This Month In Frederick County History

December

From John Ashbury's - '... and all our yesterdays'

December 2

Robert Rothenhoefer was appointed State's Attorney

Robert Rothenhoefer had only been practicing law for seven years when he was appointed to the position of State's Attorney for Frederick County on December 2, 1959 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Edwin Nikirk. Chief Judge Patrick M. Schnauffer, of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, made the appointment after receiving the recommendation of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Rothenhoefer was a graduate of Frederick High School, Class of 1939, and, since January 1955, had been a special attorney in the legal department of the State Roads Commission. He resigned that position when named State's Attorney.

Between graduating from high school and receiving his law degree from the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore in 1952, Rothenhoefer served in the U. S. Army for 45 months during World War II. When he was discharged he was a first lieutenant in the infantry. He would serve as State's Attorney until 1982 when he retired.

Nikirk, who had been elected three times as State's Attorney, had been convicted of income tax evasion and was sentenced in U. S. District Court in Baltimore to one year in federal prison plus a fine of $7,500. Initially he pled innocent to the charges, but on November 20, 1959, he changed his plea to no contest.

Prior to his conviction, Nikirk had paid the taxes claimed in the indictment and additional interest and penalties. Following his prison term, Nikirk was disbarred, but was later reinstated. Throughout the many years that followed he was considered perhaps the best criminal defense attorney in Frederick County until his retirement.

December 9

On December 9, 1974, Pope Paul VI completed the formal process for naming Mother Elizabeth Seton as the United States' first native-born saint of the Catholic Church. She was canonized on September 14, 1975.

On December 9, 1974, Pope Paul VI completed a 92-year-effort to make her a saint of his church. After her conversion to Catholicism in 1805, she was ostracized by her family and friends. She struggled as a new widow to feed her five children and always placed her faith in her Lord to provide what she and her family needed.

When Mother Seton died in Emmitsburg in 1821, Father Simon Brute her spiritual advisor, told her followers: "Save everything. This is an extraordinary soul."

Eighty-six years later, in 1907, James Cardinal Gibbons began the official process which led to her canonization. He had, as early as 1882, expressed a desire to initiate the Process of Cause.

A primary part of any canonization is proof that at least three miracles can be attributed to the intercession of the candidate.

The first miracle involved Sister Gertrude Korzendorfer, of New Orleans, who was cured of pancreatic cancer in 1935. A tribunal in 1945 gave credit to Mother Seton for the sister's cure.

The second miracle involved Ann O'Neill of Baltimore who was cured of acute leukemia at the age of 4 in 1952. Mother Seton's intervention in the O'Neill case was declared in 1961.

The third and last miracle came when Carl Kalin, of New York City, was cured of brain cancer in 1963.

On December 9, 1974, Pope Paul VI approved at the Vatican a decree of canonization for Mother Seton.

On September 15, 1975 services bestowing sainthood on this humble woman were conducted in Rome and in Emmitsburg

December 16

Trinity United Methodist Church founded by 14 people.

The issue of slavery divided a nation and led to a Civil War. But in Frederick it also lead to the formation of a church which today boasts a thriving congregation.

After the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church meeting in 1860 denounced slavery, several Fredericktonians split from the established church and formed their own. Their efforts were delayed by The Civil War, but their determination to establish their own church remained high.

The first meetings of this new congregation were held in private homes. In 1862 they began holding their services in a three-story bakery building on East Patrick St.

On December 16, 1866, the Rev. Samuel Register organized what is today Trinity United Methodist Church with only 14 members. Initially this church was called Trinity Chapel and survived under that name for many years. In 1871 the trustees purchased a site on East Second St. for $990, and during that year a church was built.

In 1966, this structure was sold to the First Church of Christ Scientists and a new Trinity Church was built on West Patrick St. at the U.S. 15 cloverleaf.

December 23

The Tivoli Theater opened

Today we know it as the Weinberg Center for The Arts, a palatial theater where concerts, plays and even silent movies can be seen.

But in 1926 when it opened, it was the "ultimate movie palace." On Thursday night, December 23, 1926, more than 1,500 people gathered on West Patrick Street to watch Harry Langdon star as "The Strong Man" on the silver screen of Frederick's newest theater - The Tivoli.

The facility, which had been built at a cost of $350,000, featured the mighty Wurlitzer organ (which remains intact), four chandeliers, carved wood arches and marble slabs along the walls.

The Stanley Crandall Company was the original owner and operator, but they were bought out by Warner Bros. in the 1930s.

That purchase was fortuitous, for it was during Warner's ownership that the Tivoli became the first air-conditioned commercial building in Frederick.

For years after opening night, the manager, or assistant manager, would greet patrons at the entrance, dressed in their finest. Uniformed ushers would direct movie goers to their seats.

In 1959 Dan and Alice Weinberg purchased the theater, becoming its first local owners. It was closed briefly for renovations, but reopened on its 33rd anniversary.

In the early 1970s, the Weinbergs leased the theater to Irwin Cohen, of R. C. Theaters of Baltimore. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Agnes devastated the theater by flooding the Carroll Creek.

Four years later, on October 9, 1976, the Great Flood of the Carroll Creek nearly destroyed the Tivoli and Cohen was released from his contract.

Thousands of volunteers donated their time to restore this grand dame of Frederick. And on February 10, 1978, the Tivoli re-opened, this time as the Weinberg Center for The Arts.

December 30

There are those times in our lives when we find ourselves at a complete loss. Such was the case when Bernard Adams, who touched every citizen of Frederick County with his magnificent baritone voice while a local radio newsman, passed away suddenly at just 37 years old.

Bernie was unique. He brought sunshine to the darkest day. His smile lit every room he entered. His counsel was sought, his insight often profound. He threw himself into his work with a fervor unmatched. He brought a sense of marvel to observers. He rose to the occasion no matter how insignificant it may have seemed. The important and seemingly meaningless tasks got the same effort from Bernie.

He came to Frederick in the late 1970s to work as a radio news reporter. He rose quickly to a position of respect within the news-making community. And after several years as a working stiff, he was named news director at WFMD.

Bernie was one of those uncommon individuals who could ask the hard questions and never infuriate his sources. Emotional involvement never entered the picture.

When he accepted a position as assistant to the president of Frederick Community College for public relations, shock waves reverberated among his friends and associates. But Bernie saw a world different than the rest of us. He had accomplished all he could - or wanted to - in his chosen professional world, and it was time to accept new challenges, to face new horizons, to contribute in a different way to the place he had come to call home.

He was black. But no one ever mentioned that. Bernie was a man, a respected member of this society. The example he set, not only for young black men struggling to simply earn a living wage, but for all caught in the trap of discrimination, was a true inspiration.

Bernie was a prototype citizen. From his very example can be taught many lessons. He gave of himself and never asked for anything more than simple recognition that the job had been done well.