This Month In Frederick County History

February

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

February 2

Throughout the 277-year history of Frederick, violent weather has played an important role. Most notable, of course, have been the numerous floods of Carroll Creek.

However, on February 2, 1876, a freak windstorm struck, causing significant damage, but few injuries.

The 135-foot, 20-year-old steeple of All Saints Episcopal Church, at 106 West Church Street, was toppled. It fell on the roof of the Central National Bank Building next door, which at the time also housed the president of the bank, Col. George R. Dennis, and his family. All escaped without injury. The steeple was later rebuilt at a cost of $3,500.

Some damage was recorded at the Maryland School for The Deaf and Dumb (now the Maryland School for the Deaf) and at Montevue Hospital. Another church steeple was blown down in Jefferson and the roof of the Lutheran Church in Mechanicstown - now Thurmont - was also destroyed. Many roads were blocked by fallen trees and farmers all over the county suffered immense damage to orchards and farm buildings.

February 9

In the early years of this great nation, prominent men in all walks of life passed through Frederick on their way to and from our nation's capitol. Even before the District of Columbia became the seat of our national government such men as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson spent a night of rest here.

On February 9, 1829, President-elect Andrew Jackson was an overnight guest at Talbott's City Hotel in the first block of West Patrick Street. He was on his way to Washington from his Tennessee home - The Hermitage – for his inauguration.

The Frederick-Town Herald of Saturday, February 14, 1829, said: "The President-elect arrived in Frederick early on Monday afternoon last. He was escorted into town by a number of his friends, who met him at the county line, and his arrival was announced by the firing of cannon and the ringing of bells.

"The whole scene, from first to last, was one of much noise and confusion, as we understand, for we witnessed no part of it ourselves, except when the old Hero was dragged along the street in the most unhandsome style.

"He left here on Tuesday morning for Washington, carrying with him, we apprehend, no very favorable impression of our town, should he form his opinion of us from the manner of his reception on the present occasion."

And we learn, notwithstanding the badness of the roads, he had the good fortune to reach Washington in safety early on Wednesday."

It can only be assumed that his apparent mistreatment in 1829 did not keep him from returning to Frederick eight years later on March 8, 1837, on his way back to The Hermitage at the end of his two terms as President of The United States. It also did not keep him from appointing Roger Brooke Taney, who had practiced law in Frederick from 1801 to 1823, to numerous federal posts, including Secretary of The Treasury and Chief Justice of The United States Supreme Court.

February 16

One hundred and sixty-three years ago politics was considered entertainment. It permeated every facet of life in Frederick. The many local newspapers carried numerous articles every week about the political happenings, not only in Frederick, but in the state and nation. And it wasn't just in the commentary columns either. Here's a classic example.

"At about 10 P.M., on February 16, 1860, fire erupted in the rear portion of the City Hotel in the unit block of West Patrick Street. It apparently started when the stove in a rear room on the third floor, which hadn't been lit for weeks, was ignited in anticipation of a paying guest.

"The stove pipe fell against the lathing at the inner edge of a dormer window. It quickly spread to other rooms and the back staircase.

"All of the city's fire companies rushed to the scene, but were initially hampered by frozen fire `water plugs.' But that problem was quickly resolved and the fire was extinguished in short order.

"A thick layer of snow on the roof, and the fact there was no wind, slowed the progression of the flames and aided the firemen.

"The property was fully insured and the Baltimore Fire Insurance Company and the National Fire Insurance Company paid the claim in short order.

"The owners were reimbursed a total of $743.80, which, unfortunately, did not cover the contents of the several rooms that were heavily damaged, or the loss due to water damage."

The Examiner concluded its story on the fire by saying: "Great complaint is made of the neglect of the Corporate authorities (Frederick's elected officials) in suffering the fire plugs to get frozen - but what of good can be expected from a "democratic" administration?"

We suppose that the fall-out from the frozen fire plugs was as great as that from the fire itself.

February 23

Governments are always looking for additional revenue in their efforts to provide more and better amenities for their citizens. And sometimes a windfall drops into their laps.

Such was the case on February 23, 1989, when the Frederick Towne Mall on West Patrick Street's Golden Mile was sold. This transaction, the largest in county history, netted almost $600,000 in recording fees for Frederick County and the State of Maryland.

The transfer tax of one half of one percent amounted to $254,978, and went to the state for its open space program. The balance of $336,354 went to the county and represented nearly a full penny on the property tax rate.

The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, with headquarters in San Francisco, and Equitable Real Estate Investment Management, Inc., were the purchasers.

If the name DeBartolo sounds familiar, it should. DeBartolo is the owner of the San Francisco 49ers National Football League team.

The new owners planned extensive renovation and additional major stores at the Mall, but years later the mall was still anchored by three department stores - J. C. Penny's, The Bon-Ton, and Montgomery Wards.

At the time of the sale, Charles S. Nicewarner, of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, said the sale price of $51 million was nearly $20 million more than the assessed value. What that meant was that other properties along The Golden Mile were going to face reassessments that would substantially increase their tax value.

On the same day the two purchasers also bought the Country Club Mall in LaVale, for $51,616,140, and the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, for $61,173,000.

The largest single real estate transaction prior to this one in Frederick County also involved The Frederick Towne Mall. In 1983, this same property was sold to The Patrician Group, out of New York, for $31.5 million. At that time the transfer fees totaled $368,954.