Currently viewing the tag: "Carriage House Inn"

On Thursday, August 27, 2020, while this edition of The Catoctin Banner Newzine was at press, the Town of Emmitsburg hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil four wayside exhibits along the future historic walking tour route in Emmitsburg. The four signs explain the history of the Vigilant Hose Company, the Great Fire of 1863 (pictured above), Chronicle Press, and the Carriage House Inn. These signs contribute to a tour that includes West Main Street, the Emmitsburg Square, and South Seton Avenue, to date.

Special thanks to the Maryland Heritage Area Authorities (MHAA) for partially sponsoring the project through grant funding.

James Rada, Jr.

The signs on the doors of businesses across the area are turning from closed to open as the COVID-19 restrictions in Maryland and Frederick County loosen. Even businesses that were open because they were deemed essential are expanding their operations.

On June 11, the Carriage House Inn in Emmitsburg opened with 32 outdoor seats so that customers could eat at the restaurant for the first time in months. That is, as long as it didn’t rain.

“This is so outside of the way we like to operate,” said Manager Kristy Shriner. “We like to exceed our customers’ expectations of service and this will make it hard to do.”

However, as the restrictions loosened, the restaurant would also offer indoor seating at 50 percent of capacity the following day.

Sherry Myers, owner of Kountry Kitchen in Thurmont was going through the steps of having outdoor seating when the restrictions allowed indoor seating.

“We were really worried the first two weeks after things closed down, but the community has been our biggest supporters,” she said.

With hospitalizations in Maryland under 1,000, and other metrics improving, Governor Larry Hogan lifted some restrictions on June 12 and 19.

On June 12, restaurants could allow indoor seating at 50 percent capacity with social distancing and other health considerations implemented.  Also, outdoor amusements, such as rides and miniature golf could reopen as long as they followed various health rules. Pools could operate at 50 percent capacity while following health rules.

On June 19, gyms, martial arts studio and dance studios could reopen at 50 percent capacity if health guidelines were followed. Casinos, arcades, and malls could reopen. School buildings could reopen for small groups and childcare could have a maximum of 15 people in any one room.

Christina Royer, owner of Here’s Clyde’s in Thurmont, reopened on May 29 with stylists wearing facemasks, curtains between wash stations, hair dryers more spread out, and a sanitizing station. The stylists had also all completed a course on how to properly clean and sanitize their stations.

“It was busy at first,” Royer said. “We were working 10 to 12-hour days, sometimes 14 hours trying to get caught up.”

Although the Fort Ritchie Community Center was shut down during the health crisis, some fitness classes were offered outside when the weather was appropriate.

“Our outdoor classes were all well attended,” said Director Buck Browning. “They were generally all at capacity.”

While the center was closed, Browning made plans for precautions that would be taken when the interior rooms were allowed to open. Grant money paid for Plexiglas shields between pieces of equipment in the fitness center.

However, even when the center was allowed to reopen, the damage done during the closure will require a long recovery. Besides lost dues for three months, many summer camps were canceled, and those that will run will do so with few attendees.

Shriner said the Carriage House staff also made use of their down time and planned new menu offerings, but she is eager to be back at full operations.

“Everyone has been so wonderful,” Shriner said. “It’s nice to hear how important we are to them because they are important to us.”

Myers agreed, saying, “We miss our customers.”

Although things are taking on a sense of normalcy once again, businesses are still facing restrictions that hinder their ability to do business and may force some to close permanently. So, if you have the opportunity, buy from a local business. They have supported their communities in the past, and now they need their communities to support them.

Christina Royer, of Here’s Clyde’s Family Hair Care in Thurmont, is shown washing a client’s hair at with COVID restrictions in place.

Outdoor yoga classes at the Fort Ritchie Community Center allowed the center to offer fitness classes to its clients during the time when indoor fitness classes were closed due to COVID restrictions.

James Rada, Jr.

On December 2, 2019, Emmitsburg residents celebrated its annual “Evening of Christmas Spirit,” sponsored by the Carriage House Inn, the Town of Emmitsburg, and the EBPA.

 The evening began with the lighting of the town Christmas tree at the Community Center. Before and after the illumination, youth choirs from Emmitsburg delighted attendees with their Christmas songs.

Following the short tree-lighting ceremony, the crowd moved down to the Carriage House Restaurant for the rest of the evening.

