100 Years Ago This Month

September 1922

September 7

Sunday School Workers Parade

County Sunday school workers to the number of approximately 1,000 with two bands marched in the largest parade ever witnessed on the streets of Fairfield Thursday evening. The parade was a feature of the two-day convention of the Adams County Sunday school association, which closed it’s meeting at Fairfield.

Members of Sunday schools from the cradle roll to the home department marched in the procession. The Reverend Pew, Pastor the Fairfield Reformed Church, was in charge of the parade and acted as Chief Marshall.

The Two Taverns Community Band and the Citizen’s Band of Gettysburg furnished music along the line of march. At the conclusion of the parade, the Two Tavern’s band rendered a concert in the Fairfield Lutheran Church before the start of the Sunday evening service.

Autoist Injured

John Baker, of Thurmont, was injured when his Ford car struck a culvert and overturned when his lights went out, throwing Mr. Baker to the road, breaking his right collarbone and causing multiple laceration and bruises. A passing motorist took him to his home, and he is now recovering from his injuries.

Stove Sale

Is there anything dear to the heart of a woman than a fine kitchen range? To witness the crowd at Nicodermus’ appliance store in Graceham, the special demonstration of the Majestic range, one would think not. An expert from the Majestic factory was there for a week, where he showed the women of that community the advantages of the Majestic range construction which makes possible the accurate control of the heat while baking and how the linings and hidden construction are such that give long life to the range. It requires no expert to point out that the smooth lustrous finish of the Majestic range – speak for themselves. Every purchaser of a Majestic range is given, free, his choice of two find sets of cooking utensils.

Residents Oppose Street Grading

A number of the owners of property abiding on West Main St., in Emmitsburg, are up in arms against changes in the grading of the portions of the highway in front of their homes being made by the contractor, which is laying concrete on this street from the Square to the corporate limits. The aggravated property owners claim that the change in grading will lessen the value of their real estate.

Threatened To Shoot Wife, Daughter

John McCarthy, of Thurmont, was arrested and charge for threatening to shoot his wife and daughter and threatening to kill his neighbor. It is thought that he is suffering from mental trouble, and he will be examined by physicians to determine the advisability of a jury investigation.

McCarthy took notion that his neighbor had been paying attention to his wife and daughter and he started out with a shotgun and declared that he would shoot all of them. He first appeared before his wife and daughter and threatened to kill them both. His wife pleaded with him not to carry out his threat. At an opportune time she and her daughter ceased the man and attempted to arrest the gun, which was loaded from him.

In a tussle, McCarthy and his daughter were slightly hurt. The woman, however, succeeded in getting possession of the gun and hiding in the house. She then called the Sheriff and informed him of what had occurred. The Sherriff found McCarthy walking along the road and placed him under arrest and brought him to jail. There he reiterated his charge against his neighbor and his manner indicated that his mind was at least temporary ineffective.

Children Ready To Resume Their Studies

The public schools of the county will re-open for the scholastic year on Monday morning. While the Emmitsburg high school building has not yet been completed, this will not delay the opening of the school. The pupils of all grades have been directed to report to the old building and classes will be assigned from there. Two rooms of the new building will be ready for use and the old building will be used until the new one is completed which should be about the middle of the month.

Harney Road Closed

The Harney Road from George Stables’ farm to Piney Creek Church has been closed by the order of the County Commissioners. A macadam road surface is now being constructed by the contractor, Mr. Valentine. We are told no grading will be done and that it will be built upon a good base of limestone. We hope that it will prove to be satisfactory and that every person will be pleased when it is done.

September 14

Woodsboro Wins First Game Of Series, Thurmont Second

What is the largest crowd is it ever turned out to witness a ball game in any town in western Maryland, the Woodsboro baseball team defeated the Thurmont nine in the first game of the series of three games to decide which team shall receive the pennant of the Frederick County league. The game was played at Woodsboro last Saturday afternoon and the score was 8 to 4 in favor of Woodsboro.

The attendance at the game is claimed to have been about 2,000, made up of people from the two towns, A\as well as residence of surrounding towns. Both teams played fastball until the eighth inning when Woodsboro, by a batting rally, put over three runs and thoroughly whooped the Thurmont boys.

Thurmont however, won the second game beating Woodsboro 4 to 3 before a crowd of 2,000 people at the ballpark in Thurmont. Fully as large number of people as witness to defeat at Woodsboro witness Thurmont even up the score. The Thurmont boys realized the situation, and ‘went over and got them’. The Woodsboro team also realize the situation, but was not quite equal to the task.

