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A House Divided –Part 1-

by “My Father’s Son”

Present-Past-COLUMN---Old-ASallie K. Harrison-Boyce-Auginbaugh-Boyce may have never figured out exactly what she wanted in a husband, but she certainly knew what she fancied from a house. In early 1902, the Catoctin Clarion and Star and Sentinel, published “A Matrimonial Mix,” an article explaining how Sallie Boyce first married and divorced a man named Harrison, wed Harrison’s new wife’s father, surname Boyce, to be left a widow, and lastly wed Thurmont’s Water Street Jeweler Eber E. Auginbaugh. Marital mishaps aside, Sallie’s union to Auginbaugh brought Thurmont its most unique and recognizable residence, located at 513 East Main Street.

After the death of her second husband, Sallie moved to Thurmont and, perhaps while scrutinizing gemstones in Mr. Auginbaugh’s store for a specimen fitting of her exquisite taste, became involved with the jeweler. Sallie would soon be Mrs. Eber Auginbaugh, but only after a pre-nuptial agreement was drawn and endorsed by husband-to-be number three. In 1894, Sallie purchased a plot of land on the periphery of town, just west of the road to Apples Church. That autumn saw the start of what would become the spectacular home.

Between 1894 and 1895, the Catoctin Clarion newspaper provided regular reports on the home’s construction. The outcome rendered a fine example of “Queen Anne”/“Eastlake” architecture unseen throughout Thurmont. Depending upon the historian, Queen Anne and Eastlake may be combined together or kept categorized as two styles, either stance supported by Mrs. Auginbaugh’s address. Queen Anne architecture quickly became in-vogue when introduced to America in the 1880s. “Eastlake” was a term born from the book Hints on Household Taste, published in the United Kingdom during 1872 by British painter, collector, writer, architect, and designer, Charles Locke Eastlake. Eastlake, the style, is identified by intricate ornamentation added to a home, commonly of Queen Anne-style. The consistency of geometric and larger-scale forms within Eastlake ideology is what some believe makes it an independent style rather than a contributing schematic.

From the exterior, Auginbaugh’s home had a cross-gable roofline, embellished wall surfaces of varying textures, and a large veranda around a central protrusion beneath a crowning front gable, all being Queen Anne characteristics. Also, on queue were decorative horizontal bands, raised wood adornments, fish scale shingles, diamond shaped detailing, truss ornamentation, and elaborate windows like the stained glass piece between the porch and reception area.

Living in the home only briefly, the Auginbaugh’s marriage, too, ended in divorce. By May 1896, Sallie’s home—on the “high ground east of town” as described by the Clarion—was for sale. Sallie’s former husband, Eber, quietly closed shop and left town later that year, Sallie already gone and reclaiming the name Boyce.

September 1897 ran the first ad for “Aurora Cottage.” Along with a request for all Clarion readers to assist “in filling the house with guests,” the ad highlighted two acres of shade, bathrooms with hot and cold water, and “all the comforts of home,” address: Mr. & Mrs. Chas. E. Cassell, Aurora Cottage.

Charles Ellsworth Cassell came to Mechanicstown in 1871 and operated a lumber company with his two cousins, sons of father Abraham Cassell’s sister Catherine. Charles was also a land man who purchased tracts to subdivide and resell. Cassell resold many holdings of Col. John C. Rouzer as the lots of West Main, North (now N. Church), and East Streets, for example. Cassell was a distinguished figure involved in many business ventures, lived in many fine homes, and most famously recommended the change from Mechanicstown to Thurmont, a name made official by the Maryland General Assembly on January 18, 1894. Cassell was publisher and editor of the Catoctin Clarion and a Real Estate and Insurance broker partnered with Fredericktown’s Charles Cramer Waters.

Born in Lewistown to Dr. James K. Waters, Charles Waters returned from Military Academy at age eighteen to engage in the drug business with his father. In 1896, Waters married Rosa L.R. Jones and, more importantly, to our interests, purchased a house in Thurmont with Charles Cassell. The June Clarion of 1897 informed that Waters “purchased the Mrs. S.K. Boyce property in the east end and is erecting an eight-room addition. Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Cassell will take the property and keep summer boarders this season.”

