed as yet,
with a patrolman-driver of the auto
mobile still to be selected.
Purchase of the automobile fol
lowed continued complaints from resi
dents regarding hazards resulting
from speeding and reckless operation
of cars on city streets.
Install Masonic
Officers Monday
Installation of recently elected offi
cers of Bluffton Masonic lodge will
take place next Monday night, pre
ceded by a potluck supper at 6:30
in the lodge dining hall.
Installed will be:
Master, Kent Amstutz senior
warden, Robt. Ewing junior ward
en, Chas. Steiner treas., Evan Ba
singer secretary, Ralph Stearns
senior deacon, Carl Marshall junior
deacon, Hubert Troy tyler, Oscar
Wenger chaplain, Paul Cramer
senior steward, Clayton Harkness
junior steward, Wilford Gratz,
trustee, Richard Lewis.
Installing officers: Presiding, Wil
bur Amstutz grand marshal, Bert
rand Sw’ank grand chaplain, Armin
Hauenstein.
Bluffton Hospital
NOVEMBER 30
Discharged—Mrs. F. D. Lewis, Col.
Grove Mrs. Arthur Rantz, Rawson.
DECEMBER 1
Admitted—Gideon Lehman, Pan
dora.
Discharged—Mrs. John Long, Ada
Mrs. Harold Radabaugh, Mt. Cory.
DECEMBER 2
Admitted—Mrs. Gerald Yarger,
Continental.
Discharged—Mrs. Evan Leiber and
daughter, Beaverdam Mrs. Chas.
Kimmet and son, Leipsic Mrs. Har
old Klingler and son, Bluffton Mrs.
Ropp Triplett and daughter, Bluffton
Mrs. John Berryhill and son, Bluff
ton.
DECEMBER 4
Discharged—Mrs. Ralph Niese and
daughter, Leipsic Mrs. Howard Ha
begger and son, Bluffton Kathy Ione
Pifer, Williamstown.
DECEMBER 5
Admitted—Margaret Knepper, Pan
dora.
DECEMBER 6
Admitted—Vernon Suter, Pandora.
Discharged—Mrs. James Morton
and daughter, Bluffton Mrs. Chas.
Williams and daughter, Findlay
Margaret Knepper, Pandora, Susan
Steiner, Pandora.
Town to Get New
Police Auto Soon
Completion of a $2,200,000 ex
pansion program at the Bluffton
generating plant of the Central Ohio
Light and Power Co. was announced
this week by Emory D. Erwin,
president of the utility.
Test runs of a new turbo-generator
installed at the plant now are be
ing made, preparatory to tying in
with transmission lines of the
system.
This new unit, which is the fifth
installed at the plant, has a rating
of 12,000 kva. This makes the total
effective capacity of the plant 45,000
Bluffton Couple
Lands In England
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hankish, Jr.,
of North Jackson street arrived in
England last Friday, according to
word received here Tuesday.
The Bluffton couple sailed from
New York City, November 23 to
spend 10 weeks visiting at the home
of Mrs. Hankish’s parents in Tet
bury, Gloucestershire, about 100
miles south of London.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Evan Leiber, Beav
erdam, a girl, Lois Nadine, born
November 27.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Starliper,
Findlay, a boy, David Lloyd, Thurs
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Niese, Leipsic,
a girl, Ruth Ann, Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Morton,
Bluffton, a girl, Jane Iris, Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Williams,
Findlay, a girl, Carol Jean, Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Bracy, Jr.,
Leipsic, a girl, Jean Ann, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Niswander,
Bluffton, a boy, Thomas Ray, Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hefner, La
fayette, a boy, Wesley Andrew, Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleland Amstutz,
Pandora, a boy, Mark V ayne, Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Zuercher,
Pandora, a boy, Gregory Charles,
Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Gratz, Bluff
ton, a girl, Donna Marie, Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth' Diller,
Bluffton, a boy, Colvin Dean, Mon
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Devier,
Blufftdh, a girt, \alerie Frances,
Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lauck, Mc
Comb, a boy, Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Stauffer,
Findlay, a boy, William Charles,
bom at Findlay hospital. Emmet
Stauffer of Bluffton is the paternal
grandfather.
