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100 Years Ago This Month

September 1920

September 5

Vote Registration of Women Heavy

Early reports from some of the county towns indicate that a high percentage of women have registered to vote. Conservative estimates from Fairfield indicate that 135 women have register against 123 men. The large number of women registering in the country districts comes as a complete surprise to local politicians, for sometime previous to the registration day, the general attitude of Adams County women seemed to be hostile to the suffrage amendment. However, according to women interviewed that have registered, that perception comes from the fact that all the politicians never bothered to ask a woman their opinion. Had they, they would have know that the women in the countryside felt that women could do a better job running the country.

Community Show in October

The Emmitsburg Community Show for 1920 was assured at a meeting of the General Executive Committee held in the high school building. The dates selected for the show was October 28th, 29th, and 30th. That the show will surpass the affair of last year was indicated by the statements of some of the members of the committee who have been arranging for features that should prove entertaining. It is expected that some events, such as ‘Mash making’, ‘How to properly squeeze corn’, ‘How to hide your hooch from your wife’ and, ‘Getting your wife off the gossip line and into the garden to grow your vittles’, would draw hard working right-minded men from near and far.

Dies of Typhoid Fever

William McCleaf, of Fairfield, died at his home Thursday afternoon from typhoid fever. He was 58 years old. Mr. McCleaf had been ill for a period of about eight weeks. He is survived by his wife, six sons and seven daughters.

September 12

Fairfield and Emmitsburg Boozers to Hold Joint Rally

Dr. Brokow, President of the Emmitsburg Chapter of the Former-Former Boozers Association, has announced that the Emmitsburg chapter will hold a joint rally with the Fairfield chapter, September 20th. The purpose of the rally, Dr. Brokaw said, will be to get men in both towns to register to vote in order to prevent their womenfolk from taking over the government and ruining everything. The rally will be held at the Boozer’s secret still just behind the barn on Mayor Annon’s farm on Annondale Road. Every man who brings a voter registration card will be given a pass for two free drinks during the rally.

Emmitsburg Street Plans

In order that something should be done towards improving the road on East Main St., from the end of the State Road to the Public Square, Burgess Stuart Annon and the town commissioners agreed that due to the heavy traffic through Emmitsburg improving this piece of road was a necessity and every effort should be made to try and get the road improved this year. The Commissioners agreed to submit the following proposal to the State Road Commission: the town would supply water for the concrete free of charge and pay half of the increase costs of building the road 18 feet wide instead of the standard 15 feet. The Town will pay for the additional 3 feet of concrete, which would amount to $550.

Youth, Who Stoned Autoist Arrested

Clarence Oland, about 17 years old, of near Emmitsburg, was arrested for throwing a stone from a bush and striking Mr. James Boyle’s car two weeks ago. The Sheriff’s Department has been following clues, which eventually led them to Oland. Mr. Boyle had been visiting relatives in Emmitsburg and was returning home with a party of friends in the automobile. As the car was passing a clump of bushes along the road between Emmitsburg and Taneytown, Oland, hurled a rock weighting about one and a half pounds at the car. The missile struck Mr. Boyle on the chest causing him to return to Emmitsburg for medical treatment. After considerable investigation, the Sheriff’s arrested Oland and his brother Guy. At the hearing, Clarence declared that he had hurled the stone at a dog and did not intend to strike anyone.

September 19

Surprise Incident in Barlow

Pastor Leslie Young, of the Mount Joy Lutheran Church was surprised by donations last week from about 25 families of the Mount Joy congregation and about the same number from St. Paul’s in Harney. The visit was so unexpected that the coolness and self-possession for which Rev. Young is noted escaped him. Initially unsure as to why his parishioners where at his door, he barred the door and all the windows. When he learned that no harm was intended he soon recovered and open all the doors and invited everyone in and examined the gifts they had brought him.

The donations included two cords of wood, 15 bushels of potatoes, one bushel of peaches, one bushel of green beans, 38 chickens, 2 gallons of lima beans, one and a half bushels of tomatoes, 13 heads of cabbage, one peck of red beets, 2 bushels of apples, 10 bushels of squashes, 2 1/2 dozen cucumbers, four large cakes, and just about anything else a person would need to make it through the winter. In addition his parishioners presented him $2,800 in cash. The gifts left Reverend Young speechless. The evening was spent in social enjoyment and all felt that it was good to be there.

Seriously ill As A Result Of Shock

Oliver Currens, who lives on the Fairfield Road, is in serious condition from an attack of bronchitis believed to have been brought on by the shock he received when he jumped to the side of the road to escape being struck by an automobile. Mr. Currens who is more than 70 years of age, suffered a sprained ankle and minor bruises. On Sunday, bronchitis developed.

Mr. and Mrs. Currens had just returned from Gettysburg Saturday night and he started to walk across the road to his mailbox when he was blinded by the light of a touring car coming from Gettysburg. As a result, he did not see the car bearing down on him from the west. When he saw the second car he jumped, the machine barely grazing him. His injuries were not considered serious, but he suffered from the effects of the shock. And bronchitis set in.

September 26

Boozer’s Rally Backfires

The much anticipated joint rally between the Emmitsburg and Fairfield Chapters of the Former-Former Boozers Association, to overcome the plurality of women voters, backfired when members showed up with blank registration cards or worse, cards filled out for their wives or other women in the towns.

When reminded that the purpose of the rally was to get men to register, many boozers stared blankly, and several complained that the word on the street was to bring a registration form, "Nottin said anything about filling it out."

Apparently the women of both towns, upon hearing of the intent of the rally, and knowing their husbands would be too drunk to read the names on the registration cards, organized themselves to take their husband’s blank cards and use it to register themselves, or women who’s husbands had forbad them to register.

As a result, the number of women registered to vote in both towns now is double that of the men. Upon hearing the result, the wailing on the men was pacified by extending the night’s drinking until first light. Meanwhile their womenfolk celebrate their nefarious victory by polluting the evening air in both towns with God-awful suffragettes songs.

Lobbies For Canonization Of Elizabeth Seton.

The promotion of the cause of an American for the honor of being canonized as a Saint was considered at a meeting in Washington of 62 bishops and archbishops. At the last meeting held a year ago, Cardinal Gibbons had been requested to convey to the authorities in Rome of the unanimous desire of the American hierarchy for the canonization of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton of Emmitsburg, founder of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Cardinal Gibbons said he had laid the matter in the hands of the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites.

Farm For Sale

Property known as French Creek Farm located about 1 1/4 miles from Zora, 4 miles from Emmitsburg and 4 miles from Sabillasville. Fruit farm containing 130 acres. Buildings consist of a four-room house, summer kitchen barn corncrib. Farm is divided approximately as follows. 60 acres in apples, consisting of 400 trees of the following varieties; Wealthy, Jonathan, Starks, Stamen, Wine Shoppe, Roman Beauty, and Black Trick; seven and eight years old in good condition. 30 acres cleared farmland and about 20 acres of young timber, also small orchard containing 75 apple and 12 peach trees. Orchard as well located, having southern and eastern exposure, with several springs located in orchard. This is an exceptional opportunity to secure an orchard just ready to bear fruit. The farm also has a well constructed still that can turn any waste apples into the finest moonshine this side of the mountain. Still is well hidden in the thickets allowing men to avoid attention of revenuers.

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