once upon a time
James Rada, Jr.
January 1926, 100 Years Ago
entennial Of Apple’s Church, One Of State’s Oldest, Planned April 13
All Thurmont is eagerly looking forward to April 13, for on that day, the citizenry will commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of one of Maryland’s oldest churches. Apple’s Reformed church, said to be one of the first Reformed churches, founded by German settlers during the Revolutionary War.
Long before the present century-old brick church was built, Apple’s church had been in existence as a log church as far back as 1770. Farmers for miles around journeyed on horseback to attend services there on the Lord’s Day. And in those early pioneer days, the duties of preachers were far from pleasant. There was no parsonage adjoining the church, but clergymen, being few in numbers, had to travel from York, Lancaster, and Hanover, Pa., to minister to their flock at Apple’s church on Sunday.
– The (Frederick) News, January 21, 1926
Road Petition Filed
No action has been taken by the Board of County Commissioners either on the question of adequate provision for old records, or on the several road propositions laid before them during the past week, it was stated by one of the Board Thursday. The Commissioners gave, nevertheless, visited several sections of the county inspecting roads and conditions in general, and are concerning the Thurmont request for 1,600 feet of new road. The Board spent a portion of Tuesday in Thurmont.
– The Frederick Post, January 22, 1926
January 1951, 75 Years Ago
VFW Offers Free Bed, Chair Service
The January meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was held Wednesday night in the Post Home, Center Square, Cmdr. Wales E. Rightnour, presiding. The service organization announced that the recently purchased hospital beds and two wheel chairs were now available for free public use and can be had upon application at the Post Home. Free crutch service was also announced.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 5, 1951
Council Okays Sewer Line to School
Emmitsburg’s Burgess and Commissioners met in regular monthly session Tuesday evening in the town office located in the Fire Hall. Chairman of the Board Lloyd G. Ohler presided. Town Clerk and Treasurer Louise Sebold’s reports were accepted. Another sewer bond was called in and paid off, leaving only two more of the $500 nature to be retired.
The treasurer announced that the parking meters were paid for from the general fund and presented the bill of sale to the Commissioners. December revenue from the meters was $261.31. Capt. H. C. Woodring’s monthly report was read and accepted. Revenue from the 15-cent sewer tax for the year was placed at $1520.50.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 12, 1951
January 1976, 50 Years Ago
Local Residents Bring Chronicle Back
With almost 100 years of service behind it, the Emmitsburg Chronicle has been purchased by Emmitsburg Chronicle Inc., a group comprised of local individuals. The paper, formerly owned by Robert B. Wentworth of Colonial Newspapers Inc. of Greencastle, will continue to serve the people of Emmitsburg and surrounding area.
Officers of Emmitsburg Chronicle Inc. are as follows; Pres. Eric Glass, Vice Pres. Emile Nakhleh, Sec. Kathleen Warthen, Assist. Sec. Becky Brown, Treas. Eric Glass. The corporation wishes to stress that it has bought only the assets of the Chronicle, and is not connected in any way with the former owner.
Once printed locally, the Chronicle will be printed by the Damascus Publishing Co. Inc. of Damascus, Md., using offset printing instead of letterpress which was used previously.
– The Frederick Post, January 15, 1976
St. Joseph’s Considered For Site of Fire Academy
With all members present at the monthly meeting of the town council on Monday, Jan. 5, Chairman Eugene Myers presented the commission with a letter he received on the possibility of St. Joseph’s college campus being used for the proposed site of the National Fire Academy.
With St. Joseph’s College also supporting consideration of the site, letters are being sent to area congressmen and other influential people asking for support on the proposed project. The site committee for the National Fire Academy does not want to take any additional land from the tax roles and this may bear heavily on the locating of the facility here.
– The Frederick Post, January 15, 1976
January 2001, 25 Years Ago
Local Group Aims to Stop Tree Cutting on Battlefield
Did you know that the 15-year General Management Plan for Gettysburg National Military Park includes the removal of 576 acres of woodland? While the proposed new Visitor Center was discussed at length during public hearings, the tree-cutting plan apparently received little attention. Now a small but growing group of area residents is reviewing options for opposing what they regard as excessive tree removal.
– The Dispatch, January 2001
Thurmont Rings in Anniversary Year
On January 3, 2001, at 7:30 p.m., the Commissioners of Thurmont officially declared the year 2001 as Thurmont’s 250th anniversary year with a ceremonial bell ringing and proclamation reading. Church bells throughout town rang simultaneously, ushering in the year-long celebration planned by the town of Thurmont. The ceremony was held at the Thurmont Town Office at the start of the regular monthly town meeting. A number of special events have been planned throughout the year in celebration of this significant anniversary.
The first major event will be a pottery display on March 25, featuring the works of Mechanicstown (Thurmont) potters. This event, sponsored by the Thurmont Historical Society, will feature the works of renowned potters Lynn and Mackley.
– The Dispatch, January 2001