Mr. and Mrs. Elton Beery, Se
ville, a girl, Anna Jean, bom at
Medina hospital. Mrs. Beery is the
former Margery Niswander of Bluff
ton.
Announce Varsity
Basketball Schedule
Bluffton college eagers will play a
17-game schedule this winter, with
contests carded again some of the
best small-school quintets in Ohio,
Indiana, Michigan and Kansas.
A newcomer on the Beaver sched
ule will be Bethel college, of New
ton, Kansas, another Mennonite in
stitution, which will play here De
cember 19.
Ten of the 17 games will be in
Mid Ohio league competition, with
the Beavers tangling twice in the
loop with Ohio Northern, Findlay,
Defiance, Ashland and Cedarville.
Season schedule for the Beavers
was announced by Athletic Director
A. C. Burcky as follows:
Dec. 4—Bluffton 29 Toledo 78
Dec. 8—at O. N. U.
Dec. 11—Wilberforce, here
Dec. 13—at Findlay
Dec. 19—Bethel, here
Jan. 5—Open
Jan. 8—Detroit Tech, here
Jan. 10—at Defiance
Jan. 16—at Ashland
Jan. 20—Cedarville, here
Feb. 1—at Cedarville
Feb. 6—O. N. U., here
Feb. 8—at Wilberforce
Feb. 14—Ashland, here
Feb. 16—Defiance, here
I Feb. 19—Huntington, here
I Feb. 26—Findlay, here
Record Crowd In Bluffton Attends
Opening Of Holiday Shopping Season
kilowatts which provides adequate
capacity to take care of the addi
tional business contemplated and
meet any emergency resulting from
the war effort that might develop in
this area.
The plant addition to house this
new turbo-generator unit was started
on April 25, 1949 with a ceremony
which saw Mr. Floyd W. Woodcock,
Chairman of the Board for the
Company, turning over the first
spade full of dirt. A great man
local and out of town visitors were
present on this occasion.
Curiosity-seekers at Bluffton
fires drew the criticism of muni
cipal councilmen at their meeting
Monday night, and brought a
request from Mayor W. A. Howe
asking that only authorized mem
bers of the fire department enter
homes and assist in fighting the
blaze.
Many complaints have been re
ceived from home owners regard­
Bluffton’s window shopping observ
ance, a pre-Christmas innovation
here this year, launched the town’s
Yuletide gift shopping season with
a record turnout of young and old
folks alike here last Friday night
and Saturday.
A crowd estimated at more than
3,000 persons jammed the business
district in a record turnout of shop
pers. Milling crowds thronged the
streets lured by the dual attraction
of free gifts and the official arrival
of Santa Claus, who made an ap
pearance here on the grade school
grounds Saturday afternoon.
Although a mixture of rain and
sleet, beginning at about 9 p. m.
Friday night, kept many from the
streets as the downtown window
shopping observance opened, the
weather on Saturday was favorable
for window shopping, greeting Santa
or doing your Christmas shopping.
Residents of the area took advant
age of the first favorable break in
weather conditions for more than a
week, and while milder temperatures
and a warm south wind melted the
snow, the streets were thronged with
jostling crowds.
Buying Heavy
Merchants were jubilant over Sat
urday’s sales volume, for cash regis
ters were worked overtime as the
crowd proved to the satisfaction of
everyone that they were here to
buy, as well as to look.
Kept away from stores for more
than a week by the 12-inch snow
fall, Christmas shoppers more than
made up for lost time when they
descended on local stores in the
wake of the window shopping ob
servance.
Many buyers virtually completed
filling their Christmas lists, making
no secret of the fact that they were
afraid of shortages or the possibil
ity of higher prices. Others just
wanted to get their Yuletide shop
ping out of the way early, and
since they were downtown anyway
went right ahead with the job.
