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100 Years Ago This Month

July 1920

July 2

Apple Crop Will Break Record

Adams County’s apple crop this year will exceed that of last year by at least 5,000 bushels. It is estimated that 40,500 bushels of apples will be harvested this year. The commercial peach crop will exceed that of 1919 by forty percent. More favorable weather conditions and closer attention to spraying details are the reason for the excellent outlook for both fruits.

State Troopers Nab Speeders

Residence of Fairfield are of the believe that automobile drivers who have persisted and running through the town at 20 or 25 miles an hour in the past will now be content to stay within the limits of 15 miles. The reason for the believe comes as a result of the actions by policeman who stopped six autocar drivers and two motorcycle riders and fined them $14 apiece for a total of $112. Owing to the construction work being done on the Lincoln Highway this year the road from here to Waynesboro via Fairfield has been used as the main detour. As a result Fairfield has experienced unusually heavy automobile traffic and the residents of the town have been annoyed, they say, by the speeding of the drivers.

Husband And Wife Arrested For Theft

Frederick County Sheriffs arrested Howard Wernz and his wife Laura, near Key Mar on Thursday, charged with stealing $15 from William Wernz, a relative near Rocky Ridge. Wernz was searched and a $10 and $5 note were found in his pockets. Mrs. William Wernz stated that Wernz and his wife had been to his home and shortly after departure she missed $15. She said the missing money, which had been taken from a trunk, was in a $5 and $10 note. The prisoners were taken to Thurmont and at a hearing before the Justice of the Peace the woman was discharged and Wernz was held in the sum of $50 bail. His mother furnished the bail and he was discharged. Wernz denied that he had taken the money.

July 9

Taneytown Fair Premium List

The premium list for the Taneytown Fair, has been issued. It is quite an attractive list, larger than that of last year, and includes many new exhibits. Copies may be had from any of the directors or at Ott’s and Riffle’s stores in Taneytown. Arrangements for the Fair - which will take Place August 10th to the 13th, are progressing nicely and the outlook is very satisfactory for an attractive and instructive week. And brief the program is outlined as follows: August 10 - Democratic day. August 11 - Republican day. August 12 - Agricultural day and public sale of stock. August 13 - Athletic day and baseball games.

Frederick County Tax Rate

Reaching the highest mark ever recorded in the history of Frederick County, the County Commissioners set the tax rate for the ensuing year at $1.78 per $100 of assessed value. The commissioners appropriated $267,000 for schools, while the state appropriation for these institutions is $107,000, making the total for schools $374,000.

The new tax rate will be $.52 more than last year, which was $1.26. In computing the rate the commissioners had to provide for more than $125,000 caused by the new laws passed by the last legislature. Among the larger budget items where $184,000 for road and bridge work, $34,000 for Montevue Hospital, $47,000 for debt and bond servicing. The total debt for the county now stands t $99,000

Horse Shies at Machine

Mrs. Weller and her daughter met with an accident Thursday afternoon while on their way to Thurmont, their horse shying at a steam roller. Park Duncan was in charge of the machine and when the team came near he stopped the engine and assisted the ladies in getting the horse passed. After passing the roller the horse made a lung, tearing free from the buggy and. Neither ladies were thrown from the buggy or injured, however Mrs. Weller was completely unnerved.

July 16

Stole Car To Save Walk Home.

Howard Lantz, 37, a resident of Emmitsburg, and a charter member of the Former-Former Boozers Association, has provided one of the most amusing stories that has come to the attention of local authorities in many years.

On Monday, Lantz thought he was due for a night of recreation and proceeded to Pen Mar Park to give into his desires. The arrival of a late hour found him tired and sleepy as a result of his tour of the park, so in his own words he "decided to pick out a machine to ride home in." He picked out a Ford machine belonging to Earl Singley and accordingly jumped in and started the engine because "he didn’t want to walk home." Lantz rode home, went to bed and on Tuesday morning rode to work at a gristmill near town.

The remaining days of the week where ones of ‘high life’ in the career of Lantz. He not only rode to work in his car, but took his friends to various points of interest in the area and to all appearances enjoyed life to its fullest extent. On Sunday Lantz asked Roger Brooks to join him on a run up to a still in the mountain, and from there, on a ‘drinking run about’, which eventually took them to Fairfield, the home of the owner of the car. Lantz’s misfortune in choosing to pass through Fairfield was complicated after a nail punctured one of the tires.

Earl Hartzell, proprietor of the garage in Fairfield, looked up in astonishment to see the car, which she had overhauled only one week before, coming into his establishment under the guidance of a stranger. His astonishment was slight however, compared to that of Lantz when you found himself arrested by the constable or Fairfield.

"Did you take this car?" The law demanded. "Sure I took," was the reply. "I was tired and didn’t want to walk home." Upon hearing the confession the indignant Brooks, who had also been arrested and handcuff swung with his free right hand and landed one on the jaw of his astonish friend. The unusual spectacle of a fight between handcuffed men was enjoyed by onlookers at the garage for several minutes, before both were carted off the jail.

July 23

Storm Breaks Drought

The thunderstorm, which rage throughout the entire area Wednesday afternoon, did very slight damage in Adams County. Although wheat and hay remaining in the harvest field was drenched, the rain was welcome generally as a relief to the oppressive heat which has driven the Mercury to the 92 degree mark for several days in a row. The storm intensified as it moved into Frederick County, were it dumped most of its water. The low lands were flooded all over the county, telephone lines knocked out and other damage was done.

Thurmont Teachers Resign

After acting as principal of the Thurmont High School for 25 of the past 27 years of its existence professor beach he has sent in his resignation. Miss Beth Firor, who has taught in the Thurmont Public Schools for a longer period than any other teacher now teaching there, has also sent in her resignation. Rumors have circulated for a while about the pair, and as they are nowhere to bee seen, many speculate the pair has eloped.

July 30

Fire Destroys Harney Mill

Sparks from a grain chopping engine landed on the roof of the old Myers Mill near Harney, late Thursday afternoon, and started a fire which completely destroyed the building and all the machinery except the sawmill. The total loss to David Sheets, owner, amounts to nearly $3,000, as the building and equipment was worth $2,500 and there was 100 bushels of wheat under roof when the fire broke out along with other grains.

On account of the dryness of the timbers, it was impossible for the men on hand to check the flames, which burned the building to the ground in 1 1/2 hours. The three-story roller mill, which was a combined stone in frame structure, was located below the junction of Marsh and Rock Creek. The dam meant to furnish waterpower from the Monocracy is a favorite spot for boating and swimming parties. The small amount of water in the stream at the present time is insufficient to turn the water wheel at the mill, necessitating the use of an engine outside the building to chop the grain.

The Woman Vote Problem

Should the men in one more State Legislature lose their minds and ratify the suffrage amendment, not only Maryland state officials, but local election boards throughout the county would be swamped with the problem of taking care of their portion of women who would be eligible to be added to the registration books. Official figures show that there are over 403,200 women 21 years or older in Maryland who will be eligible for registration. The total number of males of voting age is 403,908.

Dr. Brokow, President of the Former –Former Boozers Association told the members at their last meeting at their secret still, that passage of the amendment will result in their women thinking they are equal to men, and expecting men to do such ludicrous things are cook their own vittles or clean the house. "We will be living in hell’. He said.

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