Mount St. Mary's College celebrated its 150th anniversary with a historically significant graduation ceremony on June 2, 1958. President Dwight Eisenhower came to the ceremonies, not as a hero of World War II when he was the Allied commander in Europe, and not as the leader of the free world, but rather as a neighbor of the oldest Catholic college in America. The Eisenhowers maintained a home on a farm at the edge of the Gettysburg Battlefield, just north of Emmitsburg.

After an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree was conferred upon him, Eisenhower delivered an extemporaneous speech in which he implored the 120 graduates and the 3,200 others in attendance at the mountainside gymnasium, to wage a crusade for world peace, not only here at home, but around the world as well.

"Think of the mass awakening of people throughout the globe, newly founded nations, people who have been denied all the opportunities of young gentlemen of every kind of economic activities and opportunities, everything in the way of education, spiritual development. They are trying to catch up with the twentieth century overnight."

America, he continued, cannot accept a position of isolation. It has an obligation to provide help for such nations.

June 9

When the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church started Hood College on May 12, 1893, the founders knew that, if the venture was a success, the facilities of the former Women's College of Frederick on East Church Street would not be sufficient to answer the college's needs. It wasn't long before the college acquired the 28-acre Groff property on Rosemont Avenue.

On June 9, 1914, just 21 years into the existence of Hood College, the cornerstone for the first new building on what was then called the "Greater College" campus was laid.

The ceremonies began on East Church Street as the student body, carrying a long laurel chain, led the march to the new campus accompanied by the Yellow Springs Band.

At the new campus, Dr. Samuel H. Stein, president of The Potomac Synod, was the primary speaker. He said: "Just as the Rosetta stone, discovered and placed in the British Museum, was found to be a key to history and languages of ancient races, just so the laying of this cornerstone of greater Hood College becomes the key to the education of women of coming generations."

He went on to say that Hood represented the dreams and desires of the Reformed Church. "A quarter of a century ago there was no such institution and 21 years ago was the beginning of this institution, which worked out of the Mercersburg College. Hood College, he said, "was the pride of the Reformed Church. It gives to the women of the Reformed Church the opportunity of securing a standard education that our boys have had for many years."

Formal cornerstone laying exercises were conducted following Dr. Stein's address.. The next day the college conferred Bachelor of Arts degrees on eight women at the 21st commencement exercises held at Winchester Hall.

June 16

Back in 1919 the Frederick Board of County Commissioners finally answered the pleas of the residents of Walkersville and approved the construction of a new school. For years the clamor had been raised that the old school was just not worth repairing anymore.

On June 16, 1919, a Walkersville delegation went before the commissioners to plead with them to approve that part of the school board budget submitted by its chairman, Dr. William Johnson, which related to a new school for their town.

Dr. John Nicodemus and Edwin Devilbiss made eloquent speeches about the need. There main concern was much the same as is heard today - overcrowding. They said it was so bad that it presented a "grave menace to the health of the young people." They also gave numerous reason that the $25,000 appropriation was small in light of the need and increased educational benefit.

The commissioners voted approval of the new school, but held off in committing the money for the project. On June 30, when they finally adopted the new county budget, the appropriation was included.

On December 19, 1928, a new auditorium, at a cost of $10,000, was dedicated. In 1980 the county commissioners made a strong push to get the Board of Education to abandon the property, but the school board stuck to its guns and kept it. Since then the building, now known (1997) as the Walkersville Middle School Blue Building, has been used as an elementary school, a middle school, for part of Linganore High School during renovations there, as part of Urbana High School before that facility was completed, and as an area office.

June 23

The Zentz Mill, which had ground the grain of county farmers for generations, was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of June 24, 1926. The first alarm was sounded at about 2:30 a.m.. Officials said later it was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette or match. Independent Hose Company lost the use of an American LaSalle pumper when a motor threw a rod at the height of the blaze.

Frederick City had purchased the Zentz Mill three months earlier for $3,500, and a debate was raging over whether the building should be razed or rehabilitated. The fire resolved the matter. A week after the fire, the remains of the building were torn down.

At the time the city was making plans for a municipal park and had purchased the Zacharias Meadow and several other properties for the purpose. After the fire only the old creamery and the Reifsnider properties stood in the way.

Joseph Baker and his wife bought them and donated the land to the city. On June 23, 1927, elaborate ceremonies were held dedicating the new Municipal Park which included a swimming pool. On August 12 of that year, the name of the park was changed to Joseph Dill Baker Park in honor of one of the city's most generous benefactors.

June 30

In 1791, Barbara Hauer, later Fritchie, was but 24 years old. She would not marry for another 15 years. For some strange reason, quilting parties have played a large part in her legends, the first being her participation in such a party when it was announced that John Casper Fritchie had been born. In 1806, he became her husband.

On June 30, 1791, President George Washington came to town. Another legend has it that the young women of town were attending a quilting party at Mrs. Kimball's Tavern when word came of Washington's impending arrival.

The ladies, allegedly, scurried about obtaining the finest china and linen available on which to serve him. However, the story goes, "there was nothing suitable enough from which to serve tea." So, Miss Hauer went home and got her Staffordshire teapot, which her parents had brought from Germany.

The legend continues that Washington was so pleased with Barbara's "charm of manner,' that he produced a Lowestaft china bowl and presented it to her.

There are several problems with this story. First, Staffordshire china was not a luxury item in those days. Rather it was a piece of ordinary pottery made for the colonial trade. Secondly, according to Washington's Diary, he stayed at Brother's Tavern, not at Mrs. Kimball's, and he made no mention in his meticulous diaries of the special attention he allegedly received. Also, few travelers on horseback carried china with them.