In the meantime there were count
less hundreds milling around on the
streets outside stores trying to find
the lucky numbers in the windows
which entitled them to free gifts.
Presentation of the gifts, one by
each place of business, was a popu
lar feature with shoppers and mer
chants alike. Winning numbers
from stubs distributed by Bluffton
business men were on display with
the gifts. Some gifts still are un
claimed, following a second drawing
Saturday night, but the present
numbers will continue in effect until
this Saturday.
Tickets for the gifts were dis
tributed free of charge in every
business place, and it was unneces
sary to make a purchase to get a
chance.
Main street Christmas decorations,
the most elaborate in the town’s his
tory, also were unveiled over the
weekend, adding to the Yuletide
atmosphere.
The plastice ovals are anchored to
light standards with metal brackets.
Mile Of Nickels
Stands At $400
The Mile of Nickels drive now
stands at $400, it is announced by
the Band Mothers club. The total
represents an increase of $150 over
last week’s gure, it was stated by
Mrs. Henry Green, club treasurer.
New Boiler
In the plant addition, which
measures 110 ft. long and 43 ft.
wide, is also housed a new 120,000
lbs. of steam per hour boiler togeth
er with all the auxiliary equipment.
This new boiler was completed ana
placed in operation on June 11, 1950.
According to Paul Martinka, Vice
President and Superintendent or
Production for the Company, this Is
the third addition which has been
made since the original construction
in 1937. In 'addition to the expan
sion of the plant, a new laboratory
♦UFF
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
Curiosity Seekers Told to Keep out of
The Way and Out of the House at Fires
ing curious onlookers who barge
into residences on “sight-seeing”
tours after the fire has been ex
tinguished.
The mayor’s plea urged resi
dents of the community to re
spect property rights of indivi
duals in whose homes fires occur,
and pointed out that the fact a
blaze has occurred does not con
stitute an invitation for “open
house” for those gathered at the
scene.
$500 ESTIMATED
COST OF CLEARING
STREETS OF SNOW
Nearly One Week Required to
Dig Out of Record Snow
fall Here
Return of Warmer Weather
Aids in Work of Cleanup
Over Weekend
Cleaning up last week in the wake
of the record November blizzard was
the most costly snow-removal pro
gram in Bluffton’s history, Street
Commissioner H. L. Coon announced
Monday.
With nearly a week required in
digging out from the 12-inch snow
fall, the cost to the municipality
carried a price tag estimated at
$500, the street commissioner said.
BLUFFTON NEWS
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1930
Major emphasis in the cleanup
program was in the downtown dis
trict where 750 tons of snow were
scooped into trucks and hauled to
the Harmon road banks of Riley
creek, where it made an impressive
mountain of snow, much of whicn
weathered the warm temperatures of
last weekend.
Plow Streets, Alleys
In addition to the removal of snow
from the business area, all streets
in the town were plowed out in a
program which continued.' thru Thurs
day of last week. Principal alleys
also were opened by the town crew,
in combatting one of the heaviest
snows in recent years.
It was near the week end, however,
before automobile travel in town en
countered conditions which represent
ed a return to normalcy, then mucn
warmer weather Friday night ana
Saturday virtually erased all traces
of the snow within a 24-hour period.
The sudden thaw brought high
water in Big and Little Riley creeks,
but conditions were no worse than in
usual heavy rains, and colder weath
er Sunday eliminated most of the
danger of flood damage.
Country Roads Blocked
Many country roads were blocked
until late in the week, and after
Bluffton schools had operated on
Tuesday and Wednesday, they closed
for the remainder of the week, while
the snow cleanup was continuing.
The decision to close came Wednes
day when classes were dismissed in
early afternoon when drifts began
forming again on roads which had
been opened.
