March 4

Cement Plant Reopens

The Tidewater Portland Cement Plant in Union Bridge, which reduced to part time December 6, and which has been completely closed for the past month, resumed operation on Monday with about 200 men. IN another week the plant is expected to be in day and night operations, with 333 employees. It is stated that a demand is developing for the products of the plant. A general cut of about 20% has been made in the wages of employees. During the war, wages were increased until employees average from 4 to 8 dollars a day. Under the new scale the same men will make 3 dollars to 5 dollars a day.

Deaths

After eating a hearty supper Wednesday evening, Albert Smith, 63, of Liberty Township went to his bedroom and suffered a stroke of apoplexy. He was found on the floor in a serious condition by his wife and died Thursday morning as a result of the stroke. Mr. Smith for many years was a butcher in Emmetsburg until he moved Liberty Township where he farmed. He was a school director in Freedom townships for several terms.

Effie Eyler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Eyler, of Fairfield, died from pneumonia aged 1 year, 7 months, 4 days. Miss Anna Bupp, aged about 14 years, died at the home of her parents in Fairfield last Friday afternoon from heart disease.

Study Shows Women Get Lazy In Summer

Following an extensive study commissioned by the Emmitsburg Chapter of the Former-Former Boozer‘s Association, the Anthropology Department at the University of Harney determined, that as a rule, women do not show great activity during hot weather (not that men needed a study to tell them that). The study showed that some women however become so lazy that they will not even bother to swat a fly that lands on their face. The sight of women doing nothing but gossiping on the party line can only be removed from a man’s mind by drink. Hot weather is worse for women then cold weather, for during the winter months a woman will busy herself to keep warm, doing such things as chopping wood, washing clothes, cleaning the house, cooking vittles, &c., the things any reasonable man expects of his woman.

March 11

Gem Theater Disputes Film Quality

It seems as though someone was not pleased with our show a short time ago. We do not blame them for some have not been as good as they should’ve been, but it was not our fault. We often buy a "cat in the bag" for which we can only take a salesman’s word for it that it is good. As for the cheap stuff referred to in this paper, would like to say that we are not buying cheap films, nor are they old ones, yet some of them are in bad condition. Several people have asked why we do not show Paramount pictures. Some think it is because of the cost, but it is not. We can buy Paramont films for the same price as we are paying or Fox. Our reason is this. From what we remember at Paramount pictures in this place, they never continue to hold the patrons, and we cannot cancel a contract with a company when service becomes bad without losing a large deposit. We have tried to get pictures that please, but everybody does not like the same kind of picture. If you are not pleased with our shows please tell us. We will appreciate it. If you are pleased will be glad to know it so we know what kind of films to buy.

Hand Caught In Washing Wringer

Five stitches were required to amend the cut in Joseph Redding’s hand after it was caught in the washing machine wringer. Joseph is a 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Redding, who live in the Blackhorse Tavern building along the Fairfield Road at Marsh Creek.

March 18

First Thunderstorm

On Wednesday afternoon the first thunderstorm of the season passed over the area. A heavy wind came with the rain and caused damage at various places. To the west of Thurmont on the Harmon property, the barn and other buildings were wrecked by the storm. Stephen Green who now owns the property, took shelter in the barn as the rain approach. When he heard the timbers cracking he hurriedly got his mules out of the stable and in a moment the structure was destroyed. In other areas, barns were un-roofed or blown down, trees uprooted, telephone lines and homes damaged. In Taneytown, a shed in which a number of workmen took shelter was blown over. Two men were injured and a mule injured so bad that it had to be killed.

Garage Wrecked By Fire

The Rocky Ridge Garage, owned and operated by Edward Valentine, one of the largest establishments of its kind in that portion of the county, was totally destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon. Two large army trucks, a Studebaker ambulance, a black roadster, Indian motorcycle and a large quantity of machinery equipment was also destroyed. The loss is estimated at about $10,000. The fire broke out at noon and fanned by a stiff breeze from the west, the flames rapidly involved the frame building.

The fire originated from backfiring of one of the large trucks. Workmen had partially dismantled the truck for the purpose of repairing it when the engine on the machine was started. It immediately backfired and almost in an instant the flames leapt out on every side and communicated to the building. The other trucks and the cars were in the rear of the building and on account of the way being blocked could not be gotten pass the dismantled truck. The winds from the thunderstorm that hit the area carried sparks to the adjoining residence of Mr. Valentine and two or three times the house was set on fire. The stable of Mr. Wetzel also caught, but both were saved by the quick action of people who had come to help.

Fairfield Bank Buys New Site

ThedDirectors of the First National Bank of Fairfield have purchased a lot of ground on Main Street upon which they intend to erect a new bank building. The lot, 40’ x 90‘ in dimension, is one of the most beautiful and centrally located sites in the borough of Fairfield, and was chosen only after considerable reflection by the banking officials. The Bank directors will decide at a later date the exact time and the exact size of their new building.

March 25

Heavy Damage to Fruit Crops

Freezing temperatures that range from 12 to 22E above zero throughout the Adams County fruit belt, probably heavily damaged the peach and early fruit crops. Cherry, peach, pear and some plum trees were in bloom when the cold wave, following a thunderstorm struck the county. While orchard man are fearful the next few days will reveal enormous damage to the peach and early apple crops, they are hopeful the wind, which blew steadily throughout the night, greatly lessoned than the injury to the trees. It was said at the lowest temperature recorded was 18E, which ordinarily would kill all blossoms. However, buds have been known to endure temperatures as low as those prevailing Monday night without serious injury. At noon, Monday the temperature hovered around 80 degrees. During the next 12 hours the temperatures dropped as much as 60 degrees.

Keymar and Rocky Ridge Stations Robbed

Station thieves along the Western Maryland Line got in a fair night's work Tuesday, not so much in valuables lifted as in ground covered. Thieves broke into the railroad station at Emmitsburg Junction, pried open the door to the ticket office and ransacked the place. Papers and office furniture were turned upside down and all the drawers removed. A sack of 300 pennies was taken out of the money drawer and the station master's overalls stolen. Not satisfied with the small loot the thieves robbed the chewing gum machine and got some loose change from it. They departed, possibly on a handcar, and smashed into the Western Maryland Station at Keymar.

Railroad police went to the scene of the robberies and investigated. Wednesday Clarence Reeseman, 24 years old, who is believed to be a member of a gang that broke into the stations, and who has been implicated in numerous robberies committed in the mountain beyond Thurmont during the past winter, was arrested by railroad detectives and committed to jail. The prisoner is a brother of Percy Reeseman and a son of David Reeseman, arrested several weeks ago charged with looting meat houses in the neighborhood of Thurmont.

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