March 7

Leap Year Adds Extra Day’s Pay

County residents on Friday enjoyed an extra 24 hours of life, a gift which is made them once every four years. Falling on a weekday, February 29th adds an extra day’s pay to the envelope of those who work in the factories and industries of this county. Stores did an extra day’s business for the year. On the other hand, three extra meals were prepared and served, requiring an expense on the part of the consumer, which he does not have in ordinary years of 365 days.

The extra day is not a free gift on the part of the almanac makers. In allowing us an additional 24 hours every four years they are only paying back the usury, so to speak, which they withhold in ordinary years. Our calendar is based on the solar year, or time it takes for the Earth to revolve about the sun, which is 365 days, five hours and approximately 49 minutes. The extra hours and minutes accumulate and are handed out in the shape of this extra day added to the month of February each fourth year.

The term ‘leap’ in connection with the year, and day, is derived from the fact that days following February 29 ‘leap’ over a day more than a common year. Thus, in common years, if March 1 is on a Saturday, it will ‘leap over’ Saturday and fall on Sunday.

Celebrates Leap Year Birthday

On February 29th a very enjoyable evening was spent by many at the home of William Faisal, on the occasion of his wife’s 18th official birthday – having been born on leap day in 1852, by all other measures, she is 72 years young. A number of handsome presents were given by her children and grandchildren. After listening to some excellent music and playing the various games of the season, all were invited to the dining room, where the table was found loaded with a bountiful supply of good things; consisting of chicken soup, the various salads, fruit, pickles, cake and ice cream. At a late hour, all said good night, wishing the young ‘aged’ lady more ‘official’ birthdays

Union Bridge Electric Company

A case of considerable interest was heard by the Public Service Commission on February 25. We give the statement of the Commission because of the general interest involved, and because of its unusual character.

"The petition filed in this case asked that the Union Bridge Electric Manufacturing Co. be required to furnish electric service to the property of Charles Shriner, just outside the limits of Taneytown, this case is unique and its facts and the smallness of the amount involved.

Taneytown is lighted and electrically serviced by the Union Bridge Electric Manufacturing Co., which secures the current which it distributes, from the Potomac Edison Co.. In the year 1919 the Company expanded its lines from Union Bridge to Taneytown, and shortly after the insurgence of the new service in Taneytown proper, certain property owners of unimproved property on Baltimore Ave. outside the town limits sought to have the Company run a line and furnish a transformer for servicing the houses and other buildings on Baltimore Ave. in the suburbs of Taneytown.

The Company declined, stating that the cost of the line was prohibitive and that the business would not be sufficiently remunerated. The citizens on Baltimore Ave. called a meeting to which all residents of that section were invited. As a result of the negotiations between the Baltimore Ave. residents, who organized under the name of East End Improvement Association, and the electric company, a plan was finally agreed upon for the lighting of Baltimore Ave. for the distance of about half a mile beyond the town limits and the furnishing of electricity to such persons as cared to become customers.

In order that the revenue might be sufficient to justify the undertaking, members of the Association dug the holes and furnished and erected a number of polls for street lighting, and agreed to pay annually $285 for 10 lights along the highway in consideration of which the Company agreed to serve the houses of such members of the Association who desired electricity at the same rate as the Company charges residents in Taneytown.

Last Education Meeting For Year

The last education meeting for the Fairfield High School school year will be held next Friday. Teachers of Hamiltonban, Highland, Liberty and Freedom Townships and the Fairfield Borough will discuss the teaching of geography. The discussion will be opened by a demonstration on the conduct of a class in geography. Dr. Frank Kramer, of Gettysburg College, will be the principal speaker at the evening session of the conference. An invitation to attend has been extended to the general public.

Three Men In A Wreck Pass Through

Three men, who refused to give their names, attracted considerable attention in the Emmitsburg’s Square when they arrived on the Taneytown bus. From their general appearance it was apparent that they had been in an accident, for one had his head and the other had his chin in a bandage.

