Once Upon A Time…
by James Rada, Jr.
January 1924, 100 Years Ago
Injured When Auto Hits Phone Pole
Miss Mary Nagle, of Thurmont, who suffered a fractured collar bone and a severe cut in her right hip last Monday morning, when the automobile in which she was riding left the road and struck a telephone pole along the Lincoln Highway near Abbottstown, Pa., is said to be improving.
Four persons were in the automobile, two men and two women. They were returning to Thurmont about 12:30 a.m., when suddenly the machine, a Hudson coach, left the road and struck a telephone pole. With the exception of Miss Nagle, the occupants of the machine were not badly hurt.
– Frederick Daily News, January 10, 1923
2 Suspects Not Hart And Tilson Sheriff Declares
Suspected of being Jack Hart and William F. Tilson, the two convicts who escaped from the Maryland Penitentiary two weeks ago, two men on a “walking tour,” were arrested by Sheriff Albaugh and Deputy Sheriff Crum this morning, near Lewistown. They gave the names of Jos. B. McCrossen and Roy McGlennon, hailing from Ohio and New York, respectively, they said.
The men spent Friday night in the basement of the power house at Thurmont. After they left this morning to walk to Frederick, someone at Thurmont notified Sheriff Albaugh that two men answering the descriptions of Hart and Tilson had spent the night in Thurmont and were walking towards this city.
Sheriff Albaugh and Deputy Crum started out the Thurmont pike in the Sheriff’s automobile. When near Lewistown, they saw the two men and asked them if they wanted a lift.
Before they got in the machine, however, the Sheriff searched them to see whether or not they had any fire arms. They had none.
Upon reaching this city, Sheriff Albaugh, who saw that there was not the slightest resemblance between the two men and Hart and Tilson, told them to come into his office and “warm up.” The two men regarded the whole affair as a huge joke as did the Sheriff and his deputy.
– Frederick Daily News, January 26, 1923
January 1949, 75 Years Ago
County May Get Pari-Mutuel Race Betting
The enactment of legislation to permit pari-mutuel betting at harness race meets at the Frederick Fair Grounds was approved by an overwhelming majority at the annual meeting of the life members of the Frederick County Agricultural Society, held in the Court House, Frederick, Saturday.
A resolution offered by Beninmin B. Rosenstock, attorney, and submitted to a secret ballot won by a margin of 127 to 22, it was announced.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 14, 1949
Thurmont Mother Honored At Military Fete
An Army Colonel, a Maryland mother of 24 children, 12 of whom are still living, was honored by the United States Army Tuesday evening at a ceremony sponsored by the Mothers of World War II Veterans at the War Memorial Building, Baltimore.
Mrs. Charles H. Clarke, of Thurmont, was presented an Army citation for “faithful public service” covering the period of the war years and since. The citation, sponsored by the Second Army and issued by Lieutenant-General L. T. Gerow, commanding, was presented to Mrs. Clarke by Colonel Arthur L. Shreve, executive of the Maryland-Delaware Military District.
Colonel Shreve, in presenting one of the highest citations available to a civilian citizen, asserted that it was through such voluntary service that the military and civilian population was gaining unity towards securing and guaranteeing a lasting peace.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 28, 1949
January 1974, 50 Years Ago
Mother Seton Bicentennial Year Opens With Mass Here
Bicentennial Year, some one thousand ecclesiastical and civic dignitaries, friends and benefactors joined His Eminence, Lawrence Cardinal Shehan, Archbishop of Baltimore, and the Daughters of Charity, in an Eucharistic Celebration, Saturday, January 5, at St. Joseph’s Provincial House.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 10, 1974
Canonization Nears For Mother Seton
During her relatively brief life of less than forty-seven years, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton performed varied roles. By turn she was an attentive daughter, devoted wife, solicitous mother, and intrepid foundress. She was an especially devoted daughter of the Holy Roman Church and not only founded the first native American sisterhood, but also initiated the American parochial school system. She sent Sisters to staff St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, Philadelphia, and she personally cared for the sick and trained her Sisters to do likewise. Sisters who are her spiritual descendants, found today at every level of education, social work, and health care, are but the lengthened shadow of Mother Seton.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, January 10, 1974
January 1999, 25 Years Ago
Christmas Elves Strike Again
A lively crowd showed up at the town garage on Saturday morning after Thanksgiving for the annual Christmas swag making. The group was so full of energy that within 2 hours they had more than 200 swags with red bows ready to be hung on the street lights and poles. Jim Click, Leon Sperling, and Randy Myers hung the swags on Monday.
– The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, January 1999
Fore! With An Eye On The Future
Growth? No growth? Managed development is the position taken by the Holloway Development Corporation which presented concept plans to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Frederick County Planning and Zoning Commission December 9 at Winchester Hall in Frederick.
At stake is the development of approximately 1,000 acres that straddle the Mason-Dixon Line north of Emmitsburg. The acreage located in the vicinity of the Steinwehr Exit is bounded by US 15 on the west, Bullfrog Road on the north and Harney Road on the east. Planning for its development has progressed slowly over the past five years. “We have progressed slowly because we are incredibly anxious to be good neighbors and get people’s reactions,” said local Holloway representative Tom Wolf.
– The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, January 1999
