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Page 36 July 2015 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
looking back — 1877 Emmitsburg Senior News


by Susan Allen
by James Rada, Jr.
Thurmont Gets A New School July already! We will begin the Central Railway and the Markets at
Summer’s here and it is indeed
Shrewsbury. A Severn River Cruise
It used to be that if students in to become the superintendent of celebration of our nation’s birthday is scheduled for July 31. Both of
Thurmont were going to be late to Frederick County Schools. on the fourth with a day off from our these tours are organized through the
school, they simply didn’t go because Meanwhile, Mechanicstown got usual schedule. The center will be Frederick Center; check with Linda
they would have been sent home its first high school that same year. closed on Friday, July 3. Hooray for for times and fees. For more local
anyway. William M. Martin was the high Independence Day! excursions, there is a picnic at the
At the beginning of the 1877-1878 school’s first principal. At the time, We are continuing our Monday, Brunswick City Park on the 23rd, and
school year, Thurmont, which was it was a three-year high school, Wednesday, Friday walks in the park you can go yard sale-ing on July 31.
still known as Mechanicstown at the and the first commencement was at 9:00 a.m., followed by breathing We’ll be leaving the center at 9:00 a.m.
The Center will close for a second
exercises. Even with the early start,
time, had two schools. Both of them held in 1895. There was only one the days heat up quickly and the day on Thursday, July 30.
were one-room schools that could graduate. The building later became humidity piles on, so the breathing Regular Activities. Bowling:
hold a maximum of 60 students the Maple Inn and was torn down to exercises are very important. Our Mondays, 12:15 p.m.; Bridge: July
each, “which is as many, if not more be replaced by Riffle’s Garage, which fitness regimen includes strength 1, 15 & 29, 12:30 p.m.; Strength
than can be comfortably seated in was also later torn down. training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Training: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10
either room,” The Catoctin Clarion Boblitz served as the We really need to be in shape this a.m.; Pinochle: Thursdays, 12:30 p.m.
reported. superintendent of schools until he month, because we are hosting the Canasta: Fridays, 12:30 p.m.; Cards,
The Mechanicstown School died near the end of November 1906. children from the library on Thursday, games, puzzles & Wii: July 2 & 9,
District had around 200 students. His funeral was held at the July 16 with “Summer Fun for Old 12:30 p.m. Art classes will resume in
Most of those students were sharp Evangelical Lutheran Church in & Young” at 10:30 a.m. We’ve got to September. You can join us for any or
enough to tell you that seating Thurmont, where he had been an keep up with the kids! all of these activities at any time.
limitations left 80 or more students elder on the church council. Rev. Less strenuous activities this month The senior citizens encourage
without a place to attend school. Isaac Motter, president of the Board include craft time on Wednesday, July everyone fifty years of age and
The catch was that it wasn’t of School Commissioners, called 8, when we will make an umbrella older to join their activities at the
always the same 80 students who him a good and just man, “…there wreath. On the 9th we have a guest Emmitsburg Community Center.
were without a seat in the classroom. were many who rise up and call him speaker who will inform us about Persons sixty and over are eligible for
It was first come, first taught, with blessed for the training that had been medical supplies and resources. Also, the hot lunch program.
students who showed up late to a received under him,” The Frederick we will indulge our taste buds at our For information on the lunch
full school being told “that there is News reported. monthly birthday party on Friday, program and all other activities or
no room for them; the school room He was survived by his wife and July 10.I see lots of day trips ahead for any questions, please contact
is over crowded and they must go five children, Carrie, Frank, Hattie, on our agenda for the second half the coordinator, Linda Umbel, at
home,” the newspaper reported. Nellie, and Lucy. He is buried in of July. On the 24th, we will travel 301-600-6350, or send an email to
With both the newspaper and Wellers Church Cemetery. to Pennsylvania to the Northern [email protected].
the public demanding a solution,
the Board of Education took action.
Less than a month after The Catoctin
Clarion took up the cause for a new
school, the newspaper announced
that Mechanicstown had its third
school, another one-room school.
“Now all can be accommodated
and the cause of education progresses
in a more satisfactory manner,” the
newspaper reported.
The new school also meant that
34-year-old Ephraim L. Boblitz had
a new job. The young teacher had
married his wife, Emma, in 1866,
and they had recently had their first
child, Caroline.
“We congratulate friend Ephraim
in thus securing a school nearer home
as it will save him the long walk, in
all kinds of weather, which has been
his for many years past, and also
the scholars in getting such a good
teaching,” the newspaper reported.
A few years later in 1880, the
town got its first four-room school,
which was built on East Main Street,
according to The Frederick News.
The students from the three one-
room schools were all consolidated
into this new school. Boblitz joined
John Landers and Frederick White as
teachers there.
Boblitz remained as a teacher in
the school until he resigned in 1892
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