September 1

History of Frederick County

After several years of painstaking labor and very careful research - the objective being to produce, the basis of which would be absolute accuracy - the publishers of The Historical and Biographical Record of Frederick County have completed their work. The book consists of two volumes, handsomely printed and bound and profusely illustrated. It is said to be the largest and finest work ever offered for $15, having over 1600 text pages and about 400 illustrations.

The second, and larger volume is made up of individual biographical records, a comprehensive presentation of the personal histories of men prominent in the county.

Barbara Jane Beam

On Monday, Mrs. Barbara Jane Beam, wife of George Beam, died at her home on E. Main St. after a long illness of paralysis of the brain. Mrs. Beam was in her 66th year. Mrs. Beam was a native of Chester County, Pa. During her long residence here in Emmitsburg she made many friends who mourn her death. In her immediate family, she is survived by her husband, her son Harry Beam and two sisters, Misses Louisa and Susan Guthrie.

September 9

Autos Collide Near Town

Yesterday afternoon, a two seated Chalmer-Detroit automobile met in head-on collision with a Cadillac, much to the detriment of both cars. It seems that both parties did all they could to avoid the accident. The driver of the Chalmer-Detroit, who was running at a pretty good clip, threw on the brakes as soon as he saw the other machine coming down Tollgate Hill. The momentum of his car carried it with both wheels locked, almost within the wing walls of the bridge, where the descending car struck it squarely, throwing it across to the other side of the road and leaving the imprint on its radiator. It is remarkable that no one was injured. The heavy glass windshields of both cars were shattered. The rear tires of the Chalmer were torn almost in two by being dragged on the stones. Headlights and fenders were a mass of junk, radiators were demolished, springs broken and bent and the axle of the Cadillac had to be removed and straightened by a blacksmith. The latter machine, however, could be motored into the Emmitsburg House garage for repairs.

Auto and Buggy Collide

On Thursday morning and automobile containing four men and driven at a rapid speed ran into the team of Mr. Chester Walter along the pike near Payne’s Hill. The automobilist stopped long enough to extract the front wheel of their car from the carriage, after which they jumped in and threw on full power. Mr. Walter, who was left with a demolished wheel and a frightened horse, could not get the number of the machine, and by the time his telephone message reached Emmitsburg the road-burners had passed through town. Many persons saw them swerve around the fountain, but of course, no one thought of looking at the license plate.

Fountain Repaired

After a thorough cleaning and repairing, the fountain at the square is now in perfect working order. The grass around the basin has been cut and trimmed and the receptacles for plants are filled with blooming flowers. Also, a very noticeable improvement is the removal of the weeds on the other side of Frederick Street and the cleaning and relaying of the gutters.

Walk to Indian Lookout

An afternoon stroll through the woods of Mount St. Mary’s College and a climb from there up to Indian Lookout was enjoyed by party of pleasure seekers last Sunday. Those who composed the party were: The Misses Bertha Felix, Gertrude Seybold, Mary Welty, Madeline Frezell, Mary Felix, Josephine Frezell, Bennett Sebold and Kavanaugh Baker. On Sunday, a number of young boys from this place, calling themselves the Scouts of Emmitsburg, walked to Gettysburg then onto Big Round Top. After taking their supper there, they walked home. In the party were Frank Topper, Marcie Baker, Gordon Propf, Harry Ashbaugh, Allan Moser, Benjamin Topper and Thorton Rogers.

September 15

Mount St. Mary’s Begins New Year

The scholastic year at Mount St. Mary’s was open on Wednesday morning with a solemn High Mass, which the student body attended. Father Bradley, President of the college welcomed the students both old and new. In a few words he urged all to make a firm resolution to study earnestly at the very onset of the session, so that the year would prove both a pleasant and profitable one.

From the number already registered, it looks like the attendance this year will exceed all former records. An unusually large number of new students have entered, and the greater number of old ones has returned. The faculty has been changed slightly: Prof. Ryan will teach in English Department and the chemistry and physics classes will be under Prof. Rauth.

New Telephone Line

Rumor, pretty well established, has it that the C&P Telephone Co. will shortly build a line from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg. Several independent companies among the farmers will then connect with this line.

September 22

Dynamite on the Farm

A demonstration on the use of dynamite on the farm will be given next Thursday afternoon on the place of H. M. Landie, half a mile northeast of Fairfield on the road to depot. This is the newest thing in agriculture farming. It is cheaper in the long-run to plow with dynamite, and there is no such satisfactory way to get rid of stumps then blow them out of the ground.

The work of digging holes for fencepost is cheapened and hurried along by the use of small dynamite cartridges made specifically for the purpose. All that is necessary is to drive a crowbar down to within six inches of the desired depth, and the cartridge dropped to the bottom and set off, does the rest.

In planting fruit trees, dynamite is a great help. A suitable cartridge buried a short distance below the surface of the ground, will excavate instantly as large hole as a man can dig in an hour. Incidentally, the explosives loosens up the earth for many yards around, giving the roots a better opportunity to spread; and all the grubs and other injurious insects in the soil around and about are destroyed.

Pioneer Telephone Co. in Liberty Township

Liberty Township farmers had been busy placing polls for the Emmitsburg Pioneer Telephone Co., which is a mutual organization just formed and affiliated with the C&P Co. The new line will extend 4.5 miles northwest towards Fairfield. Users of the lines pay a rental to the C&P Company for exchange service and the use of its extensive system.

Building these mutual lines results in a 15 year contract with the C&P Co. It is expected that in the future, more extensive telephone service throughout this county will be afforded by the means of this arrangement. The work is being rapidly pushed and in a week it is expected the line will be completed. Another company, expected to connect with Gettysburg, has been at work promoting their scheme among the farmers of Liberty Township, but it is expected that the completion of the Emmitsburg connection will forestall the other idea and the subscribers will be added to the Emmitsburg Company.

High Price for Farmland

Mr. Edger Stansbury purchased the 112 acre farm of the late N. C. Stansbury on Tuesday at public sale for $60.20/acre, one of the highest prices paid per acre in recent memory of many. The adjoining 160 acre farm of Miss Mary Martin also sold at public sale was purchased by her son at a more reasonable price of for $40.62/acre.

Mrs. Morrison 94 Years Old

Yesterday, Mrs. Penina Morrision turned 94 years old. Mrs. Morrison is the youngest old lady we have ever known. A regular attendant at church, seen daily on the streets unimpaired and healthy, she holds her own with those who were born a generation after her. She is the mother of a large family and her descendents in the first, second and third-generation, together with all her friends unite in wishing her continued health and happiness.

September 29

Arrest in Spring Poisoning Case

Charles Toms, about 45 years old, living in the South Mountain near Hamburg, was arrested last Friday and charged with poisoning with Paris Green a spring of water on Miss Bessie Patterson’s property. He was held on $300 bail. He furnished surety and denies the charge. According to Mrs. Patterson, bad feelings have existed between her family and the Toms for some time. Recently, her daughter went to the spring for pail of water and noticing a greenish substance on the surface, reported the discovery to her mother. The latter made an investigation and found Paris Green about the sides of and at the bottom of the spring. Dead minnows and earthworms were found in the water.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'