Currently viewing the tag: "May 1994 25 years ago"

By James Rada, Jr.

May 1919, 100 Years Ago

Smith Escapes From Jail

Ross Smith, one of the two Smith brothers who was arrested for stealing meat at Thurmont, and was sent to Frederick County jail because he could not furnish bail, escaped from prison Tuesday night. Another prisoner, Horace Johnson, a negro, escaped with Smith, and the two are still at large.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, May 1, 1919

Must Attend School

No little commotion was caused last week among patrons of Catoctin Furnace and Blue Mountain public schools when 20 or more families were  summoned to appear before Justice Cadow of this place, on complaint made by school attendance officer, Franklin Harshman.

The reports sent to the School Board by Miss Edith Brown, teacher at Blue Mountain School, and by Mr. Howard Bussard and Miss Lillian Kelly, teachers at Catoctin, showed that many children enrolled were not attending school, one being present but 18 days during the school year to April 1st.

Under the law, every child is requested to make at least 100 days if its health permits.

It is well known that due to the Flu schools were closed last fall, but since January 1st there has been no epidemic of special reason for children staying away from school.

Some of the reasons given by parents for their children not being in school were, that the teacher told their child to go home and stay home, some had to help wash, some pasture cattle, some were sick or had sick brothers or sisters, some no clothes and several fathers had no excuse whatever.

                                          – Catoctin Clarion, May 1, 1919

May 1944, 75 Years Ago

Thurmont Firemen Will Purchase New Equipment

At a recent meeting of the Guardian Hose Company, approval was given by the members for the purchase of a booster tank that would carry a sufficient amount of water to put out a fire where there was not stream or plug to draw from.

Several months ago, when the firemen had to stand by, helplessly, and watch the home of Raymond Putman, near Creagerstown, burn to the ground because the water supply gave out at a critical point, they realized how handicapped they were and how badly they needed a tank that would carry more water, and immediately they began an investigation for a new pumper.

The pumper, which the firemen feel would meet their needs, would be mounted on a ton and a half truck, with a tank that would carry 500 gallons of water, together with two 250-foot lengths of 3/4 –inch highly tested hose, with two nozzles or guns.

                                          – Catoctin Enterprise, May 12, 1944

Thurmont Future Farmers Win Paper Drive Contest

The Thurmont Chapter of the Future Farmers of America won first prize in the scrap paper collection contest, sponsored by the Frederick County Salvage Committee, in which they participated. They will receive a cash award of $20, as announced by the chairman, Dr. David G. Everhart.

The chapter collected a total of 12,170 pounds during the month of April. Two weeks ago, a house to house collection was made by the boys at which time they gathered 5,070 pounds and previously they had brought in 7,100 pounds, which gave each member an average of over 500 pounds.

Emmitsburg school won second prize in the contest, collecting 9,555 pounds, and will be awarded $15. Other winners were Elm street school, Frederick, 7,075 pounds, and Johnsville, 3,615 pounds. They will receive prizes of $10 and $5, respectively.

                                          – Catoctin Enterprise, May 12, 1944

May 1969, 50 Years Ago

Firemen Spend Busy Week

Efforts of a group of men to prevent a forest fire led to the Vigilant Hose Co. being summoned to a field and brush conflagration Friday afternoon at 4:08.

Friday afternoon a committee of men visited the camp site preparatory to a group of boys being brought there for an outing. In order to avoid any spread of flames when a large campfire was ignited for the boys, the group of men determined to burn off the grass in the area where they planned to have the bonfire.

Chief McGlaughlin said the effort was proceeding well when a “a gust of wind came along and the fire scattered all over the place.”

The Emmitsburg firemen held the resulting field and brush fire to an area covering an acre.

The blaze was the second in two days for the firemen, who were called Thursday when a lawn mower burst into blaze at the property of Alice Balmer on DePaul St.

                                          – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 2, 1969

Police Dept. Operates Smoothly; Hire New Officer

Emmitsburg’s Police Dept. is now operating at a full complement of two officers.

The Town Council appointed W. Henry Filler as officer last December 20. In recent months, he has been promoted to Chief of Police. Chief Filler is a Korean War veteran and was overseas 18 months. Following his discharge from the military, he served in the classified documents department at Ft. Detrick for several years. His most recent employment was a two-and-a-half year stretch of service with the Thurmont Police Dept.

Chief Filler resides at Mt. Manor Motel and plans to take a police review course sometime in the future.

The newest addition to the Police Dept. is Thomas F. Colliflower, Jr., 22, Frederick. Colliflower accepted employment on May 6.

                                          – Emmitsburg Chronicle, May 14, 1969

May 1994, 25 Years Ago

Emmitsburg Jumpers

The Emmitsburg Elementary School held Jump Rope for Heart on March 10. The children raised nearly $4,700 for the American Heart Association. Over 100 children, parents and faculty jumped rope for 180 minutes. Refreshements were provided by the Emmitsburg Jubilee. Fifteen children individually raised over $100 each, with Ying Li raising the most, $500.

                                          – The Frederick News, May 7, 1994

Group Seeks Cullen Probe

A citizens’ group has asked Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6th, to launch a federal inquiry into Victor Cullen Academy, a reform school for boys that opened in September 1992.

Concerned Citizens, Inc. has fought having the school here since it was proposed in 1992, and at one point sued the state Department of Juvenile Services, attempting to close the facility.

The suit was rejected by a circuit court judge last year, and according to Dr. Bartlett’s press secretary, the latest assault by Concerned Citizens is also in trouble.

                                                – The Frederick Post, May 25, 1994