The addition by Cassell and Waters, known as the “Annex,” resembled a large block. In agreement with the adjoining home, the front of the Annex had a sizeable gable, complete with twin ocular window and decorative band between the upper levels. Expanded to accommodate twenty-five boarders, the property was christened “Aurora Cottage.” Reason unknown, Cassell, having cleverly renamed the town, is probably also liable for this moniker, but is a fact that cannot be said for sure. Current owner Debbie Cochran has her own theory concerning the designation of her home; being that the house was located on the “high ground east of town,” it received day’s first light before its western-lying municipality. Language and legend hold “Aurora” as the Latin translation of “dawn” and, respectively, the Roman Goddess of the Morning.

Beyond the house, Aurora Cottage had a two-story carriage house (present today), a barn, chicken house, and sheds, some still standing on neighboring properties. The driveway, marked by sculptural, pyramid-topped masonry pillars, arrived at the front entrance but also accessed a western entry en route to the carriage house. This secondary entry, now removed entirely, was comparable to a porte-cochere, sheltered by an oriel window, extending from the second floor, used by guests arriving during poor weather.

While Cassell, his wife Julia, and their six children lived on the property, Aurora was the site of many dances, socials, and parties; some hosted by daughter Mary Phoebe for her whist bridge club, who had the evening outside the formidable home illuminated with hanging Japanese lanterns on at least one occasion. The Cassell’s home was also the site of the first private tennis court in Northern Maryland, where many local and inner city matches were viewed.

In 1907, the Cassell family left Aurora Cottage. It was sold to the Roddy family, who refurbished the home and temporarily boarded crews in the home’s excess space while Thurmont was wired for telephone service. In 1911, Chas. C. Waters repurchased the home and relocated wife Rosa and twelve-year-old son James from Fredericktown to become permanent residents of Aurora Cottage in 1912. Multiple town Inns could no longer be filled, so arrangements to rid the Waters’ home of its eastern Annex—returning the structure to Sallie Boyce’s vision of what stands today—were made.

Long owned since 1986 by James and Debra Cochran, Aurora Cottage has received the devotion and preservation many older homes are not paid. The one hundred twenty-two years bonded to Aurora Cottage and, more greatly, Mrs. Cochran’s invaluable interest in the happenings of these dozen decades, leaves much light to be shed on the estate’s story.

As this Part I ends in 1912, some readers may be aware of the fate ahead for the Annex, even less of the tragedy looming to occur in 1918, or the consequential court ruling to forever change the home’s imminent use, among other events. Much more remains on the pages of Aurora Cottage to be shelved only momentarily and revisited here with the arrival of The Catoctin Banner’s May issue.

Randy Waesche

Fifty years ago three of Thurmont’s leading citizens figured in two of the most remarkable episodes in town politics. The men were Donald L. Lewis, Roy W. Lookingbill, and Calvin G. Wilhide.

Mayor Lewis

Mayor Lewis

Donald L. Lewis was one of Thurmont’s most-progressive mayors. Although only in office for just over five years, the effects of his tenure are still felt today. Of impressive stature and fitness, he came from a large and prominent Thurmont family. He was a staff sergeant in the Army Rangers during World War II and landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day. In 1956, he opened Lewis’ Confectionery on the square, a widely known general store that sold everything from fountain sodas to fishing rods. Forty years old when first elected mayor in 1959, he embarked on an activist course and worked with political leaders at all levels, and courted anyone with an eye to expand local business. Concerned that unregulated land use had allowed Thurmont to become blemished with such nuisances as dilapidated house trailers, he secured federal grant funding and developed Thurmont’s first planning and zoning ordinance, master plan, and subdivision regulations. He brought the state economic development commission to Thurmont where they touted the local spirit of cooperation and new local opportunities for progress. Surveys were undertaken to evaluate and improve town water and sewer service and establish policies for underground electric in new growth areas. He was in front of the Maryland Department of Forests and Parks advocating for local recreation areas. He opened discussions that eventually led to the Town’s ownership of what is now the 20-acre Thurmont Community Park. Lewis worked with local businessman Victor Leisner and broke ground for Greenfield Estates, a major subdivision on the town’s eastern edge then at Blue Ridge Avenue. The project promised to include the largest sewage and water development ever undertaken and was the first under the town’s new developer’s policy. He appointed the first planning and zoning commission, chaired by his brother Harry “Buck” Lewis, who owned a Sinclair auto service station diagonal from the confectionery. When plans stalled for a new north county high school, Lewis and some Emmitsburg officials headed to the Board of Education, kept the project moving, and within five years Catoctin High School opened. He worked with magistrate M.T. Mathwig to relocate local court from a rented Water Street building to the Town Office. Revision of a new town code was introduced. There seemed to be no end to the energy of mayor Donald Lewis.

