How I Came to Know My Father ~ Part 1 by Sally T. Grove Using Her Father Chester L. Grove, Jr.’s Diary and Reflecting on What He Had Written I was 20 years old, fresh out of college, and in my first year of teaching, a difficult first year. Why did college prepare me so…

Robert McPherson Gardiner by Terry Pryor Lt. Robert McPherson Gardiner in uniform. Courtesy Photo Although born in Denver, Colorado, Robert McPherson Gardiner spent his childhood and youth at the Auburn home in Catoctin Furnace. It was from here that he joined the Army in 1943. This is, in part, his story. I did not know…

James Rada, Jr. Thurmont servicemen Charles Pittinger and Woodrow Carbaugh were remembered last month when the Moser Road bridge was dedicated in their honor. However, their families will soon receive another remembrance. Kellen “Buck” Musser will paint portraits of the two young men for their families. Musser, 83, has been painting for 20 years. He…

Joseph Hooker Clabaugh 20 Years of Service by Priscilla Rall Joe Clabaugh’s life is woven into our community’s history beginning with his grandfather, J. Hooker Lewis, from the Garfield and Foxville area, who owned five local orchards. He bought one from a German family whose house was located where Mountain Gate Restaurant is now. It…

“Farm Boy to Combat Engineer” by Priscilla Rall Robert “Bob” Clifford Mount, the son of Clifford and Violet Mount, grew up milking cows by hand and plowing with a team of horses, named Dick and Queeny. He lived in a home without electricity, phone, or plumbing. Bob was a farm boy, born in 1931 in…

Although Edward Bowman Coleman was born in Port Republic, Virginia, in 1924, he has lived most of his life in the Blue Ridge Summit and Sabillasville areas. In the early 1920s, his father rented a farm in Virginia, earning $1.00 a month, two hogs, and a house to live in. Later, the family moved north…

by Jim Houck, Jr. Specialist 4th Class Thomas Eugene Joy 173rd Airborne Brigade Tom Joy was born on December 5, 1948, at Annie M Warner Hospital Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Austin L. and Catherine E. (Walter) Joy, and was taken home to live with them on East Main Street in Emmitsburg. Tom is the youngest member…

by Jim Houck, Jr. PRIVATE JOSEPH CONROY JOY U.S. ARMY Born in 1927, at home in Emmitsburg to Gertrude and Hubert Joy, was a baby boy they named Joseph (Joe). Joe was one of eleven children: Bobby, Johnny, Kenny, Donald, Mike, Gloria, Patrick, Delores, Jerry, and Rosemary (passed away at three days old). Joe went…

by Jim Houck, Jr. U.S. Army Private Alfred Woodrow Clark 102 Years Young Born June 13, 1913, in Washington, D.C., to Henry and Edith Clark, was a boy they named Alfred Woodrow. Alfred’s family had a tradition of giving newborns of the family a nickname. His family was together nine days after he was born…

Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Wayne Rice U.S. Army Retired Born to Mary and Garnett Rice on April 26, 1951, at home in Mountaindale, Maryland, was a boy they named Bruce Wayne. Bruce was given the name of the super hero, Batman, and later in life, even though he wasn’t Batman, he was a super hero…