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

100 Years Ago This Month

June 1921

June 3

Memorial Day In Taneytown

Taneytown had one of the greatest Memorial Days is in its history. Perhaps 2,500 people taking part in the parade and lining the streets. The parade itself was very credible, being made up largely of Civil War and World War veterans, the Woodsboro band, a large line of children and members of various other bodies. The decoration of graves at the cemetery was more general then heretofore, but hundreds came to help and show their approval. The lowering sky no doubt kept many ways, but the exercise was a big success, and everything passed off just right.

Fatal Accident At New Midway

The P. R. R passenger train south, struck an automobile at the New Midway crossing, completely demolishing it and killing James Harbaugh, 18 years old, and fatally injuring his 5 year old brother Roscoe, and seriously injuring another brother Harry, age 17. The Harbaughs where on their way to a neighbor in an automobile and were preceded by their father who was driving a tractor. As they approach the crossing they observed that their father, in his slower moving vehicle, was already across the railroad tracks. They did not hesitate, but kept right on. The train, which was obstructed from their view in the approach by trees, caught them squarely, demolishing the machine. James, who was driving, was caught in the wreckage, but the two brothers were thrown clear. The train stopped and took the injured boys to Frederick. James died on the train.

Vagrants Charged in Robbery

Receiving word on Sunday afternoon that two men who rob the Western Maryland Railroad station at Fairfield were proceeding along the tracks towards Charmain, Detective Charles Wilson, jumped into the machine of Roy Vaughn, and hastened up the mountain. At the Charmain station he arrested Nicholas Macaria, 18, and Joseph Russa, 19, and brought them back to the Adams County Jail. Macaria gave his home as New York while Russa declared he lived in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The two ‘hoboes’ were drinking pop at Charmain when approached by the detective and one of them lifted his bottle as if to strike at the officer, but quickly abandon his plans to resist when the railroad detective brought a glistening revolver into play.

In the office of the Sheriff, the two men confessed that they had broken into the station at Fairfield and robbed four suitcases. They were a disgusted pair of burglars when they found all four of the suitcases filled with women’s clothing. Consequently they made three and a half dollars in currency. On the persons of the two men, Detective Wilson found a dozen pawn tickets, which he believes, might furnish evidence to other robberies committed by the two ‘Knights of the Road’.

Showed Oriental Scenes

110 beautifully colored scenes of Japan, China and Korea gave residents of Fairfield an idea of the landscape of those three lands. The scenes were part of a lecture delivered in the Fairfield Lutheran Church by Reverend George Nicely. Rev. Nicely who went across the Pacific last year to attend to the conversions of the heathens in that part of the world.

June 10

Young Lady Hangs Herself

Thought to have been despondent on account of ill health, Miss Bertie Stevens, 46, ended her life by hanging herself in the wagon shed at her home in Creagerstown on Sunday afternoon. Her brother, George Stephens, had been away from home, and on returning, when after the stock. In driving the animals to the barn, it is said that one wandered into the wagon shed. Mr. Stephens, in going after it, found the body of his sister dangling in the air. She had entered the shed, tied one end of a rope to a rafter, and fastened the other around her neck and jumped from a wagon. Mr. Stevens hurriedly summoned neighbors and the body was cut down and a physician called. Although thought to have jumped from the wagon but a few moments before Mr. Stevens enter the shed, her life had already been extinguished.

Burglars Doing Business

Sometime Tuesday night, burglars entered the store at Henry Martin store in Franklinville, one and a half miles north of Thurmont. A general line of groceries and auto accessories are kept in stock, the store being the best conducted at that place for some years it is said. The burglars carried away goods estimated to be worth $100. On the same night the garage in the rear of Creager’s & Son’s undertaking establishment in Thurmont was entered and two new tires for a Ford car were taken, as well as two inner tubes. Other tires of larger cars were in the shed, but we’re not disturbed. There seems to be no clue as to who the thieves may be.

Middle Creek Bridge Almost Completed

Work on the Middle Creek Bridge on the Emmitsburg Road is almost complete. It will be open sometime next week, meaning, that southbound automobile travelers will have a solid stretch of concrete between Gettysburg and one mile north of Emmitsburg and will not have to use the short but rough detour.

June 17

Falls From Scaffold

While working at plastering an office in the Emmitsburg Electric Company, Bernard Peters, slipped from the scaffold and fell to the ground 14 feet below with great force. He suffered a fractured right arm, ruptured left ear and possible fractured skull. Dr. Huff was summoned immediately, and he rushed the injured man in his automobile to the hospital. The hospital staff was unable to determine whether or not Mr. Peters’ skull was fractured. In order to determine whether or not the patient had a fractured skull, an x-ray picture was taken the next day. Dr. Huff drove to Gettysburg in his machine so to be present when the x-ray picture was taken.

Children’s Day Services

On Sunday afternoon, Children’s Day Services were held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Harney. The church was filled and the program was pronounced the best ever rendered by the Sunday school. The children are all to be congratulated for their almost perfect manner in which they carried their parts. The music was also of a superior quality and was rendered with a great credit to both school and choir. Harney has a great reason to be proud of its young people. We have always known that they have the best kind of material for a good entertainment. The church was overcrowded and some were compelled to remain outside

Auto Accident

Last week an autocar caring three people who were on their way to Sandy Hall, one of the delightful spots along Hunting Creek near Thurmont, struck a culvert abutment on the street road a short distance south of the town. One of the ladies was thrown out and more or less injured. The lady was one of a number of the class of 1918 Hood College graduates who were holding a reunion outing at Sandy Hole.

June 24

People’s Garage Deemed Insolvent

Something of a flurry was created in the business circles in the County when it became known that receivers have been appointed by the court to take charge of the assets and affairs other People’s Garage Co., of Emmitsburg. Albert Patterson and Brock Boyle, stockholders of the company, took the action. In their application the plaintiffs state among other things:

"The said company was organized in the spring of 1916 for the purpose of conducting a general garage and automobile business in Emmitsburg and vicinity. With a capital stock of $10,000 of which there is issued an outstanding approximately $6,000, and that in pursuant of the purpose for which it was formed, said company acquired a site in the town of Emmitsburg, upon which it has erected a modern garage building, which it now owns, and wherein its business is conducted, that, in February, 1921, a statement of its affairs showed that it had assets of $36,000 and liabilities of $48,000, and, in addition to the building, aforesaid, the assets consist largely of automobile accessories and supplies, and the complainants believe and charge that said corporation is hopelessly insolvent, and that in view of its marked financial embarrassment and the mismanagement herein complained of, the aid in supervision of the court is asked"

At present the receivers will continue the business, for the present and have selected John Roddy as manager.

Storm Misses Thurmont

Late Sunday afternoon black clouds appeared over the hills to the north and frequent heavy peals of thunder indicated a storm raging in the district. Finally rain began falling but the center of the storm remained to the north and very little rain fell. In Emmitsburg however the storm hit with full force. Large limbs were found on the state road. The drought around Thurmont was not broken and all vegetable matter is in a bad condition

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