100 Years Ago This Month

May 1924

May 2

April Wettest In Memory

The month of April kept its record to the very last day, of being an unusually wet and cold month for its place on the calendar.

The week ending April 30, was the most favorable of the crop season to date. It was characterized by sunny weather, which was favorable for drying out the soil, for plowing, and for general farming activities. Much plowing was done. Temperature for the week average normal.

Wheat and rye crops are in good condition, except poor to fair in lowlands. Grasses are fair. All are improving, but making slow growth. Ryes are beginning to head. Early sewn oats are also coming up.

Apple tree buds are now showing and continue to swell in the northern part of the counties. They are ready to open, or opening. Peach, pear, plum, and cherry trees are in full bloom. Strawberries are also coming into bloom.

Planting of early potatoes, of peas, and truck crops, made good progress during the week. In some localities planting of early potatoes and peas have been finished. Early potatoes, planted in March that failed to come up, as a rule, are rotting or have rotted. Tomato seeds are being sewn, early sewn tomatoes are up.

The season continues fully two weeks behind the normal. Warm and continued sunny weather is needed.

Some Little Newspapers Need Killing

The other day, a daily newspaper, in commenting on the advent of radio, said it might kill some "little newspapers", and so much the better – "they need Killin – but worthwhile papers would not be hurt."

This is worth telling to those who think their hometown should have a "little newspaper". It is an open statement that ought to cause home folks to see what they are doing when they cut out the home paper.

If the "little newspaper" is wanted; if it is perhaps only a necessary evil; if the home neighborhood would be worse off without it, then it must be kept alive by proper support.

For many years, or since the advent of rural delivery, "some little newspapers" have been hard hit by the strenuous efforts of daily newspapers to cover the wider field opened up. The fact that most of them have refused to be "killed", must be very objectionable to "worthwhile papers", and now, if radio will help do it, "so much the better."

No doubt "some little newspapers need killin", just as some big ones deserve the same fate – is the opinion of some. But, lots of people and things do not get what they "need."

Men Teachers And Boys

A school principal is reported as having said it is unfortunate that more men teachers cannot be employed in the schools. He has a school with many children, whose parents are un-naturalized aliens. He said that the boys from many of these families need a man teacher very much. Apparently in the countries where their families came from, the women are regarded as inferior, and the boys catch something of this contempt.

While the native boys do not seem to object so much to be controlled by women, that they were often more lawless than the children of the aliens. The democracy and sense of freedom of American life goes so far that children are allowed to manage their own affairs entirely.

There is a certain age when most boys have some contempt for womankind. Creatures that don’t know the baseball rules look like an inferior of beings to them. They get well over that point of view in due time. But at that period of savagery in their lives of these young barbarians, a man teacher is a wholesome force.

Some men will always go into public school teaching because of their love for the profession, or because they use it as a steppingstone to college work or other positions. But to attract more of them into the ordinary run of teaching positions, salaries would have to be raised considerably; men should be paid at least twice as much as women teachers.

Perhaps more fellows would go into this work if they realize that the men who entered it are regarded with unusual respect and affection. They may not get wealth in money, but they are rich in friendship of the countless young people whom they help to raise in life.

Hit By Truck While Playing In Road

Hohn Myers, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Myers, was hit by a truck while playing with some other children on the state road, just north of Union Bridge, Saturday afternoon and suffered a broken leg. The injured boy was removed to his home where Dr. Baer rendered first aid, after which he was taken to Frederick City Hospital. The driver of the machine was exonerated.

Stricken While At Work In His Garden

Stricken while working in the garden at his home in Walkersville, John Strine, 84, one of the best-known residents of Walkersville, died of heart failure Tuesday morning.

Mr. Strine seemed in his usual good health when he went into the garden. He was alone for about 15 minutes when his wife entered the garden and found him. He had apparently been working and feeling unwell walked to the chair he kept at the edge of his garden. His body was found near the chair.

Strine was born near Woodsboro and resided in the Walkersville and Woodsboro Districts all his life. Up until 10 years ago he was a farmer. Later he operated a sawmill in partnership with his son-in-law, William Roderick. The past few years he lived in retirement in the town of Walkersville.

He had been active in affairs of that municipality and was formally a town commissioner. He had been a member of the Lutheran Church all his life and was for a number of years an officer in the St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was an active Democrat and was a member of the County Central Committee for both the Woodsboro and Walkersville district.

May 9

Save Roadside Shrubbery

It is a violation of the law to gather blossoms or branches Dogwoods, Judas trees, azaleas, laurels and wildflowers in general, growing along road sides, and the State Forrester has issued this notice to motorist and all other:

"We are instructing the State police, and our wardens to be on the alert. The law which prohibits the breaking of shrubbery along the roads, and we intend to enforce it. Rural beauty should be left as nature made it, so that all may enjoy it instead of the one or two, who carry the flowers away."

Camps For Young Men

The Record has not given publicity to numerous request received to encourage military training camps for young men between the age of 17 and 24, to be held between July 1 and the 30th, for the reason that we think the average young man can be better employed, and because, especially at this season of the year, young men are needed to help busy farmers.