Bluffton’s garbage and month-end
rubbish collection service also were
casualties of the weather and the
garbage pickup Monday of this week
was exactly one week late. Rubbish
collection, which normally would
have started last week, will get
under way at noon this Thursday,
Mayor W. A. Howe announced.
With Maple Grove cemetery also
snowbound during the emergency
there were no burials until last Sun
day.
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Grain (bushel prices)—Wheat
$2.08 corn $1.58 oats 91c soys
$2.72.
Poultry—Heavy hens 22c leghorn
hens 19c heavy fryers 28c leghorn
fryers 20c heavy stags 13c leghorn
stags 12c.
Eggs—Large white 56c large
brown 55c medium white 45c
medium brown 44c pullets 35c.
Butterfat—No. 1, 61c No. 2, 56c.
Utility Completes Expansion Project of Over Two Million Dollars in Bluffton
has been installed and several rooms
added in the basement to provide
better storage space.
The growth of the plant also
necessitated other major changes.
The original coal unloading and con
veyor system, having a capacity ot
50 tons per hour, has been replaced
with a new system having a capacity
of 100 tons per hour. The plant
burns over 300 tons of coal per day.
A settling basin, consisting of two
ponds approximately 50 feet by 550
feet each, was also made in the area
north of the plant so that cinders
Sometimes the curious and
“would-be” helpers do not wait
until the fire is extinguished to
start their activities, and firemen
often complain of their work be
ing handicapped by unauthorized
interference.
In urging residents of the town
to refrain from misguided as
sistance, the mayor called on on
lookers to stay back of fire lines
and help firemen only when re
quested to do so.
Emphasizing the importance of a
colorful setting for the Yuletide sea
son, all residents of Bluffton have
been urged to participate in the
Junior Chamber of Commerce Christ
mas lighting and decoration contest.
In stressing a community-wide
program of decorative imaginative
creativeness, Jaycee officials in
charge of the program this week
submitted the following suggestions
for cooperation:
Shrubbery offers an excellent
theme for outdoor lighting. The use
of flood and spot lights help to cre
ate contrast. When shrubbery does
not lend itself to the lighting theme,
the display may utilize the architec
tural lines of the house, gable ,porch
and other vertical lines.
Windows provide beautiful frames
for Christmas trees, stars, signs and
other window decorations. Stores are
full of many types of display ma
terial, of course, the things we cre
ate ourselves are the ones that give
us a satisfaction that is lacking
with other types, according to Robert
Hamman, chairman of the Jaycee
committee.
Colorful windows and doorways
reflect the hospitable spirit within
your home. With such inexpensive
materials as bulbs, foil, scrap wood
and greens, novel and attractive dec
orations can be fashioned in a few
hours. Many types of these holiday
I lighting decorations are also avail
iable commercially.
A novel treatment of the wreath
decoration is to frame the entire
doorway in a wreath made from
poultry netting covered with layers
of evergreen. Dot the wreath with
berries or red bulbs.
In every home the center of at
traction will be the Christmas tree.
In this particular field we all have
our own ideas. May personal cre
ativeness reign and be reflected in
our very creations.
Announce Messiah
Concert Soloists
Soloists for the annual rendition
of Handel’s Messiah were announced:
the first of the week by Prof. R. A.
Lantz.
The concert is an annual event
presented by the College Choral so
ciety under direction of Prof. Lantz.
The concert this year will be given
in the high school gymnasium, Sun
day evening, December 17 at 8 p. m.
Soloists are: Hilda Ohlinger, Chi
cago, soprano Helen LeClair, New
York, contralto Dwight Weldy,
Goshen, Ind., tenor Warren Allen,
Bowling Green, bass.
Special Services For
Bible Reading Sunday
Bluffton churches will observe
Universal Bible Sunday with special
sermons and litanies in services next
Sunday morning, it is announced by
the Ministerial association
Elsewhere in this issue appears a
reprint sponsored by the Bluffton
Ministerial association of the poster
announcing Universal Bible Sunday.
