once upon a time...
James Rada, Jr.
August 1925, 100 Years Ago
Many Will Attend Thurmont Picnic
The attractiveness of the surroundings on the lawn of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church, Thurmont, brought out a large crowd last Saturday afternoon for the annual picnic but the affair was somewhat marred by the rain in the evening. The festival will be again held this afternoon and evening.
– The News, August 15, 1925
County Loop Race Is Tied Once More
Woodsboro dropped into a tie with the Thurmont club for first honors in the Frederick County Amateur League on Saturday, when the last season champs fell in defeat before the Middletown nine for the second time this season, while Thurmont was handing the Brunswick team an easy defeat. Middletown now boasts of having handed the Woodsboro nine the only two defeats sustained by that club this season.
– The News, August 24, 1925
August 1950, 75 Years Ago
N. Seton Ave. Homes Sewered By Project
Residents of N. Seton Ave. will no longer be troubled with the sewer problem that has been a constant bone of contention between them and the Town Council, as the result of announcement of the Town Solons, meeting ir regular session Tuesday night in the Fire Hall.
Announcement was made of the construction of a large septic tank, installed on the avenue this week, and that it will be put into operation as soon as possible.
Another source of agitation was removed to the satisfaction of the parties concerned, when this week, the sewer connection of the Alan Gelwicks’ property on E. Main St., was altered. For some time now, this drainage problem has confronted the Corporation. It seemed that every time a heavy downpour occurred, the main sewer leading to that property backed up, flooding the premises and doing considerable damage to the Gelwicks property.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 11, 1950
Ambulance Has Proven Worth To Community
The VFW ambulance service has become an indispensable institution in the community life of Emmitsburg, since the time it was put in operation in the early part of 1947. Proof of its increasing usefulness is portrayed by an activities report released this week by Eugene Kraemer, ambulance service committee chairman of the local VFW Post.
The report showed that the ambulance responded to a total of 145 calls during the past year. Of this number, 33 were accident and emergency calls. Non-emergency patient galls accounted for 104 trips. The majority of calls were requested by physicians and private citizens, but the vehicle rendered aid to State Police, the health department, and the veterans administration. There were 48 night calls and 97 day trips which consumed 364 hours of driver service.
August 1975, 50 Years Ago
Little America Pagent Underway
The Dramatic Committee of the Little America Project are enthusiastically preparing for their pageant. Parts are being studied and actors are busy practicing their lines. Ideas are clicking in the minds of stage managers and sound and light men are beginning to try to put together what we hope will help Emmitsburg to relive some of its past history.
Some of the parts in the play have been hand-picked, but needed are more men and boys plus people to work in committees for costumes, etc. The Committee is looking for costumes of the colonial period for men and women, old firemen uniforms, Revolutionary War uniforms, Indian dress and headdresses. Also any person having costumes left from having celebrated so festively the 200th birthday of Emmitsburg in 1957 who would like to be in the final part of the show we would like to hear from you. Any person who would model them in the play would be most welcome.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 7, 1975
Emmitsburg Plans For Seton Visitors
In an effort to deal with an expected onslaught of possibly 50,000 visitors to the commemorative Masses for Mother Seton on Sept. 14 weekend, a mixed official and business group Monday night agreed to have George Danner coordinate the town’s efforts.
Danner, a former member of the town planning commission, and a leader in the Knights of Columbus, was proposed as an able coordinator by Mayor Richard Sprankle and readily accepted by the 40 persons present at the meeting.
Those attending the meeting at St. Josephs’ High School represented the town council, the town Planning Commission, various food establishments, the Provincial House, the ambulance company, the fire company, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ladies of Brute, St. Anthony’s Church, Boy Scouts, United Church of Christ, the Senior Baseball League and the majorettes.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 21, 1975
August 2000, 25 Years Ago
The Hess Hotel Group of Edgewood, Maryland, held their ground-breaking ceremonies for their newest facility, Sleep Inn and Suites, located on Silo Hill in Emmitsburg. The site lies between Route 15 and Silo Hill Development. Access to the hotel will be via Silo Hill Road on a street that will run between McDonalds Restaurant and Silo Hill Exxon Station.
Site grading is underway and according to Dale Hess Sr., “As soon as we receive the building permit we will start; we will open next April.”
– The Dispatch, August 2000
VHC Members Surprised by New Command Vehicle
Beaming proudly these days are members of the Vigilant Hose Company (VHC) Auxiliary as they recently surprised members of Emmitsburg’s local all-volunteer fire / rescue department with a new command and control unit.
Dorothy Davis, VHC Auxiliary President, said, “The process of securing the new command vehicle was a tightly held secret for weeks, and its arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.” VHC’s past command vehicles have been former Frederick County Sheriff’s Office cruisers that the company purchased through the county government after their service in law enforcement was ended.
VHC President Tim Clarke stated, “With a combined total of nearly 300,000 miles, our two former command vehicles were no longer suitable for emergency response use. Their increasingly frequent and expensive repairs were severely impacting command officers who must provide necessary supervision for emergency workers. Law and standard practice require such all across the nation,” he said.
– The Dispatch, August 2000
