100 Years Ago This Month

September 1924

September 5

Sundays And Holidays Bring Accidents

The papers of this week were usually full of automobile accidents; many of them of serious character. The excess in accidents was due largely to the crowded conditions of the highways, on Sunday and Labor Day. The fact has been amply demonstrated for several years, that Sundays and holidays are always greatly more dangerous for travel than ordinary weekdays, even though much of the heavy workday traffic is absent.

This also demonstrates the fact that those who drive cars on Sundays are largely of the inexperience class. Also, that many cars on the road invite racing and chance. During the week, even with heavy traffic, most drivers are accustomed to the work as part of their business, and are more careful.

The lesson to be drawn from these results, are that those who can use the road on other days, then Sunday, should do so, for safety sake, and that more than unusual care should be taken even by careful drivers on Sundays and holidays.

Ladiesburg Residents Killed In Auto Accident

An automobile accident occurred Sunday morning in which Mrs. Samuel Calbaugh, of Ladiesburg, was so severely injured that she died from a fractured skull and internal injuries at the Gettysburg hospital, Sunday evening, and her husband died on Monday. James Crum, a brother of Mrs. Calbaugh, and his wife were severely hurt, but will recover.

The accident was caused by a car going in the same direction, sideswiping the Calbaugh car and overturning it. The driver of the car that hit them continued on at a high rate of speed without stopping to give aid, and has not yet been found.

The roadway at the time was filled with Sunday traffic, but nobody seemed to have secured the car license plate number or its make. The victims of the accident were on their way to New Oxford to visit friends.

The accident was due to the second car, passing the car from the rear, on a curve, and meeting a third car coming, causing the driver of the second car to swerve in order to avoid a collision, and so doing caught the Calbaugh car.

Mrs. Calbaugh, 35 years old was the daughter of Agnes Bloom, of near Keymar. Both victims, as well as Mrs. Krum, are known to many in the district.

Another version of the accident is given by two persons from Waynesboro, who are reported to have said that the Calbaugh car had been weaving in and out of traffic for a considerable distance West of the place where the accident occurred, and that no car struck the Calbaugh car, but that it was wrecked by getting off the macadam into soft ground, and that the machine toppled over trying to get back on the roadway.

School Quiz

The following cat and rat problem was given to high school pupils, this week, as an easy twister. "If 300 cats kill 300 rats and 300 minutes, how many cats will be required to kill 100 rats in 100 minutes." What is your answer?

Mountain View Hospital

On May 24, Miss Anna Duphone, an aged resident of Thurmont, was brought to Mountain View Hospital for treatment by her niece, Miss Lucy Adelsberger. Miss Duphone died June 14, being confined to her bed during the entire time that she was at the hospital.

Miss Adelsberger paid $10 per week for the care & treatment of her aunt and paid her numerous visits, being at her bedside at the time of her death. She’s so appreciated the kind treatment given her aunt, that she donated to the institution of fine lot of clothing, the property of Miss Duphone, valued here at between $69 and $75, to be distributed amongst the women inmates at the hospital.

Only those who are in close touch with the affairs of the hospital know how much a gift of this kind is appreciated by those inmates, who are fed by the County and clothes only in the most simple of garments. These men and women are only human and a new garment, even if it has been the property of someone else, gladdens their hearts, and makes them happy for months.

September 12

Big Fair Next Week

The crowd that will attend the Carroll County Fair, next week, in Taneytown, will notice a number of improvements, both on the grounds and in the attractions. The buildings have been attractively freshened up with paint, and the fences and stables white washed. The park at the rear of the grounds has been cleaned out, and several avenues made, giving additional room on that side of the ground. The stables have also been added to, giving more needed space.

By another year it is hope that a new exhibition building can be erected, as the present one is entirely too small and crowded for the many exhibits expected.

On the outside, there will be several new riding devices, and other new attraction; while the display of machinery will be considerably larger. There will be more racing, including the addition of the pony mule races. A new convenience on the ground this year will be an oil and gasoline station for the accommodation of motor vehicles.

Every effort possible has been made in advance for the entertainment, protection, and general benefit of the public, as all of the managers are very desirous of making the Carroll County Fair as good in every way has any fair in the state, and every day, during the four days. All objectionable features, that can be recognized in advance, have been denied space, and it has been especially an object of the managers to improve the night attractions.

The grounds will open each day at seven in the morning, and close at 11:30 at night. No persons will be permitted on the grounds at night, except by special permission. The grounds will be policed by officers authorized to make arrest, and the management will exercise all possible care over both persons, animals, and property.

Children’s Day will be a big day. All the school youngsters of the County are encouraged to attend and have a good time. There will be no admission charge for school children on that day.

The outlook for a big attendance will be assured with fair weather. Be sure to take a day or two off and take in the event, on the finest ground in the state.

The Telephone Company’s Case

A charge has been made by some of those interested in lower telephone rates, instead of higher ones, that the press has been subsidize, indirectly, as much as it can be, by the C&P Telephone Co.. Presumably, the statement is based on the large amount of advertising, C&P Telephone Co. has been placing during the past year, in many of the papers of the state, and the inference being, that said papers are thereby influence not to oppose the increased rates demanded.

