100 Years Ago This Month

January 1922

January 6

Oil Indications Strong

Oil has been reached at a depth of 765 feet at the Annie Laura Oil Well Number One in Thurmont. The bailings of Wednesday all showed the presence of oil. It is reported that the last bailing brought to the surface showed a considerable quantity. The depth estimated where oil would be found was 832 feet. Just in what quantities it may be found is not known but it is just as well now to find out and settle the question once and for all.

Fire At Lewistown

During the absence of the owner, the residence of Mrs. Laura Black near Lewistown, caught fire and was entirely destroyed. Both Mrs. Black and her son Robert, where away from home when the fire broke out. They were unaware that their home had been destroyed until they finally arrived home.

The fire was discovered at 8 o’clock in the evening. It originated in the kitchen but had already made considerable headway. The neighborhood turned out a bucket brigade, fighting the fire vigorously and preventing it from spreading to the outbuildings. Being unable to save the dwelling itself the neighbors removed the furniture, saving most of it on the first floor. Nothing could be saved on the second floor. The building was a large two-story frame dwelling and has been one of the landmarks for automobile tours, meals being served their daily.

Homebrew Mash For Eggs

Another argument in favor of ‘home brew’ apparently has been discovered in Woodsboro. When his hens got out of the habit of laying, Edward Coyle discontinued the habit of feeding corn syrup and gave them a meal of mash, the by product of his ‘medicinal home brew’.

The following day and every day since, his 12 hens have presented him with an even dozen eggs. Mr. Coyle, who still has the remains of his neighbors ‘makings’ and says he will increase his flock. The eggs are delicious and while of course, cannot legally be more than 1/2 of 1%, there is a twang to their taste and an aroma to the shells!

January 13

Snowstorm Sweeps County

Blockading county roads, paralyzing telephone and telegraph service, and tying up lines of the local railway companies, the worst blizzard in 14 years swept over Frederick County on Thursday. ‘Snowbound’ describes the plight of the residence in the county today. Beginning with driving sheets of rain and snow, and winds up to 40 miles an hour, the blizzard blew in early yesterday morning. Snow began to fall before 2 o’clock, coming down in huge flakes as large as silver dollars. From that time until late in the evening when the sky gave signs of clearing it snowed, hailed and blew without let up.

It is said that hundreds of telephone poles snapped off under the weight of the snow and sleet that hung on the lines. There has been general complaint, that coal was poor and did not give much heat. We expect the weather was more to blame than the cold, but we felt more like blaming it on the latter.

Cutters and sleighs, and some strange vehicles that flourished in all their glory back in the time before grandma’s great-daughters learned to smoke, where pulled out dusty corners and put to use. Upsets and stuck cars and trucks were everywhere. Luck was the family that still had a trusty horse to depend upon.

Escape By Narrow Margin

Mr. and Mrs. Kanode, of near Rocky Ridge, on Saturday afternoon drove their two horse sled to within a few feet of the Western Maryland Railroad crossing before they saw the eastbound train approaching. Mr. Kanode threw the reins to his wife and attempted to go to the head of the horses while the train was passing. In doing so, his feet became entangled in his robes and he landed headfirst in the snow, inches from the wheels of the train. When he got to his feet the train had gone by. This happened at Zimmerman’s crossing, below Graceham. This crossing was named because it was here some years ago that Frank Zimmerman’s team was struck, instantly killing his little girl and his horse.

January 20

Union Bridge Homicide

Jack Bonsavage, 35 years old, was killed at Union Bridge on Friday night by Stephen Michael, 65 years old. Michael, a workman for the Tidewater Portland Cement Company, lives in a company house. Jack and Julius Bonsavage went to Michael’s home, open the door and walked in. Jack Bonsavage, demanded whiskey, it is said, Michael said he had none.

Jack Bonsavage drew a heavy pistol and attempted to shoot Michael, but after pulling the trigger several times, all to no avail, Bonsavage began to beat Michael on the head, knocking him down. He fell on his bed, where his pistol was lying. He seized it and shot Bonsavage through the heart.

After dressing, Michael reported to the company offices and told them what had happened, leaving the revolver with his supervisor. A jury, formed the next day, rendered a verdict of justifiable homicide after a short deliberation, exonerating Michael on the grounds of self-defense. Michael is said to be a good and reliable workman, and about two weeks ago was beaten and robbed of his watch and his life savings of $25.

Ice Cutting

Ice 10-inches think is being harvested by farmers throughout the county. Icehouses are being filled and farmers are hopeful of having a record breaking yield this year. There are rumors that some of the ice is as much as 15-inches thick, but it was impossible to get in touch with the owner of any ice pond that harvested ice that thick. Ice from around Lewistown has an average thickness of nine inches. Ice around Woodsboro is 10-inches. Several farmers reported that they had harvested their entire ice crop before the recent thaw, and are hoping for a second crop, and maybe even a third crop. The surface of every stream and creek is sufficiently frozen that women and girls are ice-skating, the boys playing ice-hockey.

Man Who Left Bride Is Sued For Divorce.

Miss Ella Davis of Thurmont has filed for an absolute divorce from her husband Charles Davis. It will be remembered that in September, Mr. Davis left his bride three days after their marriage, along with a fair bit of her money, stating that he was going to Hagerstown to take part in a Red Cross play. He has not been seen since then.

On January 10, a report from York, Pa. stated that a man name Charles Davis, posing as a retired Army officer had disappear with $100 less than two weeks after marrying a Mrs. Sarah Rockery of that place. Mrs. Rockery and the ‘doctor’ were married on December 16 and on December 28th the man was given $100 by Mrs. Rockery for some new house fixtures he was to purchase, and disappeared. Nothing has been heard from him since.

January 27

Cold Wave Continues

This week was the coldest week of the entire winter, the mercury in the official tube sliding down as far as the 4E mark. Once before during the month of December the temperatures went down to the 6E position but for continue cold weather this weeks holds the record to date this winter. For the past few days the wind has been coming from the north but it’s beginning to shift, and as soon as it warms up a bit it is expected snow will put in an appearance.

Country roads, in many rural sections, are still drifted from the storm of two weeks ago. In some localities rural mail carriers are unable to reach homes and the mail is still being relayed from one house to another. Drifts on the southbound roads have become frozen and hardened. It is reported that many the roads will hardly be open before spring. Side roads in the locality of the LeGore Bridge have not been traveled to any extent since the storm. The same condition it said to exist on the roads along the Western Maryland Railroad from Thurmont in the direction of Rocky Ridge.

Engine Case Decided

The case of Paul Koons & Sons, Detour, again Samuel Barricks and Sons of Woodsboro, resulted in a verdict in favor of Mr. Barricks. The suit grew out of an alleged contract of sale of a traction engine outfit, which the plaintiff claimed the defendant had purchased for $750 and for the rent of the engine amounting to $150, upon which there had been paid a credit of $100. The defendants, however, admitted the rent of $159. The plaintiff alleged that Barricks had purchased the engine and equipment in September, and the defendants claim that they had an option to buy the machine if the price was right or to pay the rent. The court decided that there was no agreement or contract for the purchase of the engine and the verdict was given the plaintive for $59, which amount was admitted to be due by the defendants.