Adams County’s Forgotten Centennial by James Rada When Adams County, Pennsylvania, turned 100, no one cared enough to throw a party. While surrounding counties celebrated various anniversaries in the late 19th century, Adams County’s big anniversary—its centennial—went relatively unrecognized and uncelebrated. As Adams County’s centennial approached, a group of public-spirited citizens met in the mid-1890s…

by Richard D. L. Fulton The Distelfink Drive-In The Distelfink Drive-in, which had been located at the intersection of Old Harrisburg Road and Shrivers Corner Road, just off Route 15 in Straban Township, near Gettysburg, thrived as basically a “roadside attraction” in the food category from 1954 until 2011. Distelfink takes its name from the…

Using a Phone to Fight a Littlestown Fire Roaring fires helped keep Isaac Cromer’s house and outbuildings warm during the cold January days in 1909. On January 25, Isaac and his wife, Catherine, got called away to Gettysburg to care for Cromer’s mother-in-law. That left 20-year-old John Cromer alone on the farm that was located…

with Michael Betteridge Memo to Catoctin Athletics: Do NOT schedule any baseball or softball games at Boonsboro next year! Last year, two remarkable Catoctin teams—baseball and softball—rode the bus all the way down to the tiny little town founded by Daniel Boone’s cousin, William Boone. That little Washington County town of Boonsboro was the scene…

The Camp Letterman Story Richard D. L. Fulton On July 1, 1863, a massive and deadly storm descended upon Gettysburg, with the thunder being provided by more than 600 cannons and the fierce lightning being the result of the firing of more than 140,000 rifles. The storm was caused by the violent convergence of the…

Separated in Life, Segregated in Death Richard D. L. Fulton Orange flags denote where the previously unknown locations of bodies buried in the cemetery have been found. It is believed that over 400 individuals were buried in the Lincoln Cemetery. Photos Courtesy of the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association There are few sites in Gettysburg that…

Former Emmitsburg resident, Gloria Joy Martin Bauerline, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 5, 2023. She enjoyed several parties with her family and friends. One celebration on her birthday was held where she resides at Transitions Healthcare in Gettysburg. Another was held Saturday, September 9, at the Emmitsburg VFW Chapter 6658, located on North Seton…

the “human fly” Scales the First National Bank On July 30, 1927, a bespectacled middle-aged man walked up to the First National Bank building on the square in Gettysburg. He looked up at the edge of the roof, more than three stories above him. Then, instead of walking inside, he grabbed hold of one of…

The Johns Farmhouse Story Richard D. L. Fulton Among the mass of paranormal photographs taken over the decades, one occasionally encounters a photograph that includes a house or structure that no longer exists, or a plantation-like stairway with Victorian inhabitants apparently standing upon it that never existed. But how about a farmhouse that appears in…

Private Joseph A. Williams Adams’ Only Black WWI Fatality by Richard D. L. Fulton Joseph Albert Williams was born on November 23, 1892, in Frederick County, Maryland. In Valerie J. Young’s The World War One Gold Star Soldiers from Adams County (Adams County Historical Society, Adams County History, Volume 24 2018), Young stated that Williams…

Blair Garrett Storytelling is something humans have done since the beginnings of communication. The ability to harness a whirlwind of ideas and narrow it down into a digestible story that pulls a reader’s mind into the author’s imagination is one of those rare-to-find skills. An effective storyteller crafts and creates gripping content that engages readers…

James Rada, Jr. Note: Portions of this article are pulled from a series of articles The Catoctin Banner ran in 2014 about the history of newspapers in Northern Frederick County. William R. “Bo” Cadle, Jr., died January 21, 2020, at the SpiriTrust Lutheran Village in Gettysburg with his wife, Jean, by his side. Although no…

James Rada, Jr. A small group of town and county representatives helped dedicate the three new waysides that are the hoped-for beginning of a historic Emmitsburg walking trail. The dedication took place Saturday morning, June 29, 2019. The Emmitsburg Town Commissioners approved the development and installation of three markers in town to describe some historic…

Joan Bittner Fry The Lake View Hotel, C. J. Remsburg, Proprietor, Lewistown, Maryland, Long Distance Phone 840-2 While looking through my postcard collection, I came upon a small brochure about Lake View Hotel, and I quote the brochure: “Lake View Hotel is located midway between Frederick and Thurmont, Maryland on the Western Maryland and the…

I Do. Do You? By Valerie Nusbaum Charles “Chuck” Caldwell has talked with Civil War soldiers, fought against the Japanese in WWII, and chased mushroom clouds after atomic bomb explosions. Now ninety-two years old, he had become part of the history that he loves so much. His story is now the focus of a fascinating…

Nicholas DiGregory To the typical wandering traveler, cruising up or down U.S. Route 15, the little town of Emmitsburg does not appear to be a major attraction. While the town’s tourism landmarks—such as the stately National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton and the picturesque Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes—do draw a crowd, Emmitsburg itself…

Nicholas DiGregory The Emmitsburg Tattoo Company is somewhat of an anomaly, insofar as tattoo shops are concerned. In terms of appearance, the storefront is clean, sleek, and inviting—an image that is supported by the shop atmosphere itself. While the inside of the shop is decorated with many items and images that befit any reputable tattoo…

Richard D. L. Fulton and James Rada, Jr. will be holding a book siging at St. Philomena’s on the Emmitsburg Square  in April. When were the last U.S. Marines killed in the line of duty on the Gettysburg battlefield? If you said 1863, you’d be wrong. The year was 1922. Two marine aviators crashed their…

James Rada, Jr. As the Confederate Army retreated from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863, they encountered Union troops in the area of Blue Ridge Summit. A two-day battle ensued in the middle of a thunderstorm that eventually spilled over the Mason-Dixon Line into Maryland. “It is the only battle fought on both sides of the…