once upon a time...
James Rada, Jr.
December 1925, 100 Years Ago
Get Revenge On Thurmont All Stars On Pythian Alleys Here
The Devilbiss All Stars avenged a recent defeat at the hands of the Thurmont All Stars several weeks ago on Thursday night when they defeated the North County Rollers by 21 pins on the Pythian Alleys Thursday night. The teams will meet next week at Thurmont to play-off the tie.
– The Frederick Post, December 4, 1925
Civil War Vet, County Native, Dies in West
Henry A. Naylor, Sr., 86, a veteran of the Civil War and native of Adams County, but for the past six years a resident of Nachusa, Illinois, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Spangler, Nachusa, on Sunday.
Mr. Naylor served as a blacksmith with Co. E, Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was a member of the Peter Miller Grand Army Post, 551, York Springs.
– The Star and Sentinel, December 19, 1925
December 1950, 75 Years Ago
High School Contract Let To Taneytown Firm
Bids for the construction of an addition to the Emmitsburg school were opened at noon Wednesday by the Board of Education and the Allen F. Feeser Co. of Taneytown submitted the low estimate of $167,365. This bid includes all the work with the exception of electrical wiring, fixtures and installation. Other bids submitted were L. J. Keller and Sons of Jefferson, total bid of $229,000; W. Harley Miller, Martinsburg, W. Va., total bid of $205,359; W. R. Oyer of Waynesboro, Pa., total bid of $205,950.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, December 1, 1950
Four Die in Blaze Here
One of the most tragic fires in the history of Emmitsburg occurred early last Sunday morning, as hundreds treked to churches, completely unaware that the conflagration raging in a mountain log cabin, was snuffing out the lives of four persons—a mother and her three children. Victims of the fiery holocaust were a 31-year-old mother, Mrs. Grace Wills, and her three children, Richard Bernard Wills, 6, a pupil at St. Euphemia’s Parochial School; Roland Eugene Wills, 3, and Charles Edward Wills, 1.
The husband, George Bernard Wills, 27, reported the origin of the blaze as an exploding kerosene stove. The story-and-a-half cabin was quickly ignited, trapping the mother and children in the upper portion of the building, which was completely ablaze as members of the Vigilant Hose Co. arrived on the scene at about eight o’clock Sunday morning. The property is located on Reservoir Road, about half mile from the former Annandale School.
Her husband and his two brothers, reported in the living room when a kerosene heater apparently exploded, escaped from the house where the mother and children were trapped.
Carroll Christopher Wills, a brother of George, was reported burned about the hands and face when he went to the second floor to arouse Mrs. Wills and the children. He was forced to jump from a second floor window when smoke and flames shot up the stairway.
December 1975, 50 Years Ago
Thurmont Salutes Moore’s on 25th Anniversary
The Commissioners of Thurmont have cited Moore Business Forms, Inc. on its 25th anniversary for its outstanding contributions to this town in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland.
The letter, to the editor of the News Post, signed by Mayor James F. Black, president of the Commissioners of Thurmont, follows The Thurmont Town Board of Commissioners and I wish to congratulate the management and employes of the Moore Business Forms, Inc. on (25) twenty-five years of operation in the Town of Thurmont. The Thurmont Plant is a great asset to the Town with steady employment for our citizens, locating new people in our community and continual growth of plant facilities giving the Town a much needed tax base.
– The Frederick Post, December 10, 1975
Thurmont Bank Merger Approved
Announcement has been made by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, acting pursuant to delegated authority for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of its approval of the application of Suburban Bancorporation, Hyattsville, to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of the successor by merger to The Thurmont Bank in Thurmont.
In a related action, the Reserve Bank approved the merger of the Thurmont Bank with Catoctin Trust Company, a nonoperating bank.
– The Frederick Post, December 27, 1975
December 2000, 25 Years Ago
Emmitsburg Wins Lawsuit
A federal judge has dismissed a requested injunction against the Town of Emmitsburg brought by a Pennsylvania building contractor. The Town Council chose the second lowest bidder to construct the Town’s much-needed new water plant. The lowest bidder, a Pennsylvania contractor, sued the Town, saying in essence that the Community had to choose the lowest bidder.
Emmitsburg’s attorney, John C. Clapp, a Frederick lawyer, successfully presented the Town’s case in Baltimore Federal Court on Friday, November 10th, before Judge Benson Legg. The hearing was attended by Mayor William Can, Town Manager David L. Haller, Councilman Clifford Sweeney, and Town Project Consultant James E. Fitzgerald.
– The Dispatch, December 2000
EES Music Program Needs Instruments
The instrumental music program at Emmitsburg Elementary School is comprised of 34 students who have chosen to learn to play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, or violin. The students meet once a week to acquire the skills necessary for instrumental performance. This year, the program has experienced tremendous growth! The students are hard working and dedicated, and many can already play several songs on their instruments.
As more and more students sign up, it is becoming a real challenge trying to get instruments into the hands of every child.
– The Dispatch, December 2000
