Currently viewing the tag: "April 1994 25 Years Ago"

by James Rada, Jr.

April 1919, 100 Years Ago

Capt. Sterling Galt Again In Casualties

The mailed first of the war god has fallen on a relative by marriage of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Captain Sterling Galt Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Galt Sr., Emmitsburg. He was wounded and gassed. Captain Galt’s father was a brother of Mrs. Wilson’s dead husband.

In yesterday afternoon’s overseas casualty list, Captain Galt was reported as slightly wounded in action. His father, interviewed last night, stated that he had received word from the War Department recently, stating that his son had been slightly wounded in action on October 18.

The letter stated that he Captain Galt had been wounded on the Verdun front on October 18 by shrapnel. His wound, he said, was slight and was in his leg. At the time of his writing, he was convalescing at Nice.                                         

                                          – The Frederick Post, April 11, 1919

New Phone Rates

The C. & P. Telephone Company announce that the rates heretofore charged subscribers do not pay for the upkeep of their property, and hence rates must go up.

The raise in rates take effect May 1st, and almost every person having a phone or wishing to talk over a phone will be touched up for the privilege, the increase being from 5 to 20 cents and 5 cents additional war tax.

After May 1st, to talk to Frederick, we pay 15c plus 5c tax, total 20 cents.

A charge of 10 cents will be made to Emmitsburg and Walkersville from Thurmont, no War Tax added.

To talk from Emmitsburg to Frederick will cost 20 cents plus 5 cents tax, or 25 cents.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, April 17, 1919

April 1944, 75 Years Ago

Thurmont Selected for Experiment

Thurmont has been selected as one of three Maryland communities where an early attempt will be made to look after the interests of returned members of the armed forces. At a recent meeting in the library of the Thurmont School, it was decided to affiliate with the town committee already set up with the purpose of attempting to secure employment for men from that community when they return from the armed forces.

Dr. R. Floyd Cromwell, Supervisor of Guidance for the State of Maryland, explained that Thurmont was selected with two other communities in the state, in an attempt to give guidance to returning young men that they may find employment upon their return, or secure information that will lead to employment. This would be done through a counselor, to be appointed, who would be familiar with all the opportunities that would be open to men upon their return, as well as for those who have been employed in civil war work.

It was explained that the belief is that twenty or twenty-five per cent of the population will need some sort of employment adjustment after the war.

                                          – The Frederick Post, April 10, 1944

167 Pints of Blood Given

Navy V-12 boys in training at Mt. St. Mary’s College gave the major portion of 167 pints of blood secured at the college on Monday through the cooperation of the Frederick County Red Cross Blood Donor Service and Mobile Unit 2 of the Baltimore service.              

Lieut. R. J. Richards, of the Navy staff had arranged for the visit and in addition to a great many of his boys, three State Police and about 25 other civilian volunteers had been line up as volunteers by Mrs. Harry S. Boyle, who did the recruiting in town.

It was the most successful engagement yet in Emmitsburg.

                                          – The Fredrick News Post, April 18, 1944

April 1969, 50 Years Ago

Cable TV Proposed at Thurmont

Cable television for Thurmont was proposed at the Wednesday night town meeting. Lynn I. Decker, president, and John Hanly, vice president, of the American Telecable Services, Inc. of Silver Spring discussed installation of cable service here.

The company would install cable service for the entire corporate limits, plus areas outside the town where a population density of twenty houses per mile exists. Hanly told the town council there would be no installation charge at first, with charges being established as the service grows.

Monthly rates would be $495 and a competent company lineman would be brought to Thurmont by the company to install and maintain equipment, Hanly said.

                                          – The Frederick News Post, April 3, 1969

Graceham Firemen Are Idle As Thurmont Fights Fires

A fire company traveled more than eight miles to several brush fire scenes on Monday, while another company with three pieces of apparatus sat in an engine house less than two miles from the first due company and approximately six miles from the fire scenes.

Harry O. Miller, chief of the Thurmont Fire Company, said Monday evening that the reason the Graceham Fire Company was not called in for the Thurmont fire alarm was a lack of manpower. Miller noted that Thurmont has four pieces of apparatus, three pumpers and a tank wagon, which can handle most alarms in the area, however, when a second alarm is sounded manpower is usually the most important request.

Emmitsburg, which is second due, the second company called, if needed, on almost all Thurmont area fires, has the highest average turnout for volunteer firemen in the area, according to Miller. In 1969, the Emmitsburg unit averaged 30 men per fire call.

Graceham is not due on any fire calls for which Thurmont is first due, although the station houses are two and one-half miles apart and the town limits are a mile apart.

                                          – The Frederick News Post, April 29, 1969

April 1994, 25 Years Ago

Emmitsburg Takes Out Loan to Fix Spillway

Town commissioners Monday agreed to establish a $100,000, three-year line of credit with Farmers and Mechanics National Bank.

The commissioners said they need money to finance Rainbow Lake spillway renovation and for well development. Repair for the concrete spillway has been mandated by the state Department of Natural Resources. Work will begin April 18.

                                          – The Frederick News Post, April 5, 1994

Youth Charged in Fire

A 16-year-old from Victor Cullen Academy was charged with malicious burning in connection with a fire Monday night in his dormitory room, officials at the school said.

The youth, who suffered smoke inhalation, was taken to Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, for treatement, officials said.

He allegedly lit a roll of toilet paper and placed it under a heater, officials said.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Jim Woods charged the youth with the misdemeanor and referred the case to the Department of Juvenile Services, officials said.

                                          – The Frederick News Post, April 8, 1994