 A line of children quickly formed at the entrance of the restaurant to meet with Santa. Other children were inside in a dining room, making Christmas decorations.

Tina Ryder of Emmitsburg came with her niece, Vivienne Weiant, age six. It was Ryder’s first time attending. “It’s pretty cool. We really like the hayride,” Ryder said. “This is a good event. It gets all the kids to come out.”               

Outside, people could take a hayride or enjoy hot dogs, hot chocolate, and cookies. More food was upstairs in JoAnn’s Ballroom, as were the musical performances by area groups. Each year, around 800 hot dogs and 30 gallons of hot chocolate are served at the event.

Katelyn Mills of Thurmont was attending for her second time with Kristen Mills, age 10. Kristen said her favorite things about the evening were talking to Santa and taking the hayride.

Chris Fluke of Emmitsburg brought his children to the event. “This is a great event,” he said. “We really like riding around town on the hayride and seeing the lights.”

Ellie Fluke, age six, said she cried the first time she sat on Santa’s lap, but now she really likes coming to see him.

The Carriage House Inn sponsors the Evening of Christmas Spirit each year as a tribute to JoAnn Hance, who was the wife and mother of the Carriage House founders, Bob Hance and his father, Jim.

Local children dress up as angels for the Nativity scene at the Carriage House Inn during the annual An Evening of Christmas Spirit.

Everyone enjoys the musical entertainment in Joanne’s Ballroom at the Carriage House Inn during An Evening of Christmas Spirit.

Mayor Don Briggs and members of the Emmitsburg Business and Professionals Association hosted the quarterly Emmitsburg Business Professionals Breakfast Meeting at the Carriage House Inn in Emmitsburg on May 23, 2019.

County Executive Jan Gardner was the featured speaker. She spoke about the importance of small businesses and the Frederick County Office of Economic Development indicating that over 100 small businesses operate in Emmitsburg. She was proud to announce that the FY 2020 Frederick County Budget passed with a 7-0 vote. She also gave an update on county-wide topics that impact our small towns including recycling, agriculture, green initiatives, economic development, professional development, etc.

Mayor Briggs and Zach Gulden, Emmitsburg’s Town Planner gave an update on several projects around town including the sidewalks, bridge, and sign ordinance. Sister Martha with the Seton Center indicated that many good things are under way at the center with a dental program, career education, and other programs in the planning stages.

Various members gave updates about business and invitations for activities and events. Wayne Slaughter, Michael Cantori, and Allen Knott, officers of the EBPA, updated members about plans and social events like happy hour at the Ott House on Tuesday evenings. For more information, please visit EBPA’s new website www.EmmitsburgBusiness.com.

James Rada, Jr.

James “Pop” Hance worked for a few hours at the Carriage House Inn the day he died on December 30, 2018. He had given sixty years of his life to his businesses — the The Carriage House Inn Restaurant in Emmitsburg and the Gentleman Jim’s Restaurant in Rockville, Maryland.

When he and his then-wife JoAnn had bought the Cavalier Restaurant in Montgomery County in 1948 to open Gentleman Jim’s, it was a gamble. The Hances had seven children to support and both of them were working other jobs (Pop was a draftsman and JoAnn a waitress).

“He was a bit crazy, but he got a little inheritance from a great aunt, and they decided to buy the restaurant,” said Pop’s son, Joe Hance.

Their hard work paid off, and Gentleman Jim’s was a success. Then in 1980, the Hances decided that they wanted to open a Gentleman Jim’s in Emmitsburg, a place that they frequently visited.

The Emmitsburg Gentleman Jim’s didn’t do quite as well, and the Hances decided to change the restaurant’s theme.

“They decided to change the restaurant to a country inn after they went to an auction and bought the carriage that is out front,” said manager Kristy Smith.

The Hances spent the next three years converting Gentleman Jim’s into the Carriage House Inn. In the early years of the restaurant, the carriage was actually inside the restaurant. It opened in 1985, but business really began growing in 1990 as word spread about the great meals there. President Bill Clinton even dined there during a visit to the area.

“Pop had quick instincts,” Kristy said. “He knew what was right and what he wanted for the restaurant.”

