David Trinko: Bluffton tries to recreate historic photo

BLUFFTON — The original photo from more than 125 years ago is something amazing to see. But watching the Bluffton Fire Department bring it to life today ought to be spectacular.

The fire department will recreate a historic photo from 1897 or 1898, where firefighters shot their hoses up into the air. The test happened during the opening of Bluffton’s water plant. The photo proved the village had enough water pressure to shoot higher than any of the Main Street buildings.

During Bluffton History Day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today on Bluffton’s Main Street, firefighters will prove they still can, while pondering the days when they couldn’t. The demonstration should take place a little after 11 a.m. at the intersection of Cherry and Main streets, near Bluffton Presbyterian Church.

“What I was thinking when I first saw the photo was I take for granted what would have, for them, been amazing,” said Jon Kinn, the fire chief for the Bluffton Fire Department. “To be able to spray water to the top of the tallest building, we just take it for granted we can do that.”

It’s these kinds of hands-on learning opportunities that intrigue Dan Groman, a member of the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society, which organized the event and continued to raise money toward opening a museum in the village.

Last year, the group recreated the infamous 1933 bank robbery of the Bluffton Citizens National Bank by gangster John Dillinger. This year, it will recreate the intriguing photo from Bluffton’s archives.

“To me, a historical society is more than just the building with artifacts,” Groman said. “We should get out and involve the community. We should remember things in the past.”

Earlier in the week, village officials excavating a portion of Main Street found a part of the inner-urban rails that run through the village beneath the asphalt. As workers dug up the area, they saved a section of the rail for the historical organization.

“It’s a community thing. Instead of just looking at history, we’re keeping it alive,” Groman said. “It helps us raise awareness of our heritage and our past.”

Kinn said many of his firefighters are history buffs who appreciate the chance to recreate history. They’ll ride into the area on an old 1928 Studebaker firetruck once bought by Bluffton and now owned by Groman. Firefighters will hook up the hose to a modern fire hydrant. They’ll follow up by showing what a modern firetruck can do with its pumps.

They’re also hoping to put together a “bucket brigade,” showing how water was once passed along to put out fires.

Kinn said he learned to appreciate what a modern marvel that test in the late 1800s showed. After isolating Bluffton’s new water lines at the time, it generated 75 to 100 pounds of pressure, “which is really good, actually,” Kinn said. The current hydrants operate with about 70 pounds of pressure.

Organizers also invited a number of other firetrucks to the area. Groman, a retired employee at the Lima refinery, will bring a steam-powered pump and a 1958 Sohio Lima Refinery fire truck from his own collection.

“I just enjoy the memorabilia and the old artifacts,” Groman said. “I enjoy trying to keep history alive.”

David Trinko is editor of The Lima News. Reach him at 567-242-0467, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.