August 1

Mount Tabor Park Opened At Rocky Ridge

The new Mount Tabor Park in Rocky Ridge opened officially on Sunday evening, July 20, with Dr. Tombaugh preaching the opening sermon in the large, open air, breezy auditorium to almost 500 people.

Services will continue to be held in the outdoor pavilion every Sunday night up until the first Sunday night in September. Arrangements have been made for Mount Tabor’s annual Sunday school and community picnic to be held in the park on Saturday, August 9.

The park offers swings, seesaw, slide boards, and sand pits for the entrainment of the children.

Barn Destroyed By Fire On Eve Of Sale Of Farm

Less than 24 hours before settlement was to have been made for the purchase of his farm, lightning struck the barn of Harry Riley, 2 miles east of Fairfield, Thursday afternoon, destroying the structure together with this year‘s crops of wheat and hay.

Mr. Riley had entered into a contract for the sale of the farm to George Beck, and settlement was to have been made at 10 o’clock today. Mr. Riley said the sale of the farm now was doubtful. In addition to the barn, which was destroyed, the wagon shed, and the chicken house also burnt down.

The bolt which set fire to the barn, came at the end of a severe electrical storm, which passed over that section of the County a short time before. Rain had stopped falling just as the lightning struck. In a few minutes, the barn was in flames. There were scarcly enough time to remove but two horses and several cows from the burning structure.

The structure was filled to the rafters with unthrushed wheat, and a large quantity of hay, both constituting the entire crop of three products from the farm. A binder, wagon bed, corn drill, several plows, and a quantity of harnesses and the wagon shed, were also consumed by the flames. The hog pen was saved, but the chicken house burned, and five chickens were killed.

Neighbors of the Rileys, quickly gathered and more than 75 of them formed a bucket brigade. A call was also put in for the Fairfield Fire Company and firefighters responded from the town with their chemical tanks. The Riley home was never in danger from the blaze, because there was practically no wind stirring at the time.

Weather And Crop Conditions

This was the third successive dry and sunshiny week in a row, and was favorable for harvesting and thrashing of grains, cultivation, haymaking, and harvesting tomatoes, potatoes, early fruits, etc.

Farmers have about all completed harvesting, and thrashing has begun. Some report fair yields, while other say, the grain is not turning out so good. Early oats seem to be good, while late oats have been be hurt by the dry weather.

Corn, generally, is rather common, and if strike weather conditions continue, will be a poor crop. The growth varies generally, owing to the wide range and dates of planting. The early corn planted is tasseling and silking.

Due to the lack of rain, gardens are suffering and vegetables will be scarce. The tomato crop like all others, have been badly affected by weather conditions; early plants have made a fine growth. Early potatoes however are a complete failure.

Pastures and grasses are showing the effects of the long dry spell. They are now but poor to fair. Picking of early apples is now generally in progress. Early peaches and early pears are ripening; picking of those fruits have begun in some localities.

Taneytown Fire Company Buys New Fire Engine

The Taneytown Fire Company placed an order for the latest model LaFrance fire engine truck, type number 75, with double chemical tanks, and 500 gallons of water a minute discharge capacity. The price is $10,800 and delivery is to be made in about 60 days.

With this equipment, Taneytown and the surrounding community will be vastly safer from fires, and calls can be more easily answered. The advantage of the engine are mainly the chemical tanks that are very effective for small fires, and for saving interior losses due to water; relief to firemen from pulling the hose reels, often long distances; being able to make available the water in wells and streams; availability to reach the east end section of town, where pressure from the standpipes is not be sufficient - with the engine supplementing the plug pressure and to create a stronger stream of water to put on a fire.

Fire At Thurmont

A building in Thurmont, owned by the Central Trust Company, and occupied by Francis Wetzel, a butcher, adjoining the side of the Trust Company’s new bank building, now under construction, was damage by fire early Saturday morning. Fireman responded promptly, and extinguished the blaze, which was confined to the one building.

The fire was discovered by neighbors on the opposite side of the street, who were awakened by smoke pouring from the building, and an alarm was sounded. It is thought that the fire was caused by defective electrical wiring. The flames started in the rear of the meat room on the first floor, and decimated Mr. Wetzel’s meat stock and fixtures. The interior of the building was considerably burned. The building is a two-story frame structure situated in the center of town.

August 8

Drought Broken

The drought of the past month was broken early Sunday morning, by a heavy general rain. The downfall was followed by cool, clearing weather. The rain had the effect of breaking the drought and flushing mountain streams from which local water supply is derived.

The drought was beginning to effect crops and vegetation. Corn was particularly in need of moisture and pasture fields were drying up. The precipitation was slightly more than half an inch. The rainfall was steady and soaked into the ground. The fall was the heaviest for the past two months, and covered all sections of the County.

High School Site Purchased

A public meeting last Friday night ratified a committee’s purchase of the Calvin Fringer property for the new Tanetytown high school site.

The 4-acre property, located at the end of George Street, fronting 186 feet of that street, is an "L" shape lot, also giving it a frontage on the mill Road. The purchase price was $1,500. Mr. Fringer value the land as high as $2,500, but for the school location, he agreed to accept $1,500.

