1916 Bluffton Indiana Library Vintage Postcard, Bluffton High School Reunion
About This Vintage Postcard
This hand-colored vintage postcard depicts the City Library in Bluffton, Indiana, a landmark example of Neoclassical architecture. Built in 1903 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie, the building's facade is defined by its grand stone staircase and four prominent Ionic columns supporting a central pediment. Known as a "Carnegie Library," it served as the cultural and educational hub for Bluffton, famously nicknamed "The Parlor City" for its clean, well-maintained streets and public spaces at the turn of the century. This card is particularly unique as it was used in 1916 as a formal invitation for the Bluffton High School alumni reunion, reflecting the deep integration of the library into the community's social fabric.
Details
Era: Divided Back (1916 postmark)
City: Bluffton
State or Region: Indiana
Country: United States
Topic: Carnegie Library, Bluffton High School Alumni, Indiana Education History, Neoclassical Architecture, Wells County History
Condition: Circulated
Postage: 1-cent green George Washington stamp, postmarked June 10, 1916, from Bluffton, Indiana
Address Side: Divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Commercialchrome
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Lithograph
Additional Information
The reverse of this card contains a printed invitation to the c held on Friday, June 16, 1916, at the First Reformed Church. The invitation lists committee members E. S. Walmer ('86), Stella Vaughn Patton ('94), Jessie Martz Plessinger ('91), and W. M. Kellogg ('07), providing a specific genealogical and historical snapshot of the town's early graduates. The First Reformed Church, where the event was held, still stands at 301 West Cherry Street and is one of the oldest congregations in the city. The card also features the Commercialchrome serial number 14917, a marker for this local publisher's early 20th-century output.
This vintage postcard would look beautiful framed or make a great addition to any collection.
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