A Reckless Driver

Wednesday afternoon, Charlie Creager was injured in a strange manner. Albert Riffle, agent for Maxwell automobiles, took a new sedan to Mr. Creager‘s place of business for an inspection, and had the car standing near the curb on the right side of the street. Mr. Creager, in order to get a view of the underworks, lay down on the ground and put his head under the car. While doing so a Ford sedan containing two women who were busy gabbing, came along and ran into the rear of the Maxwell, the front wheel of the Ford passing over, and on the rebound, stopping directly on Mr. Creager‘s legs.

Both legs were cut and bruised considerably and his clothing badly torn. The gas tank on the Maxwell was ruined. Mr. Creager was assisted into his workroom and there became very sick. He was taken to his home by those who caused the accident and has since been unable to work.

The ladies, it is reported, said they did not see the car, although there was nothing on the street to obstruct their view.

Fell From Truck

Why on her way to the ball game between Thurmont and Woodsboro in Woodsboro, Miss Bessie Baxter fell from a truck and barely escaped injury. She was one of a truckload of baseball enthusiast, and was sitting on the end gate of the truck. As they passed over the railroad at Lewistown, the chain became unfasten, throwing her to the road. She received a number of bruises but was otherwise unhurt.

Auto Burned

Last Saturday night the automobile belonging to Mrs. Ladimir Schmidt, mysteriously caught fire while standing in the garage. The blaze was discovered by a member of the family who noticed a light in the garage. In going to the building it was found that the machine was ablaze. It was pushed out of the building and in a short time was consumed. Rumor is that the blaze may have started from a leak in Mr. Schmidt’s still that at the time, was running full out. Thankfully, the still was not damaged and continued to run.

Leg Broken

Bruce Wheat, of Thurmont, was run down by an automobile on Tuesday morning near the Gemstone Products Company plant north of town. He is the quarry boss at the place and was walking on the road between the quarry and the office; he did not hear the machine coming. When the driver sounded his alarm, Mr. Wheat jumped, landing in front of the automobile. His right leg was broken and right ankle dislocated.

Family Escapes Injury

When the car he was driving stalled while going up Jack’s Mountain Wednesday, Charles Spencer removed his family, and attempted to allow the machine to run back down the mountain, but he lost control and the car ran off the road and overturned. The top was slightly damaged. The crew from the Fairfield garage assisted in placing the car on its wheels.

Fair Response To Call For Milk

For the purpose of buying milk, from which the cream will be taken and used in the manufacture of ice cream, a creamery concern today opened a milk receiving station in Fairfield. The station is located at the rear Musselman’s store.

The response to the call for 20,000 pounds of milk from Fairfield was fair, according to reports of the first delivery of milk at the new receiving station. 20,000 pounds of milk is equivalent to 2,500 gallons.

The milk brought to the Fairfield station is first weighed and then skimmed. The cream this removed is taking to Chambersburg where it is utilized in the manufacture of ice cream. The skimmed milk is return to the farmers free of charge and may be used for feeding hogs and chickens.

It is the purpose, in time of the new milk receiving station to purchase not only the cream for the milk, but the milk as well. This will be the used in the manufacturer of butter. Sour cream is also sought by the management.

September 21

Woodsboro Wins Championship

The Woodsboro baseball team won the championship of Frederick County last Saturday by thoroughly trouncing Thurmont 17 to 8. It must have been a strange championship game as Woodsboro had 11 errors, 17 base hits, and eight men to reach first base on errors. Thurmont had 10 errors, 11 base hits and nine to reach first base on errors. Sounds to us like a "Bloomer Girl" game.

Finger Cut

While operating the meat slicer in Sam Long’s store Mr. Beechley accidentally got his fingers in the way of the knife. The piece of meat, which he was holding, became loosened and turned, throwing his hands into the machine. The ends of two fingers were almost severed.

Auto Plunges Over Bank

Six persons - three grown and three children – narrowly escaped being killed when an automobile in which they were riding plunged over a 40 foot embankment along the road between Thurmont and Foxville, Saturday night.

Around 9 o’clock Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Wagley, and the latter’s two children and brother-in-law, Mr. Wagley, and an infant of Mrs. Brown’s left Thurmont for home. At a point about 3 miles from Thurmont the lights of the car suddenly went out. Before the machine could be brought to a stop the car veered to one side of the road and plunged over the embankment. Mrs. Brown was caught under the car while the others were throwing free of the machine.

A night watchman at the Greenstone plant, a short distance from where the accident occurred heard the crash and hurried to the spot. He succeeded in releasing Mrs. Brown from the car at which time other automobiles came upon the accident and their occupants got out to help. All involved escape with slight bruises and continued on their way home.

Large Tomato Plant

Isaiah Stall has in his yard a tomato vine of enormous growth and prolific production. It is a volunteer, which came out of the ground within a few inches of the corner of the shed at the rear of his residence. The plant separated into two main branches that Mr. Stall trained to two different sides of the building. A present the longer branch is more than 12 feet long. The entire vine has produced 58 tomatoes, none less than 3 inches in diameter.