One of the trio said they were just driving around the country Thursday night when their machine skidded from the Emmitsburg-Taneytown Road and struck the covered one-way bridge on that road. All three men were thrown out of the car, one of them landing in the creek, 25 feet from where the car hit. The machine is a total wreck, one of the men said.

They were picked up by a passing motorist and taken to Taneytown where they receive medical attention. 17 stitches were necessary to close the cut on the chin of one of the men and 13 stitches were needed to close the cut on the forehead. The man whose head was cut also seem to be suffering from an injury to his back for he wasn’t able to stand and had to be supported by his two companions when walking.

March 14

Worst Blizzard In 15 Years

After being visited by a sever storms which struck this section on Monday night and Tuesday morning, Frederick and Adams County are slowly recovering from the effects of its fury, and power and telephone service was being restored gradually. Permanent repairs will not, however, be affected for days, if not weeks.

The blizzard, which reached the proportion of a cyclone, swept over the area on Monday night and increased in intensity during the hours which followed. Towards morning when it abated somewhat and the damage was ascertained it was seen at the telephone, telegraph, & power lines have been severely damaged by the force of nature.

Huge telephone poles were snapped in half like toothpicks. Many of them were raised completely out of the ground and buried under snow across the road. Arms and wires went hurling through the air and landed a nearby field or along the road. Wires snapped as it was no stronger than apiece of weak string and ends today dangle in mid air or are covered up under the snow along the highway.

When wire service will be resorted is in question. In many areas, entire new lines will be necessary, as very little of the wire can be used again, because of the number of brakes and poles to be replaced. Other poles, still standing, will have to be reset.

Nearly three quarters of a million dollars is the estimated total for repairing the telephone poles, cable and wires destroyed by the devastating storm according to the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co.

Every available repairman in the state has been placed in service, and in addition, repairmen have been brought in from other states, making a total of about 10,000 men working to repair the lines. These men have been working day and night in order that service may be restored as rapidly as possible.

A number of automobiles are reported to have been stranded along the roads and persons in these cars were forced to abandon them, several machines were almost covered with snow.

County roads in the vicinity of Foxville, Woodsboro, Sabillasville, Emmitsburg, Deerfield, Thurmont and Fairfield are reported to still be closed with snowdrifts. State road crews dispatched from Frederick have only been able to open the Emmitsburg Pike as far as Thurmont.

In many homes, lamps and lanterns are being used for lighting purposes; all electric motors are also out of commission. The average snowfall was 12 to 13 inches, but the drifting was limited due to the heavy wet character of the snow.

While Tuesday’s snow and wind storm, is unusually severe for March, local records show that at least one storm in a past March had gone at one better, that being the blizzard of 1888, almost 36 years ago to the day, was of three days duration, beginning March 12th and not ending until the 14th.

While there was a heavy snowfall, it was mostly a windstorm as was this past one. The wind, according to the record books, blew incessantly for three days and three nights, toppling over trees. The actual damage done in the storm of ‘88, however, was not so great as during the late storm, for at that time they were but few telephone polls to be blown over and even fewer telephones to be put out of commission. Also, there were no automobiles to suffer mishaps, nor plants having to shut down for lack of electric current.

In reviewing his weather records, Mr. Quinn, our local weather sharp, grew reflective and said that: "winters of today cannot compare with those of his boyhood". He said that: "the winters today are, in reality, about six weeks in duration, beginning about February 1st and continuing until about the middle of March."

"When I was a boy," he continue, "when we all went out to gather chestnuts on Thanksgiving day, we thought something would happen if there wasn’t snow on the ground and we didn’t know what it was like to miss a white Christmas."

He added that they didn’t need any ice machines in those days, because they had plenty of ice every winter. "Ice, from 8 to 12 inches thick in the creeks, was of the finest possible quality and that there was a lot of slaying, and skating all winter."