Unquestionably, these camps will furnish exercise, and perhaps valuable training for young men – give them a good healthy vacation – and perhaps most of the young men who may respond, but not, in any case, help out with the summers important work; but just the same, we feel that it is not a job that should be encourage by the county press.

it would be a fine thing, we think, if young men in the cities and larger towns, would seek employment on the farms during the summer. It would do them as much good, physically, as well as represent reasonable, financial income, and be a benefit to the whole country in relieving the scarcities of help for ordinary farm labor.

We are paying greatly too much attention to vacation and camping jobs, and not enough to using our time and effort where it is most needed. We do not, therefore, intend to promote the announced advantages of wonderful opportunities of these "Young American" camps.

Methodist Approved Ordination Of Women

The ordination of women as local pastors in the Methodist Ministry was approved by the Methodist Episcopal general conference by a decisive majority. Their admission to the itinerary and membership in the annual conference however was unanimously defeated. "It’s one thing for a women to led a local parish, but the leadership of the church requires thoughtful decision making that only a man can do," said one church Elder.

May 16

Barns Burned After Lighting Strikes

The first real thunder gust of the season occurred shortly after midnight, Tuesday night, and was a severe one for a starter. The lightning was sharp, following a very hot day, but the rainfall was slight.

Lighting from the storm hit the barn on the small farm of Harry Freet, near Taneytown, 1 o’clock and it was entirely destroyed by the resultant fire, with its contents, all the horses and cattle were saved, except one calf. A lot of feed of different kinds, and all of his farming, implements, except a manure spreader, and a plow that was outside were burned.

Mr. and Mrs. Freet were awakened by the strike, and it was only by quick work on their part that the stock was rescued, as the fire burn very rapidly. Several adjoining buildings were narrowly escaped, the rain, no doubt, helping to confine the loss to the one building.

In Woodsboro, another lightening strike hit the large bank barn of Edward Baker containing a quantity of wheat, hay, tobacco and farming implements. The barn was a frame structure with a metal roof, 70 feet long and 45 feet wide. It contained 300 bushel of wheat, 10 tons of hay, 500 sticks of tobacco and a quantity of farming equipment.

When the barn was struck, it was sheltering 10 horses, 12 head of cattle and 60 head a sheep. Running through the structure, he released all the livestock, and with the assistance of a large collie dog, succeeded in directing the frighten animals to safety. Little could be done to save the barn or it’s contents.

Bible Reading Required In Kentucky Schools

That "the teacher in charge shall read, or cause to be read, a portion of the Bible daily in every classroom or session, in every room of the common schools of the state of Kentucky in the presence of the pupils that are assembled," is the grist of a bill recently signed by the governor of Kentucky. No pupil will be required to read the Bible against the wish of his parents or guardians. Failure of any teacher to carry out the provisions of this bill will be caused for revoking his certification.

Saint Paul’s Church Rededicated

A large and enthusiastic audience attended the services at the Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Walkersville on Sunday, where their new and stately church structure was rededicated. The building committee reported that the building cost a little more than $20,000. The finance committee reported that $13,000 was needed to free the building from all encumbrances.

Of this sum, $8,900 was raised on Sunday, leaving about $4,000 yet approved for. The service of rededication was impressive. Owing to the rain, which kept some of the members and many other friends from the dedication, the service will be completed next Sunday.

Four Injured An Auto Wrecks On Sunday

Joseph Hoffman, of near Harmony Grove, sustained a fractured rib, and Miss Mabel Myers, of Lewistown, was slightly bruised about the body when an automobile in which they were riding was crowded off the road near Lewistown, Sunday morning and overturn. Charles Fulton, the driver, and Frank Hoffman escape with slight injuries. Hoffman and his party, in a Ford car were going towards Lewistown when a car driven in the same direction cut around him. The Hoffman machine ran into a ditch alongside the road and upset. The driver of the other car was ordered to report to police headquarters for hearing.

May 23

Methodist Vote For Church Union

By a vote of 842 to 13 the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church voted for a union with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The General Conference of the Methodist, Episcopal Church, South, will now be called into general session, and is expected to approve the proposition with similar unanimity and enthusiasm.

The united church will have 8,270,704 members, estimating constituents on the basis of three to every two members, Methodism will be able to claim that one American in every five is a Methodist. The Methodist Church counts in its membership only those who are actual and active members of the church.

Army Leases Land For Air Corps

The U.S. Army Aviation Service has leased land from George Sauble outside of Taneytown to be used as an aviation camp, and expects to begin the use of it the last of this month. The plan is said to require eight camps, likely extending from Gettysburg to Washington. The object will be observation and landing practices for planes and balloons, and will be part of the training required for airplane army service.

It’s likely that the use of the field represents a part of Army War College instruction, including a wireless station, and if so, will be of considerable importance.

The advanced quota of army occupants of the Sauble field arrived on Wednesday. They represent a detail of southern enlistments of the War College, and will have practice in a portion of the maneuvers of the College’s field course. Three tents have been erected for officers, and four for the men. In all, they will be about 10 officers and 30 men and the camp will continue for about 10 days.

