August 1919, 100 Years Ago
Little Girl Killed
On Wednesday morning of this week an accident occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Layton Moser on the State Road south of Thurmont, that resulted in the instant death of their youngest child and daughter Olie, aged about three years.
Mr. Moser had brought home a load of fertilizer, and found it necessary to stop the team in order to remove something in the wagonshed before pulling in the wagon.
Unconscious of the children being about he started the team and drew the load in the shed, and looking around saw two children just outside the shed, one then already dead, the left rear wheel of the wagon passing over the baby’s head and crushing it. The other child was so near the wheel that some flesh was rubbed from its leg.
– Catoctin Clarion, August 14, 1919
Lightning Strikes Barn
Monday afternoon last a heavy thunder, rain and wind storm coming from the west passed over Frederick county and did considerable damage to growing crops and property of various kinds. Reports are that a heavy wind accompanied the rain in a section north of Frederick city, and that the rainfall was very heavy.
The heavy portion of the storm passed to the southeast of Thurmont.
During the storm a large bank barn, with wagonshed and corncrib attached, on the farm of George Houck, near Harmony Grove, tenanted by Harry Green, was struck by lightning and totally destroyed. More than half of this year’s wheat crop, a quantity of hay, springwagon, four horse wagon, carriage, and a lot of farming implements were burned. The loss is estimated between $4,000 and $5,000, partly insured.
No live stock perished in the flames, the 20 head of cattle and 11 head of horses having been turned out to pasture.
– Catoctin Clarion, August 10, 1919
August 1944, 75 Years Ago
Charles W. Messner Dies As Result of Terrific Explosion
Thurmont residents were shocked on Wednesday when word was received here of the fatal injury, at Hanover, Pa., of Charles W. Messner, 28-year-old refrigeration engineer, of this place who for about three years past has been employed by the Frick Manufacturing Co., of Waynesboro, Pa.
The accident, the cause of which is undetermined, occurred at the Hanover plant of the R. H. Sheppard Co. where Messner was engaged in installing and inspecting a new refrigeration unit in the test room of the plant. A terrific explosion hurled the young engineer with great force against a wall, fracturing his skull, and at the same time seriously injured three other workmen. He was rushed to Hanover General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
– Catoctin Enterprise, August 4, 1944
Teaching Positions Are Filled
… Discussion of the disposal of the Rocky Ridge school property was also a major item of Board business. A decision was reached to advertise the property for sale at public auction in the near future.
– Frederick News, August 15, 1944
August 1969, 50 Years Ago
Plan To Establish Day Care Center Here
The Community Aide for Emmitsburg has been working for the past four months on organizing low income mothers to work together on a day care center. The purpose of the center would be to give mothers the chance to work and add more to their present income. In the past, a lot of women were unable to pay the fees for babysitting because they would make no more than the minimum wage and could not afford a regular babysitter.
In the past few months there has been a lot of misunderstanding as to what part a day care center would play for Emmitsburg. A lot of people think it would put some people out of work who are babysitters now. The center is for people who want to work and can’t afford the fees of babysitters. Others think mothers can put children in the center just to go shopping or visiting or whatever they want, or to get rid of the children for a few hours.
The center will be set up on a basis to enroll a child to allow the parent to work. Parents will pay on a sliding scale according to what they can make and what they can afford.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 1, 1969
Catoctin High Names Principal
The Board of Education has announced the appointment of Harper Long as principal of Catoctin High School, effective Sept. 1.
Long, presently vice-principal at Catoctin High, will succeed Howard Goodrich, who is leaving Aug. 31 to become assistant superintendent of the Burlington, Vermont school system.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, August 29, 1969
August 1994, 25 Years Ago
10-year-olds Fare Well in Thurmont
A team of 10-year-olds from Gettysburg finished at .500 in a recent tournament in Thurmont. The squad defeated Emmitsburg, Md., and the Mighty Gs, and lost to Westminster, Md., and Frederick, Md.
– Gettysburg Times, August 8, 1994
Montgomery Ag Fair Offers a Little Learning for Everyone
… Meanwhile, Polled Hereford beef cattle producers held their state show here on Tuesday. Winning the permier exhibitor banner were the Mullinix Brothers of Woodbine and Grandview Farm of Harwood was the premier breeder. The show was held in honor of Calvin E. Sayler of Thurmont. Mr. Sayler has been breeding Polled Herefords since 1965 and served on the board of directors for more than 20 years, serving as president for four terms and managing the state sale.
Supporting the youth has been a major concern for Mr. Sayler. He started the 4-H sale at the Thurmont-Emmitsburg Community Show and started a heifer project by donating an animal to a deserving youth with the understanding that after three years, an offspring of that animal be donated to another deserving youth.
– Frederick News, August 24, 1994
