Let the countdown begin

There are only 100 days remaining until the 100th edition of the Bluffton Free Street Fair launches on Sept. 21. Three fair leaders gathered on the Courthouse square dressed to mark the occasion: (from left) Bluffton Mayor Ted Ellis, 100th fair chairperson Rhonda Ryan, and fair board president Jon Brown. "This is something we've been aiming at for several years," Brown said. "It's going to be pretty special." (Photo by Mark Miller)

Replica Interurban planned for Bluffton Street Fair

This is one of the old photographs that Bob Mullen used to design the replica being built for the upcoming 100th Street Fair.


This volunteer crew of workers is putting together a replica of the Interurban cars that ran between Bluffton and Fort Wayne a century ago. They are standing in front of the metal framework as they begin their project. The project will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Interurban accident in Kingsland that killed 41 people on Sept. 21, 1910. The 100th Bluffton Street Fair's Opening Night is Sept. 21, 2010. From left: Ding Bulger, Bob Mullen, Bub Myers, Jerry Christianson and Virgil Kahn. Plans call for the unit to carry the Street Fair Band through the opening night parade and then will be on display on South Johnson Street in front of the Street Fair Office.


Ding Bulger is putting the metal framework together in the early stages of constructing the Interurban car replica that will be ready for the 100th edition of the Bluffton Free Street Fair in September.


Bub Myers saws metal frame pieces being used to construct a replica of the Interurban passenger cars. The GM retiree is putting his millwright skills to work along with several other volunteers from the Elks Lodge.

Free Street Fair plates available

Jon Brown, center, president of the Bluffton Free Street Fair board of directors, displays one of the license plates promoting the upcoming 100th edition of the annual fair. The plates are free and are available at the News-Banner office and the street fair office. Rhonda Ryan, left, is chair for the fair and notes that it is only 116 days away. At right is Jackie Johnson, office secretary for the fair.