Army officials have also rented a field from Louis Watcher, two miles south of Woodsboro, and 3 miles north of Walkersville for the purpose of establishing another temporary aviation field. Mr. Watcher has rented the field of 39 acres from May 26 to June 10. Approximately 150 men in training for the aviation service will camp there, and 12 to 14 planes are expected to be used on this field.

The mess trucks and several soldiers have already arrived, and are getting the field in readiness. The planes are expected to arrive on Sunday. 15,000 gallons of gasoline will be unloaded at NZ Cramers & Son in Woodsboro for their use.

The camps are part of a large field plan, made up of over 30 like camps, representing an imaginary battlefield covering a wide area, contemplating part of an emergency plan of national defense.

The principle purpose of the camps is to demonstrate means of communications among the various camps. Part of the communications will be worked out by the use of airplanes of which there will be between 15 to 18 maneuvering between Gettysburg and Walkersville. After communication has been established among the various camps by the Signal Corps, the theoretical armies will maneuver into positions sent out by the staff officers from their headquarters in Gettysburg.

Rain Continues

This was the third week of rain nearly every day, and practically no corn has been planted. At places where there has been some plantings that have "come up" the growth looks very sickly. Beans and some other seeds have rotted in the ground in gardens.

Educational Test For Immigration

A spirit debate on the question: resolved, that immigrants should not be allowed to come into the United States unless they can read or write in English, was the feature of the regular monthly meeting of the Woodsboro School Association in the town’s Opera Hall, Thursday evening. A large audience was present, and an addition to the debate, an excellent itinerary program was rendered.

The debate attracted much interest. The affirmative was upheld by Nevin Smith and Mehri Roddick, and the negative was defended by Russell Hill and David Zimmerman, the latter principle of the Walkersville high school.

After carefully considering the issues presented by the speakers, the judges decided by a two to one vote in favor of the affirmative.

May 30

Fire Company To Hold Carnival To Raise Funds

The fire company realizes the need of an up-to-date, fire engine, not only for better and quicker town service, but for the protection of out-of-town property. Various plans are being considered for raising the funds for the purchase, to which citizens of the town and local community should liberally respond. A carnival company, that makes a business of operating in conjunction with fire companies, has been engaged for the week of June 16, more about which will be given in the next edition.

Methodist Repeal Ban On Amusement

The Committee on Amusements of the Quadrennial General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church adopted a report which provided for repealing the rule that a Methodist cannot dance, play any games of chance, or attend theaters, horse races, circuses, dancing parties, nor dancing schools, and leave it with the individual conscious of a Methodist, to take only such amusements, as can be used, in the name of the Lord of Jesus.

The report included a "solemn warning" against a widespread form of amusement which heretofore has not received an official rebuke from the church – the movies. It does not propose to prohibit attendance at theaters and movies, but lifts up a note of warning, particularly against attendance upon immoral, questionable and misleading, theatrical and motion picture performances. The report is taken to mean that Methodist can go to good theatrical plays and movies, but not too immoral, questionable and misleading ones.

Telephone Rates To Be Increased

The C&P Telephone Co. will increase rates by 10%, which will be evenly applied to the various branches of the service. This action has been indicated for sometime, by various announcements, and claimed to be based on the needs of the company in order to pay fair dividends, and to maintain the physical value of the company at a high standard.

The new rates are expected to go into effect sometime this fall. The increases expected to add from $800,000 to $1 million to the company’s revenue. The question involves a great deal of figuring and estimating a fair inventory of the value of the company’s property, over which there may be widely differing opinion.

No one ever welcomes an increase in expenses, without a corresponding increase in service, and there is always sure to be a ready opposition to advances made in charges by large corporation; but, in this particular instance, the company makes a very strong case, indeed, and as the C&P provides vendors such excellent service, and the very recent, tremendous storm and flood disasters, substantiated by it, will help very materially towards making the proposed advances in rates, justifiable, if not, altogether palatable.

The company statement, in brief, will be found in a very large advertisement in this issue, which we earned a lot of money from for carrying.

Accidentally Shots Self

Madeline Waters, of Woodsboro is in serious condition as a result of a revolver shot accidentally inflicted at her home Monday. An expert revolver shot, she had the weapon with her to kill a chicken. She slipped on a wet floor, and fell on the revolver, which was discharged. The bullet, a 25-caliber, entered her left side, just above the heart and plowed its way into her left shoulder from which it was extracted Thursday by physicians at the hospital. It is said that she will recover.

Buggy Hit By Motorcycle

Mrs. William Winebrenner, accompanied by her daughter, returning from Emmitsburg Sunday evening, met with a serious accident. Turning her horse into her driveway, the rear wheel of the buggy was hit by a motorcycle. The motorcycle was driven by George Etzllr of Woodsboro, with Mrs. Etzllr in the side-car. Mrs. Winebrenner was pushed forward, landing between the dashboard and the hind legs of the horse. When extracted Mrs. Weinbrenner was unconscious and required medical attention. Miss Weinbrenner was not injured. Mrs. Etzllr was reported to be bruised about the body.