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100 Years Ago This Month

November 1915

November 5

Midnight Hallowe’en Frolic

After the town officer was off duty at midnight last Saturday, a crowd of persons revived a custom that the people of this community believed had happily died out about five or six years ago. The fountain at the Square was piled high with cans and trash while several large wagons and other vehicles were left standing in or near the basin. The whole spectacle was a sorry one on Sunday morning and there can be no doubt as to the impression strangers must have gained as they passed through the town. With the help of some boys, the authorities returned the wagons to the owners and cleared up the debris on Sunday.

Auto Accident

On Sunday, Mr. Claude Long of Taneytown was motoring through Emmitsburg in his new Overland car on his return with his wife and child from Fairfield, where he had entered his daughter at school. Just in front of the residence of Mr. Meade Patterson, the car caught fire and a serious explosion would have followed had not Mr. Patterson quickly come to the rescue and extinguished the blaze, which was about to reach the gasoline tank.

European War Moving Pictures

The films to be shown tonight at St. Euphemia’s Hall at the semimonthly motion pictures will be the European War Pictorials In Reels. With the European war at its height, this entertainment should be very instructive and draw a large crowd.

Dr. Forman Dies Suddenly

Dr. John Foreman died at his home on East Main Street on Monday night at 10 o'clock. The cause of death was an attack of the weakening arteries of the heart. He was in his 42nd year.

The announcement of Dr. Foreman’s death was a great shock to the community in which he had made his home for nearly 20 years. Dr. Foreman was actively identified with the Democratic Party, and last April he was appointed postmaster of Emmitsburg. He was also the president of the Emmitsburg Electric Company. On Monday morning he suffered a heart attack, and although for a time he seemed to be improved, in a few hours this condition grew worse and the decline was marked.

November 12

It is a safe bet that anyone attempting offhand to estimate the amount of money invested in automobiles by the people within a three-mile radius of Emmitsburg would be far below the mark. It is doubtful, too, if anyone knows the actual number of motorcars in this community. To many, the following figures, compiled from an accurate list of locally owned automobiles, will prove very interesting.

Over $50,000 is the amount of money invested in gasoline-propelled vehicles in this district. This represents the value of 84 cars. The average cost of these cars is about $600. The Ford leads with 50; the Overland is next in popularity with 15; the rest in order of number are: Buick, 5; Packard, 3; Chevrolet, 2; and one each for Cadillac, King, Pullman, Norwalk, Rio, Metz, Dodge, Apperson, and Cole.

The automobile has created a distinct new industry for Emmitsburg with there being three public garages that enjoy a good business in selling supplies, parts, oils and gasoline and doing engine repairing and tire vulcanizing.

Figures on this end of the trade are not obtainable but it is a safe estimate to put the amount of money spent in one year for these items at several thousand dollars. Say that on average each car consumes 10 gallons of gasoline a week. With the price at $0.20 a gallon, the week's bill for gas for all the local cars combined is $168, and $8,736 for the year. The tire bill is another big factor in the upkeep of the machine, and local men sell a large number of new tires in the course every year.

In addition to the above expenditures, there are always a number of fixed charges. When a person purchases a car for the first time, an operator's license has to be procured. This cost is two dollars. Then a car requires a license tag from the state before it can be used. This clips off $15 a year from the pile. Most people have their cars insured against fire and theft, with cost anywhere from $5-$15 a year. Others insure against accidents and liability, which can add an additional $15 a year.

Letter to the Editor

I would like to protest through the Chronicle that there is no relief from the disorders that prevail in Emmitsburg after night, and that the Chronicle is particularly to blame. Your continued glorification of the antics of Former Former Boozers is only encouraging them. Instead of focusing on providing for their families, they see their principle focus in life to be to do nothing more then be the first to fall face down in the street on any given night. The answer is clear - it is time to give women the vote so we can end men’s access to alcohol and end this scourge. Signed, Sarah Troxell

November 19

Escapes $15 Fine

John Troxell was arrested Wednesday night and put in the lockup on the charge of drunk and disorderly conduct. Several witnesses testified that the accused made night hideous on the Square, used unprintable language, cursed everybody and everything in general and Suffragettes in particular. He also threatened to beat up or shoot up anyone who dared speak of his wife’s article in the paper (the Chronicle), saying she was out of her head with woman’s issues when she wrote it and thus not responsible for her actions. The prisoner, a Former Former Bozzer, pleaded ignorance of the acts he committed, claiming them to be the results of drinking. Squire Shuff said it was a legitimate excuse and released Troxell, saying a women should not mess with a man’s booze. It was suggested by several citizens that a fine of $15 would have been effective in silencing several walking magazines of profanity.

The Woman's Exchange

The Women’s Exchange, inaugurated and maintained in the interest of the library, has aided wonderfully in supporting this little institution that has so greatly benefited and given so much pleasure to the townspeople.

As everything sold at the Exchange brings the percentage of profit to the library, and as the supply of new books is entirely dependent upon the amount of patronage received—the continuance of library membership plus the goodwill of the public towards the Exchange—it is apparent that in each instance, the greater the support the greater the success of the whole.

The management of the Exchange therefore requests all who are interested in the library currently to increase their interest, to cooperate more fully in the endeavor to raise a substantial sum for the purchase of new books. The demand for what the Exchange has to offer varies from one week to another and it should be borne in mind that there is a percentage of profits to the library even in the small sale.

November 26

Approaches to Town Being Repaired

The engineer of the state roads commission is superintending the repairs to the remaining links of State Road, from the Emmitsburg railroad to the blacksmith shop of Bernard Welty and the approach to Flat Run Bridge. These roads, which have for some time been decidedly out of condition, will be put in proper shape and will make these two much-needed entrances to Emmitsburg even more popular. It is understood that in the spring, the road from Taneytown to Emmitsburg will be resurfaced.

Emmitsburg Civic league

The enthusiasm with which many residents of Emmitsburg organized the Civic League, and their cooperation during the first year of its existence, is worth the attention for the reading public—but specifically what has it done for Emmitsburg?

That answer is easy. First the Civic League persuaded the county to wire the school for electric lights, assuming the payment of the monthly bill. They oversaw the repairing and repainting of the fountain; they facilitated the restoration of the Civil War tablets next to the fountains; they contributed generously to the reduction of the debt on the piano bought for the use of the public school several years ago; they organized a campaign reducing the fly nuisance that has made life in the town during the summer almost impossible.

The Civic League is a force for good in our community, and it stands for a clean town in every sense of the word, obedience to the law and order, and of the future of Emmitsburg, which will be better and more beautiful and show civic and moral growth.

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