Home | Mission & Goals | Meeting Schedule | Search | Contact Us | Submit A Story | Links

100 Years Ago This Month

July 1921

July 1

Car Catches Fire

The car of Robert Reindollar, Fairfield, was damaged by fire Friday afternoon when a spark from his cigar ignited it. Reindollar was apparently trying to start his autocar, which had run out of gas, by pouring some homemade ‘hooch’ into the carburetor. The fumes from the ‘hooch’ were apparently more flammable then the gas and ignited when Reindollar ‘rolled’ the cigar in his mouth to ‘tip’ the ashes, a few of which fell onto the carburetor. The flames were extinguished before serious damage could be done to the car, but not before Reindollar lost the majority of his beard.

Serious Accident At Barn Raising

Thomas Fuss, while assisting in raising a new barn on the farm of his father, Henry Fuss, was seriously injured by being caught by a portion of the building that fell, during construction, catching Mr. Fuss and crushing him to the ground. It is reported that he received a broken or very badly injured spine, a broken arm and numerous painful injuries.

July 8

Escapes With Whiskey Cargo

An autocar loaded with moonshine whiskey bound for Hagerstown, was stopped on the Mountain just outside of Thurmont, Thursday night, by police. After the driver and passenger in the car put under arrest, the driver was directed to follow the police car into town, but the police had no sooner started down the mountain when the driver of the ‘hooch’ car turned about and stepped on the gas and tore away at 60-miles an hour, escaping with a loaded car. A little later the moonshine was transferred to another machine and the car containing no whiskey was caught at the Virginia line and brought back. The driver was fined $60 for speeding and resisting arrest. Meantime, the confederate who met him along the way escaped with the cargo of liquor.

Cool Weather Not In Sight

The weatherman says there are no indications of a break in the long heat spell. Throughout the area, 90E or higher has been the record practically every day for about four weeks, a record never before equaled in Weather Bureau records. In many sections a corresponding drought has accompanied the heat. All the rain that has fallen has been very local. The crops, as yet, have not been seriously injured. Potatoes and tomatoes have suffered the most.

July 15

Horse Thief Taken Home

Oscar House, who was arrested a few days ago on suspicion of stealing a mare and buggy which he had offered for sale to several people in the vicinity of Fairfield, was taken back to his hometown, by his father, who pulled him out of the ‘caboose’ by his right ear. The mare and buggy is the property of a young House’s father. Young House, who is only 20-years-old, stated that he took the horse and buggy because his father owed him some money for working. Sheriff Hartman pointed out to the youth that his father cannot be in debt to a 20-year-old son and that if he was his son, he would give him a good horse whipping.

Community Park at Rocky Ridge

About two years ago a community movement was inaugurated at Rocky Ridge by the Mount Tabor Union Church when a five-acre park by the Emmitsburg Railroad station was purchased from Howard Bevarde. The park was beautified by cutting out the underbrush and by making walks in driveways until now it is one of the finest, if not the finest in Western Maryland. The original cost of the park was $800. Last year a commodious tabernacle was built on the ground at a cost of $700 - as well as a refreshment booth costing $130, and this summer a artesian well was dug and pump installed at the cost of $100. The park will be lighted by electricity as soon as current is brought to the Ridge, which everyone hopes will be accomplished before the end of the summer.

Doings At Foxville

On Sunday evening several young men congregated in front of Mr. Buhrman’s store and were ordered away, which was the cause of Alien Willard being arrested for disturbing the peace (so ‘tis said). After a lengthy court session before Judge Cadow, where some of the State’s witnesses where also witness for the Defense, the Judge’s opinion was that the honors were even and dismissed the charge.

July 22

Annan-Horner To Become State Bank

Announcement has been made recently that the banking firm of Annan-Horner, Emmitsburg has filed an application with the Maryland State Banking Commissioner for a charter as a State Bank. This firm is one of the oldest and most prominent financial institutions in the county, having been established in 1882. It has heretofore been owned by members of the Annan, and Horner families, but, believing that a community controlled institution could render better services to the people of that section, the action for a State Bank Corporation has been taken.

