Once Upon A Time
by James Rada, Jr.
October 1919, 100 Years Ago
Killed on Railroad
Delman and Charles Rice, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Rice, of near Creagerstown, this county, were caught on the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge over the Monocacy river between Harmony Grove and Walkersville, on Wednesday of last week. Charles was hurled from the bridge and thrown into the water and drowned, and Delman thrown from the bridge and landed on the bank. The train was stopped, the crew picking up the boy and hurried him to Frederick City Hospital. It is reported that he is improving and will soon be able to go home.
The body of Delman, aged 6 years, was recovered from the river, and it was found that he had an ugly cut across the top of his head.
– Catoctin Clarion, October 30, 1919
Thurmont Holds Homecoming Program On Behalf of Boys Who Served In Army and Navy
After many weeks of preparation for the celebration of the homecoming of the soldier and sailor boys who participated in the defeat of the Huns in this country and abroad, the event was finally staged on Saturday of last week. That the weather was good and gave us one of the grandest days for the occasion is now well known, and this in a great measure aided in making the celebration a most glorious one.
– Catoctin Clarion, October 18, 1919
October 1944, 75 Years Ago
Soldier Wounded For Second Time
Pvt. Richard H. Rosensteel, 31, was slightly wounded in action in France September 18, for the second time, a war department telegram informed his wife, Mrs. Pauline Rosensteel, Emmitsburg, this morning.
Private Rosensteel was wounded the first time the latter part of July and his wife received word from the war department in early August that he was convalescing in a hospital in England. No further word was given in the telegram today.
– Gettysburg Times, October 5, 1944
Phone Books In Emmitsburg
Emmitsburg’s new telephone directory is being delivered to more than 400 subscribers, according to a statement made by Melvin W. Ambrose, manager of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of Baltimore.
Information in the directory tells how to make emergency calls, how to get repair service, space for important telephone-numbers, helpful guides in the proper use of the telephone, information on out-of-town calls, and how to use dial telephone.
– Catoctin Enterprise, October 26, 1944
October 1969, 50 Years Ago
Fire Razes Charnita Home Monday
A pair of Mt. St. Mary’s College students escaped injury when they were forced to jump from a second-story window during a fire at their frame seven-room cottage at Charnita Monday morning.
Fairfield Fire Chief Lawrence Eversole estimated damage to the two-story structure at $25,000. The fire gutted the cottage overlooking a small lake and the Fairfield-Zora Road.
The two students, Mike Maloney and Dennis Mottley, told firemen they were awakened by a “cracking noise downstairs” shortly before 7:45 a.m.
They said they went to the stairway and saw the first floor was engulfed in flames.
Trapped on the second story of the structure, they were forced to jump eight feet to the ground from their bedroom window.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, October 3, 1969
New Officer Assumes Duties
The newest addition to Emmitsburg’s Police Dept. is Richard V. Etzler. Officer Etzler is 28 years of age and has had five years of service with the Maryland State Police as a dispatcher. He has served at the Waldorf, Rockville and Frederick Barracks.
The new officer is married and presently resides in Walkersville but intends to move to Emmitsburg as soon as he can find adequate accommodations. He is a member of the Maryland National Guard and is assigned to Hagerstown company.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, October 10, 1969
October 1994, 25 Years Ago
Thurmont Lions Celebrate
Clement F. Kusiak will be the featured speaker Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Thurmont Lions Club’s 65th charter anniversary celebration at the Cozy Restaurant in Thurmont. The banquet will take place at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by a social period beginning at 6 p.m.
The Thurmont Lions Club was organized on Oct. 23, 1929 and the club was chartered at a meeting on Nov. 1, 1929. The club began with 21 members and was sponsored by the Frederick Lions Club. The Thurmont club currently has 44 members and meets twice monthly at the Cozy Restaurant. Over the years, the club has been instrumental in spearheading and lobbying for major road and recreational improvement projects in the area.
– Frederick News-Post, October 21, 1994
Catoctin Choral Fest
The Vocal Music Dept. of Catoctin High School will present its sixth annual Catoctin Community Choral Fest on Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Participating in this event will be the choruses of Emmitsburg, Sabillasville and Thurmont elementary schools, Thurmont Middle, and Catoctin High. All voices will join together in a grand finale “We’re The Future of Tomorrow.”
– Frederick News-Post, October 31, 1994
