Currently viewing the tag: "April 1970 50 Years Ago"

by James Rada, Jr.

Note: “Once Upon A Time” had been planned for April’s issue before COVID-19 shut things down.

April 1920, 100 Years Ago

Body Of Drowned Girl Not Yet Recovered

Miss Lillie Spielman, aged about 17 years, and residing in Frederick County and near Detour, fell from a foot bridge that was placed across Double Pipe Creek at Detour, after water had destroyed the road bridge last month, and was drowned in the swift running water in the stream.

The accident occurred Good Friday afternoon about 4 o’clock, Miss Spielman being on her way to the post office to mail an Easter package to her brother Harry in Washington.

It is stated that a man watering his horse near the bridge, and three little girls who were playing nearby, saw the unfortunate girl’s feet come to the surface twice and her hands once. She was carried along too rapidly by the current for any attempt at rescue to be made.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, April 8, 1920

Truck Upsets On Buggy

Mrs. Elmer Lenhart, who resided with her mother, Mrs. Sunday, near Jimtown, and her son and daughter, are at Frederick City Hospital suffering from severe cuts and bruises caused by a heavy truck crashing into the buggy in which they were riding, smashing the vehicle and upsetting the truck. Mrs. Lenhart was pinned under the wreck.

The accident occurred last Saturday when the family was moving to Baltimore, the buggy in which Mrs. Lenhart and the children were riding being tied to the truck, which was leading the furniture. Ascending a hill near Ridgeville the brakes refused to work when the engine stopped, and the truck backed into the buggy. The buggy was pushed over an embankment and demolished, and the truck followed, upset, and partly landed on the buggy. Much of the furniture and dishes were broken. The injured were removed to the hospital in a passing automobile.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, April 8, 1920

April 1945, 75 Years Ago

Thurmont Flyer Is Awarded Fifth Oak Leaf Cluster

Technical Sergeant Harvey Eiler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Newton E. Eiler, of near Thurmont, has been awarded the Fifth Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for “meritorious achievement” during Eighth Air Force bombing attacks on vital German industries and military installations.

The official citation accompanying the award of the Oak Leaf Cluster commented on the “courage, coolness and skill displayed by Sgt. Eiler upon these occasions” as reflecting “great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Sgt. Eiler is a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He entered the Army Air Forces in March 1943, and received his gunner’s wings in March 1944, at Fort Myers, Fla. He was a student at the Frederick High School before entering the service. He is 19 years old.

                                          – Catoctin Enterprise, April 6, 1945

No Parking Zone Established Here

The State Roads Commission, this week, approved the establishing of a “No Parking Zone” on the east side of Route 15 through Thurmont from Water Street on the south end to the Western Maryland Railway Bridge on the north end, and signs have been erected which prohibit parking on that side at any time.

Local authorities and Maryland State Police will enforce this zoning. Persons who deface the signs in any way will also be dealt with according to the law.

                                          – Catoctin Enterprise, April 13, 1945

April 1970, 50 Years Ago

“Teach-In” Set For April 22

“Earth Day,” the nationwide student effort to educate the public to the problems of human ecology, will be observed in northern Frederick County on Wednesday, April 22, by an “Environmental Teach-In” sponsored jointly by the student governments of St. Joseph and Mt. St. Mary’s Colleges.

Several programs are planned throughout the day on both campuses, culminating in a panel discussion at the Mount at 8 p.m. in the Coad Science Hall.

                                          – Emmitsburg Chronicle, April 17, 1970

Gas Explodes, Employe (sic) Hurt

An employe (sic) of the Sheff Market on Baugher Road was injured yesterday afternoon when a liquid petroleum gas tank exploded in a smoking shed next to the market.

Wayne Shriner of Rocky Ridge was taken to Annie Warner Hospital in Gettysburg for treatment of first, second and third degree burns of the face and arms, according to Corporal Carl Harbaugh, the investigating officer.

The explosion occurred at 2:10 p.m. when the gas tank Shriner was using was ignited by the heat from the furnace used to smoke the meat kept in the shed.

                          – Frederick Post, April 8, 1970

April 1995, 25 Years Ago

Vigilant Hose Company Holds Dedication

On Sunday, April 2, 1995, over two hundred people gathered at the Emmitsburg fire hall for the Vigilant Hose Company’s dedication ceremony for the newly expanded and renovated fire station and the new aerial truck. The dedication capped the volunteer fire company’s eighteen-month campaign to raise nearly one million dollars for the new truck and fire station addition.

“It’s amazing what one small community can do,” said A. Don Manno as he looked around at the shiny new 46-foot-long aerial truck with its 100-foot platform that was parked in the new engine bay recently completed to house the truck. Mr. Manno was guest speaker at the dedication and is superintendent of the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, Florida.

                          – The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, April 1995

The Passing of an Era—Emmitsburg’s Farm Supply Store Closes

A large crowd came to the auction at Reynold’s Supply Company on Saturday, March 25, to bid on farm, home, and garden supplies. Reynold’s had been in business since 1988 and closed its doors this winter. The building is now for rent.

                          – The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch, April 1995