This newspaper has been receiving this advertising, along with many other county papers, as a strictly business proposition, without any strings or obligations attached, directly or indirectly; and the fact that this paper has been receiving this business, would not prevent it from opposing the rates, if it felt it the proper thing to do. The opinions, or policy, of this paper, are not for sale.

So far as we know to the contrary, the service of the C&P Telephone Co. has been excellent; it statements concerning expenses and reasons, for advanced rates, seem fair; and we have personal knowledge of the vast expenses to which the company has been placed in, in order to restore flood and storm damage.

This paper is no advocate of increasing the cost of public utilities of any kind, to any user, without just caused, and has no knowledge that the increase asked are not just If it had such knowledge, it would oppose the effort to increase the rates, irrespective of any business relationship with the company.

Narrow Escape From Electrocution

A miraculous escape from instant death by electrocution occurred a few days ago when Charles Easterday was hanging up a new transformer on an electric light line, near Union Bridge. His powerful physique, it is believed, saved his life.

The pole on which he was on also carried a telephone line. In an effort to hook the transformer on the cross arms his head came in contact with a high tension wire, carrying 2,300 volts, while one knee was in close proximity to the telephone wire. Immediately after touching the high-tension wire, he became unconscious and swung away from the wire, hanging by his belt, straps and climbing spurs.

Two young men who were assisting in the work, with presence of mine, climbed the pole, cut the wire, and fasten the rope, which was being used to drawing up the transformer, around the unconscious body, and after cutting the belt, lowered him to the ground, and carried him in the shade, where attempts at resuscitation were made, as respiration had not ceased at any time.

A physician was summoned and he gradually regained consciousness. Since then the only apparent effect are the burn near his ear, and a deep gash burned in his leg between the knee and his ankles.

Weather And Crops

Last week was markedly, cool, with the mean daily temperature 6E below normal. Sunshine was abundant. The warm wave of the proceeding week terminated with showers on the second, showers also occurred on the fifth and the ninth.

The cool weather of the week retarded crop growth somewhat, and was rather unfavorable for the maturing of early corn, tomatoes, and truck crops. The showers of the week benefited late corn, late potatoes, pastures, and late truck crops. Fall plowing continues. Picking of apples, late peaches and pears continue.

Conditions are still unfavorable in many parts of Frederick County, so somewhat improved by showers. Early corn is maturing. Slowly, late corn is earring, well, and is in somewhat better condition than the early corn. Harvesting of sugar corn continues. Pastures and grasses are still in poor condition.

The cool weather, this week, especially at night, has been much against the maturing of late corn. Light frost was reported at several places. Farmers are much interested in the continuation of warm weather, for a few weeks more.

Woodsboro Post Office To Get Additional Clerk

On account of increased in receipts at the Woodsboro post office, William Cutshall, Postmaster, announced it has become necessary to have an additional clerk at the office.

Besides Mr. Cutshall the Post Office consist at present of an assistant, postmaster, George Cutshall, and two clerks. A civil service examination will be held at the Post Office, October 4, and the new clerk will be selected from those qualifying in this evaluation.

The Woodsboro office was raised to a rank of first class this year. It is claim that Woodsboro is the only town in the United States with a population of 500 to 600 that has a post office with receipts sufficient to be rated in the first class category.

This is attributed to the fact that there are several manufacturing industries with offices in Woodsboro, including the Rosebud Perfume Company; the Glade Valley Canning Company; S. W. Barracks and Sons Lime Company; and, the Fountain Rock Lime Company.

September 19

Big County Fair

The week at the Taneytown fairgrounds open with the usual activity, beginning with Saturday, witnessing the gathering together of the mini exhibits, the erection of tents and booths, the outside attractions, &c. The demand for stable room for horses were so great that an addition to the building was hastily made, and even temporary tents were required. In all, there are approximately 100 horses on the ground.

Wednesday was a day of overcast skies, but not sufficient to interfere with the attendance, which was estimated at 7,000. Every bit of available covered space was taken, and without going into detail, or attempting to describe the various departments, it is sufficient to say that the Fair, as a whole, was fully up everyone’s expectations. The main added attraction was the parade on the track, of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, ponies, &c.. The outdoor exhibits were appreciably larger than last year.

Thursday was too hot, and dusty for comfort, but the crowds came, and yet there were no crowded, uncomfortable, whirlpool of humanity anywhere, so spacious are the grounds. On the south side, in the park, half as many more people could have been accommodated. We are not good at guessing, but if there were 7,000 present on Wednesday, there must have been more than 10,000 on Thursday. Anyway, it was a big day, and everything passed off well.

The number of automobiles gathered within the grounds was easily the greatest assembled ever seen in the County, if not in the state – there were acres of them, and the parking experts handle their big job with great skill, only 12 collisions occurred, all a result of the women trying to park their own cars.