The State School Board had inspected the lot, and the one owned by Harry Spangler, and had agreed to accept either one, but finally rejected the latter on account of it being slightly smaller than 4 acres. The Fringer lot was adjudged to be the only satisfactory lot available, hence its purchased was ratified.

The lot has the advantage of lying high, with good drainage, fairly level, and away from street, noise and dust, but somewhat off to the side, as far as publicity is concerned. Aside from the latter consideration, the lot is ideal and every respect.

It is thought that the various "Boards" have now been satisfied, and that work on building the new school will commence perhaps in a month or six weeks, and the building be ready for occupancy about March 1. It is also thought that the various schools will be open in temporary quarters, the location of which has not yet be determined, at their regular time in September.

While the plans for the new school building have not yet been received, but it is understood that the building will be brick, two stories, with a large assembly hall on the first floor, and so arranged that the classrooms and hallways can be thrown together when necessary. The local committee is waiting for full information, and final adoption of plans before proceeding, actively with the canvassing for funds.

Bitten By Copperhead

Miss Madeline Lightner, 15, was bitten in two places on the forefinger of her right hand by a copperhead, Tuesday morning, while picking huckleberries in the mountains near her home. Madeline, accompany by her mother, had been at work for sometime in the mountains, near her home, where snakes of all kinds are known to exist.

The young girl had just moved from one huckleberry bush to another, and had thrust her hand into the bush to pick some berries, when the copperhead struck twice in rapid succession. Both bites were close together on the forefinger of the right hand. So quickly did the snake strike that the girl wasn’t able to withdraw her hand.

The girl screamed, and her mother, who was picking berries nearby, went to her daughter’s side. She saw the copperhead in the bushes and killed it.

The victim was taken to her home and Dr. Henderson of Fairfield was summoned. Upon his arrival, he cauterized both wounds and gave the girl other medical treatments.

Dr. Henderson said he would not know for several days how serious the condition might become. He said if her system is able to throw off the snake’s poison, no serious complications would be experienced.

Oiling Of Roads In County Almost Ended

The oiling crews of the State Road Commission have started to work on the Emmitsburg State Road. This will be the last highway in the County to be oiled this year, with the exception of one and a half miles of the Woodsboro Pike near Walkersville.

When these highways have been treated, the work of oiling roads in Carroll County will be started. It is expected that the oiling of all roads in this district will be completed by the end of next week.

August 15

Encouraged Not to Marry Boyfriend

Miss Elizabeth Carpenter was given a shower at the home of Mrs. Harry Reindollare on Thursday evening; about 25 of her friends were there. Miss Carpenter, who is in a ‘family way,’ was encouraged by all her friends not to marry her deadbeat boyfriend, ‘Clyde", one of the leading boozers in the community. Everyone insisted that she would be better off with just one dependent child, vice two, which would be the case if she married that imbecilic boozer.

Many of her friends said a 20-year-old blind dog with three legs does more work in a day then "Clyde" has done all his life.

"Clyde" is currently in the ‘lock-up’ after he was found passed out in the gutter on Main Street last week, for the sixth time in the past two months.

Band Concert Given

Upwards of 1,500 people packed the Emmitsburg Square, Thursday evening, to listen to a concert given by the band from the Loysville Orphanage Home, Loysville, Pennsylvania.

The concert was given under the hospices of the Emmitsburg Lutheran Church. The band is a 45-piece organization. The large audience encored most of the numbers rendered. The members of the band were entertained at the home of the people of Emmitsburg. The band has given a number of concerts in Frederick County and is growing in popularity.

The Mars Foolishness

For two weeks past a large amount of newspaper space has been covered with speculation as to what might be discovered by astronomers due to the near approach of the Earth and the planet Mars.

"Signaling" between the two planets has been named as, a possibility, and all sorts of fantastic speculation indulged, as if Mars was inhabited by beings as intelligent as on the Earth, and were themselves watching the approach of the Earth with the intent of attacking us – some are even predicting a "war of the worlds," causing some to dig shelters in which to hide from the attack to come.

Considering the fact that nobody knows whether there is either animal or vegetable life on the planet, all of the speculations are mere idle play with the imagination, and such an occurrence as "Signaling" goes quite beyond the bounds of half-sensible intellectual license.

And, suppose there should be life of some kind in there, and some sort of Martians, what would be the information amount to? Largely another new thing to read and talk about for a little while, but nothing to capitalize for future benefit.

Gypsies

Gypsy bands are reported to be more than ever a nuisance this summer, and numerous thefts have been reported, and various other troubles with town authorities. The best plan is to watch them closely, and order them to move on.

If Gypsies weren’t bad enough, various kinds of "doctors" are reported traveling through the country, with appliances for sale, reported to cure afflictions, and who do not hesitate, when the opportunity seems favorable, to choose forceful methods to make sales. All such cases should be promptly reported to the authorities. Women and old people, who are alone, are said to be especially the victims of such fakes.

