100 Years Ago This Month

March 1924

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

Women Versus Woman In Assault Case

Cora Wiles, of Lewistown, was arrested Friday by the County Constable for assault and battery, and also on a peace Warrant, sworn out by Rena Pedro, also of Lewistown.

About six years ago, Mrs. Wiles was divorced from her husband, Jerry Wiles, so the story runs. Wiles married again and over course of time, his second wife died. Wiles then began to pay attention to his first wife again, finally remarrying her.

Now another element enters into the story, which caused the case to come within the law. Mrs. Wiles accuses Mrs. Pedro, it is said, a paying attention to her husband. On Friday, Mrs. Wiles, while walking along the road near Lewistown, saw Mrs. Pedro coming along in her automobile. Wiles picked up a handful of stones and threw them at Mrs. Pedro while the latter was passing. One of the stones hit the back of the automobile, making a dent in the body it is said.

Mrs. Pedro then had Wiles arrested. She was brought before the Justice Of The Peace, who held her under $500 bond on the Peace Warrant, and a future hearing on the assault and battery charge.

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 snowl.

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."

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.

Married Just In Time

Robert Eyler and Helen Barrick, both of Woodsboro, were married in the Lutheran parsonage on Friday morning. The bride and groom left for a trip to Baltimore and Washington, on the return they will reside at LeGore. The couple expects their first child in May.

Postmaster Examinations

An examination will be held by the Civil Service Commission for the position of Postmaster at Union Bridge, On March 20. The term of the present incumbent will expire in June. The salary is $2,100. On April 3, examinations will be held for Postmasters at Emmitsburg and Woodsboro. The salary at the former place is $2,300 and at Woodsboro $3,000. The date of vacancies at both places is 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.

Daylight Savings, Once More

The ‘daylight savings’ bill, that many consider a very foolish proposition, as well as one that mixes things up, because if its very limited adoption, is again before the legislature. The people in the counties very emphatically do not want it, and if the city workers want it, let them adopt the plan of going to work an hour earlier, and get the same benefits. The clock has nothing to do with establishing working hours – it simply measures time, the same as the calendar divides the days in a year, on a standardize basis for all.

Guy Steele Home Burns

The handsome dwelling house of Guy Steele was completely destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon, due to a defective flu. The furniture on the first and second floor was saved. Mrs. Steele was giving a luncheon at the time the fire was discovered by a passerby on the street. The Steel home was one of the finest in Walkersville, three stories high and occupied a fine location. The loss is estimated at $20,000, as it is believed that the entire house will have to be rebuilt. The fireman did splendid work preventing the fire from affecting adjoining structures on the property.

200 Chickens Perish in Woodsboro Fire

Two hundred young chicks belonging to James LeGore were roasted alive in a fire in Mr. LeGore’s storeroom in what was formally the old Anders’ Hotel property on Frederick St. in Woodsboro, Thursday morning.

The fire, it is thought, was caused by a ‘flare up’ of a coal stove which, it is understood, Mr. LeGore lighted before his departure – he having been out of town at the time of the fire.

Had it not been for the timely discovery of the fire by a passerby who saw smoke pouring from the building, the blaze might have been much more serous. The fire was put out by means of fire extinguishers secured from the Woodsboro Savings Bank.

Mr. LeGore had just finished purchasing the chicks and had stored them preparatory to disposing of them. All of the chicks were burned to death in the boxes they had been placed in. No other damage was done, save a few pieces of furniture.

At noon, while several schoolboys where playing in the vicinity of the fire, a number of the boys climbed up on a stonewall to view the damage done. One of the stones in the wall gave way, throwing James Reddick forcibly to the ground, breaking his leg in two places.

Ex-Farmer Dies

Samuel Cramer, a well-known farmer of Walkersville, died at his home Sunday morning at the age of 71. Mr. Cramer was a retired farmer. He was one of the organizers of the Walkersville Elevator Co. with which organization he was identified for a number of years. He was a member of the Glade Valley Reformed Church. Burial will be in the Fairview cemetery, Libertytown.

Start Drive For Walkersville Community Hall

A move is a foot in Walkersville for a community hall. For the purpose of establishing sentiment along this line a meeting will be held in the school building, Monday evening, to which everyone interested is invited to be present.

The meeting is called under the auspices of the Women’s Club of Walkersville and the subject of the community hall will be presented for a free and frank discussion. Whatever action is taken remains to be decided by the meeting.

Walkersville is one of the most progressive and up-to-date towns in the County, and much credit is due the Women’s Club for taking the initiative in a community enterprise that will prove to a lasting benefit to the town. Woodsboro and Thurmont have town halls where public meetings and entertainments are held. In recent years Walkersville has become an important center for club meetings and conventions, and a community hall will provide a place in the future for these gatherings.

$325 Verdict Against Glade Valley Council

A verdict for $325 was returned by a jury Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Ida Mollen, against the Glade Valley Council No. 112, Junior Order United American Mechanics, for the recovery of a death benefit of her husband, the late Wallace Mollen. The original suit, on the face benefit, was $525, but Mrs. Mullins acknowledged a credit of $200 in previous payments and the amount returned by the jury made the benefit payment in full.

The late Mr. Mullins, it was shown, was a member in good standing of the Order at the time of his death, having been a member for many years and kept up his regular payments. The defense, however, contended that the deceased was not insured in the Walkersville Council, but was insured in the National Insurance organization of the Order. Another contention was that the local council and the National Insurance organization were separate units and that the local council was not bound by the terms of the national organization.

It was brought out that the local council had paid $200 on account of the death of Mr. Mullen, direct to the undertaker and physician without the knowledge of the plaintiff. This amount was acknowledged by the plaintiff and deducted from the original sum of $525.

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.

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.

Union Bridge Man Takes Own Life

William Shockney, about 32 years old, of Union Bridge, committed suicide Thursday afternoon at his home by shooting himself in the head. The bullet, fired from a 32-caliber pistol, entered the right side of his head, above the temple and he died instantly. The only motive that can be ascribed to the act is poor health. It was stated that he had not been well for the past two months, and it is thought his condition prayed on his mind.

He had been employed as a baggage master of the Western Maryland Railroad for some years, and was of quiet disposition. Thursday he did not go to work. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon he went to his room stating that he intended to shave for supper, after being in his room for half an hour, his wife, who was downstairs, heard the report of a pistol and hurried to his room. When she opened the door she found the lifeless body on the floor with the pistol by his side. He is survived by his wife and three children.