He added that, "where is the local creeks seldom freezes over these days, at that time boys and girls could be seen at any time of the winter skating on the creeks. The water was deeper in the creek then."

Pen-Mar Hotel Proposal

A new hotel is reported to be planned for Pen-Mar, on the location of the former Blue Mountain House, which was destroyed by fire in 1913. Plans are said to be in process of completion providing for about 200 rooms, the building is expected to cost $500,000. The project has been under consideration for several years, the chief drawback being the high cost of building. It is pretty confidently stated that the building will be erected this year and be ready for the season of 1925.

The property includes about 400 acres of land adjoining PenMar Park. Mount Quirauk, with its observation tower, 2,500 feet above the sea, is also included in the track.

The Blue Mountain House was burned to the ground August 5, 1913. 202 guest and 125 employees in the building escaped, a majority in their nightclothes. Since the fire a number of plans have been formed to replace the hotel with a modern structure, but none of these were carried out. A corporation for the building of the proposed hotel and the operation of the property will be formed in the near future, it is said.

Annan-Horner Not Guilty

Edgar Annan and Annan Horner, members of the bankrupt Emmitsburg banking firm of Annan-Horner & Co., charged with embezzlement, were found not guilty add a trial in Frederick. The defense prove that a number of creditors have been paid in full, all the amount owed, several however, including Dr. Jamison, and Edward Zimmerman, had not been paid, because they owed the estate. It was shown that money was on deposit sufficient to pay all claims.

Last September Horner was acquitted on a charge of embezzlement, growing out of the bank’s failure. Four other charges stood against them. After the joint acquittal, attorneys for the accused entered a plea of not guilty on the three remaining charges. The pleas were accepted by the State’s Attorney. The failure of the bank involved 400 to 500 depositors.

Adventurous End to Honeymoon

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Baumgardner returned home last Wednesday evening, and had quite an experience until they got to the journey’s end. They were met at the Keymar train station by Joseph Clabaugh in his automobile, so they went on their way rejoicing, until they got as far as T. R. Angeli’s, where Clabaugh’s Henry skidded into the side drain. Through the kindness of Mr. Angeli, with his pair of mules, they were towed to the road again. They went on until they came to the mud road, when the Henry refused to go, so the called on Maurice Hahn, who came to the rescue with his pair of mules and towed them to the bride’s home. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgardner will never forget the return of their wedding trip, as they had to be rescued by faithful horses and mules to get them home. We wish them a happy and prosperous life.

Overcome By Fumes

Rev. Leatherman of Thurmont, came near being asphyxiated by fumes from his automobile in his garage as he was preparing to meet a friend at the train depot. Leatherman had called to his wife to help him put on the chains and she arrived in time to see him fall over. He was carried into the house and if physician summoned. He no doubt owes his life to the promptness of his wife in responding to his call as any dutiful women should.

Postmaster Examinations

On April 3, examinations will be held by the Civil Service Commission for the postmasters at Emmitsburg. The salary is $2,300 and the vacancies will open on June 4.

March 21

New Snow Storm Belies Spring

Heavy snow, following within a few hours after the advent of spring at 4:20 on Thursday afternoon, buried the County to nearly a foot. While the snow was not accompanied by the heavy wind that marked the blizzard on Tuesday last week, it was the same damp variety, which clung to trees and wires in a heavy coating. It was due to the lack of wind and sleet, that preventive damage to the wire services.

By noon snow have been following continuously for 12 hours, and although it gave some sine of letting up by then, the promise was not consummated. Little progress has been made by employees in the towns in clearing the precipitation from street crossings, although most payments in towns were either completely shoveled or had paths made for pedestrians. Where pavements were not shoveled pedestrians trampled down paths.

Gumboots and galoshes were footwear for the day, although as the pavements began to be cleaned off the only places these articles of footwear were really necessary where at street crossings. In many places the slush at street corners was over the curb and requires skillful maneuvering to navigate these hazards.

