100 Years Ago This Month

February 1922

February 3

Snowfall Descends Upon County

The second snowstorm of the winter came along last Saturday and Saturday night drifting shut the road and acting in a generally disgraceful matter common to blizzards. All in all there was not an unusual fall of snow, but it’s erratic treatment by the winds made plenty of trouble for users on the public highways. By Monday morning the road from Walkersville to Libertytown had been re-opened, as had the road from Walkersville to Woodsboro.

The Poor Rat

William Kerns, of Woodsboro, jailed on a charge of manufacturing illicit liquor, said that his method of knowing when the mash is ‘ripe’ is to throw a rat in the container and leave it there until the hair will slip easily from the carcass.

Meanwhile, five sons of Russia came to Walkersville one evening last week with 11 cases of whiskey to dispose of to our innocent citizens, it is said, and where looking for a sucker, who had the nerve to buy the cargo. It is said they approached a citizen and made a proposition of paying then $45 in good honest American cash if he would secure a buyer. The party was not long in securing the victim. Everything was arranged to transfer the wet goods after the check up over $600 was presented. The whiskey was taken away on a truck and the parties with a check presented it at a bank to have it cashed meet with a reply by the cashier that the party had no funds.

While the check may have been bad, according to the town’s boozers, the whiskey was ‘right fine.’ Or as one boozer said, - it was ‘hair for the rat.’

Safety Gates At Railroad Crossings

We used to hear a lot about the need for safety gates at railroad crossings. But there is another legislation in session and so far as we know, the great question is dead. Perhaps the railroad company will graciously install them, sometime, on their own account. As most railroad crossings are dangerous, even under favorable conditions.

February 10

No Flu Crisis In County

All the reports being received daily of the outbreak in the spread of the Spanish influenza elsewhere, there are no signs of the epidemic in this county according to health officials.

The County Health officer stated that not a single case of the flu have been reported to date from any section of the county, and he knew of no cases which even suggested the flu. He added that in spite of the fact that the weather conditions during the past month were fickle and of a kind that would ordinarily be expected to breed the gripper, pneumonia and other diseases. He said that there have been no alarming increase in these forms of sickness anywhere and no epidemic of calls has been reporting as existing in any district in the county. "Health conditions in the county are remarkably good", he said, "except for scattered cases of scarlet fever. Even this does not exist in epidemic form in any community."

Needle Retrieved From Throat of Child

A one-inch needle was taken from the throat of the one and a half year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Williams Shockley of Union Bridge, a few days ago. It was supposed to child swallowed it sometime before. When the irritated spot was found on the child, the end of the needle was protruding and it was easily extracted.

February 17

Creagerstown Man Missing

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of John Hoffman, a well-known farmer residing 1 mile east of Creagerstown. He went away suddenly, about three weeks ago and it said to be involved to the extent between 12,000 and $15,000. About $5,000 or 6,000 of this amount is said to be in cash that he obtained in different ways, and the remainder represents accounts unpaid and provided for, that he said to have left behind.

Mr. Hoffman, who is about 34 years old, left home while his wife and young daughter were away. It is said that he went to Frederick in his automobile and after cashing a check at a well-known dry goods store, and at a bank, for which he had no funds on deposit, left his automobile at a local garage and disappeared. Later he notified his father and brother where he left his car and later they obtained it. Since then nothing has been heard of the missing man.

Mr. Hoffman was well known in the vicinity of his home and was thought to be doing well on his farm. He was an elder in the Church of God and was identified in church and religious work. It is understood that he gave a bill of sale on his personal property, selling his livestock, and then drew upon a loan from a bank in Thurmont, which his father went into surety for him for about $5,000.

Residence of the vicinity of Creagerstown speaking hi terms of Mr. Hoffman much sympathy is felt for his wife and daughter, who are still at the home place.

Third Snowstorm Hits County

The snow of Wednesday morning – the third big snow of the year - was fortunately not accompanied by high winds, but the temperatures range lower than accompanied either of the other Snow storms this month, not withstanding the lateness of the season. As we go to press, this morning was one of the coldest of the winter thermometer registering below zero. Two state plows, one from Taneytown and one from Frederick came to Thurmont in the morning, clearing the street road the entire distance from Taneytown to Frederick.

Harney Valentine Social

The Harney Public School gave a Valentine Social on February 14th, which proved to be quite an enjoyable fair for all present. It was especially enjoyable for the scholars, who gave a short entertainment, consisting of dialogue, recitations and music. Every part was well rendered and clearly shows the great interest and they’re very careful training that can be seen at all times in the work in the horny school. The entertainment being completed, tables were sad and where soon loaded down with cakes, lemonade, candies, made by the good mothers and the many friends of the school. About 10 gallons of good homemade ice cream and 5 gallons of homemade ‘hooch’, was also contributed. The ‘hooch’ of course, went first. The social was for the benefit of the Harney school ground equipment, and the proceeds amounted to between $234 and $235 – of which $200 was brought by the ‘hooch’.

Taneytown Gas Plant

A meeting of citizens was held at the municipal building in response to a call of the Burgess and the commissioners for the purpose of considering the loss from the operations of the gas plant, a loss which appears to be largely, if not wholly, due to the number of leaks in the mains that have developed in the past few months, a few of which have been discovered and remedied.

The sentiment of the meeting was particularly unanimous for the continuation of the gas plant, and various suggestions were made for finding the leaks, several advocating the idea of getting an expert to help the local authorities with the job. The only suggestion rejected by the commissioners was for citizens to walk around town holding candles over the buried gas lines to see if they could ignite escaping gas, and in doing so, identifying locations of leaks.

February 24

Jury Service Optional For Women

Jury service for women was made optional by the House of Delegates. The vote was 79 for and 23 against. The adoption of the bill followed a warm debate in which opponents of optional service alleged that optional service would mean only woman undesirable for jury service would offer themselves, while the women desirable for the service will take advantage of the option and not serve.

On the other side of the equation, The clear minded men who proposed the law, clearly understood that a women’s mind was not capable of understanding the complexity of laws and it would be unfair to challenge them by putting them on a jury, or worse, subjecting a man on trail to the flawed thinking process. The men where sure all women would opt not to serve on a jury as that would imply work – and a as everyone knows a women would rather gossip on a party line then work.

Meanwhile, for a reason that escapes us, a bill has been introduced to allow women to vote and hold office in Emmitsburg and Thurmont. The bill was drafted to address the code in each town that has prevented women for serving since the town’s codes where written years before the insane idea of women being able, or competent enough to vote was every consider.

Woodsboro To Hold Spelling Bee

An old time spelling bee, followed by a program of vocal and instrumental music and an address, was held at the Woodsville Opera House under the auspice is of the Woodsboro School Improvement Association. A choice line of homemade good things to eat where offered for sale, the proceeds of which went to the Association’s fund.

Much interest was manifested in the spelling bee, and an exciting and interesting contest were given to all that attended. Some of the best talent of the town was represented on the teams, and Professor Stock of Walkersville was the pronouncer. The winner was Miss Ruth Hummer of Walkersville when she spelled Miss Bejva Stotemyer down on the word ‘regime.’

At the conclusion of the contest, a song was rendered by the schoolchildren and an address delivered by Reverend Parish. Special efforts where made to make the entertainment of a very interesting nature.