When Pop died at Johns Hopkins Hospital on December 30 at age eighty-four, the staff took it hard. Many of them had worked for him for decades. They considered him family, which is why they called him Pop, and Pop considered them part of his family as well.

Born January 25, 1934, in Washington, D.C., Pop was the son of James and Dorothy Hance. He was the husband of Sharon A. (Alwine) Hance, to whom he was married for sixteen years. He was predeceased by his first wife, the late JoAnn (Cook) Hance, who passed in 1998.

Even after Pop retired from actively working at the restaurant, he would still come in. He had his preferred table (14) near the kitchen, where he would sit and sip a glass of wine.

“He loved to come in on weekends and listen to the piano player and put in his requests,” Kristy fondly recalled.

He enjoyed playing golf and vacationing at Myrtle Beach, where he delighted in feeding the ducks. “He would buy 50 pound bags of feed for them,” Joe said.

Pop loved spending time with his family, and was an avid fan of the Washington Nationals and the Washington Redskins.

Joe remembers his father had a great sense of humor and that Pop and JoAnn loved to dress up for Halloween.

Joe started commuting to Emmitsburg from Montgomery County to run the restaurant last March.

“I’m glad for that time,” expressed Joe. “I got to know him again during his last nine months.”

Pop was buried on January 4, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Fairfield, Pennsylvania.

Emmitsburg

by Mayor Briggs

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” – Emmitsburg, 2015: Tuesday morning, December 1, was heralded in by the gentle innocent voices of Mother Seton third graders, singing Christmas carols as they proceeded up East Main Street to the Square. Under umbrellas, all with decorations in tote to adorn the town Christmas tree. The school is about a quarter of a mile away. There, the special season has begun.

Wednesday afternoon-evening, December 2, more gentle, innocent voices were heard. This time, those of the victims of the fire on South Seton Avenue. With the Red Cross and community fire fund team members, I worked with the victims with regard to their housing, clothing, and food needs.

Friday evening, December 4, the town hosted eighty guests at the Carriage House Inn for the County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League for the annual delegation dinner. The theme of the evening for the leaders from across the county was not to just serve on the current electorate but also the “electorates of the future.” Mother Seton School chorale started the evening singing Christmas carols, which quickly had everyone joining in. Then Ed and Mary Lynn Hinde of SHIP, the Student Homelessness Initiative Program, introduced their program to assembled municipal, county, state leaders. Over eight hundred county children are classified as homeless, of which over eighty are in the Catoctin High School District. The town, churches, and service groups have been working with SHIP since last May. Sheriff Deputy Ben Whitehouse was later honored with a standing ovation for his service in assisting an invalid person escape the fire. Pastor Jon Greenstone gave the blessing before dinner. Familiar “Change for Food” canisters adorned the room, as those who rely on our food bank are also a part of future electorates.

Monday morning, December 7: Over the police monitor came the announcement that there was a fire on West Main Street. Once again, I went to the scene to assist any possible displaced fire victims. This time there were not any, but all of the residents were injured by the smoke and fire. One was lost at the scene, while the other two were sent to different special trauma centers. Neighboring fire companies responded to assist our Vigilant Hose Company. To the rear of the fire-consumed home, three firefighters assisted a victim out of the fire, while three firefighters administered CPR to the victim. Out front, three firefighters gave CPR to another victim, while firefighters worked around them tending to the fire.

Monday evening, December 7, residents assembled at the square for the annual tree lighting ceremony. This time, there were no appearances of the Mother Seton and Christ Community Church chorales or a visit from Santa. We observed a moment of silence, and Pastor John Talcott led us in the Lord’s Prayer. From those assembled, a child chosen from the crowd lit the tree.

Tuesday evening, December 8, Roger Wilson, Director of Government Affairs for the County, and I went to a regularly scheduled meeting at the firehouse to thank the members for their service during the span of less than one week.

Wednesday, December 9, a second victim from the fire on West Main Street passed away.

Thursday and Friday, December 10 and 11: We worked on sourcing money for the funeral of Ms. Meyer. From everywhere, donations were asked for and received. The town staff, businesses, individuals, Lions Club, EBPA, Vigilant Hose Fire Co., and the Mount have donated.

Saturday morning, December 12, Lib and I participated in the door-to-door “Emmitsburg Area Home Fire Safety Visits.” The joint Red Cross and local fire/rescue first responders’ goal was to promote having working fire alarms. Offering to install free smoke alarms was part of the effort.

