Page 43 - April 2016 all
P. 43
Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper April 2016 Page 43
R eminiscing...
Mike Fitzgerald’s Emmitsburg
James Rada, Jr.
Editor’s note: This is a reprint of a 2014 story we ran about some of Mike Fitzgerald’s early memories of Emmitsburg.
It might be Rube’s Crab Shack get steamed crabs and soft-shell “When Dad died in 1940, we
now, but in the 1930s, the building crab sandwiches there, which found a cigar box filled with class
that sat on that piece of property is something many Emmitsburg rings,” recalled Mike.
was a chicken house…literally. residents had never eaten before. While Allen was willing to extend
“My father got a tractor and Pretty soon, Mike’s father, credit to the Mount students, he
dragged a chicken house down the Allen, was expanding that business would hold their class rings as
road to there,” said Mike Fitzgerald. to include a dining room and collateral. Judging by the number
Two gas pumps were added bandstand. He also added slot of class rings in the box, a number
and the site became a gas station machines in the bar area. of students never paid off their bar
for travelers going north to “People on the road would stop in tabs.
Pennsylvania and Gettysburg. Mike to play the slot machines in the bar Naomi took the rings and gave Lawyer’s
remembers that the station sold and buy a hamburger for 10 cents and them to someone at the college
Atlantic gasoline and that a person a beer for 15 cents,” Fitzgerald said. in the hopes that they might be
could buy five gallons for just 90 Fitz’s soon became a popular off- reunited with the owners. The Automotive
cents. That same amount costs campus place for Mount students to Catoctin Banner inquired at the
about $16.00, nowadays. go and have fun. Mount about what happened to the
“When Prohibition ended in “In 1963, a guy came in who rings. We were told that someone
1932, my dad replaced the chicken knew dad,” said Mike. “He was an would check and get back to us SPECIALIZING IN
house with an inexpensive six-sided attorney in New York. He said that about it, but that didn’t happen. So ALL TYPES OF
building,” said Fitzgerald. when he went to the Mount and once again those rings are “out of
The business also started would run out of money, my dad sight, out of mind.” AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
offering food, which Naomi would give him credit.”
Fitzgerald (Mike’s mom) prepared. That surprised him a bit, but Strafford H. Lawyer II, Owner
Advertisements proclaimed that it also answered a question that 301-271-2736
Fitz’s had “Maryland’s Finest Fitzgerald and his mother had been
Hamburgers.” Diners could also wondering about. Take Us 13910-B Jimtown Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
Along!
Elower-Sicilia
Take The Catoctin Banner ESP
newspaper along with you on Productions
your travels! Have someone take a Serving the Of Dance & Music
photo of you holding The Catoctin Community Tap • Ballet • Jazz • Hip Hop
Since 1970
Banner, and your photo could be
included in our next issue. Email Pre-School Creative
your photo, along with the details Lyrical
of where you traveled, name(s) Acrobatics
of person(s) pictured, and any Modern
details you would like to add to: Musical Theater
[email protected]. For more information
Ages 3 to Adult
Thanks for taking us along with you! 301.271.7458
www.ESPdance.com
Home of the National Award winning E.S.P. Performing Company
R eminiscing...
Mike Fitzgerald’s Emmitsburg
James Rada, Jr.
Editor’s note: This is a reprint of a 2014 story we ran about some of Mike Fitzgerald’s early memories of Emmitsburg.
It might be Rube’s Crab Shack get steamed crabs and soft-shell “When Dad died in 1940, we
now, but in the 1930s, the building crab sandwiches there, which found a cigar box filled with class
that sat on that piece of property is something many Emmitsburg rings,” recalled Mike.
was a chicken house…literally. residents had never eaten before. While Allen was willing to extend
“My father got a tractor and Pretty soon, Mike’s father, credit to the Mount students, he
dragged a chicken house down the Allen, was expanding that business would hold their class rings as
road to there,” said Mike Fitzgerald. to include a dining room and collateral. Judging by the number
Two gas pumps were added bandstand. He also added slot of class rings in the box, a number
and the site became a gas station machines in the bar area. of students never paid off their bar
for travelers going north to “People on the road would stop in tabs.
Pennsylvania and Gettysburg. Mike to play the slot machines in the bar Naomi took the rings and gave Lawyer’s
remembers that the station sold and buy a hamburger for 10 cents and them to someone at the college
Atlantic gasoline and that a person a beer for 15 cents,” Fitzgerald said. in the hopes that they might be
could buy five gallons for just 90 Fitz’s soon became a popular off- reunited with the owners. The Automotive
cents. That same amount costs campus place for Mount students to Catoctin Banner inquired at the
about $16.00, nowadays. go and have fun. Mount about what happened to the
“When Prohibition ended in “In 1963, a guy came in who rings. We were told that someone
1932, my dad replaced the chicken knew dad,” said Mike. “He was an would check and get back to us SPECIALIZING IN
house with an inexpensive six-sided attorney in New York. He said that about it, but that didn’t happen. So ALL TYPES OF
building,” said Fitzgerald. when he went to the Mount and once again those rings are “out of
The business also started would run out of money, my dad sight, out of mind.” AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
offering food, which Naomi would give him credit.”
Fitzgerald (Mike’s mom) prepared. That surprised him a bit, but Strafford H. Lawyer II, Owner
Advertisements proclaimed that it also answered a question that 301-271-2736
Fitz’s had “Maryland’s Finest Fitzgerald and his mother had been
Hamburgers.” Diners could also wondering about. Take Us 13910-B Jimtown Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
Along!
Elower-Sicilia
Take The Catoctin Banner ESP
newspaper along with you on Productions
your travels! Have someone take a Serving the Of Dance & Music
photo of you holding The Catoctin Community Tap • Ballet • Jazz • Hip Hop
Since 1970
Banner, and your photo could be
included in our next issue. Email Pre-School Creative
your photo, along with the details Lyrical
of where you traveled, name(s) Acrobatics
of person(s) pictured, and any Modern
details you would like to add to: Musical Theater
[email protected]. For more information
Ages 3 to Adult
Thanks for taking us along with you! 301.271.7458
www.ESPdance.com
Home of the National Award winning E.S.P. Performing Company
