By Tom Pett
With the exception of an all-expense-paid vacation by the Unites States Army and my days at Tri-State University, I have lived in Bluffton for over seven decades. I have always had a Bluffton street address. I am extremely fortunate to have had some remarkable experiences and, at 70-plus, able to retain some fond memories of living in the Parlor City on the banks of the Wabash.
From a very young age The Bluffton Free Street Fair has been a big part of my life. It still continues to be for the entire Pett family — and our extended family. When each of our three kids started their freshman year in early September at Ball State University, the students in the dorm found out that they were from Bluffton and were going home for the weekend of the Fair. Well, floor space on Friday and Saturday night became a premium at the Pett hostel.
No matter if you are a lover or a hater of the Fair, it affects, in some way or another, almost every resident of Bluffton. For the four or five of you haters, I get it. The loud noises, the strange orders in the air, blocked streets, losing your parking spot, inconvenience of getting to downtown businesses, and the big change to your normal day of life.
However, my list of the positive things the Fair provides is too long for this paper to print. They would need another section to list all the things I think are fantastic about the Fair. But the best thing the Fair provides me are the memories. Years of memories.
It is those memories that lured me into writing this nonfictional literary piece. I have some questions. I need some answers accompanied by equally importance explanations. They deal with some oddities I have observed over the years as I walk around the Fair. They deal with physical peculiarities. Five of these are located within a short walking distance of the Wells County Courthouse.
As a matter of fact, the first one is actually at the Courthouse at the very northeast corner of the building. Why is there a notch in the foundation? Years ago a senior resident of Bluffton told me that at one time there was a cigar store located inside the Courthouse and that notch once held an ashtray for the convenience of the smoker. What do you think?
The next one is a short walk to the corner of Market and Johnson streets. On Johnson Street, along the west wall of the Ellenberger building, there is what appears to be, once upon a time, a fireplace. I must confess, I happen to know the true explanation for this. But you must admit, you have probably walked or driven by “the fireplace on Johnson Street” and never noticed. What do you think?
Number three is directly across Johnson Street to the west. Along the east wall of the Busted Haft is a large, curved brick arch construction. I do not have a degree in architecture but it appears to me that it serves no noticeably structural function. The best explanation I have heard is that before it was converted into an entryway for the building’s business and apartments it was the main access to the maze of subterranean passageways that once crisscrossed under downtown Bluffton. What do you think?
Continue to walk west just a half a block on Market Street to the alley. Turn south and look down to your left. Near the surface of the alley, along the west wall that once was the location of the Butler Brothers Western Auto Store, is a funny-shaped door. Unless you were born before the 1960s you probably have no idea what this is or what it was used for. I also know what this one is, but I thought I would add this antique on the list just for fun.
Thanks to Betty Smith, we know a tree grows in Brooklyn. But did you know a tree grows in downtown Bluffton — in a secret garden — in the actual middle of the block. This one is no longer visible. Years ago you were able to stand at the top of the Courthouse steps, look north and the top of the tree was visible just above the roofs of the buildings across the street. It was also visible from the west side of the News-Banner building. I added this to the list just to see if anyone else knows about the “secret garden” in the middle of 100 block of Market Street.
At 113 W. Market Street is the location of the Foundations of Truth. Years ago it was home to The Old First National Bank. At the very top of the building is a flag pole. It has got to have been there for over 60 years. Look as it real close. Tell me, is it metal or wood?
I must confess that these last two peculiarities have nothing to do with the Fair, but they have sparked my curiosity for years. Bear with me a little bit longer.
In the middle of the 500 block of Liberty Street between Central Avenue and Wayne Street is an object that piques my interest. Located on the north side of the alley is what looks like a pipe for the purpose of air ventilation. Very mysterious. Could this be a device for the sole purpose of supplying oxygen to a secret underground bunker? Possibly to be used by our city government officials in case of an emergency? Is this Bluffton’s equal to the U.S. government’s Greenbrier bunker? What do you think?
This last one is so outrageous that it is almost unbelievable. Just south of the Indiana 1 and US 224 intersection is a Indiana Department of Transportation sign specifying that it is 6 miles to Bluffton and 35 miles to Redkey. OK, makes perfect sense. Very appropriate and informative. However just less than a hundred yards further south is another DOT sign that states that Connersville is 91 miles away. I’ve got to be honest. I chuckle to myself every time I pass this sign. Ask yourself: How many motorists traveling south out of Ossian ask themselves “Gee, I wonder how far it is to Connersville?” Seriously? The answer is … Absolutely nobody — ever!
The best explanation I have received was from a former state employee. Somewhere between the DOT and the company contracted to manufacture the sign, the purchase order was written incorrectly. It should have read 19 miles. So, the DOT not to be wasteful, searched out a location on one of Indiana’s state roads and put up the sign. What do you think?
Well that’s it. I hope you get out to the Fair and check out some of these oddities.
Tom Pett is a Bluffton resident.
He wrote this for The News-Banner.
