100 Years Ago This Month

October 1923

October 5

Fall Holds Sway, Trees Coloring

Cool temperatures, falling leaves, and fading flowers still remain the principal sign of the times. These are Fall days for fair and the passing of Summer has now become an established fact. No killing frost has as yet played havoc with vegetation and ice has not as yet formed on the surface of the County streams.

The weather has not been wintry to date, but there is a touch of Winter in the morning air. There have also been light frosts here and there in the County, but they have so far done no damage. The temperature prevailing during the past two days have been uniform. The high on both Tuesday and Wednesday was 71, while the minimum Wednesday was 44 and 1E warmer than on Tuesday.

September brought with it many variances in temperatures. The highest marks reach what is 95E on the third and the lowest was 40E which was registered on the 16th and 17th. There was said to have been frost in the County on the latter day.

Last year the highest mark reached by the mercury was 90E and this was registered no less than four times during that month. In 1921, September had a maximum temperature of 93E and the official thermometer rose to 90E three times.

September 1923 put it all over the same month in the preceding year in the matter of precipitation. The month just passed was very moist, no less than 3.53 inches of rain falling, while in 1922 there was only 2.51 inches. Normally, precipitation for September is said to be about 3.35 inches. There was rainfall on 16 days during September. The heaviest in 24 hours was 1.19 inches on the 21st, and the second heaviest on the sixth was .69 of an inch.

There were thunderstorms on September 3, 7, 12 and 29th and lightning and a shower on the 23rd. The entire month was characterized by heavy dews. September had 20 clear evenings, three partly cloudy, six cloudy and one stormy.

Walkersville Raises $193 For Jap Relief Fund

A total of $193 was raised in the Walkersville district for the relief of the earthquake victims in Japan, according to an announcement made by the American Red Cross. The contributions, which was reported by Mrs. Nicodemus, Red Cross Chairman for the Walkersville District, is one of the leading branch reports in the County.

The largest portion came through Edwin Devilbiss, cashier of the Walkersville Savings Bank. Active cooperation was also given to the Red Cross appeal by Reverend Harizell, pastor of the Walkersville Reformed Church, and many others in the community.

Many Thrilled As Big Dirigible Sales Through Air

Her huge white hulk glistening in the rays of a faultless Autumn sun, the giant dirigible of the American Navy, the Shenandoah, glided majestically over Frederick County this week.

Emerging from the blue background of the sky enveloping the northern mountains, the leviathan of the air pointed her nose southward and following the Catoctin Hills slid peacefully through the air.

Hundreds of Frederick County people, gazed in awe as the huge craft sailed in state through the air. Her tremendous white bulk glistening in the sun light and flying scarcely higher than the mountaintops, the airship was plainly visible to everyone in the County.

Many people, learning the giant dirigible was sailing over a portion of the County near them, sought a vantage point from which to view the spectacle. So clear was the atmosphere that a times puffs of smoke from the exhaust were visible, even at great distance.

The dirigible sailed over the western edge of Emmitsburg, then followed a route that took it over Thurmont, Woodsboro and eventually Libertytown At which point it turn west and headed down to the Shenandoah valley to its final destination, Richmond Virginia.

Condition Serious After An Accident

Joseph Bell, colored, about 23 years old, was taken from the jail to Montevue Hospital, Monday afternoon, said to be suffering from a concussion of the brain and internal injuries. It is stated that he had had been unconscious since he was hurt in an automobile accident on the State Road near Woodsboro Sunday morning.

Shortly after the accident, Dr. Bourne examined the injured man and ordered him to be taken to Montevue for treatment. Instead of being committed to the hospital he was taken to the jail. Monday afternoon Dr. Bourns called to see him and found that he was still unconscious and will probably die from his injuries. He then arranged to have him take him to the hospital.

A State motorcycle officer arrived on the scene of the accident soon after it occurred. When the public ambulance arrived, Bell was placed on a stretcher and lifted into the vehicle. It is said that the motorcycle officer sent word to the Deputy Sheriff that Bell was shamming and the Deputy lodged the injured man in jail. Dr. Bourne stated that Bell was seriously injured and was unconscious from the time of the accident until he saw him on Monday afternoon and had him removed to the hospital.

A King ‘Tut" Entertainment

An interesting entertainment, in which King ‘Tut" and his tomb will be the focus; will be given at the Woodsboro schoolhouse, for the benefit of the school Friday evening. The event will be under the direction of a special committee of patrons, and the school children will take part. The committee has planned many novel features, which will be revealed in the nature of real surprises. It will be the first entertainment of the Fall term and the committee as well as the children have worked hard to afford an evening of rare amusement to all who attend.

