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Page 16 September 2015 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Fifty Years Ago: Political Turmoil in Thurmont
Randy Waesche
Fifty years ago three of Although short on time and in
Thurmont’s leading citizens uncharted legal territory,
figured in two of the most Lookingbill launched a write-in
remarkable episodes in town candidacy for mayor. To
politics. The men were Donald guard against spelling
L. Lewis, Roy W. Lookingbill, disqualifications, several
and Calvin G. Wilhide. thousand stickers were printed
Donald L. Lewis was one of Photos Courtesy of John Kinnaird with his name and distributed
Thurmont’s most-progressive across town. Voters were
mayors. Although only in office asked to become “sticker
for just over five years, the lickers for Lookingbill” and
effects of his tenure are still felt were instructed how to affix the
today. Of impressive stature Calvin G. Wilhide stickers onto the ballot and
and fitness, he came from a mark an X alongside. A car
large and prominent Thurmont Thurmont’s first planning and businessman Victor Leisner and with loudspeakers slowly drove
family. He was a staff sergeant zoning ordinance, master plan, and broke ground for Greenfield Estates, the town’s streets loudly asking for
in the Army Rangers during World subdivision regulations. He brought a major subdivision on the town’s votes for the mayor’s challenger.
War II and landed at Omaha Beach the state economic development eastern edge then at Blue Ridge Hundreds of orange handbills from
on D-Day. In 1956, he opened commission to Thurmont where they Avenue. The project promised to the Lookingbill campaign were
Lewis’ Confectionery on the square, touted the local spirit of cooperation include the largest sewage and water spread through town that contained
a widely known general store that and new local opportunities for development ever undertaken and a list of allegations against the
sold everything from fountain sodas progress. Surveys were undertaken was the first under the town’s new incumbent, and the town was rife
to fishing rods. Forty years old to evaluate and improve town water developer’s policy. He appointed with opinion about the upstart long
when first elected mayor in 1959, and sewer service and establish the first planning and zoning shot bid. It would be weeks following
he embarked on an activist course policies for underground electric commission, chaired by his brother the election before debate quieted
and worked with political leaders at in new growth areas. He was in Harry “Buck” Lewis, who owned a about the accuracy of the handbill,
all levels, and courted anyone with front of the Maryland Department Sinclair auto service station diagonal but the vote was in. In an election
an eye to expand local business. of Forests and Parks advocating for from the confectionery. When plans where 627 votes were cast for mayor,
Concerned that unregulated land use local recreation areas. He opened stalled for a new north county high Lookingbill had narrowly won by 19.
had allowed Thurmont to become discussions that eventually led to the school, Lewis and some Emmitsburg One of Thurmont’s more colorful
blemished with such nuisances as Town’s ownership of what is now officials headed to the Board of personalities, Calvin G. Wilhide was
dilapidated house trailers, he secured the 20-acre Thurmont Community Education, kept the project moving, the owner of Wilhide Chevrolet-
federal grant funding and developed Park. Lewis worked with local and within five years Catoctin High Oldsmobile on Water Street,
School opened. He worked with formerly owned by Fred Redding
magistrate M.T. Mathwig to relocate and started by Edwin Creeger over
local court from a rented Water 40 years before. Wilhide also
Street building to the Town Office. owned the Texas Lunch on West
Revision of a new town code was Main Street, operated an amusement
introduced. There seemed to be no machine business, owned and raced
end to the energy of mayor Donald prize horses at Shenandoah Downs,
Lewis. and also had a trucking business and
Roy W. Lookingbill owned and garage on Carroll Street Extended
operated Lookingbill’s Barber Shop that included his Thurmont Star
in the first block of East Main Street rural mail route. Known by many
for 22 years. He had twice won a as Pud (pronounced like the first
town commissioner seat and in 1963 syllable of “pudding”), he had
ran for mayor against Lewis, but run for mayor in 1959 and 1961
lost. Two years later in April 1965 but lost both times to Lewis. He
Lewis was unexpectedly alone on won a town commissioner seat in
the ballot for mayor and seemed to 1964. On the town board he was
