once upon a time...
October 1925, 100 Years Ago
Final Plans Are Made For Traffic During Fair Week
…Thursday, October 22 extra car will leave Thurmont for Frederick at 7:30 a.m. Also in evening extra car will leave Frederick for Thurmont on about date at 8:10 p.m. Also from Wednesday evening October 21 until Saturday, October 24 inclusive regular schedule car due to leave Frederick at 9:30 p.m. will be held until 11 p.m. leaving Frederick. From beginning of schedule Monday, Oct. 19 until close of schedule Saturday, October 24 all Thurmont division cars leaving Frederick will run from Square out East Patrick street and around short loop to Fifth and Market, thence to Thurmont, except between the hours of 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. from Monday, October 19 to Saturday, October 24 cars will leave Square and run via North Market street to Fifth street.
– The (Frederick) News, October 16, 1925
Cases To Be Heard
The cases yet to be tried by the court are of a comparatively minor nature. The trial of Lester Damuth and Clinton Waesche, of Thurmont, has been set for Wednesday. Damuth and Waesche were indicted in connectlon with an alleged assault which occurred at a baseball game at Thurmont recently and at which Umpire Milton Frank, of this city, was roughly handled.
– The (Frederick) News, October 13, 1925
October 1950, 75 Years Ago
Harry S. Boyle, Retired Businessman, Dies Suddenly
Harry Swope Boyle Sr., venerable retired businessman, died suddenly at his home on E. Main St., at 11 a. m. Sunday morning. Mr. Boyle was aged 82.
The deceased had formerly operated a warehouse in partnership with his brother, J. Brooke Boyle, and has been retired for the past 20 years. Death was attributed to a heart condition.
Mr. Boyle was a native of Liberytown and moved to Emmitsburg about 40 years ago.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, October 6, 1950
Council Buys Land For Community Hall
Another issue of vital importance to the Town was taken up when Burgess Rodgers asked the Board to purchase a lot for the new Community Hall. After a lengthy debate, it was decided to purchase the large lot on S. Seton Ave. next to Elizabeth Neck property. This parcel of ground is estimated to be 140×240 and is believed to be an excellent location for a town ball. It was pointed out that the property is ideally situated adjacent beautiful Community Field and the playground. Ample parking and other facilities are available for the convenience of the citizens. The lot is owned by Mr. Os Spriggs and the deal is expected to be consummated in the next few days.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, October 13, 1950
October 1975, 50 Years Ago
Catoctin Area Prepares for 12th Annual ‘Colorfest’
The 12th annual fall festival will slart out bright and early this Friday morning, October 10, when apple butter starts boiling in Creagerstown and at the Thurmont Carnival Grounds. If one is really ambitious, he can appear at the Harold Long Dairy Farm near Graceham at 5:30 a.m. throughout the weekend for morning milking.
Craftsmen and artists will be demonstrating their skills each day in several locations in Thurmont and at Catoctin Mountain Park. There it will be possible to have a tintype picture made, watch a blacksmith at work or press your own glass of cider.
– The (Hagerstown) Morning Herald, October 10, 1975
Reward Offered by Thurmont Citizens Results in Apprehension of Culprits
It was the night of Aug. 9, 1974, when 88-year-old Mildred Ridenour of Thurmont and her 61-year-old son Monroe Ridenour were at home preparing to retire for the night that they were the victims of a break-in armed robbery of more than $1,800 in cash, and brutally beaten.
In spite of thorough investigation by the Thurmont Police and the Maryland State Police, no substantial leads to the criminals’ identity were forthcoming until a group of agitated Thurmont citizens—individuals and representatives of local businesses and industries—got together and decided to raise money to post a reward for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of those responsible for the Ridenour tragedy.
“Had it not been for the citizens’ reward being offered, the case might not have been solved,” said Cpl. Victor E. Wolfe of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Maryland State Police, who investigated the case. “We had no substantial information until the reward was publicized. This was the first case where a reward was offered in my personal experience in which the reward enticed persons with knowledge of the crime to come forward.”
– The (Frederick) News, October 23, 1975
October 2000, 25 Years Ago
Mother Seton School Breaks Ground for Addition
What an exciting time in the history of Mother Seton School! With the need for additional space (420 enrolled for this fall), and to better serve our students in the new millennium, the “Celebrating Our Past-Building Our Future” expansion campaign hit a new milestone. On September 14. 2000, the official ground-breaking ceremony took place with nearly 600 people present.
All of the Mother Seton School students, staff, families, and donors attended the ceremony, which also was the 95th Anniversary of the Canonization of our Foundress, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
– The Dispatch, October 2000
Prayer Services Halted
On Thursday, September 14th, parishioners and pilgrims were met with locked doors at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Emmitsburg. The prior weekend, at the Saturday evening and Sunday Masses, the news from the Archdiocese of Baltimore had been relayed to the parish: the Thursday night prayer service, at which Gianna Talone-Sullivan allegedly received messages from the Blessed, Virgin Mary, would be discontinued at this time.
According to the Archdiocese, the Thursday prayer services “had primarily become a platform for promoting Mrs. Sullivan’s alleged apparitions in a setting which suggests Church approval of both their authenticity and theological content.” The prayer services had been occurring at St. Joseph’s for approximately seven years and had drawn crowds of 600 to 1000 each week.
– The Dispatch, October 2000