October 12

Moravian Church At Graceham Celebrates 165 Years

On Sunday, October 7, the Moravian church at Graceham, celebrated its 165th anniversary. The highlight of the event was the Love Feast at which the anniversary sermon was preached by the Pastor Samuel Redman.

For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with a custom of the Moravians, a word of explanation is given about the Love Feast. Love Feasts originated in a gathering of the Christians after Pentecost. Believers met to break bread together. This fulfilled a double purpose. It united the believers as a family, signifying their unity and equality in the sight of the Lord. It also reminded them of the last meal of their Lord, when he ate with his disciples. These meals of the church family were associated with the Lord’s Supper, and so generally are the Love Feasts in the Moravian church. The Love Feast consists of a bun and a cup of coffee, which is distributed while hymns are song, and eaten during the singing by the choir.

The Sunday was the 165th anniversary of the organization of the congregation. The work of the church however dates back to the year 1745 when John Henzer was sent as a schoolteacher and lay reader, upon the invitation of the residence of the locality. He labored faithfully until 1756 the first organized minister, George Neike, was sent from Bethlehem PA., the center of the Moravian activity in the United States, then as now.

The work in those early days was carried on in conjunction with the Lutherans and Reformed Churches, later a disruption occurred, separating the denominations. The Brethren were obligated to find another place of worship. For a time they held services in the home of Jakob Welley, but soon, Daniel Delaney gave them 10 acres of land from his estate for the site of a church and a schoolhouse.

In 1753, the congregation was organized, and a permanent minister appointed. In 1772, the ground was staked off for a new church building, which was dedicated on October 16, 1773. (A log building had previously been used since 1749.)

Almost half a century later, in 1822, the second building was removed, and a new brick structure was begun. The church is joining to the parsonage, also a brick building, which was erected in 1797. The parsonage is there for 126 years old and the church just over a century. At the present time plans are underway for the renovating of the church and parsonage. The congregation plans to spend between 1,200 and $1,500 for the work.

Auto Misses Bridge

Late Thursday night, as a carload of colored folks were returning from the Hagerstown Fair, the driver failed to make the turn at the approach to the covered bridge over the Monocacy, at Bridgeport, and went over the embankment throwing the six occupants out, some of them into the water. Five of them were more or less seriously hurt.

The car, a big Packard, must have been running at a high speed, and the curved approach to the bridge was seen too late to avoid. As indicating the high rate of speed at which the car must have been running, it appears to have made a clear jump of about 36 feet from the bridge wall before it touched the ground, were it turned over and made another plunge of the same distance into the bed of the stream where it now sits, upside down, a complete wreck.

This is a dangerous spot on the road, especially at night, and to a driver unacquainted with the situation. This old one-way bridge – one of the few covered bridges yet remaining on modern roads, rest on high foundation walls, and is approached on a curve at each end. It is one of the many bridges that needs replacement by an open, wide structure with guardrails.

Lost Planes Land

Last Friday evening, two flying machines landed in a field just outside of Taneytown. One of them had lost his way, and was merely following the other to find out "where he was at". As the leader ran out of oil, and had to land to fill up, the other landed too and the two pilots got together and inquired of the local farmer upon who’s field they landed as to where they where at. They both had been headed to Washington but apparently took a wrong turn somewhere. The farmer stood in his field pointing South as the planes took off.

Officer Probes Old Case

A Sheriffs Deputy from York County arrived in Frederick to further investigate the case of George Brown, 36, who is allege to have stolen on an automobile in Hanover in August, 1917 and who was seriously injured in an accident near Lewistown a short while after.

The car, a seven passenger Hudson was found wreck near Lewistown a short while after it was stolen and Brown was found with a broken leg, a broken collarbone and other injuries. He was taken back to York County and lodged in jail. His condition was such that he has never been brought to trial and a few weeks ago, while still on crutches, he escaped. He has since been apprehended and will be tried on October 22.

Students Debate The Movie Craze

An audience of more than 100 heard a debate on moving pictures, as they conducted today, praised and defended, held in connection with a meeting of the Walkersville Community Club in the town hall at that place, Monday night.

The question was: "Resolved, that motion pictures as they are now conducted are on the average detrimental to the American people." The affirmative side won the decision of the judges. All the debaters were girl students at Walkersville high school.

The address of the evening with was delivered by Professor Bible, principal of the East Church St. School. His subject was community cooperation, and praise the work of the Walkersville Community Club and described the good obtained from such an organization.