Mayor Lookingbill

Roy W. Lookingbill owned and operated Lookingbill’s Barber Shop in the first block of East Main Street for 22 years. He had twice won a town commissioner seat and in 1963 ran for mayor against Lewis, but lost. Two years later in April 1965 Lewis was unexpectedly alone on the ballot for mayor and seemed to have an easy path to a fourth term. Although short on time and in uncharted legal territory, Lookingbill launched a write-in candidacy for mayor. To guard against spelling disqualifications, several thousand stickers were printed with his name and distributed across town. Voters were asked to become “sticker lickers for Lookingbill” and were instructed how to affix the stickers onto the ballot and mark an X alongside. A car with loudspeakers slowly drove the town’s streets loudly asking for votes for the mayor’s challenger. Hundreds of orange handbills from the Lookingbill campaign were spread through town that contained a list of allegations against the incumbent, and the town was rife with opinion about the upstart long shot bid. It would be weeks following the election before debate quieted about the accuracy of the handbill, but the vote was in. In an election where 627 votes were cast for mayor, Lookingbill had narrowly won by 19.

Calvin C. Wilhide

Calvin C. Wilhide

One of Thurmont’s more colorful personalities, Calvin G. Wilhide was the owner of Wilhide Chevrolet-Oldsmobile on Water Street, formerly owned by Fred Redding and started by Edwin Creeger over 40 years before. Wilhide also owned the Texas Lunch on West Main Street, operated an amusement machine business, owned and raced prize horses at Shenandoah Downs, and also had a trucking business and garage on Carroll Street Extended that included his Thurmont Star rural mail route. Known by many as Pud (pronounced like the first syllable of “pudding”), he had run for mayor in 1959 and 1961 but lost both times to Lewis. He won a town commissioner seat in 1964. On the town board he was especially critical of the town’s new zoning policies, which he declared were ruinous to business. He was again nominated to oppose Lewis in 1965 but surprised many when he declined, setting the stage for Lookingbill’s successful bid. With a year to go as commissioner, Wilhide settled in with the new mayor and board. Then came a situation that eclipsed April’s upset election in local lore.

Carroll E. Kinsey was a local developer. Among his real estate holdings was a brick building that is now the Thurmont Senior Citizens Center on East Main Street. It was in a town zoning district that allowed commercial uses. In the fall of 1965 Kinsey leased half the building to the Board of Education to hold 60 students from the overcrowded Thurmont Elementary School across the street. The other half he leased to a business called Shankle Body Works. Only thin sheets of drywall separated two grade-school classrooms from the noisy riveting, hammering, and welding operations of the truck trailer assembly plant. Amid the racket, classroom instruction was impossible. Thurmont zoning inspector Austin Bruchey stepped in and declared that the operations of the body shop were industrial rather than commercial, and therefore not allowed under the zoning policies. He ordered it shut down. To relieved parents and a grateful board of education, if ever there was a reason to have zoning policies, this was it. To Calvin Wilhide, the snuffed business proved if ever there was a reason not to have zoning policies, this was it. At the next town meeting on October 11, 1965, Wilhide sought to reverse the ruling. After a bitter and contentious meeting, the board refused to override their zoning inspector. Wilhide quit. Within days he reconsidered, and said he would return if allowed. At first, the board said no, but after being lobbied by some civic leaders, new mayor Lookingbill scheduled a meeting for October 21 to further discuss the matter. Controversy again swirled and for the second time that year, the town was consumed with opinion about the latest political drama.

On the evening of October 20 in his office at his car dealership with his son and Kinsey, Calvin Wilhide was stricken with a heart attack. He was dead at the age of 51.

A little over a year later on the first of December 1966, following a normal day at his barber shop, mayor Roy Lookingbill suffered a heart attack and died at his home. He was 57. Former mayor and commissioner C. Ray Weddle again took the helm, and during his long service to Thurmont was elected mayor ten times.

In 1970 Donald Lewis was elected to the Frederick County Board of Commissioners and was named vice president. He served two terms. Today he has been with us longer than any former Thurmont mayor or county commissioner, still sharp at 96.