once upon a time...
James Rada, Jr.
September 1925, 100 Years Ago
Rural Towns Again Feel Water Shortage
A grave situation confronts Frederick County towns unless there is soon sufficient rain to replenish the supply, according to a survey of the situation made today by The News and based on reports from a number of sections of the county.
A long hot wave in which torrid temperatures have prevailed and literally burned up the crops in the fields, and the lack of sufficient rain throughout the past four or six weeks, have brought about a critical situation. There has been some improvement however, since the heavy rain of Sunday night but unless there is soon another replenishing downpour, some localities will suffer from a shortage of water, which is daily becoming more acute.
Thurmont: Situation about the same, although with prohibition of the use of the supply, enough is on hand for the needs of the town. Thurmont is also supplying the Western Maryland railroad, which consumes about is much as the town itself.
– The News, September 11, 1925
Week-End Rain Breaks Drouth in Maryland
The long drouth which has held sway in the county for so long a time was broken by heavy storms over the week-end. The storms were heaviest in Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Lewis-town, Woodsboro, and the northern end of the county, but they paid visits to all sections of Frederick and adjoining counties. There were heavy windstorms in some sections of the county.
The rainfall was heavy throughout the city and county both Saturday and Sunday. Low streams soon filled to their proper proportions, and overflowed their banks. The downpours of rain were accompanied by heavy thunder and lightning storms in some sections and by violent squalls of wind elsewhere. So far as could be ascertained up to a late hour Sunday evening, no damage was done.
The rainfall in Frederick City, Sunday, measured only .62 of an inch. But at Thurmont, Emmitsburg and in the norther part of the county generally the precipitation for the week-end measured two or three inches.
. – The Frederick Post, September 14, 1925
September 1950, 75 Years Ago
Funds received by Frederick County and its incorporated towns from state revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, made possible tax rates something short of half of what they would have been, had local levies been imposed to obtain comparable benefits. Official figures supplied by the State Comptroller’s office showed that Frederick County received from State funds during the fiscal year recently closed, the sum of $1,633,693.
This figure is $764,596 more than was received from the state prior to 1947 when the Sherbow Plan went into effect. If Frederick County had to raise these funds through the imposi-tion of a local levy, it would have meant a tax rate of $2.42 or an additional $1.08 on the exist-ing rate, which is just $1.34, it was pointed out.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, September 8, 1950
Toll Gate Hill Curve To Be Eased Shortly
Toll Gate Hill curve, which for half a century has plagued motorists from far and wide with its vicious 90-degree swiftness, is slated to be eased, it was learned this week. The
sharp curve has been the scene of several fatalities and thousands of dollars worth of property dam-age.
The Emmitsburg Chronicle, supported by State Senator Edward D. Storm and Lumen F. Norris, Emmitsburg, has led a concerted crusade for the removal of the curve for the past year. State Roads Commission officials stated definitely this week that the curve would be eased. It was understood that a previous survey of the curve was in error and this week a resur-vey was made. Work is to begin in the very near future with the understanding that completion of the project is expected before this winter.
Apprximate cost of the relocation, or easements, is believed to be around $10,000.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, September 22, 1950
September 1975, 50 Years Ago
12,000 Persons at Community Show
An estimated 12.000 persons attended the 19th annual Thurmont and Emmitsburg Communitv Show at Catoctin High School. At onening ceremonies Friday night, Secretary of Agrculture Y. D. Hance announced the new Catoctin FFA Sweetheart is Patricia Myers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rodman Myers of Thurrnont.
During the program four of the oldest farmers in the Catoctin school district, representing a total of 250 years in farming, were honored and presented awards by William Raker, Rodman Myers, and Secretary Hance. Recipients were: Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Tare of near Creagerstown, Mr. and Mrs. Plum-mer Fraley of Thurmont, Mr. and Mrs. Walter “Buck” Lantz, of Sabillasville, and Roy Wivell, of Emmitsburg.
The show’s theme was “Patriotism on Parade”, and included the massing of flags, and a Bicentennial salute.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, September 25, 1975
St. Mary’s College Receives $1,000,000
Mount Saint Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Md., is the recipient of a one million dollar trust gift from Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Knott, of Baltimore, Md. The college will receive $100.000 per year for ten years from trust income, according to Dr. John J. Dillon, Jr., president of Mount Saint Mary’s. He stated that this is the largest single gift ever received by the college in the 167 year history of the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, September 25, 1975
September 2000, 25 Years Ago
Jubilee’s New Owners Stress Customer Service
“We are back!” said Lorne Peters, vice president of operations of SNL Food Group, Inc. The new owners of Emmitsburg Jubilee Foods are emphasizing the “front end” services of the store which include charge accounts to local organization, WIC Cards, and the Independence card services which have all been reinstated. The ATM and money order services are expected to be “on-line” in a few weeks. Double coupons are available every day! “Front end service is very important to us,” Mr. Peters said. “Helping shoppers find items and even getting their groceries out to their cars is part of our job. Our staff is ready to assist and if shoppers need help we encourage them to ask,” said Mr. Peters.
SNL is striving to make the Emmitsburg Jubilee Foods more than just a “canned goods” store.
– The Dispatch, September 2000
Emmitsburg, Thurmont Leaders Meet
Representatives from Frederick County’s lost tribes of Emmitsburg and Thurmont, the long overlooked area of the county, met in an informal meeting for lunch at the Shamrock on July 25th. This meeting, the second of this nature, had no fixed agenda and was held for the sole purpose of getting acquainted and discussing some of the issues that do now and will in the future affect the region.
Present were Jim Hoover, a Commissioner for Emmitsburg; Dave Haller, Emmitsburg Town Manager; Rich May, Thurmont Town Manager; and, EBPA members Elizabeth Prongas, Sam Castleman, and Don Briggs.
The main issues were, again, Route 15, the Catoctins, schools, and intensive farming. Overall we seem to be moving toward accepting the view, finally, that the region as a whole is now everyone’s backyard.
– The Dispatch, September 2000