Harvest Home Festival At Rocky Ridge

On Saturday afternoon the annual Harvest Home Festival was held in the tabernacle of the Rocky Ridge church. There were present a large congregation from various sections of neighboring communities. The decoration of fruit and grain of all kinds and flowers of the season was elaborate and artistic. The fruit and vegetables – an automobile load of it – was presented to the pastor. After the service photographs were taken of the decorations and another of the entire assemblage on the outside of the tabernacle.

Run Down By Own Car

Samuel Annan was badly bruised on Saturday night when he was run down by his own car near the Square on Patrick Street. The wheels of the machine passed over his body. He was standing in front of his machine, cranking it, when it started and being in gear, started to move. He was unable to get out of the way and was knocked down. Beyond sustaining a number of bad bruises on his legs he escaped serious injury, albeit his pride took a hit.

Thieves visited Taneytown

About 1 o’clock Tuesday morning, robbers forced the side window at Ott’s store and carried out a considerable quantity of merchandise. They were heard by Wallace Rider who fired off a revolver and spread the alarm by telephone. Mr. Ott and a number of armed persons gathered up, but the robbers made to get away, leaving their plunder behind.

Later, 11 sacks of goods of all kinds, and a large hamper, were found conveniently spaced along alleys to be gathered up by auto or truck, as the hour was early for such a job, it was supposed that a visit was to be made at one or more other places.

A small truck was seeing going down Woodsboro Pike, about 2 o’clock, at a rapid speed, which likely shows the direction taken by the thieves. Very few people have legitimate business on the streets or roads about 1 o’clock or later, and it will be good policy for all to hear persons abroad at this time, to investigate, and if necessary, do a little shooting.

80-Year-Old Apple Tree

At the old Topper homestead in Liberty Township, near Emmitsburg, there is an 80-year-old apple tree, of the Brandman, or Smokehouse variety, that was planted by the father of James Bowie, the present tenant. The tree is reported to be 80 years old, and each year bears a good crops of fruit. It is in fine condition giving evidence of much future life.

September 28

Resident Fight Water Rates

A petition protesting against the proposed advance in the rates of the Emmitsburg Water Company has been widely circulated among the residents and has already been signed by 248 customers of the company.

Vincent Sebold, who is taking a leading part in the fight against the rates, stated that he expect to file this petition with a Public Service Commission on Monday. "A hearing is not to be expected before the middle of next month", he says, and the new rates were going to affect October 1.

The new rates are called unreasonable and excessive by Mr. Sebold, who claims that some of them represent in advance of 100% and over. "I do not think that the Public Service Commission of Maryland will sustain such an advance." Mr. Sebold said.

It is the contention of the water company that the company has the authority to make the rise in rates and that this rate was made necessary by the fact that a number of improvements have been made to the company’s property. They insist that the new rates are not excessive or unreasonable.

Lost Six Cows

Last week Mr. Charles Snurr of Graceham cleaned out his silo – took the old silage out and fed some to his cattle and threw the remainder into the field in which the cattle were pasturing.

When Mr. Snurr went out in the morning to look after his stock, he found 14 cows of his herd on the ground, some motionless and others apparently in distress. Dr. Zinkham of Thurmont was immediately summoned and he stated that he knew the animals were suffering from poison as soon as he saw them and immediately applied antidotes. Outside of the six that where already dead, the condition of four is serious. The remainder, however, responded to treatment and were said to be out of danger

Dr. Marten of Emmitsburg said the old silage cause ptomain poisoning. Farmers having silos on their premises she remember this least they suffer losses in the same manner. The cows were of the Holstein breed, and Mr. Snurr says they were good ones. The dead cows were worth from $100-$140 each.

Mr. Frost Visits

Mr. Jack Frost, who for a number of years has been a regular visitor to this place, arrived here on Tuesday. He is still the same old joker as in the past. He says he likes the area pretty well, so he thought he would just drop in on to see if we were prepared for winter. He doesn’t expect to make a very long stay on this trip, but will come again later in the fall.

The dryness of last week is now another week dryer, with water becoming more scarce and everything suffering from want of a soaking rain. The drought is becoming serious. The ground is dry to considerable depth; pastures are suffering and the sowing of wheat delayed. In places, water is getting low in streams and wells.

Struck By Rafters

Herbert Sprangler of Taneytown was hurt why helping to build a shed on Jacob Null’s property on Thursday. He was standing on the plate of the building, when the rafters that have been drawn up commenced to fall, striking him and knocking him to the ground, about 14 feet. He was painful but not seriously hurt.