The local pastors urge Christian
in Bluffton to follow the outline of
Bible readings which are recom
mended by the American Bible so
ciety this year. Copies of the Bible
reading bookmarks are available in
churches here.
Immediately after straining milk
put lids on milk cans tightly.
Interest Mounts In Christmas Home
Lighting Contest To Be Held Here
and fly ash could be removed hy
draulically from the plant’s two
largest boilers.
The coal storage area has also been
enlarged and it is now possible to
keep at least a four months’ supply
of coal on hand if required. At pres
ent the company is maintaining ap
proximately 100 days reserve.
Improve Service
A second high voltage bus has also
been installed in the plant’s outdoor
switchyard to insure an uninterrupt
ed flow of electric energy from the
station generators to the company’s
Show Film At Church
Of Christ On Sunday
A colored sound film “Stewardship
of Jeannie” will be shown at a
union service of Bluffton-Beaverdam
parish in the Church of Christ here
Sunday night at 8 o’clock, it is an
nounced by the pastor, Rev. O. Mer
rill Boggs.
The service will open with a hymn
sing and Mrs. Don Martz, vocalist,
will sing a soprano solo.
Window Shopping
Winners Listed
Winners who have claimed prizes
so far in the free gift program op
erated in conjunction with Window
Shopping Night are:
Mrs. Lyle Everett, won the slip
given by Rice Dry Goods & Tot
Shop Alvin Lee, cake given by
Hauenstein Bakery Godfrey Bigler,
clock, from Waitermire’s Mrs. Herb
Haller, ham, from Swank Bros. Meat
Market Mrs. Arden Baker, lamp,
from Basinger Furniture store Ross
Irwin, sack of flour, from Clover
Farm store.
Otis Fett, ham, from A to Z Meat
Market Mrs. Harold Beals, Parker
pen, from Sidney’s Drug shop Rol
land Guider, 5 qt. of oil, from Stauf
fer Pure Oil Station Luke Lugibill,
defroster fan, from Steiner Chevro
let sales Miss Bertha Miller, Bluff
ton college, pitcher and glass set,
from Marshall & Bixel Carol Moser,
box camera, from Montgomery News.
Bert Swank, $5.00 in trade, from
Geiger and Diller Ronnie Geiser,
gold picture frame, from Neu-Art
Studio Mrs. Otto Badertscher, elec
tric clock, from Mumma Electric
shop Mr. and Mrs. Byron Spalling
ier, dinner for two, from Elk Res
taurant.
Barbara Diller, men’s gift set, from
A. Hauenstein Son Vidella Herr,
basket of groceries, from Amstutz
Grocery Jesse Anderson, 12 giant
candy bars, from Risser’s John
Rhodes, Bluffton college, 6 free
passes, from Carma Theatre Mrs.
Kenneth Moser, fruit cake, from
A & store eJan Ann Frick, string
of pearls, from Leiber’s Mrs. Wm.
Wiebe, bouquet of mums, from Ba
singer Florist.
Bluffton Business Men’s association
reminds the public that tickets are
still good until Saturday night and
27 firms still have unclaimed prizes
on display. On Window Shopping
Night 50 firms had free gifts on
display. Remaining prizes in win
dows all have new numbers.
Lions Hear Talk
On Postal Service
Reviewing development of postal
service from the days dating back
to the century before the Christian
era when the only means of com
munication was by couriers serving
royalty alone, Assistant Postmaster
Ralph T. Stearns spoke at a meeting
of the Bluffton Lions club Tuesday
evening in the Walnut Grill.
Modern postal service available to
day at reasonable cost to Bluffton
residents as well as elsewhere in the
country is the outgrowth of the cen
turies intervening since that begin
ning, Stearns said.
In commenting on the extent of
service provided by the Bluffton post
office, Stearns told the group that
a staff of 14 is employed here in
handling the mails.
Next meeting of the Lions will be
a Christmas party, Tuesday, Dec.
19, in the Walnut Grill.
