FROM THE BLUFFTON ICON - Imagine living in a Bluffton you never knew.

A book released in time for Christmas by the Bluffton Icon takes you there.

“The Bluffton We Never Knew,” photographs from our first half century, 1861 to 1911, is at the printer now. The book, with 106 pages, includes over 170 black and white photographs of Bluffton.

Bluffton pioneer photographer Will A. Triplett took most of the photos. Those photos include Bluffton scenes, people, businesses, churches, Main Street, the college, railroads, early vehicles and residences from Bluffton.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SOME OF THE PHOTOS -

The also book includes 18 Bluffton school class photos taken before 1901. The book cover shows the Bluffton tennis courts from the early 1900s in a colorized post card. The tennis courts were located on the site of Riley View Apartments.

“The book has many photos that few residents today have ever seen,” said Fred Steiner, of the Icon. “Placing these in one collection reveals a very interest story of the early growth of Bluffton.”

“The book was in the idea stages for several years and over the past 12 months it came together,” added Steiner.

Steiner said that many of the photos are from his own collection.

“Each of the photos include a description of the Bluffton scene portrayed,” he said. “I’ve tried to identify as many people in the photos as possible.”

Many of the photos are reproduced directly from Will Triplett’s glass negatives. He was a Bluffton photographer for 53 years, working from 1881 to 1934.

In addition to photographs, the book includes a list of sources used to explain and identify the photos. It also includes Bluffton timeline of events from 1820 to 1911, an 1880 village plat map and a brief biography of Mr. Triplett.

Chapter titles in the book include:

• Main Street – businesses and buildings on Main Street
• Churches
• Our neighbors – photos of village residents
• Where we lived –photos of early Bluffton houses
• The Riley and our quarries
• The old school – 18 class photographs
• A college town
• Going places – horse and wagons, automobiles, railroads and interurbans
• One Bluffton family – some photos of the author’s Bluffton ancestors

Upon release, the book sells for $19.95 plus tax. The book will be available in several Bluffton businesses and from the Icon.  Advance sale copies are discounted now through Nov. 30  at $16.95 plus tax.

A pre-release order form is attached at the bottom of this story. Persons from outside Bluffton may order books that include a Priority Mail charge.