September 26

Thurmont Boy Found Dead in Woods

Robert Wilhide, 14-year-old son, a Mr. and Mrs. William Wilhide, of Thurmont, who was found dead in the woods, near Thurmont with a bullet wound in his breast. A coroner’s inquest rendered a verdict of accidental death.

Young Wilhide had been missing from his home since last Saturday morning, when he shouldered his gun, and informed his parents that he was going hunting in the adjacent mountains. His body was found late Monday afternoon, in a clump of bushes near what is known as ‘Blue Blazes’. The boy was found through the use of dogs, which were put on the scent of the missing youngster. He was found by a party of searchers, led by his uncle.

Opinions are divided over the matter in which the boy met his death. Some seem to think that he met with foul play, and others are here to the theory that the young Wilhide, stumbled, and upon falling, the gun went off, the shot piercing his breast above his heart. The boy’s body was found 4 miles west of Thurmont.

Shotgun Wedding Held Tuesday Morning

Saint Rita’s Church in Blue Ridge Summit, was the scene of a pretty shotgun wedding Tuesday morning, when Miss Lucy Stella Spangler, daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Spangler of Fountandale, became the wife of Joseph Bowling, formally of Emmitsburg, but now located in Blue Ridge Summit jail.

Attendance were the girl’s parents, accompanied by her father’s trustee shotgun, ‘Bertha’, which was pointed squarely at the back of a visibly shaking Joseph. Immediately after the service, Lucy returned to her parent’s house while Joseph was ‘escorted’ back to his cell where he will take up residency while they await the birth of their baby.

Complaints Of Bad Roads

Reports of bad conditions on State roads in the County and of the remarkably bad conditions of the dirt roads in the northern section of this County are frequently heard. It is commonly stated that the State road is disintegrating largely because of the lack of concrete shoulders or culverts, and that the broken down edges of the roads are extending into the roadbed itself in a number of places.

The dirt roads are said to have been left practically all of the year with no work on them, and that they are now full of deep rots in many places, and are in a generally bad condition. If they are anything like as bad as we have heard, they surely need attention before the opening of winter.

Few Big Bank Notes In Use

Bank notes of $5,000 and $10,000 in size flourish only in fiction. They rarely figure in real life outside of bank transitions.

Occasionally a man likes to flash a note of dazzling dimension. A cashier of a Philadelphia hotel was handed a $5,000 bill, observed "Girard" in the Philadelphia inquiry. The young man in the brass cage have been trained by the Boldt system, was quite matter-of-fact. He took the $5,000 note as if it were an hourly habit, and passed back the change, amounting to $4,985.

You can tell that we rarely use $5,000 and $10,000 bills by the small number of them which wear out. The Federal Reserve Bank destroys each year just about $1 billion of its own worn out notes, but in eight years it has canceled only 50 of the $5,000 and 150 of the $10,000 denominations. It would seem from this that the $10,000 bills are three times as common as the $5,000 bills.

Correction

Through an error in the records of the State Highway Department, the name of Armor Weikert, living along the Woodsboro Road, appeared on the list of automobile drivers whose licenses have been revoked because they were convicted of operating motor vehicles while under the influence of intoxicating liquors.

Armor stated he still has his license and that it is another Weikert whose name was revoked. He said that he is yet to be caught while driving drunk because he does his drinking near his house and always checks to make sure there is no policeman on the road when he makes the short drive to his house.

Roadwork Pushed

Forces of the State highway Commission responsible for laying a quarter-mile macadam roadway on the Woodsboro Pike from the southern limits of Woodsboro towards Walkersville, have finished placing stone on half of the distance. Work on the remaining portion has been delayed due to the lack of stone.

This is a part of the seven-mile road from Ladiesburg through Woodsboro to 1 mile north of the latter town. The other six miles are being constructed under the direction of the County Commissioners. Once completed, work will then begin on a pike between Ladiesburg to Creagerstown and from there to Thurmont.

The laying of a concrete roadway between Graceham and Rocky Ridge is also being pushed and is expected to be completed by October first.

Club Women Meet At Walkersville

The Federation of Rural Women’s Clubs of Frederick County was entertained by the Women’s Club of Walkersville on Friday, in the Sunday school room of the United Brethren Church. 300 women were present, and every club was represented.

The program of entertainment was as follows: opening remarks by Miss Helen Schaefer, President, of the Walkersville Club, singing of America the beautiful; short address by the President of the Federation; a three part farcical play, given by the Walkersville club, those taking part: Miss Mary Nicodemus, Ellen, Rosanna, Nelly, Nicodemus, Cora Barrack, Nina Cramer, Irene Watcher, Raymond Morbray, Annabel, Grantham, Frank Nicodemus, Charles Crawford, Edgar Fraser, Fred Myers, Clay, Fulton, Roger Kling, Preston Hahn, T.R Saylor, and Charles Brighter.

After a few remarks by Miss Elizabeth Thompson, Home Demonstrator for Frederick County, refreshments were served. Mrs. Maud Waters, played the organ and was to have given a short organ recital, had not the rain interfered with the Club’s plans to have the meeting out of doors, and in the Methodist Sunday school building where there is a fine organ.