The Western Union Telegraphs Co. reported that services was normal, the temporary lines, erected as a result of last week’s storm, carried the burden of the present precipitation apparently without effort. Messages are being sent in all directions and received from all points.

Patterson Brothers Annual Horse Sale

Patterson Brothers will hold their annual horse sale at their stables next Friday. 40 horses and colts, 30 of those in the range from 3 to 8 years, will be sold. 15 head of mares, weighting from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, single line leaders, will also be sold. These mares were selected for farmers especially by the Patterson brothers. Those horses are all acclimated, none of them are shipped horses, and every horse must be as represented on the day of sale or money will be refunded. The balance of the horses are commission horses. All commission sales are on the recommendation of the owners. Rates charge for selling commission horses at the sale will be two dollars for offering horses and all selling over $40, 5% will be charged.

Petition for Public Road in Creagerstown

The citizens of Creagerstown, will petition the County Commissioners for the opening of a public road at least 30 feet wide, in the Creagerstown District, beginning at or near the point where the lane or road leading from the building now occupied by Charles Kolb and owned by Isaac Hackney where it intersects the public road leading from Creagerstown to Rocky Ridge and running hence in a westerly direction through the lands of Isaac Hankey, Frank Graber, Louis Rockensmith, connecting with the old Woodsboro and Creagerstown Pike at a point a short distance north of the lane used as an outlet from the John Albert farm.

March 28

Arbor Day

Arbor Day has been observed in Maryland for tree planting since 1884. Lumber in the State is now being cut three times as fast as it is being grown, and we are using it four times as fast as we are cutting it. This means that we must import the bulk of our timber from other states. But if our waste spaces were utilized this would not be necessary. There are thousands of acres of land in the county now growing nothing, which should be growing timber. The watersheds of many towns should be planted, but if no more important places can be found, at least plant a tree on the street, or highway, school or home ground, for the beauty and shaded it affords. Be "Tree Growers" as well as " Tree Users."

Those who wish special information about Arbor Day and its observations may secure the particularities from the State Department of Forestry, as to suitable exercises for the occasion, trees adapted for planning, how they should be planted, where to plant them and their proper care. The state does not furnish trees free, but will give the names and addresses of nurseries from which they can be purchased.

First Recital At Fairfield Glee Club

Appearing before a crowded house in the Old Fellows Hall, Fairfield, the Fairfield Girls’ Glee Club had its premiere recital, scoring a big hit. The concert was given for the benefit of the Fairfield Fire Company and approximately $100 was cleared.

The musical numbers, which were under the direction of Mrs. Rudolph Rosenstengel, were capably given and will received. Several readings by Miss Trevor Weikert also received abundant applause. After the concert, the wives of the members of the Fairfield Fire Company served refreshments to the glee club.

Couple Married For 50 Years

Surrounded by all their children, three grandchildren, and many friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Cunningham celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Fairfield. It was a gala occasion and none had a better time than Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, who enjoyed themselves to the utmost.

50 years ago James Cunningham married Elizabeth Finley Blythe at the old Blythe homestead, still standing on Carroll’s Track, near Fairfield. The couple, accompanied by other members of the wedding party, in three buggies, drove across the South Mountain to Mercersburg, where a reception was held in honor of the bride and groom. The trip to Mercersburg required an entire day.

For many years, Mr. Cunningham was a storekeeper in Fairfield, but for the last 12 years he has been connected with the Fairfield Bank, at which institution he is now assistant cashier, all though until reacently, he was the cashier.

Child Scolded Buried Today

Frances Lemmon, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon of Taneytown, was fatally scolded Monday around 7 o’clock, when the child backed against a bucket of hot water and toppled into the pale. The little girl who was three years, nine months and 14 days of age. She was so severely scolded that she died about six hours later. Besides her father and mother she is survived by five sisters and three brothers.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'