The program opened with a scripture reading and prayer by Reverend Shike. Mrs. Betty Stauffer delivered a declaration: "The Man Who Quits And The Man Who Sticks," this was followed by community singing under the direction of the Reverend Hartzell.

At the business meeting it was voted to offer prizes for the best essay on "Why Walkersville Needs A Community Association". First prize will be $5, second prize $3, and third prize $2.

October 19

Kitchen Cabinet Band

With the house filled to overflowing, the people of Union Bridge greeted the Kitchen Cabinet Band in their musical on Monday evening. After a few popular selections by the Union Bridge Orchestra, the band, in full regalia of scarlet coats decorated with dozens of shining teaspoons, and equipped with various kitchen utensils, such as the wash tub, washboard, eggbeater, mousetrap, rolling pins, and many others, presenting themselves.

Our hearts were thrilled with many songs of long ago – ‘My Old Kentucky Home’, ‘Carry Me Back To Old Virginy.’ ‘Old Black Joe,’ also a clog dance to the strains of ‘Dixie’.

Among other instruments were marvelous saxophones made of tin cans, and every one active their parts with wonderful originality and efficiency, special mention must be made of the leader, Miss Marie Senseney, ‘Madame Kitchenette’, who with a large spoon as a baton, kept everyone in time, and by her enthusiasm gave zest to all. The audience frequently applauded as the various kitchen instruments where made to give forth novel evidence of their musical ability.

We think the verdict of everyone present would be, that the entertainment was a great success and a source of much pleasure. The play was given for the benefit of the Parent-Teachers Association, net receipts amounting to $52.75. The band expects to give a performance in Taneytown on October 26, for the benefit of the Public Library.

Boy Scouts Meet

A joint meeting of the Walkersville and YMCA Boy Scouts was held Friday evening in the YMCA building. A member of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. first aid division was present and with the assistance of the team organized recently in troop the YMCA troop, demonstrated methods of first aid to the injured.

First aid is one of the most practical and most useful branches of scout instruction. it carries out the idea of ‘Be Prepared’, which is the Scout motto. Everything in the curriculum of Scouting tends to prepare the scout to meet all emergencies in life, but because knowledge of first aid is necessary in saving life and in preventing any more serious complications when the trouble is minor, it is stressed more than any other subject.

October 26

Margaret Mirroring Dies

Miss Margaret Mehring, of Bruceville, departed this life, Wednesday morning. By the death of Miss Mehring, a loving circle, a large number of attach friends, and the entire community of which she was a useful and most respected member, have sustained a great loss. It would be unjust to her many domestic virtues and sterling social qualities to allow her to pass away without some tribute of memory.

She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Mount Zion, a true genuine and sincere Christian lady, and of that active benevolence which prompted her to relieve want and suffering whenever in her power to do so.

She possessed great energy of character and mental vigor, combined with womanly trades. Firmness, cheerfulness, and soundness of judgment, were strong elements in her character, while the vivacity of her manners and fine conversational powers, made her a charming companion. She was one of the noblest of women, and the embodiment of a genteel, sincere, accomplished, frank and generous Maryland lady.

Time, when it robbed her cheek, of its bloom, and her step off its lightness, had no power to chill the warmth of her heart, nor dull the brightness of her intellect. Genteel hospitality and many admirable qualities endured her to a large circle of friends; and her faithful and efficient discharge have every duty to her brother, so many years, who passed away nine months ago, rendered her more than loved by her friends.

Life’s Christian service ended here. She wears the crown in mortal, and the memory of her works remains a blessed legacy to her morning kindred and friends, and her name will long be cherished by all who knew and loved her.

Cold Weather Arrives

There was another big drop in the temperature Tuesday from a high of 71E around noon. It feel by 11E by 6 o’clock, induced by the rain which began to fall around 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

With the continuation of this rain, the liquid fell 20 more degrees overnight, being caught at the 41E mark. If the drop in temperature was brought on by the rain, it was not hard to understand why there was such a big drop, for the raindrops amounted to .7 of an inch in that time.

The weather has been checkered ever since the reaction from the annual October dry spell set in last Tuesday. All the dry weather of the first half of this month almost reach the proportions of a drought, it has since not only rained enough to make up for any last time, but also enough for the total rain for this October to far surpass that of last year.

A heavy frost is predicted for tonight. While there have, of course, been several heavy frost this fall, we have escaped a ‘black’ frost, as the temperature has not been lower than 30E this month. The temperature must go down to 29 or 30 before there is a killing frost. The nights of this October Have been warmer than those of last October, yet the days during this month have been colder.