August 22

Feds Warn Of Counterfeit $20 Bills

The Treasury Department has sent out a warning about the circulation of a counterfeit $20 bill of crude workmanship has to been detected. It is a bank note of the National Commercial Bank And Trust Company Of Albany, New York, bearing charter number 1,301, bank number 26,594 and Treasury number H26079611.

Officials say the bill looks more like an advertising dodger than money, and should be instantly detected by anyone at all familiar with our currency. More detailed description is, therefore, deemed unnecessary, says the notice.

Youth Falls Off Wagon

Falling from his seat on a wagon, which tilted, Bernard Trussler, 20, of near Fountaindale, was injured when a wheel of the wagon passed over his stomach. The accident occurred at the Elevated Orchard Company at Jack’s Mountain, where the young man is employed. Fortunately the wagon was empty at the time, or the youth’s injuries may have been more serious. Fellow workmen rushed to the young man’s assistance and took him to the office of doctor Henderson in Fairfield, where an examination was made. According to the physician, the young man’s injuries are not serious.

Six-Year-Old Girl Struck By Auto

Mary Aughinbaugh, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clem Aughinbaugh, living on the Fairfield Road, was knocked down and injured by an automobile, driven by Benjamin Whitmore of Emmitsburg, Friday afternoon.

Mary had gone across the street in front of her home to get the mail. According to our witnesses of the accident, Mr. Whitmore was driving at a moderate rate of speed and attempted to stop his car when he saw that the little girl had become confused when he sounded a warning as she started a dart across the road.

The fender of Mr. Whitmore’s machine struck the little girl, throwing her to the road. The motorist stopped his car and rendered assistance, and later brought the child to the Gettysburg hospital.

The little girl had lacerations and contusions about the body, but no bones were broken and it is thought improbable that she sustained internal injuries.

Radio And Baseball

Radio is a subject of such worldwide interest at the present time that experiments being carried out by Wired Radio Inc., in conjunction with the Satan Island Edison Company are of unusual interest.

How to cover the cost of providing suitable radio concerts to listeners, has been a problem. It is agreed that baseball did not reach a high degree of development until it was "fenced in," so that an admission fee could be charged which would provide for the best talent. The "fencing in" of baseball has not interfered with the progress of amateur baseball, but on the contrary, has developed an interest which has made all kinds of baseball more popular.

It is reasonable to suppose the same principle would apply to radio, and that the highest degree of entertainment can only be provided by "fencing in" radio, so that high-grade broadcasting can be supported. Briefly, that is what Wired Radio Inc. is seeking to perfect.

Wired radio, which will be sent over electrical light wires, will not be a competitor of space radio for which no method has yet appeared of space radio on a paid basis. There is room for such types of radio to grow side-by-side, performing their different functions in the respective ways.

Attachments are being worked out in conjunction with wired radio, which can be attached to the regular vacuum table space set. Thus, by throwing the switch, the space set owner can intercept programs, transmitted over lighting, wires or programs sent through the air.

August 29

Improvements At Mount St. Mary’s

Extensive improvements have been made to the grounds of Mount St. Mary’s College. The plot of ground immediately in front of the new Mimin building has undergone a transformation within a short space of time. Many trees, some of them huge specimens of nature works, have been cut down. A ravine that formally ran the length of this plot has been filled in by use of a huge steam shovel.

While no definitive plans have yet been given out, it is understood that part of the improve ground will serve as a playground and athletic field for the younger boys. The Football and baseball fields will be moved there from the old field across the pike.

Work has already been started on tennis courts east of the gymnasium. The ground is being cleared rapidly, and it is planned to put in some of the best courts in this section of the country.

The old Junior yard will appear this year with a coat of grass, as grass seed is being planted. A semi-circular terrace effect has been completed at the south entrance of the Mimin building. The road that ran in front of the new building will be moved forward about 22 feet and the terrace will be extended out from the gymnasium to the end of the Mimin building.

Livestock Show

The livestock show, in connection with the third annual picnic of the Emmitsburg, Farm Bureau, Wednesday, was one of the best that he had ever judged, said Robert Carmichael, stock specialist of the University of Maryland.

Both swine and dairy cattle were on exhibition. A feature was the exhibit where Poland China hogs by members of the Emmitsburg and Thurmont pig clubs.

In announcing the prizewinners, Mr. Carmichael stated that while care had been taken in feeding the hogs, there was room for improvement in several, and that the animals that did not show up so well in this contest, with proper care and feeding, could excel the prizewinners. A large crowd attended the picnic, not withstanding the threatening weather.

Farmers’ Urged To Save Old Corn

The spring of 1924 was unusually backward in many sections, the growing conditions were not good, with the result that the bulk of the corn is extremely late throughout the corn belt in the region. It is so late that most of the crop will be unfit for seed, unless frost holds off longer than usual. County agriculture agents are calling attention to this fact in order to prevent, if possible, a serious seed corn situation in the spring.

The higher prices for corn in the last few weeks are drawing much of the old crop from the farms. Farmers not having enough seed corn for 1925 left over from last year supply should save the best of the bulk crib corn from which to obtain seed, if necessary. If this year’s corn is killed by frost before it is mature, this old corn will provide a source from which seed corn can be selected for planting in the spring.

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