Though not like “The Twelve Day of Christmas” song I remember, but because the community’s response to the fire victims’ suffering and the families was so caring and giving, the elicited feelings were the same. We have a wonderful community. Pray for the victims. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Emmitsburg

December 2015

by James Rada, Jr.

Council of Churches Collecting Donations for Fire Families

Pastor Jon Greenstone is helping coordinate the efforts of the Emmitsburg Council of Churches’ efforts to raise funds for the families displaced by two December fires in Emmitsburg. The funds will also help the businesses affected by the fires. Both the Seton Center and Council of Churches are accepting donations. The Seton Center is working to help the families find long-term housing and to replace their belongings lost in the fire.

Checks can be made out to the Emmitsburg Council of Churches and mailed to P.O. Box 812, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Donations to the Seton Center or checks can be sent to the Seton Center at 16840 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

Home Fire Safety Visits

Members of Vigilant Hose Company, the American Red Cross, first responders, and safety advocates began going door to door to Emmitsburg residents to talk about the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes and businesses. They will also install free smoke alarms when requested. The effort began on December 12. For more information, call Vigilant Hose Company at 301-447-2728.

Citizens Advisory Committee Appointment

Zenas Sykes was appointed to the Citizens Advisory Committee on December 7 by the Emmitsburg Town Commissioners. The vote was 4-0. Commissioner Joe Ritz was not in attendance.

Changes to Yard Setbacks

The Emmitsburg Town Council approved draft changes to a town ordinance that will reduce the yard setbacks from properties in the Village and R-1 zones, whose lots are less than thirty feet in width. If approved, the setback will be reduced from six feet to three feet. The draft ordinances will be sent to the Planning Commission for its input before being voted on by the town commissioners.

For more information on the Town of Emmitsburg, visit www.emmitsburgmd.gov or call 301-600-6300.

Thurmont

December 2015

by James Rada, Jr.

Alcohol May be Consumed on Some Town Properties

The Thurmont Town Commissioners and Mayor John Kinnaird voted on December 7 to approve amending the town code to allow beer and wine to be served at events on properties under long-term lease from the town.

Currently, the properties that this policy would affect are the Main Street Center, Thurmont Senior Center, and Thurmont Food Bank.

Kinnaird had presented the council with three different policies, and the commissioners selected the least-restrictive one, although it is not without restrictions. The new policy only allows for beer and wine to be served, and it can only be served at specific events. The organization sponsoring the event must have sufficient liability insurance. The beer and wine must be served free (otherwise a liquor license would be required) and attendees cannot bring their own alcohol.

The commissioners noted that consuming alcohol in town parks is still specifically prohibited.

The policy will be reviewed by the town attorney, and then town officials will have to ask the lease holders to amend their current leases. If they do not agree, the next time their lease is up, it will be revised with the new policy.

Special Trash Pickups

The last days to have your Christmas tree picked up will be January 4 and January 11. The Christmas tree needs to be at the curb by 6:00 a.m.

On January 16, there will be a bulk pickup with a limit of two bulk items. If you have more items, you will need to have a special tag on the item that can be purchased from the town office for $10.00.

Commissioners Approve Electric Work

An electric circuit in the Criswell Chevrolet parking lot will be moved by AUI Power. AUI Power will also finish needed construction when the circuit is moved.

The Thurmont Commissioners and Mayor John Kinnaird agreed to pay one-third of the $47,450 cost or $15,900. Criswell Chevrolet will pay the remaining cost.

The cost is being shared because it benefits both the town and Criswell Chevrolet, according to Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick. Criswell needs the circuit moved in order to expand.

The cost of the construction is estimated to be $18,500.

 

View the Town of Thurmont’s website at www.thurmont.com or call the town office at 301-271-7313 for more information.

Holiday Home Decorating Contest Winner Announced

The 2015 Winner of The Catoctin Banner’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest:

1414 Ramblewood Road in Emmitsburg

Ramblewood

  The 2015 Runner-up of The Catoctin Banner’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest:

305 North Seton Road in Emmitsburg

N Seton Rd Emmitsburg

Many thanks to all who sent in their nominations. All of us at The Catoctin Banner wish all of our devoted readers a very Happy and Healthy New Year!