100 Years Ago This Month

September 1923

September 7

School Enrollment Breaks All Records

From all over Frederick County come reports of a record-breaking enrollment in high and public schools. It is believed that enrollment will exceed 13,000.

Walkersville High School reports a student body of over 200. The enrollment in the grammar grades totaled 198 and 30 pupils were rolled in the two high school grades. The enrollment of the school by grades follows; first grade – 25; second - 35; third - 30; fourth - 35; fifth - 25; six - 18; seven - 30; eighth - 15; and ninth grade – 15.

Liberty High School has an enrollment of 82. Of this number 32 are in the high school grades. The enrollment of pupils in the high school proper follows by grades, first – 5; second – 12; third – 5; and, fourth - 5.

Woodsboro Public School reports 73 students enrolled this year. 29 of these are in the primary department; 25 in the intermediate department, and 29 in advance grades.

World Still Ruled By Men

To those who either rejoice or lament, as the case may be, over the supposed fact that this is the woman’s age, that’s a male has been entirely superseded, we command a study of the following figures given out by an Eastern sociologists that bear on this debatable subject.

Of the thousands upon thousands of sermons preached in this country last Sunday, women preach no more than 170. Of the pleas made an all the courts in the United States only one and every 190 is made by a woman.

Of all the newspaper editorials not more than one in 30 is written by a woman. It is estimated that 95% of the successful inventions and opinion making ideas still emanate from the masculine mind.

On the other hand, 100% of all children were born to women, and 90% of the education of our children is in feminine care and one million women are earning their living independent of masculine support.

Men still appear to be the chief factor in molding in public sentiment. Perhaps, however, this is but another case where the hands are the hands of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob.

Woman Commit Suicide

Margarita Klein, age 23, wife of Earl Klein of Ladiesburg, committed suicide on Friday afternoon by shooting herself in the head with a 22-caliber rifle. Two weeks before, Mrs. Klein attempted suicide by cutting an artery in her left wrist, said to have been due to despondency.

Klein shot herself in the forehead at the home of her husband‘s parents while her husband was working on a well in the yard, about 50 feet away. When he heard the shot of the rifle, he headed into the house. As he entered the kitchen he found the unconscious form of his wife lying on the floor with a bullet wound in her forehead. She died a few minutes later.

Sometime ago, Mrs. Klein suffered a nervous breakdown and made an attempt on her life by cutting a blood vessel on the back of her hand. About a week ago her husband brought her to the house of his parents at the advice of a physician, thinking the change might improve her health.

Friday morning she seemed fine and after putting out a small wash, went to the yard, where her husband and his father were at work. After leaving her husband in the yard, Mrs. Klein went directly to the kitchen where she selected the rifle, which was kept loaded in a corner with two other guns to shoot Chicken Hawks.

With a weapon in hand she seated herself on a chair, press the muscle against her forehead and pulled the trigger. The ball made a clean round powder burn, and lodged in the back of her head. There were no fractures where the bullet entered. Besides her husband, the woman is survived by an infant about two weeks old.

Petty Thieving Alarming County

Petty thieving in the vicinity of Johnsville, Unionville and along with Frederick and Carroll County line near Union Bridge has caused a feeling of apprehension an alarm among farmers of those localities.

Houses and out buildings have been broken into and meat, lard, poultry and household articles have been stolen and carried away in automobiles. It is said that an organize gang with headquarters near Johnsville is operating in that section of the county, day and night.

A building on the premise of R. A. Kenny, near Woodsboro, was entered Sunday night and a quantity of oil was stolen. The house of Mr. McKenny, near Johnsville was broken into several nights ago and a quantity of lard, meat and clothing stolen. Thieves drew a quantity of oil from the tractor of Harry Peddicord and the same parties visited the premise of Laura Clemson and Charles Ernest, near Johnsville and stole poultry and whatever they could conveniently carry away. It was stated that several farmers in the same locality have been robbed of corn.

Two farmers near Johnsville, whose premises have been visited by thieves, stated that persons in remote sections along the Frederick and Carroll County lines were afraid to leave their homes day or night. Both declared that a gang of young man was responsible for the thieving.

While the persons from near Jonesville did not care to have their names mention for fear of revenge both declared that they had armed themselves and were ready to receive anyone after dark.

September 14

Child Hit By Automobile

Ruth Pallinstar, the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pallinstar of Walkersville, had a narrow escape from severe injuries when she was struck by a Ford roadster Wednesday morning.