Student Recital
Public school pupils of Pearl Bo
gart Mann and Laurence Burkhalter
of the college music faculty will ap
pear in recital Friday evening at
7:30 o’clock in Ramseyer chapel.
The public is invited.
two main transmission lines.
A fly ash precipitor has also been
installed for the purpose of removing
the very fine furnace dust from the
gases leaving through the stacks.
This will remove practically all air
borne particles thereby freeing the
area around the plant of smoke nui
sance.
With this construction now com
pleted Central Ohio has one of the
most modern and efficient power
plants in the country today. Cus
tomers of the company are served by
two 34.5 Kv transmission* lines run­
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Trade
Complaints on Phone
Service Given Airing
NUMBER 34
LOCAL CENTRAL
OPERATORS BACK
AFTER WALKOUT
State Utilities Makes Investi
gation Following Township
Protest
Telephone Company Representa
tive to Meet Richland
Trustees Here
Mounting complaints against Bluff
ton’s telephone service, some of long
standing, appeared this week to be
headed for a full dress airing with
the state public utilities commission
and Richland township trustees tak
ing leading roles.
The showdown was touched off last
Thursday when three women operat
ors at the local central office walked
off their jobs. The walkout, of short
duration, was reportedly in protest
over working conditions and manage
ment of the Bluffton exchange. Tele
phone service was not interrupted as
a result of the controversy.
Maurice Mahoney, local manager
of the Bluffton system, said Tuesday
that the operators who left their
posts at the central exchange on
Thursday had returned to work the
following day after differences had
been ironed out in a conference with
officials of the Telephone company.
George Quatman, of Lima, company
president was reported here Thurs
day to confer with the operators.
PUCO Investigation
In the meantime, an investigation
of local service by the Public Utilities
Commission of Ohio made in mid
November culminated another phase
of dissatisfaction.
The PUCO investigation stemmed
from action taken by the Richland
township board of trustees, protest
ing alleged unsatisfactory service
rendered by the telephone company,
especially as it related to rural fire
protection.
In their complaint, the trustees
pojnted to annual payments of $450
for fire protection contracts with
Bluffton and Beaverdam, and alleged
the condition of rural lines was such
that telephone calls for help in farm
fires were subject to unreasonable de
lay.
Lines Out
President Quatman said he has a
PUCO report showing that when the
investigation was made here on No
vember 15 a few lines were out of
order due to rain, but that these were
back in service by noon the next day.
The PUCO report is said to have
further informed Quatman that the
complainant who requested the in
vestigation agreed that “service is
more reliable” in Bluffton now than
when the complaint was filed. In
vestigation of the complaint was
made by Luther Leggett, of Marys
ville, a PUCO engineer.
Further airing of the township
complaint will come at a special call
ed meeting of the board of trustees
this month, with J. P. Coleman, per
sonnel manager of the telephone com
pany. Date for the meeting has not
yet been set, according to Ray Hilty,
township clerk.
In the vote on the protest motion
precipitating the PUCO investigation
Trustees Albert Augsburger and
Jesse Yoakam voted “yes” with Fred
Badertscher third member of the
board not voting.
Long Distance Mixup
Last week’s airing of the service
situation also again brought up the
question of additional long distance
lines for Bluffton patrons, which were
promised at an early fall hearing be
fore the PUCO in Columbus.
P. W. Stauffer, who represented pa
trons at the hearing, was notified by
Quatman on November 21 that two
additional long distance lines soon
would be in operation, but Mahoney
said Tuesday that the new facilities
were not yet in use.
ning the entire length of the system.
Electric energy from the Woodcock
Plant provides power for the custom
ers located in the five county area
served namely A 11 e n, Hancock,
Wood, Van Wert and Auglaize.
The management of the company
has indicated that an open house is
contemplated in 1951 so that the pub
lic will have an opportunity to visit
and view this modern electrical gen
erating station.
Announcement of the open house
will be made to the general public
when such plans have been completed.