once upon a time...
James Rada, Jr.
Note: Newspaper excerpts are as they appeared in their respective issues.
August 1924, 100 Years Ago
Union Mfg. Co. Picnic Planned
Former employes as well as those now on the payroll are invited to participate in thesecond annual picnic of the Union Manufacturing Company, this city, which will be held inWillow Grove Park, near Hagerstown, on Saturday. …
Special arrangements have been made with the Potomac Edison Company wherebytrolleys will carry the employes from the factories located in Thurmont and in this city to thepicnic grounds and return. …
For the enjoyment of the picnickers there will be free amusements, consisting ofdancing, roller coaster, sliding boards, and the merry-go-round.
– Frederick News, August 5, 1924
Locked In Stable While Thieves Go Through His Store
Held up at the points of three automatics and locked in an old stable under guard with the knowledge that his general store, near Catoctin Furnace, was being robbed was the experience of Frank W. Fraley, of Catoctin Furnace, shortly after midnight.
Mr. Fraley was returning to his home at Catoctin Furnace from a visit to Thurmont about
12:15 this morning. On the way home he decided to stop in his store to procure some cigarettes and, stopping his machine, he started towards the door of his establishment. Stepping on the porch in front of the store, which is located along the main road, Mr. Fraley heard someone walking around inside, but before he could make an investigation, one of the bandits had crept up behind him and sticking a gun in his ribs, ordered him to throw up his hands.
Two other bandits immediately came out of the store and covering Mr. Fraley with two automatics, they forced him into an old stable and locked the door. One of the bandits wasleft on guard. Mr. Fraley was kept in the stable for about an hour and a half. During that time, he said, a number of shots were fired, but he was unable to tell who did it.
– Frederick News,August 30, 1924
August 1949, 75 Years Ago
King Cobra Snake Arrives at Thurmont
The lone survivor of three king cobras, shipped last month from India, will soon be at home at Gordon Gaver’s Snake farm near Thurmont, it was learned Monday.
One of the three “most deadly reptiles” died en route to New York. Another escaped aboard ship, slipping into the sea and apparently perished. The one consigned to the snake haven near Thurmont was the lone survivor.
It was great disappointment to Mr. Gaver and members and guests of the Maryland Circus Fans Association that the king cobra did not arrive in time to attend their second annual state convention at Thurmont Sunday.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 12, 1949
Reservoir Work Nearing Completion
The. Emmitsburg Water Co., through its president, Samuel C. Hays, announced that work on the improvement of the local reservoir was progressing at an accelerated pace.
The aim of the water utility is to increase the capacity of the watershed from its present capacity of three million gallons to 20 million gallons. For some months now, the president stated, work has been going on at a rapid pace and on the construction of the double-barreled concrete spillway, more than 275 tons of cement and gravel have been consumed. Completion of the spillway is expected within the next week or 10 days. When this has been accomplished, it is believed that the project will be about half completed as much other construction to the reservoir is under way.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle,August 26, 1949
August 1974, 50 Years Ago
Scout Festival Rated Successful
Boy Scout Troop 284 of Emmitsburg wishes to thank the community for its support through their efforts to raise money for the scouts’ trip to Philmont, New Mexico, next summer. The success of the festival held July 27 was considered overwhelming.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 8, 1974
Gettysburg Tower To Be Dedicated
The Dedication and Grand Opening of the National Gettysburg Battlefield Tower will be
held on Saturday, August 17, 1974.
At the brief dedication ceremonies officially opening the facility, guests will hear from Thomas R. Ottenstein, creator and developer of the Tower; Harry Biesecker, President commissioner of Adams County, and the Honorable Robert E. Woodside, former judge and
Attorney General of Pennsylvania and presently Adjunct Professor of Law at the Dickinson School of Law. Robert M. Johnson, creator of the sound and visual program of. The Tower will be master of ceremonies.
The National Tower will provide the several million visitors to the battle site with an unprecedented 3600 view of the historic terrain. Historians have acclaimed the Tower as the ideal way to understand more clearly the strategies of the largest battle ever fought on their own soil and the most important of the Civil War.
Professional groups have praised the aesthetics and creativity of the structure’s unique patented design.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 15, 1974
August 1999, 25 Years Ago
Residents Protest Termination of Deputy
The July 12th town meeting was dominated by an outpouring of citizen comments regarding the recent and sudden reassignment of the town’s deputy, John Chance. Approximately 40 people, many wearing stickers or carrying signs that read “Give DeputyJohn a Chance,” were there to show their support for the deputy.
Deputy Chance’s superior was informed by letter, June 25th, that town officials were not satisfied with his enforcement efforts.
Scott McClendon, a resident of Silo Hill, and spokesman for the citizen group, presented the commissioners with a petition signed by approximately 750 people which called for the reinstatement of Deputy Chance. The petition included the signatures of Emmitsburg residents as well as of people living outside the corporate area.
– TheEmmitsburg Regional Dispatch, August 1999
Helen Reaver Retires
The infectious laughter and the constant smile that were Helen Reaver’s trademark are
gone from the Town Office. Helen, along with her laughter and smile, has retired from her
job as receptionist, secretary, and assistant to everybody here. She will be sorely missed by everyone for a lot of reasons that will keep popping up for a long time.
Since 1986, a span of 13 years, Helen Reaver was the first person you saw when you entered the Town office. Helen facilitated the payments of tax and utility bills, directed people to meetings with the Town Clerk, zoning administrator, town manager and the Mayor: Angry and disgruntled citizens vented their wrath on this receptionist, who handled each one a bit differently, in a manner that often ended with satisfactory resolution to the grievance and her smile. Older citizens quite often had Helen write their checks; young kids usually left with a lollipop and laughing parents.
– TheEmmitsburg Regional, Dispatch, August 1999
Union Mfg. Co. Picnic Planned
Former employes as well as those now on the payroll are invited to participate in the second annual picnic of the Union Manufacturing Company, this city, which will be held in Willow Grove Park, near Hagerstown, on Saturday. …
Special arrangements have been made with the Potomac Edison Company whereby trolleys will carry the employes from the factories located in Thurmont and in this city to the picnic grounds and return. …
For the enjoyment of the picnickers there will be free amusements, consisting of dancing, roller coaster, sliding boards, and the merry-go-round.
– Frederick News, August 5, 1924
Locked In Stable While Thieves Go Through His Store
Held up at the points of three automatics and locked in an old stable under guard with the knowledge that his general store, near Catoctin Furnace, was being robbed was the experience of Frank W. Fraley, of Catoctin Furnace, shortly after midnight.
Mr. Fraley was returning to his home at Catoctin Furnace from a visit to Thurmont about 12:15 this morning. On the way home he decided to stop in his store to procure some cigarettes and, stopping his machine, he started towards the door of his establishment. Stepping on the porch in front of the store, which is located along the main road, Mr. Fraley heard someone walking around inside, but before he could make an investigation, one of the bandits had crept up behind him and sticking a gun in his ribs, ordered him to throw up his hands.
Two other bandits immediately came out of the store and covering Mr. Fraley with two automatics, they forced him into an old stable and locked the door. One of the bandits was left on guard. Mr. Fraley was kept in the stable for about an hour and a half. During that time, he said, a number of shots were fired, but he was unable t o tell who did it.
– Frederick News, August 30, 1924