The little girl had been taken to school in her father’s automobile and had just climbed out of the machine to cross the road to the schoolhouse when she was struck by the Ford, said to have been driven by a man named Stall. Before it was traveling towards Frederick at what was described as a good rate of speed. Although the driver swerved to the side of the road as soon as he saw the child, the little girl was struck by a fender on the car and badly bruised and slightly cut.

The child retained consciousness and was taken home were medical aid was given. While her injuries are painful they are not thought to be serious and her condition is Satisfactory.

The same cannot be said for Stall, who received a severe thrashing following the accident, but upon being questioned by police, none of the bystanders were able to recall who had struck Stall repeatedly about the head and body.

Shoots Two

And unsuccessful attempt was made to rob the traiding booth of A. R. Favorite on the property of the Monocracy Valley Canning Company, about midnight Friday. Two young men made an attempt to force an entrance to the booth by ripping off a plank in the rear were shot by Mr. Favorite who is standing guard inside.

The boys, David Hetterly, 18 of Walkersville, and Robert Wagerman, age 19 of Emmitsburg, were later arrested on the charge of attempting the robbery. Both are alleged to have confessed and have been committed to jail.

Two or three nights ago a plank was ripped off the rear of the booth and the place robbed of an electric fan and some cigars, cigarettes, etc. A second attempt was made to rob the place the next night, but was foiled by the night watchman of the canning company.

Friday night Favorite himself stood guard inside the booth, about midnight he saw the board which was still loose ripped off. He immediately open fire with his 32-caliber revolver, and struck one of the men in the arm.

Both fled, but Favorite fired again. Hetterly threw up his hands and it was struck by the bullet. He immediately was made prisoner by Favorite.

Police were notified and dispatched to the scene of the attempted robbery. Favorite was removed to the jail after having his wound dressed. He was shot through the wrist, the bullet going clear through.

About one o’clock in the morning, Wagerman was located and placed under arrest. He was shot in the arm but the bullet lodged against the bone. The bullet was removed and the wound was dressed. Wagerman was also committed to the jail.

The parents of Hetterly were apparently unaware of his predicament are they are said to have sent to the factory a note asking if he wanted his breakfast sent to him.

Test Of Auto Operators

Representatives of 13 Midwest states have been invited to attend the conference of Motor Vehicle Administrators, representing state automobile licensing bureaus, to be held in Chicago, at which time plans will be made for working out safety first laws for automobilist and pedestrians. The movement is being fostered by the National Safety Council.

There is a real need, according to the official sponsoring the conference, for uniform laws of driving to lessen the death rate. One suggestion is to prevent a man who never has handled a car before from buying a machine and properly setting forth as if he were an experienced driver. This prevalent custom could be prevented, they say, by forcing the dealer by law to see that everyone to whom he sells a car is thoroughly instructed before he is permitted to operate it on the public highways.

Accidents, as a rule, do not happen to licensed chauffeurs - they happen to unskilled drivers, and women - women making up the majority of auto accidents due to their well-recognized inability to understand complex equipment.

The conference will make plans for uniform laws to govern the licensing of an automobile operator to see if they are sufficiently competent mentally to handle a motor driven vehicle. Some form of intelligence test is likely to be devised.

Cramer Bank Barn Burns

A large bank barn of the farm of Clinton Cramer, about three miles east of Woodsboro was destroyed by fire. Besides the barn there were burned about 13,00 bushels of wheat, about 25 tons of hay, and a frame hog house with several hogs. The threshing machine, which belongs to Milton Fogle, of Ladiesburg, was also destroyed.

September 21

Community Association To Meet At Walkersville

The Glade Valley Community Association of Walkersville has re-organized in preparation to beginning the regular monthly meetings for the Winter. The first meeting of the season will be held Monday evening at the Walkersville schoolhouse.

The Glade Valley Community Association is an open organization and is made up of representatives from the Walkersville area. Meetings are held regularly on the second Monday of each month, at which time community problems are brought up for discussion. The Association is in our growth of a parent teacher association founded some years ago. The objective of the Association is the welfare of the community in general.

After the business meeting a program is rendered. A debate will be one of the features on Monday evening’s meetings. There will also be community singing and a short address. Plans are being made for the Winter and interesting programs are expected.

The Glade Valley Community Association is an open organization and claims as its members everyone residing in Walkersville.