have an easy path to a fourth term. especially critical of the town’s new
Fifty Years Ago: Political Turmoil in Thurmont
Randy Waesche
Fifty years ago three of Although short on time and in
Thurmont’s leading citizens uncharted legal territory,
figured in two of the most Lookingbill launched a write-in
remarkable episodes in town candidacy for mayor. To
politics. The men were Donald guard against spelling
L. Lewis, Roy W. Lookingbill, disqualifications, several
and Calvin G. Wilhide. thousand stickers were printed
Donald L. Lewis was one of Photos Courtesy of John Kinnaird with his name and distributed
Thurmont’s most-progressive across town. Voters were
mayors. Although only in office asked to become “sticker
for just over five years, the lickers for Lookingbill” and
effects of his tenure are still felt were instructed how to affix the
today. Of impressive stature Calvin G. Wilhide stickers onto the ballot and
and fitness, he came from a mark an X alongside. A car
large and prominent Thurmont Thurmont’s first planning and businessman Victor Leisner and with loudspeakers slowly drove
family. He was a staff sergeant zoning ordinance, master plan, and broke ground for Greenfield Estates, the town’s streets loudly asking for
in the Army Rangers during World subdivision regulations. He brought a major subdivision on the town’s votes for the mayor’s challenger.
War II and landed at Omaha Beach the state economic development eastern edge then at Blue Ridge Hundreds of orange handbills from
on D-Day. In 1956, he opened commission to Thurmont where they Avenue. The project promised to the Lookingbill campaign were
Lewis’ Confectionery on the square, touted the local spirit of cooperation include the largest sewage and water spread through town that contained
a widely known general store that and new local opportunities for development ever undertaken and a list of allegations against the
sold everything from fountain sodas progress. Surveys were undertaken was the first under the town’s new incumbent, and the town was rife
to fishing rods. Forty years old to evaluate and improve town water developer’s policy. He appointed with opinion about the upstart long
when first elected mayor in 1959, and sewer service and establish the first planning and zoning shot bid. It would be weeks following
he embarked on an activist course policies for underground electric commission, chaired by his brother the election before debate quieted
and worked with political leaders at in new growth areas. He was in Harry “Buck” Lewis, who owned a about the accuracy of the handbill,
all levels, and courted anyone with front of the Maryland Department Sinclair auto service station diagonal but the vote was in. In an election
an eye to expand local business. of Forests and Parks advocating for from the confectionery. When plans where 627 votes were cast for mayor,
Concerned that unregulated land use local recreation areas. He opened stalled for a new north county high Lookingbill had narrowly won by 19.
had allowed Thurmont to become discussions that eventually led to the school, Lewis and some Emmitsburg One of Thurmont’s more colorful
blemished with such nuisances as Town’s ownership of what is now officials headed to the Board of personalities, Calvin G. Wilhide was
dilapidated house trailers, he secured the 20-acre Thurmont Community Education, kept the project moving, the owner of Wilhide Chevrolet-
federal grant funding and developed Park. Lewis worked with local and within five years Catoctin High Oldsmobile on Water Street,
School opened. He worked with formerly owned by Fred Redding
magistrate M.T. Mathwig to relocate and started by Edwin Creeger over
local court from a rented Water 40 years before. Wilhide also
Street building to the Town Office. owned the Texas Lunch on West
Revision of a new town code was Main Street, operated an amusement
introduced. There seemed to be no machine business, owned and raced
end to the energy of mayor Donald prize horses at Shenandoah Downs,
Lewis. and also had a trucking business and
Roy W. Lookingbill owned and garage on Carroll Street Extended
operated Lookingbill’s Barber Shop that included his Thurmont Star
in the first block of East Main Street rural mail route. Known by many
for 22 years. He had twice won a as Pud (pronounced like the first
town commissioner seat and in 1963 syllable of “pudding”), he had
ran for mayor against Lewis, but run for mayor in 1959 and 1961
lost. Two years later in April 1965 but lost both times to Lewis. He
Lewis was unexpectedly alone on won a town commissioner seat in
the ballot for mayor and seemed to 1964. On the town board he was
have an easy path to a fourth term. especially critical of the town’s new