The name of the new institution will be the Annan-Horner State Bank, which will have a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $25,000. The stock is now being offered to the people of Emmitsburg and vicinity. The par value of the stock is $10 per share and the subscription price is $15, the extra five dollars being used for the establishment of a surplus fund. The exact date when the doors of the new institution will be open is depending upon the action of the State Banking Commission, but it is believe that it will be within two months.

Cattle & Sheep Poisoned

Harry Eyler and Robert McNair, cattle dealers, lost 24 head of cattle from poison last week. They had engaged four men to drive a herd of 30 from Greencastle to Waynesboro. The road parallels the tracks of the H & P Railroad for nearly the entire distance, on which had been placed a preparation to kill the weeds. Mr. Eyler says that more or expected to die.

Last week, fourteen sheep belonging to Mr. Wasache sealed their doom when they strayed from their usual grazing land to the roadbed of the H & P’s electric line just outside of Thurmont. The day before the roadbed had been given the same treatment to kill the weeds. The sheep were seen coming upon the track by Mr. Porter, who is employed on the farm by Mr. Wasache. Within not more then five minutes they were driven back into their field, but evidently had all the time that was necessary, and the fourteen died.

Camp Fire Girls Visit

Camp Fire Girls camping on a farm near Creagerstown, hiked to Thurmont "to see the town." Their customs consisted of blouse, bloomers and rolled stockings and they attracted a great deal of attention. They visited the Clarion office to see how a paper was printed and some of them were very much elated over their ability to ‘read printing up-side-down.’

July 29

Hollinger Barn Burns

The large barn on the farm of John Hollinger, just west of Emmitsburg, was destroyed by fire. The origin of the fire is unknown. Beside the barn, about 20 tons of hay, farming implements, and about 400 chickens and a calf were burned. Seven horses and cows, by hard work were driven from the barn. A large cornfield was badly damaged. The total loss is estimated at $5,000. Thanks to the quick work of neighbors, under the direction of Traffic Officer Ben Topper, several buildings near the barn were saved. The farm was formally known as Stonehurst and was the property of Bishop John Murphy, of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, who had made it his country home until two years ago, when he sold it to Mr. Hollinger.

On Thursday night a fire of unknown origin destroyed the old abandoned house of the Lewis property just north of Thurmont. Rumors of ‘moonshiners’ are connected with the case of the fire, but nothing is known for sure.

Has Life Crushed Out

Harvey Ashbaugh, a truck driver for the Wayward Baking Company of Waynesboro, and son-in-law of Charles Knott, of Thurmont, had his neck broken; head and breast bone crushed and several ribs fractured, in an elevator accident, and in doing so, meeting a horrible death. Mr. Ashbaugh, 24-years-old, had just finished loading his truck with bread for his daily route to Emmitsburg and Thurmont, and went to the electric elevator in the main building, intending to go to the washroom on the second floor before starting on his route.

It is supposed that Mr. Ashbaugh was standing too near the front of the elevator platform when it began his assent and his head struck the framework above the doorway of the shaft and knocked him down, his head hanging over the edge. As the elevator advanced to the top of the 1st floor, his body was pulled out of the elevator by his head. With his body squeezed in a space less than a foot wide, his life was crushed out before the elevator stalled a few feet below the second floor. The electric motor was still buzzing trying to pull the elevator higher when the accident was discovered and it was shut off.

Taneytown Streetlights Turned On

Taneytown’s streetlights ‘came on’ last Saturday. Did they light up the town? They did – in fine style - even the streets having many trees. There are 39 lights, 38 of 100-candle power; the one on the square is 250. For once, everybody is satisfied that the streets are properly lighted.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'

Have a newspaper clipping on a event that took place in Emmitsburg? 
If so, send it to us at history@emmitsburg.net