Petition Against Lime Company

A bill on behalf of Walter Zimmerman of Walkersville, has been filed against in the McAleer Lime Company near Walkersville, asking that a receiver be appointed, and alleging that the company has defaulted in payment of interest due under the mortgage of deed of trust for $30,000 executed in 1916.

Sale of the property has been asked to satisfy claims of creditors. The company is said to be indebted to Mr. Zimmerman in the sum of $1,800 with interest. The property is located at Clear Station, between Woodsboro and Walkersville, and consist of about 30 acres of land. It is improved with good quarries, eight kilns, and is equipped with improved machinery.

The company is incorporated under the laws in Maryland for $100,000. The defendant operator is order to show before September 10 why the bill filed against it should not be granted.

Backlog At Corn Cannery

The cannery had a blockade on Tuesday, there being as many as 120 wagons of corn waiting to be unloaded at one time. The situation is said to have been partially caused by the cutting machinery not working properly, and also because the early and late plantings are coming in at one time. The congestion has continued all week to some extent.

Autos Collide on Emmitsburg Road

The automobile of Ray Brening and Charlie Smith collided on the Emmitsburg State Road about 1 mile north of Lewistown Sunday night. The Brening machine was traveling north and Mr. Smith was coming south. The latter was alleged to have been on the wrong side of the road.

Both machines were badly damaged. The wheel and fender were broken on the Brening car and the springs were also broken. The wheel and both fenders were bent on the Smith machine and the running board demolished.

Nighttime Temperatures To Remain Cool

The mercury took quite a slight Sunday night and landed at 52E mark for it’s low. This is the coldest earliest September night since 1915 and the coldest night this year since August 23 when the temperature of 50E was registered.

The cool weather which has characterized the last few days is expected to continue for a few more days, at least. Then the local weatherman looks for warmer weather. He says that it will likely get warmer about the middle of the day, but in the evening things will continue to be cool.

September 28

County Baseball League Closes Season

The Frederick County Baseball League wound up its affairs for the season of 1923. On a motion by the Woodsboro ball club, the Thurmont baseball team was officially declared the pennant winner for the 1923 season and the manor and date for the presentation of the pennant was put up to the management of the Thurmont team.

Two Routes From Frederick To Westminster Soon

Frederick will be connected with Westminster by two modern automobile highways in less than one year‘s time, if present plans work out. The two routes will coincide from Frederick to Liberty. But one of the routes well then extend from Frederick through Jonesville and Union Bridge to New Windsor, which is already connected with Westminster by a modern State Road.

The other will run from Liberty to Oak Orchard to New Windsor. The route through Oak Orchard is being constructed by the State, while that through Jonesville and Union Bridge is being built by the County under the supervision of the State. The Oak Orchard route will be 16 miles long and the Union Bridge route 18 miles long.

A concrete highway from New Windsor to Union Bridge was constructed last year. This leaves a 7-mile gap of unimproved highway extending from Union Bridge to Liberty by way of Johnsville. The County is having 4 miles of this - the old Liberty-Johnsville Pike, resurfaced. The work will be completed before winter sets in, if present plans work out. This will leave a 3-mile gap and plans have been made by the County to resurface this next summer. It will then be a modern macadam highway. The state will take the road over and maintain it after it has been constructed.

80 Gallons Of Alcohol Found In Wrecked Machine

Discovery of 80 gallons of grain alcohol in a roadster wrecked on the Woodsboro Pike, shortly after dark Wednesday night led to the confiscation of both the car and the liquor by the state police.

According to all indications the machine had skidded on the wet highway and slid into the ditch. The car bore evidence of the impact with one broken front wheel and a bent fender. No sign of the occupancy could be found.

While the machine had hit the bottom of the ditch with some force, it is believed that the driver was not injured. No one was seen in the vicinity of the car when police reach the scene and no arrests were made.

The alleged grain alcohol found in the car it said to be worth a fabulous sum. It is now stored in the State Police headquarters where it is being sampled hourly to ensure it does not go bad.

Community Pageant

"The Makers of America", will be presented on the lawn in front of the schoolhouse at Walkersville Saturday evening The pageant is presented to the community to convey in dignified and adequate matter the exalted privilege of American citizenship and is intended to impress upon all the blessings and privileges of American life. One unique and important aspect of the ceremony is that it does not limit the induction into citizenship of aliens only, but provides an equal opportunity for the welcoming into citizenship of all American youth, who have during the previous year attain their majority.

The native born here are said to be as much in need for the development of respect for law and the familiarity with the American institutions as the foreign born. About 100 persons will take part in the pageant.